The Forsaken Hero

A week after Garyon’s arrival, I sat with Elise and Aerion in a carriage headed to the primary Splitbark Estate. The morning light was soft, dappling through the shaded curtains, breaking into shadow as we crossed beneath the massive canopies of the old city.

”You really didn’t have to come,” Elise said, ”It’s just a diplomatic visit, not a big official affair like our audience.”

”I know. But I didn’t want you to go alone.”

Despite her words, she gave me a grateful smile, reaching over and grabbing my hand.

”Alone? What does that make me?” Aerion asked with mock outrage.

Elise stuck her tongue out at him. ”Dead weight.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. ”Surely this proves that the elvish state is broken. No other nation in the world would dare call an eighth-level being ’dead weight.’”

”Oh, no, Selena isn’t dead weight,” Elise said.

I burst out giggling, the tension leaving my body. I’d been unbearably nervous, my tail constantly twitching, since the carriage pulled out of the Sunsinger Estate close to an hour ago. But it was hard to take things so seriously when the two people who would actually be doing all the work were so carefree.

”In all seriousness, we’re almost there. Shall we go over the proper etiquette one more time?” Aerion asked.

Elise rolled her eyes. ”Curtsey when you enter, speak politely, don’t let your aura show, generally act like a first-level politician. Got it.”

”And you?” he asked, looking at me.

”S-same,” I said, running a hand over my horn. ”Just...don’t speak at all.”

”Perfect. And not because you’re words aren’t worth listening to, but–”

”Because they wouldn’t be the right words. I know,” I said, grumbling.

The carriage slowed as we pulled off the main road. I leaned forward, parting the curtains with my hand to look up at the grove of trees that made up the Splitbark Estate. Its size dwarfed that of the Sunsinger, coming close to the massive complex of the Verdant Grove. Elegant walls topped by flowers were grown from smaller, regularly planted trees, forming a lattice structure that surrounded the courtyards.

Through the holes, I could see sprawling gardens with colorful stone paths and ornate fountains carved with statues and depictions of people and creatures from all over the world. The collection of flora was more diverse than even the Blacksand gardens, with flowers and blossoms I’d never seen, and certainly weren’t characteristic of the local flora.

We came to a shuddering halt before the gate, and Luxxa opened the door, holding out her hand. Elise stood first, letting the knight help her to the ground. Aerion gestured for me to follow, jumping out on his own afterward.

”Thanks,” I said, holding Luxxa’s hand a touch longer than was necessary, grateful for her firm grip.

She nodded and stepped back in order with the rest of our escort. Alongside the four of the Star Guard, Aerion had brought a detachment of Sunsinger guards, featuring almost a dozen soldiers, two mages, and a handful of archers.

An elderly elf with a dignified bearing dressed in a butler’s uniform met us at the gates, flanked by a pair of elvish guards whose auras made my horns itch. Even without the Oracle of Eternity, it was obvious they were strong.

”Welcome, Lord Sunsinger, Lady Lastlight. Please, allow your guard to rest. While you are visitors in our hall, you are under the protection of House Splitbark,” he said, bowing low.

Even though we’d discussed it earlier, I shot Aerion an anxious look. He nodded, which I passed on to Luxxa. She pursed her lips, but backed off, pressing her fist to her chest in a salute. Jenna gave me a little wave, already edging toward a cluster of Aerion’s guards.

The Splitbark guards moved to flank our trio as we followed the butler through the courtyards. As I’d glimpsed, the gardens were beautiful, the air heavy with the aroma of blossoms. With a better look, I recognized a flowerbed with plants exclusively from Radia.

”Are they all like that?” I asked, pointing.

Aerion stiffened, and Elise shot me a sharp look, but the Butler smiled warmly.

”A keen eye, young woman. The Splitbark’s enterprises have taken us all over the world. It’s long been the custom of our family to collect various souvenirs from the exotic places we trade with, including sampling their native flora. For that reason, we call the outer courtyards the ’World Gardens.’”

As we passed through them, the Butler continued to ramble, pointing out the flowers and statues from different kingdoms and empires. I half-listened, more interested in Elise’s reaction to his little tour. She paid him rapt attention.

”What is it?” I whispered as we drew to the main manor itself. ”Is it really that interesting?”

She gave a subtle shake of her head. ”No, not really. Aerion mentioned the Splitbarks were a house of merchants, but I didn’t realize they had so much pride as one. I thought they’d be more engaged in the ruling of the nation, but they have their own identity. It’s interesting.”

The inside of the manor was as exquisite as the outside. Small alcoves lined the main hallways, with pedestals featuring more souvenirs. Even the decor was interesting, switching from exotic tiles to carpet with foreign patterns, then to hardwood engraved with runes.

”If you’ll please wait here,” the butler said as we turned off into a small lobby. ”I’ll inform Lord Spitbark of your arrival.”

”How did you convince him to meet with us? He seemed determined to refuse us,” I said as we were left alone.

Aerion grinned. ”I’ve got friends amongst their main vassal families. As an adventurer, I was often hired to escort their goods along more...dangerous routes, and saved quite a few of them over the years. It was just a matter of calling in some favors.”

We lapsed into silence after that, but I began to squirm as it dragged on and on. A few minutes passed, and then more, until an entire hour had gone by. There hadn’t been the slightest glimpse of a servant.

”Did they forget about us?” I finally asked.

”Probably not. They’re just making us wait, hoping to get us nervous and antsy. It’s a common, if rather low, business tactic used when signing a contract with an asymmetrical party,” Aerion explained.

”They really are merchants,” Elise muttered, shaking her head. ”I’m glad you said something, or it might have worked. They could have at least offered us tea.”

Scarcely had she spoken when footsteps sounded in the hallway. We rose, facing the entrance, as the same two guards and butler reappeared. I looked expectantly at Aerion, but he just politely nodded in greeting.

”Lord Splitbark is ready,” the butler announced.

They led us through another maze of corridors, ascending the heights of the titanic tree. My stomach grew queasy as we passed window after window, the ground a little further away every time. Soon, we breached the lower canopies of the nearby trees, giving a view over the entire forest. Other manor trees rose above the old city alongside us, like lighthouses above a sea of green.

”Do we really need to go so high?” I asked, loosely gripping Elise’s sleeve.

”I think it’s beautiful,” she replied in a quiet voice. ”Now hush, we’re almost there.”

I didn’t know if it was a guess or gut instinct, but her words proved true. Another curved flight of stairs brought us into a spacious room that seemed modelled after the audience chamber of the Verdant Grove. A raised pavilion sat on one side, with an empty hemisphere before it. A delicately woven rug covered the center, with polished wood flooring beneath.

Lord Splitbark sat on a throne in the center of the pavilion, speaking with an aide. He glanced up as we entered, frowning at us. Almost ten other elves were gathered with him, but on his left was a human. The only human we’d seen since entering his estate, and the only person wearing a white inquisitor’s robe. He was relatively short, and his robe drew tight over his stomach. His blue eyes were cold, narrowing as they met my gaze.

I shied away, gripping my skirt tightly. Elise took a sharp breath before walking into the center of the room. I hesitated a moment before following, half-hiding in Aerion’s shadow.

”Lord Sunsinger,” Lord Splitbark said, leaning forward slightly. ”To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?”

”I believe that question is best directed to Lady Lastlight,” Aerion said, politely nodding to Elise.

The elf’s gaze drifted to Elise. ”Ah, I see. It seemed like just yesterday you were but a foot tall, suckling at your mother’s breast. I vividly remember speaking with your father on that visit. We secured a rather important trade deal between our countries.”

”Forgive me, but it seems I was too young to remember,” Elise said, letting regret fill her voice.

”Yes, so young and innocent...” He sighed, shaking his head in dismay. ”Would that you had stayed so naive and pure. Truly regrettable your behavior in Brithlite. You would have made a fine ruler.”