I didn't feel the relief I normally felt arriving back at the city with my unit. Of course I still didn't even know the name of everyone in my unit. I have been caught up in my own issues but I did learn the name of everyone in my last unit. Learning everyone's name without being told it was a point of pride for me. I guess it helped me feel somewhat connected to my mother's people. Islee values finding out secrets. The elves hate it, they value all knowledge not just what someone didn't want to share.
Ravon was looking up at the stone golem in surprise as I saluted the hard working statue. Well I had always thought that as a joke before but he might actually be doing work. I almost thought the golem nodded as he stood watching the crystal city.
"Well, take two days to enjoy the city while I go brief our betters on this mission. Be on that hill at sunrise in three days, it is about time we start real unit training." with that the ass ran off towards the tents. The Islee ran after him except me and Shevren.
Shevren turned to look at me once the ass was out of sight. "Well, I am going to see if I can get enough browns together to finagle some arena time. If I can get some, would you do me the honor of a rematch?"
"Why?"
Shevren sighed, "It seems to be the only way I can show you that the tower is a source of valuable knowledge. Even if that means losing a little bit of my own life expectancy."
"You get the time wizard, and you get the ass to agree to it, I will put you on your ass again for you."
"You don't know I might surprise you."
"Sure but not on that point."
Shevren snorted and started off towards the city leaving me alone with the elves. One Islee sounded by four elves, normally that would be a very bad thing. Right now I am not sure what is with them.
I looked at Ravon who was currently looking at me. She spoke first, "So what are you planning?"
"I am trying to decide if I need to ditch you four, or not."
"Well the other three are your guards so you could just order them home. Now you would have to explain your logic to the queen but she didn't seem to worry you before. Now I am harder to ditch since I answer to the queen and not you or Theon. Or rather the queen's council is who I report to but I am thinking that isn't as important of a distinction as it was before we left."
"Sure, but you also have a new bonded mate that you only got to see one night before we left on a three week mission. So how motivated are you really to keep track of a monster?"
"I don't believe that and those three don't either. I also don't think your old unit does either, considering how fast he came to find you." Ravon had turned to look back towards the city when Cryon started standing on her toes trying to see aiming in that direction. I could almost feel the heat of Cryon's blush as she quickly dropped to a crouch and tried not to look in the direction my old unit commander was coming from.
The other two snorted at their friend as Ravon continued, "Also unlike you and Cryon here, my bond is complete, so I have no worries about doing my job. My wild Smith will understand."
"Yeah, that still makes no sense to me. You do know it is going to be even harder for me to make islee allies surrounded by elves, right?"
I leaned against the leg of the golem watching Ravon as she tracked Harken moving through the grass. He was close enough to hear but clearly the elves didn't feel this was an important secret. "Yes probably, then again you haven't seemed to have that much luck before, and if the islee were willing to post competent company for you, the queen probably wouldn't have posted you guards at all, at least yet."
"I am not fragile."
"No one can watch their own back. Not even the brothers truly fought alone." Harken had his eyes on Cryon who seemed much more interested in her sword. She had taken it out and was cleaning it as an excuse for crouching down. "You pounded that into my head better than any other instructor, general."
"Don't call me that."
"You know where I stand on that childishness."
"That was before Ravon told you, and whatever happened after I blacked out."
"Does not change the point. Besides, the library has been busy since that day. Turns out you might not be the only monster within the crystal city. You still have over three times the honors of the last general." Markus shrugged, "Of course that one lived, what two months, after getting the title."
"I am not afraid to die, Markus."
The elves shifted, but people who fear death don't join the army. "Never said you were, nope you problem seems to be much more pervasive to your callings. You fear leading."
"I understand how to lead, just most people don't want me." Ravon frowned but didn't say anything.
"Did you forget we all grew up here? You are going to have to do better, if you want us to believe such things. Most people don't have to want you, Des. Just the right people. Wonder where I heard that before?"
"You do seem to like to quote me to me."
"Maybe you will listen to yourself then. Don't worry I won't hold my breath while I wait. You are hard headed, but if you don't mind I would like to talk to Cryon for a while, out of your ear shot, if that is possible."
"Hum, you don't have a room in the city do you?"
"No, haven't seen a reason to ask for one." I rolled my eyes at the smooth talker that was normally known as Markus.
"So what are you thinking? I am planning on spending some time on the wrong side of the tree line. So if you don't want me to hear, Cryon's house probably isn't a good choice, and last I checked war breaks out almost anytime an elf enters the tents. So that isn't a good idea. You could take her to one of the officer bars within the city but you will still have a which one problem and who knows what eyes and ears are reporting to who there."
"Hum, you might be right." Markus shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, him wanting to be alone with an elf. "I should be able to figure it out."
"For some reason that doesn't inspire the utmost confidence in your planning abilities, Markus. Here." I tossed Markus a disk-like object. It wasn't a key in the normal sense. Rooms were rarely locked in the crystal city but the disk would help him find my house. "You touch any of my weapons and you will get a first hand demonstration on its use. Also leave my bed roll alone."
"You have a house in the city?"
"It was my mother's house. It was much easier for the elders to just let me keep using it."
Markus looked like he was considering what I had said. "Right, make sure you come have a drink with me before you head out again. Without the knife ears, or I will just have to track you down."
"Since you cannot find water in the ocean, I am not too worried about it." I turned to look at Cryon who seemed to be trying to decide if she should be mortified or angry. "Go on, Markus is impatient to learn what you are willing to spy on me for."
Cryon's heart skipped a beat and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. It helped that the other three elves all turned on Cryon at that moment. "I didn't…"
"Wow, was not expecting that, Ravon already gave away the only secret I was keeping from Markus. If I had a problem with him learning something, you wouldn't have learned it Cryon. I am not that slow. Also other than hunting I am not planning on leaving the shield for a few days."
Cryon bowed, "Thank you, your highness."
I sighed and rolled my eyes, what is with people and giving me more rank? Cryon moved quickly almost seeming to disappear in the grass. Markus followed her after frowning at me again. He waved behind his head as he turned. So he hadn't decided if he was mad or not.
Ravon waited until they were out of earshot to turn and look at me again. "So, if you aren't going home, what are you going to do?"
"How annoyed would your father be, if we dropped by unannounced?"
"Why?" I wasn't feeling fear from Ravon really but she seemed concerned and was more attentive.
"A few reasons, one of which is I want to meet Trevon and your father."
"Right, why do I feel like that is the less interesting reason?"
I smiled at the elf, she learned quickly, "Probably because I am an interesting person. So?"
"Well, he won't be as annoyed as my mother." I raised an eyebrow at Ravon. "She should be home and if you stop by it will definitely distract father."
"Other than your father, what does your mother do?"
Ravon gave me a look that said she wasn't sure how to feel about my joke. "She is the captain of the palace guard." From the snicker I heard to my left at least one of the other guards found my joke funny, even if they were a bit slow. We do all make a living in the army after all.
"Really? So you probably weren't the council's first pick for Theon."
"No, it was more that his interest in the army gave me more time with him then the other women got. Are you jealous?"
"Of people I haven't met?" I frowned and tilted my head, "Possibly more than I would prefer." Stupid oath that made it hard to lie even to one's self. Self delusion is important for the ego after all. It was hard not to snicker at my own thought.
"You could find him, he picks his missions. Part of how I already knew was they all lined up with missions your team took." Was she trying to redirect me or was she trying to get me to accept the bond the prince felt?
"I am sure he will find me. He does normally turn up. So, are these two going to take a break?"
"Probably not, since you have made it pretty clear you aren't going home, or to the palace."
"Yet, I could tell them to go home, according to you."
"Sure, but I don't think you understand just how bad for the elves it would be if you died."
I frowned and then shrugged, "So you going to show me to Trevon then or would you prefer I just wander around the woods?"
"That would not end well, so if those are my choices, mother will just have to be mad at me." Ravon sighed and turned and started towards the woods at a brisk pace.
Ravon didn't change speed as I caught up to her. She knew on flat ground I was much faster than her. She also didn't actually want to get home any faster than she thought she had to, I was relatively sure. There is also the consideration of the other two guards following a few steps behind me.
Ravon climbed up into the trees as soon as they got big enough to hold her weight. The trees grew quickly in height from the edge. Most forests wouldn't be able to support a civilization like the elves have in the treetops here. The amount of land under the shield was really impressive. Ravon slowed as she moved through the branches that didn't have any formal paths.
The climb through the trees was fun, in it's own way. I didn't even realize that Ravon was waiting for me to fall until she landed on a path and I caught her looking back at me. I frowned at her then looked back at the other two elves, maybe it hadn't been me she was worried about. The woman landed gracefully on the pathway limb which didn't even shake under our weight. By gracefully I mean it would have been impressive if I thought she had been trying to see how close her face could get to the path without touching it or falling to her knees. The male elf landed on his ass on the path before standing back up.
Ravon cleared her throat, "You two need more practice, even a hard head can out pace you."
"That is hardly fair, my head is crystal hard. Even you wouldn't be able to keep up with me dull ears, if I really put my mind to it."
Ravon crossed her arms and snorted, "I at least wouldn't look like a newborn calf trying."
I smiled and nodded, "That I will have to give you. You will always ever look like the blind kitten you are."
Ravon couldn't stop herself from smirking. She seemed calmer as she turned and continued through the woods. It wasn't as much fun on the path but there were still a lot of things I have never seen before. Animals that only lived in the elfwood moved below us and flew between the branches around us. I started to notice houses and other elves, just out of sight. None of them challenged us or even seemed to notice us. It seemed strange to me, there was so much life in the woods. I could see branches grown together to grow food. I didn't recognize all the plants, growing in the branches.
The islee grows some specialty food from the desert, but the majority of it comes from the human farms near the city. From the amount of work I saw as we ran I got the feeling that the reverse is true of the elves.
I didn't say anything as we completed the outside circle of a spiral. I got the feeling that Ravon was looking for something and we had to be close to her home, even if I couldn't tell the trees from the house sometimes.
Ravon found what she had been looking for I guessed because she seemed to decide on which way to go. She headed up a level in the trees and the smell of smoke got stronger. Oh, I had asked to see Trevon not her house. Last time I had seen him he had come out of a smithy. Made since he would find another. Guess bonding hadn't changed his trade.
Ravon climbed up again then jumped across to the platform outside the smithy door. I followed landing lightly next to her. It was certainly faster than walking around and taking the stairs would have been. The other guards hesitated at the gap.
"If you are afraid, go around. If Theon didn't trust me around her, I wouldn't be here."
Ravon turned and walked to the doorway. I suppressed a laugh and followed a step behind her. There was a tall lean elf leaning against the side of the doorway watching what was going on in the building.
He spoke without looking up, "Bad timing for visitors, come back in an hour or two."
"Right now, I go where Lady Des goes. Trevon making something that interesting?"
The elf jumped at Ravon's voice and was bowing to her before she finished. "Sorry lady Ravon, I didn't know you were back."
"I don't normally make announcements about my schedule. Also if my husband spends much time here you should really assume that I will stop by at some point."
"Right, lady Ravon. Sorry, lady.'' The elf bowed at his every sentence and Ravon sighed a little.
"So? What's he making?"
"I am not sure, and he has been working for a few days on it, lady Ravon."
I tried not to shake my head at the exchange, "Cool, but if he calls you lady Ravon again in so few sentences I just might punch him, excuse me." I stepped past the servant into the smithy. The place was clean for a smith. There wasn't much beyond the wood for the forge and the tools left within easy reach. The work errea was arranged close to one of the forges but there had to have been room for four or five people to work at the same time if they had wanted.
The elf gave me a shocked look as I stepped past him into the heated room. I heard him say, "What brings you and your rude friend, lady Ravon?"
"You should probably drop the titles, lady Des probably means her threat. Also you would have to ask her, like I said I go where she goes right now."
I pulled off my army coat as I walked into another wave of heat. It wasn't as hot as some places I had been but you could tell the place was meant to melt metal. The heat never bothered me but people seemed uncomfortable when I didn't react to the temperature. I tied the coat arms around my waste and took up a spot where I could watch Trevon without interrupting him.
He was focused on his work and didn't seem to notice me. So I stood still watching him work. It only took a few moments for me to figure out what he was working on. It was surprising that he had spent days on it already. I tilted my head a bit to get a better view of the martial and understood better. The substance wasn't normal metal and it gave much less with each hit of the hammer than steel would have. It also seemed to be cooling faster than it should.
Trevon only got two or three quick hits before having to put the martial back in the furnace. It also looked more like wood than metal. Other then it not burning when Trevon stuck it in the flames.
I started working the bellows carefully to keep the temperature level. Trevon noticed me but said nothing as he continued to work. Ravon took up a place next to the door speaking quietly in elvish to the servant that had been keeping guard on Trevon.
I enjoyed focusing on the repetitive task of working. If I could have lost track of time I might have with the breathing of the forge and the now more constant sound of the hammer and then other tools meant to give detail to his work.
He set his finished product on the anvil waving me to leave off the furnace. Trevon looked up and actually saw me this time. "Who are you? I didn't think the estate had anyone that knew smithing." His eyes widened a bit as he placed my features. "Wait your islee, right? Islee hate the forest. Who are you?"
I titled my head to the side waiting to see if Trevon had run out of words yet. Ravon was laughing quietly as she watched from the doorway. I wandered briefly if the servant was mortified again.
Trevon turned white, which for an elf is saying something. Granted Trevon had a bit more color to begin with compared with the other elves I had met. Probably from a life of real work. He took a step back then almost banged his head on the anvil bowing.
I wasn't sure if I should catch him or if that might cause him more problems. Ravon really wasn't being much help, she just laughed harder. I decided to bend my rule a bit. I wouldn't know how to react if I didn't know what had scarred the man, after all.
In his mind when I had turned my head while looking at him, I had reminded him of a bird he had seen once. Well, it was a bird much like a shark is a fish. He had thought he was dead last time he had seen one watching him, but the creature had just tilted its head a few off. Shortly after that a lady of the court showed up outside his small smithy. He had thought he was going to die for what he had done, but he hadn't. Granted that was only because the lady that should have beheaded him was the other half of a bond he had never thought he had. He had panicked because of the tale his mate had told him about how she had found him. He had thought then that the bird had to have been eyes for the princess that had led his bond to him. Now all those memories were linked in his mind to me. I had been the eyes looking through the killer bird.
I pulled my mind out of his. Well, that didn't help. "Woh, I am islee. My name is Desdemona, and if you don't calm down you are in danger of knocking yourself out."
"Sorry my lady, I shouldn't get so lost in my work." He seemed to get hit by a bolt of lightning as he realized I had been helping him with what he was working on. Which at least stopped the bobbing for a moment. "Ah, you are dirty now. What in the world was I thinking? I cannot believe-"
Trevon cut off abruptly as my hand shot out and caught his shoulder. "Calm down and think about it. If I had wanted to interrupt you do you think I could not have. I am an army soldier. I haven't had time to work a forge in a while. Also if it was a problem do you think you mate would be laying on the ground by the door laughing?"
Ravon was crying from laughing so hard. The servant didn't seem sure what to do as she sat up again. "Well, I suppose she wouldn't. Then again something seems different with her around you, my lady." my hand didn't budge as Trevon tried to bow again.
The servant seemed to make up his mind as Ravon stood up again. "Master Trevon, lady Zeeon would like to speak to you when you have time today."
"I am not a master, thank you though. I will be on my way as soon as I can."
"Wait." I dropped my hand when I was pretty sure Trevon was going to stay still. The servant was going to ignore me but Ravon moved like a snake. He froze as she blocked his path, no sign of her earlier humor on her face. "Just a moment, I mean we passed enough people on the way here someone probably told her there is an islee running around at least." I turned and looked back at Trevon, "Why aren't you a master, Trevon?"
"Well, time mostly. It is hard to make anything to be judged for master rank while supporting yourself and your family. Finding two dragons to judge not just the final project but it's making as well, is a hard requirement when you cannot leave. That changed, but I haven't made the time."
I walked over to the anvil and picked up what Trevon had been working on. It was still very hot to the touch even Trevon probably wouldn't have been able to touch it bare handed yet. The slow cooling would keep it from being brittle even with all the artistic lines drawn in the wood metal. Even now it looked like it could have grown instead of been made with a hammer. I was not sure what he had used to get it to look like this. "Ravon, you didn't have that bracelet on when I fought with you. Did Trevon give you that and can I see it?"
Ravon shrugged, "Yes he did." She unclasped the bracelet and handed it to me. "He didn't tell me it was something he made."
"That is because he only made the charm, but that was all I wanted to see anyway." I smiled at Ravon as she dropped the bracelet into my hand. I flipped over the small silver disk. There was a lot of fine detail just barely ected into the disk. The perfection of the circle was impressive. I handed the bracelet back to Ravon. "Thank you." I looked at the other elf, "The structure is older than almost everything in it. Was this a forge before?"
The elf's eyes widened and he looked over his shoulder at Ravon before answering. "Well, it must have been a long time ago. There hasn't been a smith in the estate for many generations now. I think an ancient lord must have used this forge and it was just never claimed for anything else."
I looked back at Trevon, "Am I right that other then the anvil and hammer, you made all the other tools you use?"
Trevon looked impressed, "How did you know that?"
Ravon snorted, "You have a crystal hammer, same as Theon don't you?"
"Yes, two."
Trevon looked even more impressed with me and I was worried he would try bowing again. "Wow, so what did you make?"
"Have you ever met Adam?" I was still looking at the tools while I talked.
"The city armor? Sure I have seen his shop a few times. Mostly to get supplies, when I can afford them." Which probably wasn't often. Armor was important to the army but few smithies could afford to make armor.
"He put up a shelf in the shop side behind the workbench that he uses to track inventory. On that shelf he has started collecting the pieces that his students used to become masters. Have you seen them?"
"I don't know many craftsmen that have not stood and looked at the pieces. It is getting to be quite the collection but Adam won't tell anyone who made any of the pieces. It seems to amuse him when people try and guess who made them. There is a rumor they are actually all his work."
"As far as I know, none of them are his work. I know for sure four of them are not his work. Two are mine, so my question is do you want to be a master?"
"I am not that good."
"You think so? Well, I want you to prove it, or I will just keep bothering you. I was going to get Adam to fix my breast and back plate that Theon destroyed. Make me new ones, and when I pick them up be able to tell me what Adam has that I made. That should be enough of a challenge to make you feel like you earned the dragon rank. Seeing how most of my early work is in the hands of islee."
Trevon looked even more shocked, "But you haven't seen me fight."
"Not with my own eyes I guess, and I hadn't expected a tree to be a formidable opponent. Then again I wouldn't have chosen a hammer to bring down a tree." Trevon seemed to be watching the other elf who didn't seem to understand what I was talking about. "Just be happy I don't like payback. You will have to ask Ravon when you get the chance. You and I will have to talk in private sometime. If you can beat my test anyway. You will have until I get back from my next mission. For now though, we probably shouldn't keep your mother-in-law waiting."