Demiourgos (28 page)

If she didn’t know better she’d say the large man was beautiful. His features were befitting a nobleman but his temper and skill were renowned. His skin had a slight tint of red and his eyes and hair were a slightly darker shade, lending him an exotic look. The tall elf stood up towering at least a full head above her wearing the usual hardened leather plates for armor with his favorite weapon, a broad-bladed two-handed sword, strapped across his back. “What can I do for you this fine morning my lady?”

She marveled at his sword again, the deadly instrument was nearly twice her height and way too wide for what she would normally consider to be an elegant weapon. If she hadn’t seen him chop a lesser creature in half with the fine metal instrument she would have her doubts of his prowess with it. Such were the arms of spellstealers for they all favored huge weapons. “I require your services in the dungeon.”

She smiled inwardly at the whistles and laughs he got from that comment. Normally any other noble would punish them but she had established herself with the common soldiers as a fair but stern-handed woman. She was relatively popular with them and several owed her favors for things she had done and in some cases overlooked. As Yarus stood and fell in step behind her she idly fingered the edge of the flanged mace she kept belted on her hip. “Don’t worry, you’re just going to observe as I question a prisoner.”

“Oh?” He said indifferently as he turned his head to the side and crossed his muscular arms behind his head trying to look disinterested.

When they finally descended the steps she turned around and grabbed his tunic by the front, pushing him into the wall forcefully. Laying a kiss on his lips she grinned and turned away before he could do anything else. On the times she had taken him as a lover she had found he was almost overpowering. The only thing saving her from his advances most days was that she was a noble and her word trumped his no matter what. She knew he was agitated when he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. “Oh you know you like it so stop pouting. It doesn’t befit a man.”

“You toy with me and tease me and take me into your bed when you see fit.” He replied through squinted eyes. “Sometimes it’s more than a man can take.”

“Oh you’re so scary.” She japed at him with a laugh and winked while giving her hips an extra swing just for his viewing pleasure, or displeasure, depending. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs her eyebrows arched when she found two guards in the cell with the naarabi prisoner. Not only that but all of the kurenai were literally frothing at the mouth to get their hands on the two. They were of course taunting the prisoners to no end. The loyalty of the kurenai was astounding to behold.

Their intent on the unconscious woman was clear so she cleared her throat and crossed her arms over her chest. She was thankful for reasons she couldn’t name that she had arrived in time to stop the idiot guards from following through with their aims. “Yarus, lock these two in the holding cell for trying to damage our little treasure.”

One of the guards dropped to his knees and groveled still in the cell. “My lady please forgive…”

His voice was cut short as Yarus stepped into the cell and grabbed the blubbering fool by the neck. It was obvious to all that he took pleasure in picking the wiggling guard off the ground using only his throat and flinging him out of the cell into the bars across the way. “Do yourself a favor and get in the cell quietly. Or if you like you can do me a favor and resist. I haven’t had my morning workout yet. Not that you’d really be much of a challenge mind.”

Avreel rolled her eyes at the cocky male and leaned against the bars, watching the other guard attempt to gather himself up from the stunning blow he had suffered against the spell sealed cage behind him. She’d let him have his fun though. Picking on those of a lesser station than you was a favorite of most of the infernis. After a few moments of taunting and teasing the guard she finally rapped the enclosure’s bars with her knuckles. “I have research to do Yarus, throw them in the cage and be done with it.”

She watched him clear out with the two guards and walked into the cell over to the naarabi. The prisoner was still breathing rhythmically. Avreel knelt down next to her and brushed the girl’s long hair out of her face, she had an exotic attractiveness about her.

When she touched the girl the kurenai gave her promising glares and locked their hands on the bars; they were again shouting things in their native tongue. She didn’t understand their language unfortunately but she could imagine the things they were saying. Avreel ignored them for now and returned her focus to the naarabian.

Avreel’s eyes drifted toward the single band wrapped around the prisoner’s finger. Though she wondered idly why it hadn’t been stripped from her she shrugged and continued her observations. Her clothes looked to be elven in make but it was of a style that she did not recognize and in the end she figured it was from surface elves. They knew precious little of the elves that roamed the sands far above their heads but what the infernis masters did preach was that their surface cousins were evil and ultimately responsible for their situation. Avreel didn’t buy it; she had long found herself out of place in this world.

“I wonder what your name is young one.” She said quietly as she inspected the naarabian’s body. Avreel made sure that the spellchains were tight but not restrictive on their captive. She turned back around and found Yarus standing above her with his arms crossed over his chest again. “Yes?”

“So gentle you are with this prisoner, is that mercy I’m detecting?” He said as a grin split his features. “Your mother would be so pleased to hear of it.”

“Your sarcasm is not lost on me now get you out of the cell while I work or I’ll flay you alive and pour salt on your genitals.” She replied as harshly as she could but it only caused him to chuckle as he retreated and leaned against the empty prison cell across the way. “I have a vested interest in all things magical.”

“Oh aye I’ll take that excuse then.” He replied and rolled his eyes.

“You’ll watch your tone as well commoner.” Avreel flipped her hair out of her eyes and turned to look at him with the best cold stare she could muster. When he became quiet she turned back to the prisoner and gritted her teeth. She was fast tiring of these games of political power. After taking the time to inspect the naarabi head to toe she pulled a pad and a stick of coal out of her pouch so she could sketch the sleeping prisoner.

Throughout the process Yarus had complained, left for a moment to taunt the prisoners and then the guards and in the end sat down outside of the cell impatiently. She had chosen him because he was indebted to her and he was the closest thing she had to an actual trusted associate. Once she was done cataloging what the naarabi looked like she put her utensils away and pulled a small vial out of her pocket. Inside she kept a naerok leech so she could take blood samples from people and animals for study. She placed the small wiggling creature on the prisoner’s arm and allowed it to pull just a little blood from her. When she detached it she put it away but before she could bandage the wound it closed back up. “Fascinating.”

“What?” Yarus asked curiously though it was more boredom than actual interest that fueled his inquiry.

“Her wounds heal remarkably fast.” Jotting that down in her book she inspected the wound and made a note of the time it took for recovery. Wondering the extent of those healing powers she took a knife from her belt but the response from the caged humanoids was frighteningly quick as they sprang forth and strained against the bars. Avreel ignored them and cut the girl on the arm only to watch it close with barely a mark to show. The pain had apparently done something to bring the naarabi out of her stupor because her eyes popped open suddenly.

Rose wrenched herself from the elf’s grasp and retreated to the back of the cell against the wall inspecting her surroundings and the chains simultaneously. She had gone from being a prisoner to the demons to being a prisoner of the elves it seemed. Her head was throbbing mildly as she inspected everything carefully.

“What is your name?” Avreel asked in elven though she doubted any of them spoke it. She was not moving to retreat or even stand, she crouched low to the ground trying not to look menacing to the helpless girl.

Rose pondered that statement for a moment before answering. She was unsure if she wanted to reveal her only upper hand to this elf. She did indeed speak the elven language though the dialect the strange woman was using was a bit outlandish to her ears. After a moment of pondering she decided to play as if she did not comprehend. She started speaking in common. “I don’t understand.”

Avreel sighed at the language barrier and turned to Yarus, nodding her head at the door. “Go get some water for this prisoner. I’d like to try and look unassuming so I can continue to study her.”

“Are you sure you can trust her to be alone?” He replied with an arched brow.

“Are you questioning my orders?” Avreel hissed back, turning around to fix him with a glare.

“No my lady.” He replied with a bow and ascended the steps quickly in search of some fresh water.

Once she was alone Avreel sat back against the bars across from the odd woman and sighed, shaking her head. Her hopes had been high but a language barrier almost spelled the naarabian’s demise. In the back of her mind she had hoped for something more. “Well my dear I suppose that you have no idea what I’m saying but the fact that you can’t speak a language we understand almost spells your eventual death. That’s what I get for hoping I’d found a way out of here.”

Rose came forward a bit and decided the best way to gain this captor’s sympathy would be to give herself a name. She got the elf’s attention and put her hand on her chest. “Alethia Rose.”

“Well at least you’re reasonably intelligent I guess.” She echoed the gesture. “Avreel.”

“Well then Alethia I’m sorry to say I can’t save you.” Avreel stood up again.

“Rose.” She said softly, hoping Avreel would get the idea.

“Interesting, you go by your family name then? Not that it matters of course; you’re as good as meat once I’m done cataloging your abilities.” Avreel shrugged and turned to leave the cell.

“Wait.” Rose said in elven, drawing the woman’s gaze. “Don’t leave.”

“You can speak our language.” She said in amazement, walking back inside to regard Rose warily. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Why reveal all of your cards to your enemy at once?” Rose shrugged a bit and looked over at the kurenai who were watching the trade with interest.

“Then why reveal it to me now?” Avreel asked with genuine curiosity.

“I don’t feel as if you’re my enemy.” Rose replied, hoping she had not misjudged the elf woman’s demeanor. She was hopeful she could convince Avreel to help her in some way. Judging from the rest of them it seemed this was her only chance.

“To what end?”

“Help me.” Rose begged softly, looking toward the stairs. “I heard your words and if they’re sincere we can help each other.”

“As much as I would like to pretend I can escape my place is here.” Avreel said quietly as she heard her charge returning via the stairwell. “Did you bring the water?”

“Of course my lady.” He replied quickly, handing a fresh skin of water to her. He flinched when she tore it from his grasp.

“It took you long enough.” Avreel pitched the water skin at the naarabi woman who caught it and took a long pull then passed it to the kurenai in the cell next to her.

“Did you gain anything from her?” He asked after turning his gaze toward Rose.

“Nothing.” Avreel said after a moment of pondering. Standing at the mouth of the cell she left to head up the stairs. When he moved to follow she indicated the doorway and motioned with her head. “Stay and guard them until I get two units to replace you.”

“At your command my lady.” He bowed his head and leaned against the wall.

Rose looked over to the kurenai not far from her. Among them were Roath, Ruckus and a smattering of others that she recognized. When she didn’t see Roath’s son she looked into his eyes and spoke to him as best she could in his native language. “I’m sorry, all of you. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

“You didn’t know we would hit a patrol Rose so it’s not your fault; remember that we volunteered to help you. I’m sorry we couldn’t get you to the surface and to your friends.” Roath replied to her. “My son died fighting for a good cause, everyone did. We have no regrets.”

Rose was watching the large elf named Yarus out of the corner of her eye. She noticed that instead of berating her and ordering her to silence he was tilting his head to the side only slightly trying to pick up what she was saying. She frowned and turned to him, leaning against the bars behind her. “I know you understand us.”

“Observant girl.” He said in reply with a wolfish smile, drawing looks of surprise from the gathered kurenai in the cell. “Commoners often learn many languages to survive.”

“Fascinating.” Rose said with her voice dripping with a familiar venom called sarcasm.

Rose smiled at him and reverted to speaking common, Ruckus could understand that at least. She just hoped they could find a way to get out. After speaking to them she sat back in her cell trying to find her focus and meditate. Something was keeping her from drawing and storing magical energy. Frustrated she shook her head and eyed her guard from afar. He hadn’t taken his eyes off of her the entire time he had been down there. She gave up and continued in the kurenai tongue. “I don’t know if we can get out of this.”