Haern kept his eyes on his meal, and Aurelia leaned closer toward him, hoping he might find the words.
“I should have killed him,” Harruq blurted.
Haern glanced up. “That’s stating the obvious.”
“Shush, Harruq,” Aurelia said. “You never could have known. He was your brother. Murdering him wouldn’t have brought back…it wouldn’t have changed anything. Don’t blame yourself for what he’s done.”
Haern chuckled.
“You can try all you want,” he said. “But I can think of thousands who wish you’d have buried that sword in his gut. Never forget that. Sometimes mercy is dangerous.”
“So is murder,” Aurelia said.
“Enough,” Harruq said, standing. “I’m sorry. We should get back to flying. Those orcs won’t wait for us to arrive.”
He trudged off, the other two watching him go. Aurelia looked to the fire.
“You blame him for Delysia, don’t you?” she asked.
Haern stood and walked away, saying not a word.
It took several more days to reach the Green Castle, seat of power for Lord Sully. The trip there was quiet, Harruq and Haern saying little to one another. Below them the pale grass rolled, the hills softening once within the borders of the Hillock. Aurelia mentioned a worry of snow, the clouds deep and the air chill, but her concern was unfounded. Still, the weather was foreboding when they arrived at the castle.
“Not much green,” Harruq said as they flew closer. “Looks brown, if anything.”
“Because it’s winter,” Aurelia said. “Every wall is covered with vines. You should see it in summer. The flowers bloom and the vines turn many beautiful shades of green.”
The castle appeared newer in style, built of stone from the mountains to the north. It had a thin wall stretching out from either side, protecting not just the nearby village but several crops fields and deep wells. The castle itself had two layers. Its thick, rectangular base had a tower at each corner and large battlements for soldiers to walk along. The castle’s top was slender in comparison and full of windows. A smooth ramp gave passage between the layers. The entire complex sat upon a hill, and Harruq was glad he wouldn’t have to climb up it, assuming they landed nearby. Given the many archers that lined its walls, he wondered if that was a good idea, and said so.
“I’d prefer we not get shot out of the air, either,” Aurelia said. “Let’s land in the village and approach.”
“Don’t be foolish,” Haern said. “You’re an ambassador of the elves. Land where you wish. Showing unease will only make them suspicious.”
Aurelia shrugged. Made some sense, as much as it worried her. She whispered a command to Seleven in elvish, and they swooped downward. Soldiers were already scrambling when the winged horse landed before the closed gate of the castle’s lower level. Tabards hung over their armor, emblazoned with a green castle over a white field. Aurelia dismounted as a ring of soldiers raised their weapons and glanced at each other nervously.
“Greetings,” she said, bowing in the formal elvish manner, her palms upward and her heels together. “My name is Lady Aurelia Thyne of the green forests, carrying a message for Lord Sully.”
One of the soldiers coughed and looked at the others. When it was clear they weren’t budging, the soldier stepped forward and bowed clumsily.
“Greetings, Lady Thyne,” he said. “If you’ll come with me, I’ll present you to the throne.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him. Harruq and Haern hopped down, revealing their swords.
“Not them,” the highest ranking soldier said. “Your companions must remain here.”
“I’m not leaving them,” Aurelia said. “But I understand your concern. They will come unarmed.”
She shot them a look that brooked no argument.
“Don’t touch the hilts,” Harruq said as he handed a soldier his twin blades, Salvation and Condemnation. “You might get yourself a nasty shock.”
The soldier gave Harruq a funny look but made sure to hold the swords by the sheaths only. Haern surrendered his sabers, and after a glare from Aurelia, two more daggers from his pants, another from his boot, and a fourth from a hidden pocket in his cloak.
“Very well,” their guide said. “Follow me.”
A shout from him and the gates opened. Harruq slid next to Aurelia as they approached.
“You used your old name,” he whispered.
“Thyne sounds much more elvish than Tun,” she whispered back, snickering as he feigned insult.
The hallway leading to the throne was short, decorated with green banners hanging overhead. Portraits of the Sully family lined the walls, men and women of all ages. In the background of each one, lurking like a phantom in the distance, was the Green Castle. Some of the women were beautiful, the men handsome, but every now and then there’d be one with a malformed nose, ugly teeth, or a gargoyle face. This time it was Harruq’s turn to snicker at a portrait of a boy with enormous ears.
“Behave,” Aurelia warned. The soldiers escorting them pretended not to hear.
The throne was empty when they arrived in the great hall. Four long tables ran parallel to the green carpet which led to the dark oak throne. Soldiers with halberds stood at the ready along the far walls.
“My Lord, Lady Aurelia Thyne of the elvenkind!” shouted the soldier, his voice echoing in the empty hall. The three stood at the entrance, moving forward only after the lead soldier gestured. Aurelia led the way, Harruq and Haern flanking her either side. Once they were halfway there, the surrounding soldiers halted and slammed the butts of their halberds to the stone floor.
“Hail the Lord of the Green!” they shouted. The three Eschaton stopped, bewildered.
A door opened on the far right of the throne, and in stepped Lord Sully, a silver crown on his head. His face was clean-shaven, his eyes brown, his hair black with a hint of gray. He wore chainmail armor, brightly polished. A long sword swayed at his hip. When he saw Aurelia he smiled.
“Lady Thyne,” he said, striding up as if they were long-lost friends. “Welcome to my home.”
He extended a foot forward and then bowed. Aurelia returned it with her smooth elven curtsey, while Harruq did his best to match Haern’s expert bow.
“A warm welcome,” Aurelia said, smiling back at him. “Though I fear the news I bring will fade your smile.”
“My smile will never fade looking upon your beauty,” Lord Sully said. “But surely you have traveled long and far. I’ve already sent servants to prepare rooms for all three of you. Might you join me for bread and wine?”
“A kind offer,” Aurelia said. “Though we will need only two rooms. To my right is Harruq Tun, my husband by marriage.”
Lord Sully’s eyes twinkled as if he were deeply amused.
“An intriguing match,” he said, turning to Harruq. “Perhaps while we break bread you might explain how you won over such a lady.”
Harruq blushed and shifted on his feet, not sure if he was being mocked or not.
“Our rooms, please,” Aurelia said, trying to bail Harruq out.
“Right away,” Lord Sully said, snapping his fingers. A trio of servants rushed in from the same door the lord had entered through. “They will take you to your rooms. Once you’ve refreshed, join me in the hall. We’ll have a feast ready for you. The days have grown dark, and it’d be good to celebrate your arrival.”
With a deep bow, he left them. The Eschaton followed the servants to their rooms. Somehow, a large tub of steaming hot water was already waiting in each. The servants handed them several towels and soaps. Harruq accepted them with a perplexed look on his face.
“We walk in, barely even introduce ourselves, and we get food, bath, and wine?” he asked. “Is this how nobility live?”
“Oftentimes, yes,” Aurelia said, untying the laces of her dress. “I went with my parents a few times to speak with the King of Mordeina. Until the ill times, our treatment was always exquisite.”
“Huh,” Harruq said, watching Aurelia undress.
“No funny ideas,” she said as she slipped naked into the water.
“Who, me?”
The water was nearly scalding, but Harruq forced himself in. Once he lay back, the water nearly up to his neck, he sighed and closed his eyes.
“Not bad,” he said.
