(well, I hope this is worth the wait. Enjoy, and sorry my vacation went a bit longer than I expected.)

Chapter 30: Eavesdropping

Ria curled tighter in her blankets, shutting her eyes against the creeping sunlight. Drifting in warmth and comfort, she dozed peacefully.

She was a fighter, her slim blade alive in her hands as she cut a deadly swath trough her enemies. blood soaked her clothes, blood of friends and enemies alike and her hands were slick on her sword hilt. She tightened her grip, faced a big bear of a man, wielding a double bladed axe. The audible clash of her blade against his weapon was dull compared to the shock of it in her arms. The slim blade came around and slashed across his chest, and his eyes widened as his blood hit her face in hard, warm streams. She slashed again, blindly, and he fell with a strangled roar.

The dream shifted then, the man's death-face escaped Ria's scrutiny, and she was on her knees among the corpses of the bloodied field, staring at her red-soaked hands. Her sword lay beside her, and Ria glanced wearily at the smeary hilt. Twined among the the silver wiring was...

The sound of the tent flap woke her from her nightmare. Milarys glanced at her.

“you're up early.” Ria commented.

Milarys grimaced. “I did not sleep much. My leg hurt, so I went to Iras.”

-her leg hurt all night?- “Did she help you?”

Milarys shrugged. “the swelling went down.” she pulled out the leather sleeves she used when sword fighting. When she noticed Ria's curious look she answered: “Kir thinks he has a chance of beating me.”

“oh. Don't hurt him too badly.” Ria flopped back down and pulled the covers over her head, hoping to rift into more pleasant reveries. It was too late; she was already too awake. Moments later she emerged from the tent with Milarys, blinking in the bright sunlight. The camp was quietly going about it's business, making a sort of song out of the morning routine. Liri rode up on Seirian. “took you long enough.” she said chidingly to Ria. “come on, there's work to do.”

“What about milarys?” Ria protested as she followed the elf.

“her leg hurts today. And we are mucking out the horse-shelters.” Liri dismounted her horse and sent her on her way to graze.

“But i want to watch her fight Kir!”

“That is later” Milarys assured her. “this is just warm-up.”

Ria grumbled and groaned until Liri snapped at her, but she willingly shoveled the muck into a sprawling pile.

“We are leaving in two days.”

“Ria nodded. “it seems so long a wait.”

the look on the elf's face showed tacit agreement. “I wish we could just be going.”

-shouldn't we have heard from Mae yet?- Ria wondered half-aloud.

-she can take care of herself. anyway, she's with people she knows. I'm more worried about Einion.-

“do you think he is at the shifter's fortress?”

Liri shrugged. “We will have to worry about that when we get there.” Her words belied the grey and red fog of her anxious thoughts. Ria willingly shared in the anxiety, until Liri walled it away. -it' won't solve anything if either us worry. Lets just get back to work.-

Rai reluctantly went back to her raking. Something is niggling me. Something i missed. I forgot something i was supposed to--- the realization hit her like a slap on the back. The darkness. The trouble in the swamps, the Flirka who had attacked the warrior hall.

“Liri. You haven't mentioned anything about our mission to your father or Caderyn yet have you?”

Liri stared at her, completely perplexed. Understanding dawned. “no.” she replied slowly. “There hasn't been time and i completely forgot. More important things have been going on you know.”

“i know.” Ria turned away, biting her lip contemplatively. “but i can't help thinking...maybe we should tell them about it.”

“you can if you want to.”

Ria regarded her friend. “do you think i should?”

“eventually.” Liri met Ria's eyes. “I think right now everyone has a lot to think about without another problem to deal with. One thing at a time.”

Ria nodded, but the feeling of urgency did not fade. Throughout the day, the face of the crazed merc lingered in her mind. And even when Liri tried to give her a riding lesson she was on edge.

“You are snippy today.” her friend commented as they made their way back to the tent.

Ria rubbed her neck. “I've got a headache.” she said nothing past that. Liri had a point: the elvish leaders were far too busy to give any real attention to an unknown and possibly exaggerated threat to the south. One thing at a time.

-Easier said than done.- Einion thought dismally. Since his meeting with the shifter leader two nights ago, he had been moved out of his cell-like room ad into a more spacious chamber. It had been 'explained' to him that he had only been in the cell because of his weakened condition. “We didn't want you trying any brave escapes and harming yourself.” Lierta had smirked then. “however, that didn't seem to stop you anyway. So now you have a proper door.” she pointed to the portal. “Please, regard yourself as a guest, and everything will be much easier.”

“A guest.” Einion muttered. “a guest with a guard. And no way home.” hopelessness filled him. Since that clandestine meeting with the leader, Lierta had been his only visitor, and though she was pleasant, she was also very busy. He had come out of his chamber long enough to judge his guards stature (large) and temperament (silent). His brief forays around the fortress had given him some idea of just how large it was—a veritable warren of corridors and rooms.

Einion strode over to his window, leaning out the window the suck in the fresh air. The oppression of the stone walls bore down on him until he felt like breaking down the thick stones around himself. He carefully unclenched his fists. -enough-.

He turned towards his door and flung it open. Not bothering to wait for his silent hulk of a captor, Eionion trotted down the winding stair case, ducking through the corridors and past animal and human forms alike. He burst into a large, empty hall, set with long trestle tables. Here he paused in the doorway, taking in the scene. Form a room to the side, voices echoed, and with them, a delicious smell. His stomach reminded him that all it had had to eat that morning were two pieces of dry toast. He walked quietly to the doorway, and stood beside it, listening. One voice seemed upset -no, Einion silently amended,-she was furious.-

“That---lipnar-nami!” the voice exploded.

“what did Sefu do this time?”

“he treats me like his annoying little sister! He doesn't listen to me when i need to tell him something important and he insists on acting as if the elvish 'guest' is some secret. Everyone knows about it.”

Einion breathed very carefully.

“not everyone.” the other said more gently. “Even I don't know where he is right now.”

“Oh, he's here somewhere. And I'm going to find him.” their voices were coming loser to the doorway. Einion flattened himself against the wall, feeling completely conspicuous. The pair stopped just inside the doorway. “oh, Lierta asked me to get something for her.” one of the shifters leaned against the door jamb and closed her eyes. Einion's heart hammered. She had not sounded very friendly towards elves, and he was weaponless.

-Since when did i become such a wimp?- He peeled himself away from the wall and took a step toward the shifter, willing his heart to slow. Immediately, her eyes met his. She tensed, but did not shift. “Who are you, and why are you standing there?”

Einion paused, trying to think of a suitable answer. He chose his words carefully. “I'm...a guest here. I cam down here for some food. I heard you talking--”

The shifter lunged towards him and he dodged back, fists flying up.

“You're the elf!”

“I don;t want to fight you.” Einion crouched defensively.

the shifter laughed. “well, it's obvious who you are now, you looked like Liri then.”

He froze. “Liri? How do you know that name?”

“I am good friends with her. She's your cousin right?”

“Maeran, who are you talking to?” the other shifter—Einion recognized her as the alpha's sister-- came out carrying a loaf of bread. She stared at him. “what are you doing out?”

“I was hungry.” he decided to ignore her, and turned to the other. “How do you know Liri?”

“Liri who?” Raalis asked just as the door swung open. The tall, silent one, Sefu, stalked in.

“what are you doing here?” he demanded pof no one in particular.

“I came to get bread for Lierta.” Raalis swept by him. “and now i have to go.”

Sefu watched her retreat ad then rounded on Maeran. I thought i told you to stay away from him!” he gestured to Einion.

Maeran growled. “i just came to get something to eat. He's the one who showed up.”

Einion found himself under a dark gaze. “Where is your escort?” Sefu demanded.

The elf's bewilderment was quickly transforming into irritation. “now is see what she,” he nodded to the other shifter “was talking about. I am a guest in this place, according to your leader, with a guest's priveleges--”

“Privileges which do nto allow you to eavesdrop on conversations that are not your concern.” Sefu was suddenly towering above the both of them.

“Don;t pull any shifter tricks with me.” the elf faced him squarely. “I am fed up with being passed around and pushed aside.” Einion had to tip his chin up to meet his adversary's eyes. “this 'conversation' has everything to do with me, and my kin.” with that he whipped his gaze around, pinning the other shifter, the one whohad meantioned Briallen, and demanded: “Where is Liri?”

“she is coming soon.” Maeran stood a little straighter. Finally something was being done. “I originally came here to rescue you, but,” she glanced at Sefu, “the situation is not what I expected. So i am here ot act as a go-between for the shfters and the elves, since i have ties to both.”

Einin took this in quickly, jumping to the next conclusion. “with you here, I can go home, and help my family there--”

“No.” Sefu cut in. “you are necessary as Maeran is not. You are the guarantee that we will not be attacked.”

“So, i am a prisoner.” His eyes narrowed. “all this noble talk of 'guests' was your way of keeping me docile.”

“Be quiet until you know what you are talking about.” Sefu practically snarled. “your shortsightedness amazes me, and you, the heir to the Elvish stronghold. We keep you here as protection. If we did not, your family would march against us.”

“They are marching now.” Maeran put in. “We should take him back, i can be the go between.”

“And what is to stop the elves from killing you along with the rest of us? Could they not easily take you hostage and then wipe us out? There are too many lives involved for us, the shifters, to give up any advantage.”

“You cannot expect my family to deal peacefully with you while you hold me prisoner. How will you make my family trust you?” Einion's voice was thick with barely-pent hostility, but in that question he let down a small portion of his defiance.

Koran's voice echoed in nearly empty hall, startling all three. “The same way we made you trust Lierta.” he stepped through the doorway, Raalis on his heels. “We will show our intentions to heal the past wounds of our ancestors, and build a firmer foundation for our future races.”

Einion almost said it aloud. -Finally. A shifter who admits they were in the wrong.-

“But it must be recognized tat there have been wrongs done to us as well. Compromises must be reached, and above all we musty avoid war.” Koran sat at one of the tables. “come and sti, all of you. There is much to discuss.”

Maeran plunked ehrself down beside the elvis leader. Sefu stood on his other side. Einion reluctantly sat across form him.

Koran smiled gently. “It has been too long since shifters and elves have sat at one tablet ogether, both unarmed.”

“although, you stil hold the advantage.” Einion pointed out.

“yes. Bu when we meet in ur camp the tables will b turned.”

“Waht makes yout hiink my family will ever let you near our camp shifter?”

“it is my hope that one day alliances can be formed between our race that are much more lasting than the old enmities.” raalis snorted scornfully, and Einion caught her eye, but Koran spoke again.

“the unfortuate incidents of these past months; the deaths of your horses and your race's harsh retaliation,” he paused, as if giving Einion time to consider an outburst, “have served to widen the rift already present between us. What would the elves consider as just reparation for my people's acts?”

Einion sat back in his chair, thinking hard. The shifter leaderhad mention edbefore that he wanted to bring peace between the two races,but he had hardy taken Koran seriously. The death of horses was much more than loss of livestock. Horses were the elve's lives, as important to them as family. “There is not much you could give to the families who lost their horses. Entire breeding lines were wiped out in few days. Some of those lines were very important to us, but not as important as the horses themselves. However.” Einion studied the four faces across fomr him, he was surprised to see anger in Raalis' eyes. “You, Koran, are not responsible. Any reparations you made would be unacknowledged by my father as such, because you are merely a shifter with a nice house. It is those who have done the deeds who should pay.”

“they did pay!” Raalis stood up. Leaning over the table she exclaimed, “Or do you not remember the people, the men and women and children your race killed. Innocent people who are far more important than any equines! The clan that killed a few horses has paid ten times over!”

“Raalis, sit down. Sefu commanded her. Raalis did not obey. She backed away from the table, tears standing in her eyes. “”Do not speak of reparations with him, Koran, until you get promises of the same in return.” she shifted sparrow and flitted away leaving the rest to sit in silence.

“I must apologizer for my cousin.” Koran said. “Some of her relatives were a part of that clan.”

Einion shook his head, frowning. “ I'm not sure what that was about. The elvish king has not given any permission to kill shifters, that i know of. We did not even know that the offenders had been found. My father should have known about this attack, but he did not.”

“How could the king not have known?” Maeran asked. “don't you have messengers?” no one could ignore the slightly ironic tone of her voice.

“the message may have been waylaid, but in this case I think not.” Einion's eyes hardened. “the elves who killed the guilty shifters were in the right, but to kill other innocents...that is as grave an offense as them killing our horses.”

“so, are you saying we are even on that score?”

“perhaps, if what Raalis said was true.”

“I could assure you of her honesty, if you would believe me.” Maeran offered.

“It is not just those events which is important to our negotiations.” Koran broke in. “there are many other issues which have to be reconciled between our races.”

“I agree,” Einion said, “but i am not the one who you should be parleying with. My father has the authority.”

“Yes, but you are the one who is to carry a message back to your father, our agreement.” Sefu looked sharply at his leader. Koran silenced him with a glance.“I have changed my mind. It is better i think, to allow the heir to return to his family. He will be the best person to convince them of our good intentions.”

“what about me?” Maeran inquired.

“You will go with him, to return with the signed agreement.”

“how do we know the elves will stick to their word?” Sefu glanced at Einion. “they could march against us at any moment.”

“As Maeran pointed out, they are already marching. We either meet them in battle or in peace. The shifters ar not unified enough to fight, and i will not risk the lives of my people.”

Einion slapped his palm on the table to get the shifter's attention. “I will take your agreement on one condition. Koran goes with me, as a 'political guest'. As a sign of your good intentions, you must trust my family not to harm your leader”

“no.” Sefu spat out he word. “I will not allow it.”

“Sefu.” Koran looked hard at him. “You are not in charge of me. The elf has a point, and a valid request. I will go with him.”

Sefu was barely controlling his irritation. “i do not think that is wise, Koran.”

“No. it is not wise. Which is why i must convince the elves that it would be even more foolish to harm me. Something you said earlier, Einion, about your father not believing i had the authority to make reparations. If the elves treat me as the leader of the shifters, there is a chance my own people will see me that way too. And if they can unite in that, my hopes will be fulfilled.”

Einion shook his head. “monarchy does not work that way. Your own people must see you as a leader first.”

“I am not looking for monarchy. I do not want to rule. I want my people to be united as one community.”

“shifters are by nature clan-driven.” Sefu said.

“I am merely expanding their idea of a clan.”

“Enough with the shifter philosophy.” Maeran grinned. “the elf doesn't care about that.”

“Before we talk anymore about agreements and negotiations, can i get something to eat?”

“Good point. In fact supper is soon and this place will be very full. We should meet upstairs in my chamber.” Koran stood, and nodded regally to the elvish heir. “meet me in my room in a few hours.”

Einion was left alone with Maeran. “How is Liri? Why is she with my family? Did they call her home?”

“You don't remember our failed rescue?” Maeran told him everything. “Milarys was unconscious for many days. But she finally awoke, and a few days later I came here. I had a few other matters to take care of besides you.”

“so Liri is with Miarys and...Ria?”

Maeran nodded. “Ria is a friend. She didn't come on the rescue because...well, she's not very helpful in adventures like that.”

Einion nodded. “i can't believe you two risked your lives with Liri for me.”

Maeran shrugged. “Liri's my friend. She knows she can't leave me behind on any adventuring—Milarys also, of course.”

“what has Liri been doing all these years?”

Maeran's stomach chose that moment to assert itself. “i'll tell you some of it over dinner.”