Elfhaven: The Unnamed Demon

By Michelle LeMay Maple

In appearance, Elfhaven is back to normal after its bloody battle with Widdow's army. Elfhaven formed a new council, Talissa and Varth are wedded, Twila and Shamlin's wounds have healed, Glenis is still comatose, and Frey continues to be a constant irritant to Varth.

However, the actions of Treynus are anything but ordinary. He barricaded himself in Tanaya's Temple, still irrefutably shaken by a revelation presented to him by Tanaya--a surmised prediction on Elfhaven's current struggle of an unknown origin supposedly more dangerous than Widdow when she lived.

When summoned to the council, Talissa is dismayed to receive only bits and pieces of what Treynus has learned. Her real shock comes when she hears that she, along with a select group of elves, will be sent on a quest to Alvagore, a mountainous region of Kilgarn, to seek out a Crystallite named Avera.

Talissa let it be known that the concept of spending days or even weeks looking for an elusive creature, which does not want to be found in the first place, was nightmarish. Treynus's response was to inform her that if this new threat was not eliminated before reaching the peak of its power, she would have a new definition for the word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887310428

Book preview

Elfhaven

THE UNNAMED DEMON

MICHELLE LEMAY MAPLE

Copyright © 2022 Michelle LeMay Maple

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2022

ISBN 979-8-88731-041-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88731-042-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter 1: Taking a Breather

Chapter 2: Treynus’s Folly

Chapter 3: Airamis Arrives…in a Knapsack

Chapter 4: Dragon Silver and Brimstone

Chapter 5: Dark Creatures of Kilgarn

Chapter 6: Blackthorn

Chapter 7: What the Hell Is a Kobald?

Chapter 8: Conflict

Chapter 9: Unlikely Allies

Chapter 10: Oberon—The True Meaning of Living Death

Chapter 11: Spindrift

Chapter 12: Fenmire—Home of the Blood Beasts

Chapter 13: A Dark Purging

Chapter 14: Disclosure

Chapter 15: Vestin’s Appearance

Chapter 16: Aquatic Ambush

Chapter 17: The New Healers

Chapter 18: A Merging Death

Chapter 19: Invader from Within

Chapter 20: Varth’s Concealed Enemy

Chapter 21: A Forthcoming Apocalypse

Chapter 22: Crystal Revenge

Chapter 23: A Renewed Birthright

In appearance, Elfhaven is back to normal after its bloody battle with Widdow’s army. Elfhaven formed a new council. Talissa and Varth are wedded. Twila’s and Shamlin’s wounds have healed. Glenis is still comatose. And Frey continues to be a constant irritant to Varth.

However, the actions of Treynus are anything but ordinary. He’s barricaded himself in Tanaya’s Temple for the past week, still irrefutably shaken by a revelation presented to him by Tanaya, a surmised prediction on Elfhaven’s current struggle with an unknown origin supposedly more dangerous than Widdow when she lived.

When summoned to the council, Talissa is dismayed to receive only bits and pieces of what Treynus has learned. Her real shock comes when she hears that she, along with a select group of elves, will be sent on a quest to Alvagore’s mountainous region of Kilgarn to seek out a Crystallite named Avera.

Treynus cautions them about a possible confrontation with the dark creatures of Kilgarn.

They surely would not want to see Elfhaven’s quest concluded. He further declared that they would encounter a string of perilous obstacles but refused to give any detail as to his ominous warning. Talissa was sure by his demeanor that they would face more than the mere two creatures Treynus had mentioned. Once again, he was vague, deliberately omitting the crucial facts surrounding their quest, such as the chances of leaving Kilgarn alive. Tanaya decreed all of this secrecy. Apparently, the Elvin goddess preferred that her champions fight her battles blindfolded.

Those who come from Kilgarn have a reputation for being the most fearless of Elvin races, so how can it be that such trepidation reflects in the eyes of its most accomplished spellweaver and shapeshifter?

The only detail that Treynus was forthcoming about concerning the risks of locating Avera was his doubt about its success. Crystallites are known to be elusive creatures, even toward their friends and allies.

Talissa hates the very idea of entering Kilgarn for even the briefest amount of time. The concept of spending days or even weeks looking for an elusive creature, which does not want to be found in the first place, is nightmarish to her, and she made this point known to Treynus. His response was to inform her that if this new clandestine threat is not eliminated before reaching the peak of its power, she will become aware of the true meaning of the word.

CHAPTER 1

Taking a Breather

Clad in her thick terry cloth robe, Talissa had just finished her breakfast and was feeding Gizmo tidbits of food left on her breakfast plate when she heard the welcomed news. Rina was retrieving the tray when she informed Talissa that Treynus was nearly ready to emerge from his sanctuary beneath Elfhaven in just another day or two.

With her mahogany writing desk now semiclutter-free, she went to a small cubby in her closet to retrieve her journal. Talissa never kept one before arriving at Elfhaven, believing it to be juvenile. She deemed a real grown-up too busy to involve herself in such a trivial waste of time. Besides, what on earth would she have written? Her life in the outside world was somewhat dull. All she had back then were daydreams of a life beyond her home. Then there was the chance that her overprotective mother would sneak a peek, which wasn’t a matter of if but when. That was yet another good reason not to own a journal. Her mother reading her most inner private thoughts on numerous pages would have been a mortifying turn of events, primarily when written on those pages were words of a daughter’s exaggerated opinion of a humdrum life living with a mother who suffocated all adolescent normalcy and personality out of her daughter. Talissa could mentally visualize her mother’s reaction to such words—yep, not going there…ever.

She sheepishly grinned while remembering her life before entering Elfhaven as she plopped the journal on the desk. She settled into her chair and opened her diary to the right page before realizing the pen she was groping for wasn’t within reach. While she read her last entry, her hand moved from one part of the sleek wood to another. Her fingers never touched the pen she was sure she had left on the desktop the previous night. She lowered her journal and scanned the area thoroughly, aggravated by her inability to locate her pen with nothing more than her hands. Her eyes moved to every inch of it, and in a matter of moments, she realized that the pen wasn’t there.

She silently scolded herself for being absentminded, a problem that she had recently acquired since her wedding day. She’d never had this problem previously, but she bore this enormous weight of responsibility that she had never experienced before entering Elfhaven. There was no doubt in her mind that the stress of being a council member was bound to cause some physical effect on her. She blamed her recent forgetfulness on the burden that her many tasks encompassed, coupled with the anxiety of waiting for the proverbial second shoe to drop. What was going to go wrong next? She reminded herself that disasters always happen in threes. During her preoccupation with the bizarre behavior Treynus exhibited of late, it was no wonder that she forgot things or misplaced articles. She had already noted this dilemma in her journal the day before. She rifled for her lost pen in the desk drawer for a few minutes before shaking her head in frustration. And then she angrily bolted from her desk to other various places she could have left the missing object. As a last resort, she returned to the cubby where her journal was always placed, knowing that it couldn’t possibly be there because she would have noticed it. However, searching the squared wooden space, her splayed hand found the pen to her utter bewilderment. Glaring at the pen as though it had somehow offended her, Talissa stomped back to her desk, half-expecting her journal to be gone. But it was still there, just as she left it, open to the same page. She sat in her chair, clicked her pen, wrote the date at the top right-hand corner, and began to pour her heart out.

She began when Treynus interrupted her wedding reception with catastrophic claims of forthcoming doom before he made a hasty retreat back to Tanaya’s Temple, as this was now foremost on her mind. She jotted down her primary concern, which was Treynus’s mental state. He had been absorbed with his obsession over an unseen and possibly fictional disaster he believed was looming in on Elfhaven. First, he babbled so incessantly without uttering a single credible reason for his hysterical claims. Then without any explanation for his dread, he disappeared underground for days, closing himself off from anyone who could offer aid or comfort. Finally, the newly formed council voiced growing concerns about his sanity, and who could blame them when viewing his erratic behavior. The only thing giving him the slightest bit of credibility was that Frey took him seriously, so he accompanied Treynus to the temple.

She had difficulty understanding how a deity’s temple could offer the answers or solace that Treynus was in search of, but she did hope for his sake that he would find what he sought for.

Talissa paused and retraced her memory of that day to extract and explain on the pages another thing she was grappling with involving Treynus’s words. She noticed he was pale and noticeably shaken when he unexpectedly blurted out news concerning a new menace. No, she thought back, correcting herself as she strained to find a hint of knowledge that she had pushed aside. Ahh, she remembered now. He specifically said a new and an old menace, both of which were equally dangerous in his boisterous frenzied opinion. She racked her brain, trying to figure out what that meant. His mental state was such that he had to be temporarily restrained.

As usual, Treynus didn’t elaborate, she scratched on the page. In fact, he was vague in what little explanation he gave us, asking for time to sort the facts out before gathering the council together. Apparently, he was only privy to bits and pieces of information himself. I find that doubtful, but if that is the case, he is bound to be as frustrated as I have been since arriving at Elfhaven. He was certain about one thing, about a new menace and an old menace. It was such an odd inference that I wonder now how it could have slipped my memory. It was the new menace that I remembered. Of course, the old menace would have to be the ongoing conflict between Elfhaven and the Drow Nation. That’s the only logical conclusion I could think of, but with Treynus, one can never be sure. He is often obscure with his words. I often wonder if this new threat was somehow related to the creature that attacked me during the battle with Widdow’s horde. Treynus assured me it wasn’t, but he wasn’t very convincing. In fact, I saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes as he spoke, and that worries me.

For the past few days, she focused all her mental energy on the new menace, but now she wondered about the old one. Why would Treynus bring that up when Widdow’s death eradicated it? Sure, the Drow Nation was intact, but it would be a while before it became the threat it once was. What am I missing? she thought to herself.

I suppose there’s no sense in obsessing over it, she began writing again. I expect I’m bound to uncover the meaning of both soon enough. Be careful what you ask for—you just may get it, she finished with a heavy sigh.

When that time presents itself, she probably won’t want to know. That’s how it usually happens in Elfhaven. She had been hoping for a pause before the next crisis could erupt. So much for that, Talissa thought to herself as she edited what she’d just written. She was still pondering it all when she heard a rendition of Gizmo’s yappy bark, alerting her to an intruder. An amused voice over her shoulder made her jump as the pen flew from her hand, landing on the floor.

You keep a journal? Kess chuckled. I never would have thought you the type.

Don’t you ever make noise when you sneak up on people? she asked, turning red and blocking the page with her hands.

Now what kind of Drow would I be if I made my presence known ahead of my arrival? he asked, sporting a grin. I had no intention of startling you, but the door was open, so…

Geez, that was creepy, she complained. Gizmo didn’t even hear you until you were already behind me.

Gizmo wouldn’t be much help in a skirmish. She’s already hiding under the blankets, Kess replied, talking over her muffled shrill bark. You know, that’s extremely annoying, he added with a hint of malevolent intent in his voice.

Fight the urge, she told him, knowing full well what was on his mind.

He gave her a sly grin as he shrugged his shoulders. You can take the Drow out of Helgrey, but you can’t always take Helgrey out of the Drow, he quoted.

Talissa turned toward the bed with a knowing smile. Gizmo wasn’t given to me as a means of protection. I have Shadow for that, she pointed out.

Now Shadow is a worthy pet, he acknowledged since encountering the huge beast a few nights back. But I’ll never understand why you dote on Gizmo so much, he stated.

Besides being so damn cute, she’s the first significant gift Varth gave me, she replied cheerily.

He turned his attention to the page Talissa was still blocking with her hands.

By the way, it’s a little late to shield the words in your journal, he told her.

What! she exclaimed in horror. How much did you read?

Hardly any of it, he replied, still grinning. So…why are you so obsessed by this new and old menace?

What? she asked, raising her voice an octave. You truly are evil, she scolded.

Thank you. He chuckled, delighted by the compliment. I think highly of you also. But seriously, why are you keeping a journal? It’s such a human trait to dissect the events of one’s past.

Half of me is human…remember? she reminded him. Besides, I’m not dissecting the past.

Then why are you keeping a journal? he insisted.

Okay, she hesitated. Maybe I am dissecting the past, but I find it therapeutic, she defended.

Is that an admission that you need therapy? he asked in a tone mixed with facetious confusion.

No, it is not, she replied insistently. But it does help me straighten out the facts when several things are occurring at once, and in Elfhaven, that seems to be a constant. I’m continually in a whirlwind of activity. Her brows furrowed in thought as she looked up at him. Not that you need an invitation to visit, but you don’t seem the type for idle chitchat.

That is so true. He smirked passively.

So there is a specific reason you came here, she acknowledged.

There is, Kess replied. I just heard that Treynus is to emerge from Tanaya’s Temple within the next day or two, and I know how anxious you are about such knowledge, so I thought you’d like to be brought up to date.

I know, she replied. Rina told me about it thirty minutes ago.

Rina. He grimaced with a weary sigh. I should have known that she would beat me here.

You had no way of knowing that would happen, and your instincts were right on the mark, she told him. I’m grateful for your support.

What’s on your agenda for the day? he asked.

Same as the last couple of days, she sighed. I’m just trying to scrape up things to keep me busy enough not to go out of my mind while we all play this waiting game.

If you need a diversion, how about a sparring match with me. You could use the additional practice, Kess informed her.

You sound like Frey, she replied, wrinkling her nose. If he had his way, I’d be sparring twenty-four seven. But why bother now? The battle with Widdow is over, and it’s not likely that we’ll engage in another soon.

Your outlook is accurate…in part, anyway, he replied. You don’t want your skill to become stagnate.

You think continuing with my training is necessary? she asked with concern.

May I point out that as a part of Elfhaven’s council, it’s your responsibility to keep your skills acutely honed. You never know when you may be called upon to defend yourself or your home, he stressed. Many threats are faced during an unexpected moment.

When you voice it that way, continuing my training sounds like a good idea. How about later this afternoon? she asked.

Why not now? he inquired.

I’ve got a chess match lined up with Kobain in less than an hour, she explained. He’s been teaching me how to play this past week. He claims that the game will aid me strategically in future battles or some such thing.

Chess is a game of strategy, he echoed, nodding his head in agreement. Let me know once you feel you’ve mastered the game. I’d find a match between us interesting.

You play chess? she asked with enthusiasm.

Of course, he replied. I’ve had several good games with Varth, but we’re better with players of our accomplishments instead of teaching the game. Unworthy opponents are so frustrating to us that many of them don’t physically survive for the length of a game.

Under those circumstances, it may be quite a while before we play each other, she told him with a wry smile.

I’m sure it will be worth the wait, he replied. I’ll be waiting in the courtyard for our sparring match later this afternoon.

Talissa nodded her reply as she reclaimed the pen she so ungracefully threw on the floor and placed it between the pages of her journal as a bookmark. Time was running out. She quickly got up, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a lighter blue pullover sweater, ran a brush through her tousled hair, and returned to her seat. She killed time by rereading her journal until she realized that Kobain was a half hour late. She looked across the room to her bed and thought she could have made better use of her time if she had picked up a little. Instead, she had crumpled clothes strung out from her bed to the floor, her brush and robe were in the chair opposite her, and the bathroom was an absolute mess. Without any more hesitation, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision and left her living quarters to locate her missing chess partner.

She met up with Kobain in the courtyard as he hastily made his way in her direction.

Umph, he snorted his greeting as he approached, lugging his seat, a portable wooden stump he usually carried with him when visiting outside of Adina. Sorry I’m late, he grumbled as he led the way back to Talissa’s living quarters. They quickly made their way through the spire’s entrance.

What kept you? Talissa asked.

Treynus recently detained me, Kobain replied.

What’s happened? she asked excitedly. Is he ready to come up sooner than expected?

Kobain shook his head, and his mood was a smidgen on the grim side as far as she could tell. He’ll be in his living quarters by tomorrow afternoon, but he insists on not being disturbed until later in the evening, he replied. His eyes looked over his spectacles to connect with hers, giving him a look of wisdom beyond his bullish appearance. Her questioning glance caused him to give a more detailed explanation. He’s calling for council members to be present during an emergency session, and he’s insisting that we meet in his living quarters instead of the council chamber.

But that’s…

I know, he interrupted as they ascended a flight of stairs. It’s an odd request, but he feels it’s necessary for security reasons.

Security reasons? she gawked.

He believes his living quarters to be the only place in Elfhaven that is impenetrable to any magical attack, Kobain explained. And yes, apparently, he’s expecting one, Kobain added before Talissa had an opportunity to ask as they neared the door to her living quarters.

What gave him such a ridiculous notion, she scoffed. This overcaution on his part is completely unwarranted. We have no proof that Elfhaven is under threat. He can’t even tell us who or what to fear.

All of those questions are to be answered tomorrow night, Kobain replied, taking an unfamiliar stern stance. I won’t answer any questions concerning tomorrow night’s session. I know we’re friends, but I won’t betray his confidence.

Talissa shot a look of reproach mingled with hurt his way. I don’t remember asking you to, she stated abruptly.

My apologies, Kobain sighed. I don’t mean to take my irritation out on you, but you must admit that your curiosity does get the best of you on occasion.

Talissa took hold of the doorknob and hesitated in opening it. Seriously, Kobain, I’m not nearly as curious as I am worried about Treynus, she told him pointedly. You’ve talked to him…do you think he’s mentally unbalanced?

No, he replied a little too quickly and forcefully. I mean… I don’t believe so. Granted, I’ve never seen him unravel like this before, but he’s been under an enormous strain lately. Regardless, I don’t believe he’s on the brink of insanity.

She slowly began to turn the knob. I hope you’re right, she replied.

Let’s not think the worst right now. Our fears will be confirmed or laid to rest soon enough, Kobain offered, giving Talissa a reassuring pat on the shoulder. And if Treynus is correct in his assumption that there is a threat to Elfhaven, we will have a much more serious problem to consider.

She stared blankly for a moment before opening her door.

In any case, I guess Kess was right about the value of my continuing with my training, she quietly echoed as they entered the room. I have a sparring match with him later this afternoon.

Indeed, he is, Kobain insisted. I hope you’ll give continuous training serious thought. His sentence trailed off when seeing how distracted Talissa was. What’s the matter? he asked as she made a complete turn, scanning the area around her, wearing an expression of surprise.

Umm…it’s just that everything is so clean, she uttered, then she sniffed the air…it took several sniffs. It even smells clean…like disinfectant clean…the sterile scent of a hospital clean.

Uh, yeah…well…other than the smell, is this a bad thing? he asked as he placed his seat next to the table.

He picked up his chessboard from a cubby in her closet and set it up on the table. Keeping his chessboard in Talissa’s room was more convenient than lugging it back and forth, especially as often as they’d been playing. She wondered how he could comfortably seat himself on the portable stump, but it didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest.

Well, no, but when I left to find you, this place was a mess, she replied in confusion as she sat in a chair opposite Kobain. Do you think Rina came in and cleaned?

It’s not one of her normal duties, and she’s pretty busy lately because of her new role on the council, but I suppose it’s possible, he replied, scratching his head.

I can’t think of anyone else who would come in and clean. In addition to that, I’m wondering how anyone got in and out so quickly considering the time it would take to clean a room this thoroughly, Talissa said, moving the first chess piece. I was gone for, what, maybe five…ten minutes at the most.

This is Elfhaven, remember? Kobain reminded her. There are ways for those residing here to accomplish what the outside world would deem impossible.

I suppose you’re right. I’ll have to thank Rina when I see her or whoever she sent, Talissa said, acknowledging the possibility, convinced now that was what happened. She certainly goes above and beyond when she takes on a task.

No more thought was given to the condition of her room as they both involved themselves in the logistics of the game. She ended the first game with a stalemate, though it took a full forty-five minutes due to her indecision moving her chess pieces. Still new at the complicated game, Talissa took as long as five minutes on some of her moves, and she appreciated Kobain’s patience with her. Her primary challenge was looking three, four, and five steps ahead and then applying them based on the moves she believed her opponent would make. All the various possibilities she forced into her brain to move a chess piece made her head want to explode. However, Kobain appeared to be clairvoyant in anticipating what she would do next. She tried to console herself, realizing that his expertise resulted from his many years of experience with the game, not to mention his ability to quickly evaluate an opponent’s potential psyche, whether in battle or during a friendly chess match. An extended lifetime of dealing with the diverse personalities he had encountered came in very handy. Kobain won the second game. They were now in the process of the third game, and both were evenly matched. Fifteen short minutes later had them very close to the end of the game. Talissa excused herself from running to the bathroom with only a few moves left. Kobain moved his chess piece as she got up from her chair, and then his attention was drawn to the open veranda. He heard a commotion below and went to investigate. He was still standing near the open doors when Talissa reentered the room and reclaimed her seat.

What’s going on out there? she asked as Kobain turned toward his seat.

A Sylvan and a Grey Elf were having a difference of opinion, he replied, returning to the table to finish the game.

I’ll wager the Sylvan won, she quipped.

I don’t take wagers I can’t win. He chuckled. We both know that Sylvans don’t lose arguments, he added upon noting that Talissa had moved her chess piece and left him with the realization that she had won the match.

Sylvans are too stubborn to lose, she agreed with a smile as Kobain studied the board.

Excellent move, he boasted loudly. I must say I didn’t see that one coming…an ingenious move on your part!

What are you talking about? she asked. I haven’t moved my man yet.

You must have, he insisted. This piece was in this square when you left, and as you see, it moved to this square, taking my king and leaving you the winner.

And you think I moved it? she asked.

Kobain cocked his head at a remark that left him baffled. Well, didn’t you? he asked.

That’s what I’ve been saying, she stated pointedly.

Kobain wrinkled his snoutish nose in confusion while Talissa slowly scanned the room around her.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was the victim of a poltergeist or some such entity, she said in an agitated voice.

Oomph, he scoffed while shaking his head. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.

Such as? she challenged.

She kept her eyes glued to the Minotaur as a pained expression crossed his face while he racked his brain in an attempt to answer her question. Then, finally, she raised her brows in silent triumph, grinning at the blustering sound emanating from his mouth.

Well, I don’t know, but there just has to be, he barked irritably. What would lead you to believe such an absurd thing, anyway?

You need more than you just witnessed? she asked and then reluctantly sighed upon receiving his nod. Okay, for the past several days, articles have been disappearing from where I’ve left them only to be replaced in their proper spot. I thought it was nothing more than my absentmindedness due to stress. But now I’m beginning to wonder.

It seems that your first assumption was corrected, he replied. Forgetfulness due to stress sounds logical.

What about the chess piece? she asked. If neither of us moved it, how did it get from where it was to where it is now?

Well, if you’re positive that you didn’t move it, he started.

I am, she stated, ending any chance of his continuing with the apparent insinuation.

Then I’m at a loss… I have no answer, Kobain told her, rising to collect his portable seat.

You’re leaving already? she asked, showing disappointment. Did I say something to offend you?

I am, and of course, you didn’t, he answered her. I saw Kess in the courtyard when I was on the veranda. No doubt he’s waiting for you, and we both know how Drows hate to be kept waiting.

I don’t think he’ll be angry. We didn’t set a specific time for our training session, Talissa replied.

Nevertheless, we’ve filled nearly three hours, and it would be rude of us to continue knowing that Kess is waiting, especially when he’s doing this for your benefit, he told her.

I suppose you’re right, she replied, trying to talk herself out of doing much of anything for the rest of the day.

Talissa didn’t consider herself lazy, just severely unmotivated for the past few days. It was different when she was bored with nothing to do but think. However, now that she was partaking in an activity she enjoyed, she balked at the thought of doing anything constructive. She’d been working nonstop since her arrival, and this was a pleasant break that she didn’t want to let go of until there was no other choice. Talissa assumed by the hectic schedule she kept up until Treynus decided to go underground that these blessed breaks would be in short supply. She’d be back on that good old merry-go-round of work, work, and more work as soon as he resurfaces.

Rather than say goodbye at the door, she followed Kobain out. They walked toward Camfreel’s courtyard to meet Kess, who, in her eyes, appeared to be in a good mood despite his wait. But then, as Talissa thought of it, she never saw him any other way. Even during battle, he was somewhat cheerful. Odd behavior for a Drow, not that she had any complaints in that regard. On the contrary, his carefree attitude was the only reason she could be around him without that feeling of trepidation. Of course, it would be foolhardy to trust him as a Drow, but she had learned to have faith in him as Varth’s friend.

I wondered whether you had changed your mind, Kess said, leading them to the site he intended to use during their training session.

To be honest, I wanted to, she replied, letting out a weary sigh. But Kobain shares your opinion on the matter. As does Frey, Twila, and I would probably find more if I took the time to ask for their opinion.

And you don’t? Kess asked with a grin.

It’s not that… I know I can use more training, Talissa replied. It’s just that I’m having difficulty motivating myself into anything resembling work.

Your approach to this is all wrong, Kess told her. Sparring matches are as stimulating as any sport in which you participate. Think of it as a game of skill, and you’ll enjoy it more.

Kess noticed the confused look on her face as she shook her head, glancing in his direction.

You look puzzled, he acknowledged. What has you so stumped?

In general, I know what to expect from any other Drow…except you, Talissa told him. For a Drow, you never cease to amaze me.

How so? Kess asked, cheerily rotating his sword in his hand.

When one talks to me about Drow traits, I hear nothing positive and everything negative, but on several occasions, when dealing with me, you nurture as you teach, and quite effectively, I must say, Talissa explained. One would expect nothing but evil intent and deception from a Drow, but my experience with you is just the opposite. You never have, nor do I believe you ever would lead me astray. Are you sure you’re Drow? I mean, you do have a pretty happy-go-lucky personality.

As he chuckled, she hoped he didn’t take offense for calling into question a heritage of which he was quite proud.

Trust me, when the occasion calls for it, I can be as devious as any Drow out there, Kess confessed. Over the years, I’ve just learned that there are more fruitful ways of dealing with those outside Helgrey.

But that’s my point. I do trust you. Everybody knows you can’t trust a Drow. However, I know I can trust you despite the fact it’s your loyalty to Varth that motivates your nurturing attitude, she replied with a perplexed expression.

Don’t delude yourself. The qualities you define as evil intent and deceit are ingrained at birth. But unfortunately, it flourishes into adulthood unchecked unless one is fortunate enough to find a high-ranking role model willing to teach the value of patient restraint, Kess explained.

Your parents? Talissa asked as she assumed it could be no one else.

He shook his head with an air of disdain. My parents were horrid even by Drow standards, Kess replied. My role models were Varth and Widdow.

Widdow! Talissa exclaimed with confusion. I can understand Varth but Widdow?

Umm-hmm, Kess confirmed. Friendships in Helgrey are a rarity. They are normally initiated to gain power, wealth, or other benefits. I had nothing Varth needed, so our friendship transcended what is considered normal for Helgrey. I am much younger than Varth, and I looked up to him as a Drow. I wanted to emulate his behavior. Being Varth’s only friend has advantages. Widdow took me under her protective wing when I was young. In my early teens and on a day when my life was in danger, she rid me of my abusive parents, therefore taking on the parental role in my life. Normally we are born into castes, and my station in Drow life was far below Varth’s. Regardless of this, Widdow and Varth taught me to defend myself. They groomed me to become a high-ranking Drow. What I am at this point is directly due to them.

So that’s why you share such an unusually loyal bond of friendship with Varth, Talissa said with new understanding.

It is, Kess replied. I owe them everything I am.

I would never have expected such charity from Widdow, Talissa said.

I don’t want my life story to mislead you into a false sense of security when dealing with my kind, Kess sternly told her. Aside from Varth and myself, it’s best that you treat any Drow you meet with a large measure of distrust.

When Talissa’s eyes met Kobain’s, she received his nod of assurance that Kess was right on this matter, and she gave Kess her promise that she would heed his warning.

I’ve got permission from Cage to use the Sylvan courtyard for our training today and any further sparring matches, Kess told them.

That was a thoughtful gesture on his part, Talissa voiced, still unenthused.

Not really, Kess replied with a grin as they entered the Sylvan courtyard. They want to ensure that you’re not in danger while being at the end of a Drow blade.

We’re here, Talissa said. Where do we start?

Less stalling and more sparring, Kess told her. Don’t think I didn’t notice how long it took us to get here.

Yeah, I guess I was dragging my feet a little, Talissa confessed with a sheepish grin.

I brought two different swords for you to choose from, Kess told her.

You thought of everything, didn’t you? Talissa quipped.

Your weapon of choice? Kess asked, holding both out to her and ignoring her last remark.

A comfy chair and a good book, she replied, hoping he would postpone her training for a later date.

Kess’s brows inclined inward, and Talissa earned herself a stern expression of reproach.

Okay…okay…ahh…this one, she said, choosing the sword with which she was already familiar.

I’m a little bored today, Kobain voiced. Do you mind if I stay and watch?

Talissa looked to Kess for a reply. Not at all, Kess said. I could use a suggestion or two on how to strengthen Talissa’s weaknesses, mainly her endurance and delivery during a lengthy battle.

I’ve noticed that myself, Kobain agreed. I would suggest longer training sessions. Of course, frequent sessions in the future wouldn’t hurt either.

I was thinking that very same thing, Kess replied, giving Talissa a questioning glance. How about it, Talissa…can we make that happen?

Oooh, it sucks to be me right now, Talissa moaned.

I’ll take that as a yes, Kess affirmed, taking his battle stance and waiting for Talissa to do the same.

Hesitantly Talissa gave in, and for the next three hours, she worked diligently on what Kess considered her weaknesses. She received some valuable pointers from both Kobain and Kess as she took to heart the suggestion to enjoy herself during the vigorous workout. At the end of her session, Talissa was sweaty, breathing heavily, and found her appetite heightened. But to her irritation, she was also out of her funk, loaded with enthusiasm, energetic, and eagerly awaiting her next session. She intended to follow through with Kess’s suggestion without reaping the benefits he claimed she would acquire—a better frame of mind. Her slight bout of annoyance stemmed from being proven wrong, but it soon evaporated as she left the Sylvan courtyard.

Once back in her living quarters, Talissa set Shadow free and watched Gizmo’s excitement at the prospect of playing with a companion. She and Varth made plans to have dinner in his living quarters, and the afternoon was nearly over. She quickly showered and made herself presentable for the evening, and then she gathered a change of clothes and placed them on her bed.

During her wait for Varth and with nothing to preoccupy her hands or mind, she realized many concerns weighed on her mind. Some trivial, some significant, so she grabbed her journal and began jotting it all down, starting with her relationship with Varth and her hope for a long, harmonious life together despite their differences. And then her thoughts moved to the more extreme, which was the uncertainty of Elfhaven’s future.

She pondered her role as a wife and found that married life to a Drow was anything but conventional. She and Varth kept their separate living quarters, and he made it clear that though bonded, they could carry on with their independent lifestyles. That is not to say that they slept apart. Varth was adamant about that arrangement, but they took turns as to where they slept. For the past two nights, she slept in his quarters. She surmised it would take her some time to become accustomed to the darker atmosphere of the room. It wasn’t an uncomfortable space to be in, and the furnishings were surprisingly opulent for a Drow’s lifestyle, or so she surmised. Still, the living space was darkened for his comfort and lit only by the glow of candlelight or fire within the hearth. Although in her opinion an occasional candlelit dinner or a dimly lit room at the end of a long day would be relaxing, even romantic. But she would have found residing in these conditions on a twenty-four-seven basis to be depressing. Talissa knew Varth would fare no better living in her environment, so she saw the wisdom of separate living quarters. Then, of course, there was a gap between their moral code to consider, along with the vast difference in their average day-to-day routine, personal preferences, and personality traits. Talissa and varth were willing to accept the contrast these differences brought forth, but only as long as neither was forced to endure the foreign lifestyle permanently. Yes, Varth’s suggestion was quite clever and convenient. It would guarantee domestic bliss during the