laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

A misty, cold rain fell as Kailee spied the walls of Wroclaw from a distant verdant hillside. She could feel them coming to challenge her, she needed her story straight now before the curtain went up on this play. Unease still murmured in the back of her mind about this plan, the dark elves were never a valuable ally in the past, but she had no one else to turn to. Concentrating, she teleported towards the open field before the grey walls, leaving her signature rising flame behind.

'Are you certain you wish to do this,' her female companion asked concernedly. 'They were faithful to him back then and all elves have a long memory.'

'I know what I'm doing.' She pushed on towards the front gate as guards emerged atop the parapets, their deep grey helmets and orange eyes reminded her more of spectres than elves.

"Stop there," a deep voice challenged from an arrow slit in their native tongue.

"I come to speak with your king on an important matter. Lead me to him," she pronounced authoritatively.

"He speaks to no one who isn't first summoned. Leave here, traitor."

As she grasped his mind, anger welled and within an instant, she felt his life extinguish within her mental squeeze. "I need to speak with him now," she replied, feeling her body warm with each moment as her skin and eyes burned hotter. Impatiently she waited until the metallic grinding soon lowered the drawbridge as the thick, metal portcullis raised. Confidently, she strode across the wide moat and into the gatehouse as soldiers in dark platemail moved aside to reveal a well dressed chamberlain in maroon and purple robes. His long white hair fell down his back as she stopped, noticing the beautifully carved staff in his right hand.

"Speak, outlander," he stated flatly.

"I said, I need to speak to the king."

"Not without my consent, you won't. What do you want?"

She sighed, blowing smoke through her green veil. "I've come to form an alliance with your people. You've been hiding from Kevelaer for too long in these mountains and with my help, you can realize your old grandeur again. I need to find Enestius and kill he and his family and I need your help. In return, I can secure peace between your neighbors and old enemies."

His head cocked to the side as he grinned skeptically. "Really? You can deliver us the queen's head? I doubt that seriously. And that is the price we will require for our allegiance to the one that killed our god." He turned and began to walk towards the large, round keep that centered the motte within the long bailey. "Get out of my sight."

Her vision turned to shades of red and she teleported in his path, facing the chamberlain. "Perhaps you didn't hear me," she replied as fire exploded from both hands. "I didn't come to bend at the door with an underling, I came to speak to the one whose authority governs this land. NOW!!" A pulse blasted him backwards to hit the grassy yard in a heap which prompted the guards to unsheath their weapons and charge. She looked up and readied another spell until they suddenly stopped as she felt the presence of someone more powerful behind her. Turning, the demon met a larger, armored dark elf whose eyes burned a fire that reminded her of someone else.

"You wish to talk, little one. Then come inside," his deep, dark voice invited. "We have much to discuss, you and I."

* * *

Kailee stood in the high ceilinged throne room whose dark marble walls were uniformly divided with large, red marble columns. Between each, she noticed brass plaques dedicated to heroes of their people from long ago all facing the long, black tile lane that led from the double doors behind her to the high backed throne. It's intricately carved gargoyles sat below flowing, wispy spectral females whose arched back created the head of the king's seat and matched the harem that sat to her right, eyeing the intruder.

"I find it interesting that the very one whose blade cut our patron down is now standing in my hall," his voice echoed with satisfaction. "How I would've loved to see his face when I delivered you as my gift."

"All of that is in the past," she calmy replied. "Now his son is planning on destroying all that has been built."

"While we remain here in this cave, still under the heel of your friends," he stated as he leaned forward. "I find that fascinating that you've garnered the audacity to come here at all. But, if you wish to die, then I will oblige you. Most happily."

She grinned darkly underneath her veil. "Your people are divided on that issue, Your Highness. The time for healing and regaining your old splendor will come once Enestius is dead. Many of your neighbors respect your prowess and wish to befriend Wroclaw, tear down walls that have kept you here."

His face dropped as he sat back. "My people will do as they're told. If we're to know again our days of glory, those times are at hand and not by following a demon who sleeps with the enemy. I am the life of Wroclaw," he stood and descended the steps towards her. "We are even now readying to reclaim what is ours," he glanced to her right and she noticed a lighter skinned female elf emerge near a distant doorway. Her long, silky black hair and gold trimmed, red dress told of a diplomat from some distant land.

Fiery eyes turned back to the king. "Who is she?"

He grinned, long white moustache lifted on both ends of his mouth. "She represents the one who wished your head. Gladly, I'll give it to him but, I want to watch you bleed first." Suddenly, a blade in his right hand gleamed darkly as she dodged, then ducked the hammer in his left. Mighty swings cut through the air where she was as Kailee's body then exploded into a fiery, shapely elemental. Searing the air around her, she aimed her right hand at him, casting a long bolt of flame which caught him squarely as he reacted too late and knocked him sideways. Acrobatically, he jumped back to his feet and disappeared. Mentally, she followed his progress towards her.

"I have no wish to kill you but, I will. He's using you for his own ends, not yours. He'll use up your people just like his father did and you'll be left with nothing when the sun finally sets. Empty homes to all but the rats." As he drew close, she concentrated and fired an unseen burst. Losing his invisibility, he rocked awkwardly as blue lightning arced from his eyes and ears, then collapsed to the ground, clattering blade and hammer falling from his grasp. Now out of the fight, she gazed towards his emissary. "Send him a message, I'll not be toyed with nor will I stand idly by and allow him to destroy all that we've fought so hard to build. I'll see your lord dead first."

She eyed the dark elven king, then glanced to Kailee. "He's not as weak as those who've flocked to his banner, mark me, bitch. It is you who will suffer in this fight," she proclaimed, then vanished into thin air.

Golden eyes turned back towards the king as his harem moved to his side, glancing at her. "I'm not going to kill him. I came for his help, not his head."

"Then you are too weak to deserve his help," one replied, bitterness seeping from her eyes.

Azumat pushed himself up as his wives handed him back his weapons, burning hatred filled the void between them. "You haven't come for my throne then?"

"No," she relaxed as the intense glow from her skin and hair subsided. "As I said, I want you and your people to not be afraid to leave your borders again. Enestius is going to use your people's history with the high and wood elves to keep a rift between you. His plan for conquest depends on it."

"You are a pitiful being," he turned and walked towards the far door as his female entourage followed, leaving her there alone.