Faerling

Book 1, Crystal Mirrors

Part VI

Donal stepped up to the servant's entrance of the manor and knocked loudly. It had taken him most of the morning to make his way to the manor, as it was situated on top of a high hill, with no visible path going up. Therefore, he had had to slog through the forest, leading his horse, until he reached the manor, from where he could easily see the path leading back down. So now he was angry and tired, and frustrated, since no one had bothered yet to answer his knock.

He picked up a large stick from the ground and banged on the door with it. In a few minutes, he heard footsteps from the other side hurrying in his direction. The door opened a tiny bit, and a young girl's face peered through the crack between the door and the wall.

"Yes?"

She sounded young and easily intimidated. "I'm here to see Blackie," Donal growled.

The girl paled. "Blackie, but..."

Her voice trailed off as a hand grasped her by the shoulder and pulled her back. The door was thrown wide and an extremely large woman stood before Donal, hands on her hips, still facing the cowering young girl. "Go clean the front hall, Gil," the woman ordered brusquely. The girl ran off quickly, not glancing back.

The minute the girl was gone, the woman's whole attitude altered. She smiled at Donal, and motioned for him to step inside. "Blackie told me you would be here," she told him, "and asked me to wait for you. I am to inspect the piece before full payment is made."

Donal nodded. "That sounds fair, but I do believe the jeweler could have given him an accurate description." He stepped inside and sat in the chair by the table.

"An accurate description perhaps, but Blackie trusts my own judgment more," the woman explained. She motioned to the other end of the table, where Donal could easily see 5 bags, heavy with coin. "There is your payment. You may take it now, and hand me the piece. Then please wait, while I inspect the item." She smiled. "And if it is not what Blackie wants, then leave those bags. But the first two remain yours for your trouble."

Donal moved to the other end of the table to sit near his money, removing the piece from his pocket as he went. He placed the brooch on the table before him, nudging it with one finger towards the woman. She held it loosely between her fingertips and squinted to inspect it. "Yes, yes," she said quietly. "I do believe it is everything Tural claimed it was."

There was a crash behind Donal, and he turned quickly to see and extremely large man barge into the room. A pain struck him between the eyes, and then he saw only darkness.

Genna looked around her at the trees close by and the thin path they followed. "How did you ever find this path?" she asked. "'Tis almost invisible, but easy to follow on horseback."

"I told you once, I have met Ellesmere before," Alec responded flatly. His tone implied he did not wish to speak of it further. Still, Genna, not used to interpreting such signals, pressed on.

"If you did not like the lord, then why do you now offer to help him by bringing this message to his home?"

Alec glared at her, realizing she wouldn't take the hint to stop talking about it. "Faerling, I have known Jason Blackthorne since I was a child. There are things I do not like about him, true, but there are also bonds that go beyond those feelings."

"Are you related?"

Alec didn't answer. Instead, he was thinking about the last time he had seen Jason Blackthorne, and the circumstances under which they had parted. It had been 5 years since, 5 years in which Alec had spent his time as a warrior for hire, and during which Jason had improved his land holdings. He glanced at Genna, and mentally checked his inventory of magical gadgets. He had one lightstone left, and that with only a few charges. He had already given her the telepathy charm, and he hoped it worked as the mage had said it would. The charm had been his payment for a job about 1 year past, and Alec had had no need to test it since. The only other magic he carried was a ring which had been in his family for years, and which provided protection against certain spells. Not an item that would help Genna much, since she would likely not be affected by those spells in any case.

"'Tis magnificent!" Genna cried, startling Alec into looking to see how far they had come up the path. He was surprised to see the manor rising in front of them.

"Yes, it is rather impressive," he agreed. "As you will find Jason, as well, I am certain." They rode up to the main gate, Alec greeting the guard there.

"Hail and well met."

"Hail," the guard responded cautiously. "And who might you be?"

"The lord's messenger, Tirbald, was attacked outside of Zamir yesterday, and arrived at the Laughing Bear Inn. I saw to obtaining a cleric for his injuries, but he was still unable to continue his journey for a few days. He stressed the importance of his message arriving here as soon as possible, and I thought to bring it to Ellesmere and possibly renew an old acquaintance at the same time." Alec bowed, as best as possible while seated on a horse. "You may tell him Alec Ravenwood has come to call."

The guard went into his small guardhouse and soon they saw a small boy run from the guardhouse, on the other side of the gate, toward the manor. A few minutes later, a tall, sandy-haired man strode out, calling as he came, "Alec! I never would have expected to see you here!"

As the gate was opened, Alec dismounted and stepped forward, grasping the other man's hand strongly. "Jason." He turned to Genna and motioned for her to dismount. She slid off the horse, catching herself on the saddle as her knees threatened to buckle. Releasing the saddle, she cautiously stepped forward until she was beside Alec.

"Greetings," she said softly, brushing her hair back from her eyes.

"Jason, Genna," Alec introduced them.

Jason Blackthorne stood staring at Genna. "Faerie or Faerling?" he asked.

"Faerling," Alec replied for her.

Jason glanced sharply at Alec. "You always *did* tend for more unusual companions." Alec grimaced. "Ah well," Jason continued. "Come inside, and I will provide you dinner and a night's lodgings, in return for your graciously bringing my message to me." He gestured at the pack, which Alec handed to him.

Genna was amazed at the size of the manor - never having been inside anything larger than the Inn in Zamir. When Jason offered her a chance to rest and clean up before dinner, she quickly accepted, not noticing Alec's worried glance. Her body still ached from the previous days fighting lesson, and the riding had not helped in the least. A soft bed and some sleep sounded wonderful to her, and she followed the butler to her room.

As Alec watched her leave, he heard Jason walk up behind him. "Amazing," Jason said calmly. "That one of your type should be in the company of a Faerling."

Alec looked at him, locking eyes. "For the sake of one night, let us forget any differences of the past."

Jason shrugged. "Whatever." He led Alec to his den for a drink, glancing at an ornate chart of the months, moon, sun and stars as they walked by. Alec followed Jason's gaze, realizing that the chart was new since he had last been here. He looked back to find Jason watching him.

"I believe we have no worry that the past will repeat itself, at this time," Jason said softly. "Do we?"

"We won't stay long," Alec commented. "We are looking for work."

"Adventure I would assume." Jason poured two drinks, handing one to Alec. "How barbaric, but then, what more could I expect?"

Alec took a sip of the liquor, and made a face. He could never get used to the finer liquors, preferring ale and wine. "Jason, for only one night, couldn't we possibly put aside our differences?"

Jason turned to look at him, his eyes narrowed and angry. "I will try, but if you remember, she *was* my sister." His tone was final, and the subject was closed. Alec sat quietly, sipping at the liquor, while Jason talked of the prosperity of his holdings.

"I believe..." Alec's voice trailed off as he tried to stand and founds his knees wobbly. "I believe... I might like a rest... before..." His eyes opened in surprise, "You...", then closed as he crumpled to the floor. Jason simply glanced at the fallen figure, and then finished his liquor.

Faerling is copyrighted by Deb Atwood.

Copies may be kept for personal use but may not be redistributed without the expression permission of the author.

Tryslora Eloran (deb_atwood@fac.com)