The Past
#34 of Dragon Hunter Saga
*This is another chapter told from Ecthelon's prspective*
Ecthelon starts walking out of the training hall, then out of the compound; and into the city not paying attention to where he was going. He was just fixated on the past, the time the last parts of his family were murdered.
Somewhere between the 5th and 6th century:
It had been a long trip to the Home city and he was tired from the long ride, his companion a middling aged unicorn named Gregory was tired as well. "So Ecthelon what's the first thing you want to do when you get home?" Gregory asks looking back at him, with one eye and a twinkle in his eye. I shrug my shoulders, "I don't really know maybe a nice home cooked meal? I'm tired of the tavern fare at this point. Though I am troubled about the statements of the Home City about elves being targeted by these 'Christians' claiming we practice witch craft and consort with their devil."
Gregory nods his head sighing deeply, "it seems the 'new' religion is gaining traction and it is harming the other species. Anything they think doesn't fit what they think the world is like they are trying to hide." They continue on for about twenty minutes or so when Gregory continues, "I worry most of the intelligent species will need to go into hiding, That will be easy for you elves, your kind has a very good relationship with the dwarven clans. My people cannot live underground, the dwarves would be upset to abandon their great cities too."
I nod my head knowing that was true, having created great stone cities in mountains in different hard to get locations of the world they tended to trade with elves for things they themselves could not produce on their own. As we continue to head down the well worn road through the woods, a young man runs toward us waving his hands in the air. This was a human man named Kevin whom I have known for most of my life, he came up to us and starts speaking quickly. "No! Ecthelon you need to go! Leave here your parents are dead, the towns people went crazy after the new priest came in while you were gone. They found out how old your parents were and claimed they were evil and needed to be cleansed from the world."
I blink not quiet understanding what I am hearing, "my parents." Kevin cuts me off, "they're dead Ecthelon! I don't want to see you die as well, you need to leave. They are hunting elves and the other species as well, the people are crazy Ecthelon. Please leave!" I shush him with a hand wave, "alright Kevin I will go." I look down at Gregory's head and say, "lets go and head through the woods; I know of an enclave nearby."
Gregory turns his head slightly, you're not going to look? I respond to Gregory, of course I am; but I do not want to cause Kevin more distress if what he is saying is true. He obviously is afraid of us going into town, so once we are away from him we will sneak back and look to see why. Gregory tosses his head in response and we swiftly leave Kevin behind standing in the road, and he appeared to be crying. Once I felt we were far from the road I dismount from Gregory's back and I slowly head back to the town carefully Gregory silent behind me.
I knew more of the pathways around the town from my long years of war training, being able to remain hidden as we came up to the town. From where I was standing I could see a large pyre that was currently burning and the towns people were gathered around it chanting. I struggle to catch the words from my location and I can faintly hear, "DEATH TO WITCHES!" repeated over and over. I then frantically look to see if my parents were in the crowd and I do not see them, I make a quick choice to sneak into town and see if they are home.
I find a way to sneak around the edges of town to where my family's house stood, or I guess I should say did stand. It was a pile of burnt rubble, Kevin was right my parents were dead. I started seeing red, oddly it was more of a side effect of my bloodline than my anger. Which was great on it's own, however my family is known for having a temper that can remove all reason from my mind. It is the reason why my family had so few members to it, the others were afraid of adding my family's 'curse' to their bloodlines. Right now all I could see was red as the world slipped away from me.
September 2031:
I shake my mind out of my memory, not wishing to revisit it. I had killed the whole town even Kevin, I woke up a week later Gregory hiding from me while I wasn't sane. He could sense when my mind returned to me and carefully approached me, he knew of my family's issues' and now I was the last of it.
I shake myself to remove my memory even more noticing I was standing in front of Ariawyn's restaurant, and I sigh knowing I needed to speak with her now. As she was the link to our king she would have to determine punishment if she decided me revealing my age was a danger. I walk inside, the people were going about setting up for the evening and she sees me. One look to my face and she rushes over, when she stops in front of me she speaks in almost a whisper. "Are you safe Ecthelon? Is there something you need to tell me?"+ I nod my head slowly and she escorts me outside of the building, her private guards making themselves visible in case they felt I was going to be a problem.
"M'lady, I have unfortunately informed the Hunter of my age." Ariawyn blinks waving her hand, "no honorifics Ecthelon. No one here knows I am the daughter of the king and I would prefer to keep it that way. As to what you did," she pauses thinking a moment. She holds up a finger to her lips, "I'm not sure it's a bad idea, this isn't your run of the mill human Ecthelon. This is a Hunter not unlike your friend Mordred, one who cares about everyone. Not just for the gain of human kind, for the betterment of all."
She gives me a sad look, "I also know what she is to you, and while knowing your age might cause a problem. It might also clear up some as well," she tilts her head. "I would suggest from this point forward to be brutally honest with her, I do not think she likes being lied to."
Starburst's head appears on the roof, "Ah; Ecthelon there you are. Great you're with Ariawyn, have you told him about tonight yet?" She shakes her head and he continues, "alright ' " he turns to look at me. "Tonight you are having a business dinner with the Hunter and the two guard captains, here." I blink and look at Ariawyn, "when was this decided?" She shrugs, "well my dear this morning before you got here." She smiles, "I am planning a fun meal for everyone and I should get back to it." She levers me with a gaze, "unless there is more you need to discuss with me?" I shake my head and she nods then leaves, and Starburst gives me an odd look.
"Are you concerned about how she will think of you from now on Ecthelon?" He asks me with genuine concern. I nod my head slowly, "I have not had the best experience with humans finding out the true age of us older elves. My own parents," Starburst waves a talon, "alright; but this is a Hunter. Not a regular human, she will see the real you. Now for the more important question, why were her guards visible?"
I rub the back of my neck, "that is my problem I am afraid. My family has been known to have a rage issue when emotionally unbalanced. She was concerned I was 'troubled' by something." He nods his head in understanding, "I have heard of this odd flaw. Did not a great deal of the first elves have it?" I nod my head, "yes and it never appeared until the next intelligent species appeared after us. We had learned over time it did breed out of our kind except for my family, I had three older siblings whom were all killed for their loss of sanity."
I pause, "The one time I lost my mind there was no one there to kill me; and I slaughtered a village of idiot humans. The ones who burned my parents at the stake." Starburst nods his head, "and I can say that I am not sorry that happened to them Ecthelon." He holds up a talon again, "it doesn't make it right. I can understand the justice side of it, in this case it is no different than striking a wasp nest. Pity they didn't know they were doing that." I nod agreeing haven't had thought of it before, Starburst looks thoughtful. "Maybe you should relax the remainder of the day, I shall have Alberich take the kids today alight?" I nod my head maybe a day of peace would do me good. I head off back to the compound to try out the bath house there.
I walk back to Ariawyn's restaurant that evening wearing one of my best court outfits knowing if I had not Ariawyn would have my head. It was of simple design a long tunic style shirt and pants with soft shoes, it was royal blue and silver in color. The colors of my family. Ariawyn leads me back to a private room where a male was already seated in, I guess this is the male guard captain. As I sit he speaks, "ah the new Arms Master. Nice to meet you finally I am Samuel, I imagine you have already met Tammy. From what I know she is currently with the Hunter so I guess we have to wait for them to arrive."
We then both hear Ariawyn walking back to the room and Gwen steps into the room, I slowly stand looking her over. She was in a high court dress, humans would call them evening gowns. It was royal blue with dark green highlights, while it did show off a few bad scars; it looked like the dress was made for her. "Good, Good evening; um. Hunter! Hunter Gwen, you look good; please sit." I go to walk around the table to pull a chair out and I trip over myself, the humans stifle laughs and I try to not feel anger over it. I stand up and right myself pulling the chair out and indicating she should sit in it. When Gwen does I gently push it in for her.
After sitting down Ariawyn steps back in with a Selkie holding a try with filled glasses and bowls of fruit."This is some strawberry cordial that Hekkogar gave me this morning with a warning that Ecthelon only gets one glass, with some of the freshest fruits from our fields." After the items were set on the table they left the room. I feel embarrassed by the statement but I let it go, and I tried the drink. While it was a little to sweet for me it had very nice flavor. I was still amazed by how Gwen looked, she reminded me of a highborn elvan woman.
"That would be embarrassing, what do you think Ecthelon?" Tammy says to me and I blink forgetting we were here for a reason. "Um, yes; yes that should work. Sorry I guess my mind was somewhere," I was embarrassed again. I hadn't heard a thing that was said by the others, so I hope I responded alright and I try focusing on the conversation.
I have trouble doing so the remainder of the meal instead thinking only about Gwen and how do I manage to get her to like me let alone agree to partnering with me. So when the meal was concluded I say, "I enjoyed the meal. Sorry I have to go and make some preparations for tomorrow, have a good evening."
I then leave quickly Ariawyn giving me an odd look as I leave, I head quickly back to the compound. I had found my quarters in it earlier today, halfway there I feel a weight on my shoulder. Cheshire speaks to me {is something the matter elf?} I sigh, {I feel like an idiot.} He taps my head with a wing tip, {Starburst told us of your 'problem' does it have to do with that?} I shake my head, {no I am talking of my behavior at dinner. I tripped over myself and I didn't give any useful info for the discussion, I am too wrapped up in Gwen for that right now, How do I manage that?}
I enter the compound and I hear Alberich speak, "as anything else elf; carefully. How were you able to speak coherently with her this morning?" I think a moment, "maybe the issue in this case is her appearance surprised me. So I wound up focusing on her instead of the task I was there for." Alberich nods his head, "very possible; so just remember to keep a solid head then." I nod my head agreeing that needed to happen, I didn't want a repeat of behavior messing things up.