Chapter Four - Of Monsters and Elves

CHAPTER Four

OF Monsters and Elves

                King Ciasmos was in his council chamber in Neikolt �" the largest city of the elves �" holding a meeting with his senior advisors, when a letter appeared in the air in front of him, hung there for a moment, and then fell neatly into his lap.  In retrieving it, Ciasmos noticed that it was from Drygon (they had been friends for a number of years) and sealed with green wax �" their agreed signal for “reply immediately �" in person if possible.”

                Upon opening the letter, Ciasmos found an account of an attack on the Mountain, how Drygon had captured the officer (a captain) that had led it, and how they were going to interrogate said captain within the hour.  Drygon had requested that Ciasmos watch the questioning as well, hence the green wax.

                “Leave us.  The council has been postponed until further notice,” the elf-king ordered.

                There was a scraping of chairs and a murmuring of Elvish as the advisors stood, bowed, and left the room.  Then silence.  Ciasmos stood and crossed the room to a bowl in an alcove to one side of the door.  The bowl was filled with water, with a layer of oil on top to prevent rippling.  A quick spell later, and the king was staring at the back of Drygon’s tunic.  Another quick spell and he was able to hear what was going on, and to speak, as well.  He cleared his throat.

                “Ahem.”

                Drygon started and whirled around.  “Oh, my apologies, Majesty.”

                “You know perfectly well, Drygon, that formalities mean nothing between us, and as such are completely unneeded.  Now, what was this about you having taken a prisoner?”

                “Well, as I said in the letter, we captured the leading officer of this attack.  We think that, as he was obviously told where to find us at some point, he will have been given other orders pertaining to us as well.  We were just about to extract some memories from him, and we wanted �"“

                Drygon was interrupted by a shout of surprise for somewhere behind him.
                “One moment,” he said, turning away from the mirror and shouting indistinctly (to Ciasmos) at someone.  About thirty seconds later, he turned back, face pale.

                “Well, our friend �" or his master, anyway �" decided that he didn’t want to divulge his trade secrets.”

                “He’s dead?”

                “’Fraid so.  Fortunately, we have spells for just such an occasion, and the right spellcasters to use them.”

                “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

                “No.  But it’s the only way to get information out of him at this point.”

                “I meant to even get the information in the first place.”

                “Oh.  Well, if he died for no apparent reason, it means someone knows he’s been captured �"“

                “Or that he just had a health problem,” Ciasmos interrupted.

                “Or that,” Drygon agreed, “but at this point I think he was killed on purpose to protect information.”

                “Doesn’t it just seem so easy to you, though?  The Secret Police, regardless of how stupid they may seem at times, should still have enough sense to send more than twenty men up against unknown numbers of Riders.  It’s almost as if they wanted you to capture the captain.  I’d be careful if I were you, Drygon.”

                “Thank you, Ciasmos.  I’ll admit I hadn’t thought of that.  However, I think I’ll be able to tell truth from fiction.  I have very talented interrogators, you know.”

                “Yes, I do.  All the same, proceed with caution.”

                “I will.  Thank you.”

                “You’re welcome.”

                A noise behind Ciasmos caused him to turn.  His son, Aurigulus, stood just inside the door to the council chamber, breathing hard.

                “Father,” he gasped, “I just saw a Nightmare in the forest as I was hunting.”

                “What!?”  Dragon Master and elf king exclaimed simultaneously.

                “A Nightmare.  In the forest about a mile-and-a-half to the north-east of the city.”

                “It could be…  No �" that’s too crazy an idea,” Drygon speculated.

                “Well, now you have to tell us,” Aurigulus said.

                “It could be that Shadon has sent it to distract you, while he attacks us in person, so you can’t come and help.”

                “That could be it, yes,” Ciasmos said.  “At any rate, I’d probably best go and see this for myself.”

                “Be careful!”

                “And you.  Remember what I said.”

                “I will.  Thank you, Ciasmos.”

                “Take care.”

                The images in the bowl faded as the king ended the spell.

                “Right.  Now let’s go see about this monster, eh?”

Author's Note

Should the dialogue be more formal? What do y'all think?
Also there needs to be something about Aurigulus discovering the nightmare, which is written but not typed. I'll get to it as soon as I can.