The Easel Chronicles; The Burning Hands

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty-One

The Ebrithian Lands

Aravoen sat staring into space as he watched the gentle slopes that formed the beginning of the Cardamon hills. He had been talking to Leonora. The elf princess worried Aravoen. Every time that they spoke, she seemed worse off. Whatever she was holding back from the rest of the world seemed to be destroying her in the process. You need to tell someone Leonora.

Thinking it was one thing, but hoping she was still watching him was another. From the lack of a slight pressure, he knew that she was not watching him at all. She must have decided to finish her bath.

Slowly, he turned his eyes back to his companions. Mindacil and the lady sat together opposite him arguing about some senseless beliefs and did not bother to take notice of Aravoen's prolonged silence.

He looked at the lady closely examining her. Indeed she was Patmarin's sister. The resemblance was as plain as daylight but so were the differences. Whereas Pat was calm and calculating this one seemed violent and blunt. She did not sieve her words.

Her sparkling grey eyes shone like hot coals from a stove whenever she spoke out against Mindacil now. Her silky blonde hair run down her back in a single braid as she shook her head in frustration to his calm denial of her accusations. Her high cheek bones and slender neck were drenched in a light red glow as she argued with the elf. Aravoen looked at the foot of the Cardamon hills again.

This time he did not allow his fear to engulf as it had done a short moment back. He took Leonora's words to heart. Don't let your fear consume you. Beyond the hills lay an answer to his problems in Ebrithia or a trap set for him by Patmarin. Forgetting his ear of the hill he turned to the two feuding people with him. He paid attention to them.

"So you claim that you and your people are the true inhabitants of Elasia," Mindacil laughed.

"Your words not mine elf." The woman's voice was harsh and whip like when she retorted to the elf.

"But you do insist that these Neerans were the first people to settle here in Elasia." Mindacil leaned forward.

If he is not careful, Aravoen thought as he watched them argue like a pair of spoilt children. She is not above hitting an elf. Aravoen chuckled as the lady held back her hand as Mindacil insulted her race.

"What are you laughing at?" she turned on him.

"Oh," Aravoen said calmly, "I dint believe I was part of your bickering Liana."

"That means you agree with this self absorbed pompous nitwit, Mindacil."

"Language my lady," Mindacil cowed on, "surely lady Patmarin would be shamed by both your language and behavior."

"My sister has nothing to do with this elf," Liana snarled, "I am so sure she'd be on my side on this one."

The argument began anew much to Aravoen's relief. Mindacil liked a good word fight and Liana provided one in the absence of Slithbron. How Aravoen wished the little dwarf had some measure of success in his quest.

Aravoen left Liana and Mindacil breathing down each other's throats, none willing to give in, and walked a small distance away from the camp. Elben shifted his head as Aravoen passed the three horses. The horse neighed softly, but a slight shake of the head by Aravoen assured it, he was going nowhere far off.

Aravoen walked kicking the brush with the tip of his boots as he thought of the task at hand. He knew that they did not have enough time, but every possibility had to be explored if Sarzgat was to be destroyed once and for all.