had been degraded to a status of barely human, and had been treated with open contempt for many generations. During his life he had seen a change, but such feelings would not disappear easily or quickly.
“Let us change the subject,” Emeriss said, giving him a bitter smile. “Tomorrow I will take you to the council and we shall see about the rite. I was only a young child the last time we hosted a mage, so it would be nice to see the rite performed again. It might give my kin hope that a new start is ahead of us.”
“There was a mage here when you were a child?” Thad asked, slightly surprised. The elf looked as if she were only slightly older than himself. “I would have thought it would have been centuries since the last mage graced your city.”
Emeriss gave out a joyful laugh. “I will take that as a compliment. You are right however it has been nearly six hundred years since the last time the rite was performed.” Her face suddenly looked downcast and forlorn. “Even then it was a rare occasion for a mage to seek us out. The Brotherhood has done their job well.”
“The Brotherhood will not be around much longer if I have much of a say in the matter,” Thad said, his eyes burning with intense hatred.
“I can understand your hatred of the Brotherhood but don’t let it blind you to the dangers my young friend. From what I have heard the Brotherhood has lost much of its power since the days of the Empire, but that is not to say they are weak. They have many spies and men spread throughout the world.”
“I have learned this, but they have to have a base, some place they receive their orders from. I will find it, and I will destroy it,” Thad replied through gritted teeth.
Emeriss sighed, “I can see that I have little chance of swaying you from your path, though honestly I don’t see why I should. The Brotherhood is a bane to the world, but I would hate to see the first mage that has reached us in such a long time to end up on one of their stakes.” Emeriss stared at him intensely her eyes burrowing into him. “If I cannot sway you from your path. I might at least be able to point you in the right direction. The Brotherhood comes out of the country of Rane.”
“Rane?” Thad asked, his voice revealing his surprise.
“I see you have heard of it, though if you are from Farlan I shouldn’t be surprised. Though we elves do not leave our shores we still watch the outside world, in hopes of one day being able to rejoin it. About four hundred years ago the Brotherhood was quickly losing strength and needed a stronghold. The land was still divided and new countries were rising out of the fallen empire. One of those countries was Rane, though at the time they were weak as they had been the center for much of the succession wars. The Brotherhood offered the new king a deal. They would help secure the Kingdom if he would allow them free rein within its borders. The Brotherhood then set up a merchant network so they could travel to other lands without drawing undue notice. To this day they use the merchant caravans to move their soldiers and to gather information.”
“Thank you for the information,” Thad said weakly. “I am tired. I believe I should retire, that is if you have a room available for me.”
Emeriss picked up the small bell and rang it again. “I understand, we will talk again on the morrow.” Within moments the young elven maid appeared in the room. Emeriss talked briefly to her before turning back to him “Larissa shall escort you to your chambers. If you need anything do not be afraid to request it.”
“Thank you Lady Emeriss,” Thad said as he stood from his chair and followed Larissa from the hall.
Thad was led to a large chamber that was magnificently furnished. Thad pushed aside the silken screens that shrouded the bed and lay down. It had been a busy day, one that he would not soon forget. The news about Rane and the Brotherhood had been particularly enlightening.
It
“Let us change the subject,” Emeriss said, giving him a bitter smile. “Tomorrow I will take you to the council and we shall see about the rite. I was only a young child the last time we hosted a mage, so it would be nice to see the rite performed again. It might give my kin hope that a new start is ahead of us.”
“There was a mage here when you were a child?” Thad asked, slightly surprised. The elf looked as if she were only slightly older than himself. “I would have thought it would have been centuries since the last mage graced your city.”
Emeriss gave out a joyful laugh. “I will take that as a compliment. You are right however it has been nearly six hundred years since the last time the rite was performed.” Her face suddenly looked downcast and forlorn. “Even then it was a rare occasion for a mage to seek us out. The Brotherhood has done their job well.”
“The Brotherhood will not be around much longer if I have much of a say in the matter,” Thad said, his eyes burning with intense hatred.
“I can understand your hatred of the Brotherhood but don’t let it blind you to the dangers my young friend. From what I have heard the Brotherhood has lost much of its power since the days of the Empire, but that is not to say they are weak. They have many spies and men spread throughout the world.”
“I have learned this, but they have to have a base, some place they receive their orders from. I will find it, and I will destroy it,” Thad replied through gritted teeth.
Emeriss sighed, “I can see that I have little chance of swaying you from your path, though honestly I don’t see why I should. The Brotherhood is a bane to the world, but I would hate to see the first mage that has reached us in such a long time to end up on one of their stakes.” Emeriss stared at him intensely her eyes burrowing into him. “If I cannot sway you from your path. I might at least be able to point you in the right direction. The Brotherhood comes out of the country of Rane.”
“Rane?” Thad asked, his voice revealing his surprise.
“I see you have heard of it, though if you are from Farlan I shouldn’t be surprised. Though we elves do not leave our shores we still watch the outside world, in hopes of one day being able to rejoin it. About four hundred years ago the Brotherhood was quickly losing strength and needed a stronghold. The land was still divided and new countries were rising out of the fallen empire. One of those countries was Rane, though at the time they were weak as they had been the center for much of the succession wars. The Brotherhood offered the new king a deal. They would help secure the Kingdom if he would allow them free rein within its borders. The Brotherhood then set up a merchant network so they could travel to other lands without drawing undue notice. To this day they use the merchant caravans to move their soldiers and to gather information.”
“Thank you for the information,” Thad said weakly. “I am tired. I believe I should retire, that is if you have a room available for me.”
Emeriss picked up the small bell and rang it again. “I understand, we will talk again on the morrow.” Within moments the young elven maid appeared in the room. Emeriss talked briefly to her before turning back to him “Larissa shall escort you to your chambers. If you need anything do not be afraid to request it.”
“Thank you Lady Emeriss,” Thad said as he stood from his chair and followed Larissa from the hall.
Thad was led to a large chamber that was magnificently furnished. Thad pushed aside the silken screens that shrouded the bed and lay down. It had been a busy day, one that he would not soon forget. The news about Rane and the Brotherhood had been particularly enlightening.
It
Similar Books
