Page 2 of 3 "Oh sly," Talieth Mistborn did say then with a harsh laugh.
"My Lord, she is given by the Banepearl to know our thoughts as if they
are her own; - and now she
does attempt to seek a twisting path to elude us in our purpose." Which
did cause Ae'thenal to cast back at the enchantress with a rising
anger, "Do you truly believe I would wish to invade the thoughts of all
about me Talieth
Mistborn? Even though by the Banepearl's gift that I could do if I did
want such a knowledge. If I do use the gift at all I do use it to the
avoidance of harm to our
company." "Indeed," Talieth did smoothly reply, "then it is true enough
that you and your dear friend do heavily depend on us all for your
continued safety do you not?" Without a thought that she did hold the
Banepearl cupped in her left hand Ae'thenal did immediately tell the
enchantress, "It is Isha's hand alone that is over us all
and is our true protection..........." But she could not complete that
which she would have said for her nerves had taken fire within her
flesh and she could do no
more than scream aloud in agony. And then did fight against the wicked
thing that did blaze with dark fire beneath its silken wrappings in her
hand. Crying out,
"Isha, Isha, Isha....," until at last she could finally snuff out the
flames and she spilled over slack limbed to fall heavily with a
clashing of her armour upon the
beaten earth of the compound, the Banepearl rolling free of her hand to
lie more dark than the deep places of the World upon the ground.
It was Sindinath Swordmaster's arm that did raise her up so that she
could sit and catch her breath. Taking the flask he did now offer her
Ae'thenal did swallow a
little of the watered wine it did contain. As always in the aftermath
of such a fight she did feel clean and pure, as if the flames had
searched her and burned away
the dross. For a time her despair would be gone and she could deceive
herself that the Banepearl's power had in truth been broken by her act
of defiance. "So do you consider her to have passed the test my Lord?"
As her eyes did flick up at Talieth Mistborn Ae'thenal would have
sprung to her feet and struck the
Wood Elf enchantress, save that Sindinath was swift to restrain her.
"Go now Talieth," he did say to her as Ae'thenal struggled against the
Swordmaster's strength, five long blades a barrier against her and
their sharp edges too
close a warning for her to ignore. "Before the new day does dawn we
shall again meet with you to discuss these events and make a
judgement."
Pursing her lips Talieth did then gather her Autumn toned gown
about her and make to depart . Though before she did this, she paused
her staff in her hand. The crystal bound to the top of the length of
green and living wood gleaming with its own inner light. "Slaanesh does
seek after you Lady Ae'thenal," she did say
softly as if in warning. "When I do look upon you and your friend it is
as if I can taste the cloying sweetness that is that Lord of Chaos's
mark. Think you on
this Lady Ae'thenal; - in those days before the Banepearl did enslave
you was it commonplace for your friend to ever name you 'Sweet
Ae'thenal' at each time she
did speak with you? Or for you to clasp her hand and hold it close to
your breast?" For a brief moment the enchantress's severe manner did
seem to soften but a little and her eyes seemed to be more kind.
"Indeed Isha is our protection Lady
Ae'thenal. Even unto death when Isha shall gather our souls close in
her arms," she did quietly say. "If I did sorely test you this hour,
and have so raised your
anger with my close watchfulness these past days that you did wish to
slay me barehanded it was done to a good purpose."
On hearing the enchantress's word's the desire to lay a hand
on her to do her harm did fade away within her. Now thoughtful
Ae'thenal sat quiet and watched as
the enchantress quit the circle of Swordmasters that did still surround
her. Talieth Mistborn walking with an unhurried step as if the
scattered groups of
Sebekneru's women who did stand and stare were of no concern to her.
That none of Elf-kind within the compound did seem to hold an interest
did not a thing to
sooth Ae'thenal's pride, for she did know well enough that her own race
tended to be the more subtle about their observations. And in the
aftermath their gossip
and speculations would be in truth no less than that of Sebekneru's
women. "Talieth Mistborn does serve the Mother's darker face," she did
say then speaking to her own inner knowledge and as she did raise her
eyes to meet and hold
Sindinath's gaze the Swordmaster did silently nod his head once in
answer. "Before Si'anelle and I did go upon our ill-starred quest
within the great forest of Avelorn, neither a one of us did know in our
innocence of the tastes that all do
seem to wish to accuse us of," was her further comment as she did now
find her feet wary of the blades about her and stand upright. "Perhaps
in truth it is no
more than the fashion in which Isha did make us......" And here
Sindinath did have to lend her his support as she did once more
discover that the Banepearl's
hold on her had not been defeated afterall.
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