Delver Magic Book VII: Altered Messages (51 page)

Ryson had no intention of hiding anything from the elf captain, nor did he wish to challenge Birk's authority. He needed an audience with Shantree Wispon, and so he explained with both brevity and certainty.

"I need several elf guards to accompany us to Portsans. I'm going to confront a council of serps. They're the ones responsible for freeing Petiole. These serps have managed to cause a great many problems, even for Enin, so I expect they might be responsible for some mishaps here as well. Petiole needs to be captured and returned to the dwarves. Otherwise, a war is almost certain to occur between the elves and the dwarves."

Birk's expression remained unchanged. He took the barest of moments to consider the delver's story. He appeared to accept the claims, and he moved forward without further debate.

"Come with me."

Birk led Ryson and Jure toward the center of the elf camp, but then turned them down a path which would lead to a place of greater seclusion. He bid the visitors to wait as he left them unguarded, and he resolutely marched toward a group of elves who were gathered below a large ash tree.

"Looks like we're going to get that audience," Jure noted. "He's talking to Shantree, as well as some of the other elf elders on the council. I've met them before."

Ryson recognized Shantree, but he also noticed other aspects regarding the elf camp that the wizard failed to notice.

"That might be, but I think this is going to be more difficult than I thought."

"Why's that?"

"I'm pretty sure I was right about the serps. They haven't left the elves alone. The guards are at a higher state of alert than I thought. Something happened at the center of their camp. They've lost some trees and the ground was seriously displaced. They've cleared the debris and filled the hollow, but I can still see how wide it was."

"You mean like an earthquake?"

"No, just one concentrated depression. It looks like the ground just gave way, formed a big crater. Maybe it was done by magic."

"Neltus has a strong connection with the land," Jure reminded the delver. "He uses red magic. He could easily be responsible."

"Wouldn't surprise me," the delver admitted, "but I'm sure it put the elves on edge. I was once told a story about the dwarf-elf wars and how the fighting is described in elflore. The dwarves attacked by tunneling under elf camps and breaking up the ground beneath them. It's one of the reasons the elves use the trees for almost everything they do. They like to stay off the ground."

Jure watched the elves who were discussing the situation with Captain Grund. He saw that some were arguing, not fiercely, but enough to reveal both tension and dissension about Ryson's request for aid.

"I wish I knew what they were saying," the wizard admitted.

"They didn't know about the serps," Ryson revealed. "I can hear them. It was a surprise. Some of the council members don't believe it. They think the dwarves were responsible for everything that has happened."

"That's not going to help."

"No, it's not, but it's not a surprise. What is a surprise is that the elf captain seems to believe us. He thinks it's the only thing that makes sense."

"What about Shantree?"

"She's not saying much, just asked a few questions about when we arrived. She asked about you in particular. She's surprised you didn't say anything. She respects you. I can tell. That can work for us."

Jure appreciated the first part of the sentiment—for he had great respect for the elf elder—but he wondered what the delver meant. He had seen Ryson use questionable methods in dealing with both Bol and Therese. The delver had not lied to either of the dwarves, but he certainly used forceful means to gain an advantage over both. Jure wished to make it clear he had no intention of influencing Shantree in a similar fashion.

"Whether she respects me or not is irrelevant. I won't use her opinion of me to try and pressure her. I think she'd see through me if I did. I spent some time with her. She's going to make her own decision. I won't be able to persuade her to do something she doesn't believe in."

"I don't expect you to. We're not serps. We're here to explain what's happening and ask for their assistance, but it will help if they trust us. It seems to me she values your judgment. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, and by all means, be honest with her."

"I have no intention of doing otherwise."

They could say no more as Shantree Wispon and Birk Grund left the other council members and approached their guests. The elf elder looked at both the wizard and the delver and decided to address Ryson first.

"Please tell me everything you know."

The delver responded without hesitation and revealed everything that had happened since Okyiq left the gri
sly message outside of Burbon. He spoke only of the things he knew for certain, making no assumptions or attempting to embellish certain dangers. Speaking of Sy was the most difficult, but he spared no details. After describing his final  meeting with Queen Therese, he pointed out what he noted about the elf camp.

"It appears you haven't escaped incident, either. Something hit the ground beneath your camp. Can I ask what happened?"

Shantree directed the elf captain to describe the incident. As Birk revealed the details, she considered what the delver had said to her. When the captain completed his report, she turned to the wizard.

"Is there anything you wish to add?" she asked.

Deciding it was best to speak with an open heart and a clear mind, Jure revealed the incident that pulled him into the conflict.

"I saw the flood the serps sent at Connel. It was as impressive as it was dangerous. It would have caused an immense amount of damage. I was going to attempt to redirect it, but the waters stopped just outside of the city's borders. They didn't do that to save the city. They did it to show what they could do so they could hold it over us. It was a despicable display."

Shantree understood the wizard's meaning. He was drawing a comparison between the flood that nearly destroyed Connel with the crater that damaged the elf camp.

"Do you think they were responsible for attacking our camp?"

"I do. I can't say for sure how they did it, but it doesn't surprise me. They certainly have the power. They don't care who gets hurt, and they'll cause any kind of damage to get their way."

Shantree did not wish for him to stop there. She wanted to hear more of the wizard's thoughts on what they all faced.

"And what of Queen Therese? What is your opinion of her?"

"She's in a difficult position... just like you. I think she's trying to do what's best for the dwarves, but she's being forced into a corner."

"Dwarves do not go into corners. They will fight before they step backward."

"That might be, but Ryson convinced her to pull back."

"And you believe she will hold to that promise?"

Jure paused to consider the question. He realized that what he said next might determine the course of relations between the elves and the dwarves. He didn't want to see a conflict arise between the two races, but he didn't want Shantree to base her decisions on hopes and wishes.

"I know she wants Petiole captured. She wants that very badly... of that I'm sure. I believe she'd be willing to recall the dwarves for three days if it meant getting him back."

"And beyond those three days? Do you think she will attack the elves?"

"If she doesn't get Petiole back, yes... yes, I do. Maybe not right away, but eventually, it will happen."

"Thank you for your honesty."

Jure bowed his head, initially pleased with the compliment from the elf elder, but suddenly hoping he did not lead her astray. He had been honest with her, but he knew that things didn't always turn out the way he expected. He didn't want a war between the elves and dwarves hinging on his judgments.

Shantree, however, had made her decision based on a number of factors. In her mind, the enemy was identified and a window of opportunity had been opened. For her camp to avoid catastrophe, she needed to attack the serps and return Petiole to the dwarves within three days. That was a simple fact. It was a near unattainable aspiration, but before her was the delver who had always seemed to accomplish the impossible.

"Ryson Acumen, what do you need from me?"

"Petiole is being guarded by dieruhnes," Ryson responded, believing he had achieved the elder's cooperation as he had hoped. "There are also at least two powerful magic casters available to the serps. I need enough elf guards to get through those defenses and capture Petiole."

"Elf guards alone will not be enough," the elf captain offered. "Magic is the best way to attack dieruhnes. Will you be bringing other spell casters?"

"Definitely Jure, but not Enin. He can't be involved. I would have hoped to get Holli Brances, but it's something I can't count on. She went on a mission of her own and I honestly don't know how that turned out. We'll be returning to Connel to check on her before we go to Portsans, but I have to assume she'll be unavailable. If you believe dieruhnes are vulnerable to magic, then I would also ask you to provide a magic caster capable of handling them. "

"Then I would suggest you take at least thirty elf guards and Haven Wellseed. She is an exceptional sorceress with great power in the magic of light."

Ryson looked toward Shantree Wispon.

"That's what I need, and I would need them to leave immediately. I won't be going to Portsans for at least a couple of days, but I need to leave for Connel right now. I'd want everyone to accompany me because I don't think it's a good idea to keep transporting back and forth from here."

"Birk, does that meet with your approval?" the elf elder asked of her guard captain.

"Two days would be an acceptable duration for my guards to wait in the human city, but I wouldn't want it longer than that."

"Don't worry," the delver added. "Queen Therese doesn't want it longer than that, either."

"I will grant you what you ask, Ryson Acumen," Shantree declared, "but Birk Grund must also accompany you. The elf guard must remain under his command. I simply cannot risk putting so many elf lives at risk without including the proper authority."

"I understand."

"Is there anything else?"

"The only thing else I would suggest is that you show the same restraint Queen Therese promised. She's pulling her dwarves back to Dunop. There should be no dwarves in the forest for at least three days. She agreed to send a messenger to relay her intentions to that end. I would hope you would consider offering a gesture of your own. Pull the elf guards away from the entrances to Dunop."

"I will consider it."

"Thank you," Ryson replied, but he hoped she would do more than simply
consider
the request. He then looked to Birk. "If you could get everyone together as soon as possible, I'd appreciate it."

"We will be ready in mere moments."

True to his word, the elf captain gathered thirty guards and the sorceress, Haven Wellseed, near Jure and Ryson. He told the delver they were ready for immediate departure.

Ryson, however, asked for a moment of privacy with Jure. He whispered a few words to the wizard and then looked him dead in the eye with absolute certainty.

"Are you sure?" Jure asked, his surprise clearly evident.

Ryson nodded and the wizard followed the delver's order without another word.

"Delver!" Birk Grund shouted, as he looked across the landscape. "This is not Connel! We are near the coast. What have you done?!"

"Hopefully, I've given us a chance," the delver replied. "Listen..."

Cutting off the delver, the elf captain ordered several elf guards to take to the surrounding trees and create a defensive perimeter. He placed others around Haven Wellseed to ensure her protection. Once satisfied he had taken the necessary precautions, he glared angrily at Ryson.

"Why should I listen? You said we were going to Connel... that it would be at least two days before we attacked the serps. You have placed us in danger without allowing us the necessary time to prepare."

"I didn't want to trick you," Ryson revealed, "but if you hear me out, you'll understand."

"Why should I believe you now?"

"Because the serps were probably listening to us at your camp. I don't know how they're doing it, but they know what's going on. Maybe it's gremplings in the trees or rock beetles underground. Think about it, Birk! Think about everything they've done. They're sitting here in Portsans, but they weren't guessing about what's been happening. Things just don't fall into place that easily. They knew too much, from Dark Spruce to Connel."

"But why tell us we were headed to Connel?! Why say that you needed two days? If there were spies, you could have simply kept quiet about your plans. There was no need to mislead us. The deception left us vulnerable!"

"It wasn't you I wanted to mislead. It was the serps. Don't you understand? I'm trying to move faster than they can react, but I can't do that if they suspect I'm up to something. They probably knew I was at your camp. They would have figured out I was coming for Petiole. They would have taken him away. Yes, I surprised you, but I'm guessing I surprised them as well."