Donnan, Elea and Tranthor were standing in Be'ornhelm's office. Be'ornhelm was awake and doing fairly well for a man who had almost had his skull almost caved in. The four of them discussed the situation and then called in the clerics. They spoke to them, asking if any of their brethren were in Veluna at this time. The clerics did not but did have a cure for the poison to give Donnan for Reynald.
Elea nodded. "It's time we go. Reynald is in danger and we know who the culprit is."
Donnan looked at Tranthor. "Would you like to come? It will be dangerous."
"I'd love to, little brother." He gave a half smirk.
Elea glanced at the two and thought that they seemed to be getting along fairly well. She glanced at Donnan in his full "Knight of the Hart" regalia and the dark black leathers of Tranthor. They seemed like opposite sides of the same coin with many similar mannerisms.
"OK. Be'ornhelm. We're ready. Sent us to my Father's castle, to the rooms reserved for me." Donnan, Elea and Tranthor stood in a loose triangle as they disappeared and teleported to Veluna.
*
Elea walked quickly and purposefully from her quarters with Tranthor and Donnan. They made an impressive trio. The first guard they came across, they sent running for the Captain of the Guard. Recognizing Elea and Donnan, the man did not question the order. Onward they strode, directly to Lord Reynald's chambers. The guards there did not stop them.
Elea entered first and saw her Mother, looking very worried at Reynald's side. "Elea... he keeps getting more and more sick. There's nothing they can do." Sharlynn rose and hugged her daughter, tearfully.
Donnan spoke up. "We know what is wrong. It is a poison." He showed everyone a vial of greenish liquid and then gave it to the healers who hovered around. "That is the poison." Then, he handed them a vial of clear liquid. "That is the antidote." Then he went before the Duke on one knee. "Milord, we know who is to blame. She who tries to kill you. Please, in your name, we go to arrest her."
The Duke rolled his eyes, unable to focus upon the swashbuckler. All he could do was weakly pat Donnan's hand.
Donnan stood up and a healer began asking questions. He started to answer but suddenly, the three clerics who had treated Valaria appeared in the room.
"We asked to be sent to save the Duke." The first cleric said.
Elea nodded. "Do all you can for Reynald." She looked at the healers. "Obey them to the letter. They are my... They are the Duke's best hope." With that, the clerics and healers began a bustling exchange of information and began to treat the Duke.
By this time, the Captain of the Guards, a swarthy man with a ruddy face and laugh lines around his eyes had appeared. Already, Donnan was giving the man a brief synopsis of the situation. As Elea approached, the Captain gave her a respectful nod.
"Who is it that we will arrest." The Captain asked after listening to what Donnan had to say.
"Lady Morena of Metrik." Elea's voice was hard and cold.
Several of the guards looked surprised and the Captain raised an eyebrow. "Aye? You are sure."
"Never more sure than I have been in my life." Donnan answered.
The Captain nodded. "Fine. You six, you come with me. You four, you stay here and guard the Duke and his wife. Let no one interrupt the healing." He turned to Donnan and Elea. "Let's go."
The Captain led the way through the castle to Lady Morena and Lord Matthew's quarters. Donnan was at his right with Elea behind them both with Tranthor at her side. The six guards were tense and ready, not sure of what they would face.
They faced Lady Morena's personal guard. At first, they were not going to let the group in but a few judicious words from the Captain of the Guard persuaded the men to step aside.
They did not bother to knock but boldly strode into the royal chambers. Morena was reading something in front of the fireplace. She was alone. She looked up, a little surprised, then she smoothed her face into one of haughty elegance. "Captain, what is the meaning of this?" Her voice was cool and cultured, like ice. As Morena stood, Elea examined her carefully. Morena was immaculate. Every glossy dark hair in place, not a wrinkle on her dress.
"Lady Morena of Metrik, we are here to arrest you on the grounds of attempted murder, attempted Regicide and treason." The Captain's voice boomed through the large room.
Morena was still for a moment. "On whose authority?" She inquired curiously.
Donnan stepped forward. "On my authority as a Knight of the Hart."
Her laughter rang sweetly through the room. "You?" Her disdain was apparent. "You are nothing. How dare you."
"I, Madam, am a Knight of the Hart and I have proof of your foul plans." Donnan stood straight and tall.
Elea stepped forward. "On my authority as well." She stared hard into Morena's eyes.
Morena looked a little less sure of herself. "You?" She turned to the Captain. "How can you do such? Believe these nobodies! I will have your head for this!"
"So be it, my Lady. However, you are still under arrest." The Captain was unruffled. "And I will do all that is necessary to arrest you, my Lady." With his words, one guard stepped up, weapon in hand and ready for any command to be given.
Morena glared at everyone, then she smiled sweetly. "Fine, I will go without a fuss."
"A comment, Morena." Donnan looked at her. "My wife still lives and your servant, the one who delivered the poison is dead. Don't you wish you knew what she told us before she died?"
Morena's face grew cold and angry. "You are bluffing. She would never..." She stopped, realizing what she was saying. Then she sighed. "Well, if you are going to arrest me, let us get on with it. To the dungeon, I suppose?" She seemed supremely bored.
"Wait." Elea looked around again. "Where is Matthew?"
The guards looked at each other. Then one spoke up. "I saw him enter just before you all came."
Everyone looked back at the calm Countess. She smiled sweetly and said nothing.
Elea stepped closer. "Where is Matthew?" Her voice was low and angry. Elea had the horrible feeling that she did not truly wish to know. "Where is my brother?"
There was a collective motion of surprise from the guards. Donnan looked at Elea, knowing that his friend had not meant to reveal her true identity to this enemy, but he also knew that Elea was on to something.
Morena laughed again, this time a harsh, grating sound. "Brother... Oh, how rich."
Donnan moved to Elea's side. "Where is he?"
Morena smiled a cruel side. "She has as much chance of finding Matthew as you do in finding your father."
Elea blinked in surprised and Donnan growled softly. "What do you know of my father, witch?!"
"I know that you will never find him." Morena was clearly enjoying herself. "All for the glory of Iuz!"
Most of the guards were in shock at the blasphemy coming from the woman's mouth. The Captain's face hardened. "We have ways of making you tell us what we would know."
Donnan was furious. "Is Matthew with Janort? In the City of Skulls?"
Morena ignored Donnan. "Shall we go? This is becoming tiresome."
'If she walks out of here, there will be six dead guards and she will escape.' Elea knew this for a fact. Knew it deep in her heart. "Captain, wait." She held up her hand, the one that she wore her royal signet ring on. "Do you recognize this?"
Captain nodded solemnly. "Yes, my Lady. I do."
She let her hand drop and looked impassively at Morena. "Lady Morena of Metrik, you have been accused of attempted murder, attempted Regicide and treason. I have found you guilty of these charges. By Royal Decree, you are sentenced to death. To be carried out immediately." Elea flicked her eyes to her partner. "Donnan."
"You can't!" Morena gasped.
"I can. I will and I have." Elea glared at the woman. "Donnan!"
Donnan's rapier was in his hand, the tip at Morena's throat. Elea noticed Tranthor already had a dagger in his hand. There was half second pause before Donnan drew back the rapier for a killing blow.
"Wait, I can tell you about your father!" Morena hissed at him.
"What could you tell me that I don't already know?" Donnan barely held his anger in check.
"He will die for the glory of Iuz!!" Morena cried out, then her death scream gurgled in her throat as Donnan's rapier buried itself in the traitor's neck.
Donnan cleaned his rapier on Morena's clothing and looked to Elea. "I think Matthew is with my Father in the City of Skulls. We will rescue him when we go for my father."
She nodded, looking at Morena's dead body. "Severe her head from her body and mount it on a pike outside the city as a warning for those who deal with Iuz will die like dogs in the street."
Donnan looked to Tranthor. "Could give this room a careful looking over?"
Tranthor nodded and surreptitiously lifted his eye patch, revealing a red gem to look the room over. Elea made sure the guards were distracted in dealing with Morena's body.
"There is secret room over there, little brother." Tranthor pointed to a spot on the north wall. He walked over with Donnan and pressed a hidden lever.
A panel in the wall slid up, revealing a darkness. Then, the stench of death seeped into the room, making Elea gag. She heard Donnan's soft hiss of dismay and saw him gently reach in and lift up a corpse of a man, then bring it to the table and gingerly set it down. Elea saw the royal signet ring on the man's left hand and knew this had been her half brother, Matthew, murdered in cold blood.
"Poison." Tranthor said as he looked at the body.
Donnan wrapped the body reverently in the table cloth and then looked to the Captain. "Escort this body to your chapel with an honor guard."
The Captain swallowed hard and agreed, visibly grieving for the loss of the Duke's only son. He formed up the honor guard and picked up Matthew's body, carefully cradling it to him. Elea stepped up to walk with the Captain as Donnan and Tranthor slipped out to give Elea some privacy and to return to the Duke's chambers to see how he was doing.
Elea walked somberly at the Captain's side, tears silently sliding down her face as they walked through the castle to the chapel. The clergy were more than surprised to see the honor guard appear and then were visibly shocked as Elea quietly explained why they were here and who the body was.
The Captain carefully laid the body out where he was directed and then stepped back as Elea approached.
She touched the body once, whispering. "I never had the chance to know you, little brother. Rest well." Then she turned away, looking at the Captain and the honor guard. "I want an honor guard posted here until the funeral. It is the least that an can be done."
Captain nodded, issuing the orders. Then he escorted Elea back to the Duke's chambers, saying nothing as Elea wiped her tears from her face, but not her heart. She took a deep breath and walked in.
Donnan and Tranthor were to the side, speaking with the clerics. The Duke was sitting up now and was pleased to see Elea enter the room. "Elea... come here, dear." His voice was fragile.
She hurried to his side, grasping his hand. She could not stop her tears as she looked to Reynald, knowing that his only son was murdered and his daughter in law, the traitor who killed Matthew and tried to kill the Duke, was also dead. She knew she could not tell him yet. The Duke was not strong enough.
"What is it, Elea?" Reynald tucked some of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm just so glad to see you better, Father." She kissed his hand. "That's all."
Donnan and Tranthor decided to make a quiet exit. They shooed the guards out, save one and made their way to their quarters.
*
An hour later, Ballarius was monitoring Reynald's condition as Elea, Reynald and Sharlynn were still quietly speaking and sharing with each other. He had arrived shortly before, to lend his assistance. There was a knock on the door. One of the clerics opened it up and to everyone's surprise, Donnan and Tranthor came in. Donnan looked like he had been through a war, clothing torn, he was bloody. Elea could see a nasty gash across his chest. Then, she saw what... or, more accurately, who they had with them.
"By the gods!" Elea exclaimed as she watched Tranthor dropped two dead Drugar dwarves and Donnan dropped a third, alive (barely) Drugar dwarf.
Sharlynn became almost hysterical at the sight of her racial enemies within the Castle and had to be sedated. The clerics quickly dealt with her as the more upset Sharlynn became, the more disturbed Reynald got.
Elea calmed her father and mother as she waited for Donnan to tell her what happened. And what a tale it was.
Apparently, the paranoid swashbuckler had discovered a hidden passage from his room. A passage way that led to all of the royal chambers. Donnan had discovered a fresh set of tracks leading from the Duke's chambers to the kitchen and followed them. Once in the kitchen, he was attacked by three Drugar dwarves. He was not sure how Tranthor happened upon the battle, but together, the two half brothers had defeated the Drugar. Now, they wanted Elea to do her special scrying magic to see if they could discover who was behind the attempted assassinations.
Ballarius spoke up and offered his assistance first. Elea was happy to let him try. Ballarius held his hands over the semi-conscious dwarf and murmured in an unknown language. A scene appeared above them.
... It was of a tall humanoid male in a black uniform. His face was hidden. On the man's left breast was a red spider web with a red eye in the middle. He was speaking. "You must make sure that you kill them both!" He demanded. There were sounds of acknowledgment...
The picture faded. Elea remembered the spider web from Lloth and the eye from the Order of Nuerall. But a spider web with an eye? This was a symbol she did not know.
"That is all I can get for now." Ballarius said, frowning.
By this time, the clerics had descended upon Donnan and were forcibly treating him. Tranthor walked over to give them a hand. Elea watched as Donnan and Tranthor joked with each other and Donnan submitted to the healing.
'Perhaps, this won't be so hard to keep them together. They seem to be getting along well.' She smiled, relieved that that problem did not seem to be a problem. She watched as Donnan fell asleep under the cleric's administrations and watched Tranthor curious.
Tranthor stood over Donnan's sleeping body and smiled a sad smile. "I do like you, little brother. And I don't know how you will deal with me. But, after we save our father, I will kill him." Tranthor's voice was low but Elea still heard it.
"What?!" She came to his side and demanded.
He was clearly startled, his words were private, mostly to himself. He looked at Elea. "You heard me, after we save our father, I am going to kill him."
"Why? How could you?" She was so surprised.
"You would not understand." he turned from her.
Elea's mind raced to what she knew about Donnan and Janort's past. Then, she took a wild stab in the dark. "You think he abandoned you, don't you?" She knew she was right by the look on his face. "You think that, just like Donnan did. Donnan was wrong and so are you!"
His face got a familiar stubborn set about it. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, yes, I do!" She got right next to him. "You listen here. You have no idea why your father left you. No more than Donnan did. Now he knows the truth and you need to find out the truth. After you save your father, you will talk to him. Find out what happened."
The Black Sword Master just looked at her.
"Don't find your father, only to throw away any time you two have left, just because of a misunderstanding! If not for your father, do it for him." Her voice was fierce as she pointed to the unconscious Donnan.
The tension left Tranthor's body and he nodded. "Fine, I will speak to Janort first - only for Donnan's sake. I will find out the truth... and then, if I have to kill him, I will."
"Fine, but you find out the truth first!" Elea was inwardly pleased that she got Tranthor to concede that little bit. She could not imagine what Donnan would do, if after they saved Janort, Tranthor killed him.
*
In the morning, Donnan awoke in his own quarters. He saw Tranthor asleep in a sleep at his side and knew that his brother had been there all night. Tranthor awoke as soon as Donnan began to shift.
"How do you feel, little brother?"
"Not as bad as you look, big brother." Donnan managed a weak grin. "I'm hungry."
Tranthor handed him an apple. "You're looking a little better."
"Thanks. What happened after I passed out?" He munched on the tart sweet fruit.
"Not much. A bit was fuss over you and the Duke."
A knock at the door prevented Tranthor from continuing. Elea opened the door. "Good morning. Tranthor, what are you doing here? You should be sleeping." She came in. "How are you doing, Donnan?"
Donnan smiled. "I am feeling better."
"I am not going anywhere." Tranthor stated matter of factly. "Donnan is hurt and I will protect him."
"Fat lot of good you'll do protecting him if you're too tired to hold a sword." Elea turned to the guard and ordered that a second bed should be brought in for Tranthor. She watched as her orders were carried out.
"I think she's in nesting mode." Tranthor half whispered.
"I think you're right." Donnan whispered back.
The bed was set up and Elea demanded that Tranthor get some rest. Then she demanded that Donnan get some more rest. She stationed a guard inside the room.
"Is this what it's like?" Tranthor asked.
"What?" Donnan yawned sleepily.
"Being married." he grinned crookedly.
He smiled to his brother. "Yeah. It kinda is."
Elea made sure everything was in order. "Good night you two. Rest and get well."
"I like her. You should have married that one, little brother."
Elea left the room before she could hear Donnan's reply. She paused a moment in the hallway, Tranthor's comment echoing in her head. 'You should have married that one, little brother.' She sighed softly. "Another time. Another place... For now, I am alone." Then, she set off to check up on her parents, hoping her father was doing better.
Out of the shadows, Ballarius stepped. "Never alone, Elea. I will always be here for you, whether you know it or not." His voice was soft and kind with a touch of longing. He set out after her, to catch up with her for breakfast.
Continue on to: 19. Stand at the Wall