Yuragwyn: Ours

---Chapter 11

₰Traugott₰        

                I am beginning to believe the tales of brains rotting from lack of stimulation.  There is a loneliness past that of total solitude, and Calanthe and I have been buried in it for two, three weeks. 

                Cyneric, even, has grown bored of relishing in our capture and no longer delivers our daily meals and clothing himself.  We have heard nothing from Briallen since the day we discovered her treachery. 

∞Kaitra∞

                Hiltraud and I are in the village commons the next afternoon to hear the elves’ answer.  Most all Yuragwynians are a bit reserved, but these people rarely utter words.  Their solemn gazes cause my insides to scramble. 

                An elf bearing a similar circlet to my own stands and addresses us on behalf of the gathered.  “Lady Kaitra, Sir Hiltraud, we have been intrigued by your somewhat bold request.  We know you have traveled long and far from the capital to visit us here.  For us to go aid you, though, would require us to make the same journey, wasting time, energy, and precious resources.  Here we are men and women of peace, not of war.  We are not trained in the art of swordmanship or the way of the bow.  We would be of little use to you across the mountains and no use to our families and crops here.  We must decline your entreaty.”

                A murmur of agreement ripples through the crowd.  We have been refused.  What will we do now?

                “I accept your reasoning, good people.” Hiltraud answers graciously.  “I ask only now for your well-wishes as we go forth.  Lady Kaitra and I will be on our way in the morning.”

                The silence that follows does little to calm my racing heart.  Even this simple appeal has been lost on them.  Do they even like us?

                “Lady Kaitra, as our gift to you, we ask you to keep the circlet, as a token of your visit, and to remember those over the mountains as you make decisions affecting us all,” the man answers, avoiding Hiltraud’s plea entirely.

                I nod numbly, and Hiltraud and I return to the house to prepare for departure.

₰Traugott₰

                We were not ready when the silence finally broke.

                I had noticed that the servant was late in bringing our meals.  Sunlight poured through the skylight in the ceiling, our only connection to the outside world.  Where was he?

                A volley of fists at the door brings me to my feet.  The wood cracks and strains under the pressure.  Have they lost the key?  My heart does a turn when a long blade punctures the barrier.  Calanthe screams and runs towards me. 

                The splinters shower down and a flood of soldiers in forest green rush in and surround us.  Lord Cadfael grabs both Calanthe and me in a huge bear hug and pushes us to the side as arrows fly against the stone behind our heads. 

                A sword hilt is thrust into my palm, and I join our Yuragwynian rescuers in the fight back out of Shajen. 

                Calanthe trails us, sword in hand, cowering at every side passage and doorway, wondering if an enemy lies in wait for her in the darkness.  One such man springs out of a hall between her and me, sword raised.  Calanthe lets out not a peep and finishes him off with quiet definitiveness.