The Grey Pearl (Of Caladuin: Volume Two)

17

Two guards frogmarched Caladuin into the hall, holding him by the elbows. His wrists were bound with some kind of leather cuff that kept his forearms in the small of his back. The hall was only slightly better-lit than the rooms and corridors he had been led through from his cell. There were sconces set into the bare rock of the walls and oil lamps hung on long chains from a large iron frame near the high ceiling. Other than a few large wall hangings and a long oak table, the hall was unfurnished.

At the far end of the table, on a high-backed oak chair sat a Dark-elf. Like himself, he was broad of shoulder, and though he was sitting, Caladuin could tell that he was tall. His black glossy hair, tied at the back, fell over one shoulder.

"Sire Caladuin. I trust your stay with us has been a pleasant one so far."

"Grand surroundings," Caladuin lied. "Your halls are no match for Menegroth but you have a fine home. A strange home for an Elf of Duinath."

He grinned and Caladuin saw that all of his teeth were silver. "I live here out of necessity, not by choice. Your King Thingol lives in his great forest but hides in a cave like a fox. I never understood that. Please, sit."

The guards loosened their grip and removed his bindings. They stepped away from the table and stood against the wall behind Caladuin with their hands on their knife grips.

"I am Amlug."

"I made a fair guess of that," Caladuin said, taking the second seat at the end of the table.

"I suppose you are wondering why you are here and not at the bottom of the Bay of Balar?"

"I was wondering many things."

"Such as the fate of your – accomplice or friend?"

Caladuin stared at him. He wanted to make all kinds of threats of what he would do if Tathariel had come to any harm but he clenched his teeth.

"Ah! Here she is now," Amlug cried. "Come, Lady Tathariel of Arvernien. Come sit with us."

Caladuin turned in his chair. Two more guards were escorting Tathariel along the hall on the opposite side of the table. They roughly untied her hands and dumped her into the chair opposite Caladuin. She had been given a black woollen dress, which covered her from neck to toe. Her lip and been cut and she had a black eye. She slumped in her chair and stared at the table. Again, Caladuin clenched his teeth before turning to Amlug.

"There must be more to this place than comfortable dormitories and fine dining halls," he said.

"Oh?"

"I imagine you have chambers for storage. Great caverns full of gold and silver and – pearls?"

"Sire Caladuin, there are far greater riches in the depths of the Deep Forest than those that might adorn a lady's neck. The Grey Pearl offers more than riches. It offers power. Only I and a handful of the ones I trust most know the source of the Grey Pearl. The last shipments have arrived on the island. My fleet sails for the Havens at star-rise."

"Why?" Tathariel croaked. "Your people have made Duinath their home for hundreds of years. What harm has the Falas done –"

"It is not our home! The Dolendrim are in exile there. I have heard this history lesson before. It is becoming tedious." Amlug glowered at her for a moment but then smiled at Caladuin. "It is true, I am no singer of lays. I am but a merchant –"

"You are a thief and a murderer," Tathariel blurted out.

Amlug ignored her as if she were not in the room. "I am but a merchant, not a sailor and certainly not a ship-wright. Do you know? Many of the vessels in my fleet were built in the shipyards of Brithombar. The irony of it!"

"What do you expect to gain from this venture?" said Caladuin. "Círdan is more than ready for an attack from the sea. Even if you breach the walls of the Havens, King Thingol's army will bring swift retribution within erielin of you settling into your new home."

"I am afraid your King will have his hands full. The orcs – nasty little things – I have heard. They do not like to get their feet wet. I am no lover of the sea but they loathe it. So, I will strike from the sea on their behalf. The Havens will be crushed between hammer and anvil. Like two apples."

"And what then? After the cities lie in ruins?"

"Or eggs. Like two eggs. Eglarest and Brithombar are not my cities. But the land they stand on is. My people were the first of the Eldar to arrive at the Great Sea. We welcomed the Vanyar and the Noldor into our lands before they sailed into the West, never to return. But then Thingol and his brother came with their hosts and drove us away."

"It is well known that the Dolendrim left the Falas willingly," Tathariel said. "In search of the dark forests that they love."

"No!" Amlug screamed, slapping the table. "A lie! The greatest lie ever told! My master has promised that the lands of the Falas will be ours once more. The Dolendrim will be a hidden people no longer!"

"Tell me, Amlug," Caladuin said calmly. "Do you share your madness with your people? I am told that the Dolendrim are great in number but only a handful of your followers abide in Ethirost. And ever their numbers dwindle.

"Ah yes. You speak of Gaeruil. He was sent to test you, no more."

"To test me?"

"Both of you."

"I have been watching Lady Tathariel here since she arrived in Ethirost."

"And when you, Sire Caladuin arrived, I found that I could catch two hares with one snare."

"I hope you are about to explain –"

"The two of you are great warriors: clever, strong of arm and of will. In the new world that will be created you will be my best spies, my greatest assassins."

Caladuin stared at Amlug then turned and met Tathariel's gaze. They both blurted out a hearty laugh. Caladuin was glad to see such genuine mirth in her eyes. Amlug glanced at them both, joining in with the merriment. Tathariel slapped the table and Caladuin threw his head back, tears filling his eyes. He was starting to wonder how long they would be sat here, laughing at Amlug's joke, when a tall Dark-elf entered the hall from the shadows behind him. Amlug's laughter stopped as abruptly as it had begun. As the Dark-elf approached, Caladuin could see his face in the lamp light. He looked familiar but was sure he was not one of the Dolendrim who had been infesting the town. Just as he realised who he was, Tathariel sprang from her chair and launch herself at the newcomer. Her guards lunged after her and caught her by the arms before bringing her down and pinning her to the floor. The newcomer seemed hardly to have noticed. He passed Amlug and stood at the table two chairs along from Caladuin. He pulled and turned the chair noisily then sat facing him.

Tathariel was screeching like a mountain cat and wriggling like a pail of eels. Amlug was watching with glee, clapping his hands, turning to Caladuin as though seeking his approval.

Then he addressed the newcomer. "It seems Lady Tathariel has taken a disliking to you, Uglûdh." He leaned back in his chair and looked down at Tathariel. "Take her away."

The guards grabbed a wrist and an ankle each and wrenched her from the floor. She gave a little yelp and Caladuin half-rose before feeling the guards' hands on his shoulders and arms. He watched the guards carry Tathariel away into the shadows. He looked round at Uglûdh, who had seemingly not stopped glaring at him.

"Suddenly, I am tired of your company," Amlug muttered, almost to himself. "I misjudged you, Sire Caladuin. Do you know I could have had you killed a dozen times since you arrived in Ethirost?" He rose then pushed his chair in. "You are merely an errand boy," he said then turned and strode away into the darkness.

Caladuin turned back to Uglûdh. He grinned back at him but there was no mirth in his eyes.

"What news from Eglarest, green-blood?"