A Deed Most Foul

Part 4 - Ailaesaelol (Intervention)

“Myr!”

Lythar quickly rocked his wrists while raising his forearms, and the falling blade’s tip embedded itself into the log on the far side of Vognar’s neck with a resonating thunk. The blade’s edge was now nearly touching back of the Ulfen’s neck, but the quick reaction had prevented any injury. The female voice that yelled that single word was so full of command authority that Lythar’s subconscious responded before even his brain was able to intervene.

***

The bear had just sat down on its haunches and begun looking towards the cave containing its cubs when Elordria heard unintelligible voices coming from the clearing outside the cave. Able to delay no longer, she hurried outside, rounding the waterfall just as Lythar began his downstroke.

Elordria’s eyes brimmed with tears as her imagination played her worst fears over and over in her head. As she her eyes took in the scene, she blinked to clear the horrific site of her love about to be beheaded. A strange sense of calm flushed through her body as she yelled “STOP” as loudly as she could in Elven, with every fiber of her being willing that the brightly flashing blade would stop in time.

***

Lythar’s head whipped around in shock, his intense gaze causing Elordria to cover herself reflexively. Rocking his powerful shoulders, Lythar pulled his blade out of the log and turned towards Elordia.

“He is Orodae, he has killed our bretheren, and he has defiled a Lady of the Mierani Forest!” Lythar exclaimed angrily. “The penalty for the latter two is death on sight, and you know it!”

“Vognar did no such thing!” Elordria called back, straightening up and striking as regal and authoritative pose as she could in her state of undress.

“Ahh...so it’s Vognar now is it?” hissed back Lythar. “I know not how he has muddled your mind, or what enchantment he has you under, but I’ll take care of it immediately.”

“I demand the right of Thosaeror as the aggrieved party!”

At Elordria’s proclamation, Lythar’s eyes narrowed, however, he once again turned back towards Vognar and raised his blade for the killing stroke.

Elordria’s mouth opened in protest, but before she could try again to turn the enraged elf from his intended action, Kaerishiel strode boldly into the clearing, his Shin’Rakorath fanning out. “Velaes Lythar, I believe the Lady has called for Thosaeror, and you know she has the standing and the authority to do so. His fate is in Lady Eviana’s hands now, not yours.”

“So she does, so it is,” breathed Lythar, lowering his blade slowly and leaning down towards Vognar, “and so it shall be. Lady Eviana will sort you out, and before this is done, you may wish I had been permitted to end it quickly.” Straightening as he turned towards Kaerishiel, Lythar levelled his tone and said, “He will be conveyed safely to Crying Leaf, and with no more harm than he brings upon himself.”

****

Breathing a sigh of relief at Kaerishiel’s interference, Elordria turned back towards the cave to get dressed. As she did so, however, it occurred to her just how hard it would be to open her xenophobic bretherens’ eyes to the true situation. Worry once again flooded through her, and she immediately turned her thoughts towards trying to find a way to keep Vognar alive and unharmed once he reached the Court at Crying Leaf.

****

The vines once again clamped down on Vognar’s windpipe as he was jerked roughly to his feet and held while the elves cleaned up the cave, keeping a wary eye on the adjacent cave containing a still grumbling mama-bear, and began preparations for the journey back to Crying Leaf.