?For the record... the Undead Association plans no attacks upon the Elven Nation.? I announced. I had arrived at this meeting alone, apparently more willing to make a gesture of trust than the king, who was surrounded by his family, cronies, and sycophants. I realized it was necessary to clarify an exception. ?Unless there are further aggressions against the Undead Association by the Elven Nation.?
?Thank you, Alysia,? began Elvenhone, then his eyes bugged out. ?What!!!??? What aggressions? My brother's fight was sanctioned by you!? protested the king in exaggerated innocence.
I stared hard at him, willing him to silence. ?Let me finish. I grow very weary of the constant insinuations that my warriors wish to war with the Elven Nation. I have heard from several people claiming membership in your Nation, that you wish to break the treaty of Truce.?
?I have never insinuated,? he protested. ?I have been told by your own people these things.?
?Who, then? And when?? I scoffed. ?Is this nothing more than another attempt on your part to break this truce??
Elvenhone hemmed and hawed, then muttered that my second, Glenn Shadow, had provoked him, but he had no proof.
Of course he had no proof. ?What precisely has Glenn said?? I demanded.
The king wavered a bit, stammering. His wife looked around nervously.
?Answer my question, please, Elvenhone.? I added quietly, ?I think you are easily provoked. What did Glenn Shadow say, that you are willing to claim that he wishes our truce broken? I take this very seriously.? And I did, for I held honor highly and did not take such threats lightly. Even though Glenn was my brother, if he had said such a thing, he would face repercussions for his careless tongue.
?He claimed that members who said they were part of the Elven Nation already broke the truce,? admitted the king. ?But he would not provide the names.?
?How does that make it that he wishes the truce broken?? I laughed. ?Indeed, our the truce has been broken, before today, by none but you and I, Elvenhone. In jest.?
?No,? disagreed Elvenhone. Apparently he didn?t mean our impromptu duel. We both still bore the bruises. I didn?t think his wife was happy about it. ?Ye know who I refer to. I will nay say their names as it burns my tongue.? He looked petulant and scowled. ??M? and ?L?.?
?Malkavic and Lirianna?? I snorted derisively. ?Those two have no affiliation with either of us now, I believe.? While the pair had once claimed membership in both the Elven Nation and the Undead Association, that was no longer the case and Elvenhone would have to be a complete moron to have forgotten that. He was definitely grasping for a reason to break the truce, to put the blame for a failed peace on me, or even to provoke me into breaking it. The coward. I wondered whether it was his own idea to question our tentative peace, or whether his nation had put him up to it when their instigation failed.
The conference broke for a moment as his counselors protested Lirianna?s innocence in the plot against the king. Elvenhone refused to listen to them, claiming that she had deliberately withheld information about the plot and was guilty. I watched the king?s counselors jockey for favor and position, amused at the accusations flying. At some point, they realized I was still there, observing.
?Alysia...? said Elvenhone, ?I know we hold no love for each other. But know this, the Elves as long as I am alive will not break the truce.?
?Oh yes,? I retorted quietly. Did he really think me that much of a fool? ?They'll just provoke my honor until I break it, is that it??
?Nay... As yer second did?? he chided, referring to Glenn. ?I figured I could trust him as I do ye.?
I still didn't know what my brother had really done to the damned elf and smiled coldly. ?You should trust no one but yourself, Elvenhone.?
?But we learn from our mistakes do we not?? pressed the king.
?That is the only way to guard against betrayal,? I continued, disregarding his interruption. ?For even now, I would be a fool to trust you completely.?
Elvenhone, looking particularly haughty, said, ?Then that is yer mistake.?
I shrugged. ?When you have been betrayed by those you love... then you can condemn me.?
?Thank you, Alysia,? began Elvenhone, then his eyes bugged out. ?What!!!??? What aggressions? My brother's fight was sanctioned by you!? protested the king in exaggerated innocence.
I stared hard at him, willing him to silence. ?Let me finish. I grow very weary of the constant insinuations that my warriors wish to war with the Elven Nation. I have heard from several people claiming membership in your Nation, that you wish to break the treaty of Truce.?
?I have never insinuated,? he protested. ?I have been told by your own people these things.?
?Who, then? And when?? I scoffed. ?Is this nothing more than another attempt on your part to break this truce??
Elvenhone hemmed and hawed, then muttered that my second, Glenn Shadow, had provoked him, but he had no proof.
Of course he had no proof. ?What precisely has Glenn said?? I demanded.
The king wavered a bit, stammering. His wife looked around nervously.
?Answer my question, please, Elvenhone.? I added quietly, ?I think you are easily provoked. What did Glenn Shadow say, that you are willing to claim that he wishes our truce broken? I take this very seriously.? And I did, for I held honor highly and did not take such threats lightly. Even though Glenn was my brother, if he had said such a thing, he would face repercussions for his careless tongue.
?He claimed that members who said they were part of the Elven Nation already broke the truce,? admitted the king. ?But he would not provide the names.?
?How does that make it that he wishes the truce broken?? I laughed. ?Indeed, our the truce has been broken, before today, by none but you and I, Elvenhone. In jest.?
?No,? disagreed Elvenhone. Apparently he didn?t mean our impromptu duel. We both still bore the bruises. I didn?t think his wife was happy about it. ?Ye know who I refer to. I will nay say their names as it burns my tongue.? He looked petulant and scowled. ??M? and ?L?.?
?Malkavic and Lirianna?? I snorted derisively. ?Those two have no affiliation with either of us now, I believe.? While the pair had once claimed membership in both the Elven Nation and the Undead Association, that was no longer the case and Elvenhone would have to be a complete moron to have forgotten that. He was definitely grasping for a reason to break the truce, to put the blame for a failed peace on me, or even to provoke me into breaking it. The coward. I wondered whether it was his own idea to question our tentative peace, or whether his nation had put him up to it when their instigation failed.
The conference broke for a moment as his counselors protested Lirianna?s innocence in the plot against the king. Elvenhone refused to listen to them, claiming that she had deliberately withheld information about the plot and was guilty. I watched the king?s counselors jockey for favor and position, amused at the accusations flying. At some point, they realized I was still there, observing.
?Alysia...? said Elvenhone, ?I know we hold no love for each other. But know this, the Elves as long as I am alive will not break the truce.?
?Oh yes,? I retorted quietly. Did he really think me that much of a fool? ?They'll just provoke my honor until I break it, is that it??
?Nay... As yer second did?? he chided, referring to Glenn. ?I figured I could trust him as I do ye.?
I still didn't know what my brother had really done to the damned elf and smiled coldly. ?You should trust no one but yourself, Elvenhone.?
?But we learn from our mistakes do we not?? pressed the king.
?That is the only way to guard against betrayal,? I continued, disregarding his interruption. ?For even now, I would be a fool to trust you completely.?
Elvenhone, looking particularly haughty, said, ?Then that is yer mistake.?
I shrugged. ?When you have been betrayed by those you love... then you can condemn me.?