The Elven Chronicles

Episode Three

The Fugitive Bride

 

Chapter 7  The Wilds

 

A sword was easier to obtain than Honoria thought it would be, although it did require a return to the scene of her latest brutalization.  The bandit camp was deserted when they arrived, but Honoria approached it with such a feeling of dread that Ralasharia made her wait at the edge of the camp while the Elf entered alone. 

 

It was just as well.  The bandits had apparently been so terrified by Ralasharia’s attack that they had kept on running.  The men the Elf had killed lay sprawled in the clearing while flies swarmed around them and the pungent odour of death filled the air.  Ralasharia searched through the ramshackle buildings the bandits had built and finally emerged from the one Robb had used holding a gleaming metal object.  She crossed the clearing to the waiting Honoria and handed it to her. 

 

Honoria hefted the blade experimentally.  It was a trifle longer than what she was used to, but it had good balance and fitted her hand well.  “This seems very fine,” she commented. 

 

“It is good Human workmanship,” Ralasharia commented.  “A rather surprising find in a band of brigands.”

 

“Yes,” Honoria agreed.  “I doubt that any of them knew how to use it properly.”  She swung it through the air enjoying the feel of the blade in her hand.  It made her feel competent and confident.  Then she caught the hidden meaning in Ralasharia’s words.  “Elves make better I suppose.”

 

“There is little that can challenge the quality of Elven steel,” Ralasharia said matter-of-factly.  “Except perhaps, ” she continued with a frown, “that of the Dwarves.” 

 

Honoria sensed a hint of grudging admiration in Ralasharia’s last comment but said nothing.  Legends spoke of the animosity between Elf and Dwarf, but she knew little of the truth and decided it might be a subject best left alone.  Other topics, however, she felt were safe for discussion.  Before she could ask a question, however, Ralasharia handed her something else.  “I also found this,” she said.  “It has your presence on it.”

 

Honoria stared down at the jewelled dagger she had used to kill the Duke.  “No,” she said, “it is not mine.”

 

“I think it is,” the Elf replied, her jade green eyes seeming to glow from some inner light.  She continued to offer the knife, hilt first, to Honoria.

 

Tentatively Honoria reached out and took the knife.  Sunlight glinted off the rubies and diamonds set into the hilt and crossguard.  Stupidly, Robb had thought them mere pieces of glass, not realizing their true value. 

 

Ralasharia  had also found a belt and sheath for the sword and had brought clothing in the form of a woollen jerkin, some leather trousers, and a pair of deerskin boots.  “You seemed a little uncomfortable wearing only the trappings of a Jauntaur.” 

 

Honoria nodded and accepted the garments gratefully.  In her short acquaintance with Ralasharia she had almost gotten used to the Elf’s nudity, but not to her own.  Quickly she pulled them on and found them a good fit.  Whatever else Ralasharia was she had a good eye for size. 

 

“Come,” Ralasharia said as Honoria buckled on the sword and tucked the Duke’s knife into her belt.  “Now we should go.”

 

“Is there a need to hurry?” Honoria asked. 

 

“Tomorrow we will enter a range of hills.  They are not high, but I would prefer to cross them before any snow comes as it might at this time of year.”

 

Honoria nodded again, remembering the six miserable rain-filled days she had spent with the Duke.  At higher elevations there almost certainly would have been snow.  She set off as the Elf led the way.

 

She marvelled at the way that the Elf moved through the forest.  She would have thought that the four-foot spread of wings that Ralasharia wore would have caught on every branch and shrub, but instead the woods almost seemed to part before her, a factor Honoria was quick to take advantage of by following as close behind as she could.  In this way they made good time, in spite of the thickness of the forest and the ruggedness of the terrain.

 

From behind she was able to study the rig that Ralasharia wore.  It consisted of a spread of feathers to either side of her body and incorporated a quiver of arrows.  The feathers fascinated her.  She had never seen anything quite like them.  They ranged in size from those that might have suited a small bird to others larger than any eagle she could imagine.  Finally the numerous questions that she had sought to ask earlier bubbled to the forefront of her mind once more.  “What feathers are these?” 

 

“Gryphon feathers.  They are traded to us by our cousins the Shebaria, the Elves who ride the sky.” 

 

“A gryphon,” Honoria mused.  “I have heard of such a beast although I did not know they really existed.”

 

“It would be useful if we had such a creature at our disposal,” Ralasharia replied.  “But the Shebaria live far from here and the gryphons respond to no one but their riders in any case.”

 

“But you wear their feathers.”

 

“They have certain magical properties that enhance my powers.” Ralasharia explained.  The way she said it seemed to indicate that she would say no more on that subject so Honoria changed the topic.

 

“That brew we had for breakfast?  It seemed so little, but I still feel no hunger.” 

 

“Ah well,” Ralasharia said.  “The Jauntaur hunt only when necessary, but we have learned to distil the essence of plant life into a foodstuff that is both life-sustaining and appetizing.  It means that I need not burden myself with large amounts of supplies.  It also means that the animals of the forest do not fear me the way they fear Humankind.”

 

Honoria could see that advantage, but she was not quite through asking questions.  However, she found that Ralasharia had no difficulty answering whatever she asked.  Indeed the Elf seemed to enjoy explaining and elaborating on Honoria’s constant stream of questions, and noting Honoria’s interest often stopped to point out interesting plants and animals.

 

What Honoria found intriguing was the number of animals they encountered.  Instead of running away fauna such as deer, wolves, and of course bears, simply stood and looked at them mildly.  Nor did any of the more dangerous carnivores show the slightest signs of aggression, a situation that Honoria at first found most unnerving.  At first, it was most uncomfortable to pass within yards of a pack of wolves and receive only mild stares as she moved by, but gradually she adjusted to her newfound status as Elf-friend and welcomed observing animals that would normally have attacked her or fled at her approach. 

 

There was one aspect of the trek, however, that took a bit of getting used to.  As a princess Honoria had never had to walk very far.  Generally she rode, and was quite a good horsewoman, but Ralasharia walked and Honoria was forced to walk with her.  By midmorning she had walked farther than she had ever walked in her life and she began to experience a new ordeal.  “I don’t think I can go on,” she gasped.  “My feet are a mass of blisters.”

 

“Take off your boots,” Ralasharia commanded.  Honoria sat on a log while the Elf examined her blistered feet.  “You should have said something.  These are already quite bad.”  Ralasharia reached into her bag and took out the tiny vial she had used before.  This time, however, she did not ask Honoria to open her mouth, instead placed an even smaller drop in a cup and then filled the cup from a waterskin.  “It would be better to soak your feet, but I don’t have a bucket so this will have to do.”  She took out a small cloth, soaked it in the water and carefully swabbed Honoria’s feet.  Once again, as the Elven medicine went to work, the amazing feeling of well-being spread through her; this time starting at her feet.  However, Ralasharia was not quite finished.  Reaching once again into her pouch she took out a tiny porcelain container and removed its lid.  Inside was a white paste which she touched with her finger to and then proceeded it transfer to Honoria’s feet.  In spite of its small size there seemed to be an adequate amount to cover all of Honoria’s feet and still leave a little left over.  “There, that should hold you.  Now make sure you tell me next time before things get this bad.  Blisters are not a matter for heroism.”

 

She got to her feet and waited for Honoria to put her boots back on.  To Honoria’s amazement and immense relief her feet were entirely healed.  “What was that cream?” she asked. 

 

“Something to make sure you don’t get blisters again.  It’s partly my fault.  I should have realized that you wouldn’t be used to walking.  Now let’s go.”

 

Once again they set off, pressing deeper into the forest.  They were truly into what the people of Sallia called the Wild, a forest so dark and mysterious only the truly brave or desperate ever entered it.  Here the trees grew to a size that rivalled anything Honoria had ever seen and so close together that their upper branches interlocked into an almost impenetrable canopy.  Honoria found this forest indescribably gloomy, but Ralasharia seemed completely at ease striding between the giant trees and humming some mysterious tune. 

 

They proceeded in this way for several weeks, Honoria experiencing no further problems with her feet, and getting stronger as her conditioning improved.  In this way they moved deeper into the Wild, gradually gaining altitude as they moved through a low range of hills.  Fortunately, the weather remained mild, although Honoria wondered if Ralasharia might have had something to do with that as well.  Finally, her Elven guide led her out of the trees and onto a spur of rock overlooking a wild valley.  Far below Honoria could see something resembling a road that disappeared into the distance.  “Where are we?” Honoria asked.  “What is that valley?”

 

“Grotharia,” Ralasharia answered, “and from here on we move into the gravest danger.”  With that optimistic pronouncement the Elf stepped forward onto a narrow track and began a slow descent.  Her heartbeat accelerating, Honoria followed.

---

PREVIOUS CHAPTER WIZARD'S LAIR MAIN PAGE   L'ESPION'S STORY PAGE   NEXT CHAPTER