The Obsidian Empire

Chapter 9: Ringing Bells

Dumaine leads Llwell upstairs and before he entered one of the rooms, he hastily explained that he had acquired four separate rooms for each of them. Seeing how the mage is in what seems to be a 'no bullshit' mood, Rosanhi and Sillavanna left the two men alone and went to their own respective rooms for the night.

But before Rosanhi left, Llwell caught her giving him a look that screamed 'good luck.' Depending on what Dumaine has to say, he might need it.

Llwell steps into the room, looking around for a moment but not getting a chance to really take in the details of the space before the door shuts behind him and Dumaine instantly begins speaking.

"Mind explaining what all that was about?" the mage snaps and crosses his arms, standing directly in front of the door and staring at the elf with anger and frustration burning through his glare.

Llwell tilts his head curiously. "What all what was about?"

Dumaine growls and takes a step into the room without breaking his glare. "Now is not the time to be coy with me, Llwell," he states. "That was reckless. You assured me before we left that you would be careful, and yet the first thing you do once we get here is cause a scene in the middle of an inn?" he shakes his head bitterly. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I was trying to help those elves down there," Llwell snaps back. "They were scared of the humans they were serving. I figured it would bring them some comfort to see a bigot stepped down a peg by one of their kind. It got them smiling and no harm was done. I don't see what the issue is."

Dumaine lowers his arms with a sigh. "That's the problem. You don't see. Yes, you made the elves smile. Yes, you got under that man's skin. But to what end? What if those elves now think it's okay for them to do what you did? To stand up to the people who wouldn't hesitate to reprimand them because they don't have a magic hand or the throne of the Restoration?" he huffs. "You put yourself and those elves in a lot of danger."

Llwell scoffs and holds his arms out at his sides. "You said it yourself that I would be at fault for fighting back, even if it's in self-defense. I didn't hurt that man, so what danger am I in?"

The mage grits his teeth and takes another step towards him. "You are so infuriating," he grumbles. "Don't you see that this stubbornness is going to get you killed? I'm trying to protect you, but for some reason you feel like throwing safety aside just to give a handful of elves false hope."

"Spoken like a true Tessian," Llwell snaps and spitefully looks away with his arms crossed and he just keeps his gaze directed at the floor. "What next, are you going to start ordering me around? Call me 'knife-ear' as you have me flogged in the town square?"

"Kalarivus mirathal, I'm trying to help you!" Dumaine curses and storms over to him to grab his shoulder which gets him to look at him again, but the elf keeps his spiteful glare that says that he isn't fully listening. "Llwell, I'm not trying to 'control you.' I would never 'control you.' Remember, you're the leader of the Restoration. I answer to you. However, as one of your advisors, I advise that you stop acting recklessly in a kingdom of people who would love nothing more than to see you dead, as that will only end with them getting what they want. Which is you hanging from one of those stages alongside all of the elves who you 'inspired.'"

Llwell pulls his arm free from the mage's grip and steps back, not breaking his gaze from his heated glare. "Farenllevas," he says.

Dumaine scoffs. "Oh for f... Really?"

"Tell me what it means."

The mage grits his teeth and takes a tiny step back. "'Friend of the elves.' Now will you just listen to me for once? I'm trying to talk to you."