Soon they and the rest of the princes and princesses, their advisors and councilors, and fifty-one of the most senior wizards and commanders were gathered in the Hall of Anticipation.
Yazadril called them to order, and outlined what was known thus far, as well as what was being done to gain more knowledge of their foe. Then he called for comment.
For several long moments everyone looked expectantly around at everyone else. Finally Mark cleared his throat, and spoke. “Look, I’m sure some of you have thought of this already, but the first thing you need to do, and as soon as possible at that, is to warn the leaders of every nation of every race that someone may be trying to instigate a war. It almost happened here, so it may be repeated elsewhere. They must know that if some great offense is committed against them, and it appears that there are obvious culprits who protest their innocence, that those protests are more likely to be valid than if none of this had happened. They must be urged to avoid all hasty military action, and to strive to their utmost to maintain the peace, at least until our enemy is caught, or they could be manipulated to their destruction. If war does break out, anyone could be drawn into it, or forced into it.”
“Actually, I doubt any of us did think of it, Mark.” Jaromer mused. “I had of course planned to speak to Osbald about this, but I didn’t think beyond that yet, being most concerned with my own people, both of my race and of my nation.”
“Yes.” Theramin nodded to Mark. “Your wisdom and insight do you proud. Particularly your urging of haste in the sending of warnings to the leaders of the world.”
“I agree.” Yazadril nodded. “And so it shall be done.”
“I’ll draft a scroll with our warnings. It will only take a few minutes, then the leaders among us will sign it.” Pimall stated. “We have enough wizards here to have copies of it in the hands of all the leaders of the world in minutes, and they will read it, if we have to get them out of bed to have them do so!”
“Thank you.” Yazadril said.
“I’ll begin now.” Pimall said, and turned to go to a desk at the back of the room.
“Is there anything else?” Yazadril asked the group. He received only silence in return. “All right, as soon as the messages are sent, we’ll bid you good night.”
“We can take care of it, Yazadril.” Jaromer told him. “You and Alilia should go sign the scroll, then you eight who have business in First Valley can go to it, so you can get the bride and groom retired for the evening before the sun comes up!”
“Thank you. That’s considerate of you.” Yazadril nodded, then turned to follow Alilia, who was already headed for the desk.
“Talia, I think it might be dangerous when I try Silaran’s... Whoa!”
Silaran had appeared at Mark’s mention of his name, even before the next word was out of Mark’s mouth. He immediately realized the situation, and said; “Please, don’t let me interrupt.”
“Ah. Well as I say, it might be dangerous when I try Silaran’s Translocation, and I don’t see why we should both be at risk.” Mark told his new wife. “Perhaps you should travel home by another method.”
“There’s no risk for us, my beloved, the curse sees to that.” Talia smiled. “At worst, it will be very uncomfortable.”
“See, I don’t understand how you can trust the curse to save us from anything!” Mark said in concern. “Even I know that they’re notoriously unpredictable! You think we’re immortal, so we can still be fulfilling it at the end of days, but I’m afraid it’ll turn us into ghosts or zombies or demons or something! I don’t see why that wouldn’t suit the curse just as well!”
“Partly because we know Alilia, intimately, and her state of mind when she cast it. Curses follow the intent of the caster at the moment of casting; they do not play with semantics to match the words that were spoken. It will be fulfilled in the manner she intended, and she did not intend for us to be ghosts or demons or anything other than what we are. Not even old or decrepit.
“Another unique thing about this curse is that it was not cast over a distance, but passed into me at the contact of Alilia’s fist with my face. The immense power of the curse is not floating about us, it is entirely within me. I felt its power leap from my body to yours when it saved your life. Now, the main difference between a spell and a curse is that the curse is less specific about how something is to occur, and they work by making a simple copy of certain parts of the mind of the caster, so that they can evaluate reality to the extent necessary to accomplish their aims. I tell you Love, the curse is getting to know me, and I am getting to know it in return.
“And I can assure you of the certain and absolute truth, and give my word upon it as an elf to my sworn husband, that until the end of days, you and I will be alive, and young, and healthy, and of sound mind, and that you will rape me regularly and painfully as Yzandra described, and furthermore insult me when you do with the silly and petty things that human males tend to say in such moments, because that, all of that and exactly that and no more, is what Alilia intended when she cast the curse.”
Alilia could only nod silently in confirmation, tears running unheeded, her face hard with rigid control. She succeeded in preventing her eyes from dropping in shame, but she had to stare to the side as she listened, being unable to meet the young couple’s gaze.
Mark considered what Talia had said. Then a thought struck him. “The curse can think?!” he asked, astounded.
Talia considered. “The curse can only be said to think if something as simple as an ant can be said to think, as it goes about finding food and mates and avoiding danger.”
“She’s absolutely right about all of that.” Silaran commented.
“Hi Silaran, thanks for coming, and sorry to ignore you like that.” Mark told him aloud. “And how do you know she’s right?”
“I did not feel ignored, but rather was enjoying your fascinating conversation. And you should understand that you have a strong and rather guarded mind, and you think of our communication as ‘talking’, so I only hear the words you ‘speak’ to me, whether you use your mouth or not. But Talia is a trusting soul, and a wizard who is accustomed to purely mental communication, and she is very aware of my people’s history as a just and noble race. She trusts me rather completely, and allows me access to much of her mind, and so I can see the truth of what she said.
“Much the same is true of Alilia, and she has had time to fully consider her state of mind at the moment of her casting, so she can verify it as well. You are immortal, within the limits of the power of the curse to accomplish, and there is no real risk to either of you in your testing of my Translocation, as that spell is very minuscule in power compared to the curse.
“But, as Talia hinted, if it goes badly it may be very painful for the three of us.”
“He’s right. You’re immortal.” Alilia nodded. “I only wish it did not require the death of a loved one filling me with overwhelming sorrow and rage to inspire me to the huge risk and effort of such a mighty bestowing. For a fraction of a second after I cast the curse, my own life was in danger, I was that depleted. It was an unthinking act and a horrible risk, and I couldn’t just decide to grant immortality to someone. Who knows? Maybe it would work, maybe it would annihilate a continent. Perhaps by the time I’m Yazadril’s age, if I reach it, I’ll be ready to apply such a spell to myself. No, not a spell, or a curse. A blessing. A blessing that restores your body, your mind, and your life from any injury, magic or mundane.” she mused.
“Those are dangerous thoughts.” Yazadril stated firmly. “I will thank you all to never repeat them, anywhere. Such researches must be conducted in the highest state of confidentiality. There are human wizards and others who would gladly slay most of the world for such a blessing. And if such a thing became common knowledge, there would be a population increase that would choke the world in less than a millennium.”
That caused a moment of silence.
“I’m sorry, I’m still not convinced that the curse can be so trusted.” Mark said. “I mean, what about the other curse? That Yazadril and Alilia’s children would slay each other? Who would have expected what actually happened to come from a curse like that? If that’s not playing with semantics, I don’t know what is!”
“But don’t you see, if the caster’s intent had really been that Dalia and Bezedil and I would slay each other, he would have waited until we were born, and then cursed the three of us to such a fate.” Talia explained. “But he cast it on Father and Alilia instead. The words he spoke are more easily detected by the information gathering spells Father used, but it’s obvious that the caster’s intent was that Father and Alilia’s children would die in such a way that they would each blame the child of the other for the death of their own, thus sowing strife between them. And it almost did cause that strife. Personally, I think it was only thwarted in that because Alilia’s will and power is so much greater than the power of the first curse, and that the first curse was limited to secondary effects that had to be the result of our deaths. Hopefully, its meager power is spent. If not, and some of it still lingers, and Alilia ever has another child, that child will be in danger from me, as I will be protected from her child by our curse.”
“Yazadril!” Alilia barked. “Could she be right?! And is there a way to know if it still lingers?”
“Don’t worry. We could drive ourselves mad wondering about every possible problem tonight. Add the question to our researches, Alilia. We will find out in due time. Certainly before you could have another child. Meanwhile, we will all speak tomorrow evening at nine, to consider new information and actions.”
“The warnings are being sent as we speak, so that is one less thing to consider.” Jaromer stated. “Enjoy yourselves, and farewell until tomorrow, when we will speak again.” He bowed.
“Goodbye, and thanks again!” Mark called.
Jaromer disappeared.
“Goodbye everyone! Thank you!” Talia called, as she waved and floated herself up to Silaran’s bare back.
Many called their farewells and took their leave, while Silaran easily crouched with all four legs in a way that no horse ever could, allowing Mark to vault to his back.
“Silaran, I’m thinking that if the Translocate may be dangerous, we should ride to the middle of the pass out of this valley before we try it.” Mark said after the unicorn again stood. “That way nothing else can be hurt or damaged except bare rock. And it should only take a few minutes.”
“Wise thoughts, Mark.” Silaran agreed.
“We’ll see you at your property.” Alilia said, and effortlessly Translocated herself there, along with Yazadril, Nemia, Theramin, Dilimon, and four who weren’t even in the room, being Hilsith, Gorsh, Yzell and Yalla.
Mark waved goodbye to the remaining leaders and wizards as Silaran clopped to the door. The steed crouched again as he ducked low enough through the doorway to not risk his riders’ heads hitting it.
They waved to the many remaining merrymakers as they rode away from the chapel, and Mark noticed the chair conveyance they’d flown to the wedding was flying home at high speed, high overhead.
Talia leaned back against his belly, he wrapped his arms around her, and she snuggled within them.
Soon they were past the major pavilions and the densest crowds, and Silaran began picking up speed. By the time they reached the edge of the forest floor he was galloping at amazing speed, and continued to accelerate as he climbed toward the pass. All his gaits were unnaturally smooth, and he had thick rows of muscle along either side of his spine that rose higher than his backbones, cushioning the buttocks of his riders, so they were very comfortable though they rode bareback.
Though he had to slow a bit for the corners and curves in the trail, and lean steeply into them, his footing was perfectly sure and solid, as was his riders’ place upon his back.
Only a few minutes later he slowed, then stopped. “I judge this to be the safest location. Shall we try the Translocate?” the unicorn asked.
“We might as well, I think.” Mark agreed.
“I think so too.” Talia nodded. “It will be of immense aid to us if we can both Translocate. Silaran’s Translocation spell is much better than mine in range and accuracy, and so helps me a great deal, but it’s even more important to you, since you would otherwise need to fly everywhere. That’s fine for getting around The Nine Valleys, but it would take us many hours or days to visit our various holdings that way.”
“True.” he grinned. “All right Silaran, let’s give it a try.”
There was a brief moment of extreme cold, and a flash that both Mark and Talia saw. Then they were standing on the grass in First Valley, within sight of Yazadril’s tree.
“Are you both all right?”
“I’m fine.” Talia nodded.
“Me too.” Mark said as he blinked the stars out of his eyes.
“Good. As for myself, I am just as well.” Silaran nodded, and began walking to the south side of the vast clearing, where many hundreds of elves were gathered into two groups, one having roughly twice as many as the other. “But I must say, that was the most unique sensation I ever experienced! There is definitely something very strange about you, Mark. Perhaps you would allow me to visit for a few hours, sometime over the next few days. I would like to bring my love Equemev with me, for she is a fine sorcerer. I’m curious to see what her reaction is to the sensation of Translocating with you.”
“Your mate is a wizard as well!” Mark laughed. “That’s a fine thing, and a bit of coincidence! By the way, have you heard about Krago…”
“AH!!” Talia sharply warned as she raised a quick hand, then continued calmly. “You’ll attract their attention if you speak their names, and it’s their wedding night too, in every way that matters. We don’t want to disturb them.”
“I’ll say!” Mark agreed with raised eyebrows. “And thanks for the save, Talia! That was close! I was going to name both of them!”
“You didn’t know, but now you do.” she said, and he caught a bit of her father’s teaching manner in her words. “You must form the habit of never naming any person of power, unless you want their attention. Most of them would not notice most of the time, but you never know. Look at the way you called Silaran minutes ago, before you were ready for a proper greeting.”
“Good point. Thanks, love.” he grinned, and kissed the top of her head before he continued. “At any rate, Silaran, have you heard what happened at the gift presentation immediately after yours, involving a certain large red friend of yours, and the silver beauty of his affections?”
“I have!” Silaran laughed. “And delightful news it was! Furthermore, I see your original point as well! Yourself and Talia, myself and Equemev, Big Crimson and Silver Beauty. Three couples of vastly different ages and races, yet as people, we are very similar. We are all practically immortal, and we are three young, strong, warrior males mated to three young, beautiful power wielders. Wizards and sorcerers aren’t quite the same, but the distinction is more important in a theoretical than a social sense, for they spend their time doing similar things.”
“Exactly!” Mark laughed. “I can see the six of us visiting together in the years ahead! You, me and Big Crimson can practice combat moves and battle strategies, while the ladies swap feminine topics and arcane lore!”
“And in the future after that, we could all get together for dinners, while our young all frolic around our ankles!” Talia laughed. “We’ll all marvel proudly at the growth of our young, and swap stories of the things they’ve broken around our homes in their playful antics, and laugh together like all young parents do when they gather with those of similar nature!”
“How absolutely sweet!” Povon spoke in their minds. “Sorry to interrupt, but you called us Big Crimson and Silver Beauty. Very charming, but you named us in your minds, though you gave us each a new name to add to our collections. I’m rather sensitive to things like that, and I couldn’t help noticing. If you had said ‘the big crimson and the silver beauty’, remaining purely descriptive, I’d have probably not noticed, but those won’t work for that anymore now that you’ve made them names, so you’ll have to think of new terms for us for when you want to speak of us without calling our attention.
“At any rate, Talia, that was just about the prettiest thought that anyone ever had about me! I think such visits would be fun, and that Hilsith might think them fine therapy for me. Don’t you think so dear?
“Kragorram agrees, and sends his greetings.”
“Why my dear, you mischievous little thing!” Silaran laughed. “Congratulations!”
“Pardon me?” Povon asked with a giggle.
“Equemev also sends her greetings!” Silaran laughed. “She has now reached such a level of psionic skill that she detected it when I spoke her name, though she is on the other side of the world! A far more rare accomplishment for unicorns than for dragons, even given that I am particularly well attuned to her! Since I spoke her name, she has eavesdropped on my conversation, pretty prankster that she is! And she also agrees that we six should meet and visit.”
“Ah, she has contacted me now!” Povon announced. “Greetings and well done, Equemev! I look forward to meeting you!”
“I have her as well! Hello Equemev!” Talia crowed proudly.
“Well done Talia!” Povon giggled again. “That is mostly your power in that Link! We do make a fine trio of psionicists!”
“Why thank you, Povon!” Talia beamed. “It means much from you!”
“Oh, we simply must meet!” Povon enthused. “I have some fine things to show you, little sisters! I will call the day after tomorrow, and we’ll arrange something! But for now, Kragorram’s pectoral muscles are having quite an effect on my eyes again, so I think I will bid you all goodnight!”
“Goodnight!” Mark and Talia called together.
Silaran had been walking slowly to preserve the privacy of their conversation, but now he trotted happily forward to meet the crowd of expectant elves who had been watching their approach, many of whom had cast a mild light against the darkness. “Why don’t we leave the arrangements for our visit to the ladies, Mark?” he chuckled.
“That would certainly be best!” Mark agreed as they came to a halt. “Thank you Silaran. I think some great friendships have begun today! It’s great to know I can be Translocated, and the ride from the chapel to the pass was quite a thrill as well!”
He slid from the unicorn’s back, then reached up and took Talia in his arms.
“Thank you. Goodnight then. Goodnight Talia. Call me if you want transport, and I will see you in a few days, if not sooner.”
“Goodnight!” they returned.
The great unicorn nodded to the assembled elves, and was gone.
“So Yazadril, who are all these fine people?” Mark asked.
“These fine people are some of your neighbors from here in First Valley, and a few from Kemsah Valley, the next valley over. They are here to welcome you to the neighborhood, and to see your new home made.” Yazadril explained, gesturing to the smaller group, who smiled, and some waved while some bowed.
Mark and Talia smiled and bowed in return.
Then Yazadril’s manner became stern as he indicated the larger group. “And these others are the fools who killed you during your wedding ceremony.”
“Ah. Quite an experience that, and incredibly painful.” Mark calmly revealed, nodding. “You know, I actually felt myself die there for a moment. And of course, those of this group who were there because of the invitation that Talia and I extended above the Hall of Anticipation are forsworn as well, since they would have vowed to do nothing to disrupt the ceremony. I think killing me counts as a disruption.”
His words pounded mightily at the guilt they were feeling, despite his conversational tone, and many flinched. By the last word, many were actually cringing. Many of the females and a few of the males were crying.
“What do they want?” Mark asked.
“They wish to make amends.” Yazadril told him. “They have told me what they wish to do, and I may allow it, depending on your answer to an offer I will make.”
He pointed to the nearest one. “You. Sheramiv. Explain to him what you have decided.”
That elf stepped forward, her face filled with remorse. “There is only one thing we can offer that could balance the magnitude of our mistake, and our shame.” she told him, her eyes downcast. “We wish to swear service to you. We will serve you in any way that you ask. For as long as we live.”
“I think it fair, and I’m inclined to allow it.” Yazadril told him. “Except that I can’t have over sixteen hundred elves swearing lifelong unlimited obedience to a loyal citizen of a human kingdom, especially as most of them are of other elven nations, so their leaders would have something to say of it as well. Believe me, it’s just not politically feasible.
“I was going to broach this subject later, but this is happening now, so here we are. What I propose is this; You could accept citizenship in The Nine Valleys, acknowledging the leadership, though not the lordship, of myself as your Prince and of the Council of The High People. In return, I will make you a Knight of The High People, and promise that we will never ask you to act against Finitra.
“Then, if you so choose, you can accept the service of these fools. I suggest you start by having them carry their limit in rocks around the valley for a decade or so.”
“Hmm. What’s the difference between leadership and lordship?”
“If you can name a valid objection, you have the right to refuse the instructions of a leader, but not of the orders of a lord. And you have the rights to openly criticize a leader, and to campaign for their replacement, whereas you can do neither with a lord. Your individual rights would therefore be greater as one of us than as a Finitran.”
“I see. And what are the duties of a Knight of The High People?”
“They are much the same as those of knights of other lands. You would be on call to assist the Sentry Corps in our defense if that becomes necessary, to fight in our military should we be required by circumstance to take the offensive or to support our allies, to help keep the peace and to uphold the law, and rarely, to form an honor guard for leaders and diplomats at home and abroad. The position entitles you to a generous salary, to great respect, to the services of our people for your equipage, supply and support, and to the training of our armsmasters and battle wizards. It’s also expected that when you feel it is time and you find the right student, you will take a squire and pass on your knowledge and training. You will not be required to serve as a squire, since your apprenticeship and investment as a Finitran Ranger ensures that you already have the skills to become a knight of junior rank.”
“I see. Well, I swore during my investment as a Ranger to uphold the Ranger’s code and the just laws of Finitra, but I’ve never taken service with the king, nor sworn personal loyalty to the crown. And I think that at this point, my life has far more to do with The High People than Finitra. So, I don’t see why not. I’ll agree. What do I have to do?”
“You’ve just done it. No need to be formal about it tonight, we can save that for the occasion of your knighting.
“You sixteen hundred and eighty-one idiots will now swear yourselves to the service of this man. To save time and effort when we would rather be doing more pleasant things, I will state the vow, and you will all respond by saying; ‘I do so swear’.”
“And while you do, I will cast Compulsion upon you!” Alilia stated. “While it will not kill you, it will insure the complete sincerity of your vow, and I think that it is fitting that it be so!
“That is, with your permission, Mark, Yazadril?”
“I agree.” Yazadril nodded.
“Thank you, Alilia.” Mark grinned, and gave a nasty chuckle. “These here will find that it’s no joy to have Compulsion cast upon you against your will, even if it forces you to do what you’d have done anyway! A pity they won’t feel how much less fun it is to have it happen by surprise, but then, we can’t have everything, can we?”
“All right.” Yazadril said as he turned to the remorseful group. “I hope you have all picked out a nice, heavy rock.
“Do you swear your service to Markhan Reginus Longstrider the Fifth, in whatever manner he should decide, for as long as you live?” he asked, as Alilia gestured forcefully.
“I do so swear.” was spoken simultaneously by many voices, and the flash in Mark’s vision left bright spots against the darkness of the night.
“Wow Alilia, you really gave it to them, didn’t you?” he chuckled as he rubbed his eyes.
Then he saw that Yazadril, Alilia, Theramin and Yalla were all staring at the smaller group of local elves, and that Talia and Nemia were struggling to keep from laughing.
“What is it?” Mark asked in puzzlement.
“Some number of these High People took the oath of service to you! They spoke the words ‘I do so swear’ in response to the question, were caught in Alilia’s spell, and are bound by both the oath and the Compulsion!” Yazadril stated in consternation. “And for no reason, since they were not among the ones who offended against you at the ceremony!”
“Oh? Who?” Mark asked.
“These!” Alilia said as she gestured, and a very startled group was Translocated to a place on the lawn to one side of the other two groups.
“Alilia!” Mark snapped. “I may be out of place for saying, but I think that was, well, it was impolite, since as far as I can see these people have done nothing wrong!”
“Perhaps so!” Alilia retorted. “But they are sworn to you, and you wished to know who had sworn, so I was merely expediting their revealing of themselves!
“And look at them! Not a one of them over thirty! They are a pack of adolescent fools, as I knew they must be, since only those would do such a thing without strong reason!”
Mark surveyed the group, and pointed to one in the front. “You, the brash fellow in the blue. Would you mind telling me why you did that?”
“Certainly, my liege.” that grinning youth said as he bowed with a grand sweep of his cloak. “I am Zayobod. My thinking was similar to that of the great drake who was hired as your bodyguard earlier tonight. My friends and I think that you will be at the center of great events, and we wish to stand beside you then. My conscience is clear in having done so, since the service of the noble dragon and his unicorn friend ensures that you will strive for justice.”
“I see.” Mark laughed. “Is that the case for all of you? Did any have another reason?”
An embarrassed black-haired boy stepped forward. “Uh, pardon me, my name is Holanam. Sir, uh, Mark, for my part, it was somewhat spontaneous. Perhaps I was simply caught up in the moment, but it certainly felt like the right thing to do when the moment came.”
“Unbelievable! You just felt like it!? Even knowing you could be affected by Alilia’s Compulsion.?”
“I knew I would be, sir.” the youth admitted.
“All right, now I’m really curious!” Mark laughed. “Would all of you who are valiant glory seekers like the first fellow please stand to that side, and those who are unthinking impulsives like this lad please stand over there?”
The group of young elves separated. Forty-seven stood to the left with the youth in blue tights, nine of them female. Another boy and three girls joined the black haired fellow. This left a group of thirty-one young and embarrassed females who hadn’t moved. One of them stood with her back to him, but he recognized her by her red hair and blue striped gown.
“Balen? Is that you?” Mark asked.
“Uh, yes Mark.” she said as she turned toward him, her eyes downcast. “But I was only allowed to come here tonight on the condition that I don’t bother you. When my parents hear about this, I’ll be scrubbing pots for a decade.”
“Oh. And you swore the oath out of remorse for your spell, earlier?”
“Uh. Not really. Mark. I, uh,