Libramentum

Chapter Six

Never had she felt so betrayed, so shielded, so lied to. The man she had liked, the one she had fancied had been turning a blind eye to the horrible occurrences in the castle committed by the boy prince and his sadistic companions. Eleanor had expected more of Athalos. She had been so impressed with him, commander of the military, 3rd to the Crown Prince and King. Now, she felt numb from the sting of the blow, like a slap across the face of her soul. Her first betrayal in court. And this man was assigned to guard her? How was she to trust he could do that when he was letting other women be hurt?

I don't need a defender, she told herself haughtily, only to be reminded by what had happened in the forest. It had gotten out of hand, and she hadn't been able to keep full control. She should have briefed Merek, Lief, and Bryce. Why had she put more faith in Adaro than the man who owed her his life? Thus far, Merek had not proven to be untrustworthy, but she worried that it would only be a matter of time before he slighted her like Athalos. 

Father warned me not to trust anyone and I've already ignored him.

Two days had passed since her injury, she had not been strong enough to heal it completely until that point and a scar would remain since she didn't seal it immediately. What good were healing powers if she couldn't heal herself? She could work wonders for others, but an injury to her own flesh was difficult to mend. 

With the tourney nearly upon her, she felt sickened by the prospect of having to choose someone. Ser Hollyhock was now out of the picture, she had few options. Selecting Merek might only create the appearance that she favored him and give him the wrong idea. Eleanor didn't want to make the same blunder she had with Athalos. 

Eleanor was fixing her hair when a solid knock on her oaken door drew her from her perch. Sweeping over toward the door, she cracked it, to see a gilded, royal courier standing regally in his tights. 

"The prince requests your company at the base camp in the King's Wood, my lady," he greeted, his voice thick with a posh, cultured accent. 

It took a great deal of effort for Eleanor not to laugh at him. "And which princes is this?" she inclined.

"The Crown Prince, Lucan," he responded evenly.

"Very well, am I expected as soon as possible?"

"Yes," he sniffed.

"Very well, please see my horse is saddled and tended to, and I shall ride for the prince," she replied with a smile, though the smile was to the courier's chagrin, not courtesy.

A fleeting twinge of annoyance crossed the courier's face as he was tasked with stopping by the stables to request her horse be saddled, but he bowed and skirted off without another word. Eleanor rounded and went back to her wardrobe to select a traveling dress and leather riding boots. While she had been recovering, Ilsmera had spent the majority of her time in the manse with her, enchanting her clothing and equipment. The sorceress hadn't much to say about what happened. 

Eleanor suspected that either Ilsmera knew about it and didn't want to be spurned, or Ilsmera had approved of what she had done. Regardless, the mage had been eerily quiet, keeping by to make certain Eleanor was well looked after as she rested and recovered her strength. 

Lacing up her bodice on the thin cotton dress, she found that her travel gear was probably the most modest that she possessed. She slid the Blacktyde orca brooch into place, clasping a dark cloak around her shoulders before she locked up her chambers and departed for the courtyard. Part of her was worried that she would have to ride to the camp with Athalos, suffering a tense silence all the way to the prince.

However, she discovered that only her horse was saddled and there was no one to escort her. Pleased that the prince hadn't requested an escort, she mounted up and drew up her hood, turning her horse toward the gate. Recalling her lessons in geography from childhood and her more recent exchanges with Ilsmera, she knew that the base camp was just outside of the forest, taking the northeastern part of the King's Road. Soldiers often patrolled both roads, so she wasn't worried about running into bandits.

With autumn impeding the long summer, a cool breeze trickled up from the port and down the streets. While it was nowhere near as windy as her home by the Black Sea, she noticed common folk already wearing their cloaks and warmer attire. Many muttered how it had gotten surprisingly cold so early in the year, which made her smile. But when she thought back on it, Patrack had mentioned that was almost always warm in the capitol.

I wonder... Casting her eyes into the cloudy sky, she contemplated the position of the capitol. This was the coldest that such a place would experience, otherwise it would be mild in the winter months. But when she stared at the sky, she thought of snow and a looming winter that was clawing its way south, to a land rarely touched by the white flurries. Could the Seal breaking have done more than just cause a disruption in the flow of magick?

Prancing beneath her, the chipper mare trotted down the cobblestoned streets and through the gates to the road. The beginning of the road was stoned until they reached the forest, turning into a worn, well packed dirt. That day was busy, she passed a few wagons of peddlers, a few peasants walking, and a farmer before she reached the fork in the road.

Bearing right, they traveled beneath the shaded trees, only passing a single soul over the course of the eastern road. The trees quivered above her, whispering in the wind as if they were shivering from the cool southern gusts. Where the treeline broke, she could make out the royal banners with a golden eagle flying on the field. Outside the forest, a huge clearing was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of tents with different banners flying at their heads. Obstacle courses and more permanent buildings, like a stone spire, were situated on the western flank of the camp. The right flank hosted the majority of the horses, keeping their reek nearest to the stream where they could drink water and graze. 

Despite the sun being obscured by the misty hands of the clouds, it had to have been midday when she arrived. Lowering her hood, she found a pair of soldiers sparring.

"Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the royal tents?" she requested politely.

Huffing and puffing, the men slowed and paused to glance up at her with dubious eyes. One appeared as if he were going to argue with her, but the other elbowed him and muttered something beneath his breath. When he looked up to meet her again, he seemed to have changed his mind. 

"Yes, I can show you the way, it's a bit confusing if you've never been here before," the soldier told her, returning his practice sword to a rack as he wiped his sweaty face all over his arm.

Eleanor trotted after him through the twisting makeshift paths between tents. They passed a barracks and the tents that belonged to lesser lords, knights, and even some of more import. Whether the lord of the house was there or a son, she could not tell, but eyes did follow her. A woman in a war camp was certainly not a typical occurrence, even if they did recognize the brooch on her cloak.

At the very heart of the camp there was more space for three elegantly pitched tents to spread their girth. The largest among them, trimmed with gold, banner flying high at tent's zenith. Juxtaposed was another grand tent, though just half the size. The third was longer and more slender, sublime in comparison to the others.

"Lady Blacktyde," a familiar voice greeted as she halted her mare. Turning her head, she spotted Prince Lucan making his way toward her, decked in casual attire made of cloth and leather. Only the golden eagle on his breast gave any indication of who he might be, but it was likely everyone in the camp would recognize their crown prince.

"Your grace," she greeted with a courteous smile, letting herself down before he could extend a hand to help her. She wasn't a frail lady.

"Thank you for arriving on such short notice, but we're of need of your expertise here," he informed her.

Eleanor had expected no less. Lucan had been clear in telling her that he had no interest in courting her as long as the country was threatened and she had been fine with that. "And how may I help?" she asked, removing her riding gloves, stuffing them into her cloak pocket. 

"Leave your horse here, someone will see to it," he directed, taking the reins from her and handing them off. Lucan motioned for her to go ahead of him, in the direction of the slender, oblong tent. 

Inside there was a long war table, carved pieces littering the countryside. Upon closer inspection, the pieces were those of the more influential houses that had troops that could be allocated. Aside from the table, there were a few figures that she did not recognize.

A robust man in scaled armor, a vivid blood-red cloak draping gracefully from his armor and brushing his calves. His hair was a peppered grey, swirling against his brow in short cropped curls. He appeared to be about her father's age, wizened by his years of war and combat.

A man, nearly his polar opposite, stood across from him in silken robes of jade. From the style of the gown, she would have assumed he was from the Isles, but not of the same land as Adaro, but another island that was in a more temperate region. He had a thin obsidian mustache and his hair fell to his shoulders in a thin black sheet. His face was narrow and his nose flat, slanted eyes staring equivocally at her.

The last, was no doubt King Braeden, the man her father had raved about all her years. He had dark brown hair, a few grays interlacing his scalp and beard. The similarities between Lucan and Braeden were remarkable, although the king preferred his own hair to be short. Eyes twinkling, despite his age, the king was a very handsome man. Fit, broad shoulders were wrapped in a doublet, plain trousers tucked into dirty riding boots. He wore no crown, but still, as he leveled his gaze at her, she felt the weight of his enormity bearing down on her. 

"Your grace," Eleanor greeted, moving to take a knee in front of the king.

Lucan caught her by the elbow and stopped her. 

Braeden came around the war table and approached her, his height even more intimidating as he stood before her. He took her thin shoulders in his massive, rough hands and smiled down at her. "Such formal greetings are for those I am not fond of. I have heard you are your father's daughter and your father is a good friend of mine. I would like to extend the same courtesy to you, Lady Eleanor."

Taken aback, all she could manage was a nod and an uncertain smile. The king wanted to treat her... equally? She was a woman, unmarried at that. How could she have more sway than lords in the court? You're a mage, Eleanor, she reminded herself, the factor that put her above all the others.

Releasing her, the king made his way back around to the table. 

"Now, the reason I have summoned you here today, is to begin my work with you. Your talents... are of good use for the military and once the tourney ends, I intend on making your residence with us more permanent," Braeden informed her. "Since the attack in the marina, we've seen probing attacks by the Korgs. They're gauging our strength and from reports, they're attacking other coastal areas around the country."

"What is their purpose?" Eleanor asked, approaching the table to glance at each of the hand carven tokens. She picked up one fashioned in the shape of an orca, painted to match the animal her house was identified by. 

"Ilra believes that whoever is controlling them wants revenge. It was my ancestor who worked with the human and elven mages to Seal whatever force was dwelling within. If they take the crown, even by force, they would have control of the nation. Whatever ambitions they have for the country afterward is unbeknownst to us," Braeden explained, frowning slightly at the unknown.

"Are there enough scrolls and codex for us to make a guess at who might this foe might be?" she inclined, putting the Blacktyde piece back on the table.

"No, much of the history was lost. Possibly purposely erased to keep people from trying to find the Seal. Little good that does us now, it's broken and we have little knowledge aside from what the Seal did," the displeasure was clear on his face, lifting his face he gave her a hard look over. "Your ability to turn into local wildlife will be priceless in scouting. I've sent for the other mages around the country to come to the capitol.... Even Zhang Wei has sent for some of those in the Northern Isles."

Zhang Wei, the foreign man in the robe, bowed his head slightly as he was acknowledged. "The breaking of the Seal is a threat to all of mankind. It may have made landfall in Alleria first, but it will follow to the smaller countries and if we do not lend a hand now, we will fall in the end and regret our impudence," the ambassador elaborated. 

"Ah, yes, forgive my, I have forgotten to introduce my advisers," the king stood up straight and motioned to Zhang Wei. "This our ambassador for the Jade Isle, the Northern Island, Zhang Wei. He is also a lifelong friend of mine and a trusted adviser to the Crown."

Zhang Wei bowed again at his name.

"And beside me is General Callum Acton, another of my lifelong friends, trusted companions, and the leader of the military aside from me and my son."

General Acton gave a perfect bow at his waist. "A pleasure, my lady," he informed her courteously.

"You must be wondering why I have summoned you here today..." Braeden drawled.

"The king may summon whomever he wants at any time," Eleanor reminded him lightly, but she was curious why he had brought her here, other than to meet her. 

King Braeden chuckled, shaking his head, reminiscing. "Aye, but I brought you down here for a handful of reasons other than to meet you. Lucan will show you around the camp, to familiarize you with the setup for the future, and there was an area I wanted you to scout out for us as well."

Not a pointless trip full of formalities then, Eleanor thought as the king unrolled a more detailed map of the area. He drew his finger across landscape to point at where the military camp was located. 

"We are right here. There has been reported movement over to the north west of her, possibly toward the western path of the King's Road. The Korgs are not very stealthy, so we do not believe it is them. If our enemy possesses any troops aside from the Korgs, we would need to know. Thus far, we haven't expected any sort of subterfuge , but-"

"The reports coming in remind me of a type of movement the shinobi among my own people use," Zhang Wei interjected. "And if any person were to uncover they were there, the shinobi would simply kill them and dispose of the body where it would not be found."

"How many missing scouts do you have?" Eleanor inquired, flexing her fingertips at the thought. In her dreams, she had seen nothing but elf and wraith. What else could the Seal of spat out aside from the Korgs? Anything. It could have released anything. 

"Four at the moment and we hope not to add any more to that total. The more we lose, the more rumors will spread. We've already worked hard enough to keep as much as we can within the camp and from moving into the city or countryside."

Eleanor nodded, comprehending the importance of the task she was being assigned.  Her eyes scanned the map, committing the areas he had highlighted to her memory as best as she could. 

"There was one more thing I wished to touch upon as well," Braeden pulled her from her studying. "My son, Luras."

A chill swept down Eleanor's back as she glanced up at him cautiously. Had Merek's testament for the king been true? Or would he deny the justice that Luras deserved? 

"I've always doubted his abilities, ever since he was a young boy. He was cunning, but not talented with physical prowess. I believe my own fixation on Lucan may have caused this as well as my wife's doting on him... Coddling his hurt feelings, rather than letting him learn that the world isn't always fair... I intend for him to taste what justice is after the tourney. I will let him have his fun, parade around in gilded armor, before teaching him that manipulating, harming, and entreating r**e is not tolerated. Especially of a prince."

Eleanor did not know what the king intended, but his features were austere as he spoke. How would he punish Luras? Would he give him the same fate as those who had tried to commit the atrocity, publicly humiliate him, denounce him? There were so many routes the king could go and Eleanor did not know him at all. How severe could his punishments be?

"Thank you for uncovering this. How are you feeling? You were wounded, were you not?"

Eleanor's hand went to her side where the knife had dug into her flesh. She could almost remember the iciness of the blade, digging into her flank as she snapped at the man. "I am fine now. It's a bit difficult for me to heal myself when wounded, it draws a lot of energy I am losing rapidly as I bleed. However, I am fully recovered now," she informed him.

"Good, I am glad. You are a priceless asset to us as both a Blacktyde and a druid. Take care of yourself. Zhang Wei?"

The ambassador stood erect like a solemn spruce in the midst of winter. "Ah yes, my lady, there is a gift that the Jade Isle would like to give you. It once belonged to one of our ancient druids, her name was Wang Xiu Ying. With this gift, I also bear some samples of animals we have in the Jade Isle, which can be of use to you," he turned and picked up a chest that was ornately decorated.

Eleanor was impressed by the craftsmanship of the chest alone, a beautiful thing made of dark wood and smooth jade, serpentine dragons carved into the soft stone, ruby eyes winking as her as the man slowly opened the chest. Within were a few vials, labeled in both the queer symbols of their native language, along with the Common tongue beneath it. However, the piece that belonged to Wang Xiu Ying was the beautiful chest-plate.

The armor was part of an entire ensemble, but only the chest and pauldrons were metal. Scales like that of a dragon overlapped over the chest and met down in a V-shape over the naval, the flanks of the armor, over the hips, were leaf shape plates, encompassing the back as well. The collar and neckline were also made of the same thin plates, a deep slate steel with intricate etchings of gold. The shoulders of the breastplate were also of the same, flexible scale mail, which the pauldrons of thin plate strapped over. Trousers, a layered skirt that opened in the middle of maneuverability, leather vambraces, and a cloak were also included with the attire.

Eleanor touched the metal, astounded by how light it was. "This was not made by humans," she remarked, blown away that she would be offered such a priceless gift.

"My lady has a good eye. It is of Elven make, passed down for many generations. The Elves were the original druids... And they crafted this armor for druids to wear. It is enchanted to create armor that protects each form they take, whether it be bear, wolf, dog, bird. They carried no weapons for their tooth, fang, claws, talons were enough, but even their flesh was susceptible. You are the only druid within recent history and so, the Jade Isle passes this heirloom armor to you. It does no good on a shelf, especially in times such as these," Zhang Wei explained to her, running his fingers over the soft fabric that was to be worn beneath the breastplate. "My own people have tried to recreate silk such as this, without a shimmer, but buttery soft, and does not wear like typical fabric. But such talent that the Elves had is lost to us."

"Thank you, this is... a grandiose gift," she told him, reminding herself should would have to write a letter of gratitude to the Jade Empire for parting with such a prestigious part of their history. 

"And I have no doubt you shall put it to good use, my lady," a small smile touched Zhang Wei's lips before he slid his hands into his sleeves and took a step back. 

Lucan stepped forward and closed the chest, picking it up for her.

"Lucan shall show you around the camp. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask me, Eleanor," Braedon bid before they exited the tent.

Once outside, a breath escaped her lips as if she had been holding it the entire time inside. The king had been much more down to earth than she would have ever believed and she could see why her father had been so fond of him. Braeden was a king that Eleanor would be proud to serve and take orders from. 

Lucan chuckled beside her as she straightened her posture, realizing she had slouched the moment she left the company of such important people. He cradled the chest in his strong arms and looked over. "Why don't you try this on now?" he suggested, nodding toward the chest.

To claim she wasn't curious as to how it worked, would have been a lie. She was also excited to try the exotic forms from the Jade Isles, but that would likely be handled back at the castle in the privacy of her suite. Eleanor sucked on her bottom lip before she conceded and nodded her head eagerly like a child who had just been promised a new toy or sweet.

Lucan led her toward one of the smaller, adjacent tents. Within was a bed, armor, an assortment of weapons, a wooden chest for clothing, a nice rug had been laid beneath the bed, and a few royal banners hung from the fabric walls. The prince place the chest on a table. "These are my quarters. I'll step out to give you some privacy."

Once Lucan left her with the chest, Eleanor flipped it open and inspected it for herself. Despite the age that Zhang Wei claimed, it was spectacular and seemingly untouched by the centuries it had been kept. Whether those on Jade Isle were wonderful as keeping armor or if the Elven make was superior in every way, Eleanor would never know. She paused to glance around the prince's tent, it felt a bit queer to be changing in here. However, there was an unspoken understanding between them; duty.

Eleanor swapped her riding dress for the attire. The skirt of the outfit flowed out like layered petals, parting so that the tight silken trousers were visible only from the front. Eleanor was able to put on her vambraces, the tasset, and her boots. The breastplate, she found, she could not secure it on her own.

"Prince Lucan?" she called through gritting her teeth, hopelessly trying to reach over her shoulder so she could tighten the strap. Eleanor had watched pages and squires do it for knights on numerous occasions and she thought it would have been easier for her to do it, seeing the piece wasn't as large or heavy and she wasn't nearly as broad as any knight.

Lucan entered, pausing just within the doorway so that he could snicker as her as she hopelessly tangled herself with the tinkling of the scaled mail. "Stop, stop, let me secure it," he offered, stepping behind her, moving her ponytail out of the way so he could slip the leather through the buckles and tighten them all against her slender frame. He reached for the pauldrons, fastening them against the arms of the mail. The cloak clicked into place, similar in fashion to the cloak General Acton had donned, that was secured to his breastplate. Prince Lucan spun her around and scrutinized the armor. "I wonder if all female druids are the same size, it fits you rather well."

Eleanor wasn't certain whether or not he was joking, but when she glanced in the floor length looking glass he had in the tent, she almost believed that there was some kind of magick that allowed for the armor to be worn by any druid. "Perhaps we are," she remarked before she turned to fold up her dress, tucking into the chest with the samples taken from various animals. "So a tour now? You know, if people keep seeing us together..." she drawled mischievously.

Lucan rolled his eyes. "You're one of the kingdom's mages, I doubt your presence beside me is hardly suspicious. Especially when you're dressed for the title," he motioned to her new verdant vestments. 

"Ooh, so now I look the part? I suppose I can't keep playing the sweet healer anymore," they headed out of the tent and back into the constantly moving military post. 

"I don't know if you've ever struck me as sweet in the short exchanges I've had with you. And from what I hear, you have a short temper and have a tendency to be stubborn and rash," he countered, bringing a heat to her cheeks. Before she could object, he continued. "However, your loyalty to the Crown has never been questioned and your compassion... Gets you into trouble, doesn't it?"

"Is it a crime to care about the well-being of others? I wouldn't be a good healer if I didn't care," Eleanor replied, but she suspected this was the prince's way of complimenting her.

"You've certainly frazzled my cousin. Especially since you don't listen," Lucan continued, giving her a smirk.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up straight and she felt her temper rise at the mention of Athalos. "Well, I'll continue to vex him then!" she snapped, unable to contain the fury she had tried so hard to swallow since she had discovered that he knew what Luras was doing.

The knavery expression fled from the prince's face and his brows furrowed. "Did something happen between the two of you? It was I who suggested Athalos be the one to guard you until you better understood your abilities."

"He knew about what your brother was doing. He acknowledged it and wasn't doing anything about it. Lady Bahiti would have been... she would have been-" Lucan rest a hand on her shoulder as she fumed. Only then did she realize her fingers had balled into fists, her rage beginning to consume her. She was letting the wolf gain to much control yet again. Ever since that incident, the wolf's anger had less trouble bubbling to the surface. Embarrassed that she had let it get the better of her in front of the prince, she sighed deeply. "I apologize, I find that some of my emotions are elicited by my magick which makes them more... intense."

"Athalos knew? He does try to take on more than he can handle at times..." Lucan shook his head, but did not offer an excuse for his cousin. "I will address the issue with him personally. Are you alright?"

"I don't take kindly to being lied to. I don't need to hear 'it was better if you didn't know' or 'I did it to protect you'. I don't need protecting and if we can't resolve issues in our own court, how can we hope to defeat whatever came from the Seal?"

"Well, there is a difference between simply killing the foe on the field and addressing the issues in the court. We can't just kill those that cross us, there is more tact required, but I see your point. How can we fight a war when we fight among ourselves? Striking deals in the shadows and plotting to overthrow one another for nothing more than status... But the court has always been that way, which is why I've kept away from it and perhaps it will do you well to be here rather than there."

Eleanor pursed her lips and nodded. "That doesn't change that he lied to me."

"And you hold grudges, duly noted," Prince Lucan remarked, trying to lighten the mood once again. "So, when you do come down here to work with us, your tent will be set up in the same area as ours. This is the epicenter of the camp and from there is rings out by caste. The higher lords who are here lay in an outer ring, which you can tell by the quality of their tents. Each flies their own banner, whether it be the actual lord who is there or their 1st borne, it varies. The 2nd ring is of the knights in service to those lords. The further out we go, the quality of the dwelling areas will decline and each ring were become larger and filled with more souls.

"Outside that is the 3rd ring and that is where the foot soldiers of the lords dwell. None of those men are the Crown's. They are men at arms for various lords. My father's army is roosted in the barrack of stone and as you can see in this clearing, there are also various outpost towers," the pair walked through the rings as he spoke. The quality of living descended and simplified the further away from the center they traveled. Despite that, the camp was lively and men were working hard that day.

"Our infirmary is located in the western area just sat between the 1st and 2nd ring, so that it is well defended in case of an attack. There are two mess halls. On the eastern section between the 1st and 2nd ring is the area where those of noble blood are served their food. Often the chef will prepare the food for those of us in the center and have a servant bring it over, but sometimes I do like to go into the hall and sit among the knights.

"The other mess hall is also the granary and where the stores of food are located. We try not to keep more than a week's worth at a time, for if we needed to fall back and leave this location, we wouldn't have to lose too many resources-" Lucan paused to wave at a few soldiers who saluted them as they passed. 

"This place is almost a city on its own," Eleanor breathed, her head on a swivel, observing the differences. "How on earth would you pack up all of this and move?"

"Obviously, we cannot pack up the stone tower and barracks, but most of these tents can be packed up immediately and taken on horseback. Of course, all of the loftier items, such as the bed and various furniture would just be left here for someone to bring inside of the barracks. My father and I would resort to simple bedrolls while marching. Since we have a small garrison here, we are afforded more luxuries than typical."

"And what about other women? I assume there aren't many."

"Yes, there aren't many. Women don't typically fight, but you're an exception seeing that you are a mage. I wouldn't worry, no one would dare lay a finger on you," Lucan promised.

Eleanor snickered at him. "Oh, I'm not worried about that, I can hold my own. I was just pointing out an observation. The men must get... lonely."

"Lonely! That's one way of putting it kindly. But they are free to go to the capitol on their days off to fulfill their needs and desires," Lucan mused with a wicked, lopsided smile.

"What about the tourney? How many are going to be off then?" she inquired.

"Only those who are participating. I doubt any of those dwelling in the 1st circle will be here, but as long as they pass command down, there's no issue," Lucan paused and studied her. "Did you consider who you were going to give a token? I nearly placed a bet on Athalos, but now I'm not too certain."

Eleanor scoffed. "He's not getting it now," she crossed her arms and regarded the question. She had spent a lot of time contemplating it up until this point. "I'm not certain who... Maybe I'll give it to you now, you're quite a bit nicer here than when I first met you."

"And perpetuate my mother's fantasies of us being together? I can't stop you from giving it to me but..."

"Do you really want to deal with some other lady that fawns over you? It might actually be a break for the both of us rather than letting some poor girl believing you might actually have eyes for her."

"Part of me believes this might have been your ploy all along," he joked.

"Trust me, if my own mother were here, she'd be twisting my arm, telling me to only offer my token to you, since your mother favors me. However, the way I see it is that we're going to return here after. Why bother with anyone else at court? Dear prince, I'm using you as a scapegoat, but it could very well be a mutual agreement."

"I'm warning you, if we do this, my mother will get all sorts of mad ideas in her head," he cautioned, despite the smile he was trying to force away.

"You know, I used to believe you were very nonchalant, but I can see that you're quite different than I thought. The king too."

"It's the court. Everyone expects a certain demeanor and in a place where all eyes and ears are open, being your true self can cause your end. Out here... I will admit it, I am much more relaxed than being among the lords and ladies of the court. Things are more plain here, even if it's not as clean or pretty as the castle. I'd trade every luxury for the honesty of the men beneath me.... And what of you? How are you doing in court?"

Eleanor rolled her shoulders in a lazy shrug. "Between the inability to trust most, I find that due to my duty and studies, I didn't have much time to spend with other ladies. Even then, it seems that my sister was making certain that no one would attempt to befriend me. Coming here might actually be a relief," her eyes slid out into the trees and she was reminded of the king's request. "Perhaps we should find out what is causing problems for our scouts."

Break now shattered by the reality of what was happening around them, the prince tensed back up and gave a stout nod. "I can fetch the horses-"

"Horses? You have a druid here. Ever ridden bareback before?" 

From the expression on Lucan's face, she could tell he was still contemplating making his way back for the horses. "Very well."

She took a moment to consider which form she would choose, almost deciding on one that would be difficult to mount, but the prince had been fair with her thus far. Eleanor chose the form of a moose, the armor rippling across her, shifting as she changed her form. The armor covered the front of her chest and her flanks like the blanket that would be worn over a horse just beneath the tact. 

Due to her height, it was difficult for Lucan to scramble up until she knelt on her front legs. He shifted, eventually finding the most comfortable position before she started padding off. Eleanor started for the woods, her hooves picking between the trees and game trails with little issue. Despite her girth, the undergrowth beneath her hooves and the trees above her felt right. 

Lucan mentioned a few directions to her and eventually halted her once he believed they had gotten far enough. He slid down from her back and bent down to inspect snagged twigs and branches. They had traveled deep into the forest, perhaps deeper than the royal forest extended and where the Jaskier Wilds began. Around them, the trees had closed in, casting long shadows and blotting out the warm sunlight. 

Shifting back to human, she bent down beside him to see what he was inspecting. Eleanor was not trained in the talents of a forester or tracker, she could only utilize her skills of following scents. "What is it?" she asked him anxiously.

"Someone has been out here... But we've traveled further from the road than any of our men would bother coming and this is not from an animal," Lucan lifted a piece of fabric that had been snagged from a cloak. 

Eleanor recognized the make the fabric, pulling her cloak to compare it. The piece that Lucan had found was silver, but it was undoubtedly the same material. "It's Elven," she murmured, a chill sweeping through her skin. Her fingers grazed the ground where pine needles and discarded leaves made a blanket. The tips of her fingers sizzled, numbing, until she placed her entire hands on the ground. Multiple heartbeats were pounding in her ears, her own, the deep and slow of Prince Lucan's, the fervent of a nearby throng of field mice, a quick rabbit's, a fox in a mulberry bush, an owl sleeping in the knot of an oak tree. Even the breathes of the trees, their quiet murmuring in the earth, they were curious now.  No one had spoken with them in centuries.

"Eleanor?" Lucan pressed, trying to get through the cacophony of noise in the quiet, subdued forest. If only he knew how busy it truly was.

In the boughs and branches, moving on the wind. Arrows of poison, the trees were whispering in deep, creaking voices, explaining what they had experienced.

"Someone has been here... Elves I think," Eleanor conceded finally. No other race was talented enough to run between the branches of trees and to go unnoticed. The trees might not have given them names, but Eleanor knew enough lore to piece it together. 

"How do you know? Aside from the fabric?" he was staring at her keenly, aware that she had experienced some sort of magickal revelation in the last few moments. 

"The trees told me," she sounded utterly mad, smiling in spite of herself. "I haven't been out of the city since realizing my abilities. The forest is so lively... I can feel every heart beat if I focus on it, each life no matter how minuscule. The trees are eager to speak, it has been a long time since someone had entertained them."

"Druids were always known for being connected to nature in more ways than one..." Lucan sighed, clutching the fabric in his palm. "I never could have guessed that included talking to trees," in spite of his light words, there was a terseness in his posture, crouched on the forest floor beside her. 

Coming. Nearby. In our boughs... The creatures were stirring, a disquiet falling among them. 

Eleanor lifted her head, drinking in the air as the fox would to taste the aromas. Her eyes flitted to the side and she reacted instinctively like the night sabre. Tackling Prince Lucan, pinning him to the ground, an arrow whistled over head where they had once been crouching. The reminder of poison made her head whop around as Lucan grunted, astounded by her action. Another arrow flitted toward them and Eleanor raised her hand, creating a magickal barrier around them. The ward deflected the arrow and it pinged off. There was a slight pause, a wind rustling through the trees, and a slight reprieve from the arrows. 

The gentle and quiet breath of Lucan stirred her, but she dared not take her eyes off of the direction the arrow had come from. Focusing intently on the trees, she drew in a shallow breath and felt the area around them. In the trees, up in the trees, there were two of them. 

"lle lanna i' atost," a voice proclaimed from within the folds and protection of pine needles. 

Strangely, the words which he spoke she could understand. It was akin to the dialect in the druid book that she had been learning from. Eleanor had never tried to speak or read it aloud, but upon hearing it she could discern that he was speaking about her armor. "Yes, er... Uma ta naa ten' amin nostale." She expected her own speech was rough in comparison to theirs, but the fact that they chose to speak to them in the first place was a bit astounding. 

The trees ruffled as if a wind moved them. Materializing before them were two figures silhouetted in silvery cloaks of the same silk that Eleanor wore. Cowls were drawn over their faces, but she knew who and what they were. "You can speak our tongue," the elf remarked, perhaps impressed.

"Barely," Eleanor admitted. "I've read it more than spoke it."

"A feat for any human... But you are a druid too, clearly by your attire," he said, gesturing down to her.

His motioning made Eleanor glance down, as if to espy her clothing which she had recently acquired. However, when she did glance down, she noticed that she was still straddling the prince, having bowled him over to evade the arrow. Upon hearing the next, she had sat up to deflect it. Lucan didn't seem to mind or notice, his grey eyes turned to stare at the queer figures. Quickly, she got off of him and extended the prince a hand to his feet, her cheeks burning from the compromising position they had been found him. Thankfully, it was only the elves... Thankfully, right?

She glanced back toward them, wondering what beautiful faces were lurking beneath their shadowed hoods. "Why did you attack us?" she asked them. They had sheathed their weapons and were speaking to them so cordially now.

"Dark creatures have been scouting these parts. No humans have ventured this deep within the forest, so we expected your intentions were ill," the elf explained. "Why are you here?"

"Here is part of Alleria and has been for the last millennia," Lucan informed them, not unkindly. 

"A millennia," the other elf murmured, clearly a female. "The humans have spread even further than we anticipated."

The male elf nodded grimly. "Then it is our mistake..." he paused before turning back to them, inspecting each Lucan and Eleanor from head to toe. "You must understand that this used to be Fenroreil's Forest, home to sylvan elves."

Lucan blinked a few times, as if he were trying to recall the lore. "In the time of Legends, yes. It has been renamed to Jaskier Wilds. There are more of you?"

The female nodded. "Our home is within this forest. Have you humans not seen it?"

"No Aeolin, it was Sealed, hidden from view. They would not have seen it. Just an empty spot on a map that were thought to be trees..." the male said thoughtfully. 

"The breaking of the Seal unlocked your home then. Have you all been living in a stasis?" Lucan was clearly interested by the prospect of an entire Elven civilization dwelling within his kingdom and not knowing the better. 

"We were never supposed to wake up. But they did not tell everyone that... Sorry, where are my manners. I am Theondeil and this is my companion Aeolin. We are rangers," he reached up and lowered his hood, revealing the most beautiful person that Eleanor had the pleasure to look upon. His hair was like spun starlight, warm against the cold silver of his cloak. It fell long and was pulled away from his long pointed ears. He had skin hewn of marble, smooth and perfect, tinged slightly by the sun, glinting slightly gold as light refracted off his perfect complexion. A straight, perfectly proportioned nose and a strong jawline, but his face was completely barren of any facial hair. Dark brows winged over his bright, grass green eyes. He smiled at them, Eleanor feeling her heart flutter as he did so. 

"I am Prince Lucan Ryswell of Alleria and my companion is the druid, Lady Eleanor Blacktyde," the prince introduced cordially, motioning to Eleanor as he said her name. 

Aeolin lowered her hood to reveal feminine perfection. She had the same flawless complexion as Theondeil, her hair molten honey poured over a perfectly oval shaped face. Her eyes are large and round, a brilliant cerulean like the warm ocean just outside the capitol. "Those names are familiar... To think both the Ryswells and Blacktydes weathered the fickleness of humans for so long... Though I don't recall House Ryswell being royalty."

"Well, I don't mean to interrupt such a wonderful meeting, but our mission here was not to startle you. Have you been attacking humans on the roads?" Eleanor butt in, shattering the whimsical mood that had suddenly been created. Their whole purpose of going this deep into the forest had been to investigate what had been causing men to disappear. 

"None of our territory intersects with the human roads, old or new. We have had time to scout them," Theondeil informed them. "However, we have been having strange activity on our borders as well. We haven't been able to capture whoever is utilizing our land to traverse between Fenroreil's and your royal woods."

"Our people have been restless since the Seal was broken. With us awaking it means that other foul beings have," Aeolin shifted uncomfortably.

"Like Korgs..." Lucan filled in.

"Korgs?" Theondeil's verdant eyes widened slightly. 

"Yes, we have met them on the field a few times, beginning with a surprise attack in our port which headed it all. We do not know who is controlling them, they have yet to make themselves know."

By the look the elves exchanged, they clearly knew who controlled the Korgs. Eleanor glanced at Lucan, wondering if he had caught that. In a hushed voice, Aeolin spoke only to Theondeil, "Lye anta a' i' iant ar' nessa a' Tellaeska."

From what she could discern, they needed to send their children and elderly somewhere safer. Somewhere called Tellaeska. Theondeil raised his head and sighed. "I apologize that we attacked you, but until we are ready, please keep your people from the edge of these forests. We will warn our people that the humans mean no harm, but until we are certain that our people are safely allocated away from the threat, we cannot assist you. Perhaps once we take care of our own, we shall be able to further assist the kingdom of Alleria."

"I can afford you that. Any knowledge you have on what is happening would be priceless," Lucan agreed.

"You face the same foe that the Seal was created to imprison. We all do. He will not be pleased until we all submit to his will," Theondeil said gravely, but left the rest open. "Farewell Prince Lucan and Lady Eleanor Blacktyde."

Nimble and silent, the elves fluttered away, darting back into the tree branches where they slipped into nonexistence. The forest breathed deeply and wildlife seemed to come back out to play. Eleanor glance over at Lucan who seemed possessed by thought and the exchange. "So there's any Elven civilization living in Alleria," she said awkwardly.

Lucan raised his head and looked to her, his lips curving up slightly. "Yes, there is. I'm just surprised better records weren't kept about this."

"Perhaps those records were destroyed to protect the elves. Maybe in some sort of agreement as the Seal was created? No one has ever tried to inhabit the Jaskier Wilds, which is strange seeing how close it is to the capitol. This could have all been cleared for farmland," she sucked in her bottom lip, chewing on it as she stared deeper into the forest that the sylvan elves claimed was their own. 

"I wish they had spoken with us more and told us what they were so afraid of," he gazed intently at her. "Had you not known Elven, I do not think they would have spared us."

"I had not realized my druidic book was in Elven until they spoke. I recognized the speech..."

"You will have to teach it to me. I do not like the idea of working with the elves and not understanding their tongue," Lucan insisted as he dusted some pine needles from off of his dark cloak. "And my thanks is also in order or else that arrow might have struck true."

Eleanor's ears burned in moderation and she gave him a slight shake of her head. "I'm a court mage, of course I'm going to protect you, your grace."

"Lucan, there are no prying ears here," he gave her a smirk that sent pleasant shivers down her spine. "I wasn't too uncomfortable either."

Just her ears went to burning to her entire face. However, Eleanor did her best not to lose her head when fronted with the prince's clear flirtations. Can he make up his mind? One moment he's telling me he has no intentions of ever being with me and then he's saying he likes to be straddled by me, she thought, clearly flustered by his comment. "I'll remember to be a bit more callous next time, your grace," she said through clenched teeth, trying to remain composed.

"I take it that I'm not getting your token anymore then?"

"On the contrary, I'm quite convinced it is you I'm going to give it to now. A prince and his mage," she batted her eyelashes as him and strutted past, flipping her hair in such a disdainful manner that she could have been pretending to be Raina. "We will need to inform your father about this. Come, we shouldn't dally here any longer." Without waiting for him to give a quick rebuttal, she shifted back into a moose and bent down so that she could be mounted.

"You should learn how to not get yourself riled up, Lady Blacktyde. After all, this is only our first of many days together."

"Elves in the Jaskier Wilds," King Braeden remarked, the same thoughtful look that had come over his son's face possessing his. "I suppose the fact that it's never been utilized makes sense now. Ancient magick must have been deterring anyone who had such an idea."

"There will be a time when that will need to be sorted out," General Callum remarked thinly. "I doubt the elves will concede to being part of this kingdom."

"They can have the forest if that is all they want," King Braeden shrugged. "If it comes with their assistance, then I see it as a small price. When they lived there, the continent was nothing but an ensemble of warring human kingdoms. Now that Alleria is united as one, the elves never expected themselves to be smack dab in the middle. We did not use the forest and if a new and powerful ally wants it, then they shall have it."

Eleanor gazed at the king with a new found admiration. She had thought he was different the moment she had met him earlier in the day, but now she saw he was keen on making sacrifices when it made sense. In this case, he cared naught of losing a forest he cared nothing for. Other kings had been ruffled for less. He had one thing on his mind and it wasn't about getting into squabbles about land, it was the foe controlling the Korgs. Her father had always been keen on King Braeden and Eleanor was beginning to follow suit. 

"I just hope that their preparations do not take to long. We could use their assistance as quickly as they're willing to give it," he sighed, glancing down at the war table. Even with the arrival of the elves, they were no closer to gleaning what type of force they were facing. Was it one of the Elder Bloods? A dragon? Or was it some sort of terrifyingly powerful mage? All records in human history had been lost, much of it being passed down by word of mouth and recorded centuries after, warped from the truth. 

"If the elves exist, there must be other races too. The dwarves and orcs," Zhang Wei suggested, tugging on his thin mustache. "Your mountain range... The Mane it is called? Dwarves once roosted there."

"Dwarves are not usually affected by magick. I'm not too certain how the Seal would work on them," Callum weighed in. 

"Dwarves cannot use magick. They have a natural resistance to it, but a powerful sorcerer would be able to harm them with magick. The Seal might have also hidden their cities as well," Eleanor corrected lightly, the general nonplussed by her disagreeing. "And if there are orcs, they never lived in Alleria. We are more likely to cross the dwarves if they decide to come down from their mountains."

Waiting on allies to appear out of thin air was not the most comfortable tactic, but knowing that there could be some to find was reassuring. Any further assistance they acquired solidified their standing in Alleria. 

"This is a lot to consider," Braeden murmured, glancing up between the candles that illuminated the tent. Outside night was falling, the dark blue sky casting long shadows over the thousands of tents and cook fires. 

"I shall see Lady Eleanor back to Goldenhour," Lucan interjected, picking up on the unspoken suggestion of closing for the evening. 

Eleanor didn't think she needed an escort back, but supposed his company was better than most. "Good evening to you all," she gave small dips of her head to each respectful figure standing in the tent before leaving beside the crown prince. Her eyes flitted up to him, suspicious on his accompaniment. He hadn't thought it necessary that she needed one down to the war camp. 

"You there, Klines isn't it? See that my horse and Lady Eleanor Blacktyde's are drawn," Prince Lucan picked out a soldier who had been making their rounds for the evening guard.

The soldier snapped to attention, saluting the prince respectfully before he trotted away to accomplish the task. 

"And here I thought you didn't want people to get the wrong impression about the two of us," she told him lightly.

"None of the men here shall get the wrong idea. It's getting dark, mage or not, a lady should not travel on her own in the darkness," Lucan said graciously.

She thought he was being rather patronizing and snorted at him. "Right."

"Are you still flustered about earlier?" he gleaned.

"Flustered?" she sputtered indignantly, crossing her arms defensively. 

"I presume that may have been one of the first times you were in such a compromising position? Fortunately only the elves saw, but..." he paused, as if to gauge where her reaction might be. 

"You're being quite crass, Prince Lucan," Eleanor reprimanded. "You may be in the comfort of your war camp where you tend to speak more freely, but I am still a lady."

"Ah, I am forgetting my manners, aren't I?" he gave her a mischievous smile as the soldier returned with their horses. "Forgive me, for it seems I can't contain myself."

He's toying with me. Trying to rile me up, Eleanor realized, taking the reigns of her horse and thanking the soldier before mounting. "I could fly right back to the castle," she reminded him thinly.

"But you aren't," he countered. "Perhaps we will be ambushed by elves in the forest again and you can be my dashing savior yet a second time."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and nudged her horse forward to a canter. "Sounds to me like you're flirting, your grace... Despite the conversations that we've had about this topic."

Lucan had come up beside her. "Perhaps," he agreed lightly and infuriatingly. "But really, my true intentions on escorting you was to begin my lessons in Elvish."

Eleanor blinked slowly at him, faced by the rugged, yet handsome face of the crown prince. She stared, almost dumbfounded by his round about manner to get what he wanted. Now she was stuck riding with him back to the castle and she'd much rather teach him Elvish than have him tease her about how she'd tackled him to the ground. "Where do I even begin?" she groaned, trying to start with the basics of Elvish for the prince.