ETCH, page 9
She looked back a couple of times. Her heart aching to turn towards those trees. She saw the determination and control on Vali’s face. She wanted to support her on her return home, and to meet her family too. It was not only fair, but it made sense, and there was no logical reason to run, Ilva told herself. Yet her legs urged her to do just that, to leave while she still had the chance. Instead she stayed by Vali’s side arresting her behavioural instincts. Walking towards the centre of the small town, Ilva swallowed her pooling saliva. They approached the doors of the royal house.
Ilva sucked in a breath, and stood very still.
Vali knocked.
Chapter 25
A small dark-haired elven boy with vivid and wide green eyes answered the door.
Vali beamed, “Krit! How are you?”
The elfling smiled from ear to ear at seeing Vali. His face was bright and shiny, and he had short points on his ears and a tiny nose. He was so delicate looking.
“Vali!” He lunged out of the door, hugging her around her hips. This sight made Ilva take a second breath. She was surprised, and fascinated watching the interaction between these two friends.
The elf boy walked over to Ilva and put out his hand.
“Marvellous to meet you, my name is Krit and I am the first son of the housecarl and his wife. What may I call you?”
Ilva found her courage again and managed to speak casually, “I am Lady Ilva of Falil. Daughter to Lord Ediv and Lady Syli. It is a pleasure to meet you Krit.” Ilva bowed deeply and softly. One leg bent, the other swept gently behind her, she crouched elegantly down. Pulling herself back up after counting to three. It was a perfectly executed greeting. She was shocked at how proud something so simple as an introduction had just made her feel.
Vali was trying not to show the surprise that registered in her at the stately way Ilva introduced herself just now. You really are full of surprises.
Krit was thrilled by the presentation and returned Ilva’s curtsey with a delicate nod and short bow. “What a great honour to make your acquaintance Lady Ilva. Will you come in?”
As Krit gestured, and the ladies entered the main foyer, he asked a less rhetorical question, “Would you like a short tour? I know a lot about Karna.”
Ilva began “Sur-”
Krit launched straight into docent mode, “Home to several generations of silver Lords and Ladies, this building here is actually a historic castle, though it is only about an eighth the size of the several centuries newer palace in Marka, it was home to royal silver elves over a millennia ago. It is full of grand rooms, and delicate carvings adorn every wall as you can see.”
Ilva did see. It was stunning. She gazed closer at a carving along the wall of a great hunt for a massive stag with wings that appeared to tower over trees. It was all made entirely out of bits of silver. The silver details adorned every surface. The walls, the floors, the ceiling. She almost lost herself in the craftsmanship when Krit’s voice brought her back to the rest of her surroundings.
“We will see many more examples of ancestral art on our way to the library, Lady Ilva. I do hope I am not moving too quickly for you, do let me know if you would like me to slow down, or if you catch me rambling.”
Ilva let Krit know that his rambling wasn’t bothering her in the slightest. That she was quite enjoying her tour.
Krit took this as his cue to continue. “Good! Most elves find my fast-paced prattle annoying. Meeting new elves make conversation flow much easier I find. So much to discuss and learn about one another.”
They walked on and on and Krit told Ilva many facts and showed her many similar looking rooms and hallways. It was getting slightly exhausting. We have to be close to half done, Ilva thought.
Krit directed the conversation back to personal interest again. It seemed to be a habit. “I usually prefer to focus on studying. Elves are easy to understand once you realise how alike we all are. It is the natural forces and ideas of the world that keep us in motion. I enjoy talk about science and literature. Which, sadly, are topics not many elves enjoy. That’s why I love books. Do you love books? Vali loves books.” he blanched, “Oh, I’m sorry, Vali.”
Krit covered his face. He seemed to be really upset at the oversight of his friend’s disability. Vali’s face was calm and sympathetic.
Krit managed to say, with as much composure as he could muster, “I am sure Vali can show you the other side of the keep Lady Ilva. I am going to vanish myself to the library now. I beg your pardon, ladies.”
“Oh Krit, you know I understand. You meant well. I appreciate the apology though. We will still come along to the library with you. That is, if Ilva wants that? Do you like books Ilva?” As they walked on, they waited for her reply.
Ilva thought on this. “I um, I have not seen books in a very long time. I did use to read a few books. I liked them.” Ilva did not want to have Vali or Krit think less of her, so she added, “I once wished there were more books in Falil. There were only the ones each elf had for themselves, and my parents did not enjoy reading, so we actually didn’t have any books in my home. I think if I were to give it another chance, and with more to choose from, I might like it more.”
Vali smiled, and reached for Ilva’s hand. She was shocked to learn Ilva wasn’t much of a reader, inquisitive as she was, and then sad to hear it was due to lack of books available. Vali was suddenly thrilled at the idea of Ilva seeing Karna’s library. She remembered its splendor. She really missed reading.
Krit watched Vali lace her fingers gingerly between Ilva’s. He smiled knowingly, almost too knowing for one so small, no matter how smart he was. He began marching towards the library. All the while he was going on about facts he had read about minerals in their region and the effects they had on an individual.
He was getting very deep into his lecture when a voice shot out ahead of them, “There you are!” A very small girl with bouncy black hair yelled shrilly, “I thought you said we were playing hide and seek!” her dark blue eyes blazing.
“Were you hiding?” Krit responded coolly.
“Yes,” she shrieked before Krit came back with, “Good, because I was seeking. Now go hide again. You were doing really well.”
She thought for a second, then bolted back the way she had come. Krit snickered lightly, as he turned down a hall in the opposite direction the girl had gone.
A few moments later they entered a room full of books. There were books everywhere. Some areas looked neat, others messy. The shelves were all organized it seemed. There was a small three-tiered cart of books at a counter full of messy piles, and a few tables also had piles upon them.
“Sorry about the mess in here. I’ve not cleaned yet today. I have been reading in here since dawn,” Krit apologized.
As he was explaining magnetic ability and lodestones, Ilva scanned her eyes into every corner of the majesty before her. The books were so well cared for. There was hardly any dust, and they all had such breathtaking bindings. Her eyes landed on a book with purple binding, a golden gilded edge shimmered on the spine. She plucked it off the shelf in front of her and flipped it open. It was a book of dragons. She turned page after page, studying the incredible beasts that had been hand painted upon each page.
Ilva stopped when she saw the dragon they had slain, peering back at her from the parchment. It was an exact replica, down to his curling horns. She studied the face of the dragon a moment before moving to the next page, which held text about this foe they had faced. From what Ilva read, that particular beast was a very large Western Dragon. The black serpentine one, covered in all those scars, was different. The book listed everything from Wyverns and Drakes, to Dragonets and Cockatrices. Most of the book’s contents held new information for Ilva; however, that black sleek snaking dragon was not in this book.
What are you? Ilva contemplated with concern.
When she finally zoned back into the room, she realised Krit was staring at her. Vali was also facing her direction. “Sorry, did you ask me something?”
“Well, no not yet. I had just noticed that you had an interest in dragons. I had mentioned just now to Vali that you were reading about them. Are you learning something?” Ilva was a bit awkward with this child’s forthcoming nature. He was so very inquisitive. Even more so than herself.
“I did not know a Cockatrice was a thing,” Ilva admitted.
Krit became very excited. “They are very rare. No one I know has ever seen one, nor do they know anyone who has dared look, one glance at it's eyes would petrify you. It is a fascinating illustration, is it not?”
“It is.” Ilva stared.
Krit went on, “I love the looks of that Western Dragon best. He appears quite regal, and big. I cannot imagine what it would be like to fight something so frightening. Did you know that the dragons are actually allied with the elves of Evevale? The stolzite are so secretive. No one knows how they perform their magic. Someone wrote a reference journal here about seeing a brush in one of their hands. Like a paintbrush. They painted while on the back of the dragon, it was a fascinating and very old story. I am not sure about its basis for fact finding. Though I will see if I can find it for you if you like? Also, if you are as interested as I am in our magic, I have loads of resources on that too.”
Ilva was happy that Krit wanted to share his knowledge, and she didn’t want to dampen his spirits. She was feeling overwhelmed by his personality. She tried to reply kindly to the child. “That dragon is a fierce and frightening looking creature indeed. I would love for you to show me what you have found. However, I feel I have absorbed much already, and I need time to consider the new things I now know. I will come back to the library when I am ready to know more if that suits you?”
Krit practically leapt from the table with joy, “It does! I will leave a stack of books I think you will find interesting upon this cart.”
Krit then reeled off with glee and purpose. He ran to the full cart and began putting books away at lightning speed. It was as if he had shelved and un-shelved them so often that he knew all of their exact places in the library. Now and then he would have to look the cover over more than once. He would check the isles for empty slots until he found the one he sought. He shifted many of the books still upon the cart to the top shelf as Vali and Ilva began to walk out.
“Nice to see you, Krit.” Vali shouted into the library as Krit bolted off again, another chin high stack of books in his ambitious arms.
Chapter 26
Ilva and Vali left the library and walked down to the hall where the little elf girl had disappeared. They stopped when the elfling ran up to them.
“Is he in the library? If I go in there, he’ll just hide and say he thought it was his turn.” The elfling crossed her arms and grumped.
Vali looked at the elf girl sweetly. “Tila, you do a great many things very, very well, and I would have to say that your patience with Krit has been some of the strongest I have ever witnessed. I swear you both grew taller while I was gone. Has your reading improved?”
“Mother says it has. I don’t believe her.” Tila slouched a bit and her face turned a bit sour.
“Do you like the books they’ve chosen any better?” The question from Vali seemed to knock the wind out of Tila as she went stiff. Her eyes full of anger and overwhelm, she looked at Vali, then she changed her posture from rigid to slouched again. She cast her eyes to the ground.
“I don’t enjoy the books they give me to read for lessons. They are quite dull. I want to read what Krit is reading. To know what he is so excited about all the time.”
Ilva was surprised young Krit didn’t fancy talking this elflings face off. She wondered how old the two of them were.
Vali thought the same as Ilva about the relationship between the two young elves, Krit would have to be mad if he did not see this elf’s friendship as a blessing, and so she asked, “Why not go ask him for a book then?” At this idea, Tila took off for the library, and Vali smiled mischievously to herself.
Ilva thought about the elflings as Tila turned the corner out of sight. They couldn’t be older than forty, which is quite young. Old enough to be dexterous and intelligent. Young enough to still have questions galore and sparkly eyes filled with wonder. In Falil, kids his age had rather heavy chores, such as hauling rocks for building, cutting down trees and making wood for cooking and heat, caring for livestock, and much more. The kids here appeared to have it good. It almost made Ilva jealous. Vali’s easy friendships with these children. All of the freedom and comfort here.
Ilva and Vali walked down the hallway, turned to the right, and walked towards the end of the next hallway. As they passed dozens of rooms to the left and right, Vali mentioned their ages, to quiet Ilva’s curiosity.
“Tila is thirty. And Krit is fifty-two,” Vali explained.
Ilva took time to consider the differences between Falil and Karna and tried not to make it an area of contention. “Krit is so smart. I think it’s nice of him to offer to find me some books,” Ilva conveyed.
“Some? Ilva, that cart will be full of books! That is Krit’s idea of light reading. He will fill the cart because you said you enjoyed knowledge. He is a bit overzealous at times. He means well, and yes, he is extraordinarily smart. And talkative,” Vali giggled.
They arrived at open double doors to what appeared to be a spacious dining hall. Ilva was suddenly nervous. Was Vali going straight to see her grandmother? I mean why wouldn’t she? Ilva was getting sweaty. Is it warm in here? Maybe there was a fireplace in this room?
She sucked in a deep breath as Vali walked through the doors and strolled leisurely inside. Ilva followed behind, her eyes scanning the room. It was an extensive room with no fireplace, just a large banquet table, and at the head of the table sat a queenly wraithlike old elf. Her dark grey hair curled loosely, cascading down the back of her chair to her hips, it was thick and teased back under a silver circlet, her ears were adorned with teardrop diamonds.
“Vali!” she spat, “Who is this elf? Where is her announcer?”
“Apologies, grandmother, this is a friend. She needs no announcer.” Vali spoke with easy comfort.
“Apologies to you then. Might I at least inquire as to whom I am apologising to?”
“I am Lady Ilva,” Ilva shouted out almost a bit too loudly, and flatly, before she squeaked out the a in Ilva.
“Welcome Ilva dear, I am Lady Dola, the head elf of Karna, and direct adjutant to High Lady Alix in Marka.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Ilva bowed.
“Vali, how did your mission go?” Dola shot out quickly, ignoring Ilva’s pleasantries.
“Ilva is a very large part of our success, and I am only too thrilled to tell you the tale. Though I believe Ilva would like to eat and rest first. Might I come speak with you after that? I will tell you at least that I found what I sought.” Vali spoke with a chilling cold tone. No emotion to it. Like a soldier addressing their captain.
Dola seemed both eager and annoyed. Her interest was obviously in the artifact. She seemed haughty at the requirement to address her guest first. “Yes, yes of course dear. Prepare one of the top floor rooms for her, and I will have someone bring up trays for you both. Come see me as soon as you are able. Please do not make me wait long.”
As they walked across the room Ilva could feel Dola watching them with a predatory gaze. With her back to her she felt like fleeing. She walked steadily on though. The stairs to the next floor were on either side of the throne room door they entered through.
Vali guided Ilva to the open stairway on their left. Ilva didn’t want to speak, afraid of being heard in the tower stairway. At the final flight of steps, they entered a hallway resembling the one downstairs, they made their way to the end of it and entered the second to last room on that floor.
Ilva flopped onto the bed and snuggled into the soft cool pillow. The many, now crumpled sheets and blankets below her looked like the most wonderful thing she had ever laid eyes on. She was mesmerised by the feeling of a down filled mattress on boards so much that she thought if one thing was to keep her from her old cave living days, this bed might do it.
She rolled around while Vali unpacked her bag, and organised things back into it at the same time. She put several items away in the room. A small knife, all of their leftover food, their skins, and other various travel related items. Ilva took note of how she had kept only the sylvite hunk, and her big knife in the bag.
Vali shouldered her pack again, and walked over to Ilva. She reached down. Misjudging where her hand was directed, she grasped Ilva’s chest rather than the shoulder she thought she was aiming for. Realizing the position Ilva was sitting in then, Vali smiled and crawled towards her, hand still not releasing her, as it was her best guide to where Ilva was exactly. She knelt over one of her legs and she came down seeking somewhere to kiss. She was grateful that no matter where she kissed Ilva, it brought her obvious joy. She wished to keep bringing her just that, for as long as she was able.
Chapter 27
Ilva asked, “How long will you be? What should I do while I wait?”
Vali replied, “I will be gone for likely an hour, maybe two. You can go to the library if you wish to come downstairs with me. Or, feel free to rest here if you would rather, food will likely be up here soon if you wanted to wait.”
Ilva decided, “I will just stay here, I’m worn out, and pretty hungry. I hope your talk goes well.”
“As do I, Ilva. May I ask, that is, can I tell her about your grandmother? I want to have your permission if that is okay. Also, may I tell her some of the details of our adventures together?”
Ilva was a little unsure now. At first, she expected that was what Vali would do. She was asking her permission so Ilva considered what she was asking thoroughly.
