Legend of Guardians

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The Elven King looks at the reports that were placed before him. It is time. Time for the pilgrimage to begin. “Do we have any qualified summoners ready to go?” He asks his counsel.

“There is one in the Arabitylar family. A young woman, she is a mage as well.” The counsel answers.

“Perfect, send a message to the family and also to the human King. I know one of his sons is a mage. He will make a good protector. I cannot believe it already has been a thousand years. We will spread the word to the other nations later. I don’t want our summoner to be alone with the other guardians.” The King sighs. “I only wish there was a different way of doing this.”

~~~~~~

Caladhiel finishes up on the young patient. “Next time us some caution while exploring. It could have been a lot worse than a broken leg.”

“Cala, Cala…” A young girl’s shout is heard. Caladhiel knows immediately who it is. Only one person calls her that. The curtain is pulled open. “Atara nyare amin utu- lle. ta naa horme.*” The young girl pants and switches to common. “There is a royal summons for you.”

Caladhiel gasps, “A royal summon for me? I will be right there.” She looks at the doctor for his dismissal and takes off her labcoat. “Thank you for fetching me Kujara, shall we race home?” The grin on Kujara’s face is wide as she takes off to the house. Caladhiel waits for a few moments to give her sister a head start. She breaks into a sprint.

She lets Kujara touch the door first as she smooths her outfit. Not only is her family a mage family. It is a summoner one as well. It is rare to have a summoner who is both. They had royal visits before but mostly they deal with her parents not with her. She makes sure she is presentable before walking in.

A man in royal robes is sitting by the fireplace enjoying tea with her parents. They all look up as Caladhiel enters the room. “Milday, it is good to see you. I am glad you came quickly. I have a letter here from the king. He wants you to get ready for you pilgrimage. Yours will not be the normal one though. He needs you for a special one. With your parents’ permission of course.” He looks over at the couple seated together.

“But of course, we pledge our services for His Majesty, and that of our daughter.” The Father states.

“Don’t worry about packing too much. His Majesty will provide you with the necessities.” The man states. “However if there is anything personal you need, I will help you pack that. I recommend packing lightly, this is going to be a long trip. Primarily on foot as well.”

Caladhiel bows and goes to her room. She packs her flute, her toiletries, and her crossbow. She cannot help, but be a little nervous. She remember the bedtime stories of pilgrimages that all elves have heard. She wonders who her protectors will be.

*Mother told me to find you. It is urgent.

**********

Meanwhile, have the world away a message is received by the human royalty. They give it to King Frederick immediately upon arrival. He nods at his messenger. “So it begins. Get the Royal carriage set up with plenty of provisions. My son is going to the Elven Castle. Oh and someone fetch Kelani for me as well.”

Kelani is at the mage practice grounds. He is working on picking up his instructor. It is not going so well. “I know you can do this Prince, you have been practicing so hard. Just a little bit higher. I can almost reach the apple.”

“It would have been simpler to bring the apple to you.” Kelani retorts as beads of sweat glisten on his forehead. The door burst open and a guard enters. Kelani loses his concentration as he looks at the guard. The instructor falls on her butt.

“This better be important, can’t you see I am in the middle of a lesson.” The instructor glares at the guard.

“Sir, the King told me to come get you. It is important.” The guard bows.

Kelani shrugs at the instructor. “What can I say, I am a popular one today.” He turns to leave the room but pauses at the door. Only using his mind, he takes the apple from the branch and sets it in the instructor’s hands. “Enjoy.”

Kelani rushes back to the castle, making a stop at his room to dress appropriately. He is told that his father is waiting in the study. “Father, you wanted to see me?”

“Good, good you are here. I got a message from the Elven nation. They have requested you to be a protector for their summoner. I am readying a carriage and your bags as well. You will be protected on your trip to pick up the Summoner, and to bring her back here. I am so proud that you were selected for this pilgrimage. Now go quickly and may your travels be safe.” King Frederick hugs his son.

Kelani is excited, finally something to do. He loves being a Prince, but since he is not heir to the throne, life is a little boring. He goes to his room and makes sure the servants are packing the right things.

Darrin is amused at the Summoner's words, but he does not say anything. Elves have the strangest sense of what one would consider to be "rude." He expected it, but it was still amusing, nonetheless. When she asks for Syren to come get food, he almost cringes, however. Majet saves the day, however.

Majet says, "It will be Darrin's honor to serve the Lady in her tent."

"Yes," Darrin adds immediately after, "I shall serve the ladies, first."

With that, he sets about placing the meat on several, metallic plates that he had brought, along with skewered vegetables and potatoes that he had cooked to go with it. He was quick to hand some to the Summoner first, before heading off to Syren's tent to deliver hers. He disappears inside as Majet begins to prepare a plate for herself and the Prince.

Having a plate for herself prepped, she then hands another prepped plate to the Prince with a half smile. She's not used to smiling. The water from the stream will do.

"After this, I could do for a bath." Majet says, looking out towards the stream.

Majet shrugs, not really convinced of the purpose of the flowery scent. She moves to wash herself, looking over at Syren as she gazes at the Summoner with, for the first time, an expressive face. She looks condescending as she speaks for the first time in a while.

Syren says, "No pretty soap will wash away your filth. You're wasting your time."

Majet was washing her feet, but she jolts up to a full stand as the Drow begins to wash herself with her gaze keeping on the Summoner as she does so in order to see her reaction.

Majet is about to say something, but she freezes. She can't talk, now. As much as she would defend the Summoner, she suddenly realizes what it is, exactly, that Syren is looking for. She recalls the woman saying something similar to her in the past, during their early scouting. She cringes on the inside, looking at the Summoner, as well, to see her response.

Darrin smiles, "You may assist me whenever you wish. We are equals, which is why I will meet yours and the lady Caladhiel in a gaze and not the others. Should you ever speak to me, assist me in any way...it will not ever offend Syren. You needn't worry about that. Only Majet has to keep on her toes about me."

Majet sighs as the Summoner walks away, shaking her head and then looking over at Syren's face to see a smirk. Majet almost wants to smile with her, but she pushes it down. Part of her enjoyed the Summoner's response, as well, but that was the Spriggan in her. Though she enjoyed the negative conflict from her blood, the human side of her immediately felt guilt from the joy.

Majet asks, "Did you get what you were looking for?"

"Not yet, but I will."

Majet frowns partly and then continues to wash herself and Syren follows suit, using her own soaps and such. She is quite tired already, it would seem. Mostly from the tension of being around the others. If it were just her and Syren again...things would be nice.

Darrin says, "Lady Syrendross owns me, but Majet is still my superior in rank. She is a scout, just as my Mistress is. They work together and have done so for many years. Majet has earned Syren's trust and respect, and if Syren respects another, they become my superior."

Darrin listens to the Summoner play a beautiful tune, watching the fire flicker before him with warmth and welcome. The Prince seems entertained, as well, but it is some time before Lady Syrendross returns from her bath and places her supplies in her tent.

Darrin looks over at her feet, careful not to look to high. He watches her hand draw a signal in the air, to which he nods his head in confirmation. Then, the Mistress takes her leave of the camp, walking off into the darkness. He knows she will be alright, but he does hope that Majet is faring well with her own bathing pursuits. Either way, he doubts there is any trouble...it would take a lot for her to drown in a stream, of all things.

Darrin simply sits at the fire some more, enjoying the warmth and the music. Majet has yet to return to the fire, but he can hear her from behind him, moving away from the stream and playing in the water, probably with either her hands or feet. He can't be sure which.

Darrin simply shakes his head with uncertainty, "Majet would signal if something were wrong."

He quiets down as the Summoner begins to play again. He has little to say as he enjoys the music, as music is something that he does not have the privilege of enjoying down in the Underdark. After a while, he can hear his mistress moving around in the distance. She is keeping watch, moving about the camp and scouting. It is her usual habit and he will be joining her shortly, to be sure.

After another few mintues have passed, Darrin watches as Majet finally returns, placing her clothes out to dry from being washed in the stream as the music entertains her evening. She is quick to place away her supplies once more before she crawls into her bedroll next to the fire and readies herself to sleep.

The woman seems to have as little to say as Lady Syrendross does. Perhaps that is why the two travel together so effectively. He wonders if he should tell Syren of what she has learned tonight. Of course, he should. He will.

Lady Syrendross is off scouting and the Prince and Majet are both asleep, so this leaves only Darin as the Summoner begins to read. Simply sitting there at the fire, he ponders what he will do and for how long the night will last to him, now that he has so little to do. He'd love to return to his mistress' side, but he cannot...he has been forbidden to leave the Summoner's side in most cases.

As he does not wish to interrupt her reading, he says nothing and instead lays down to look up at the stars from the corner of his eyes away from the fire's glow. He wishes he could fly, most night, but at least tomorrow, there will be the temple. Although he won't be relevant to the actual processes of the temple, itself, he knows there will be warm beds and that is more than enough to make him happy to be there, for now.

Caladhiel feels Darrin’s presence. She wonders why he is not with his master. She knows that the drow is on patrol. She does not know why she is so angry at Syrendross. She finishes her entry and looks over at the fire. “What does the mark on your arm mean?” She asks quietly.

Darrin looks up hesitantly, waiting several seconds before he replies, "I am not allowed to answer this inquiry. That is a question better reserved for my mistress."

Caladhiel suppresses the urge to roll her eyes. “Do you really think she is going to tell me? I know how much she does not like me. Fine maybe another question. Who really owns you?”

He replies instantly, "I belong to the Queen."

Caladhiel is a surprised in a pleasant way. “So the Drow Queen allowed Syrendross to borrow you for this journey.” She folds her long legs and sighs. The Human King sent his son, the queen sent her servant. She does not know if Majet has any ties with Spriggan royalty. Were they picked to be spies, or to ensure their safety?

She looks over at Darrin. “So ultimately your orders are from the Queen. Why were you sent on this journey?”

"No, my orders are from Lady Syrendross." Darrin says, "My only command from the Queen was to become her slave for the journey and to treat her as my mistress."

“I understand, thank you for the conversation. I need to move around a little bit. I am not used to sitting on the ground so much.” Caladhiel stands up and walks around the fire a little bit. “When do you think Lady Syrendross will be back?”

"In the morning, unless she is summoned." He says.

“I see well that is good.” Caladhiel has to admit she is a little restless. It is too quiet out here. If she was at home they would be together at the fire playing their instruments or telling stories. She can’t do that here because others are sleeping and she does not want to disturb them. She wishes the sun to rise so they can be on their way to the temple.

A night passes and the day greets them at dawn with the same hello as always, with a colorful shine and the bird's morning introductions. Darrin is already packed and ready to go, with his Mistress' tent packed and the dishes already cleaned.

He moves over to Majet and gently shakes her awake. The Spriggan looks alarmed at first, sitting up with a swift movement of alarm, but after Darrin's polite apology as he bows at her feet, she smiles and speaks softly to him of forgiveness.

And so Majet, too, gets up and readies herself for the next day, putting away her bedroll and stretching out widely with a big yawn. The day will be a long one, perhaps....or maybe, a better one. Doubtful, considering Syren's behavior last night.

She looks about and, sure enough, Syren is nearby, ready to travel. The woman is just standing there, looking about with boredom. She seems entirely uninterested in the rest of the group, but Majet approaches her, anyway. The woman never ate breakfast, so she didn't bother to ask about that.

"Would you like me to lead today?" Majet asks.

Syren replies, "Yes. Fine."