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The love
brings greatest suffering into the world.
But only love
may mend this suffering.
Who now would claim, love is a demon,
I would say to him:
Surrender yourself to it!
It will reward you, it will punish you
but you will see,
that it is love,
that makes our immortality bearable,
yes even
worth living.
-Dark Elvish Wisdom
North of Middle-Earth, North of the realm of the Kraggash, End of the Third Age
The dusk came with a thick fog and made it possible for the Elves to sneak up on the walls of the towers in the cover of the mist.
They strode from tower to tower and examined the seamless masonry, where block of stone had been put upon block of stone without that they would have required mortar. The sheer weight that they carried gave the rock enough pressure and stability, as Thangrineth found.
With the hilts of their daggers they carefully knocked against the sockets, but they waited in vain for the dull sound of a hollow space. Cadhalor dug immediately at the turf, to see, how deep the towers stung into the earth, but after a while he gave up. They had to reach ten steps and more into the ground.
While the two Elves sought and examined, the moon rose higher and the mists of water in the air began to disperse. Thangrineth looked up at the cloud-high towers, to the woven connection that had been made of extremely broad tow, of which some carried iron rings and where hooked into the masonry.
»That most likely makes sure that they do not begin to swing during a storm«, she estimated and could not repress her amazement. No, she did not want to repress it! »I cannot stop looking at it«, she said and took in every detail of the impression. Such a building, if also by far smaller, she would let herself be built when they were home again! No one else would possess a comparable residence. And Cadhalor could not effort himself something like that.
»You certainly play around with the thought to capture and take the Galran Unuk with you, instead of cutting his head off«, Cadhalor scoffed. »He would have to build you something as pretty as well.«
Thangrineth found the idea brilliant. »Why not? Such a grand architect should not waste his life for a parchment and a crown. That abortion of a goblin I can certainly convince to leave him to me alive, if I bring him enough colorful trash from the treasure-chamber. Or candy.«
»You forget one thing.« Cadhalor walked around Thangrineth, stepped infront of her, laid a hand against the wall and pointed up. »How do we make our way inside without the help of the Obbôna? Are we supposed to climb up a seamless wall, several hundred steps? I cannot do such a thing. Twenty steps I might have agreed to, but ten times as much and more? Never.«
»Those black-skinned poison brewers knew why they gave that task to us. With their thin arms they do not even scratch the walls.« Thangrineth hated to admit that she saw no possibility to enter the towers. The buildings even showed no windows. Blind pillars, nothing more.
»I wonder what is so special about a goblin-crown that the Galran Unuk had to steal it«, Cadhalor muttered to himself. »And a parchment - of what content?«
»Is it of our interest?«, Thangrineth replied reprimanding. »It does not matter. Munugash could have just as well demanded a blue painted horse and a destroyed harp from us.«
»It is not as easy to me.« Cadhalor seemed to be eager for another collision of the fronts.
»He has got us in his hand«, Thangrineth said. »Or do you possess the skill of healing to that what the arrows brought into our blood?«
»Taking that the crown and the parchment would be the key to the conquest of our home and we would have a possibility to inquire what they are to Munugash - would you say the same, then?«
Thangrineth sighed annoyed. »That is nonsense. Bare and utter nonsense.«
»It would still be of interest to me what is behind these tokens. What meaning they have.«
»Then I propose that we ask the Galran Unuk so that you are satisfied and no longer bore me with your questions«, Thangrineth hissed. Again she had to be wary not to loose her temper. It was almost always there, that anger, and it was directed upon the one Elf with the bow and the missing traits that made a true warrior. Representative for all Stars, she hated Cadhalor and still had to travel with him, although he was a weakling and shot arrows from a tree, instead of proving the monsters in close combat that they were nothing but the lowest scum.
Because of him, she had fallen for her temper that had demanded in that moment of her to give Inúr away. It had nettled her so terribly that she had asked Cadhalor all sorts of questions. A foolish deed, that she could not reverse now anymore, for otherwise it would cost her pride. But as Cadhalor would not return alive to the land of the Conclave anyway, Thangrineth wasted not a single thought on the matter, or at least she tried not to. It was no easy thing to her.
»Yes, let us ask the Galran Unuk«, Cadhalor agreed and sounded as if he was really considering not to hand over the tokens if they should turn out to have a higher meaning.
Thangrineth found the Elf ever more tiring. How much she would have loved to have taken her brother with her. Then she would be already at the new ally and sign the pact.
Suddenly they perceived a deep buzzing, as if something heavy was turning itself. The sound became brighter and brighter, the circling increased.
Thangrineth laid a hand against the tower: The stone was softly vibrating, as if something was moving within. »Did he hide a winch in there?« She looked attentively about and breathed in air, but could not perceive anything out of the ordinary.
»Look! Up there!« Cadhalor had taken a few steps to the side and looked up.
A construct in the form of a box had loosened itself from the tower and was lowered on five tows slowly down. Thangrineth estimated it on ten steps in length and about eight steps in width. At one end they spotted a gate that was made of iron. Had they been discovered and the Galran Unuk brought his soldiers down to take them captive?
The box closed in through the veil of fog.
»We should leave«, Thangrineth said and was on her way, Cadhalor followed her. »Or do you think that could be our opportunity to get inside?«, she thought. »We could climb on the construct and get up along with it. Then we would not need the Obbôna.«
»No«, Cadhalor replied and regarded the surroundings. Now that the lift had closed in, they perceived that it had been equipped with hatches that allowed a full look around the construct.
It was set upon the ground, the gate was raised and a wagon with ten armed men left slowly and then rolled into the northern direction.
In a save distance the Elves remained standing and saw how the hatches were closed and the lift was pulled up again. The hatches had been occupied and so they had to dismiss the idea of a secretive ascend.
Thangrineth bit her teeth unto each other. With that it was clear that they would have to rely on the help of the flesh-thief, instead of killing her already. Rather she would have loved to inflict pain upon her, terrible pain! But delayed was not meaning that it had been abolished.
She knew what she would do: hang her up on the soles of her feet, cut the skin at her ankles and draw it down slowly like a garment that was no longer meant for her. The raw flesh she would whip with thin twigs and destroy the veins that she would bleed out in agony. The essence of life should trickle away, instead of coming into touch with a scaffold to be banned upon it for all eternity. Trickle away, perish, disappear.
Thangrineth smiled satisfied. Yes, that was exactly what a flesh-thief deserved. As soon as she had done her part.
Cadhalor walked behind Thangrineth, still impressed by the towers of the Galran Unuk. Not to be taken on the fly and equipped with defense mechanisms that certainly would manage any attempt to take the towers. A true monstrosity of a building, both in architecture and defensive structure.
He thought of the simple beasts that they had slaughtered in the forest. »They were truly certain to gain entrance to the fortress and steal the treasures«, he said to Thangrineth.
»You are amazed by that? By all their stupidity it must have been an easy thing for the Obbôna to make them believe her false promises.« Thangrineth sounded angry.
And Cadhalor knew exactly why. But as much as it riled him to leave the flesh-thief alive, no other possibility would come to his mind. »We must test what she knows. The fog protected us this time from being discovered. But we can always rely on the good will of luck. Especially not if we need to climb up the walls.«
»Do not emphasize that we require this ... this thing«, Thangrineth replied in annoyance. »I would just love to ...« Her jaws were working and she huffed. »She has deserved death a hundred times.«
»She will be given it once she has been of service to us«, Cadhalor said who could very well understand the abhorrence. »Do you think I like the situation?«
»I wished«, Thangrineth answered, »that she would be dead already. That would leave no choice for us.«
They reached a thicket nigh the spot where they had left the Obbôna. The corpses of the trolls had disappeared, puddles of blood and grinding marks were clearly visible. The scavengers had taken what they had desired.
The flesh-thief sat in the cage, in the center, cowering, while four wolf-like creatures sat around her prison and glared at her greedily. Saliva dropped down their flews and fell into the fur. Scratches on arms and legs of the Obbôna were witnesses to half way successful attacks of the ones who besieged her.
At times, one of the creatures jumped unto the cage and tried to bite with its long jaw after her. By the width of a hand before it would reach her head, the jaws were snapping shut. Quick as lightning she hit after the beast and struck it at the nose. Wailing it jumped back to the ground and growled at the Obbôna. Its brethren remained still in wait.
»Look at that! Those beasts don't seem to be very smart: The Obbôna is still alive and furthermore do they have a bad taste regarding the choice of their food.« Thangrineth laughed quietly and in glee. »I would have wished her by far deeper wounds.«
Cadhalor reached for his bow on his back and took an arrow. So far he had lost two arrows. So forty-eight projectiles remained in whole, parted on his quiver and the saddle-bags of his steed. Additionally he had taken thirty arrow-tips with him, should he require to make some of them himself. »I ...«, he just began to explain to Thangrineth that he wanted to shoot the beasts, as she stepped through the thicket, holding the spear angular away from her. Cadhalor left the cover and shook his head. The craving for recognition of his companion was unbelievable. If you wish, then you undo them.
»Watch, how you do it«, Thangrineth said over her shoulder. »I do not require a bow. Not for them. It will be quick.«
»Sure«, Cadhalor replied and looked to the creatures that now turned against them. Suddenly they had lost all lethargy and hunger and the will to kill stood in their eyes. The Obbôna threw herself on the ground of her cage and called something about honor, thankfulness and »ye, Elves«, the rest was drowned by the sound of growling and barking of the predators.
»Ah, you do not believe me?« Thangrineth bend down, took up a leaf and held it up with a stretched arm. »Before it touches the ground, I will be done.« Her fingers opened.
One of the animals leaped and Thangrineth evaded it by turning her body, whirled the spear and rammed it into the flank of the assailant. Dead the first beast fell to the ground, the second bit after the Elf's thigh.
Quickly, Thangrineth withdrew her leg and destroyed the skull with a kick of her boot's sole; at the same time, she took force for a leap with the other and found herself on top of the cage. The sharpened end of the spear drove through the opened maw of the third beast that had tried to bite after her.
Cadhalor followed the flight of the leaf that came ever closer to the ground. »It is getting close«, he reported smiling.
The remaining creature eyed Thangrineth, who jumped nonchalantly from the cage and turned the spear. It ducked, made itself small and retreated.
The leaf was risen by a sudden breeze. Cadhalor blew from above until it would lower itself again.
The sharp end of Thangrineth's spear flew against the last assailant. Throat and back penetrated, it went limp. At the same time, the leaf landed.
The Obbôna clapped like a joyful child and praised the combat abilities of the Elf.
»I dawdled a little«, Thangrineth apologized beaming. »But I enjoy nigh triumphs too much and may they be as small.«
»What a shame. The leaf landed in the same moment that the last creature left the living world«, Cadhalor proclaimed not less beaming and went past her to the cage. »But you wanted to be done before it did. And also the leaf was too big. Try it next time with the needle of a fir and I will be impressed.« More he did not need to say, the ambitious Elf would be riled over her failure all by herself.
The Obbôna slid forward, held an arm-length distance to the bars of the cage and regarded Cadhalor. »So you require me, exalted lord and lady?«, she purred and sounded submissive as well as guileful. »You have seen the towers and found no way to enter them?« She smiled knowingly. »That is no shame. Not even for divine beings.«
It cost Cadhalor an immense amount of composure not to kill her now and here. »We will give you your life, Flesh-thief«, he spoke sinister. He sent her fear, brought the black wisps against her and enfolded himself at the same time in a mantle of pure dread. She should wind herself before him and feel, what it meant, to stand before a Dark Elf incarnate. »In exchange, you will bring us into the towers.«
»Certainly, my divine lord«, she said and looked at him yearning. She drew in breath, as if she could inhale the black wisps like a perfume. Her voice revealed that she would have liked to touch him, like a lover touched her significant other. There was no trace of fear. Cadhalor starred at her and believed to see the spark of insanity in her eyes.
Thangrineth appeared next to him, wiped the leaves before the cage with the end of her spear away and laid the earth free. »Draw what is being held in what tower«, she ordered her and did not conceal her disgust. »Where does he store his treasures? Where are his rooms?«
The flesh-thief smiled enraptured. »My name is Kajara«, she proclaimed as if it was something holy.
The blunt end of the spear shot forth and struck her at the bridge of her nose. Screaming, she fell backward, a stream of blood gushed from her nose, ran over lips and chin. Thangrineth had lost her temper and was glad to have found a valve for the stock piled emotions. »You are an Obbôna, nothing more«, she screamed at the woman. »Nether creatures do not carry names! Do what you are asked!«
Kajara quickly threw herself down before her. »Forgive me, divine lord and lady«, she whimpered. She crawled to the bars, took a little twig with her stained fingers and drew the towers. »Six-hundred men and women live in these buildings, all of them servants«, she explained faltering. »Every tower is like a small village, with its own provisions, warriors. The lord of the towers lives, wherever he wishes, but always at the top. He reigns above all and is nigh to the sky.«
Cadhalor would remember her words. »And how do we get inside?«
Kajara grinned sheepishly, but as she became aware of her presumption, she looked scared to Thangrineth. To her relief, the Dark Elf did not regard her. »It is the forth tower«, she said quickly. »Within the center of the tower there are chains that are connected with weights beneath the ground. With that, the lifts are being let down. There is a hatch that I discovered by chance.«
»A hatch, big enough that a horde of trolls can fit through?«, Thangrineth wondered doubtful and did not take her eyes off the drawing.
»No they would not have, divine lady«, Kajara hurried to explain. »But I had to lie to save my own life. I do not know all defenses that the Galran Unuk had built into his abode, but the few that I have seen there would deal easily with far worse than trolls.«
»You had to lie to save your own life.« Cadhalor repeated her betraying words. He hated her face more with every passing heart-beat.
Kajara required a moment until she understood what he meant. »No! No, by all winds, the shadow and Morgoth, my divine lord«, she called out in shock. »I would never dare to trick you in any way.«
»Why not? You Obbôna kill us when we fall into your hands!«, he answered. In his imagination he saw how she was kneeling maliciously over a dead Elf and cut off his ears, the nose, scraps from his skin and dressed herself in them. He must not abide her existence! The wish to let her die became immense, almost painful. His right hand was laid around the hilt of his knife.
»Never could I lie to you«, she repeated stubborn, without regarding his argument.
And Cadhalor was certain that she was lying right in this moment. He could do nothing against that, except ... with the knife.
»Calm yourself«, he heard Thangrineth speaking in their own tongue, too fast as that the Obbôna could have understood. »We can hurt her, but not kill her yet. Despite, you will share the pleasure of delivering her a painful and slow death with me.«
Cadhalor nodded slowly. He reminded himself that a poison was pulsating through his veins. The antidote was waiting for him, but to get it, he required her.
The Obbôna looked between them. She realized that despite her value for the Elves, her life was hanging by only a thread.
»I believe you«, Cadhalor said finally and opened the lock of the cage with a thin piece of wire that he had in his pocket. »When is the best time to infiltrate the fortress?«
»At night. Most of his servants sleep then. There are hardly more than thirty awake.« She left the prison on a sign of him, crawled through the dust and wanted to kiss their boots.
Instantly Thangrineth kicked with all force she got against the right shoulder. It crunched and the arm sprung out of the joint. »Do not dare!«, she whispered sinister. »Pray to your disgusting gods that I will not kill you on the way!«
»My divine lord!«, Kajara pleaded to Cadhalor. »I beg you!«
Cadhalor could not do else: He too stamped down on her and struck her cheek. The skin showed a rift and a fine trickle of blood ran down over her skin, that probably was not even her own. »Remember, what you are, flesh-thief«, he warned her quietly and turned away from her. »Follow Thangrineth. You will observe the fortress from the edge of the forest out and wait there for the next night«, he said. »It may be that the guards have seen us earlier.«
»There are no guards«, the Obbôna said right behind the end of his words. »The Galran Unuk relies entirely on the indestructibility of his fortress.«
Thangrineth did not move. »Since when are you giving me orders, Cadhalor?«, she asked in their own tongue. »And where do you want to go? Be alone with Inúr?«
The sour tone put Cadhalor's temper on a hard trial. But he knew how defend himself and let Thangrineth taste her own medicine. »Because I am the one who was blessed by the Conclave«, he replied with a smile. »No you. Do you remember? Back then, in the sanctum? An incomparable feeling to receive a splinter of divinity, or if you feel that way at least. You will probably never come to experience it, as I know you. What are you supposed to accomplish?«
Blackness dimmed the eyes of Thangrineth and was instantly gone again, she turned around and made her way to the brushwork. »Follow and be silent«, she hissed at the Obbôna. »If you cannot do that, you will feel pain.«
She hastened after the Dark Elf, but not without casting a swift glance over to Cadhalor. Had that been desire?
He swore silently to her to throw her off the highest point of the tower and hurried back to the cave. There he wanted to tell Inúr what had happened, to strengthen her growing trust in him, for guilt was not enough to pull her on his side. If Cadhalor made her believe to care more for her than her previous owner and gave himself friendly, then the maybe soon important barbarian woman would be more attached to him than to Thangrineth.
Cadhalor stepped into the cave and hesitated: Inúr was gone. The stallion huffed joyful as it saw him.
»Ah, it is you, milord«, he perceived a voice above him.
Astounded he stepped into the dark and looked up. Inúr had somehow managed to climb up on the narrow overhang of the entrance. There she lay and held one of his especially long war-arrows, ready for a stab in her right hand.
»Have you been successful?«, she asked and indicated a bow.
Cadhalor was amazed. For a freshly blinded it was not particularly easy to go on discovery through the cave and find a hide-out. He really had not heard her. »Sardaï betrayed my coming?«
»He would only greet his master so gladly. His neighing or even his attack would have told me that it were enemies that would have tried to enter.« The slave got up, allowed herself a more comfortable position and listened. »You are alone, milord?«, she wondered. »Did something terrible happen in the end?«
Cadhalor perceived the fear for Thangrineth in her voice. Quickly he explained to her what had occurred and that they wanted to enter the fortress with the help of the Obbôna. »We will soon return.«
»You trust the flesh-thief, milord?«
»No. We will let her show us the entrance, then she will die«, he said and made for the exit. »Be ready. Our departure will be swift, I imagine.«
»They will not notice you, milord«, she answered. »You are Dark Elves.«
That did not help us against the Kraggash either, he replied in his thoughts.
»Yes, we are Dark Elves«, he said finally, left the cave without a greeting and followed the tracks of the Obbôna that led him straight to Thangrineth's hide-out.
The flesh-thief was startled as he suddenly stood behind her. Thangrineth did not even look up, but had her gaze fixed upon the plains, where the towers were rising in the morning.
Cadhalor climbed a tree until he found a forked branch and sat down for a short sleep. He would require all his power for the nightly undertaking. »I will soon release you of your watch-duty«, he said to Thangrineth and then closed his eyes.
»I will guard you, my divine lord and lady«, Kajara called up to him and instantly groaned ardently in pain.
Cadhalor smiled satisfied. He did not need to look down to know what had happened. Thangrineth had instantly punished her for her insolence. When he had slept a little, he would climb down and chastise her as well.
He wished for many more of her misconducts.
