The White Shadow Saga: The Stolen Moon of Londor (7 page)

"Oh, please don't speak so," Lorn was quick
to reply. "My nerves are already on edge from this place. I cannot
wait to leave."

"We shall be gone tomorrow afternoon." Seth
yawned as he thought back on recent events. "We must also hasten
our steeds if we wish to avoid the weather."

"Yes," the dwarf agreed. "Let us try to slip
past those storms."

"My plan exactly."

They took the stairs smoothly. Up they went,
their eyes shifting from torch to torch on the left-hand side of
the wall, until finally they reached the fifth floor. Their feet
moved from the stone steps to a carpet of deep red. A long, paneled
hallway stretched before them with many doors on both sides. The
walls were decorated with murals of elvish feasts, celebrations,
and valorous deeds. The hall was lit brightly with many torches.
Three waist-high tables stood against the walls, each with a silver
vase sitting atop its polished surface. At the end of the hallway,
one elf-knight stood rigidly at guard. Seth said to Lorn, "Shall
we?"

"By all means. My body desires a bed and
sleep."

The elf took notice of his visitors. "So you
are the two making such distress."

"You are correct," Seth replied.

"I am relieved you are not a threat."

Seth looked around to see if any doors were
marked with a clue that might point him to the right lodgings.
Seeing no defining marks, he turned to the elf. "We were sent this
way by Sir Uthrik."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I am Council-sent."

"Good news comes with you, I hope."

"Perhaps," Seth answered as he and Lorn
continued toward the elf. The elf marveled at Seth's badge; then
his face dropped as he took a closer look at Lorn. The elf sneered
and opened the door to his right. Seth and Lorn entered and were
surprised to be followed by the elf-knight. The room was large,
with one bed in the near corner. A fireplace with an inviting flame
roared at the back of the room. The white walls were paneled like
the hallway, and carved molding crowned their tops. A table with
six chairs stood near the fireplace, yet there was no food.

"We hope you find this pleasing," the elf
spoke.

"Yes," Seth replied. "It is magnificent. I
can see that Dunane possesses great artisans."

"Thank you, sir. I shall inform my superiors
of your compliment."

"Please do," said Seth as he sat down on the
soft bed. "Good night to you, my good elf."

The elf bowed and smiled. Before he exited,
he gave Lorn one last sour look. "The dwarf's room is across the
hall." He stepped out of the room and closed the door.

Lorn took advantage of the lack of elvish
eyes on his person and moved to the table. He ran his fingers along
the finely polished wood and beamed. "Such detail and care went
into this piece of work," he murmured. He inspected the high-backed
chairs. "I will have to remember these designs for my own
work."

"Please be careful over there," Seth warned
as he unfastened his shoulder armor, placed it on the bed, then
removed his cloak. Rising slightly to remove the cloak from beneath
him, he discarded the drenched garment to the foot of the bed. Seth
shifted his sheathed sword as he lay down, burying his head in the
pillows. His eyes fluttered as sleep took him.

Lorn took off his cloak as well and threw it
over the back of the chair nearest the fire. He warmed himself with
the flames as he looked the room over again. "I do wish we had some
food, though. My stomach hates me at the moment." He approached the
bed and saw Seth well on his way to sleep. "If you'll give me your
sword, I'll put it in a safe place."

"No," Seth answered softly.

Lorn took Seth's cloak, folded it, and took
up his armor. Sitting on the bed, he found immediate comfort, and
hoped his lodgings would be just as nice. Perhaps the elves would
not deny him a peaceful rest. Lorn rose to his feet and returned to
the fireplace, taking Seth's belongings and placing them on the
chair next to his cloak. He smiled at the sleeping knight and at
last opened the door, entered into the hallway, and closed the door
behind him.

Chapter Three: A New Journey 

The sun rose swiftly over the world, and all
devices of evil fled the Valley of Dunane. The elves broke free of
their fears and began to carry out their daily routines. Not one
cloud marred the blue sky, and the temperature was pleasant for the
new day.

Inside the palace, Seth still slept in his
warm bed. His room was filled with soft rays of sunlight, and
sounds of chirping birds entered through the window. No more horrid
noises of clashing thunder or rain troubled his ears. He finally
opened his heavy eyelids and fought the urge to return to slumber.
His first thought was of the letter. Seth slipped his feet to the
floor. The fire still burned in the fireplace, and he noticed two
cloaks on the chairs as he rubbed his eyes.

"I don't even remember taking my cloak
off," he chuckled. "Good old Lorn, looking after my things." As he
stood up, his muscles felt stiff, and he stretched to shake the
pain from his body. Though the rest had been short, he did feel
much of his strength returning, but he was famished. He dusted off
his three-quarter-length jacket of forest green and the pants of
matching color. He walked over to the fireplace and grabbed his
shoulder armor from the chair and, without a thought, placed it on
his right shoulder, ran the strap across his chest and stomach,
brought it behind his back, and fastened it behind him. With cloaks
in hand, he started toward the door, thinking,
I wonder where Lorn's got to.

He had not to go three steps to find the
dwarf. There in the hallway he sat, on a small stool with his back
to Seth. Seth crept nearer and saw his friend working feverishly on
a drawing. Seth smiled and admired it. Lorn was nearly finished
with copying a vase that sat on a table. Short, quick motions of
charcoal stroking the brown paper rasped faintly in Seth's ears. He
could not see the dwarf's intent expression, but he knew it well
from previous encounters.

"How long did that take you?" Seth asked.
Lorn jumped a little in his seat and looked over his shoulder with
eyebrows lowered. "I pray I did not ruin your work."

"Not too badly, no," Lorn answered. "It is
nothing I cannot fix." He returned to his drawing and smiled,
keeping Seth wondering whether he had gotten on his friend's bad
side.

"I must apologize."

"No worries, my friend." He quickly disguised
the stray mark and held up the paper for Highbinder's inspection.
"Can you see the error of your ways?"

Seth studied it carefully and answered, "Not
at all."

"You see?" Lorn laughed. "I am that
good."

Seth laughed with him. "Yes, you are. Why do
you think I have so many examples of your work in my home?"

"That is because I tricked you into buying
them."

"No," replied Seth. "Your creations are
sublime." Changing the topic, he said, "I think we may be behind
schedule. It is time to see Dunane's king."

"What is his name?" Lorn asked curiously.

"Zelok," Seth said. "King Zelok."

"An odd name, to be sure," Lorn mused.

"I wouldn't repeat that again within these
walls."

"You may rely on that."

"Come," Seth said as he handed Lorn his cloak
and started down the hall. Lorn quickly rolled up his drawing and
placed it in his waist pouch, then put on his cloak, feeling just a
bit peaked from the cold weather. Seth secured his own cloak
underneath his armor, threw it around his free shoulder, and hooked
it to the silver badge; he definitely wanted to keep the badge of
the Great Tree visible at all times.

The journey downstairs seemed shorter than on
the night before. They returned to the main chamber of the palace,
where the two visitors could see in the light of day the sumptuous
details of the elven artisans' craft. Great tapestries hung on
every wall, and tall statues of past kings and heroes were erected
in each corner. A small group of elves, adorned in cloaks of gold,
strolled past, talking softly to one another, their eyes turned to
Seth and Lorn. Seth had no clue how to find his contact. Seeing a
staircase with a single door at the far end of the chamber, Seth
thought that perhaps this could be the throne room. He turned his
strides, and Lorn immediately followed suit.

But as they came mere steps away from the
stairs, both were stopped by Captain Fenrahn and Sir Uthrik. "Good
morning, gentlemen," Fenrahn greeted them.

"Good day to you," Seth replied. "My letter
is due for delivery."

Fenrahn nodded. "Uthrik informed me of this
not long ago. You must forgive me, for it was I who commanded the
sounding of the alarm last night. My name is Fenrahn."

"You gave us quite a scare, Fenrahn," Seth
admitted. "I do understand, though, that you were only doing your
duty, just as I am."

"Indeed." Fenrahn bowed politely and said, "I
am Captain of the Order."

"Then it is an honor to meet you." Seth
extended a hand in friendship. Fenrahn returned the gesture, and
both shook hands with no animosity. "I am--"

"Sir Seth Highbinder," Fenrahn finished. "I
already know. Then there is Lorn, the dwarf, of Beowulken--a
surprise to be sure."

"Greetings," Lorn said cordially.

"And to you," Fenrahn added mildly. Turning
back to Seth, Fenrahn asked, "Tell me, Sir Knight, why did you two
not stop at the southern gate last night?"

"We were not for certain how you would take
visitors at night," Seth replied. "This heightened state of
emergency has changed much, and I feared we would not be received
as allies. I saw no one as we entered the gate and my rattled logic
could only think of reaching the palace. I am sorry that I caused
such distress for your elves."

"Think nothing more of it," Fenrahn said with
slight laughter. "I could not have arranged for a better training
exercise for my knights. Besides, no harm came about."

"Very true," Seth said.

Uthrik came to a rigid posture and asked,
"Shall I escort them to King Zelok?"

"At once." Fenrahn strode away wearily,
heading for his bed, no doubt, after a long night on watch. "Inform
me of their business later in the day."

"I shall, Captain."

"I will be in my quarters."

"Let us move on, sirs," Uthrik said as he led
them away from the stairs. In the far corner of the chamber was a
hallway barely noticeable to the eye. No light graced the area, as
if secrecy was the most important consideration here. Uthrik ducked
quickly into the corridor and left the two travelers unaccompanied
once more. Seth led the dwarf into the darkness. Two torches at the
end of the way beckoned them ahead. Between the flames was a simple
door of blue wood, where Uthrik stood, impatiently awaiting his
guests.

"Does this lead to your king?" Seth asked.
Receiving no answer, he said, "I haven't the time to be delayed
much more, Sir Uthrik."

"Lower your voice at once," the elf said
sharply. Seth and Lorn stood before the door as Uthrik stared ahead
into the darkened surroundings. Seth placed a hand on the doorknob
and looked at the elf-knight one last time. They exchanged glances,
and Seth gently opened the door. "Good luck," Uthrik whispered as
he left the hallway.

Seth grew nervous as just enough of the door
was opened to allow him passage. His heart pounded in his chest,
and his breathing grew more rapid. There were times on this mission
when he wondered where he found the strength to carry on. He
preferred having everything planned to the last detail and this
mission in particular left far too much up to the vagaries of
chance and human nature.

He shuffled his boots as he stepped into the
well-lit room, but despite this, his and Lorn's entrance went
unnoticed by the three people sitting at the far end of a banquet
table occupying the small chamber. The table was bare save for
three silver goblets and a bowl of fruit. Seth gulped as he looked
at the two elves and a human locked in deep conversation. As Lorn
cleared the threshold, he softly closed the door. "More elves," the
dwarf muttered softly.

Seth affected a stern stance and marched
ahead, leaving Lorn, who hadn't the courage to approach, at the
door. Assessing the elves' status by their clothing, Seth studied
the one sitting to the far left, who wore an elaborate robe of pure
white. The robed elf's skin was fair, and his hair short and
silvery. Though the room was well crafted with cut stone, marble
flooring, and red curtains, it was not a throne room but merely one
of many meeting chambers. The elf turned his eyes to Seth, who
stopped his forward progress.

"Welcome," the elf said smoothly. His voice
was at once light and regal. "Please approach, my friend, and sit
beside me."

"Are you His Majesty, King Zelok?"

"Indeed I am," he replied. And pushing back
his sleeves, Zelok stretched out a hand, gesturing for Seth to
sit.

"I shall stand if it serves you well, Your
Majesty."

"As you wish, young sir."

"I have come this day bearing a letter from
Mudalfaen." Reaching into his pouch, Seth extracted the envelope
and handed the letter over. The elf-king inspected the Council's
gift, found the seals intact, and ripped it open. He unfolded the
paper and glanced carefully over the writing. Seth watched as the
elf sitting next to Zelok leaned in and spied the letter not meant
for him, though Zelok seemed neither to see nor feel the second set
of eyes on the parchment.

"Interesting, indeed," Zelok said as he
discarded the letter facedown on the table. None were now able to
read it.

"If I may be so bold, can Your Majesty tell
me anything of what the letter conveys?" Seth inquired. This was
the opportunity to have his questions answered, perhaps ending the
mystery of his secret mission.