Book 2: Chapter 43 (Patreon)

Madi did her best to sketch up a plan for them but she admitted dealing with the elven council was well outside her expertise. Leanthun hadn’t given them the tools they would need and the situation didn’t look good when the invaded country locked you up in an embassy.

The rest of the day passed without event. The small home was stocked with food, which Orrin quietly swiped. Things kept fresh in his [Dimension Hole] and if they were going to keep them prisoner, he was going to be as petty as he could be. He even considered stuffing the bedsheets in as well. They were the nicest material he’d ever slept on in his life.

Filauria appeared in the early hours of the morning and knocked until Daniel stumbled down the stairs. He opened the door just as Madi and Orrin joined him.

“Let’s go. The council will see you now.”

Daniel grumbled as Orrin unpacked a small armory of weapons on the table. He set Gertrude on top of the last of it and glared at Filauria.

Guards surrounded them again as they moved through the city toward the big tree in the middle. The large roots of the Matriarch created a natural maze in the clearing around the tree, and Orrin was quickly lost as they climbed steps carved into the wood, went over bridges built to span deep and narrow crevices between close roots, and moved quickly through underground caverns built under parts of the tree that had risen out of the ground completely.

Even if I had [Map] running, some of these things are too high to scale. It’s like a living fortress with defenses naturally built in.

As discussed, he kept his mouth shut and didn’t ask more questions. Madi had asked the same of Daniel but Orrin doubted his friend would be able to let her take the lead completely.

When they finally climbed the last set of carved steps, complete with handrails, the group found themselves at the top of the hill where the Matriarch sat perched over its domain. Ornate doors had been carved into the trunk of the tree and stood wide open. The interior room of the tree itself was a simple circle with stairs leading up on both sides. Nine chairs sat in a semi-circle on a raised dais overlooking the entrance. Filauria and the guards bowed at the front of the door to the seven elves seated in front of them but did not enter.

“The [Hero], Lady Catanzano of Dey, and party member are here seeking an audience with the council.” Filauria’s voice echoed into the room and came back louder than it had entered. “They were granted passage by Leanth—”

“We know or else we would not have summoned them here. You may send them in. Close the doors and let none disturb us.”

Of the nine seats in front of them, only seven were filled. The chair in the middle was actually a throne but it was empty, as was the seat to its immediate right. On the right side of the room were four elves, two men and two females. On the left side, or the right side of the throne, two more women elves and another male sat.

It had been the woman sitting closest to the throne on their right who spoke. The left hand of the throne, so to speak. The three of them entered as the guards outside began pushing the thick wooden doors shut. As the room was sealed, the same elf stood and lightly stepped down the single raised step to stand in front of them.

“A [Hero]…” She let the word sit in the air, tasting how she felt about it as she studied Daniel. Madi had placed him in the center and stood upright on his right side. Orrin was to the left and a step back. The elder female elf continued, “Brought to our forest to bring us aid, no doubt. What boon would Dey ask of us in return? What could a mere child give that we could not take ourselves?”

She put her face directly into Daniel’s personal space. Orrin saw her nose crinkle with disgust as she asked, “What makes you think we need your help at all? It might be easier to simply kill you. Never does a [Hero] come but with consequences far outstripping their use.”

Daniel’s hands flexed and Orrin noticed his shoulder twitch as if he wanted to reach over for Gertrude. The elf smiled and turned her back on the [Hero].

“So young and brash. I half expect he’ll attack us before we even began our discussion.”

Madi placed her hand on Daniel and muttered something to him. Daniel chuckled.

The elf trying to instigate a fight whirled around and moved close to Daniel again. “You dare laugh at me here in the heart of our power?”

Daniel kept the smile on his face as he bowed a little. The action brought his face closer to hers and the elf backed up a step as Daniel gave respect to the other elves with his bow.

“I’m not laughing at you,” he said, straightening up again. “It might be easier for you to try and kill me than simply listen to reason but no matter how young I might be, I’ve dealt with bullies before. I won’t be baited.”

“Well done,” the female nodded and the anger that had been on her face smoothed away. She smiled warmly at them. “Sorry for testing you but I’ve always found a good opening skirmish tells me more about others than words alone.”

She climbed back on the dais and slumped into her chair. “My name is Gwynnestri Ralodove. I am the Elder of Defense for our forest. We have been told you have come to help us win a war. Please know we do not consider ourselves at war at this time. You may make your case.”

Orrin’s mind raced as Madi stepped forward. “Honored elders of the elves, we thank you for your hospitality and time. The news of fighting amount your forest’s edges has spread throughout the human lands. You may not consider yourselves at war, but I promise you that Odrana believes it is.”

Several of the elves squirmed in their seats hearing the country named in their hall.

Madi continued her speech, walking back and forth in front of them. She explained that the [Hero], Daniel, had received his Quest and tried valiantly to help. She spoke of Odrana sending kidnappers for him, implying the Quest might be the reason.

Make them curious. Make them doubt. Make them ask for help. That had been Madi’s plan. Offering to end a fight for them was beyond what they could do at their level, but the System had given Daniel the Quest to end the war. That meant something.

Except the System really gave me the Quest. Orrin thought as he watched the other Elders. Madi had finished explaining that they were not here as a conquering force but rather to give whatever aid the council deemed necessary. He pulled his attention back to her.

“We traveled this far to ask your side. No one outside the forest knows why Odrana has attacked or what they are after. It may be there is something we could help with in ending the aggression.”

Gwynnestri raised her hand and a barrier formed around the raised platform. The elders turned in and began talking but no sound carried to the trio.

“Well done, Madi,” Daniel praised her as she stepped back, letting him be front and center again.

“Why wouldn’t they think they’re at war?” Orrin asked quietly. The elf sitting next to the Elder of Defense was staring at him. “Also, who’s the guy next to Gwyn?”

“Don’t give them nicknames, Orrin,” Madi warned. “I don’t know who is who. Why is he looking at us like that?”

“He’s looking at me.” Orrin waved and the man shook as if from a stupor. He promptly ignored them and began talking with the others.

The discussions went on for what felt like forever. Orrin tried to find anything to distract himself. He studied the different shapes carved into the elven seats. He was tempted to use [Analyze] on the barrier but his little remaining good sense prevailed.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. “Madi, are they going to argue all day?”

Her glare pierced him. “It’s been ten minutes, Orrin. Be patient. They’re elves.”

When the barrier finally came down, Orrin and Daniel were playing slaps. Daniel had his hands on top of Orrin’s. Orrin had increased his dexterity slightly so he could beat his friend and the top of the [Hero]’s hands were bright red.

“Children,” Madi muttered.

“We have discussed the benefits of having the [Hero] attempt to cease the humans from invading our lands at length,” Gwynnestri announced.

“I’ll say,” Orrin mumbled to Daniel.

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry, nothing.” Orrin ducked his head as the eyes of all seven elves bore down on him.

“As I was saying, we have agreed that the [Hero] may in fact be of some use. We will accept this Quest from him and declare the elves are at war with Odrana. At that point, our forces will—”

The doors behind them began to move and Gwynnestri’s eyes bulged. She hurriedly continued. “Our forces will then sweep the invading forces from our land and put an end once and for all to this scourge. All those in favor of this resolution?”

“Oh Gwynni, you know you can’t send our people to war without a royal decree,” a voice rolled over them from behind.

Orrin peered over his shoulder as another elf walked into the room. Leanthun was behind him but stayed outside. The elf they’d traveled with looked exhausted but triumphant.

The elf that entered had eyes so pale blue that Orrin thought he was blind at first. The wooden headband he wore might have been a crown. While all the elders appeared to be…well… elderly, this elf teetered on the line of being ancient. He had actual wrinkles.

“Arandir, what are you do— It has been some time since you’ve entertained yourself with council work,” Gwynnestri said, her eyes flashing at the man.

“It has been some time indeed,” Arandir whispered, stopping by the trio and examining them each in turn. “A [Hero] and a scion of a Lord of Dey appear in our forest, asking to give us support in a time of need and they are waylaid from their path.”

“They were brought to us as soon as we found them,” Gwynnestri said but Arandir simply waved his hand in her direction.

“They were on their way to see me, not a full council that would take a Quest. Did you not even think of what that would do, Gwynni? You were my student after all.”

“That was long ago, illustrious one. This is council business. The humans have continued their encroachment into our forest and—”

“Yes. Yes.” Arandir paused in front of Orrin. Their eyes connected and Orrin felt himself falling. The elf blinked and turned away. “As they always have. That does not give you power beyond what has been given. This council does not have the right to send our people to die.”

“Then do your job and anoint a successor,” Gwynnestri hissed at him. “Or will you be as inept and pompous as the fools who came before you?”

Orrin side-stepped closer to Daniel and Madi, laying a [Ward] on them both. Gwynnestri was standing up and pointing at the elderly elf.

“These humans are bold, setting fires to our trees. We’ve lost a handful of our scouts to them, either dead or forced into slavery. How much longer will you hold out and not do your duty to our people?”

“Not do my duty?” The words were quiet but each syllable rang with such emotion Orrin put his hands on his friends and readied a [Teleport] spell.

The male elf that had been looking at Orrin earlier stood and put his hand on Gwynnestri’s shoulder, pulling her back and whispering to her. She shook her head multiple times before she hung her head and sat.

“Arandir, old friend. Are you here to take your seat? We are in the middle of a vote.”

Orrin immediately didn’t like this guy. His voice was silky and perfect, his hair coifed just so, and his stance both unworried and poised at the same time. A politician.

Arandir sighed. “Devdan, must you force it?”

“The council has already heard arguments for and against. Only the vote remains.”

“Then as is my right, I will lead closing remarks before we vote.”

Devdan scowled. “Closing remarks are for matters of judgment, not something so trivial as accepting the [Hero]’s request to aid us.”

“But you are not accepting aid, you are seeking to force a decree on these three young humans. Once you force them to give you their Quest, we all know what you will do. Every elf will receive the same and the rewards will be diluted. You seek to steal and in doing cast judgment. This, therefore, falls well within my rights. All agreed?”

Four of the elders who hadn’t spoken yet raised a hand and slapped the arm of their chair. Devdan’s lip curled at them for a moment but then smiled prettily and sat back down. He tapped his chair’s arm with a finger. “So be it.”

“Don’t worry,” Arandir smiled at Madi. “We’ll all be sipping tea in my house by lunch.”

Orrin groaned.

Arandir shook a few hands with the elders before moving to the empty seat. He settled into the chair next to the throne and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, he spoke with passion. “These humans have come to us asking if we require help in the aggression of other humans. We do not need their help. They have seen two decades and fewer levels, while our youngest warriors could out-kill all three of them in battle. That is not why they are here though. We could take their Quest and use it as justification to skirt our laws on war. That is not who we are though. They do not know why Odrana is at our door and have come with half the knowledge needed to make sound decisions. We will tell them what it is the upstart Sanneris is after. All those in favor?”

“You can’t be serious?” Gwynnestri shouted. The other elves started shouting and Arandir winked at Orrin before waving his hand. The sound barrier reappeared.

“Great,” Orrin muttered. “More waiting.”

“Don’t you dare start playing that stupid game again,” Madi demanded.