To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice (10 page)

15

Shocara had found herself moody and much disturbed by the capture of her warriors, especially Koharilla, whom she had been fond of, and in some ways wished had been a sister. That she was superbly skilled with a sword, being able to best many of the men had made her an exceptionally strong and admirable companion. That the young swordswoman had worshiped Shocara, wanting more than anything to be like her leader, now seemed painfully bitter. The feeling that she was responsible for the loss of her weighed heavily on Shocara, somehow seeming worse than normal.

I cared perhaps more deeply for her than most...is that foolish?
she wondered.
I choose to ignore the others, so I am not tormented by their loss!
she considered, this understanding seeming to mock her.
How am I supposed to lead, if I were to cry over each one lost, like they were my child? I wonder if the Elvin one feels this way? They say she commands vast numbers of warriors...does she care when any one of them are lost? I want to blame the Elvin, but should I? We came to wage war, and they defended themselves. We would do the same, against them! It is as it is. Maybe my only fault is in how much I cared for Koharilla. I pray she is accorded a swift and painless death, and is not tormented well first!

Shocara had been quiet during the evening meal, as her men laughed and were boisterous. They were well pleased by their raid on Alarinad, and seemed well satisfied that so few had perished. Shocara ate quickly and then wordlessly got up and left their meeting house, restless and angry. She wandered the village as the sun set, her inner distress only getting worse.

She had passed Garen, barely seeing him, and while standing at the farthest extent of the village, watching the moon rise, she was startled to have him silently appear, three paces to her left, well out of sword range, should she be startled, and inclined to lash out.

“The Princess is disturbed...perhaps she needs a friendly ear to hear her plight?” he suggested. Shocara chuckled, delighted.

“Dear Garen...you understand me more than I do myself sometimes! Come, let us walk a bit, far from snoopy ears!” she declared, taking his arm.

They walked silently along the road which went east before Garen spoke again.

“You are less pleased by the raid on Alarinad than you’d hoped?” he suggested.

“Nay....the raid was itself well done and did much of what we’d hoped. I am...I have been touched by the loss of our warriors, in a way unknown to me before!”

“Koharilla...you mourn her loss, do you not?!”

“Apparently I do! I had not thought myself so vulnerable to such a thing!”

“Perhaps you simply didn’t wish to note that...you have been much fond of her many years. You saw yourself in her skill and determination. Losing her is like losing part of yourself. Also, this makes you wonder what your fate might be like, should the Elvin manage to capture you?”

Garen’s insight rendered Shocara speechless, it being precise and exact and much like her own fears. She finally realized that she was holding her breath, and let it go as a long sigh. “Dear Garen, you understand me so much more than the others! What would I do without your care and wise words?”

“Princess...I...I’ve loved you since you were a tiny girl, eager to climb on my lap, and hear tales of our efforts. There is no one whom I might wish more to serve, to help and support. Should you fall in battle, I...I...could not bear such a thing,” he managed to declare, his voice a ragged whisper.

“Do not fear for me, dear Garen! I will endure, or die with honor. None might hope for more than that!” she sighed, leaning close, and kissing his cheek. Garen had once been a proud warrior, but had been grievously wounded, and had barely survived. He had somehow not died, and had partly healed, but not well enough to handle the creatures or weapons of war. He had gravitated to caring for Shocara when she was a young girl, after her mother had died of a fever, there being no other so inclined to tend her, or encourage her in mastering weapons. Karturic had been too obsessed with war and his sorcery to care for a mere girl.

In spite of her father’s neglect, Shocara had grown and thrived, Garen giving her the love none other might accord her, as well as the guidance and advice she needed to master the sword. He had been willing to encourage her when others thought it a waste of time. With Garen’s support, others had been willing to teach her, and she had emerged as the undisputed master of the steel blade. With her father’s fall and crippling injuries, there was none so foolish as to dispute her, her brothers all having perished in battles against the Elvin.

“I wonder at times...why is life like it is? Are we doomed to live as we have always done, or might there be another way...maybe even a better way? Our people seem to work and struggle so hard, the earth reluctant to support us, the weather even unfriendly too often. Why can we not have a better life? Why has it been ordained that we live in the Elvin’s shadow? Do the gods hate us that badly? I sound foolish, don’t I?” she suddenly laughed.

“Princess...you ask good questions, that few might be inclined to consider. You know that this was once Elvin land we are walking on?”

“I know they built the watchtower to the East...I suppose that they were once here...but where were we? There are many generations buried here, of our people, and no other trace of the Elvin! How long ago did they pass away from here, if they once ruled here?”

“I have no idea! Even the story tellers have no words of such! What did the Elvin city look like?”
Garen suddenly thought to ask. Shocara was silent, remembering what she had witnessed.

“It was large enough to fill this whole valley and then some! I never imagined such a wonder might exist! Dear Garen...all of our people from all the tribes would fit into such a place, with room to spare! It was....beautiful beyond words to tell! I would die without hesitation, if my passing would give such a thing to our people! And...their sorcery is beyond any we might have...the city glows in the dark, thousands of lights illuminating it!” She glanced at him in the fading light. “I want so much to see it again...just not as a prisoner!” she laughed.

Shocara had her mood much improved by speaking with Garen and returned to the village eager to set new plans in motion. She went in search of Haserinic, who was her favorite messanger, and found him at his cabin with his family. He stepped out to sit and talk, so he might hear, the small dwelling filled with noisy children.

“What might my Princess want?” he wondered, curious.

“I need you to fly to Arkush tomorrow, and summon Elaradan, the trader. I have need of him to journey to the Elvin lands!” she replied.

“To spy, or other things?” Haserinic asked, knowing the trader’s reputation for assisting them, if the price was good enough.

“I need him to carry only words into the Elvin lands for the ears of our friends. Tell him I will make his efforts worthy, as always. And impress him that I’m not eager to wait long either!” she insisted.

“I will try, but you know how he is!” the Eridian laughed. The trader tended to move at his own pace, no matter who might wish to prod him to move faster.

It was four days later that Elaradan arrived in his wagon, a giggling young girl ridding beside him. Shocara watched him lift her down, judging her to be probably no older than fourteen summers.

“So you’ve stooped to robbing the cradle?” she asked slyly, the way the girl was acting indicating she was more likely a lover than a daughter.

“Her father owed me money. I took her in payment! She has well proven worth the bother!” the man declared smugly. “You wish me to undertake something, I hear? I am always eager to help my friends!” Elaradan suggested.

“For a modest fee?!” Shocara replied, her voice a bit strident.

“Of course...I am only a poor businessman, who must labor hard to make an honest wage!” he declared. There was silence a second, before both he and Shocara burst into laughter, the irony of his statement plain.

“Come!” Shocara insisted, and led them to her cabin. Garen sat on the steps, with the young girl, to make sure none snooped.

Inside, seated on the furs, Shocara wasted no time.

“I need you to undertake a journey to the Elvin lands...and enter the city of Alarinad. I would have you convey information and instructions to one therein,” she instructed.

“Princess! Such would be dangerous! Why might you wish me to do this, and not another?”

“Because, you have passed within before...at least you claim you have. There are few of your brothers who might pass to and fro with immunity, are there not?” she demanded.

“I have well cultivated the Elvin, to be regarded as trustworthy. I would not wish to lose that trust, as it would make my life hard, assuming I still had a life, after the Elvin finished displaying their ire on my body! They frown harshly on dishonesty!” he sighed, having heard tales of such, but having no actual knowledge of this.

“I’m not asking you to enter the place and steal something of great value!” Shocara laughed. “You should have little reason to fear carrying mere words!”

“Assuming I am not questioned. The Elvin can detect even a small lie, in another’s voice!” Alaradan proclaimed. Shocara sat, mouth open, this being unknown to her.

“Is there no power the accursed Elvin lack?!” she complained.

“Few. They are what they are. Now perhaps you understand why I demand the payment I do? My first mistake will likely be my final one!” the trader sighed.

“I have no problem with such...just don’t ever betray us! All your money would not save you from our wrath!” she suggested.

The trader chuckled. “I would rather let the Elvin have me than face my end at your hands, Dear Princess! Now what message must I convey? Who am I to seek out?”

“There is a merchant there, who offered to help us against the Elvin. He despises them well!”

“Why might that be?” Alaradan wondered.

“His wife was Eridian, and his oldest son was raised with our people, and became a warrior. He died fighting the Elvin. The father was much grieved, even more when his wife fell ill and died also. He vowed to help our people fight against the Elvin, cut his hair and beard and moved to their city, to spy and do what he could for us. We hear he has prospered, within the Elvin place, but his bitterness is still great. He knows a secret that no Elvin possess, and will use that to bend certain ones to our will, to gain useful information about the Elvin, which he can pass to you, and you to us!”

“What secret might the Elvin not know?” Elaradan wondered, frowning.

“That there are shapeshifters appearing as Elvin, living yet among our enemy.”

“How can that be? There are no more of such! I thought your people put an end to them many generations ago!”

“So the Elvin and most believe. It is a most wicked secret, that one hidden among the Elvin would be loath to have revealed. Thus we can bend such a one to our will!”

“How can you know this? I have never heard such a thing?!” the trader insisted.

“Ah, Elaradan, your mother was not a shapeshifter, as mine was!” Shocara declared, eyeing him sternly, as he sat, stunned. He found the point of her sword at his throat. “Keep well this secret...only you know it! Give me your hand!” she commanded, and when he did, she placed several coins in it. “You leave in the morning! Seek the one called Coudrien in the lesser market place. And when the young one outside is well pregnant, and you tire of her, bring her to us! We can always use another female, especially a pregnant one!” she sighed, nodding at him.

16

When Rasten and Amein were finally finished questioning their captive, and were well out of hearing, Amein asked for his observations.

“She was not prepared for you!” he laughed. “She was shocked and amazed to be under the scrutiny of
the
Elvin Princess, instead of some flunky.”

“But was she honest? What did your truthsense tell you?” Amein insisted, giving him a stern glance.

“I felt that she was being honest...her emotions were utterly disarrayed, and she vacillated between shock and fear. Embarrassment too! But I have no idea why she’d be embarrassed...”

Amein thought this funny.  “The Eridians are afflicted with a seriously overwrought sense of modesty. The men are a good bit that way, but the women are much more afflicted with it. Partly that comes from being vulnerable to being raped, should an Eridian female be foolish enough to display herself!”

“Really? Elves aren’t that way!” Rasten observed.

“Foolish man...it’s hard to rape a female that’s always willing for one thing! Also, we have no fear of getting pregnant, unlike the Eridian females do. The females never get any cleaner that the males either, as a nice smelling female is doomed to being had; smelling nasty like the men works to keep them from being had, at least enough to make it worth smelling bad most of the time! Be thankful Koharilla had been well scrubbed!” she laughed slyly.

“I heard you mention the name Shocara several times. What did you learn of that?”

“Much! Certainly more than she thought she was telling me!” Amein grinned.

Amein had let Koharila sit, nervous and unsure several moments, while she gently caressed her face. To the Eridian, being touched so gently by a woman seemed somehow scandalous and improper, no matter that it felt nice. Amein watched, reading the young human’s emotions easily.

“Perhaps I should send some of our females to pleasure you?” Before Koharilla could erupt in a heated repudiation, she found her mouth covered with Amein’s hand.

“I am well aware that such is considered both unacceptable and utterly improper within your society. Yet still you would find such a touch to your liking. You lack for gentleness and the soft touch of another, don’t you?” Her captive looked completely lost and bewildered.

“Such a thing would only weaken us, and make our people less hardy!” Koharilla declared, but felt much less sure than she was trying to sound.

“Nonsense! The Elvin are awash in touch, from family and friends, lovers and even casual partners! How have we proven to be on the battle field? Are we weak and easily undone?” Amein wondered.

“Hardly...we seldom prevail against your kind!”

“Then perhaps you should try our way?” Amein teased. This caused a small smile.

“Koharilla, what do you know of the one named Shocara...have you been in her presence?”

“Princess...I have seen her many times, both in our village and again in battle. I am from her village...and grew up under her eye. I have admired her much of my life, and hoped to be considered worthy as she is. She is quite fearless and unbeatable with a sword!”

“She has fears,” Amein softly suggested, sparking more outrage.

“How might you know such a thing?!”

“Dear girl, I command the might of the Elvin people, yet I too have private fears, which I am loath to share with any other! All who lead wonder if their decisions are wise, if their people will follow them to their doom. We can never be sure our insight and understanding are all they might be. Yet we must move forward, not sit, paralyzed and unable to make choices. None wish to fail, or have people who are dependant on us die needlessly. One with no such concerns, no such worries or cares is no leader; they are a monster, doomed to be destroyed!”

“I understand little of such things. Shocara seems to me to be both brave and strong, untroubled by any doubts. If she cries and moans, she does so in her bed, alone!”

“I have many times. You cried yourself to sleep last night, just from the strange new feelings being had by our males caused you!” Amein accused. Her captive blushed deeply, and hung her head.

“You know my shame too deeply!” she sobbed. Amein pulled her close, and kissed her, shocking the woman too much for her to even react.

“You shall learn that there is no shame in desiring another, or in being pleasured. You want to have more of the joy you experienced last night, don’t you? That is why you will stay and be ours!” Amein insisted.

“So, did she admit to that?” Rasten wondered, having heard all of Amein’s recounting.

“She will in due time, just as she will eventually beg for the touch of another! It’s too bad we can’t get every Eridian naked and have them...” she sighed. “Come...I have much to do, and you need to see the city; I will have one of our people take you about!”

“Male or female?” Rasten wondered. Amein jerked his hand, spinning him around to stand nose to nose with him.

“Were I less jealous, I could choose a dozen females willing to guide you. But that would just be asking for trouble, at least for me! I shall have one named Kalida do the honors. Even should he seduce you, I would be less dismayed!”

“I have little likely hood of that!” Rasten hastily declared. Amein gave him a wicked grin.

“Foolish man, your prejudices are those of a barbaric and unsophisticated world! Were I not plagued as I am, you’d find yourself easily enmeshed in a tangle of sweaty, naked ones, with little regard for what sex they might be. Elves are a playful and easily seduced bunch, both male and female. You’ll get over your backwardness in time, likely easier than I will overcome my...problem,” she sighed.

Rasten might have wished to argue, but upon meeting Kalida, he had second thoughts. The elf male was stunningly attractive, as were all of the Elvin, and he had much the same
feminine
beauty that Amein and her sisters, cousins, mother and nieces all exhibited. That Kalida was as tall as Rasten himself, and even though he seemed slender, there was a subtle sense of strength about him, that belied him being female. That he was a distant relative to Amein, gave him a certain ease with her.

“The Princess is too busy to play guide? Or she merely wishes to conserve her time for more sweaty pursuits with a certain one?” he began. Rasten expected Amein to have a fit, at this snarky and insinuating comment, yet instead she laughed, delighted.

“Try not to copy his manner...you’ll get your butt kicked! I only indulge his mouth because of an old and deep friendship!” Amein sighed.

“You slept with him, when you were young!” Rasten declared, positive this was so. Kalida laughed uproariously, as Amein kicked Rasten’s shin, and shrieked.

“Rasten!” she turned to Kalida, hands on hips and with a wicked eye she spoke. “Don’t you dare make fun of my ignorance!” she scolded.

“What ignorance?” Rasten wondered, puzzled.

“The...maybe ignorance is too strong? Foolishness then...the foolishness to fall for someone with an outrageously strong truthsense! You’re done being diplomatic or evasive, aren’t you?” Kalida continued.

“I’m a perfectly honest and forthright Princess, I’ll have you know!” Amein insisted, trying not to say anything more improper. Rasten had discovered little tendency to be vulgar or to swear within Elvin speech, but the few words considered such were wickedly offensive and sharp.

Rasten could not have asked for a better guide or companion, Kalida being utterly knowledgeable about Elvin matters, but more importantly, having a fine sense of how much or little to impart. He seemed utterly forthcoming, but only gave Rasten enough information to make sense of things. Elvin life and their complex affairs, not to mention their convoluted relationships would take a lot of time to absorb.

Rasten quickly noted that Kalida seemed to capture many of the Elvin females’ eyes. That he was likewise being frankly appraised seemed more awkward to deal with. Kalida found this very amusing, when Rasten broached the subject, startled when an incredibly luscious female actually reached out and fondled his butt in passing.

“How often does that happen?!” he wondered, having stopped and turned to see the cute one giggle and wave invitingly at him.

“Oh, constantly. We aren’t like the poor humans!” Kilida laughed. “You could stop on any corner, and drop your trousers, and have at least a dozen females offer to have you on the spot! Elves are a slutty bunch, as I’m sure you’ve discovered! Have any of Amein’s family had you yet?”

“They’re afraid to, even though I suspect they all want too. Even her mother is willing!”

“You’d like Haivieri...she amazingly skilled!” Kalida sighed, a sly smile gracing his face.

“You’ve been with her?!”

“I’d bet the Clan Home that just about everyone in the place has done so...she likes variety...especially since she healed a bit over the loss of your father. She’s a marvelous female. Don’t say no to her, if you get the chance!” Kalida suggested. “You’re overwhelmed by Amein, yes?” Kalida wondered. Rasten merely looked glum.

“I had no idea what I was getting myself into! Are all females like her?”

“Pretty much...she was a bit more inclined than some, to be had and to play. She got her cute butt addressed more than once for neglecting her studies or training, so she could play!” he laughed.

“So she declares. Her nieces seem pretty eager too. Was Amein like them?”

“Worse...I’m a hundred years older than her, and still, I was awoken dozens of times, by her nakedness, eager to play, after just wearing out some other elf! If you can handle her urges, any other female would find you a god!”

“Great...she’s not much inclined to let that happen!” Rasten laughed. Kalida gave him an odd and searching look, before sighing heavily.

“That is quite...strange? She’s actually jealous of the very idea of you having another female? That’s quite unlike an elf!”

“So I hear,” Rasten replied, shrugging. “I’m not complaining...I can barely keep up with her! Madarini suggested that she might get over it in time. I’ve got too much to do anyway!”

“Feeling a bit overwhelmed?” Kalida teased. “You know...I was on Earth long ago...maybe...eighty years or so?”

“Really? Why?”

“Looking for something...an old relic....something left there thousands of years ago. Our people once passed that way frequently. Are there legends of such?”

“We have many myths of elves. They are regarded as imaginary or quite magical. No one said they were so...oversexed?” Rasten declared, grinning. They were walking past a line of shops, side by side. Rasten had been glancing to the side, seeing a cute Elvin female arranging goods. Kalida patted Rasten’s butt, before giving it a strong squeeze. Rasten quickly turned to look at his companion, who was grinning wickedly.

“We are a bit slutty...that’s no lie!” he suggested, before laughing loudly at Rasten’s shocked look.