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Summary; Warning; Copyright: See First Chapter.
Here's an update for ya, MTK! Hope you likey1
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“We’re almost to the Realm of the Sun,” Oweoc reported as the light began to lighten the sky around them. Although Naida was able to walk on her own at this point, Maledict had yet to release her, but she wasn’t complaining since she felt sore all over.
“That’s good,” she sighed. “What’s it like?”
“Well, the name kind of gives it away,” Maledict said teasingly, but she pointedly ignored him.
“It’s a bright realm – literally. The sun only sets once a year, and the ocean surrounds it,” Oweoc said. “It borders the middle of the Imperial State, surprisingly enough, and boats carry travelers across and beyond its regions. Sun Elves, Mermaids, Lupines, and Tigixes reside in it, and it’s rumored a Phoenix or two do as well.”
“Really?” Naida perked with interest and tried to slide out of Maledict’s grasp, but winced when a sudden pain shot through her side.
“Are you all right?” Oweoc asked in concern, and Maledict tightened his grip on her as the Elf drew near.
“I’m just sore – must be all the walking I’m not used to,” she laughed nervously, but the Elf’s eyes narrowed as he inspected her pale face and bright eyes. Pressing his palm against her cheek he sighed heavily and straightened.
“Your body is unused to such strain and it must have weakened to the point it is unable to function properly,” he informed her. “Nothing serious, I believe – you just need some rest and good food, which you can get in the Realm of the Sun.”
“You knew!” she hissed, glaring up at Maledict as the Elf moved away from them once more. Without looking at her he shrugged slightly and she groaned, feeling embarrassed for getting sick at a time like this and needing to be carried. “I feel like an invalid,” she muttered, and the Vampire cracked a grin.
“At least you don’t have to slow us down anymore,” he commented, and she jabbed him lightly in the side.
“That’s not fair!”
“Here we are,” Oweoc interrupted their argument patiently, as if he was used to breaking things up, and Naida straightened as she gazed wide-eyed at the blue ocean.
“That’s amazing,” she breathed. “I’ve never seen so much water in all my life!”
“It is impressive, isn’t it?” Oweoc agreed. “No matter how many times I see it I still catch my breath at the sight. A ship should arrive soon to pick us up, and we can rest a bit there.”
“I thought you were only escorting us this far,” Maledict said suspiciously, and the Elf gazed at them blankly.
“Did I say that?” he asked innocently, giving Naida the impression he was toying with the Vampire. “My orders are to escort Lady Naida to the Imperial House in the State’s Realm, and nothing else.”
“Great,” she sighed, not really looking forward to have to deal with the pair bickering all through the State. Maledict glanced down at her and she thought she caught an odd look in his eye before he averted his gaze before speaking.
“Try to get some sleep,” he ordered. “Your body needs rest, and you won’t miss anything.”
“But…” she opened her mouth to protest, but suddenly yawned and slid into a deep sleep, pressed against the Vampire’s torso.
“So, you can use mental Magic,” Oweoc commented, noticing the sleeping spell the Vampire had cast. “Impressive, Maledict. I didn’t expect it from someone like you.”
“Likewise,” the Vampire smiled thinly, revealing long, gleaming-white canines. “Usually a smile from a Vampire is all that’s needed to persuade someone in an argument. But I haven’t used it on her before.”
“You seem very protective of her,” the Elf said casually. “What is the reason for it? I understand you rescued her from Vesh Tegosc when he was about to kill her, but she must mean almost nothing to you. You could have left her safely with us, yet you continue to accompany her. Why?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Maledict returned, just as off-handedly.
“Damn Elf,” he muttered, seeing the incredulous looks the new Elves were throwing his way and beginning to regret he hadn’t had just left the young woman with the Elves and taken off.
“They’ve agreed to take you with them,” Oweoc announced, moving closer and nodding toward the Vampire. “That was a problem, but they’ve agreed to allow it.”
“How nice,” Maledict said dryly, getting to his feet calmly with Nadia in his arms, light as a child to him.
“Come on – the sooner we’re across, the better,” the Sun Elf replied coolly, glancing behind them a bit nervously as they boarded the ship and headed toward the island that was within sight of the shore, but just barely.
“The Lander is resting soundly in one of our chambers,” Zea, one of the Sun Elves, informed Oweoc calmly almost an hour after he had been taken to a room for food and rest. He rose from the chair he was in and approached her respectfully, knowing her as the head of the warrior Elves and ruler – if there was one – of the Clan.
“Thank you,” Oweoc inclined his head slightly, using Magic to shield his eyes from the bright lights of the Realm. The Sun Elves were a race with fiery hair, clothes, and tempers, but were generous with most travelers. The Sun Palace of the Elves was a fierce gold, with the other colors no less bright. It was necessary for any visitors to wear special headgear to protect their eyes, or to use Magic as Oweoc and Maledict had done.
“The Vampire is insisting he be let out of confinement,” another Elf added dryly, and Zea turned her head sharply with a frown.
“Restrain him,” she ordered curtly, but Oweoc decided to intervene.
“The Vampire will not be a threat in this Realm,” he slowly informed his compatriots, who turned to him in surprise. “He is escorting the Lander as well – he will not jeopardize his position. I will take responsibility for his actions.” Oweoc folded his arms calmly and met the stares of the Elves firmly, not backing down.
“As you say, Lord Oweoc,” Zea agreed primly after a moment, and gestured to the other Elf. The guard bowed and strode past them, exiting the room and shutting the door behind him. “I shall take you to the Vampire myself,” she informed the other Elf, and he nodded agreeably.
“As you wish, Zea.”
“You have freedom enough here – do not hesitate to request anything,” she told him, leaving the room to follow the other Elf. Oweoc nodded at her back before sighing heavily and lowering himself into the chair once more, closing his eyes for some rest.
“You are in Lord Oweoc’s parole, Vampire,” Zea said sharply, already preparing to leave. “Behave yourself, or you shall be evicted from the Realm.”
“Wait, Lord Oweoc?” he repeated, turning to another Elf as Zea left them alone. “Elves don’t believe in titles and all that stuff. That means –”
“He is the heir to the Elven Clan in the Realm of the Chimera,” Msrah told him calmly. “I would appreciate it if you did not speak of this to anyone. It is a private affair among Elves.”
“I don’t much care anyway,” Maledict snapped back, not interested in Elven affairs to begin with. “How is the Lander?”
“She is sleeping in the Palace,” the Elf informed him. “It would be best not to disturb her any further for the time being.”
In the Sun Elves’ private chambers, Zea was busy in an emergency meeting with her captains, who had brought distressing news.
“An attack? Who?” Zea demanded, and the soldier rose from his knees.
“We believe it is a Lander division, but we can not tell where they belong,” he reported. “They are experienced, however, and are heading quickly for the Palace. If we are unable to stop them, they will breach its walls within minutes.”
“Damn!” she growled, and stood swiftly. Turning to another Elf, she began to bark out orders as quickly as she could. “Inform Lord Oweoc immediately! You,” she glanced at the first soldier as the other rushed off, “gather the troops! Now!”
“Yes,” he nodded sharply and retreated from the room in an instant. Zea, in the standard uniform of an Elven warrior from the Sun Realm – a golden breastplate, tasset, and leg armor over a crimson bodysuit, with her bright orange hair tucked underneath a crimson helm, took a moment to reflect on what manner of Lander could possibly fight well against Elves, before following her fellow warriors to the field.
“A Lander division infiltrated the Realm and are attacking the Palace,” Alroi, the Elf who had been sent by Zea, repeated his words. Maledict had forced his way out of confinement, and had found Oweoc moments before Alroi had arrived, and listened to the words carefully. “We are unable to confirm where they belong, due to a lack of insignia.”
“Vesh,” Maledict growled, and the Elves turned to him. “My cousin has used Lander mercenaries before to do his dirty work,” he explained quickly. “When the Soulless are – inappropriate.”
“Why would they attack here?” the Elven soldier wondered, and Maledict growled in the back of his throat at what he saw to be the Elves’ stupidity.
“Naida!”
Without another word the Vampire disappeared from sight, moving faster than the two Elves had known Vampires could.
“Well, look what I found,” he chuckled, advancing toward her. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to her feet, grinning when she cried out in pain. “Now don’t worry, little girl, I’m not here to hurt you,” he said mockingly, and she glared at him.
“I am not a little girl!” she informed him hotly, adrenaline racing through her, and her knee shot up reflexively. He grunted as agonizing pain spread through his lower regions and dropped to the ground before she smacked him over the head with a heavy oil lamp that sat beside her bed. Naida stepped back in self-satisfaction, but shrieked when someone was suddenly behind her. “Maledict!” she realized in relief, and he gazed at the unconscious Lander man in curiosity.
“How’d a little thing like you do that?” he asked, his tone slightly impressed.
“He patronized me.”
“Ah.”
“The first wave fought well, however,” Oweoc reminded her, and she was forced to nod in reply, her eyes narrowing.
“That’s what worries me,” she replied shortly, and turned as another Elf approached.
“The last men are retreating on boats, Zea,” a soldier reported, and she nodded in satisfaction.
“Good. Inform the warriors they are to take no further action,” she ordered. The Elf rushed off to carry out her orders, and she turned as Oweoc cleared his throat. “Yes, Lord Oweoc?”
“Maledict thinks this is the work of Vesh Tegosc,” he informed her, and she eyed him dubiously.
“And you believe the word of Vampire?” she asked in disbelief. “Vesh Tegosc is an atrocity, and we cannot believe any of his kin.”
“I believe Maledict can be trusted,” he said firmly. “The mercenaries were after Lady Jaodh for certain, and only Tegosc would pursue her in this fashion. Maledict claims he has no idea why his cousin is so fixated on her, since the Vampires can easily take over a Realm even with a living heir, but I am not sure whether that is the truth or not.”
“I see,” she mused, remaining silent for a moment. “The Lander is safe?”
“Yes, and one of your Elves is feeding her now,” he inclined his head respectfully. “We shall continue our journey as soon as she is able to travel again, Zea.”
“That would be for the best, I believe,” she agreed quietly.
“Zea – thank you for such wonderful hospitality,” Nadia said, but the Elf cut her off, not unkindly.
“However, it is quite obvious from your appearance that you have been traveling a great deal,” she continued critically, and Nadia flushed at the mention of the clothes she had received in the forest home. “You won’t get very far looking like that, especially once you reach the State,” Zea informed her, and waved her hand a little. A female Elf, obviously not a warrior, entered as if summoned, carrying two parcels. “This first one is for your travels,” the warrior Elf began, handing the top package to a stammering Nadia. “This second is for when you arrive in the State – I am an Elf and a warrior, but even I know the importance of appearances in that place,” Zea added calmly.
“Thank you so much,” Nadia tried, but once again was interrupted.
“There is no need to thank me,” the Elf said. “I am extending to you the courtesy that is required. My first prerogative is to defend my Clan – and the second is to ensure that justice follows wherever I may go. This is merely a part of what I should do.”
“It is still a great deal,” the Lander protested, finally getting the words out. “I appreciate everything you’ve done so much. I will never forget anything – and I will repay you when I am able.”
“Taking control of your Clan and ruling with a fair hand is all the thanks I would require,” Zea said formally, and Nadia nodded in a silent promise. “Now, I shall have this,” Zea indicated the second outfit that lay in the second Elf’s arms, “packed with the other supplies I am providing you with. Change quickly, and I will have you escorted to the gate.”
“Yes, of course,” Nadia agreed, and turned as the two Elves strode from the room. Stripping the worn clothing from her body, she grinned ruefully at receiving yet more clothes. “I wonder if I will receive clothes each time I pass through somewhere?” she wondered, unfolding the clothing. Her boots were still quite suitable, and so were the only clothing she kept with her. The Sun Elves had provided a calf-length crimson skirt, black belt, and fitted cream-colored blouse, as well as snug black pants for comfort underneath her skirt, which Nadia had a feeling they only provided for modesty’s sake. Slipping on the clothes, she was surprised at how plain they seemed, compared to their appearance when laid out on the bed, and was quite pleased with them.
“Elves’ clothing always seem so comfortable,” she thought to herself, pinning her hair in a thick braid at the nape of her neck. “I do believe they’re onto something,” she chucked, stepping from the room and meeting Alroi, whom she had met previously, and who was now waiting for her.
“The others are waiting at the gate,” he told her unnecessarily, and she nodded with a smile.
“Thank you,” she offered, and to her surprise the Elf grinned down at her.
“Not a problem. Oweoc is a friend,” he said, and she blinked in surprise before returning the conspiratorial grin easily, striding down the hall.
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