B2 – Chapter 4: Charity overriding greed

Tristan left the dell to fetch Felicity, Onyx, and Midnight. The fairy dragon was telling jokes to the jokes, who were whinnying in an approximation of laughter. She looked up as he got closer, “About time! What’s going on?” Tristan filled her in, and she frowned. “I don’t trust strangers.”

Tristan frowned as he mounted Onyx and nudged him towards the dell. “They were open and honest with me.”

Felicity grumbled but nodded. “Fine.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Tristan asked, sensing her disapproval still.

“Did you just get drawn in by those pretty, brown eyes, the stupid angular face, and the stupid, sexy breasts?!” She was almost shouting at the end and was huffing in anger.

Tristan looked back at her, “What’s up with you?”

“I hate her, okay? I hate her stupid face, her stupid, ears, her stupid hair, her stupid…everything!”

“I…I’m sorry I did not consider how you felt. Very well. Instead, we’ll apologize and we’ll just go on our own way.” He began spinning his crucible and pushing the essence into his ring.

Felicity practically beamed at hearing that, nodding in her elfanoid form from atop Midnight, “Good! And…thank you. For thinking about how it would make me feel.”

Partly that, Tristan thought, but I also want to rest up in the Fey Realm, and traveling with others, I would not want to vanish in the night and return in the morning to their pestering questions. Plus, the idea of having another Elf enter the Realm and take up some of the essence of the Fey Realm set his teeth on edge. If I’m honest with myself, I would be uncomfortable with someone else, even a lesser via bloodlines alone, getting their hands on any of the ambient essence that belongs to me.

He had not been a greedy child, but since consuming the essence crucible of the first dragon he slew, he felt himself being more and more possessive. He attributed the trait becoming part of his personality as a side-effect of the act of consuming the creature’s crucible. But this was the first time it had actively intruded into his thoughts in such a fashion. Was grandfather always dealing with this? He thought. Was Fawkes? Or Bertram? Gisele, even? They all consumed dragon’s essence crucibles before I did…it might explain why they acted how they did. Grandfather always doing as he pleased, Fawkes doing whatever brought him glory, Bertram running away to the Pathfinders with this woman, and even Gisele’s greed over noble station?

It was lordly, in a way, to be greedy. To want more. But Tristan did not want to be that. And yet, he felt that greed over his Realm’s essence. The desire to keep all other Elves out, because it was his Realm to rule, to covet.

It’s not healthy to think like that, he thought as he tried to push against the emotions in himself. But the thoughts were pierced by a scream in the night. From the direction of the dell. He looked up and saw a series of large, bat-like creatures who were darting into the campsite; they lifted off the two Human archers he had met, first – carrying Connor and Kelly high up before dropping them. They landed on their legs, the bones snapped, and they let out screams of pain.

Tristan scowled and put his hand up to his lips, “Onyx, Midnight, do not buck. Keep heading forward!” They both snorted as they sped up, and Tristan formed his fingers into the tube shape necessary as he envisioned a blossoming fire and angled up into the sky. He took the essence he had been spinning into his ring and instead directed it to his throat. “The power I took from you is now mine to wield!”

The blast of fire exploded upward with an enormous Fwoosh as it illuminated the night sky, and the bat creatures flew away from the sudden, bright source of light. Tristan pointed to the downed Human archers, “Felicity! Go get them, sling them over Midnight’s back! And Onyx!” he leaned down to Onyx’s neck, “I’m dismounting. Slow a bit, then follow Midnight.”

The horse whinnied, and Tristan waited until he slowed before jumping off the mount, rolling, and as he got up to jog to the dell, he began stringing his bow. Putting an arrow to nock against his hand on the grip, he stopped, aimed at the creature that was going towards Felicity, and led it a little bit. Spinning his crucible once more, he pushed the energy into his weapon as he pulled back. The bow glowed with the icy-blue light, and the power transferred to the nocked arrow. Leading the bat-creature just a bit more, he let loose, and the shaft sank into it before exploding in a gory sight of frozen chunks.

They cascaded down behind Felicity, and Tristan got up to the top of the dell, nocking another shot, pushing essence into the bow once more, and aiming at the other one that made to swoop at the group near the fire – holding various melee weapons. He let loose, hit the creature in the face, and it exploded into frozen chunks that thunked into the ground all around.

Tristan glanced down at the bardic troupe, “My friend is rescuing your downed allies. How many more do you see?” He turned back to scan the skies.

“Directly above you!” Shandra shouted.

Tristan looked up and saw the thing coming. Nocking another arrow, and pushing essence from his crucible into the bow, he fired straight up. The impact carried the creature back into the sky a few feet before it, too, exploded in an icy hail that showered down upon the group. There was a little bit of collateral damage as the frozen, bloody chunks impacted the troupe. But they were only lightly bruised.

“Keep an eye directly above,” Tristan ordered as he got up to the dell and kept overwatch for Felicity. She had finished rescuing the two humans with Onyx and Midnight and was riding to the dell. Tristan kept pushing essence into his ring, “What are these things?” Tristan asked.

“Demon bats,” Trenton growled, the large Bearkin holding a club and a shield. “From the Demon Realm.”

Tristan began scanning the horizon for any sign of something being ‘off’ – something to indicate an incursion…but he saw nothing. “I don’t see any more of them,” Tristan muttered as Felicity rode up with the injured companions.

The other bardic troupe members gasped, and Shandra smiled. “We were saved! Thank you, Tristan. And who is your friend-”

“I am Felicity Glimmerwing,” Felicity replied as she dismounted and helped their party members down and onto the ground. “And I am Tristan’s partner,” she said with pride and confidence as she stared daggers into Shandra’s eyes.

The Fallthorn Elf smiled back, but there was a hidden intent there that Tristan wasn’t sure how to read. Instead, he focused on the skies, ensuring that no more of the creatures were on the approach. His ring began to glow, “Everyone, gather up with all your gear. We’re going to the Fey Realm.” He glanced at Felicity, “Sorry, but I can’t keep my word this tim-”

She walked over and put a finger on his lips, “It is okay,” she softly said as she smiled a bittersweet smile. “I know you are just doing the right thing…even if I don’t agree with it. Traveling during the night with who-knows how many out there is going to be a problem, and those ones with the broken legs.” A flicker of pride mixed with apprehension crossed her face, “It’s the right thing to do.”

The world vanished in a flash of white and Tristan along with the performers was transported in front of the Queen’s Wood. The Goldwood tree was adjacent to the main entrance, and Tristan called for a healer.

The uninjured members of the troupe gasped in awe and wonder at the space they found themselves suddenly…but Shandra did not. She instead inhaled deeply and clutched her chest. Tristan could see the warbling in the air as essence rushed into her. “What…what is happening?” she asked.

Tristan scowled a little bit but pushed it back so as not to intimidate her. “Here is the short version. You have an essence crucible now, congratulations. Elves came from the Fey Realm originally. Fairy dragons are my servants, and the Queen’s Wood is for me only…and those I designate. Got it?”

Shandra nodded as she sucked in deep breaths, “Got…it…”

Tristan turned to Felicity and pulled her aside as the few fairy dragons with rejuvenation flew over to tend the wounded. “I want you to convey my orders. None are to follow Shandra’s instructions despite their nature – I overrule her, and my decree is what will be followed.”

“Good!” Felicity replied.

“Second, none enter the Queen’s Wood except me, fairy dragons, and the jewel crafter I designated yesterday. Third, four fairy dragons will follow these troupe members at all times. Are we clear?”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Yup!” She turned into her fairy dragon form and flew away.

Tristan returned to the troupe who were recovering from their shock and injuries, respectively. Tristan cleared his throat and flourished his cape back with his arm. “There are houses you may stay in along the perimeter of this small clearing. You are not to enter the Queen’s Wood – the massive tree behind me – without my explicit consent. Likewise, you are not to leave the clearing without my consent.” He pointed at the bush full of sapphires, and the Goldwood. “Those plants are off limits, as well. Lastly, you will each be shadowed by four fairy dragons to keep you honest and safe. Are we clear about expectations and boundaries?”

The various troupe members nodded, and Shandra crossed her arms, pouting. “I feel…so at home here. That tree calls to me.”

Tristan looked up to the fairy dragons; some of whom were already flapping over designated individuals as Felicity had done a remarkable job of spreading Tristan’s instructions rapidly; flitting about like a buzzing bee to different groupings of her kin. “You lot? Keep an especially close eye on this one. Also, send our healer to tend their wounds.”

He looked back to the troupe, “I will return us to the Mortal Realm tomorrow. And I changed my mind about traveling together. You can keep the gold pieces – my gift to you. As well as the safe night rest…and my saving your lives. In exchange, you don’t reveal anything you know about me. I will out-ride you tomorrow morning.”

The group nodded, but once more Shandra seemed to pout. “This would be a great story to te-”

Tristan scowled and let it be seen this time, “You dare question me?” He barked. “You are a lesser Elf. You will follow my orders.”