Mirelis Lightbow was nearly out of breath as he came
to a halt before his superiors. His run had been long for he had left hours in
advance from the elven capital that rested deep within the Red Forest. Yet not
once had he stopped during his mission for the rigorous training that he endured
earlier in his youth had prepared him for such strenuous situations on the body.
Shifting his acorn brown eyes quickly, Longbow allowed them to fall upon
Vashenthiel, his lieutenant and friend. By the look on Vashenthiel�s face, he
still wasn�t pleased about their orders for the night. The debate had raged
throughout the morning, and Mirelis could only guess that it had continued to
rage long after he had left to scout the settlement.
Shaking his head in a mixture of irritation and
frustration, the young elf simply couldn�t understand the mindset of his friend.
Their people suffered daily because of these humans that continued to take elven
land. Murder, rape, and torture� it all came by the hands of the ill-begotten
creatures, yet Vash had been one of the few to protest this raid. It simply
didn�t make sense to the young elf. He had fought countless times against the
human armies with Vash, but now he no longer wanted to strike back in the name
of their fallen brethren? The dispute was troubling and a rift had slowly
started to grow between them.
Frowning slightly at the look in Vash�s eyes,
Mirelis� gaze soon left that of his friend and focused on Captain Lorelan, a
grizzled elf that had lost both his wife and daughter during the beginning
stages of the war between the humans and elves. Hardened and calloused by the
loss of his family, Airithel Lorelan had only one thing to live for, to bring
pain, suffering, and death to the humans that occupied his people�s land.
Lorelan�s rhetoric had won over his men many times, and had helped guide the
Elis`ren to approving the secret mission that they would conduct this night� and
many thereafter.
A look of grudging respect flitted through the brown
eyes of Mirelis Lightbow for he wished that one day he could be half the warrior
that his captain was. Placing his hands behind his back self-consciously, the
young elf sought to conceal his nervousness from his commander�s scrutinizing
eye as he started to convey what all he had found.
�Captain, Lieutenant� I bare good tidings. I encircled the human settlement as you ordered, and I have found that our wishes have come true!� Mirelis reported with more than a hint of excitement within his voice. Without wasting a moment to catch his breathe from the long run, the scout continued his announcement before his superior could even reply, �None walk within the Larmian settlement this night for the storm has driven them to seek solace within the secure confines of their homes, but soon the storm shall break completely. We must move swiftly��
A pleased smile soon passed over Lorelan�s stoic
features, and it was clear that the news had been good tidings. The gods watched
over the elves this night, almost guiding them to strike back at the hands that
have caused blood to flow upon the Isles. Unfortunately, his counterpart did not
feel the same way about the issue. Turning sharply on his heels, Silvermore met
the gaze of his commander and his jaw tightened by the bloody thirsty look in
the man�s eyes.
�Sir, I beg of you to
reconsider� not all are the cruel murderers that have ravaged our people. We
must not slaughter the innocen-� The elven
lieutenant whispered in a harsh yet controlled breath. Yet before he could even
finish his words, the captain of the elven contingent cut him off, already
knowing what his subordinate was going to say.
�There are no innocents in
war, Silvermore.� The first few words were
sharp and dripping with criticism of the lieutenant�s position. �The
human race is a disease, an infection that threatens our land, and must be
eradicated.� Lorelan�s statement was no
different from the speech that he had delivered before the Elis`ren earlier that
morning. The words were powerful and striking; speaking had always been a gift
to the captain for he could capture his audience and convince them to take arms
in support of his cause.
�They
are the plague, growing with each passing breath� they have come to rob us of
not only our land, but our very way of life. They slaughter the forests as if
they are their own, the trees mourn� can you not hear their cries of
suffering?� The
commander�s words were low, yet each and every member of the Kil`reas had heard
them well as he gestured towards the surrounding forest. They ignited the
burning fires of hatred within each elf; in fact, he had been hoping that
Silvermore would bring up his disapproval for it allowed him to slay any
compassion or pity within his men one last time before their actions were to be
carried out.
�Listen Silvermore for they weep much
like our women that have been raped� much like the mothers whose children have
been clubbed to death by the human hand.�
Although the examples were not directed towards Vashenthiel alone, they struck a
cord within the elf and he could almost feel himself being drawn over to the
side that he had opposed.
�They
have shown our people no mercy� only death. There are no innocents among them.
The way
Lorelan stated his case; he made it difficult even for his lieutenant to rebuke.
Perhaps he was right in that none of the humans were truly innocent. They had
come upon this land as adventurers, but would only be satisfied if they came out
conquerors. Frustration and doubt lingered within Vash, but he had to do
something� had to say something in defense of his
position.
�But
this makes us no better than the humans themselves!!� Vashenthiel
cried out, it was a weak argument against all that had been said. He knew it,
and Lorelan knew it. The rebuttal was easy to slay, and the Captain did so
willingly� almost enjoyed it for this would ensure the death any doubts and
compassion about what must be done.
�Then
what shall we do? Allow the women to live, only to spread their legs and spit
forth more of the foul, putrid disease that threatens our nation� our people?
Shall we show mercy to the children, only to find that the infection has turned
upon those who have spared it when it has grown ripe with age?� The
argument was strong and one that the lieutenant had no defense against. In the
eyes of the elven people, humans bred like rabbits, spitting out numbers of
children that would only come to take more elven land� shed more elven blood. To
allow a woman to live would mean that she could simply whore her self to another
man, producing more of the feral creatures that run rampant upon the western
coastline of the Isles. The children were no better for the boys would grow to
be warriors of Nypin�s army while the girls would be used as whores to breed
just like their mothers.
�No,
Silvermore. To do so would mean our own death. This infection grows fast; it has
arrived like the locus and consumes all within its path. We must eradicate every
trace before it swells and we can no longer contain it.� The
debate was over and both men knew it. The only man capable of stopping the
slaughter was Lorelan, yet he would revel in their screams� their pleas for
mercy. �The women and children are to be bound, but not gagged and left
within their homes. The men are to be gagged, bound, and dragged out, they will
watch their families burn before we strike death upon them as well. Slit their
throats, make it slow and painful, and leave them as warning for the rest of the
infection to find.�
The
orders were grotesque, yet not a single elf among them was ready to leave or
refuse to perform his part to carry out the mission. This was their night of
revenge, their night to invoke fear among their opposition. This would be only
the first night of many.
�The choice is yours, Silvermore. Stay and protect your nation, or leave and return to Asidriel in shame.� Lorelan�s voice cut through the silence that had fallen upon the land for several moments. His words were scathing and pointedly accused the lieutenant of cowardice to protect his people and their way of life. With the issue settled and the drizzle slowing, Captain Lorelan turned away from Vashenthiel and gave the sign to advance. There were no sounds of movement, yet within moments the elves were gone� leaving their lieutenant behind to make his choice�
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