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Home » Great Library at Hoeth » Book of Tales » Tales of Si'anelle » A Further Telling of the Tale: Sebekneru Prince of Battle, Chapter Twelve: The Daughter of Telimis the Brave
| A Further Telling of the Tale: Sebekneru Prince of Battle, Chapter Twelve: The Daughter of Telimis the Brave |
| - by Lady Si'anelle
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The Goblin the wolf woman had in her keeping was well coated in dirt and small thorny sticks by the time they quit the forest and came out among the cropping fields. Though for several minutes past Ae'thenal had known that the greenskinned creature was no longer insensible, but wide awake behind its tightly closed up eyelids. The Goblin's shewd wits fully occupied with plotting how it might escape the firm grip this Humie woman had about its leg. Except that when it made its play and tensed to swing itself up to lay a deep bite upon the wolf woman's bare arm, the creature discovered itself to be hindered by the press of her Elven sword's blade upon its scrawny chest.
The Goblin's response was to instantly faint, and this time its unconsious state was true. And in the pause Ae'thenal discovered herself to be for a second time beneath the wolf woman's watchful gaze. In silence the woman gifted her a nod and then a slight smile before she soundly kicked the Goblin once with her bare foot before she began to drag the creature through the weeds and wild flowers of the fallow cropping field. This field being the one nearest to the place where they had left the shadow of the trees. Though Ae'thenal did pick out the thought whole from the wolf woman's mind that she would prefer it better if the field had been a well hummocked plowed one, which would have served the better to keep the Goblin in a senseless state.
In silence they crossed the field and then a second. And this one was a plowed field with deep furrows enough to cause the wolf woman to smile for a second time as she did with a tireless seeming stride drag the Goblin, its head nodding and bumping over the hummocks fit to keep the creature deep within a dizzy state of mind. Beyond that wide and well plowed field there was another, except that this one was not bare and empty, but instead a group of some thirty or more persons stood beneath the dawn sky awaiting their arrival.
Barely had the wolf woman flung the hapless Goblin down at her leader's feet than Sebekneru's eyes were upon her. With a curt, "Keep ya foot on 'im Lu'uk," the huge black woman strode towards her, her great broadsword at rest upon her shoulder. Though Ae'thenal was not so willing to trust that it would remain there should Sebekneru lose her temper. Also she did hold no suprise that the tall blonde Norsca woman, Helene Orcslayer, who was the giantess's standard bearer had fallen in beside her leader, her blue eyes like ice beneath her horned helm as she attempted to match Sebekneru's long stride.
"Not so cocky now are ya?" were Sebekneru's first words to her as her great sword swept down from her shoulder to plunge a full three hand spans into the earth. Folding her arms the black giantess gazed down at her from her full height, which was the equal of a tall man mounted upon a horse. "Still of a mind to threaten me on my own ground; - or has a night sleeping rough knocked the fight outta ya?"
Knowing well that she was no longer in appearance the proud Elven Lady of but yesterday coated as she was in a forest's mossy dirt, and with her cloak and war gear in disarry upon her person, she did still lift her chin and maintain her stance, the Banepearl cupped secure in her right hand. "You did take up arms against my oath sworn friend," she now said in reply. "And if this dawn you do repeat this act and set aside your guest holy gift; then aye Sebekneru I shall slay you as I did promise............... ."
Save that the black giantess did not permit her to complete that which she would have said. More swiftly than she did think it possible a huge hand siezed her by the right arm and shook her hard, the Banepearl falling from her grip to land amongst the furrows. Then she was flung aside a full six long paces as if she was no more than a child's doll made from straw, barely managing the act of remaining on her feet as she stumbled on the edge of a crumbling furrow.
"Going ta kill me with this were ya?" In horror Ae'thenal did see what Sebekneru did intend. Even as the giantess bent, her great hand reaching to pluck the Banepearl from the ground, she did launch herself forward. Except that now another was beside her and hastening to prevent Sebekneru from destroying herself. Barely did it register upon Ae'thenal that it was Taileth Mistborn who was taking such a risk upon her flesh. Except they both were foiled when Helene Orcslayer did dash forward thrusting wide her well muscled arms and felled them both to the ground.
Rising with a shriek of rage Ae'thenal drove at the Norsca woman and they grappled hard while behind them well winded Taileth Mistborn struggled to find her feet. Save that a sudden loud and angry curse from Sebekneru's lips did serve to make them pause. For now the wolf woman Lu'uk was between her leader and where the Banepearl lay, and was like to a wild and feral daemon in her single minded purpose to keep Sebekneru from the wicked thing.
Now Helene Orcslayer laid a firm hand upon her arm. "That magic orb, it kills all others does it not?" the Norsca woman asked of her, her eyes like flints as she bared her strong white teeth.
"It does," Ae'thenal gave in reply as now she cast off the Norsca woman's hand. In anger she went now to pluck the Banepearl from where it lay, Helene Orcslayer closely dogging her every step. Cold eyed she thrust out the chill and wicked object she did now hold in her hand towards the blonde haired woman, causing her to spring back in alarm her fear openly displayed upon her face. "If you will not have this truth from me Helene Orcslayer, then ask the daughter of wolves to bear witness, for she has seen its deadly work."
"Lu'uk is mute. Though I'd say she's already backed your word." Turning her head Ae'thenal cast her eyes towards where Sebekneru stood watching her, the wolf woman now squatting motionless at her feet as if she had not been the one who had rained blows upon the black giantess but a moment ago to keep her from a sudden and most horrible death. "Though it seems ta me that all too many know about that magic orb and what it kin do."
A sizeable finger jabbed towards where Taileth Mistborn had now managed to rise from the furrowed earth, her hooded cloak now well streaked with mud. "That skinny witch says that it's calling out to Orcs and Undead to come and take it from ya; - what do ya say to that Ae'thenal of Avelorn?"
With a soft sigh Ae'thenal replied, "I do not dispute that truth; - if nothing else this object I do hold does have no loyalty to those who serve it." Though now she turned her head to look in Taileth Mistborn's direction with a narrowed gaze and saw not one trace of shame upon the Wood Elven enchantress's face.
"Do not seek to judge me Ae'thenal of Avelorn," Taileth did say to her. "For it was you who did come here with a willingness to deceive within your heart."
Now angered Ae'thenal held out the Banepearl as if offering it to the enchantress. "Take this up in your hand Taileth Mistborn; and keep it for as long as I and my dear Si'anelle have had its keeping, then return to me and pronounce me false."
And all Taileth did say in reply was, "Foolish child," which drove in like a wound to her heart before she turned upon her heel and walked away from her.
Now alone among Sebekneru and her Norsca women Ae'thenal faced the giantess who had drawn nearer to her while her eyes had been upon the Wood Elf enchantress. The wolf woman Lu'uk and Helene Orcslayer were now close enough to where she stood that if they put out a hand they could lay it upon her shoulder. And all the rest of Sebekneru's shieldmaidens were standing at their leader's back with their weapons in their hands.
"So tell me straight," Sebekneru asked her. "Are you an enemy of mine?"
"Before Isha I am not," she replied before she was forced to hiss with pain as the Banepearl took fire in her hand. And while she was still gasping for breath Sebekneru put out a hand to lift her chin, her green eyes behind the eyeslits of her helm weighing her for a liar or not.
"Swear again on your goddess Elf," she demanded of her.
"Before Isha I am not your.... enemy." And this time she did near scream as agony did search her flesh.
"Do it again."
And again she suffered agony as she swore on Isha's name, her sweat running freely from the pores of her skin as she trembled near to fainting. Four more times this test was demanded of her before she near lost all reason and fell to her knees upon the furrowed earth.
The hand that did help her to rise in the aftermath was that of the wolf woman Lu'uk. And as the feral woman in her shaggy wolfskin placed her bare arm tenderly about her to assist her to remain on her feet, her other hand made a sharp gesture towards the giantess. Enough.
"Yeah, I reckon she's telling the truth as well Lu'uk," was Sebekneru's quiet response. With a sharp sniff the giantess cast her eyes towards where the Goblin had been left lying in the furrows, saw that the greenskinned creature was making a try at running for it and sent her warrior women howling after it with a wave of her hand. That business done with she said to Helene Orcslayer, "Give Ae'thenal a bite to eat and a drink of water. Let her rest for a bit; then we'll get her ta wave that magic orb of hers under that Gobbo's nose and see what song he sings."
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