CAIVAN
I've only been to the festival in Qarax twice; once when I was little and once two years before. It basically shares the same preparations with the other towns and cities across Quindar, but on a much larger scale.
This year, the lords of the four cities in Quindar are invited. Their entourage arrived one after the other; the lords of Yindel and Hallos arrived yesterday, Tussel and Baldridge arrived earlier today.
I observe the city from my window, while I change into a flannel shirt and a trouser. Fire Night was the evening before, but it doesn't look like the walls, rooftops and lampstands had been lit up with flames. I loved the view; the city had resembled a great cake with candles.
My thoughts travel back to Eldad as they have recently been doing more frequently these days. They would have had theirs as well. I wonder about the elf, though. I doubt she would be inclined to join in the festivities.
SAELYNAHangovers do not occur with elves, unless you’ve had one of those cursed mead. So I wonder what causes the slight headache and nausea that hits me as I sit up to the sound of a crow.'Blasted chickens’, Cyran mutters. He has his back to me, and he’s sitting cross-legged, facing the wall, hunched over something. I’m not good at sneaking…well, not on Cyran. I try it though and it works this time, mostly because he’s very focused on the kingpeas he clutches in his hands.It doesn’t take long for him to notice me, though, and he sends the peas scattering across the floor. ‘You’re part of them too now? Sneaking up and startling folks?’ he says in a surprisingly even tone as he begins gathering them up. ‘Sorry. You stole rexume?’ I try not to sound accusatory but he notices however. ‘Obviously. Don’t start the lectures, please don’t’. I purse my lips, then I bend a
CYRANVeesa consents for me to take my bow and arrows after hours of trial. I'm grateful as my fingers trace the familiar line of bowstring and carress the soft quilts of my arrows. The only thing I truly relate with.I make sure Saelyna does not see me steal off towards the woods. This time, I stay on the outcrop, and I don't cross the water. Since the day I killed that wolf-thing with my dagger, I've had some sort of reaction to the sight of those woods, and I can't bring myself to go in there.I stretch out my fingers and wave my arms around a little before searching for a target. On this side of the river, has free trees, none of them are good targets and all are down by the slopes.I don't dawdle. I hunt around for branches and find two suitable boughs down by the river. Next, I dig out a space in the ground, then plant in the first one. Then I find some jutes long enough to tie the other branch to the first.
CAIVANI chose the top of the clock tower as my perch this evening, as music bursts through the streets of Qarax. It's a good spot for me, though, I'd probably have a couple of long-range crossbows and arrows aimed at me right now, waiting for me to make a wrong move, a sinister gesture, even though they know I'm a king's man.I lean on the railing, peering down into the city of lights. The streets and alleys and main roads are lined with people all holding poles and firesticks, dancing and singing. Masquerades and large balloon characters dot each of these processions, crossed over by ribbons and ropes and floating lanterns.The main crowd is concentrated around the bronze statue of King Xanwed in front of his palace. He isn't out yet, but Edward had declared the festivities begin. A large table; large enough to sit half a hundred people; takes up the marble floor of the front courtyard. Lords Willen, Arden, Lionel and Russo of Baldr
RONNThese lands are older than any of us. That was what the wolf said, when I had led her down the river towards the plains between Citadell to the west and Tussel to the east. The wolves used to roam these fields in packs, unhindered, when men had not known war. It all changed when an elf channeled power from a plant, and shared this knowledge with his people, and the elves grew stronger. Men, in their fear, learnt theirs, but the creatures they turned to, were the wolves. We both agreed it's ironic, that men would turn on the creatures that showed them the way.When I finally let her go, she bounded away without hesitation. A real morgan she must be.Returning to camp, I couldn't find Keilen. The girls closest to her hut say they haven't seen her since the day before, and neither had Argell or Veesa. 'You know Keilen', Gylen said while we had lunch near the creek, 'She's a wild wolf. She's probably somewhere in there, doing Lupion-
SAELYNAFareedah wraps a shawl around my hair and stands back to admire her work. Her black eyes lit up with admiration. 'You look fabulous', she says, clapping her hands. I pull at the robe and then the shawl. I don't entirely feel comfortable in these. 'Are they really necessary? I mean, it looks a little….too much'. Too restrictive, too celebratory. Fareedah waves a hand. 'You don't know what you're talking about. That's what they wear at the festival, innit?' she says, wrapping a shawl around her own neck. I don't correct her, because that's what they wear. I just go with a shirt and trouser and sometimes, Cyran's coat.I look around the place as we step outside my hut. 'What?' she whispers. 'Where's Cyran?' I ask. 'Off with the boys, I 'spect. On nights like this, they drink always and sing those damned songs till sunrise'. I prick my ears, straining for the sound of music, but I hear none. 'I'm…I'm worried, I should go check…' F
RONNI lead the way, because Gylen insists on staying close to Cyran. But the scent is weak, and it takes a lot of effort to remain on the trail. Cyran follows his phantom tracks easily, even though I have issues finding them.It all leads back the way to the cliff though, and Gylen curses as we crest the outcrop. 'Fucking hell. Not this place'.Cyran stares down the drop at the fortress with the look of an interested learner on excursion. Better not tell him all there is to know. 'It looks…abandoned', he mutters. Gylen looks at him incredulously, and looks back at the city. 'You do know that's Citadell, right? The forbidden fortress?' Cyran pales a bit but shrugs. 'I mean, I know Keilen is the stubborn, wild wolven, but why come here?' 'This is where the scent ends. She was here with someone. I don't know who, but I'm sure they weren't talking about manicure', I reply as Gylen runs a hand through his hair, cursing under his br
CYRANThey are wolves.Or at least, they look like it. Four of them emerge from the shadows of the decrepit buildings around us, as tall as my shoulder and twice as wide as I am. They are of the darkest black I've seen, like they are nothing but shadow. Their eyes gleam a violent ruby, set on the three of us as they inch forward with low growls.'I think I'm getting a little tired of this routine', I mutter. 'This isn't the time, elf! On guard!' Ronn barks and we form a circle, our backs to each other. We are completely surrounded though and outnumbered 3 to 4.I release my arrow at the one closest to me and it bounces off its skull. A low gasp escapes my lips, and I step closer to Gylen as I notice something else. 'They have horns…deer antlers', I whisper.He's about to say something, but he pushes me to the ground as one of them lunges at us and he takes the attack. Another leaps on R
CYRANI never thought the sight of the forest would gladden me as we flee the cursed city. I cover the rear, while Ronn carries Keilen. I relish the the cool night air on my face, the normal sounds of trees dancing in the wind and the smell of grass; and I promise myself never to return to that place. Something tells me there are worse things than demonic hybrid wolves, a dragur and an annis within those walls.Annis. The word makes my skin crawl; gooseflesh still rises on my neck when I think of her voice and that screech. Ronn said they were witches, dead elven witches, worse than the mages that still lurk inside those walls. The fact that we escaped relatively unscathed by her is the greatest miracle I've ever known, even though he says I am to thank. I'm sure my magic was just a slap in the face, nothing major to a creature like that.We cross the field faster than we had done when we came this way, but I feel my lungs start to gi