Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon -
Surprise Attack
"Okay I'll be there in a moment." Kephiyr finally said and rolled over to wake Ember. "Sorry to wake you Sunshine, someone's at the door. Get dressed and I'll see who it is."
"Okay Honeybear." Came a mumbled reply and she slowly rolled out of bed and got dressed, as Kephiyr did the same.
"Will you two lovebirds hurry up, it's rather uncomfortable out here. I may be pardoned but I get the sense these people don't care." Ollen's voice came through the door, quivering slightly in fear.
"Alright just give us a moment to get dressed." Kephiyr replied and a few moments later he went and answered the door. Ollen rushed in the moment the door was open and shut it swiftly behind him.
"What's going on, you know anyone who touches you will face legal prosecution right?" Kephiyr said.
"Little consolation to a dead man." Ollen retorted. "My room was ransacked last night, and the few elves that have seen me, have been giving me glares and silent threats. I need to find a way to get on their good side beyond simply being pardoned."
"Well you're half-way to your new life; how far are you willing to go?" Ember cut in.
"As far as it takes."
"Well we haven't decided yet what our next move is for sure, would you consider a sort of sacrificial lamb role when we do?" Kephiyr said.
"I'm listening, preferably you have a plan that doesn't end in death."
"Well, no guarantees, but I was thinking if we run a mission you could have like what would seem a suicide mission that could give us an upperhand."
There was a long silence as Ember began to sip some coffee and pass around a couple other mugs. Ollen fidgeted in his seat and sipped his coffee and at last he spoke.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well keep in mind this is merely speculation and largely depends on the decisions of others. But the way I see it we only have two possible options, wait for Kelpon to move, or attack Zolon. You could use the tunnel yourself, alone and get in to open the gate for us."
Another long pause and they all simply looked around at eachother silently sipping their coffee.
"What would that prove?" Ollen finally said.
"That you're willing to put your life on the line for the cause, and you really have turned over a new leaf. Other then that pay attention to how you act and what you say and what you do on the battlefield. In other words if you get an opportunity to save someone do it, even if you know they'd let you die if the shoe was on the other foot. It's a hard pill to swallow, but you asked."
"I guess true freedom isn't free, or cheap. I'll do it. But if you can't convince them to attack?"
"No, freedom isn't cheap but I believe you can pay the price, if you want it bad enough. If I can't convince them to attack, it's only a matter of time until you get your opportunity to prove yourself. And trust me, you'll probably have to continually prove yourself. And don't expect to ever win over Melek, I think that's an unreasonable goal. I know if I was in his place, I don't know that there's anything you could do to change my mind about you. But win over his men, and you're free. What better way then to bleed with them." Kephiyr said and sipped his coffee looking over at Ember for her two cents.
"Yes, and be sure to watch your temper. Don't say things in anger, expect to be hated and take it with grace. Don't fight it, own what you did and make up for it by your actions, not your words." Ember said solemnly.
"What do you mean take it with grace, and own it?" Ollen asked.
"I mean have the courage not to fight back, or defend yourself. They're going to try and prove you haven't changed, they won't just kill you. Prove them wrong, not with words, with actions. If they beat you, take it, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and repay evil with good. It sucks, it's going to hurt, and be hard, but it's what you have to do if you want to earn true freedom." Ember replied, Ollen breathed out heavily.
"Win their respect, I can do that." Ollen said with a thoughtful sigh.
"I know you can, and your greatest enemy in this, believe it or not is you. You'll get those thoughts saying they're right, you haven't changed. Or this is too hard, or it's not worth it, and you're going to have to simply bite your tongue a lot. But we're here for you, you got our support. It's not an easy path, and I'm sorry if I made it seem like it would be. But I kept my word you're not dead." Kephiyr said.
"Yet." Ollen said with a chuckle. "So what's the plan you gonna pitch this idea to Melek today?"
"No, we are. He'll be down by the Southern gate around noon for inspection. You and I will go to him there and pitch the idea. It's a shot in the dark, I won't lie, and may amount to nothing. But it's a start."
"A start, guess you gotta start somewhere. Is Eloff going to be there?"
"Don't know for sure, I would expect Eloff to be there, but he may have already headed back to Elcor." Kephiyr said.
"I will go and see, if he's still in town I would like him to be there. His words hold a lot of weight." Ollen said and downed the rest of his coffee.
"Would you like a chaperone?" Kephiyr asked.
"No, if they're gonna try something let them, I think Ember is right, they won't just kill me. They want me to give them ammo, and I just have to refrain from doing so."
Ollen walked out and down the winding staircase to the ground. Looking over his shoulder he noticed a group of elven soldiers already honing in on him. They broke up into a couple different groups, circling round him like hungry sharks. A shiver ran down his spine and he shook it off.
"Here we go." He whispered to himself as they cut off his route to Eloff's lodging. The elves quickly closed in on him and surrounded him. He looked from one to another, slowly he drew his swords out and dropped them on the ground, eyeing each of them in turn.
"That's not the way to do buisness." A tall elf captain said and stepped toward him drawing out a whip. He sea green eyes and long blonde hair, a toothy grin on his face.
"What is your name Captain?" Ollen asked in a shaky voice.
"Lieutenant, is my rank enough? Or do you wish to shout my name while I beat you like the dog you are?"
"Wanna know the name of the man I will save later." Even saying gave him a bad taste in his mouth. The captain laughed and jested toward his commrads in mockery.
"Luwts, and that's Lieutenant Luwts to you, alach keleb." And with that he swung the whip striking Ollen across the chest. He grimaced grabbed his chest and fell to the ground. Swiftly he was met with another slash across the back and then several boots.
"Should we help him?" Ember asked Kephiyr as they watched from their balcony.
"Only if they go too far, let's see how he handles it. We'll see the strength of his resolve." Kephiyr replied.
Ollen took the beating, fixing his eyes on some flowers not far from him. Grimacing with each blow, but not willing to satisfy them further than a grimace.
"Alright, enough." Luwts said and reigned his men in. He kicked his swords toward him and backed up eyeing him hungrily.
Ollen bit his lip and fought the urge to slaughter the lot of them. He breathed deep bit his tongue and slowly stood up holding his chest. He looked them all in the eyes and then slowly picked up his swords and sheathed them. The elves looked surprised, as they watched him walk over to the flowers and pick a turquoise one. He walked over to Luwts and stuck the flower in his armor.
"Brings out your eyes Lieutenant." Ollen said hating every syllable. Then he turned and walked to Eloff's lodging mere steps away, leaving the elves stunned. With a heavy hand he knocked on the door and Eloff opened it almost immediately and pulled him in. He healed his wounds.
"Well handled my friend. May I ask, did you know presenting a flower was sign of giving honor?" Eloff asked as he healed him.
"No, actually, I just figured they wouldn't expect that. And one thing I've learned being a criminal, never be predictable. The best way to get advantage is to do the exact opposite of what your enemy expects. Even if it goes against what you want to do."
"Well, they certainly didn't expect that, but don't expect it to be over."
"I don't, just over for now."
"So what is the reason for your visit?"
"Kephiyr and I are going to meet with Melek near the Southern gate at noon to pitch a possible plan, I'd like you to be there."
"Of course, but I will probably be leaving soon after, let Kephiyr know I will meet you there."
"No need I'm already here." Kephiyr said poking his head by the window. "In point of fact if we wanna get there the same time as Melek we'll want to leave soon."
"Ah, come in, we'll have some coffee and brunch before heading on our way." Eloff called to him. Kephiyr and Ember came in and sat down to coffee and BLTs. A little while later they headed toward the Southern gate.
On their way to the gate Ollen turned to Kephiyr and asked him.
"So how long am I going to have to pay in order to get my freedom?"
"Can't really say. But I do know this you'll be free later you will squirm and be hurt first. But if you really want it, you gotta do it. Do it scared, in pain, shaking, and on your knees. Pour that blood, sweat, and tears into it. Or go back, and have that dying thought years from now saying I wish I had. Because the one thing in this life that you will never get is more time. And you don't know when that time is up. So you don't have time to let them or your own fear stop you from getting what you want."
"Well when you put it that way, but what if I don't have time to achieve what I'm trying to achieve?"
"What if you do?" Kephiyr turned and looked at him sternly studying his reaction. "You can't say what if I don't have time. You have time right now, move toward that goal, if you never achieve it, at least you can say you tried. You really only have two options, try or give up. You can't make excuses saying what if I don't have time to accomplish my goal, and then not try because you think you don't have time."
"Very well, but how will I know what steps to take?"
"You'll know, if you're looking for the next step you'll see it. You already took the first step, more of that and better if you want true freedom. You did well, now build on it." They reached the Southern gate around the same time Melek did and had begun to pitch the idea. However, just as they had begun to pitch the idea a horn blew and a volley of arrows came flying over the wall.
Immediately Kephiyr grabbed Ollen and they ran up to the wall. Several other elves and Abeh, Eloff, and Melek joined them. The looked out over the fields to see a vast army the had marched from Zolon. Luwts stood next to Ollen smirking.
"Your people and the Zolonites are coming to destroy us, I guess we shall see where you loyalties lie." Luwts said eyeing him suspiciously. Ollen made no reply.
Siege towers were already making their way toward the wall, suddenly a tornado ripped through tearing them to shreds and the men cheered as they fell. Ember was flying above the tornado deflecting arrows with the wind as she made quick work of their siege equipment. Presently she returned to the wall.
"I can't keep that up, it's too draining. But at least I was able to get rid of their equipment." She said and drew her sword. "Prepare to fight to the last man."
Other ladders attacked the walls and soon the walls became a precarious battle ground.
Ollen decapitated a man and then kicked another off the wall down toward the opposing army. He them blocked a blow from Luwts and the elf stared hungrily at him as their blades crossed. Again and again their swords crossed and Ollen fought the urge to finish him off. A man came from behind and knocked Luwts to the ground and was about to decapitate him until Ollen slashed him through the heart. He offered his hand to Luwts, who spat on it. However, he didn't continue to fight him. Upon noticing that Luwts was no longer fighting him Melek stepped to him with his sword. Ollen was forced back and back until he was nearly falling off the wall. Melek went for the kill but Ollen moved. Melek would have fallen off the wall toward the opposing army, but Ollen grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"I am not your enemy!" He shouted and then killed a man who was about to kill Melek.
With that Ollen retreated next to Kephiyr and Bear and Ember.
Eloff was down by the gate holding it with a spell, it rattled. The rattling of the gate echoed like thunder and Kephiyr noticed that Carlon was on the opposite side also using magic to try and destroy it. Again and again the gate rattled as if it was being beaten by a huge hammer, then suddenly it burst asunder and crumbled.
"Rasha prodotes!" Eloff yelled sending a spell toward Carlon. Carlon blocked the spell and sent a spell toward Eloff. Eloff blocked the spell, yet Carlon laughed.
"It seems we can't defeat eachother from a distance Eloff. Yet you will be swept away by our might, come and join us." It was quite obvious a spell was on his voice, but Eloff was unmoved by it.
"You have become evil Carlon; if you survive this war, you won't survive my wrath. You have betrayed the Council; your own country and home. You're like and old man who has purposefully thrown away his cane, foolishly hoping to be as he was, yet now he can't stand. What are you standing on old friend?"
"You will see, I am not withered. From the look of things I am standing better than you. Come and show me your strength Eloff; quit telling me how strong you are and show me." Carlon entered and fighting filled the streets around them yet none laid a finger on either one of them. They stood in a stand off staring eachother down from either side of the courtyard. Each of them drew their swords and walked toward eachother glaring.
"You wish to see my strength do you? I will show you. As parent might show an arrogant child, now you must be punished." Now they were nose to nose as fire leapt from their eyes.
"Why do you speak in this manner? I am neither a young child nor an old man. I am in the prime of my life as you begin to drop over the hill. You are far older than I and in need of a cane yourself. How do you expect to beat me?"
Eloff stepped back and positioned his sword in front of his face.
"Allow me to show you; old friend."
With that their swords met and suddenly Carlon wavered; he had not expected Eloff to be so physically strong. He knew he was strong in magic but his physical strength caught him off guard. For as Carlon said Eloff was becoming old even in wizard reckoning.
Eloff pushed Carlon back and back, their swords still crossed over eachother. Carlon let forth a small spell which simply threw Eloff back a step. Carlon raged forward but Eloff had not been phased by the spell and caught Carlon in the chin with his staff. Carlon sprawled on the ground but quickly thrust his staff forward. Eloff put his staff between himself and the spell and laughed.
"Carlon this is pointless, you can't beat me. And you and your master can't rule Fardel the way you desire. I would've thought the whispered warnings down the corridor of time would've taught you that. All tyrants and traitors come to a nasty end. People are not as easily ruled or destroyed as you might expect. The more you crack the whip and pull the chains, the more they will resist."
Carlon jumped to his feet now enraged and sent a powerful spell of fire at Eloff. He blocked the spell and sent a spell of lightning at Carlon. He was not able to block it and was thrown against the wall. Slowly he staggered back to his feet and retreated back outside.
After some hours of fighting back and forth, when night fell the elves retreated out of bowshot further into Farmell. The men of Zolon camped by the gate, content for the moment with driving the elves from the walls and courtyards beyond. Moral was low and the weight of the casualties hung heavily in the air. All of them sat by campfires.
"What is the point Kephiyr? The elves wanna kill me, the Zolonites wanna kill me, and my own people do. Why not just let them?" Ollen said stirring the fire with a stick. Kephiyr began to answer but Melek who had overheard put his hand on his shoulder and stepped forward. He stared down at Ollen.
"How dare you!?" Melek said nearly growling at him.
"I figured you'd be happy to hear me say I'm tired of it all." Ollen retorted rather gruffly. Melek chuckled grimley.
"You're a wimp with no gravel in your guts. A far cry from your ancestors. And here I thought I had a reason to be afraid of you." Ollen just glared up at him.
"Did you know your ancestors were slaves? Beaten daily out planting and harvesting in the fields and taking care of livestock all day. On blistered feet and bleeding hands they worked their fingers to the Bone. They endured their children being murdered, their wives and daughters raped. They had no luxury, they ate whatever was left over which was always the less savory cuts. I myself have ran my fingers across their scratch marks where they were clawing, trying to keep from being deported to another country, because they had been sold. The stench of their body fluids still lingers in some of the old dungeons. Fearful of leaving their family thousands of miles away. They endured all that and not only did they endure it, they sang in the midst of it. They would wind up getting their own country years later, they are still here. And you want to give up because some people want to kill you? I thought you were made of the same stuff as your ancestors, but perhaps not." Melek grinned and Ollen looked indignant.
"What's your point sire?" Ollen said in a low tone trying to remain respectful to the Jarl.
"I will always hate your guts, you took my little boy from me. But, I need you to have the tenacity of your ancestors right now. We will strike before dawn and drive them from our home."
"I will go with you." Abeh said coming out from the shadows, limping on an injured leg.
"Nabal, these are your own people, possibly even your brother. Do you really want their blood on your hands? And what have you done to your leg this time?" Ember groaned taking a look at it.
"It's just a flesh wound, and yes, it's the right thing to do. I have little doubt my brother would kill me if he thought it was right."
"Your brother sounds charming." Ember mumbled sarcastically rolling her eyes. "I'll never understand humans, killing your own flesh and blood, for what?" Abeh started to answer but Ember stopped him. "Retorical question Nabal, I don't wanna know."
"You know the elves have done the same, it's not just humans." Kephiyr laughed intending to stir the fire for amusement. All he got was a shut up look from Ember.
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