To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice (16 page)

“As you surmise, I am the Sage Hareiastin. I have witnessed the passing of over twenty melliennia, and hope I’ve managed to learn a thing or two in all those years! Come, my young friend, you have much work to do!” the old elf suggested, his eyes bright with many bits of secret knowledge and much wisdom.

Kyieria perched herself in a cushy chair inside the Sage’s entry, and produced a small book from under her garments, preparing to pass the time while waiting for him to be finished.

Rasten followed the Sage into a bright, airy room, and they seated themselves facing one another, close enough that The Sage might touch Rasten.

“What might you be inclined to help me with...I’m not sure I understand what Amein even means when she speaks of powers and abilities?”

“Hmmmmm...Amein reports that you have an amazing level of truthsense, for one, far more than the average elf might possess. Amein’s is stronger than most, but she has already fallen prey to your superior one!” the Sage chuckled. “She’s also witnessed what we call farsight...the ability to know things far away. Your father possessed them and others in large measure, and they were supremely useful to him. He chose your mother in a fashion, so as to insure that you would also have such abilities!”

Rasten frowned at this, the pain of his mother’s loss still sharp and hard. The suggestion that she had been picked, solely as one might choose an animal to be bred for some arcane purpose, was unpleasant.

“Do not fault your father’s choice, painful though it may seem...greater things were at stake. What you most regret is that you are bereft of both of them, mother and father alike absent from your life. The child within you wishes to be better acquainted with who they were. You will learn more, in time, but do not surrender to bitterness, over what you think you’ve lost; your future is filled with many more things then you might imagine.” Hareiastin suggested, shocking Rasten with his ability to know, or at least guess his deepest feelings.

“How might you understand so much of me, things I am unclear about even on my own?” Rasten wondered.

“You are an open book, young Rasten, your emotions plain and easily seen. You are in many ways quite innocent, which is nothing to be embarrassed about; it will make it easier for you to accept and learn. Your father began his journey when he was quite young, and that boyish innocence allowed him to delve deeply, and become a remarkable master of the powers within.”

“Where should we start?” Rasten wondered, suddenly excited to begin, his fatigue already well forgotten.

“You must learn to control the ceaseless chatter that occupies your mind; only with that done, will you be able to reach for the other abilities.”

Rasten assumed this would be easy, but quickly understood the error of his thinking. No matter how much he tried to stop the words, the thoughts, the constant barrage of conversation they flowed through his mind like a rain swollen stream, he seemed unlikely to succeed. It was only when he managed to sit, imagining a large rock, sitting in the wilderness, and he concentrated on staring at it, that his random thoughts seemed to subside.

His fatigue had well returned, by the time they stopped, and he was sent off, instructed to practice this exercise every moment he could. His Elvin guide hopped up when he appeared, handily tucking her book out of sight, and smiling invitingly, she took Rasten’s arm, to guide him to the Citadel. It seemed absurd that he might require such guidance, being able to see his destination plainly only a half hour’s walk away, Yet when they descended into the maze of streets, he was quickly lost, the massive Citadel lost from sight down among the buildings. His guide was talkative even by normal Elfish standards, determined to be cute and desirable, clearly hoping to get invited into Rasten’s bed at some time. He found her somehow more tempting than usual, but was determined to resist any such inclination to give in.

They arrived at the clan home to another shock, at least for Rasten, there being several hundred new Elvin present, leaders of distant worlds come to consult with Amein, and likely eager to meet Sayarin’s son. Kyeiria found his panic amusing, but quickly lead him around to a rear entrance, where he could attain their apartment unnoticed, and avail himself of a bath.

The attendants were over eager to assist him, as usual, and he was soon spotlessly clean and shaved. As much as he hated shaving, and envied the Elvin for having no facial hair, he had been sternly warned by Amein against growing a beard, and looking much like an Eridian warrior.

In spite of being in a hurry, he gave in to the ones who were offering to give him a massage, his aching muscles eager for such attention. He worried only a moment, afraid Amein might come looking for him, and find him being so well attended to, but he soon moved on, and tried practicing his mind clearing exercises while relaxing, more to keep from being aroused that anything; the ones massaging him had no more reluctance to massage his maleness than they had to avoid touching Amein.

Rasten was soon well dressed, and on his way down to the main floor. He was wearing high leather boots, and skin tight brushed leather pants, which left little to the imagination, regarding his now well defined muscles. He wore a loose, long sleeved shirt, suitable for formal occasions, and wore his sword, as all Elvin fighters, including Amein, were inclined to do. As he moved down the stairs, into view, the noisy room became quite still. Noting this, Amein hastened up a few steps, and waited for him to join her.

“My dear guests and fellow Elvin! May I present my greatest accomplishment and find, Lord Rasten, son of Sayarin! Our lost one has been well found!” she loudly declared. The applause was near deafening, touching Rasten in an odd  way. It seemed to display how deep and true Amein’s assurances of his importance really were; if she were crazy, apparently she had much company.

Had any wondered how Amein felt about him, seeing her helpless and awestruck gaze, as she looked upon him, appearing much like a very young elf suffering her first crush, would have ended their doubts. Many smiled knowingly, finding her probably infatuation delightful; all knew she was due for a mate, and her insistence that such was nonsense was now revealed for the wishful thinking it had been.

Amein, knowing this was likely true, merely smiled at Rasten, bracing herself for the expected barrage of teasing she would get; elves delighted in poking anyone’s foolishness when they got the chance,  and she was not considered above such a fate.

Rasten felt himself overwhelmed quickly, the endless stream of introductions and the complex Elvin names blending together into a blur. Still, he was eager to know as much as possible about all the other worlds, asking as many questions as he could, and hoping he might remember much.

Since this was in a sense a state function, more than a family or clan event, it had a more formal air to it. Dinner was served properly, by a large group of devoted Elvin servers, and as the evening progressed, there was entertainment and music. Still, there was much time devoted to simply wandering around, engaging the guests randomly.

At one point Amein gave a short speech, more to outline what she hoped they might discuss the next day. At the end, she stood waiting, having asked for any questions of general interest. Someone stood, and asked a question that made Rasten cringe.

“Dear Princess, what has come to pass with your Eridians? Will you ever resolve that issue?” The speaker sat down, and the silence was amazing, as everyone sat, wondering how Amein might respond to such a leading question. She looked thoughtful a moment, and then replied.

“As Lord Gehderin knows, we have been plagued by the Eridians for a thousand years. You all know our history, and why we are unwilling to simply do away with them! While I was away, retrieving Lord Rasten, they attacked Alarinad, an amazing affront, and a sign that their Princess is willing to think new things! We have allowed ourselves to become complacent, to assume we knew and understood our enemy. Speaking with a captured female warrior, we learn that most of what the Eridians believe regarding us and our intent is utterly wrong. But we are also guilty of failing to know who and what they are. I have taken steps to better evaluate them, to know for certain how many there even are now. This is a good lesson for all of us, and one we will discuss more deeply tomorrow; how many of our enemies do we truly know and understand?” She paused a moment, to let this sink in.

“Enjoy your evening...we have much to do, beginning at first light! And welcome, my friends, to our clan home!”

This confession of sorts shocked the ones less well acquainted with her, and touched the ones who did deeply, they finding it a sign of her supreme honesty and lack of arrogance. Rasten noted this as well, and as they headed toward their rooms later, he thought to comment.

“How hard was admitting you had no clue about some aspects of the Eridians...how was that?”

“Less hard than lying would have been. There is no shame in being honest, in admitting your errors! No true leader can be considered well or respected if they are not.”

Rasten grinned at this. “On earth they would say you have some serious gonads!” he teased. Amein jerked his arm and he found himself nose to nose with her. She also had a firm grip on his male items.

“Are you suggesting that being brave and honest are only male things...male strength?!”

“Of course not. You’re one brave pussy!” he sighed.

“Good! You’re about to discover how strong pussy is!” she insisted, taking hold of his arm and almost dragging him along. “I think mine is inclined to make you beg tonight, and worship it too!” she informed him, eyes sparkling.

27

Among all the things that kept Rasten busy constantly, none were as welcome or aggravating at times as his instruction on all things Elvin. He enjoyed it because he was able mostly to sit while being lectured. It was aggravating in its complexity and convolutedness. The Elvin seemed to delight in having dozens of subtle rules for proper social interaction, from those regarding what titles to use to address another, which all varied by who was being addressed, where the meeting was taking place, and the relationship of the parties involved, to all other aspects of living.

“Doesn’t anyone just say hello!” he demanded, during his first week of instruction.

“Of course not! One must be at least somewhat proper!” the older elf, a female and one of the family’s resident staff of long standing declared, sniffing disdainfully at Rasten’s crass suggestion. Madam Clinarien had taught young Elvin proper manners for decades, and had rather firm rules for what was acceptable. That she had taught both Amein and her father seemed to Rasten quite amazing and not a little daunting.

“Now, what do you do upon meeting someone that you are unsure of, as to their rank or title?” she repeated.

“Declare yourself and your title, if you suspect you are the younger?”

“Show me!” the Madam insisted. They were standing, facing each other. Rasten pulled himself up straight, and bowed his head slightly, then extended his right hand, palm up.

“Lord Rasten, pleased to meet you!” he declared. The Madam reached out, laying her hand on his upturned on, nodded and declared,

“Madam Clinarien, Keeper of Traditions. I am pleased to meet you!” she replied. “Now that is the public greeting with a stranger. What might you do if meeting someone well known to you?” she asked.

“Ummmm...hug them, after the touching of hands?”

“Are you sure?” she asked slyly. Rasten nodded.

“Sit! It’s not that simple!” she declared an evil grin showing.

An hour more of instruction made his head hurt, but he hoped he had some idea what to do. That he now realized he had likely appeared a barbarian to most of the keep’s residents did little to make him happy. When he complained to Amein, he was laughed at.

“Of course you seemed a bit...primitive...but the Elvin are amazingly wise and flexible, understanding how hard it is for a stranger to come among us, and not be themselves. If you act that way after the Madam has trained you, you will get peed on!”

“I assume much of this has accumulated over time?

“Thirty million years of time! But the Elvin seem more inclined to cling to traditions and ritual well...if you read personal tomes from a million or so years back, you’d likely spot nothing different, in how elves act. We don’t just change for the sake of change!” she insisted, amused at Rasten’s dour expression.

“How much did you hate learning all this?”

“Probably more than you do...I got my butt paddled when I was slow or difficult!” she confessed. “Still, it is easier to learn as you grow up in the midst of it. The Eridians we’ve captured and kept...we trained all of them before turning them loose. It helps them feel comfortable living among us!”

“Do you keep an eye on those ones, to make sure they aren’t up to evil?”

“For a time. As they become enmeshed in their new life, marry and start families, we pay less attention to them. None have ever turned against us, and only a couple decided to leave, and return to the Eridians. They get spoiled here quickly!” she laughed.

“Perhaps that would be the key to converting to Eridians in mass...should they have trade with the Elvin...if they could attain things they like and need, they’d be less inclined to attack us! That’s certainly the way things were many times on Earth.”

“Of course...but they have to stop their war long enough to have any trade or commerce! Actually, there is trade of a limited nature going on. There are several merchants and traders that we allow to go back and forth to the Eridian lands, trading goods. They all spy, for both us and the Eridians!” she laughed.

“You know this, yet still permit it?!”

“Rasten! We are quite good at finding things out! We know more about the traders than they might know of themselves! Most are dubious and have flexible morals, willing to serve the one offering the most money. A couple have reason to hate us, and are watched more closely. We like them, as they are eager to carry word to the Eridians, that they think will help them against us. That makes them useful, should we wish to send false information to the enemy!”

Rasten had ventured out one evening alone, Amein being busy with other affairs, and he being eager to explore the city more. He had gone off to the nearest large market area, intending to find something sweet to nibble. The Elvin diet had proven quite rich seeming, but this was deceptive, as no one eating it would gain weight, their understanding of nutrition amazing. Rasten had been free to eat and snack at will, his intense workouts burning many calories each day. He was gaining muscle, and had lost all trace of fat, something that made the elf girls even more excited.

He stopped at a large stall, filled with fruits and candies, seeing several new ones he might sample. There were no Elvin present at the moment, it getting late, and a human woman was tending it. She was a bit stocky, and had jet black hair and eyes, and she smiled widely when she noted him looking at her.

“How might I help the Master?” she asked, stepping close.

“Tell me your story!” Rasten asked. This caused the woman to cringe and hang her head, shaking it slightly. Rasten reached out taking her chin in his hand and raised her face up to look at him. “You were born an Eridian, were you not?” he asked gently. She managed to nod, but still avoided speaking.

“I am Lord Rasten...I would know your tale! How came you to be here?” he insisted, smiling warmly, and wiping the tears from her eyes.

“My mate was captured by the Elvin many years ago...I was young and foolish...stubborn, and walked weeks to come here, determined to see if he had lived or died!”

“What did you find? The Elvin discovered you?”

“Of course they did! I could not speak other than my own words, and was easily spotted. They put me in a place where I could not escape, but treated me well. Eventually they put me with him, and offered to let us stay, and live as humans do here. We agreed, but my mate was never content. We fought much, and finally, he departed. I chose to stay, having no desire to return to our old way of life.”

“Did you find someone new?” Rasten asked. Here the woman beamed and slightly blushed.

“I found a man who was no Eridian, and am well pleased!”

“Have other Eridians stayed, becoming more pleased with life here?”

“I have several I’ve met, who seem well pleased. I wish all our people might be free of the war and the endless death. They have no idea how good life could be!”

When Rasten had a chance to speak with Amein, he recounted his discussion with the former Eridian.

“Of course...barbarians are always subverted by ease and nicer things. We have seen no peoples who would not like to have a better life, to possess things which are needful and make life easier. Most also like pretty things, especially females. Males like what pretty things do to make females more friendly!” Amein declared and laughed.

“So, if I gave you jewelry and other pretty things, you’d be even more willing?” Rasten wondered.

“I’m an elf...you can give me a rock or a priceless jewel, and I’ll be just as willing!” she admitted. “But most other races...that seems to matter more!” she laughed. “I’m spoiling you by being so easy, aren’t I?!” she demanded.

“Of course, and you have no idea how much I approve of that! By the time my day is over, there’s not much strength left, for having to struggle just to get some pussy!” he sighed.

Rasten had gone to his small study, to read, having found that the ability to read Elvin seemed to have come with his ability to speak the language. He was absorbed in his task, when the image in front of him seemed to vanish, being replaced by a view of a primitive looking village. He saw many people, whom he guessed to be Eridians, the men with huge beards and longish hair, and arrayed in leathers and furs. he noted a young woman, dressed much the same, and having a sword worn on a leather belt. She seemed quite rough and dire, but was, for all her dirt and markings stunningly beautiful, her long black hair full and hanging behind her back.

Rasten was holding his breath, spell bound, not wanting the strange image or vision to fade. He could see her speaking, but was unable to make out her words. She stopped, and scanned her surroundings, at one point seeming to be looking directly at him. He finally blinked, and the strange vision disappeared, to be replaced with the view in front of him.

He pushed himself up, and went quickly in search of Amein, eager to share this strange occurrence with her.

She sat quietly, as he explained in detail, and then asked several questions, before smiling slyly.

“It appears to be working!”

“What?” Rasten demanded, confused. Amein sighed, and looked amused.

“You have been given a...substance...in your food...it occurs in a plant which grows here. For those like father...for the seers, it unlocks their sight, allowing them to have visions. You must develop it more on your own, but once begun, you will never be free of such!”

“And you didn’t think to ask me if I would approve of this? Is it ever dangerous?”

“Not too much, but it will make a human sick or kill them if they ingest too much. But you are part Elvin, so it won’t do that!” she assured him, looking amazingly free of guilt. “There was no reason to ask, as you’d have said yes anyway!” she insisted. Rasten shook his head, knowing she was likely correct.

“So what was I seeing?”

“From what you describe, you saw Shocara, in her village. What I can not know is when you saw her, past present or future...” Amein sighed.

“This is what my father had?!” he asked, amazed.

“Precisely...inuarienium...the ability to see the spread of time and events! You will find it a remarkably useful gift, as he did. But beware its limitations; Sayarin never saw the time or manner of his death, and was thus unable to evade it!” Amein said softly, coming close to touch him. “If any doubted that you are your father’s son, this will put shut their doubts! It also reveals you as being a descendent of Amoroth...none other Elvin outside his line have ever possessed such gifts!” she sighed, clearly pleased.

“That makes me very special?” he wondered, bemused.

“Very...and even more special, you’re mine!” she insisted, and giggled.