Tales of Fire and Ruin - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Endris arrived in the valley before I had finished gathering new branches for the fire. Despite his tall stature, Endris was quiet as a cat. I didn't hear my guide approaching until the crunch of pine needles right behind me gave me a start. I whirled around, dagger clenched in my hand, only to find Endris standing there with one raised eyebrow, wind-swept hair, and berry-red cheeks. He had clearly run the entire way.
I clutched my chest as I put my dagger away. "You scared me. Has nobody taught you sneaking up on people is rude?"
Endris didn't reply. His gaze swept over me and then settled on my face. "You fired a crackling arrow, yet you're completely fine?"
"And you ran all the way here for me," I replied with a wink. "Sorry, I just missed your grumpy face so much I had to summon you here."
The vein on Endris' forehead popped out. "You better have a good reason for this, or I'm doubling my pay."
I had learned from past encounters Endris was always serious. I raised my hands in surrender. "I have a good reason. How shall I say this..." I glanced at the downed trees and rubble left by the dragon, then at the cave embedded in the sheared-off rock face where the elf was waiting. I pressed my finger to my lips and continued in a hushed tone, "There's an elf in the cave."
Endris stared at me. "Certainly. And I have the fey queen living in the inn's basement."
"I hope she enjoys her stay then, because this one time I'm not kidding." I pointed to the cave, which had smoke escaping through the opening. "There's an elf in there. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."
Doubt flickered in Endris' dark eyes. His eyebrows squished together. "If this is a joke, I'm charging triple," he threatened. Then he started crossing the valley with long strides. I picked up my stash of branches and hastily followed him.
Oleander was wrapped up in my cloak near the fire just the way I had left him, but he jumped to his feet when Endris burst into the cave.
Their eyes met. Endris' posture stiffened, while Oleander simply observed Endris with quiet curiosity. It was a good sign that my guide wasn't reaching for his sword, but I hadn't a clue what he was thinking.
I cleared my throat. "Oleander, Endris. Endris, Oleander."
Both men ignored me in favour of staring at each other. How rude.
Unlike he'd been with me, Oleander seemed calm with Endris. A slow smile spread on his lips, his eyes lit with an inner glow. "Hello," he said.
"You need clothes, elf," Endris replied curtly. He shook the bulky pack he had strapped to his shoulders off and handed it to Oleander. "Take what you need from this."
When Endris turned to me, he looked like a nervous horse about to bolt. "Outside," he barked before grabbing my arm and pulling.
I allowed Endris to drag me outside, but protested loudly all the way. "Ow! Stop! There's a reason I became a bowman, you know. I bruise like a peach. Let me walk on my own!"
Endris finally released me several feet away from the cave. "How, by the creators, did you find an elf?" he hissed, shooting me an intense, icy stare like I was to blame for his presence here. Then he gestured at the rubble. "And what happened here?"
"Both excellent questions, I said. "The dragon caused a landslide and plummeted into the valley after I shot its wing, leaving the trail of destruction you see here. When I tracked it down to the valley, the elf was in the water and when I pulled him out, he was alive. Says he doesn't remember how he got here, though."
"Did you finish the hunt, then?"
I blew my cheeks out and released the air. "Nope."
"You chose to save the elf over chasing the dragon?" For the first time ever, I saw the tiniest spark of admiration in Endris' eyes. I had to snuff it immediately.
"Not — not exactly," I said. "Look, the dragon was gone. It left no tracks in the valley, but the elf was right here and I knew I couldn't return home empty-handed."
Endris was back to his grumpy self. His lips pressed together in a slight grimace. "Naturally. It's still fortunate you found him when you did, I suppose."
"Sure." I said. "Hey, why did that elf seem so happy to see you?"
"I don't know."
Endris' words slipped out a little too fast. He talked to me sideways rather than head on. How well did I know my guide, really? I'd trusted him enough to let him lead me up the mountains because he was well known and trusted in the palace. Endris brought many hopeful young men and women eager to prove themselves and become knights to the mountains. But word in the street was that he had spoken with the queen, pleading against the dragon slaying tradition.
"So, did you bring a rope in that rescue bag of yours?" I asked. "We have to tie the elf up. I'm going to hand him over to the queen."
"I have a rope, yes," Endris replied. I felt the reluctance in his words, and I understood. I'd felt the exact same reluctance.
"Look, I know Ole- the elf, looks..." I swallowed my last word because I couldn't say I thought he looked beautiful. That was a dangerous word to use for an elven man. "Innocent," I settled on. "But he's an enemy of the palace. The war never officially ended. We only stopped fighting because the elves vanished. You remember that, right?"
Endris' eyebrows drew in. "Yes, I know that."
"Does human children's blood soaking the ground of Starcross woods mean anything to you?" I pushed harder. "To not agree with the dragon hunts decreed by the queen is one thing. To be reluctant to capture an enemy of the palace is another. I don't like it either, but we have to turn him in."
"I know." Endris ground his teeth. I'd never seen him shaken by anything, but this elf seemed to bring it out in him. "Yet, you're right. I think we shouldn't kill him."
"Good thing I only want to capture him, then. I'm bringing him to the palace and the queen can decide."
"Yes, you let the palace decide. Your hands are clean." Endris snorted. "Handing him over is killing him, but the cowardly way because you aren't able to raise the sword yourself. Just like you nobles gladly eat the meat, but call skinning the rabbit barbaric and insist it happens outside of your sight."
Endris looked genuinely angry at me. We played around a lot, but I always thought we were jesting and liked each other underneath all that. Now, I wasn't so sure.
"What's going on, Endris?" I asked. "Why do you care so much for an elf?"
Endris turned away from me, rubbing a hand through his hair. "I don't care. But I think he isn't a part of this war, Laurence."
"We're all part of this war."
"You can honestly be so—" Endris made an exasperated sound. "What has this elf done to us? Look at him. He's no threat, and we were never personally at war. Our ancestors were." Endris shook his head. "No, not even our ancestors. The king who picked up his weapon and made knights follow was at war."
"Yes, because the elves were slaying innocents and sacrificing them to whatever demented gods they worship!" I protested. "For all we know, they still do that, just not to humans because we drove them out!"
"Should I also blame you then, for what your uncle did to your family and your servants, driving you all to ruin?"
I froze. He did not just go there.
For a moment, Endris seemed unsure of himself, too. Even if my family was no longer wealthy, I still had my title, and he did not. When we got back to the inn, I could have commander Ytel cut his tongue cut out for the insolence and we both knew it.
Endris regained his confidence when I stayed silent. His hands curled into fists then straightened. "I'm meaning to say: will we blame every human for every single mistake made by a human? For every killer, do you shoot all other men, too? If so, we could never speak with anyone because everyone would be dead."
"That sounds like a brilliant plan," I said lightly. "I will shoot everyone and never speak to anyone again. What a nice and peaceful life."
Endris stared at me. He waited for my decision, not my jokes, as usual. He silently pleaded with his eyes, like he did for the dragons, but stronger.
I groaned and looked away. "I can't deal with both you and the elf giving me the puppy eyes. But I won't go home empty-handed. You know that."
I needed a source of coin or a dragon for knighthood, or I might as well climb this mountain and jump to my death after the dragon. Mother and father tried to keep up appearances, but nobody was fooled. People only needed to look at the cracks in the walls of our estate, or hear a debt collector complain in a tavern, and they would know.
Endris looked like he was biting back more unfriendly words about nobles and greed. Then he nodded. "I understand. I will give you free guidance up the Serpentine mountains for a second dragon hunt attempt, and I will return home with you to your parents and offer my services, and all coin I make guiding people up the mountains, to the Montbow family for two months."
My jaw went slack. "I'm pretty sure I heard that wrong. You want to work for the Montbow family for free over this? Why does this matter so much to you? This elf is a stranger and a monster. Allegedly, according to the stories."
"Stories written by the victor," Endris countered. "Does he seem like a monster to you?"
"... No," I reluctantly admitted. I had found myself thinking quite the opposite, too. Oleander had been on the verge of tears when threatened. He was scared, alone, and cold. I already dreaded the moment I'd arrive at the palace and turned him in. The look on his face when I betrayed him and tied him up would leave a sour taste in my mouth.
I growled in frustration. "What would you have me do? If I don't bring him in, someone else who sees him will. The moment we arrive at the inn, the elf will have all blades and arrows pointed his way. Commander Ytel will have my head if he finds out, too."
"Unless... we don't go to the inn," Endris suggested. "The elf needs to travel back to his people through the Starcross woods. If we travel west and restock once at your parents' estate, he can reach the woods safely."
"Are you out of your mind?" I bit. "You can't seriously be suggesting I take him to my mother and father? My brothers and sisters? Hey everyone, this is my new friend. Yes, I know I make questionable decisions, but I swear this one is not a blood-loving monster who will eat my siblings while we sleep."
"I will keep an eye on him," Endris promptly offered. "We don't have to enter the estate, and I will take full responsibility for him. He won't attack you or your family."
Just when I thought I couldn't be more confused, I was. "You truly feel strongly about this."
"Yes," Endris simply replied.
"I'm going to find out why."
"No, you will not."
Turning on his heels, Endris started walking back to the cave. I walked with him.
"So, we're not taking him to the inn?" I asked.
"No. I suggest you let commander Ytel know the hunt failed because of a landslide, and that he needs to report to the palace. We will travel to your estate to prepare for a swift second attempt. It's the truth, aside from not mentioning the elf."
"By the storm god's breath. I can't believe I'm agreeing to this." Dragging a hand up my forehead, I entered the cave after Endris.
Oleander had put on the clothes from Endris' pack. The sleeves were too long and that belt was working hard to keep the pants from dropping. My lips twitched at the sight. "Well, they're a little large for you, but better this than too small."
"Yes." Oleander smiled shyly. "Thank you for the clothes, sir."
"You're welcome," Endris said, before turning to me and shooting me a look as if saying 'yes, such a monster.'
"Are we leaving now?" Oleander asked.
I crossed my arms and looked at Endris. He insisted we bring him along so he could fill him in.
"Yes, we are going to Laurence's house," Endris told Oleander.
Oleander's eyes grew wide. "Will they be alright with me being there?"
"Yes," Endris replied for me, before I could open my mouth to say definitely not. "Because you will cover your ears." Endris reached into his pocket and pulled out a ribbon. "Tie your hair and make sure your ears stay covered."
Oleander accepted the ribbon and tried to reach back to tie his hair. When he lifted his arms above his head, he winced and lowered them. "I think I have hurt my arm. Could you tie it for me?"
Oleander addressed me. There was so much trust in his gaze now.
He trusted the wrong people. I'd been ready to hand him over to the palace if Endris hadn't interfered. I still wasn't sure if I wouldn't after reaching our estate, and no other noble would take kindly to an elf asking them to tie their hair. I only knew how to handle long hair because I had to help my sisters since we had dismissed all our maids.
With a sigh, I took the ribbon. "Alright, turn around then."
I tied Oleander's soft, silvery hair into a ponytail and stepped back. Oleander patted his ears, noted they were perfectly covered, and smiled at me over his shoulder in gratitude. I couldn't smile back. As long as he had memory loss, this elf wouldn't survive a day on his own. Anyone who pretended to be kind to him would gain his trust. If we let him out of our sight and he wandered off, he'd die. And so would Endris and I for harbouring an enemy.