Eldrick found he wasn't getting much sleep as he was having recurring nightmares of being violated. His thoughts were not his own. He needed to talk to someone, but he didn't know who he could trust. He barely tolerated being near Sycamorea, though she didn't do anything to warrant such a reaction. At least not one he could think of. She had invaded his mind after he had cut himself, but she had apologized. She had taken to making sure he wanted for nothing. It was too much. Sergei had been avoiding him, and Petal, well Petal was Petal. Never on a single topic for long. Not to mention he was constantly disappearing during the day. Where was he going? Wait the summer flowers are out, I guess he cannot resist the pull of them. With a lighter heart, he tried to return to the sleep which had fled with the last nightmare. He was just beginning to doze off again as the sun was rising. Well, so much for sleep he needed to talk to Cuan.
Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he recoiled as his blood froze. He was becoming more masculine, when had he shaved last. He wanted to crawl back into bed. There didn't seem to be any reason to continue, except he had a duty to fulfill. To Sergei at least, if not to himself. Grabbing his knife, he began shaving. Careful not to cut himself. He had to survive for Sebastian. That is if Sebastian still wanted him. He had to hold on to that hope. He had abandoned Sebastian without so much as a farewell or a note. Looking through his garments, he realized he had more gowns than trews. Oh, why was the world being so cruel to him? He couldn't wear the gowns, no matter how much he wanted to, and the trews needed cleaning. Looking around he remembered he had been given his own room after collapsing in Sycamorea's room. Bogdán had insisted on it. It felt odd to be in a room by himself again. His new room was across from Sycamorea's and there were always clean linens on the bed when he returned from his sessions with Cuan.
With his face clear of stubble, he fumbled into the cleanest of his clothes. Breakfast was the first thing on his mind, maybe that would help with this melancholy. 'It hadn't yet, but maybe. just maybe this time it would.' He could smell the food before he entered the dining hall. Were his senses becoming sharper under Cuan's tutelage? He recognized the scent of fairycakes, but there was a sweet aroma that set his mouth to watering.
"Did Petal make breakfast this morning? I smell fairycakes," he announced as he entered the room. On the table was a large platter of the fluffy cakes, a dish of butter, and a crock of some sort of syrup. The golden brown syrup dripped slowly off the spout.
"Well youngen, about time ye came outta yer room. Ye be right that Petal made breakfast. I forgot I had this syrup and he found it. Ye know what he said when he found it? 'Oh, Petal found maple syrup. Petal is making breakfast. Nothing better than maple syrup on fairycakes. Oh, and sausages, Petal loves maple syrup on sausages. Has Bogdán had maple syrup on sausages?'" He was shaking his head at the whole scene.
"I have to admit, he was right. Come sit down and eat. Ye be looking like nuttin' but skin an' bones"
Eldrick couldn't argue, he felt there was nothing to him except the obvious betrayal of his own body. He wasn't all that hungry, so he only took one sausage and one fairycake. Slathering the cake in butter, he reached for the syrup. Wiping the drip off the spout with his finger before popping it into his mouth. The rich flavour was enough to bring his appetite alive. He poured it on the cake and it flowed nicely over the edges and pooled under the sausage. Well, it looks like I am going to try it that way after all. Picking up the tine and his knife he sliced into the sausage, taking a tentative bite he found the syrup heightened the flavour of the spices in the meat. He devoured everything on his platter. Feeling a renewed energy, he felt could face the day ahead.
"Good, you are awake. Today we are taking a walk," Cuan seemed to be looking over his clothes with disdain. "Bogdán can you please see to it that he has clean clothes for the morning? What he is wearing won't help his reputation none."
"But he does have clean clothes, he just refuses to wear them."
"I mean his trews and tunics. As much as I would prefer to see him in those gowns it would cause him more harm than good here. Remember there are fae who disagree with the idea that one can be something other than they were born. They can be vicious about it, and I would prefer to keep him isolated from them if at all possible."
Bogdán nodding looked over at Eldrick. "Are ye about done there youngen?" Eldrick nodded.
"Good, now off with ye, Cuan has plans for the day and I think it best you heed his council." Rising he gathered the dishes from the table.
"You have not been the self-confident person I met when I got here. What's wrong?" Cuan gestured towards the door, "shall we be off? There are a few things you should see. Not to mention we are going to need to get you more clothes before you leave the faelands."
Eldrick stopped dead in his tracks. He knew he had to leave the faelands for the conclave though he didn't want to. If he had his choice he would rather travel to Thormalk where he would be accepted without prejudice.
"I... I have been having nightmares recently, and they've only been getting worse." Remembering the nightmares caused his body to tense up. How could he explain the rape of the mind? All his secrets laid bare to someone else without his permission or even the courtesy of a by your leave.
"I will try to be better. I have to be better. If I lack the confidence I will fail my test and bring dishonour to Sergei and the order."
"I think you shouldn't worry about bringing dishonour to them, but more upon yourself. You have the skills to complete those tests with ease. What you need to learn is how to show enough confidence to get by and just enough skill that they think you are weaker than you are." He clapped Eldrick on the back, propelling him toward the door.
"I am sure there will be some here who will not like seeing your kind here. You are going to need to defend the actions of your people without making them angry. This is today's lesson. Grab your staff, you are going to need it."
Eldrick thought about everything Cuan had just said. 'He had to defend the actions of his people without making others angry, but he was going to need his staff? Does that mean he was going to need to defend himself while trying to talk his way out of a situation? That just seemed wrong.' Trusting Cuan, he grabbed his staff on the way out the door.
Leaving the inn, every hair in the back of Eldrick's neck raised. Absently he ran his hand down the nape of his neck. How was he going to get through this? Well, he had better learn since this is the sort of thing he was going to be dealing with while on his journeyman quest. Time to focus, he couldn't afford to fail here or in his quest.
Pulling himself upright he attempted to walk with a confidence he didn't really feel. Thinking back to the incident in the house of healing with the envoy from Thormalk, he wondered how his friends were doing. He hated having to leave without saying goodbye to anyone. Eileen would have passed the message along he hoped. Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand, before he could become distracted by his own thoughts.
They hadn't gone far when a small squat fae with a red cap emerged from one of the buildings. Eldrick seeing him nodded. This seemed to anger the red-capped fae.
"How dare you come here. If it weren't for your kind we would be living peacefully out under the moons of Corrigenda not hiding away in this other realm." Brandishing his shillelagh, he approached. "I have a mind to teach you what it feels like to be oppressed." With preternatural speed, he was upon Eldrick. His shillelagh flying.
Eldrick barely had time to deflect the first of the blows with his staff. He didn't want to harm the fae while he was here but he did need to defend himself. "I am not your enemy. The court has granted me permission to be here. I am just passing through." Clack, clack, clack, went the sounds of staff and shillelagh connecting. With ever-increasing speed redcap pressed, only to have Eldrick block or turn the blow aside.
"Would it help prove to you that I do not wish you harm if I let you hit me and possibly kill me? Elder Cuan warned me this may happen but felt it was important."
The redcap faltering in his attacks left himself open for a blow. Refusing to take the opportunity to strike the fae, Eldrick planted his staff on the ground. The redcap looked stunned.
"Why did you not strike?" Planting his shillelagh, he looked at Eldrick. "You could have defeated me. You should have defeated me. I do not understand?"
"That is because I am not like others of my race. Life has a reason and shouldn't be wasted. I am a druid, well at least a druid in training. My master has a certain ideology about the sanctity of life." Wiping his brow with the sleeve of his tunic. "I have never had a problem with any of the fae I have met until today."
"Yeah right. You may have offended some fae somewhere. I mean how many fae could you have met outside the Faelands? We aren't that common in your lands."
"As far as I know I haven't offended any, other than yourself my good sir. I have met Amaryliss and I hold her in high regard. Petal is a friend of mine. Francine made some outfits for me. I do believe I have a note from her on me." Rifling through his pockets to try to find the note.
"Francine don't make clothes for no guy. She specializes in gowns and other feminine accoutrements." His voice dripped with scorn. "Don't tell me you are one of those queer creatures?" Eldrick watched as he gave Cuan a sidelong glance.
"I want no connection with your kind." Spitting in Eldrick's face. "Freak!"
Before Eldrick could react, the redcap smashed the head of his shillelagh into the side of his knee.
The combination of the blow and the pain caused Eldrick to fall to the ground. Before Cuan could react the redcap began beating Eldrick with his feet and shillelagh. All the while screaming obscenities at him. There was little Eldrick could do but try to curl up in a ball to protect his head and stomach. By the time Cuan had hauled the redcap off, Eldrick was black and blue. He was not capable of standing, his knee wouldn't take any weight.
Looking up at Cuan, Eldrick could see the horror and fear in his eyes. Eldrick knew Cuan was in a dilemma he couldn't leave Eldrick here to get help, but he desperately needed to get Eldrick help.
"Pass me my staff, please?" Eldrick shifted to a seated position. "What did I do wrong?"
"The only thing you did wrong, was be yourself. Redcaps hate pretty much everything. The only things they don't hate are the court and dragons. They even hate other redcaps. They love fighting and will look for any reason to fight. You almost avoided the fight until you mentioned Francine." Cuan handed Eldrick his staff. "You can't defend yourself like that."
"I don't intend to defend myself. I intend to get to my feet and head back to the inn." Planting the staff he used it to pull himself up. Keeping the weight off his injured knee. "If you would be willing to give me a hand I can make it back to the inn."
"Sure, I guess this outing will have to wait for another day." Taking Eldrick's arm and draping it over his shoulder. "Let's get you back to the inn where we can assess the damage to that knee."
"I have a feeling it will be almost healed by the morning."
"How is that possible?" Cuan seemed incredulous.
"I am not sure, but when I work with magic it seems to have a side effect." Eldrick winced as his foot hit the ground. "Amaryliss was the one who noticed. I didn't even know I was doing it."
Cuan nodding tried to stand up taller to help keep the injured foot away from the ground. "Well, it's a good thing we hadn't gone very far before he saw us." Climbing the steps up to the door was going to be an issue. "Wait here I will get help." Propping Eldrick up against the railing he entered the inn.
A couple of minutes later he and Bogdán returned carrying a chair. As Eldrick relaxed, he could hear the angry chanting coming down the road. He could see a lot more redcaps, all heading towards the inn. He had a bad feeling he would have to find some way to disperse the mob without harming anyone. He seated himself on the chair, so the two fae could carry him up the stairs.
"Please just put me down at the top of the stairs. I fear we have trouble coming"
Bogdán looking down the road, "Oh no they don't. Iffen ye think I am goin' ta leave ye out here for the likes of them to get at ye, ye got another thing comin'."
"Bogdán, if you take me inside you are going to have more problems. I would hate to see you lose your inn after I leave." He turned in the chair to look behind him. "Petal, I need my Regalia if you would."
"Petal understands," was the return call from inside the inn. "Chase, Petal needs your help please."
As Bogdán and Cuan set the chair down, Eldrick began gathering the energy from deep within the world. Slowly and carefully building a wall in front of the inn. This was not a comfortable situation. They were calling for blood, They wanted to destroy the unnatural human who dared to travel the Faelands, and anyone who would stand with the freak.
Cuan bent down to whisper in Eldrick's ear. "This is not going to end well unless you kill them all."
Eldrick's heart stopped at the mention of killing so many. That was tantamount to genocide in his mind. He couldn't do that. Everything had a position in the great circle of life. Even these misguided fae. Thinking quickly he tried to find a way to diffuse the situation without anyone coming to harm. Well, first he needed to finish building this wall. Slow and steady so that he wasn't draining himself again. He had the energy of the world to work with but if he drew too much he could cause devastating repercussions.
"Eldrick, I believe you asked for these?" Chase's hooves clicking on the floorboards.
"Thank you. I need to change into the robe and chain before the mob gets here but I can't stand."
Cuan looked at the tunic, "Here let me help you with that. I think we can leave the trews for now." Reaching for the ties on the tunic to unlace them so Eldrick could shrug out of it. Before he got the laces fully undone, he noticed the pendant. Recognizing it he bowed. "I should have known. I will follow you as a member of the order should you take control."
Eldrick didn't hear what the elder drus had just said he was busy trying to split his attention in preparation for the upcoming confrontation. Holding his hands above his head so Chase could slip the robe over his head with ease. Reaching for his staff he levered himself into standing so it would fall to the ground. Seating himself once more he set aside the staff to gather his medallion of office and put it on. His wall was complete but not visible. Not wanting to see the redcaps injured he interwove fire through the wall so that it flickered with an orange flame throughout the wall. Just enough to be seen but not enough to obscure visibility through it.
The redcaps stopped just short of the wall. "Give us the human freak and no one gets hurt."
"Lies," Eldrick called back. "If you take me I will be hurt. I cannot allow that and I also cannot allow you to threaten others. I am no more a freak than you are. I will soon be leaving these lands and you can go about your lives. Those who aid me are, as far as I know, under the orders of The Court. So harming them would be tantamount to flouting their wishes. I wonder what the punishment is for disobeying The Court?" Eldrick paused, his left hand rubbing his jaw.
"Exile, death?" Eldrick rose to his feet, staff in hand. "I have been advised to destroy all of you. That is not something I wish to do." Standing there he waited for their response.
They milled about talking before one of them grabbed a stone from the ground and threw it at the wall. Eldrick took that as their response. He really didn't want to kill them because if he killed one the rest would just become angrier and the hatred of humans would only grow.
"There was a time when all races lived in peace. I would see a return to those times. I know it is unlikely to happen in my lifetime, but someone has to take the first step."
"You're still a freak. Wearing dresses why would you do something like that? Come on be a man, face us if you dare."
"I was in disguise. Who would look for a guy in a dress? Especially when there are assassins looking to kill him."
"Yeah, I knew it you are not only a freak, but a coward. Having to hide behind a lady's skirts. Can't even face us like a man."
Eldrick counting quickly came up with fifty redcaps.
"So you think me facing the lot of you is a fair fight? I count at least fifty of you there is only one of me. If I were to leave the safety of my spell you would rip me apart before I could even mount a defense. I believe you need a lesson in manners."
"Oh really? Who is going to give that lesson, you? A weak human. There is no way you could teach us a lesson in manners."
"Well, what about humility then?" Raising his hand he formed the magic he had been building to create a dome over the redcaps. "Soon there won't be enough air in there. I do not wish to harm you but since you are determined to try to kill me I have no option but to defend myself by any means necessary."
He made sure there was a way to escape the dome if they decided to flee. He watched as several of the redcaps began attacking others. He knew he couldn't interfere otherwise they wouldn't believe that he really was going to let them run out of air. Turning his face away from the carnage, he couldn't bear to watch. He knew he wasn't the one killing them but he still felt guilty. He had truly thought they would try to find a weak point and leave. He would willingly face the repercussions of their deaths. He hadn't been the one to do the killing but he was responsible for it. Once the sickening sounds of thuds and squish, were silenced he looked back at the scene.
Standing defiantly in the center of the dome was a single redcap. Eldrick could see him remove his cap and dip it in the pools of blood on the cobblestone roadway. Placing the cap back on his head, the blood dripping from it down his face. He looked like his desire for blood was assuaged.
"Well human it seems I owe you. Though I still want to kill you and may yet, it will not be this day." Doffing his cap he bowed to Eldrick. "I know when I have been bested. It is only temporary. If you release the spell I will be on my way until next we meet."
Eldrick stood there stunned. How could this be? He didn't declare vengeance? Or had he? How does he owe me?
"Eldrick, release him and he will leave. He knows you are capable of destroying him if he attacks you." Cuan held a fearful expression. "You have just allowed him to gain rank in his clan."
Eldrick began drawing the energy back and releasing it back to whence it had come. Tears filled his eyes as he did so.
"Why are you afraid? I can see it in your eyes."
"You, you made your point very effectively. I have never seen anyone use power that way. You didn't make them fight each other but you were willing to let them die for lack of air." He held back from Eldrick.
"Elder I left a way for them to escape, also I never intended to let them die for lack of air. I was going to let them pass out, then release the shield." Catching another glimpse of the carnage in the street, he hobbled to the railing and vomited, disgorging the contents of his stomach. He couldn't stop retching. There was nothing left, but his stomach was still trying to empty itself. Over and over again he retched with nothing coming out. The pain in his stomach worsened with each convulsion. He decided he was never going to use magic to kill, if this was the reaction his body had to using it defensively against those who wished to kill him.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he saw a glass of water being handed to him.
"Drink, it will help." Cuan's tone held compassion.
"Your reaction tells me more than words. I know I told you to kill them all, but you tried to solve the problem without bloodshed. You have more compassion than I." Patting Eldrick's shoulder he returned to the inn.
Eldrick, drinking the water slowly, felt his rebellious stomach settle. Finishing the water he stood straighter and picking up his staff, hobbled into the inn careful to not place any weight on his leg. What were they to do next? Were there going to be any repercussions?
Stopping near the table, he leaned against it.
"What should we do about the bodies? I mean we can't just leave them there."
"Youngen, ye gotta lot to learn about these lands. First, it looks like a clan rank challenge, second, they will be gone in less 'an hour. Procyvid will take of them. Just make sure yer friend stays indoors for a bit." Eyeing Petal, Bogdán grinned.
"That sounds like good advice. Petal I am going to need your help. I think my knee has been busted, but I would prefer a second opinion. I haven't been able to look at it yet. Need to remove the trews. ...going to hurt." Eldrick held out his hand.
Petal eyed the hand dubiously, the bandages showing at the edge of the sleeve. "Petal will fly. Ellie in no condition to carry Petal."
Eldrick closing his eyes nodded. He didn't feel well and sleep was trying to overtake him. He needed to get to his room before he passed out. Taking no more than three steps he collapsed to the floor as blessed oblivion overtook him.
