Consequences of Power

Realisations and Sacrifices

Once alone in her large, echoing chamber, Lady Elaine threw back her head and laughed. Into the laugh she poured every good feeling Colla's plan gave her; joy, excitement, and above all, a new reason to hate the mountain dwellers she had once loved. She was in two minds as to whether or not she should contact Lady Lacussa, or as she had once been called (and still preferred to be called by Lady Elaine), Lilith. If Elaine did speak to Lilith, she thought she wouldn't really know what to say for she was sure that Lilith wouldn't be as happy about Colla's plan as she herself was. Indeed Lady Lacussa was more likely to be in two minds already as to who's side she would fight for in the end - the Guardians whom she had just joined, or the mountain dwellers whom she had lived with and loved for all her mortal life.

With this thought hanging over her, Lady Elaine was in no doubt as to who would betray Colla if it came down to that, for Lilith had no love for Colla and was beginning to lose her love for Elaine as well.

***

Lady Elaine's thoughts were being almost exactly mirrored by Silvus as he jogged with an easy grace through the forest in search of a Ratatosk to sacrifice. They were beautiful creatures with bushy tails and a coat of red gold fur and they were also the best sacrifice to the Guardians of old for they did not need to be killed to be of great value.

Silvus had always watched these small creatures as they raced up and down the stems of the Arienne, their coats camouflaging well with the blossoms of pink and purple, speaking to the lowest of forest life, hiding just below the surface, and the highest, soaring above the canopy of green and brown that blocked most of the natural light from the forest floor.

Ratatosk were untrustworthy and Silvus knew that that was why it was enough of a sacrifice to capture one rather than kill it, as many lesser Guardians would have been unable to perform this task.

Silvus attempted to empty his mind of doubts as he carefully loaded his bow with a blunt, gold headed arrow that would make the Ratatosk fall into a deep sleep that could only be broken after a year and a day. After this time had passed, its value as a sacrifice would be complete and it could live the remainder of its life under the protection of the past Guardians.

As his fingers, which were tightly clasped at the string of his bow, brushed his cheek Silvus smiled. This was what he was supposed to do, not leave his forest or take over this world. His forest was silent which allowed him to hear more clearly than ever the lack of noise when the Ratatosk hit the forest floor, asleep. The Guardians would be very happy with his sacrifice.