Shadowed Meetings

[Patryas]

[glow=red,2,300]Continued from "Patryas, of the house of Fenn'dal" in the Census Office[/glow]

Patryas sat in the dark corner of the tavern, waiting quietly for his company to arrive. He breathed almost like a mouse, barely audible. His elbows were on the table with his hands folded in front of his face. The red glow of his eyes only visible every few moments from the flicker of candle flame when people passed his table. He smiled to himself, everything would soon fall into place. A look of annoyance came over his face as the innkeeper came to his table.
"Anything else, mi'lord?" the innkeeper asked reluctantly.
"More wine, and then I don't want you to bother me again," Patryas said with an air of threat in his voice.

The innkeeper brought him more wine and did not disturb him again. Patryas pulled a glass vial from his tunic and let a few drops of the red liquid fall into his wine goblet, just as another delf sat down at his table. He replaced the vial and gave his company a stare.

"So? How goes our plans?" Patryas asked while sipping his wine.

"To plan my lord. The mysterious death of Urias' family and the violent death of Urias has put the council in an uproar. They called an emergency meeting for tomorrow. With Urias dead, and no left alive from his house, there is no one left to fill his spot on the council. All of the upper houses already have their hands full with other duties, and the spot must be filled," the delf reported.

"Let me worry about the council. Standard procedure must be followed, that is how the council feels about such things."

"But my lord, how did the eradication of Urias and his house get accomplished so quickly and quietly?" the delf asked.

"I do not know, but I shall look into it. It has fortunately helped us further our plans immensely," Patryas said with a grim smile on his face.

Suddenly, there was a cry from the street. People were running towards one of the nearby houses. Patryas and his companion calmly walked out of the tavern and over to the center of all the commotion. There on the steps of the house, belonging to another higher class family, was the bloodied head of Urias. Blood seeped from the stump that was the top of the neck and out of the ears. The eyes stared upward into an abyss, letting everyone know he died in a state of horror, and the tongue hung, blue and cold, from the mouth. Panic came over the crowd and people were shouting countless cries for help, of fear, and of anger.

As Patryas walked away from the scene, he again smiled. A smile that was on the whole, horrifying and evil. He proceeded back to his lodgings.

[Patryas]

Patryas walked into his lodgings and sat down in the main room. A fire was crackling in the fireplace and a glass of wine was waiting for him on the table. He sat down in his chair and quietly sipped his wine. As thoughts and plans swirled in his mind, he caught a memory of someone vital to his plan. “I wonder if he will remember me after all these years. I would ask his sister to help me, but I think she lacks the imagination,” he thought to himself.

Outside the window behind him a dark shadow dropped down from the rooftop onto the balcony. As quiet as a mouse, the dark figure entered the house and went toward where Patryas was sitting.

“Well done. Everything is set for the final stage of our plans. How much resistance was there?” Patryas asked the figure behind him.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle, master,” the foreboding figure replied. “The task was quite simple. What more would you have me do?” the figure asked.

“We have heard no word of Adaun in quite some time. Go in search of her and see what she has to say. But avoid…..him….at all costs. I want to approach him myself.”

“Yes, master,” the figure answered and disappeared out the window.

[Patryas]

A gentle breeze blew through the trees of Nektulos forest. It sounded as if every creature in the forest stopped to listen to the quiet of the wind. A company of dark elves were heading back to Neriak, having concluded their hunting trip. Warriors, clerics, and shadowknights were cleaning their various weaponry as well as their dirtied and bloodied pieces of armor. Patryas stayed behind and stared into the sunset. The stench of the pile of burning bodies was now drifting downwind. Patryas sniffed the air once, not even flinching at the putrid smell.

“A successful mission today, Patryas.”<br>
Patryas turned with annoyance at the break of his thoughts.

“That it was,” he replied to his fellow shadowknight, as he regarded a human scout whom he had felled. “Then again, they never learn.”<br>
“Were you thinking of the Council?” the delf asked him.

“I was merely contemplating how politics is such a hassle in Neriak and how nothing ever seems to get done. Too many politicians. Too many people who think with the same processes going through their minds. Too many houses nursing grudges against each other, or worse. They need someone who will bring change. But we all know they will appoint another who thinks as they do. As you do, my dear Thengar.”<br>
Thengar did not answer him. Just looked with intent at Patryas.

“There is wisdom in your words. Had there been someone who could bring change, we could have met this scouting party miles before the Nektulos borders. And we would not have assassins killing council members in the dead of night.”<br>
Patryas turned to look at Thengar.

“It is the old fool’s own fault he was murdered. He made more enemies in this city than anyone else,” Patryas replied.

As the two made their way back to the city, Thengar was deep in thought. As they entered the city gates and proceeded into the city, Thengar turned to his friend.

“You have made me think of much. I will present “our” thoughts to the Council tonight. I shall come over for dinner after the meeting to relate what happened.”<br>
“That would be fine,” Patryas said back to him.

As the two separated, that smile came to Patryas’ lips. “And so it begins” he thought to himself.

[Patryas]

“You bring up many good points, Thengar. But what individual here in Neriak will apply all these ideals? As you said, there are many factions of houses here. I don’t care who you put on this council, it is very unlikely that they will work together.”<br>
“Some houses hold more sway than others. It is simply a matter of winning one house at a time. Almost every upper house is represented here tonight. The house of Ton’dil has recently fallen victim to personal wars. The house of Fenn’dal gave up on politics a long time ago. The house most capable of bringing the houses together has been gone for twenty years,” Thengar replied.

“You are talking sir of the house of Seladria,” the delf said. “That is an embarrassment we try to forget on this council.”<br>
“And I do not doubt the power of the O’Seths,” Thengar added after receiving several icy glares.

“I think that this task you have brought up is too big for one person or one house. We will save this discussion for another night. We must keep to the matter at hand. We must launch an investigation into the murders of the house of Ton’dil.”<br>
Thengar stopped listening as the council chair droned on. He sat and let his new found ideas flow through his head. He got up and excused himself from the meeting and received several shocked looks as he walked out of the chamber. He continued on to the house of Fenn’dal.

[Patryas]

Patryas sat in his chambers and let his thoughts wonder. The room was almost as black as night. The glow from the fireplace gave little light to the room. As if the room wanted to be dark, and the light from the fire was blaspheming the night. Patryas watched the flames and mumbled to himself. Every now and then a smile would come to his face and the light from the fire would illuminate his smile. If someone else had been in the room with him, all they would have seen of him would have been his red eyes and that smile.

His servant was coming down the hall to see if he needed anything, but paused at the door to listen before he went in. He pressed his ear to the door and strained to hear his master. He has been in his master’s presence when he has lost patience when someone has broken his thoughts, evidence from the scar running down the servant’s cheek. Hearing the faint voice of his master he passed on the door and would come back later.

“I wonder if Adaun knows who the old woman is that employed her,” Patryas thought aloud as if someone was listening.

He stood up and walked to one end of the room. His body started to shake with silent laughter.

“I know what I’m doing!” he suddenly snapped, looking to the opposite end of the room with a murderous glance.

He shook himself back to reality. “You must keep your grip,” he thought to himself.

A knock came at the door and his servant entered.

“Mi’lord, you have a visitor.”<br>

[Patryas]

Thengar and Patryas sat down in the dining room as the servants brought out their meal. Patryas took the vial from his tunic and poured a few drops into his wine and then swirled his goblet around a couple of times before sipping. Thengar watched him with a puzzled look on his face.

“What is that you put in your wine?” Thengar asked.

Patryas gave him a sneer.

“Only something to keep a shadowknight on his feet. Blood and a few drops of some mild poison. My father insisted. Please tell me what happened at the meeting,” Patryas replied annoyed at having to tell him.

Patryas quietly listened to Thengar’s report of the council meeting while they ate.

“Sounds like you made some progress. Hopefully the council will not drop your suggestions,” Patryas said as Thengar finished his report.

“You must keep me up to date. I have some business in Freeport this week but I will seek you out when I return,” he told the older delf.

“Have a good trip, my friend. I will look forward to seeing you when you return. Thank you for the meal, Patryas.”<br>
Patryas quietly walked him to the door and watched as the old shadowknight walked away into the city. He then proceeded downstairs into his personal armory. It was a big room. There were several worktables covered with various weaponry, armor, books of every kind, alchemy supplies, small caged animals, etc. A door in the back of the room opened and two younger delfs walked into the room and stood before Patryas. One of them, obviously a wizard, was draped in black robes with magical writings and runes running down the edges in gold inlay. The other was obvious from the stink. A necromancer. The ghastly stench of undead and death lingered about him and slowly filled the room. Patryas looked at them and smiled.

“We make for Freeport in an hour. Ready yourselves.”<br>

[Patryas]

As Patryas put on his armor, something tickled the back of his mind. Something was not right. He paused and tried to pinpoint the feeling. Earlier, had there been someone who had been spying on him? He shook his head and let the thought drop.

From off the mantle in his room he pulled his sword. Made from jet-black obsidian. He tied his sword belt round his waist and slid the sword in to the sheath. His ear caught a noise outside his window. Of course only his ear would have caught it. To anyone else it would have been something trivial, something not to worry about. That would have been their last thought. A dark shadow walked into the room and stood before Patryas.

It was Patryas’ personal assassin. A master of the arts of shadow and death. To the various rouge guilds around Neriak, he had been known as the silent master, until his mysterious disappearance.

“My lord, I have searched Neriak and the surrounding areas. I believe Adaun and…..him to be near Seriak. He has recently married and is expecting child.”<br>
At this Patryas threw a surprised glance to his servant.

“Continue your report,” Patryas said after a couple moments of thinking.

“I followed Thengar to and from the council meeting. He was followed here and I am sure that the someone that followed him listened in on your conversation.”<br>
Patryas knew something was not right. The assassin reached into his belt and pulled a small piece of clothing. He handed it to his master. Quickly the sweet aroma filled Patryas’ nostrils. This was no spy, this was something else. A worried party maybe. Someone untrusting of Thengar. He then put the swath of clothing in his tunic.

Patryas looked at his servant and smiled.

“Check up on our house servants and make sure their night time activities are not too expensive.”<br>
The assassin nodded and exited.

[Patryas]

Patryas had his wizard set up wards around his home before they made for Freeport, if that sweet-smelling someone was still curious, they would know upon their return.

As they rode through Nektulos forest, Patryas wondered if further business should be conducted in Neriak. He thought deep on this as they rode on in the night.


As they reached Freeport, they dismounted their horses and walked through the streets. They made their way down to the docks and approached a lonely door. Patryas knocked and waited. A couple of minutes later a very old man opened and let them in.

“I’ll see to your horses, sires,” the old man told them as he took the horses.

The trio made their way down into the old man’s basement. As they entered through the door at the bottom of the stairs, there was a young delf on the floor, bound and gagged, and passed out. Patryas dropped to one knee and observed the delf closely.

“You will be a key part in uniting your people. Though you will not live to see that day,” Patryas whispered.

He stood and looked at the room.

“Ready for our visitor.”<br>

[Patryas]

Freeport was at it's regular hustle and bustle which is expected in the mid-day. The sun was high in the sky. An elf approached the gates on horseback. He had ridden all day and night from Telethin. He had received a letter a couple of weeks earlier in regards to an individual who was wanted by their city guard. The elves usually don’t receive such information, so he knew he had better look into it.

Malovis had been a lieutenant in the Telethin guard for only a few months, but he has proudly served his people for many years. Dozens of tragedies and hardships could be seen in his face. He would be very put out if this letter weren’t real. The instructions that came in the letter were also very strange indeed.


Patryas sat in the cool of the basement waiting for his company to arrive. He dismissed his wizard and necromancer from the house so as to not scare away his company. He regarded his captive. The delf had since waken up and sat silent for the past few hours. Patryas had guessed that he had accepted his fate.

Malovis had dropped his horse off at the stables and proceeded on foot to the docks. As he neared his destination, he covered his face and pulled his hood down low over his face. He approached the beaten wooden door and knocked twice. The stench of fish floated in the air. As a precaution, he placed his hand on his sword.

Patryas walked up the stairs and paused at the front door.

“The area is clear, master,” Patryas heard in his head, the voice belonging to his wizard.

Patryas half covered his face and opened the door. Malovis jumped back in shock, half drawing his sword, a look of anger and hate shown from his eyes.

“Please, Lt. Malovis, I mean you no harm. I know you face retribution from your people if you are found here. I have taken the necessary precautions. I have something I think you will want to see.”<br>
Malovis was almost in a state of panic. His eyes darted every which way they could as he slowly walked inside the door. He cautiously followed the tier’dal downstairs.

“Please be seated,” Patryas offered.

“What is this about dark elf?” Malovis demanded, ready to jump at the delf’s throat.

[Patryas]

“It is about a murder that your guard never seemed to bring closure to.”<br>
Malovis stayed deadly silent and just listened. Patryas continued.

“A while ago a member of your guard was murdered. Not just any guard. But one of your best. One of your leaders. The perpetrator of that murder is the tier’dal you see bound here with us. Now, the only reason “we” have decided to help you is because this dark elf has committed treason against the Tier’dal Empire several times and has eluded capture several times.”<br>
Patryas stood up and paced across the room.

“Wine?” he asked.

“No,” Malovis said coldly.

“We thought long on what would be proper punishment for his crimes and realized that to put him into your hands would be fitting. We have heard that the elf he killed was one of Telethin’s favorite sons.”<br>
“Who is he? Whom did he kill?” the elf asked not taking his eyes from Patryas’.

[Patryas]

“You really cannot guess?” Patryas replied with an evil grin.

Malovis leapt to his feet, lunging for Patryas’ throat. Patryas made no move to stop him, he just smiled at the fun he was having. Malovis wrapped his hands around the tier’dal’s neck and began to squeeze.

“I TIRE OF YOUR GAMES, TWISTED ONE! IF YOU CONTINUE TO……,” he stopped as if he had died.

A look of shock came over the elf’s face. He turned to the delf bound on the floor. Horror crept to his face, he nearly lost his balance. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He crumbled to the floor and crawled toward the bound delf. Patryas almost couldn’t stand it. This was too much fun.

Malovis turned the delf over and removed the veil from the prisoner’s face. The delf looked with confusion into the elf’s soggy eyes.

Malovis brought his hands to the delf’s shoulders. His hands quaked with anger and the delf was shook from it. Malovis brought his mouth next to the delf’s ear. With a crackled voice, he whispered into the delf’s ear.

“You are the one known as…..” he stopped and clenched his eyes shut as his body was wracked with sobs.

With the tears from his face dripping on the face of the delf, he continued his whisper.

“You are the one known as Phelan?” Malovis finally spewed from his mouth. He then proceeded to wipe his face and eyes. He felt filthy just having to say the name.

The delf’s eyes widened with fear and he began to yell through his gag and began to twist and struggle, anything he could do to escape. Patryas calmly walked over and struck the delf on the back of his head with the pommel of his dagger. The delf did not lose consciousness, but the blow was hard enough to make him stop and realize there was no escape. All that could be heard in the room were the sniffling of Malovis and the whimpering of the doomed dark elf.

[Patryas]

“I knew that Master Aramis was loved by his people, I did not know it would have this effect,” Patryas said.

“You will hold your tongue or I will cut it out of your mouth, dark elf!” Malovis barked at him.

Patryas let him be. Malovis managed to get himself into a chair and regained his composure. Malovis looked like he just aged ten years in the past few moments.

“My emotions took hold of my actions. I need to remember who I’m dealing with. A creature of hate and deception.”<br>
Patryas lip curled up in a twisted sneer and he glared into the elf’s eyes.

“You did not think I would present something like this to you and just expect you to take my word for it. You greatly underestimate me. As all elves do of the Tier’dal.”<br>
Patryas walked over to a cupboard and pulled out a small knapsack. From it he produced a short sword and a small jewel.

“This sword was found on him as well as this jewel. You tell me if you recognize them,” Patryas said as he handed the items to Malovis.

Malovis’ eyes widened at the sight of the artifacts. He quickly shot a glance at “Phelan” on the floor.

“The sword belonged to the murdered elf,” Malovis said as he pointed out the engraving on the blade, “And the jewel was one that had been embedded in his armor”<br>
“How do you know such things, dark elf?” Malovis asked.

“Just as you and the humans and the barbarians have spies, so do we,” Patryas replied.

“It is nothing that simple,” Malovis shot back.

“We carry out patrols in our surrounding lands, just as you do. Every now and then it humors us to take someone alive and torture them for any and all information we can squeeze from them,” the shadowknight said with a twisted smile.

“If you truly knew how to prove this as truth to me, there is something else you can show me,” the elf said, fearing that the dark elf was telling the truth.

“Of course. Observe.”<br>

[Patryas]

Patryas put the bound delf on his back and pulled up his tunic to reveal his chest. Malovis walked over and looked.

“We had a posse searching for the murder of Master Aramis it seemed like for years. They looked everywhere. A number of elves lost their lives. My people wanted justice for Aramis. One night, the posse had split up; they believed they were close to finding this scum. A young warrior happened upon a small campsite in the middle of the woods. It was the murderer’s campsite. He was asleep. The young elf knew that any dark elf that was capable of taking Master Aramis’ life in a fight, he was no match against.”

Patryas smirked as Malovis continued.

“The culprit was sleeping on his back and had removed his armor. The young elf made note of the many scars that the dark elf possessed. The young elf went off to find the others. By morning, it was too late. He had left sometime in the night. Ever since that night, I have not forgotten those scars. The dark elf you have on your floor possesses those very same scars. But there is something else you must tell me. Why did you summon me?” Malovis asked with intent in his eyes.

“Because the elf that was murdered was flesh and blood to you, am I wrong, Malovis?”<br>
Tears welled up in Malovis’ eyes.

“Yes, he was my brother. Finally my brother can rest. I want to Thank-“<br>
“Do not thank me, elf! I am doing this to ensure his pain,” Patryas said as he pointed at the bound delf. “Just remember that this meeting never happened,” Patryas said with disgust.

“I should have expected as much from a dark elf. Your only stake in this is pain and suffering,” Malovis said.

“Take your bounty and go!”

[Patryas]

A gray layer of clouds hung in the sky. A sadness had settled on the land. It had been a long ride from Freeport. Malovis looked drained as Telethin came into view. He looked over at his captive on the other horse. His face had been covered, as well as all of his skin. He would not want his people to see he had a dark elven prisoner. The guards saluted him as he came into town.

“Guard, fetch the captain,” Malovis asked not even looking up.

He helped his prisoner down off his horse and regarded him with pity.

“I have heard rumors that my brother trained you in the art of warfare. Now that I have found you, I am almost sad it has to end like this,” Malovis whispered in his prisoner’s ear.

“I…..I am sorry. I can not remember much since I was taken prisoner,” the hooded delf said back to him.

Malovis eyes filled with anger at hearing that. The tier’dal even treat their own with such cruelty. He found it hard to believe. As the captain of the guard approached Malovis and his prisoner, he was a little taken aback.

“Malovis, what is this? What did you find out in Freeport?” the captain asked him.

“Captain, the murderer of Master Aramis has been found.”<br>

[Patryas]

As Patryas and his entourage rode through Nektulos forest, Patryas was deep in thought. He had the potential to make many enemies in Neriak and abroad. Had anyone been untrusting of him?

“What are the rumors surrounding the events of late in Neriak?” Patryas asked his servants.

“As expected many people suspect that all that is happening is feud between a couple of houses. The house of Ton’dil was the only house that held hatred for the house of Fenn’dal. Your name has not been mentioned in anyone’s discussions, my lord. However there are quite a few people that are untrusting of Thengar.”<br>
Patryas nodded as his servant answered him. As they neared Neriak, Patryas noticed a look of anticipation on the guard’s faces. They saw the same look on several people’s faces as they rode through the city.

“Something is happening,” Patryas said, wondering what would have the people so tense.

As Patryas entered his house, the silent master greeted him and told him of his visitor, and of the recent arrival of the siblings.

“Go pay a visit to the house of O’seth. Somehow I believe the disturbance in the city has something to do with them,” Patyras told his assassin.