Chapter 54

Darras found that the forest folk had cared for his horse and his belongings as well as himself, though in this instance he found himself under the roots of a giant tree. Despite the surprise of his surroundings, it was quite clean as well as dry.

“I take it this is not your normal ... residence?” Darras enquired of Gulime.

“No, sir Darras, though I take sustenance from it on occasion,” she replied with a smile.

“Er ... talking of sustenance?” Darras replied as his stomach gave an angry growl.

“We have fruit and nuts, though nothing cooked, as we avoid fire,” Gulime explained.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“A day.”

“Not too long, I guess,” Darras replied, checking his shoulder where the assassin’s blade had penetrated the armour.

‘It was a Mithril blade, ’ Erren explained.

Outside and above ground, Darras found several large leaves with fruit and nuts upon them and tasted them gingerly, as he still, to a certain degree, felt wrapped in cotton wool, including the inside of his mouth. The water was good though and gradually he began to feel somewhat human again.

“How far to Torgel?” Darras enquired of Erren.

‘Three days. You’re actually nearer to the gateway of Frestap in the Orcatian Kingdom, ’ Erren replied.

“Frestap it is then,” Darras nodded, then politely bade Gulime farewell, receiving a vitality potion to aid him on the journey.

“Use it sparingly. Your body could go into shock from excessive use,” she warned.

“I will and my thanks, Gulime,” Darras acknowledged. “May Doriel and Erren bless you.”

“And may my goddess continue to bless you too, sir Darras,” Gulime replied as Darras mounted his horse and set off in the direction Erren indicated in his mind.

“What of the horse?” he eventually asked.

‘I will arrange for my priest to have his acolyte in Frestap return it for you. He’ll be able to return by gateway.’

“Ah, yes. My thanks,” Darras acknowledged.

‘Now hurry home. I missed you and you need to fully heal.’

For Darras it was an incredible sensation when, on reaching Erren’s home, the weariness and aches from his body just vanished, flowing away in a relentless tide of ease. He’d had no trouble in Frestap and had even been met by the priest at the town gate and guided to the gateway building. He still felt tired, as he’d not slept easily on the trip, though had been grateful for the food provided by the forest folk.

“Welcome home, my Darras,” Erren greeted him with a hug.

“It’s good to be home,” Darras replied, reciprocating the hug enthusiastically.

“Bath, meal and sleep for you in that order,” Erren ordered.

“Yes, my love,” Darras chuckled, though was grateful for her no-nonsense attitude.

“Gulime did a good job in curing you and tending your wound, but the poison used also has long term effects, should you survive it,” Erren explained. “I’ve removed those, otherwise it could have taken a year to get anywhere near your best.”

“Gulime mentioned a week?” a puzzled Darras enquired.

“To be able to move around,” Erren enlarged, giggling.

“Ah,” Darras nodded as they reached the bathing area and he settled into the soothing warmth, even as a tankard of beer appeared next to him.

“Just relax, my love. Food is on its way and your bed is prepared.”

“Why am I still so tired?”

“Lack of sleep,” Erren giggled. “Not the poison.”

“Oh yes,” Darras chuckled, relaxing.

After a full night’s sleep, the following morning Darras felt back to full health and followed his morning routine of training with Erren in her over-muscled male form which took him through his paces with his staff, sword and bow skills. For the bow, he was joined by a diffident Tariel who, under instructions from him and Erren, gradually got the gist of what it was she was supposed to be doing with the much smaller bow Erren had provided.

Nor did Tariel shy away from Darras any more, though she still rarely, if ever, spoke first to him, but would at least answer any questions as well as obeying instructions. In what passed for the afternoon in Erren’s domain, Gallira would turn up and continue her teaching of Tariel in the ways of the Elves that she would soon be living with.

“So, she’s ready?” Erren asked Gallira as they sat around a table discussing Tariel who was napping close by.

“Other than anxiety from dealing with strangers, yes,” Gallira replied. “That won’t be fixed until I get her to an environment where she’ll be meeting them constantly.”

“Good. I’ll inform Iversirion of your arrival,” Erren confirmed. “They’ll have a place prepared for you in the new university.”

“Is it ready?” Darras asked.

“Not fully, though some teaching is now ongoing,” Erren replied. “Mostly the magical arts, though there’s a history class too, going over the history of all races.”

“Interesting, there’s so much I don’t know of the other races,” Gallira mused. “Comarre tried to pretend they didn’t exist.”

“You’ll definitely meet a few Humans, though, as yet, they are not common in Iversirion,” Erren replied. “My priestess, Kina, will be someone to introduce Tariel to.”

“I’m not sure how well she’ll react to strange Humans as yet...” Gallira began.

“Kina will be the key to overcoming that,” Erren confirmed.

“Very well, goddess. It shall be as you request,” Gallira acquiesced.

“Thank you. Trust me, following my will in all ways will bring great happiness in your life,” Erren replied with a smile.

“And a husband too?”

“Yes. You’ll both know the moment you meet,” Erren smiled.

“It still feels ... odd.”

“That’s the effect of Comarre’s way, not my way,” Erren explained. “It’s also not your goddess Hallis’s way.”

“So she indicated, much to my surprise,” Gallira replied with a shy smile.

“Comarre will eventually re-join Elven civilisation as a whole, though not soon, even by the way Elves judge these things,” Erren chuckled.

“There is very little impetus for change, true.”

“Collect her tomorrow. Darras will go with you to meet up with friends of his, as they have a mission in Thenarron,” Erren informed her.

“Of course, Wenderos.”

“So the mission is a go?” Darras enquired.

“Not quite yet. Firios and Tinara will be far-striding you to Tornua fortress to arrange the dark kin’s surrender.”

“Ah, right,” Darras nodded. “I take it they want a guarantor?”

“Yes, though it might just be that one or perhaps more than one will want to kill my agent, so be careful,” Erren warned.

“I will, my love.”

The following day Gallira turned up with a heavy pack to join Darras and Tariel who were waiting along with Erren. Greetings were exchanged, though Erren had to comfort a tearful Tariel, promising her that, yes, at some stage she could return to visit. The trio then moved to the middle of the lawn and disapparated to Iversirion.

“Darras, my friend. It is good to see you,” he was happily greeted by Firios on their appearance at the gateway.

“It’s good to be here, friend Firios,” Darras replied, before introducing Gallira and Tariel.

“Come with me. Harinas is expecting you,” Firios nodded after the introductions. “Tinara awaits us there too.”

“Lead the way.”

It was obvious that Tariel was both uncomfortable with the crowds in the Elven capital, but equally fascinated by them. Hence the young girl clung closely to Gallira, even as her head swivelled back and forth taking in the sights. Darras chatted with Firios, going over what was expected of the group and gaining assurances that he and Tinara would behave themselves, no matter what the provocations.

“That said, feel free to defend yourselves if necessary,” Darras advised.

“We will, friend Darras.”

The group finally made it to the central shrine where the Elven priests of Wenderos were ministering to the various supplicants who desired either advice or, occasionally, healing and/or blessings. Harinas had clearly been expecting them, however, and came forth to greet them, looking slightly startled when he saw Gallira, a look that was reciprocated.

“So you are our new lecturer on healing, Gallira?” he finally asked after the initial greetings.

“Yes, for all I can channel Hallis, my goddess. I’m mostly here to teach the alternatives by way of herbology and the physical treatment of the ill and injured,” Gallira replied politely.

“And Tariel is your ward?”

“Yes, an orphan who had been enslaved by Humans,” Gallira explained.

“I see, though not all Humans are so barbaric, not even most.”

“This I have been told, though Comarre holds to its policies of isolation and Darras here is the only Human I have met.”

“This will change. Some of your future students will be Human. Also, priestess Kina, a Human, is revered here and will visit often, along with her husband, Galard,” Harinas informed her. “From her you’ll gain knowledge of the joys of worshipping Wenderos and Hallis with all your heart in your everyday life.”

“I actually look forward to it. Most of my life has been sheltered and I felt both constrained and limited in my existence,” Gallira confessed.

“I can assuredly tell you this will change in Iversirion now we are blessed by the goddess again and accept all as visitors and equal in her sight,” Harinas informed her with a broad smile.

“Good!”

Harinas then escorted Gallira and Tariel to the quarters in the former Temple they’d be staying in. It was obvious to Darras that the three were also to some extent bonding, though Tariel remained wary of him or any strangers. Darras and Firios left them and sought out Tinara who was talking to an Elf whom she introduced as her husband, Fintra.

“A pleasure,” Darras replied after the introductions, though had the feeling Fintra didn’t like him too much, if at all.

‘He suspects you and Tinara are sexually attracted and it troubles him, ’ Erren explained.

Darras remained silent. This was not a conversation he wanted to have in the hearing of the Elves. He also felt Erren’s amused reaction in the background.