The 'Night Elf King's Accounting' Scene from CONJUROR'S CHRONICLES: The Primordial Flame . . .
I really enjoyed writing this scene. The book was written for my kids during my divorce. I was dad & mom at the time and the kids needed a diversion. I took a note out of my own parents story-telling in the winter evenings in Minnesota (There just wasn't much on TV back then). I wrote the Primordial Flame with my kids as the main characters, a wizard's apprentice named Alexander and a Druid Priestess named McKenna, and we read a chapter or so every night. The kids would act out the scene. They have many adventures in the book as they try and find the primordial flame and rekindle the fires of their friend the dragon Gern Vernyx. One of those adventures is an encounter with the dreaded King of the Rhnue, the Night Elves. It's not just Alex and McKenna in danger, they're trapped in Lady Elianne's woodland maze and have gathered an interesting band of followers including Lylla the unicorn, Furge the centaur and, well, you get the idea.
It was nearly midnight when at last they stopped. They could go no farther. Silently they gathered in a small circle. Furge built a fire, and they sat glumly around it too tired to sleep, and too frustrated to talk. They simply sat there staring at the fire and munching on their meager dinner.
“How now, this doesn’t look like much of a celebration,” said a thin woody voice.
Alexander was about to issue a sarcastic retort when he realized the voice didn’t come from anyone in their party. To their horror, they looked up to see the night elves emerge out of the darkness on either side of the path, sandwiching them between two lines of spears. Alexander leapt up, wand at the ready, McKenna next to him. Furge and Lylla faced the elves behind them.
One elf, a tall gaunt disdainful Rhrnue, stepped forward. He held a jeweled scepter; the purple stone mounted on top glowed. He smiled, or rather, that’s what Alexander thought he meant when his tight-lipped mouth twisted ever so slightly. He stopped and looked down at the kids. “You left in such a hurry, young ones. That was dreadfully impolite of you, leaving my dining room in a shambles and with our feast no less. Such manners in the young these days; I’ve half a mind to seek out your parents.”
“I doubt if you would be so forward if you knew who our parents were,” Alexander started, but the Rhrnue lord held his hand up and interrupted, sporting a feral smile.
“Oh the forest is abuzz with the rumor of Tarius and Julienna’s progeny, I assure you. We’re not as deaf as all that. Still, whether your are the descendants of emperors or woodcutters it matters not a whit to protocol, or reckoning, and that’s what I’m here to do. Chamberlain!”
Another night elf approached. He was as tall as his lord was but with long gray hair and a full beard beneath his chin that spilled over his extravagant robes. The Chamberlain bowed and produced a fantastic golden scale from beneath his cloak. There was nothing to set it on, but this didn’t seem to worry him. He placed a long nailed finger on the round base and gave it a whirl. The base spun faster and faster without any more help, emitting a slight insect-like hum. When it reached an irritating pitch he let go of the scale, and it hung there in mid air.
“Order from chaos, young ones, that’s the mantra of righteous power in this world,” the Rhrnue lord said, folding his long fingers in the shape of a steeple and drumming them against each other. He looked at them with those luminous elven eyes, adding, “You above all people should appreciate that, after all, that’s what you do. Through your magic, the chaos of the world becomes orderly according to the discipline of your mind. Now, if you are ready we can begin. It shouldn’t take long. It had better not; I don’t want to be kept all night chasing after truant children who haven’t the breeding to conduct their business in a courteous manner.”
Alexander and McKenna raised their wands as one, expecting the Rhrnue to attack. The Rhrnue lord pointed his index fingers at them, saying, “Now, now, we’ll have none of that.” He flicked his fingers in a tight circle and their wands flew out of their hands and up into the night air. He sighed, one finger pointing at each of the hovering wand, and said, “Youth—always jumping to conclusions.” His long thin fingers darted at their breasts, and their wands returned to the pockets in their cloaks. “Now, can we get on with it?”
“I’m sorry, my lord, get on with what; what is it you want from us?” Alexander asked.
Likewise, McKenna was completely mystified at the Rhrnue’s actions. She didn’t know as much about them as Alexander, but she’d heard enough dark tales of the night elves to be terrified. Still, despite everything she’d heard, she couldn’t tell whether they were evil, irritating, terrifying or just mysterious.
The Rhrnue lord shook his head, and muttered, “This may take longer than I thought.” He snapped his fingers, and four of the guards took their spears and set them in the ground in a particular way. One of them took off his cloak and draped it over the spears. The Rhrnue lord sat in his makeshift throne and motioned to his Chamberlain. “Let’s begin. You supplied us with our Lentarus feast, that is, the centaur there.”
Furge growled, and two Rhrnue guards put the points of their spears dangerously close to his breast. He gritted his teeth and held his tongue.
The Chamberlain took what looked like a chess piece from his robes and placed it on the scale. The Rhrnue lord drummed his fingers on his knee and told them, “It was a reasonable offering considering you trespassed on our lands.” The Chamberlain loaded the other scale with pieces representing the other party members. The scale dipped on the side of the party, but only slightly. “On the whole it was an even trade.”
“It wasn’t our fault we were in your lands; we didn’t even know these were your lands,” McKenna protested. “Queen Elianne put us in the maze. If you have anyone to blame it’s the dryads, not us.”
“My dear sweet little druid it doesn’t matter why you were in our lands only that you were in our lands,” he replied. “We redressed the matter after our needs, and as we were the injured party the manner of recuperation was ours to decide. Apparently, however, that was an inequitable arrangement in your minds.”
“He’s our friend and companion,” McKenna told him sternly. “We couldn’t leave him to be eaten—that’s disgusting!” Her cherubs face was taking on that angry expression, but it didn’t seem to faze the Rhrnue lord.
“Really, your provincial ideas of civilized manners are just that: provincial!” he said sharply. “Still, loyalty has its place. You considered yourselves injured and sought to redress that injury by inviting yourselves to our feast. Now, unfortunately my guards failed to meet you properly.” He shook his head, and pursed his lips. “That is a difficulty, to be sure. Your rude interruption of our feast weighs against you, I should say by the weight of your pride,” the Chamberlain added a gold coin under Alexander and a gold coin under McKenna. Their side of the scale dipped low. “Yet I can appreciate your loyalty for your comrade; it’s not an enviable emotion, but it is a sincere emotion and I wouldn’t discourage it in servants.” The Chamberlain put two silver pieces on the centaur’s side of the scale. It didn’t draw them even, but it quivered upward slightly.
“Alas, I must add to your account the indefensible behavior of my guards, as how am I to say that you wouldn’t have come to me civilly, demanding an itemized accounting of the situation? I must give you the benefit of the doubt there.” He directed the Chamberlain to add two pieces shaped like guards to the centaur’s side. That evened the scale up.
“Of course, I’m now less two guards for some time now—your lifetimes to be exact.”
The Chamberlain took out two identical pieces and snapped them in two.
Everyone in the party winced audibly.
The half-pieces went on their scale and it dipped down below the other again.
“Then there was the damage done to my hall, specifically the loss of the wine, garments burned, upholstery scorched, coals wasted,” the Rhrnue lord went through a detailed accounting of the damage done by Alexander and McKenna. With each transgression, the Chamberlain put a piece of gold, silver or copper on their side of the scale. It took quite some time, and the scale began to tip dangerously far.
“And finally there were the minotaurs,” the Rhrnue lord said sternly. He glanced at them with flashing eyes. “You do admit to bringing them in my halls, don’t you?”
Alexander and McKenna glanced at each other. There wasn’t any more use in denying it; things couldn’t get any worse. McKenna nodded, saying defiantly, “We sent the brownie to get them, but don’t put it on him, it was our idea.”
“And an inspired one at that,” the Rhrnue lord said mysteriously. “As things stand you are in a woeful position. Certainly none of you would ever leave this forest alive.”
Alexander put on a grim face, and put his hand on McKenna’s shoulder. Although her blue eyes might betray her fear, she didn’t tremble or plead. They would make a good showing for themselves; they would make their parents proud. McKenna could hear Alexander gritting his teeth. Her hand eased toward her wand. Alexander did the same. Behind them, he heard Furge growl and Lylla snort. Helios puffed up his chest and stepped between them. Only Pugthar seemed unable to find his courage. He leapt off the crow and threw himself at the Rhrnue lord’s feet, sniveling and crying, begging for mercy. McKenna looked at him with distaste.
The Rhrnue lord was no more pleased than McKenna, which was strange, as McKenna thought the night elves would relish such open terror. Instead, the Rhrnue lord pushed the brownie away with his boot, or rather, he kicked him. “Away from me cowardly creature!” he snapped. “Look at your betters; see the example they set! By Yahweh who made even the Gods! Why face death with less fortitude than life! Surely you are the best example of a chaotic heart and are justly doomed for it.” Then he turned to Alexander and McKenna. A strange gleam came into his eyes. “You two young ones should be ashamed at your comrade, and I would understand if you wish to sunder him from your fate. It’s up to you.”
Alexander was about to speak, but McKenna touched his hand, and said, “No, he is our comrade, and he’ll share the same fate as we do.”
“Very well, but I don’t think he deserves your consideration,” the night elf said, looking doubtful. He stood up.
Pugthar answered with a long drawn out wail.
“It is time for the final accounting,” the Rhrnue lord said evenly.
“Chamberlain, give a final accounting and let’s get on with it,” the Rhrnue lord said. The Chamberlain bowed. Alexander and McKenna steeled themselves, sliding their hands into their cloaks and slowly drawing their wands. The Rhrnue lord appeared not to notice their actions, and rightfully so. What did he have to fear from them?
The Chamberlain reached in his robes and took out two more pieces. They were miniature minotaurs. He placed them on the scale opposite the party. Immediately the scale with the minotaurs dropped below the level of their scale. The Chamberlain waited for the scales to stop moving, and announced, “We are at a significant deficit, my lord.”
The Rhrnue lord looked grim. “So I thought. It was a stroke of genius to retrieve your centaur and replace him with two minotaurs—their meat is so much more potent.” McKenna stifled a gag. “How you managed it I don’t know, but that’s moot. You did manage it. Therefore, name your ransom. There is very little I should refuse you.”
Alexander was just coming to grips with the fact that the Rhrnue lord wasn’t going to kill or torture them, but McKenna was one-step ahead of him this time. “We’d like to know the way out of the maze please.”
“That can’t be enough,” the night elf said with obvious surprise. “After all, you’ve proven your resourcefulness. No doubt you’ll find your own way out.”
“We know, but we’re in a hurry. The fate of our family and maybe even the entire Imperium rests on us solving a mystery.”
“You’re quite certain?”
“Yes please; just show us the way out.”
“How very intriguing,” the Rhrnue lord mused. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small box. He handed it to McKenna. “Within you will find the eye of an eagle. Tell it where you wish to go and it will show you the way. It is quite valuable, as it will have more uses than simply finding the exit to the dryad’s maze, but it is all I have that approaches our reckoning and fulfills your desire.” He hesitated, clearly disturbed. “You’re certain that’s all you desire? Do you perhaps wish a few of my night elves as slaves?”
“No thank you.”
“Gold?”
“We’re fine, thank you.”
The Rhrnue lord wasn’t satisfied. He had the Chamberlain put the coins and pieces into a small leather bag and give them to McKenna. Then the scowl on his face deepened. “You aren’t per chance trying to leave me with a debt, are you little druid?”
“No lord,” she said seriously, and she bowed, making the sacred symbol of the druids on her breast. “I will consider our scales balanced when we exit the maze and your territory; that will be the end of it.”
“And you?” he said, glaring at Alexander.
“Yes, well, no, now that I come to think of it. There’s one small thing I’d like to ask before we’re even.”
“Yes?” His thin brows arched so high Alexander was afraid they might pop off his head. Somehow, that idea made it easier to ask his question. He told the Rhrnue lord the story of Gern Vernyx and his missing fire, but in a way he thought the Rhrnue Lord might appreciate it.
“You see, my lord,” he told the old night elf with gravity beyond his years, “this seemingly inane problem has thrown the balance of our home, our Duchy, even our Imperium awry. If it progresses unhindered, there’s no telling how far the chaos might spread. It may soon affect even your own idyllic woods.”
“This is serious,” the Rhrnue Lord admitted, stroking his thin beard. “So it is advice you want, not a special wergild or spell?” When Alexander nodded, he said, “Rhrnue don’t give advice—not willingly at least.” He pulled his beard and looked everywhere except at the kids. Finally, in apparent exasperation, he threw his arms in the air, and exclaimed, “You force my hand. Here is my advice, as ridiculous as it may sound to your young ears, trust in yourselves! You made it through the maze for a reason. You are in the middle of this mystery for a reason. It must mean that you are part of the solution. As a wizard and a druid, albeit young, it is your responsibility to correct this rift in the orderly way of the world.” He leaned forward and stared vehemently at them with eyes as sharp as flint. “If you ever breathe a word of this so help me I’ll hunt you down and flay the hides off you!”
“Don’t worry, my lord,” they told him sincerely.
“Then we’re square?”
“We’re square.”
That was apparently enough for the Rhrnue Lord. He snapped his fingers and the night elves fell in behind him. “Farewell, young ones, it was refreshing to meet others who have even a miniscule grasp of reality. May your efforts bring order to chaos!”
The night elves left without a sound, as if they’d never even been there.
It was nearly midnight when at last they stopped. They could go no farther. Silently they gathered in a small circle. Furge built a fire, and they sat glumly around it too tired to sleep, and too frustrated to talk. They simply sat there staring at the fire and munching on their meager dinner.
“How now, this doesn’t look like much of a celebration,” said a thin woody voice.
Alexander was about to issue a sarcastic retort when he realized the voice didn’t come from anyone in their party. To their horror, they looked up to see the night elves emerge out of the darkness on either side of the path, sandwiching them between two lines of spears. Alexander leapt up, wand at the ready, McKenna next to him. Furge and Lylla faced the elves behind them.
One elf, a tall gaunt disdainful Rhrnue, stepped forward. He held a jeweled scepter; the purple stone mounted on top glowed. He smiled, or rather, that’s what Alexander thought he meant when his tight-lipped mouth twisted ever so slightly. He stopped and looked down at the kids. “You left in such a hurry, young ones. That was dreadfully impolite of you, leaving my dining room in a shambles and with our feast no less. Such manners in the young these days; I’ve half a mind to seek out your parents.”
“I doubt if you would be so forward if you knew who our parents were,” Alexander started, but the Rhrnue lord held his hand up and interrupted, sporting a feral smile.
“Oh the forest is abuzz with the rumor of Tarius and Julienna’s progeny, I assure you. We’re not as deaf as all that. Still, whether your are the descendants of emperors or woodcutters it matters not a whit to protocol, or reckoning, and that’s what I’m here to do. Chamberlain!”
Another night elf approached. He was as tall as his lord was but with long gray hair and a full beard beneath his chin that spilled over his extravagant robes. The Chamberlain bowed and produced a fantastic golden scale from beneath his cloak. There was nothing to set it on, but this didn’t seem to worry him. He placed a long nailed finger on the round base and gave it a whirl. The base spun faster and faster without any more help, emitting a slight insect-like hum. When it reached an irritating pitch he let go of the scale, and it hung there in mid air.
“Order from chaos, young ones, that’s the mantra of righteous power in this world,” the Rhrnue lord said, folding his long fingers in the shape of a steeple and drumming them against each other. He looked at them with those luminous elven eyes, adding, “You above all people should appreciate that, after all, that’s what you do. Through your magic, the chaos of the world becomes orderly according to the discipline of your mind. Now, if you are ready we can begin. It shouldn’t take long. It had better not; I don’t want to be kept all night chasing after truant children who haven’t the breeding to conduct their business in a courteous manner.”
Alexander and McKenna raised their wands as one, expecting the Rhrnue to attack. The Rhrnue lord pointed his index fingers at them, saying, “Now, now, we’ll have none of that.” He flicked his fingers in a tight circle and their wands flew out of their hands and up into the night air. He sighed, one finger pointing at each of the hovering wand, and said, “Youth—always jumping to conclusions.” His long thin fingers darted at their breasts, and their wands returned to the pockets in their cloaks. “Now, can we get on with it?”
“I’m sorry, my lord, get on with what; what is it you want from us?” Alexander asked.
Likewise, McKenna was completely mystified at the Rhrnue’s actions. She didn’t know as much about them as Alexander, but she’d heard enough dark tales of the night elves to be terrified. Still, despite everything she’d heard, she couldn’t tell whether they were evil, irritating, terrifying or just mysterious.
The Rhrnue lord shook his head, and muttered, “This may take longer than I thought.” He snapped his fingers, and four of the guards took their spears and set them in the ground in a particular way. One of them took off his cloak and draped it over the spears. The Rhrnue lord sat in his makeshift throne and motioned to his Chamberlain. “Let’s begin. You supplied us with our Lentarus feast, that is, the centaur there.”
Furge growled, and two Rhrnue guards put the points of their spears dangerously close to his breast. He gritted his teeth and held his tongue.
The Chamberlain took what looked like a chess piece from his robes and placed it on the scale. The Rhrnue lord drummed his fingers on his knee and told them, “It was a reasonable offering considering you trespassed on our lands.” The Chamberlain loaded the other scale with pieces representing the other party members. The scale dipped on the side of the party, but only slightly. “On the whole it was an even trade.”
“It wasn’t our fault we were in your lands; we didn’t even know these were your lands,” McKenna protested. “Queen Elianne put us in the maze. If you have anyone to blame it’s the dryads, not us.”
“My dear sweet little druid it doesn’t matter why you were in our lands only that you were in our lands,” he replied. “We redressed the matter after our needs, and as we were the injured party the manner of recuperation was ours to decide. Apparently, however, that was an inequitable arrangement in your minds.”
“He’s our friend and companion,” McKenna told him sternly. “We couldn’t leave him to be eaten—that’s disgusting!” Her cherubs face was taking on that angry expression, but it didn’t seem to faze the Rhrnue lord.
“Really, your provincial ideas of civilized manners are just that: provincial!” he said sharply. “Still, loyalty has its place. You considered yourselves injured and sought to redress that injury by inviting yourselves to our feast. Now, unfortunately my guards failed to meet you properly.” He shook his head, and pursed his lips. “That is a difficulty, to be sure. Your rude interruption of our feast weighs against you, I should say by the weight of your pride,” the Chamberlain added a gold coin under Alexander and a gold coin under McKenna. Their side of the scale dipped low. “Yet I can appreciate your loyalty for your comrade; it’s not an enviable emotion, but it is a sincere emotion and I wouldn’t discourage it in servants.” The Chamberlain put two silver pieces on the centaur’s side of the scale. It didn’t draw them even, but it quivered upward slightly.
“Alas, I must add to your account the indefensible behavior of my guards, as how am I to say that you wouldn’t have come to me civilly, demanding an itemized accounting of the situation? I must give you the benefit of the doubt there.” He directed the Chamberlain to add two pieces shaped like guards to the centaur’s side. That evened the scale up.
“Of course, I’m now less two guards for some time now—your lifetimes to be exact.”
The Chamberlain took out two identical pieces and snapped them in two.
Everyone in the party winced audibly.
The half-pieces went on their scale and it dipped down below the other again.
“Then there was the damage done to my hall, specifically the loss of the wine, garments burned, upholstery scorched, coals wasted,” the Rhrnue lord went through a detailed accounting of the damage done by Alexander and McKenna. With each transgression, the Chamberlain put a piece of gold, silver or copper on their side of the scale. It took quite some time, and the scale began to tip dangerously far.
“And finally there were the minotaurs,” the Rhrnue lord said sternly. He glanced at them with flashing eyes. “You do admit to bringing them in my halls, don’t you?”
Alexander and McKenna glanced at each other. There wasn’t any more use in denying it; things couldn’t get any worse. McKenna nodded, saying defiantly, “We sent the brownie to get them, but don’t put it on him, it was our idea.”
“And an inspired one at that,” the Rhrnue lord said mysteriously. “As things stand you are in a woeful position. Certainly none of you would ever leave this forest alive.”
Alexander put on a grim face, and put his hand on McKenna’s shoulder. Although her blue eyes might betray her fear, she didn’t tremble or plead. They would make a good showing for themselves; they would make their parents proud. McKenna could hear Alexander gritting his teeth. Her hand eased toward her wand. Alexander did the same. Behind them, he heard Furge growl and Lylla snort. Helios puffed up his chest and stepped between them. Only Pugthar seemed unable to find his courage. He leapt off the crow and threw himself at the Rhrnue lord’s feet, sniveling and crying, begging for mercy. McKenna looked at him with distaste.
The Rhrnue lord was no more pleased than McKenna, which was strange, as McKenna thought the night elves would relish such open terror. Instead, the Rhrnue lord pushed the brownie away with his boot, or rather, he kicked him. “Away from me cowardly creature!” he snapped. “Look at your betters; see the example they set! By Yahweh who made even the Gods! Why face death with less fortitude than life! Surely you are the best example of a chaotic heart and are justly doomed for it.” Then he turned to Alexander and McKenna. A strange gleam came into his eyes. “You two young ones should be ashamed at your comrade, and I would understand if you wish to sunder him from your fate. It’s up to you.”
Alexander was about to speak, but McKenna touched his hand, and said, “No, he is our comrade, and he’ll share the same fate as we do.”
“Very well, but I don’t think he deserves your consideration,” the night elf said, looking doubtful. He stood up.
Pugthar answered with a long drawn out wail.
“It is time for the final accounting,” the Rhrnue lord said evenly.
“Chamberlain, give a final accounting and let’s get on with it,” the Rhrnue lord said. The Chamberlain bowed. Alexander and McKenna steeled themselves, sliding their hands into their cloaks and slowly drawing their wands. The Rhrnue lord appeared not to notice their actions, and rightfully so. What did he have to fear from them?
The Chamberlain reached in his robes and took out two more pieces. They were miniature minotaurs. He placed them on the scale opposite the party. Immediately the scale with the minotaurs dropped below the level of their scale. The Chamberlain waited for the scales to stop moving, and announced, “We are at a significant deficit, my lord.”
The Rhrnue lord looked grim. “So I thought. It was a stroke of genius to retrieve your centaur and replace him with two minotaurs—their meat is so much more potent.” McKenna stifled a gag. “How you managed it I don’t know, but that’s moot. You did manage it. Therefore, name your ransom. There is very little I should refuse you.”
Alexander was just coming to grips with the fact that the Rhrnue lord wasn’t going to kill or torture them, but McKenna was one-step ahead of him this time. “We’d like to know the way out of the maze please.”
“That can’t be enough,” the night elf said with obvious surprise. “After all, you’ve proven your resourcefulness. No doubt you’ll find your own way out.”
“We know, but we’re in a hurry. The fate of our family and maybe even the entire Imperium rests on us solving a mystery.”
“You’re quite certain?”
“Yes please; just show us the way out.”
“How very intriguing,” the Rhrnue lord mused. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small box. He handed it to McKenna. “Within you will find the eye of an eagle. Tell it where you wish to go and it will show you the way. It is quite valuable, as it will have more uses than simply finding the exit to the dryad’s maze, but it is all I have that approaches our reckoning and fulfills your desire.” He hesitated, clearly disturbed. “You’re certain that’s all you desire? Do you perhaps wish a few of my night elves as slaves?”
“No thank you.”
“Gold?”
“We’re fine, thank you.”
The Rhrnue lord wasn’t satisfied. He had the Chamberlain put the coins and pieces into a small leather bag and give them to McKenna. Then the scowl on his face deepened. “You aren’t per chance trying to leave me with a debt, are you little druid?”
“No lord,” she said seriously, and she bowed, making the sacred symbol of the druids on her breast. “I will consider our scales balanced when we exit the maze and your territory; that will be the end of it.”
“And you?” he said, glaring at Alexander.
“Yes, well, no, now that I come to think of it. There’s one small thing I’d like to ask before we’re even.”
“Yes?” His thin brows arched so high Alexander was afraid they might pop off his head. Somehow, that idea made it easier to ask his question. He told the Rhrnue lord the story of Gern Vernyx and his missing fire, but in a way he thought the Rhrnue Lord might appreciate it.
“You see, my lord,” he told the old night elf with gravity beyond his years, “this seemingly inane problem has thrown the balance of our home, our Duchy, even our Imperium awry. If it progresses unhindered, there’s no telling how far the chaos might spread. It may soon affect even your own idyllic woods.”
“This is serious,” the Rhrnue Lord admitted, stroking his thin beard. “So it is advice you want, not a special wergild or spell?” When Alexander nodded, he said, “Rhrnue don’t give advice—not willingly at least.” He pulled his beard and looked everywhere except at the kids. Finally, in apparent exasperation, he threw his arms in the air, and exclaimed, “You force my hand. Here is my advice, as ridiculous as it may sound to your young ears, trust in yourselves! You made it through the maze for a reason. You are in the middle of this mystery for a reason. It must mean that you are part of the solution. As a wizard and a druid, albeit young, it is your responsibility to correct this rift in the orderly way of the world.” He leaned forward and stared vehemently at them with eyes as sharp as flint. “If you ever breathe a word of this so help me I’ll hunt you down and flay the hides off you!”
“Don’t worry, my lord,” they told him sincerely.
“Then we’re square?”
“We’re square.”
That was apparently enough for the Rhrnue Lord. He snapped his fingers and the night elves fell in behind him. “Farewell, young ones, it was refreshing to meet others who have even a miniscule grasp of reality. May your efforts bring order to chaos!”
The night elves left without a sound, as if they’d never even been there.
