A rock nudged the carriage to the side, those inside barely noticed as they went on with their conversation. 'It would be far more interesting to have more than just one rat running about in our cage. Maybe another would fit it just fine.' Callista posed as she glanced outside, a faint smile brewing on her lips as if something else was waiting to happen.
Something that she wouldn't be ready to share. "I'm sure that Clomere wouldn't mind." Jarren replied with his hands supporting his head on the frame. Into the distance he could see their destination arrive, just a few more kilometers through the dense forest was what it would take.
"I change my mind with Guinevere, it would be far better to keep her around like a jewelry. She was your first after all." Her words laced with venom and yet she wore the facade of consideration. "What ever you do with her is your business. But I would want you to be patient with her for now."
His urgency of her for patience was something that began to irk her, Jarren could feel it and yet he smiled. "The queen of divinity and evil... Who gave her the title?" Callista shot up amidst the silence that had began to settle between the two. Jarren rubbed his chin thoughtfully and yet he had the answers on his lips.
He gave a light smile, his eyes narrowing. "Now that you mention it I can remember who exactly gave her. A comrade of her's preferably." His tone playful which stretched Callista's grin even more. "You say such a title so casually, I doubt that it would be a regular comrade that gave her such a title."
There was some form of reverence in Jarren's tone at the address of Guinevere. She wasn't sure whether it was curiosity, theatrics or with the intent of poking at her. "Now that you mention it I do recall a face. Someone close to her at the time. I believe it was one of her lovers." Jarren's tone flat though her smile shone through like a knife gleaming in the light.
"Lovers? That would explain her relationship with Clomere. Poor thing is looking for something to love and hate. And you are a perfect candidate my dear." Back at Redfall, she had been closely watching Guinevere's reactions and her conclusion was that she had a personality disorder. "It would seem that there are two versions of herself in one."
"One of which wants to see you dead and the other wishes to be with you. Truly a tragedy." Jarren's head turned with intrigue which served as an affirmation for Callista. "Wouldn't it be best to have her be split and take the version that adores you?" She posed, her eyes narrowing with a hunch already forming in her mind.
"I'm sure that you could tell me as to why I would keep such a volatile toy around." She didn't need to answer, the silence that she gave was confirmation of understanding between the two.
*BAM*
An explosion rang through the air, horses neighing wildly as the sounds of knights could be heard grunt about however the two didn't flinch at the slightest. As if playing a game of don't blink with each other.
*BAM-BAM-BAM*
More consecutive bangs followed and neither seemed in a hurry to check the cause.
...
"Get into formation!" Althar ordered to which a band of his men flanked his sides and back.
*Whoosh-Whoosh-Whoosh*
Barriers of malcore came into view however rather than a sigh of relief, his body tensed at the silence that followed. It wasn't retreat by it's stillness, their enemy was preparing for another attack. "Fire!" His words followed with a stream of bows that carpeted the forest.
*Boom*
The forest was engulfed in flames, Althar's face of determination coming into view amidst the blazes of embers now filling the scene. And yet never once did the two bother to make a move on the world outside them. "No hit!" An archer screamed, his voice indicating his dismay.
"Go again!" Althar quickly posed to which the archers readied their bows for another spray.
*Thud*
One of them was taken out, before his comrade could comprehend what had transpired, he met his end as well. "Take the left and right as well!" A stream of arrows fell on either side and as chance would have it, a groan could be heard from their right. "Got you bastards!" Althar flicked his sword, his eyes blazing with fury.
Behind him a small number did the same spreading out. Raising his sword, his men did the same and with a holler, their frames began to radiate malcore. "What are these pests trying to achieve?" Callista was the first to speak, her focus locked outside. "I'm sure that chaos wouldn't have been the outcome."
Jarren mused, his words odd for any person but Callista knew what he meant. "I'm sure that they wouldn't be so naive to take treats fr strangers and now meaningless life has to be shed." Callista's tone flat with a tint of disappointment to it. "It's hard to forget what has been groomed." And with that the two chose to watch what would come to be of the fight.
The knights that had spread out were now fully bathed in malcore which was followed with a war cry.
*Boom*
A massive ray of light shot to the sky visible from miles away, the sun dimmed, Althar's men going on with what the pair could be considered a ritual.
*Whoosh*
The attacks from the wild ceased however Althar wasn't planning on falling for what he could perceive as a trap. The ray shooting up to the sky began to ripple, it's breakdown making the air freeze. It's blue light without warning ceased to be which was followed with a clap so loud that threatened to make anyone around the formation deaf.
Branches were torn off trees, the air cackled from the energy as some of Althar's men broke into pants as they observed the scene around them. A sizeable crater was around the five carriages and not far any form of vegetation or foliage was thrust to the side. Althar's guard was still up, his eyes darting from side to side.
*Thud*
An arrow was shot however not at him but at the carriage in the middle. Without any warning he threw his sword at the source.
*Clink*
A dull metallic sound could be heard followed with the clank of his sword falling to the ground. 'It would seem that these people don't have the need to rob us.' Althar thought as his eyes drifted to the arrow now at the ground. The carriage at the middle had a layer of malcore barrier capable of shielding those inside of such attacks.
He made his way, his guard still up as he reached for the arrow. A brief examination eased his guard however his eyes shone seeing the rear end of the arrow. A strip of ribbon was wrapped around, however any further inspection was halted thanks to Callista. "That's for us. You've done pretty well Althar." His body froze, his mind racing.
'What is is with this letter? It's clear that it's directed at these two so what could be the content? The two hadn't conversed with anyone back at the town therefore this being an assassination letter is unlikely.' His soldiers stole glances at him before watching him make his way to the window.
An arm stretched out, gloved in leather with now words. He placed it in Jarren's hands and made his way back to the front of the carriage. "Make sure to keep your guard up!" He warned before the caravan was back on the road again.
...
Jarren's eyes scrolled through the letter and by the end, a smile hung on his lips. Callista's eyes gave a menacing glint, her head turning in intrigue. "I didn't think that such a bastard would have an overseer. Maybe I could go shopping some time." She was the first to break the ice.
"Clomere won't be thrilled hearing this. But then again I'm sure that she'll understand." Jarren posed as his eyes gave a glint and in the next second the letter was no more. No fire, no rot simply gone from the plane of reality as if edited out. "What about the king? The meeting will no doubt be of great interest to you?" Jarren posed as he watched the charred forest lazily drift past them.
"You know that I'm not that much into politics. You should handle it." She was quick to retort, her mind already picturing the scene to come. "She could make the perfect candidate for the game." Jarren didn't bother chipping in, her mind recalling his offer with Orsen back at the planes above.
His face unreadable as the town of Evermead grew with each passing moment. Callista could feel the weight behind his silence, a flicker of curiosity flashing on her face. "What is it? Is this about Clomere or Guinevere?" He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read her mind only to turn up empty. "It'll be a shame to see her go."
Callista's grin grew with satisfaction. "Has eternity made you sentimental?" Her words eliciting a chuckle from Jarren. "Hardly, just parting with a novelty is all. After all she has accumulated so much dust sitting on my shelf." Callista was sure with what came next, her mind breaking into a snark. "And here I thought that I would be forced into making you believe that it was a lost cause."
Jarren gave a hum, low and harmless. "You didn't have to try, I already knew." She knew what he meant but recalling his words from before, she couldn't grow too excited too quickly or it would be all for naught. "The queen of the abyss suits me, don't you think."
Her remark making his eyes dart back to her from his side show. "Don't get too ahead of yourself too quickly. After all I'm sure that Clomere won't allow you to claim the position so easily." Callista clicked her tongue, her mind already drifting at the war to come. "We're reasonable horrors, I'm sure that we can come to some form of understanding."
Jarren nearly broke into laughter hearing this. 'The same person who has subjected a mother and child to their death so casually is now talking about reason.' A smile flashed on his lips. "Don't make me laugh Callista." His tone light. Her eyes still folded, her hands now cusped together seated like a banished god. "I'm haven't lifted a finger dear." Her tone sultry as a familiar silence settled between the two once more.
...
'Is it an assassination attack planned for the head of the elven kingdom?' The question he had deemed unlikely now began to surface in his mind once more. With the rapid growth of Redfall, the elves was the only substantial force that could rival Redfall and it's elimination could ensure a safe growth for Redfall in the days long after.
'But if it was an assassination letter I'm sure that they would have been more discreet about it. Besides the trace of blood that we had found, I can conclude that it was an elf rather than a human. But still this doesn't mean that there aren't any defects amongst our ranks.' For Althar to believe that those of his own race were loyal was wishful thinking and he knew this.
The elves after all weren't perfect as they too were capable of sin. 'Damn there a lot of unknown plays with this.' With so little to work with, Althar could only be forced to be satiated with theories swirling in his mind and yet his answers lay with the pair he hauled to Evermead. With a sharp resolute sign, he finally mustered up the courage to make the move that had been pestering him since the attack.
His mind yearned for answers and he would get them one way or the other. The door to the pair was knocked, his voice for an audience followed. Rather than rejection, he was urged to enter that unnerved him as much as it pleased him.