The Eldars

53

"What do you mean the Eldar aren't ready for mobilization?" Montani's voice goes deadly quiet.

"I'm sorry, that's the report that was given to me by my people and it was unfortunately confirmed by my mother." Teondae reports to Montani. He has wisely chosen to report that last bit after the rest of the report was given.

Teondae is ready to duck if Montani loses control of her barely held in anger. It seems that all those that know her are preparing to do the same, from the humans to the elves and finally to Mant. He also notices that Mant is the most nervous of them all.

Montani turns her attention to the poor dwarven representative. "I don't have time for this shit. Jewel go back home, I'll have the eagles take you. Tell your father and all those asses if they can't decide in three days then they will no longer have any voice in the council. They should also prepare for the end of the dwarven people."

Montani stops speaking and appears to be counting or doing some other manner of anger control. Mant doesn't think that it's helping all that much though.

When she finally feels able to keep her feelings under control she snaps, "This council is adjourned. I want the humans to be moved to this village. All humans, elves and vacars that aren't doing anything else will be required to help make homes or places of living for those that will be coming. Kallen, I'll leave you in charge of that. Shit is about to happen and we don't have near enough time to fully prepare.

"I too have heard of those explosive measures, Jax, and if you and others can figure out a way to make them, do so. Everything we can do to help us will need to be done." With that she narrows her eyes and her hand reaches for her cup on the table. People tense as she brings it to her lips to drink from it.

"Mant are you coming with me?" Montani demands as she carefully sets down the cup once more.

"Yes, love." Mant decides to keep it simple anything else might take her over the edge.

"I would like to come as well?" Teondae doesn't demand. He'd already given the strategic ideas from his people and is pleased that they will be implemented.

"If you would. It seems that my body refuses to overcome this damn bite." Montani says cursing the spider bite even more thoroughly in her head. She has given up on the idea of actually raising her children, now she just wants to makes sure that they will have a chance to live.

Montani turns her angry glare to the elves. "I am not blind to how slowly the elves are moving. Remind them that the protection of the Vacar is dependent on their willingness to follow the defense the vacar themselves are setting up. So far they aren't holding their end of the deal up. I've tried to be patient but so help me if they don't start holding their own I'll ass whip each and every one if I have to."

The elves each swallow hard and flinch under her gaze and hard words. Not a single one doubts that she could. They wouldn't have doubted her even when she was just Katiri.

"This council is dismissed until people get their heads out of their asses and I'm including all the races in that." Montani says and practically shoves her chair over as she stands. She storms off to her room to start packing her travel bag.

It doesn't take long for Mant to follow her and only once they are both gone are the others able to let out their breaths. "What the hell just happened here?" Jewel asks perplexed and no little frightened.

"That was Montani angry. I've never seen her so angry and the humans from her village had angered her more than once growing up." Leear says thoughtfully with a rueful look at the humans standing there.

The humans are white faced and trying desperately to not tremble visibly to the other members of the council.

"The only one not scared was Mant, besides myself?" Jewel says thoughtfully.

"Just why would all of you, even the proud sky people fear her so much?"

Leear answers for the others. There was no way the humans would be able to. "Katiri has incredible self control and rarely loses it. She's more likely to be hurt than angry, but when she gets angry stay out of her way. I have never seen her so angry as she was just now. I feel sorry for the fool that is keeping the Eldars from being ready for the journey to Arbolan and the human lands."

Actually he feels more than a little sick to his stomach at the thought of what Montani is likely to do.

Teondae leans his head to the side in thought. "What is she likely to do? There was one council member there that she threatened not once, but twice about holding up preparations. She left him white and terrified."

"She gave someone warning already and he went against her?" The elven king and queen and their son and grandson stare at him in fascination.

"Yeah, she said that he would be putting her children not just the Eldar in jeopardy." Jewel continues thoughtfully.

"Oh, if she feels like that they'll be holding a funeral for him if there is enough of him left to honor like that." Leear says absently, "I'd like to see that, but since the elves aren't up to what they are supposed to be I don't dare even try. If things aren't how she wants them by the time she returns she'll do the same to us."

Teondae leaves the council hall with eyes open a bit wider. He believes them, as he thinks about how Montani is going against the evil ones he shudders to think how she'll be against someone that puts her children in danger. He truly feels sorry for that idiot that didn't listen to Montani when he had a chance. But he doesn't understand why Mauntie hasn't told them of the hold up.

He's not the only one that wonders that either. Mant is trying desperately to both calm down Montani and contact his father. He isn't having much luck with either.

Montani finally tells him that there is something more going on than they can deal with here and that he needs to get ready if he's going to go with her.

Mant grabs his travel pack and rushes to fill it. He's ready a short time later.

Montani has him call for the Eagles and they go wait in the courtyard for them to come.

Teondae joins them a short time later. He just watches Montani carefully, but he doesn't say a thing.

Mant thinks he's smart for doing it that way.