Gaining of Larruth: 11B
Friday, April 15, 2005 (07:12:38)

Posted by TerishD

Chapter Eleven - Part 2

It was late in the afternoon when the group approached the Castle of Iylytton. Larruth led his companions up to the outer wall of the fortress where he announced their names. He had assured the group that almost anyone who approached a castle would be given lodging for the night. Nothing required excellent accommodations, but a lack of hospitality was something to complain to the gods about.

The prince had also mentioned that there was a common pot. No one had a reason to go hungry. Larruth stated that the person in charge of the pot might state some desired service, but he could not refuse the meal. The elf lad did admit that there were generally two sizes of bowls. A small one for those who showed up to eat, and a large one for those who sought to return some gratitude.

The three tried to act like they knew about the common pot. They never truly had gone hungry. Wildlife did not appear to be under the stress to survive on this world like it was on the other. Still, knowing that a meal was available would probably have had them decide not to eat certain things.


The three travel to where they meet one of those who sealed the doom of their old selves.


Chapter Eleven - Part 2

It was late in the afternoon when the group approached the Castle of Iylytton. Larruth led his companions up to the outer wall of the fortress where he announced their names. He had assured the group that almost anyone who approached a castle would be given lodging for the night. Nothing required excellent accommodations, but a lack of hospitality was something to complain to the gods about.

The prince had also mentioned that there was a common pot. No one had a reason to go hungry. Larruth stated that the person in charge of the pot might state some desired service, but he could not refuse the meal. The elf lad did admit that there were generally two sizes of bowls. A small one for those who showed up to eat, and a large one for those who sought to return some gratitude.

The three tried to act like they knew about the common pot. They never truly had gone hungry. Wildlife did not appear to be under the stress to survive on this world like it was on the other. Still, knowing that a meal was available would probably have had them decide not to eat certain things.

True to Larruth's prediction, the castle gates did open. The group went a ways between the castle walls before passing through another gate into an inner courtyard. Soldiers were present to take the belongings into the castle and see to the welfare of the wagons and animals. All but Mially were directed to proceed to the front doors of the edifice.

Waiting for the group inside were a couple of very tall elves. Even Feladin had to look up to see the orange haired head of the man. The lovely green tressed countenance of the lady had to turn upwards only slightly to look at the priest. Larruth bowed to the couple. Sylvia took a hint and did a complete curtsey as her companions also showed some respect.

The nobleman spoke. "I am Duke Neymartain and this is my wife Gyllailor. I welcome you travelers into my home. I would appreciate your willing to stay through tomorrow."

The eyes of the three shot to the man. They knew the name. It was the one on the letter they had received announcing their award of a free Hawaiian vacation.

Sylvia tried to cover her stare. "I have heard of you."

He smiled. "I have heard of you as well, Lady Sylvia. Your accomplishments in the Beyshathile, not to mention your capture of the heart of Prince Larruth, have been making rather pleasant reading. To meet you in person is an honor."

Larruth suddenly felt that he was accompanied by three strangers. Sylvia was suddenly a very lovely lady who spoke very politely and sweetly. Oggelly and Feladin were also very formal in speech. The normal wisecracks and turning of phrases were completely missing.

The prince knew of the network of informants that Iylytton managed. He was not surprised by the duke and duchess knowing of his companions. It was expected. Just as it was that they probably already had copies of the documents that Viscount Salloriate had him bring to them. What did surprise him however was his associates not being aware of Iylytton, although knowing something that suddenly caused them to become very paranoid upon learning of the identity of the ruling nobles.

Larruth did not stay in his room long after returning from supper. He expected Oggelly and Feladin to be finding their way to Sylvia's room to conspire. The prince left to make certain he was present at the meeting.

Mially opened the door for Larruth, and allowed him to enter. Sylvia was playing with fire having a number of flames dart about the room. He watched as she had them rush to the middle of the room and brightly explode.

Looking into the lady's green eyes, the prince said, "I was expecting the presence of Oggelly and Feladin."

"They are not coming, Larruth. We will manage through tomorrow, then leave. This is not friendly territory."

"I do not understand."

"I would not be here today if it was not for Neymartain. He is a witch."

Larruth stood his ground. "I do not believe that, Sylvia. He is a duke. We passed near Itheleum that has a temple to the god Thurvan. Duke Neymartain has to work with the god to secure the allegiance of the people to the monarchy."

Sylvia looked perplexed. "I like Thurvan. Feladin first secured his name and his notes to Jerusalem by arguing in a temple to Thurvan." She straightened her face. "Still, it was Neymartain who signed the letter that forced us to start wandering."

The prince turned to the door, then turned back to his lady. "You are correct, Sylvia. You do need to travel. To state your beliefs now could cause damage where it does not need to go. I will not betray your secrets."

"I am learning to love you, Larruth."

Larruth did not say anything, but left. There was however a large smile on his face. He was already in love with this lady, but everyone had told him that it would be hard to get her to accept him. They did not believe that he was enough of a man to handle this lady. Well, guess who was wrong.


The next morning Larruth was as polite as the other three. They appeared at the breakfast table on time. They participated in the conversation. Sylvia sounded joyful when asked to join an afternoon social. Because no one had ever met the travelers, none suspected that they were not on their proper behavior.

Sylvia was returning from her room attired in one of her dresses that Mially had not yet improved. She was ready to release some of her tension in a good sparring session with the men. They still would not speak on anything that they considered important, but the exercise would help them survive the day.

It was a lovely oval chamber allowing for a wide staircase of white marble to allow movement between floors. Sylvia entered the room from the bottom level at one end of the oval. The stone of this room was a lovely pure white. Sylvia had noticed the elegance in the section of the castle where she had been given a room, but did not allow herself to feel out of place as she wore one of her common dresses while moving through it.

She knew that a fresco had been painted on the wall to her left. It had actually been pointed out to her by the official that had shown her to her room, but Sylvia was at that time tired of attempting to show interest in every work of art that was passed so had barely glanced at it. Her active mind suddenly did register the size of the painting, so decided to take a moment to see what topic had been considered worth wasting so much area upon. She stepped back to allow her large eyes to gather a more complete image of what had been placed on the wall. The lady gasped, then rushed up the staircase to get a better view of the illustration.

The fresco was not a picture. It was a wonderfully illustrated map of the elven forest. The script around locations was in Elvish, but Sylvia knew enough to sound out the names of places she had and had not been. She saw the line of the Beyshathile and formed a connection in her mind.

To her right sounded the voice of Gyllailor. "My younger brother painted that, Lady Sylvia. He was a traveler like you. He liked to brag that he had been everywhere on that map, and many other places that were not there."

The yellow haired lady tried to sound charming. "My friends and I tried to buy maps in Echinarsh, but they were quite expensive."

"Yes, reality is sometimes a hard thing to put on paper. I am very proud of my brother's work."

"I see the Barony of Nochwellin. I believe that I might have relatives there."

The duchess looked down at the young woman. She was extremely lovely. Gyllailor had trained a number of girls over the centuries. She had daughters, but also as a high noble some young ladies were sent to her to learn social graces that were not known at lower levels of society. The duchess could thus look at the features of the one before her and know that they were superior to most.

Sylvia glanced up with an almost scared expression. That look made the connection in Gyllailor's mind. She knew of the edict commanding all to report any movement of strangers to Nochwellin. She knew of the missing orange shirts. The duchess also knew of the order from the king to send reports of the movements of this special lady.

It was with soft words that Gyllailor spoke to Sylvia. "You do not want to head to Nochwellin, dear lady. Eric has been killed."

The young yellow headed elf backed down the staircase as she said, "I told Larruth that you were a witch."

That hurt. "I am no witch."

"Witches are responsible for the orange shirts, and it was your husband's name on our letter."

Hearing evidence to back up the charge really did not help the duchess's mental self-image. "I am no witch, Sylvia. I do what I can to help our people."

The young lady was about to flee. "My friends and I went into the Beyshathile to stop hurting people. You do it thinking that it is justified!"

There was a sincere note of pain in the voice of Gyllailor. "Sylvia! Don't go." To her credit, the yellow haired lady stopped. "I am no witch. I am doing the best that I can." The duchess was mentally pleading to the gods for help. "Please, Sylvia, come with me. Accuse my husband."

The small light form went erect. "I would be honored to do that."

Gyllailor turned back the way she came. She turned occasionally to assure that the young lady was following. Truthfully, the duchess expected Sylvia to request the presence of her friends. No, only a lady would do that. Gyllailor knew that none of those missing were female. However beautiful the form, Sylvia was going to face her executioner like a man.


In the next installment Sylvia does indeed face the one who signed the document that doomed who she had been.