Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 19
The two Elves had now risen and were glaring at each other, though Erren warned Darras not to interfere. Firios, Traskis, and Tinara also kept silent as Demala and Klea finally voiced the tensions that divided them.
“You are no scout!” Demala hissed.
“I never claimed to be,” Klea icily replied. “Just quieter than you.”
“Liar!”
“I do not lie, I’m not a kinslayer like you,” Klea retorted, causing the other Elves to stir.
“Please be careful with your words,” Tinara advised. “I realise you both have issues, though that’s no cause for a vendetta to be declared.”
Klea turned to Tinara, clearly livid, but upon seeing Tinara’s calm look, visibly swallowed and nodded. “My apologies,” she said. “I spoke in anger, and my words were harsh.”
“Accepted,” Tinara replied. “Demala, your criticism, whilst partially valid, was unnecessary and rude.”
“Partially?” Klea asked, looking angered.
“Yes, you are no scout,” Tinara smiled slightly.
“Ah, yes, true.”
“She will give our presence away to the denizens here,” Demala hissed.
“Perhaps,” Tinara nodded. “Though I’d aver Darras would be more likely to.”
“Probably,” Darras chuckled. “I’m no scout either.”
“If it bothers you so much, teach Klea,” Firios said. “I suspect you’d both learn something.”
“Me, teach her?” Demala asked, looking appalled.
“You are the one with issues,” Firios countered. “I’m offering you the chance to settle them, assuming Klea agrees.”
“Would I be safe?” Klea frowned.
“Yes,” Darras replied. “Demala would not care to offend Wenderos.”
“True,” an angry-looking Demala snarled. “Still, if this is your wish, I will teach this ... Elf the ways of the scout.”
“Then it is agreed, you’ll have two days to find a balance within yourselves,” Firios stated. “Now sit, eat and relax.”
‘Good, it’s working, ’ Erren said to Darras. ‘Firios, Traskis and Tinara see Klea as a person now.’
Darras said nothing, just glanced at Klea and Demala, who were pointedly ignoring each other whilst they ate. Klea then went to a separate area of the camp and sat quietly, meditating.
“Why does she do that?” Tinara asked quietly.
“It’s her method of keeping her anger and fear in check,” Darras replied. “Her thoughts keep telling her she is working with a group who would seek to do her harm.”
“Ah, yes, perhaps two years ago,” Tinara smiled wryly.
“We know it was the Golden Empire who was at fault,” Firios replied calmly. “I do not believe Klea to be an enemy, though I can sense her inner turmoil and anger, if muted.”
“As she no doubt picks up on your emotions, particularly you, Demala,” Darras said.
“Her people likely murdered my grandparents,” Demala hissed.
“Perhaps,” Darras nodded. “But, she did not.”
“True,” the until now silent Traskis nodded. “Many things should not have occurred at the fall of the Golden Empire, the main one being Harranis’ demand that a clan hand over a sacred object to him.”
“Yes,” both Firios and Tinara agreed.
“Though I wish more of our people would accept the truth,” Traskis added.
“The truth in this case is unpalatable, for the Elves,” Darras replied. “After all, you have been told since birth an alternative narrative.”
‘That and the Elven trait of remembering the past as if a living thing and holding a grudge because of it, ’ Erren said.
“Yet you three have risen above it,” Darras indicated Firios, Traskis and Tinara. “As has Mirion.”
“Yes, I strive to be more like Mirion in outlook,” Tinara nodded. “I still have the occasional moment when my original hatred comes to the fore.”
“As does Klea, hence the meditation,” Darras chuckled. “That and dealing with the power of the blade is difficult.”
“Difficult?” Demala asked.
“In a sense,” Darras replied. “Its power, when she holds it, can enhance her charisma to the point where disobeying her would be difficult for anyone not protected by a god.”
“That is troubling.”
“It’s also why she tries to purge her thoughts of hate and anger,” Darras added. “Ill-spoken words, if holding the blade, could have disastrous consequences.”
“I see,” Demala nodded. “I will endeavour to control my feelings and hatred.”
“Please do so, my friend,” Darras replied.
The following morning, after breakfast, the Elves and Darras took up scouting, splitting the party into three groups. Klea and Demala moved away to instruct the Dark Elf on the tactics and methodology used by the scouts. The two women were outwardly polite to each other, though Erren informed Darras that the pair were very tense.
Darras followed Tinara around the area, marking various features on a map and avoiding the more mobile of the local wildlife. The task, though boring in itself, was enjoyable because the pair enjoyed each other’s company, and Tinara would often question Erren through Darras on the various ways she could use to ease Klea’s fears of the group.
“I’m trying to view her as I would my team,” Tinara said. “Not as an enemy.”
“You’re getting there,” Darras smiled as he sketched a rock outcropping and detailed its proximity to other landmarks.
“I ... I would hope one day to call her friend,” Tinara confessed.
“A worthy goal, though I’d avoid mentioning it to your husband,” Darras chuckled.
“True, Fintra would likely be horrified,” Tinara smiled. “He’s barely gotten used to the fact that I work with you.”
“At least Klea’s the same species.”
“Not in his eyes, and two years ago, not in mine,” Tinara sighed.
“Yet look how far you have come,” Darras smiled.
Back at the camp, the pair found Demala and Klea deep in a conversation regarding the various signals used by the scouts, including the whistles they used that other races could not hear.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know if they’ll be effective against these Chickrith,” Demala concluded.
“Would it be worth finding out?” Klea asked.
“It would, but if they can, it may be dangerous for us, as according to Wenderos, they will pursue until death,” Demala replied.
“Surely we could take out an individual?”
“They don’t tend to wander,” Darras interjected. “At least not alone.”
“Ah,” Klea nodded.
“We could really do with knowing,” Firios added.
“Then there may be a way,” Darras replied thoughtfully. “There’s a large creature that hunts close to their main stronghold. If we use that to hide our presence, we could experiment.”
“Potentially dangerous,” Demala objected.
“Gresh is, and it would be of use to the scouts to know such a thing,” Darras countered.
“It would,” Firios agreed. “Particularly the deeper we penetrate.”
The next day, the group made its way along the clearly defined border of the Gresh forest until they reached territory that Darras was familiar with. From there, they carefully scouted until Traskis found the lair of the predator.
“Tinara and I will approach the stronghold and see if these Chickrith can hear our whistles. If we are spotted, we will retreat towards here,” Firios decided. “If we are pursued, there must be no survivors; this is essential.”
The Elves, including Klea, all nodded. “It shall be as you say,” Traskis added.
“Just be careful,” Darras said. “Balat and I never approached too closely because they can blend into the surroundings.”
“We will,” Firios replied.
Firios and Tinara ghosted away whilst Darras and the others set up a potential trap with a lure leading towards the lair of the predator.
‘I’m observing via Tinara, ’ Erren informed Darras. ‘The Chickrith will not hear the whistles, but will spot the pair by their heat signatures.’
‘Heat signatures?” Darras asked, slightly confused.
‘The soldier Chickrith can see the heat given off by a body, it’s how they pursue their prey, leading the worker Chickrith.’
“Fast?”
‘Very, though not fast enough and not terribly intelligent, just focused.’
“Will they know they are Elves?” a worried Darras asked.
‘No, just a food source.’
“OK, we’ll deal with them when they come,” Darras nodded to himself.
‘Just be careful, there’s potentially a rearguard, ’ Erren warned. ‘At least that’s how they used to hunt and fight.’
“We will,” Darras replied, then passed the information along to the three Elves.
“Why didn’t Wenderos tell us about the whistles?” Klea asked.
“This is all a test to see how well you function as a group,” Darras replied.
“Dangerous,” Demala frowned. “What if we failed to cooperate?”
“Then you wouldn’t be doing this,” Darras replied. “Erren ... Wenderos hopes you’ll be able to get over your hatreds and cooperate; she does not demand you be friends.”
“Ah, I see,” Demala nodded. “I no longer feel the urge to kill Klea, though I do not like her.”
“That’s acceptable to Wenderos,” Darras chuckled.
“I’m glad, though I suspect my parents would be most perturbed to see me associate with Klea or any Dark Kin.”
“As would my people, though not my father,” Klea added.
“Galbras is most mature, though I suspect even he has his dark moments,” Darras replied.
“Probably,” Klea nodded. “I doubt the hate will go away any time soon.”
“Wenderos knows this,” Darras nodded. “This is but part of a long process.”
‘They’re coming, ’ Erren warned. ‘The Chickrith have spotted them.’
“Positions,” Darras called out, watching the Elves move out of sight to their hides. “How many?”
‘Twenty, moving fast, ’ Erren replied.
Darras drew his bow and prepared to deal with any stragglers amongst the Chickrith as Traskis, Demala, and Klea placed themselves close to the lair, though not in sight of it. Firios and Demala appeared, running very swiftly, and Darras could hear the pursuers as they attempted to bring the Elves down.
‘There’s a lookout keeping tabs on them, ’ Erren confirmed.
“Can’t see it yet,” Darras murmured.
‘It will appear soon.’
Darras drew back the mithril-tipped arrow and waited patiently as a swiftly moving line of Chickrith hurried past, pursuing the Elves. A few minutes later, Darras spotted the straggler who was there to take back a warning to the stronghold should the pursuit fail. Releasing the bowstring, Darras watched in satisfaction as the creature was struck and collapsed.
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