The Eldars

28

The day starts early, Montani and Mant had only gotten about four hours of sleep when the alarm goes up. Montani sits up and starts getting dressed. Mant looks at her in confusion, "What are you doing Montani?"

Montani looks at him with a slight smirk. "You hear the alarm going up? Teondae is here and has started his little game he has planned for the elves. I fully intend to play and win this game. Do you wish to come and play too?"

Mant rolls his eyes. The kind of games Montani likes to play are the ones that others are sure to lose. But she's not acting as sure as she normally does and this intrigues him even further. "I'll bite, but I want to be on your team. It wouldn't do to have you both show up the Eldar now would it?"

Montani smirks as she waits for Mant impatiently. She knows that she is better at this type of game than Mant is, than any Eldar, but she does want him on her team. Mant is sharp eyed and if there is anyone that can catch something she misses it will be Mant.

The two slip out of the palace guest room and palace itself unnoticed in the all the chaos. "Nice of Teondae to make it easy for us to come and play," Mant says sarcastically.

"Isn't it?" Montani says completely serious. Her eyes are glowing with pleasure that Mant has rarely seen. Whatever the outcome, Mant, decides that the game is worth it for that alone.

For hours the two play cat and mouse with the vacar and the entire elven nation that resides in Arbolan. Finally Montani catches the vacar unaware and brings him into the clearing ending the game.

Teondae, smirking waits patiently for the elves to show up and refuses to say anything to any of them until the royals show up.

Leear wasn't happy about the little game they played.

Before the angry elven prince can say anything, Montani holds her hand up for silence. "Let him explain, Leear, he has his reasons and they are diplomatic ones at that."

Leear turns his angry gaze on the human before him, "Oh? You knew what he was going to do and the reasons for them did you?"

Montani stands there, more than a little bored with the wait and just raises one eyebrow, "Leear, now is not the time for a pissing contest. I am stronger than you and just proved that I best any of the elves here. Teondae wouldn't have abused his hospitality for just any reason, he's here so that he can bring his people back, he's not going to chance ruining that."

Leear isn't entirely convinced but Montani has reason on her side. Teondae wouldn't jeopardize his people returning, he'd seen how much being home meant to the vacar. Just then his parents walk up and the murmuring of the elves dies down.

"Well, Montani, it seems that the Eldar have named you true. You are powerful, you and your prince there." Montani and Mant bow to the elven monarch's before they turn their attention to the Vacar restrained by Montani's magic before them.

"You came before us yesterday as an emissary for your people, then today you sneak onto our lands avoiding our sentries like it is no more than a game to you. Yet you say that you wish for us to trust you. After this stunt you pulled how are we to trust the Vacar?" The elven queen, rather then the furious king speaks to Teondae.

"Montani, if you would?" Teondae asks for her to remove the restraints and she does. "I wasn't doing this game to make you angry or cause even more distrust. Yesterday, you and your esteemed husband doubted the need or usefulness of my people. Perhaps my little show is actually going to hurt us in gaining your support and acceptance, but it was the only way to show that we are of use and value in the upcoming fights. We will be dealing primarily with the humans, but we also wish to help the elves. Showing that we can elude the best trained elves was just my way of showing that the vacar can help protect our borders even as we elude those that are already protecting them."

Leear smiles, "Yet it's a human that managed to capture you and bring you forth."

Teondae smiles at the elven prince, "I think we all here can appreciate that Montani isn't a normal human and far surpasses anything that they might be able to do. Especially since she just showed up every elf here including yourself Prince."

Leear growls quietly at the reminder that Montani had shown them all up. Her previous skills had become so much sharper and better than even he had thought possible. The vacar had moved as silently and with as little sign as a shadow of the night moves.

"The humans," Montani starts when her voice is interrupted by an elven sentry calling to her.

"Montani, there is a messenger waiting for you and Mant at the southern border of our lands."

Montani thanks the messenger before turning her attention to those before her. "The humans have given their answer. I suggest Teondae comes with Mant and myself. The eldar have left the negotiations between us with me. When I get back we'll talk." The elven monarchs accept Montani and Mant's bows as they turn and head towards the border of the elven lands.

Montani talks to the innkeeper that has brought her the reply, "This village accepts, but there is rioting in some of the other villages. The southern most refuse outright. Well that's to be expected." Montani says thinking out loud, the southern most cities are the ones that have been burning those with abilities like hers.

"How is it possible for this message to be taken and answered so quickly?" She demands of Kallen.

Kallen looks down unable to look at Montani, "You aren't the only one with abilities I have helped or hidden over the years. You are however, the strongest and the best hope we have against the evil rising against us." His answer and non answer irritate Montani who just keeps staring at him until he finally admits the truth. "I have abilities of my own and with others in other villages and cities have created a network. If it should become known many of us would be killed..."

Montani holds up her hand, she just wanted to know the method, she doesn't need to know the particulars. Actually it pleases her greatly that they have a network in place, it makes things much easier. It would be even more easier if they had mind talk like the Eldar do. She just wished that she could do that easily herself. That was one of the few things that is difficult for her to do, she can do it, it's just very difficult and draining. Thank goodness Mant is at her side and can do it for her.

Montani smiles and Mant groans. She has something up her sleeve and he's not sure anyone is going to like it. Even if it is in their own best interest.