Ravek, Chapters 2 and 3
Love me, for I am a fast updater. Until I get writers block that is.
Cross posted to: carmodyonline, obernewtyn
Notes: Chapter 2 of Ravek, nothing much happens. Chapter three has more original content in it.
Chapter 2: Discussions
(Chapter 34 of Ashling)
I followed Elspeth, a few minutes after she hurried upstairs. When I came, the sight almost made me burn with jealousy.
Dameon and Elspeth were sitting close together, and he was patting her back, comforting her gently. She would never have allowed me to be so close.
He was telling her a story, about the Beforetime Princess, and he had her full attention.
“He woke her, with a kiss,” said Dameon, and he gently lifted Dragon’s hand and pressed his lips to it. I laughed at the absurdity of the story, but neither noticed. He finished the tale.
“Matthew has been taken, but they will not be able to keep him for long. He will return, just as he promised you that he would. As full of gossip and wild stories as ever.”
And there, was that look of calm, of peacefulness on her face, and I felt another touch of resentment. Dameon was my close friend and confidant, but in that one short moment, I felt more anger at him than ever before.
Quickly regaining control of my emotions, I felt shame. He was my friend. I had no right to act towards him this way. What was between him and Elspeth, was not of my concern. Right now, there were more important matters to consider, such as the trip that we were to take to Sador, and the Battlegames. When I spoke, I was glad to hear that the bitterness was gone from my voice, leaving it as cold and impersonal as when I had said Elspeth’s name.
“Well, this is touching. When you have finished the tender reconciliations, perhaps you will spare us a moment.”
Turning my way, Dameon smiled so gently, forgivingly and understanding, that I nearly flinched.
~*~*~
We were in the kitchen around the table, some standing, some sitting.
“She saw eight of us journeying to Sutrium, and your face, Elspeth, at the end of the journey. There was more - she mentioned thirteen going over water.” I hesitated slightly, and I noticed her take that in. “She did not know what the futuretelling meant, but she said you would. She said it had something to do with Obernewtyn and figuring out what to do next.” I waved my hand, indicating for her to continue on from where I left off.
A long time passed, but I listened to her voice, as she described the events that had happened as she came. There were very slight pauses here and there, as if she too held back a few things, and the only people I think noticed was me, and possibly Dameon. Finally, she repeated what she had told me about Jakoby, and the events at the rebel meeting.
Miryum was the first to speak after Elspeth was done, and she wanted to know what Jakoby would get out of this, something I’m sure everybody else was wondering.
“I doubt Jakoby saw it as helping either us, or the rebels. There was a problem, and she offered a Sadorian solution.” She finished, with what she thought of the Sadorians, and Miryum nodded slightly with approval at Elspeth’s words about Sadorian and honour.
“Are you absolutely certain that Maryon’s futuretelling concerns this woman’s offer of the Battlegames as a solution? Maryon never mentioned any battles.”
Hannay disproved that, though, saying that it was too much of a coincidence, and inwardly, I agreed. Freya wondered if this journey over water was to search for Matthew, and I noticed a shadow cross over Elspeth’s face at the mention of his name.
“Where would we go to search for him, and how?” I shook my head regretfully. “I wish we were going to find Matthew, but my instincts tell me that the journey Maryon foresaw is the one offered by this Jakoby. It fits too neatly. Why else would so many of us come, if not to take part in these Battlegames and win the alliance we need?”
I caught the look on Elspeth’s face: ‘But many present here are unsuited for this.’
The subtle changes of expression were unnoticeable to all except those who paid attention. Suited or not, we would win this. The future of Obernewtyn depended on us; if we could not be accepted by the rebels, the outcome of the rebellion would be inconsequential to us because we would still be hunted. Especially if this Malik became the overlord.
“But there aren’t enough anyway,” cried Miky. “Maryon told us that thirteen would go over water, but there are only nine of us, including Elspeth.”
I frowned, counting inside quickly.
“There would be eleven, if we count Kella and Dragon, and twelve with Domick.” I was startled to see Kella pale a little at the mention of her bondmate, and her next words.
“He can’t come. He was here this afternoon, before you came. He and two others have been sent to Morganna with some Councilmen. He won’t be back for ages. I… I told him you wanted me to come back to Obernewtyn. He… he said he though I should go. He has… he left a report for guildmerge.”
Why was Kella so upset? Elspeth sat close to her, and I saw her eyes filled with sympathy, but she said nothing.
“Brydda thinks this is a bad idea for us. What do we do about that?” strange, that of all people, Miryum would be one of the ones to resist this idea the most. “We should consider what that means.”
“It’s meaning is clear enough,” said Hannay. “He believes that we will lose, so he’s trying to stop us from going.”
“We need this alliance, Miryum,” I said, still somewhat confused by her reluctance.
Dameon was the next to speak, and he thought that the Battlegames would not happen, and that this was our chance to prove ourselves to the rebels of being human. Elspeth sighed and shook her head, and Miky and Angina looked disappointed.
Miryum wanted to know just why Elspeth didn’t coerce the rebels into agreeing for the alliance - something I was also slightly curious to hear.
“That is what Domick would advocate.” A slight flinch from Kella, and another sympathetic look from Elspeth. “But we can’t do that, not if we want them to be our allies. Controlling them would make us hypocrites; we’d be lowering ourselves to the level of the Council - possibly lower.”
Her words stopped us in our tracks for a moment, and it was only when something cracked loudly that the conversation moved on again.
“We’d be using coercion against them in this competition, wouldn’t we?” asked Freya, and Elspeth nodded.
“That’s different. In the Battlegames, they know that we will be using our powers without discrimination. We will pitch our skills against theirs, and they shall do the same. None will be hurt in this.”
“A sophistry,” added Freya and Elspeth snapped at her.
“Sophistry or not, it’s a difference that makes sense to me!” the empaths present flinched slightly at her fierce tone. “There isn’t any point in us going into the Battlegames thinking that Misfits and Rebels will be friends after them. The rebels will never accept us. We have to show the Maliks of the Land that we are capable of defending ourselves from them!”
Miryum nodded approvingly, saying,
“A show of strength.”
“If that is how you would see it. Or maybe just revealing ourselves for what we are?”
Dameon’s next words put me into a contemplative mood.
“What are we? Are we warriors, or Misfits? That is our trouble; we don’t know who and what we are. So instead of taking the initiative, we are only reacting to events.”
I only repeated Dameons’ thought from before; that perhaps we would not actually be fighting in the Battlegames. “Lud knows that I would not have chosen such a way to force the rebels to take us seriously. But is this so bad? A contest of skills to prove ourselves, it is safer then having to fight in a true battle.”
“There is one more thing you should know,” said Elspeth, as if she were just remembering it. “When the contest finishes, the rebels plan to meet to decide once and for all when and how the rebellion will be staged.”
This certainly changed many things, including our place in the scheme. We would win the Battlegames.
“By winning the Battlegames, we would have gained the right to take part in their councils,” I said.
“We’ll win, of course,” said Miryum confidently, her doubts forgotten.
We all wanted to know what the games were, but Elspeth was unable to provide an answer for us - something I found rather irritating, for how were we supposed to prepare for what was to come? The one comfort was that the rebels would be facing the same dilemma, if what Elspeth said about Sadorians and honour were true.
Miryum’s words made us forget our doubts:
“We shouldn’t be frightened of ten unTalents. Between the three of us, Hannah, Elspeth and I can deal with them.”
Elspeth nodded quietly.
~*~*~
I met Dardelan the next day, as we were waiting to board a ship bound for Sador. He had come with Reuvan, along with a beautiful Sadorian girl that I was certain could only be the daughter of this Jakoby. Elspeth had told us much about Jakoby, and mentioned her promise to leave her daughter behind as a show of goodwill.
Elspeth introduced us to them, and when I shook Dardelan’s hand, I knew, almost certainly, that here was one that could be trusted. An honourable person. He was as Elspeth had described him.
We finally cast off after a while, and I felt as if I was cutting myself from the life I lived. I felt ill at ease, because of all the stories that I heard about the sea, but my excitement overshadowed that feeling.
A new journey.
“To Sador,” sighed Miky.
“I feel sick,” said Miryum rather faintly, and she looked it.
“… I don’t feel so well myself…” murmured Elspeth.
In spite of myself, and in spite of her sickness, I smiled discreetly with amusement.
Chapter 3: Survival
(Chapter 35 of Ashling)
The others experienced various states of discomfort on the sea journey. The empaths weren’t affected that much, and Kella was quickly able to relieve them, but the coercers were a different story. Miryum was so sick that a sleepseal was put on her, though Hannay and Elspeth were less affected. Both settled themselves for an uncomfortable journey.
Dameon offered to look after Dragon and Miryum, seeing as his blindness would make things difficult for him on this sea trip. After they were moved, the others headed back to the salon, but I left them, to walk along the deck, deep in thought.
I had to do some thinking. I needed time to gather my thoughts, time to plan my next moves. I had to know more about what we were facing, but I also had to prepare myself. Perhaps, Elspeth might stop moving away from me, if I were able to prove myself to her, that I was not powerless.
Freya’s arrival to Obernewtyn had given me some hope.
No doubt about it, there was an opportunity for me, and I… almost desperately wanted to snatch it away, before it was lost.
Dameon had spoken to me about Freya’s abilities. He had told me, that her abilities as an empath were quite different. He called her an ‘enhancer’, a Talented Misfit able to enhance the ability of others. His tone had not changed one bit, but I’d immediately sensed the opportunities that Freya had, and could give. I was told that her presence was in great demand with many novices whenever they were practicing.
Since then, I had wondered if Freya’s power would assist me, and whether or not she would be willing to help me. Dameon had told me, quite gently, that her ability to enhance the talent of others was false, in that though it showed others what they were capable of, there was no true advancement in strength and ability. The only improvements came from what the novices themselves did; Freya’s power encouraged them to push themselves further.
I’d often wondered what it’d be like to be able to do what Elspeth, and the others, could do. Though I was a Misfit, I was a Misfit with latent talent, and therefore I may as well just be counted as another unTalent. Misfit or no, I had no power, and I was set apart from the others, in status, and in ability. Though I had the slight comfort that one day my powers might awaken, all I could do now was fight for the acceptance and place of Talented Misfits in the Land. This was my mission, and they were my friends, and I would not fail them.
I stopped walking, and looked out. If Freya could help me, if my powers might finally awaken, I wondered if Elspeth would stop moving away, and at the very least finally acknowledge me.
Beautiful, strong, distant Elspeth. Even if she was one of the most powerful Misfits at Obernewtyn, or maybe anywhere, I still wanted to protect her. How many times had she nearly died in her life?
I remembered the first time I saw her; it had been her eyes that had first caught my attention. She hadn’t been what she was now, she was still so young then, but even so, I couldn’t stop myself from looking. As time went on, I suspected that she was more then she made herself out to be. Louis told me what he had observed, and it merely added to my own suspicions.
Then, that night, I found her standing at the main doors, preparing to escape in what I would later think as one of the most dangerous and riskiest way and I would wonder what had she been thinking? Did she not understand that one just couldn’t walk out the gates of Obernewtyn as if nothing was wrong? She probably hadn’t even planned anything; the wolves, the councilmen, Ariel, Alexi and Vega, and the weather. She wouldn’t have survived the night. But I stopped her, and I sent her on a different way.
Later on, we found the bloodied remains of a living being in the courtyard, and I felt… words could not describe what went through me in the moments I saw the mess out there. I thought she was dead and I felt as if what I was fighting for was nothing compared to what I felt for her and for her 'death'. I went mad, and it was Ariel shooting me that eventually made me stop. Then they captured me. Imagine my complete and utter shock when Elspeth whispered my name while we were in the caves. In that one moment, everything seemed alright, and I vowed that I would protect her from Alexi and Vega. Whatever they wanted, they would hurt Elspeth for it, and I would not allow it to happen. When she sent me the message telling me that my friends were coming, I did not let her mind go.
Two years later, there was the threat of Obernewtyn being investigated by the Council. Elspeth had embarked on a perilous journey to find Dragon - who I had been surprised to learn was as powerful, perhaps even more so, then Elspeth herself. Eventually, unable to make it back herself, she had sent a message through Daffyd. Her injuries from the Battle of Obernewtyn were now slowly killing her, from lack of treatment. The months I went through when I thought her dead, again, were horrible. I felt as if I was in a daze, but this time, I forced myself to go through with the plans that we laid out to save Obernewtyn. I had not been able to protect her this time, for she had gone away, but I could still help save Obernewtyn. She came back, though, and again, I felt as if everything would be fine.
And this time, Elspeth risked her life for a nameless gypsy. She went up to a Herder, and demanded that this person be released, getting herself a concussion for her pains. She came back only to find that if she did not return her to her people, she herself would die. Elspeth wanted to go alone to find the gypsys’ people, and she thought she did not need any help. I had a second person go along with her. Someone could keep an eye on her for me this time.
At least, she had succeeded without any failure.
I straightened, and turned to go to the salon. I could not let these thoughts distract me, in a situation like this.
This sea trip was so… invigorating, and I found myself enjoying it. It hadn’t taken me that long to get used to walking with the movement of the ship, and I almost pitied Miryum and her sickness.
I threw open the door, and stated to everybody inside:
“I am ravenous.” They stared at me, though Miky and Angina in particular seemed amused.
Behind me, the door burst open again, and an old beggar entered. As Hannay started telling him that he couldn’t come in, the beggar took off his hood, and we were all surprised to see that it was Daffyd. He ignored us all, sweeping the room with his gaze before it settled on Elspeth. She gasped as she took in his condition; his eye, his split lip.
“What in Lud’s name has happened to you?” she demanded.
“I escaped from Ayle,” he said hoarsely.
“Sit down,” I said, guiding him to a window seat beside Elspeth.
Daffyd told us about Salamander, how he had been found out, and how he had managed to escape. He tried searching for us at the safe house, but when he saw that we weren’t there, he sent out a probe. Luckily, he was able to learn about our journey, and make it in time.
“I hope you do not object to another travelling companion.”
“We are glad to have you,” I said distantly, thinking that there were now twelve instead of eleven of us. Beside Elspeth, I heard Miky quietly voice my thought.
“Elspeth believes she saw Ariel on board the Herder ship that took Matthew away,” I said. “Did you see him?” Daffyd paled, a flurry of emotions crossing his face before it finally settled on a mixture of anger and despair.
“Are you sure,” demanded Daffyd.
“I thought I was, but I could easily have been mistaken.”
“It seems unlikely since there is no connection between Ariel and this Salamander,” I said, but Daffyd gainsaid me.
“You are wrong. Before, I said at the safe house that there was not enough time to tell my story - but now, I just wish I had taken the time.”
“It would be a simple matter if lives were lived by hindsight,” I said quietly. “There is much we would not begin, if we could see how it would end.” Daffyd wouldn’t allow those words to console him, and he began his story.
When Daffyd arrived at the part about the soldierguards, and how they did not appear, I felt myself pale.
So Ariel sent the Druid and his camp to death, by using what nature would give him. So he was able to win, but condemning all those lives to death. Ever was Ariel cruel, but this…
“When the there surviving armsmen could not find them, they split up. Two of them went up to the coast tracking some obscure lead. The third man remained, and it was he that I met. For a while, we travelled together, but neither of us were able to find anything that might give us a clue as to what had happened to the others. He began to fear that they had all been killed and that taking them from the camp had simply been Ariel’s means of getting out before the firestorm struck. A ploy, and that he had just killed them after he finished using them. We parted then. Gilbert went after the two armsmen to the west coast and I…”
“Gilbert?” asked Elspeth, and I was surprised to see the look of recognition on her face. I wondered who this Gilbert was, and what he meant to her. Daffyd voiced my thoughts.
“You remember him? Strange that you should recall one face out of all the Druid’s men. He spoke of you, but thought you were dead. Of course I did not enlighten him.” Elspeth merely nodded.
Daffyd continued on with his story, and we were horrified to learn the fate of those women and children. Like Matthew, they had been sold to slavers. There was despair in his voice as he said how easily he could’ve farsought his Gilaine. I saw guilt on Elspeth’s face, and I knew at once that she had begged him to go to Obernewtyn, thereby preventing him from finding his people.
The conversation moved to how he had infiltrated the slave trade, and we wondered about Ariel’s connection to Salamander.
“I wonder what Ariel got out of the bargain,” I murmured. “Coin? He would not aid the slaver for nothing.” Daffyd’s expression hardened as he agreed with me, and compared the two.
Elspeth rested a hand on his arm, asking him what he would do, and his answer made me think of our fight.
“Survive.”
Cross posted to: carmodyonline, obernewtyn
Notes: Chapter 2 of Ravek, nothing much happens. Chapter three has more original content in it.
Chapter 2: Discussions
(Chapter 34 of Ashling)
I followed Elspeth, a few minutes after she hurried upstairs. When I came, the sight almost made me burn with jealousy.
Dameon and Elspeth were sitting close together, and he was patting her back, comforting her gently. She would never have allowed me to be so close.
He was telling her a story, about the Beforetime Princess, and he had her full attention.
“He woke her, with a kiss,” said Dameon, and he gently lifted Dragon’s hand and pressed his lips to it. I laughed at the absurdity of the story, but neither noticed. He finished the tale.
“Matthew has been taken, but they will not be able to keep him for long. He will return, just as he promised you that he would. As full of gossip and wild stories as ever.”
And there, was that look of calm, of peacefulness on her face, and I felt another touch of resentment. Dameon was my close friend and confidant, but in that one short moment, I felt more anger at him than ever before.
Quickly regaining control of my emotions, I felt shame. He was my friend. I had no right to act towards him this way. What was between him and Elspeth, was not of my concern. Right now, there were more important matters to consider, such as the trip that we were to take to Sador, and the Battlegames. When I spoke, I was glad to hear that the bitterness was gone from my voice, leaving it as cold and impersonal as when I had said Elspeth’s name.
“Well, this is touching. When you have finished the tender reconciliations, perhaps you will spare us a moment.”
Turning my way, Dameon smiled so gently, forgivingly and understanding, that I nearly flinched.
~*~*~
We were in the kitchen around the table, some standing, some sitting.
“She saw eight of us journeying to Sutrium, and your face, Elspeth, at the end of the journey. There was more - she mentioned thirteen going over water.” I hesitated slightly, and I noticed her take that in. “She did not know what the futuretelling meant, but she said you would. She said it had something to do with Obernewtyn and figuring out what to do next.” I waved my hand, indicating for her to continue on from where I left off.
A long time passed, but I listened to her voice, as she described the events that had happened as she came. There were very slight pauses here and there, as if she too held back a few things, and the only people I think noticed was me, and possibly Dameon. Finally, she repeated what she had told me about Jakoby, and the events at the rebel meeting.
Miryum was the first to speak after Elspeth was done, and she wanted to know what Jakoby would get out of this, something I’m sure everybody else was wondering.
“I doubt Jakoby saw it as helping either us, or the rebels. There was a problem, and she offered a Sadorian solution.” She finished, with what she thought of the Sadorians, and Miryum nodded slightly with approval at Elspeth’s words about Sadorian and honour.
“Are you absolutely certain that Maryon’s futuretelling concerns this woman’s offer of the Battlegames as a solution? Maryon never mentioned any battles.”
Hannay disproved that, though, saying that it was too much of a coincidence, and inwardly, I agreed. Freya wondered if this journey over water was to search for Matthew, and I noticed a shadow cross over Elspeth’s face at the mention of his name.
“Where would we go to search for him, and how?” I shook my head regretfully. “I wish we were going to find Matthew, but my instincts tell me that the journey Maryon foresaw is the one offered by this Jakoby. It fits too neatly. Why else would so many of us come, if not to take part in these Battlegames and win the alliance we need?”
I caught the look on Elspeth’s face: ‘But many present here are unsuited for this.’
The subtle changes of expression were unnoticeable to all except those who paid attention. Suited or not, we would win this. The future of Obernewtyn depended on us; if we could not be accepted by the rebels, the outcome of the rebellion would be inconsequential to us because we would still be hunted. Especially if this Malik became the overlord.
“But there aren’t enough anyway,” cried Miky. “Maryon told us that thirteen would go over water, but there are only nine of us, including Elspeth.”
I frowned, counting inside quickly.
“There would be eleven, if we count Kella and Dragon, and twelve with Domick.” I was startled to see Kella pale a little at the mention of her bondmate, and her next words.
“He can’t come. He was here this afternoon, before you came. He and two others have been sent to Morganna with some Councilmen. He won’t be back for ages. I… I told him you wanted me to come back to Obernewtyn. He… he said he though I should go. He has… he left a report for guildmerge.”
Why was Kella so upset? Elspeth sat close to her, and I saw her eyes filled with sympathy, but she said nothing.
“Brydda thinks this is a bad idea for us. What do we do about that?” strange, that of all people, Miryum would be one of the ones to resist this idea the most. “We should consider what that means.”
“It’s meaning is clear enough,” said Hannay. “He believes that we will lose, so he’s trying to stop us from going.”
“We need this alliance, Miryum,” I said, still somewhat confused by her reluctance.
Dameon was the next to speak, and he thought that the Battlegames would not happen, and that this was our chance to prove ourselves to the rebels of being human. Elspeth sighed and shook her head, and Miky and Angina looked disappointed.
Miryum wanted to know just why Elspeth didn’t coerce the rebels into agreeing for the alliance - something I was also slightly curious to hear.
“That is what Domick would advocate.” A slight flinch from Kella, and another sympathetic look from Elspeth. “But we can’t do that, not if we want them to be our allies. Controlling them would make us hypocrites; we’d be lowering ourselves to the level of the Council - possibly lower.”
Her words stopped us in our tracks for a moment, and it was only when something cracked loudly that the conversation moved on again.
“We’d be using coercion against them in this competition, wouldn’t we?” asked Freya, and Elspeth nodded.
“That’s different. In the Battlegames, they know that we will be using our powers without discrimination. We will pitch our skills against theirs, and they shall do the same. None will be hurt in this.”
“A sophistry,” added Freya and Elspeth snapped at her.
“Sophistry or not, it’s a difference that makes sense to me!” the empaths present flinched slightly at her fierce tone. “There isn’t any point in us going into the Battlegames thinking that Misfits and Rebels will be friends after them. The rebels will never accept us. We have to show the Maliks of the Land that we are capable of defending ourselves from them!”
Miryum nodded approvingly, saying,
“A show of strength.”
“If that is how you would see it. Or maybe just revealing ourselves for what we are?”
Dameon’s next words put me into a contemplative mood.
“What are we? Are we warriors, or Misfits? That is our trouble; we don’t know who and what we are. So instead of taking the initiative, we are only reacting to events.”
I only repeated Dameons’ thought from before; that perhaps we would not actually be fighting in the Battlegames. “Lud knows that I would not have chosen such a way to force the rebels to take us seriously. But is this so bad? A contest of skills to prove ourselves, it is safer then having to fight in a true battle.”
“There is one more thing you should know,” said Elspeth, as if she were just remembering it. “When the contest finishes, the rebels plan to meet to decide once and for all when and how the rebellion will be staged.”
This certainly changed many things, including our place in the scheme. We would win the Battlegames.
“By winning the Battlegames, we would have gained the right to take part in their councils,” I said.
“We’ll win, of course,” said Miryum confidently, her doubts forgotten.
We all wanted to know what the games were, but Elspeth was unable to provide an answer for us - something I found rather irritating, for how were we supposed to prepare for what was to come? The one comfort was that the rebels would be facing the same dilemma, if what Elspeth said about Sadorians and honour were true.
Miryum’s words made us forget our doubts:
“We shouldn’t be frightened of ten unTalents. Between the three of us, Hannah, Elspeth and I can deal with them.”
Elspeth nodded quietly.
~*~*~
I met Dardelan the next day, as we were waiting to board a ship bound for Sador. He had come with Reuvan, along with a beautiful Sadorian girl that I was certain could only be the daughter of this Jakoby. Elspeth had told us much about Jakoby, and mentioned her promise to leave her daughter behind as a show of goodwill.
Elspeth introduced us to them, and when I shook Dardelan’s hand, I knew, almost certainly, that here was one that could be trusted. An honourable person. He was as Elspeth had described him.
We finally cast off after a while, and I felt as if I was cutting myself from the life I lived. I felt ill at ease, because of all the stories that I heard about the sea, but my excitement overshadowed that feeling.
A new journey.
“To Sador,” sighed Miky.
“I feel sick,” said Miryum rather faintly, and she looked it.
“… I don’t feel so well myself…” murmured Elspeth.
In spite of myself, and in spite of her sickness, I smiled discreetly with amusement.
Chapter 3: Survival
(Chapter 35 of Ashling)
The others experienced various states of discomfort on the sea journey. The empaths weren’t affected that much, and Kella was quickly able to relieve them, but the coercers were a different story. Miryum was so sick that a sleepseal was put on her, though Hannay and Elspeth were less affected. Both settled themselves for an uncomfortable journey.
Dameon offered to look after Dragon and Miryum, seeing as his blindness would make things difficult for him on this sea trip. After they were moved, the others headed back to the salon, but I left them, to walk along the deck, deep in thought.
I had to do some thinking. I needed time to gather my thoughts, time to plan my next moves. I had to know more about what we were facing, but I also had to prepare myself. Perhaps, Elspeth might stop moving away from me, if I were able to prove myself to her, that I was not powerless.
Freya’s arrival to Obernewtyn had given me some hope.
No doubt about it, there was an opportunity for me, and I… almost desperately wanted to snatch it away, before it was lost.
Dameon had spoken to me about Freya’s abilities. He had told me, that her abilities as an empath were quite different. He called her an ‘enhancer’, a Talented Misfit able to enhance the ability of others. His tone had not changed one bit, but I’d immediately sensed the opportunities that Freya had, and could give. I was told that her presence was in great demand with many novices whenever they were practicing.
Since then, I had wondered if Freya’s power would assist me, and whether or not she would be willing to help me. Dameon had told me, quite gently, that her ability to enhance the talent of others was false, in that though it showed others what they were capable of, there was no true advancement in strength and ability. The only improvements came from what the novices themselves did; Freya’s power encouraged them to push themselves further.
I’d often wondered what it’d be like to be able to do what Elspeth, and the others, could do. Though I was a Misfit, I was a Misfit with latent talent, and therefore I may as well just be counted as another unTalent. Misfit or no, I had no power, and I was set apart from the others, in status, and in ability. Though I had the slight comfort that one day my powers might awaken, all I could do now was fight for the acceptance and place of Talented Misfits in the Land. This was my mission, and they were my friends, and I would not fail them.
I stopped walking, and looked out. If Freya could help me, if my powers might finally awaken, I wondered if Elspeth would stop moving away, and at the very least finally acknowledge me.
Beautiful, strong, distant Elspeth. Even if she was one of the most powerful Misfits at Obernewtyn, or maybe anywhere, I still wanted to protect her. How many times had she nearly died in her life?
I remembered the first time I saw her; it had been her eyes that had first caught my attention. She hadn’t been what she was now, she was still so young then, but even so, I couldn’t stop myself from looking. As time went on, I suspected that she was more then she made herself out to be. Louis told me what he had observed, and it merely added to my own suspicions.
Then, that night, I found her standing at the main doors, preparing to escape in what I would later think as one of the most dangerous and riskiest way and I would wonder what had she been thinking? Did she not understand that one just couldn’t walk out the gates of Obernewtyn as if nothing was wrong? She probably hadn’t even planned anything; the wolves, the councilmen, Ariel, Alexi and Vega, and the weather. She wouldn’t have survived the night. But I stopped her, and I sent her on a different way.
Later on, we found the bloodied remains of a living being in the courtyard, and I felt… words could not describe what went through me in the moments I saw the mess out there. I thought she was dead and I felt as if what I was fighting for was nothing compared to what I felt for her and for her 'death'. I went mad, and it was Ariel shooting me that eventually made me stop. Then they captured me. Imagine my complete and utter shock when Elspeth whispered my name while we were in the caves. In that one moment, everything seemed alright, and I vowed that I would protect her from Alexi and Vega. Whatever they wanted, they would hurt Elspeth for it, and I would not allow it to happen. When she sent me the message telling me that my friends were coming, I did not let her mind go.
Two years later, there was the threat of Obernewtyn being investigated by the Council. Elspeth had embarked on a perilous journey to find Dragon - who I had been surprised to learn was as powerful, perhaps even more so, then Elspeth herself. Eventually, unable to make it back herself, she had sent a message through Daffyd. Her injuries from the Battle of Obernewtyn were now slowly killing her, from lack of treatment. The months I went through when I thought her dead, again, were horrible. I felt as if I was in a daze, but this time, I forced myself to go through with the plans that we laid out to save Obernewtyn. I had not been able to protect her this time, for she had gone away, but I could still help save Obernewtyn. She came back, though, and again, I felt as if everything would be fine.
And this time, Elspeth risked her life for a nameless gypsy. She went up to a Herder, and demanded that this person be released, getting herself a concussion for her pains. She came back only to find that if she did not return her to her people, she herself would die. Elspeth wanted to go alone to find the gypsys’ people, and she thought she did not need any help. I had a second person go along with her. Someone could keep an eye on her for me this time.
At least, she had succeeded without any failure.
I straightened, and turned to go to the salon. I could not let these thoughts distract me, in a situation like this.
This sea trip was so… invigorating, and I found myself enjoying it. It hadn’t taken me that long to get used to walking with the movement of the ship, and I almost pitied Miryum and her sickness.
I threw open the door, and stated to everybody inside:
“I am ravenous.” They stared at me, though Miky and Angina in particular seemed amused.
Behind me, the door burst open again, and an old beggar entered. As Hannay started telling him that he couldn’t come in, the beggar took off his hood, and we were all surprised to see that it was Daffyd. He ignored us all, sweeping the room with his gaze before it settled on Elspeth. She gasped as she took in his condition; his eye, his split lip.
“What in Lud’s name has happened to you?” she demanded.
“I escaped from Ayle,” he said hoarsely.
“Sit down,” I said, guiding him to a window seat beside Elspeth.
Daffyd told us about Salamander, how he had been found out, and how he had managed to escape. He tried searching for us at the safe house, but when he saw that we weren’t there, he sent out a probe. Luckily, he was able to learn about our journey, and make it in time.
“I hope you do not object to another travelling companion.”
“We are glad to have you,” I said distantly, thinking that there were now twelve instead of eleven of us. Beside Elspeth, I heard Miky quietly voice my thought.
“Elspeth believes she saw Ariel on board the Herder ship that took Matthew away,” I said. “Did you see him?” Daffyd paled, a flurry of emotions crossing his face before it finally settled on a mixture of anger and despair.
“Are you sure,” demanded Daffyd.
“I thought I was, but I could easily have been mistaken.”
“It seems unlikely since there is no connection between Ariel and this Salamander,” I said, but Daffyd gainsaid me.
“You are wrong. Before, I said at the safe house that there was not enough time to tell my story - but now, I just wish I had taken the time.”
“It would be a simple matter if lives were lived by hindsight,” I said quietly. “There is much we would not begin, if we could see how it would end.” Daffyd wouldn’t allow those words to console him, and he began his story.
When Daffyd arrived at the part about the soldierguards, and how they did not appear, I felt myself pale.
So Ariel sent the Druid and his camp to death, by using what nature would give him. So he was able to win, but condemning all those lives to death. Ever was Ariel cruel, but this…
“When the there surviving armsmen could not find them, they split up. Two of them went up to the coast tracking some obscure lead. The third man remained, and it was he that I met. For a while, we travelled together, but neither of us were able to find anything that might give us a clue as to what had happened to the others. He began to fear that they had all been killed and that taking them from the camp had simply been Ariel’s means of getting out before the firestorm struck. A ploy, and that he had just killed them after he finished using them. We parted then. Gilbert went after the two armsmen to the west coast and I…”
“Gilbert?” asked Elspeth, and I was surprised to see the look of recognition on her face. I wondered who this Gilbert was, and what he meant to her. Daffyd voiced my thoughts.
“You remember him? Strange that you should recall one face out of all the Druid’s men. He spoke of you, but thought you were dead. Of course I did not enlighten him.” Elspeth merely nodded.
Daffyd continued on with his story, and we were horrified to learn the fate of those women and children. Like Matthew, they had been sold to slavers. There was despair in his voice as he said how easily he could’ve farsought his Gilaine. I saw guilt on Elspeth’s face, and I knew at once that she had begged him to go to Obernewtyn, thereby preventing him from finding his people.
The conversation moved to how he had infiltrated the slave trade, and we wondered about Ariel’s connection to Salamander.
“I wonder what Ariel got out of the bargain,” I murmured. “Coin? He would not aid the slaver for nothing.” Daffyd’s expression hardened as he agreed with me, and compared the two.
Elspeth rested a hand on his arm, asking him what he would do, and his answer made me think of our fight.
“Survive.”