Bound in Spirals Ch. 13

"Milady, what do you think happened to Lord Samson?" Giela asked, peeking out the window.

"...I am not sure." She said after some hesitation. "His eyes were certainly changed. He looked at me differently I think."

"Yes, I noticed that too. It seemed as though he had less adoration for you." Giela added.

'Is that hope I hear in your voice...?' Dettella narrowed her eyes at the elf. "I think that might be it."

"He seemed taller. Maybe stronger as well."

"That's because he usually stands with a hunch, and with his arms pulled close. It makes him seem considerably smaller than he is. If he were to stand straighter I think he would be close to Darrel in size." Dettella said, sharing her observations. "I believe it has something to do with him wanting to be inconspicuous, due to a fear of something or someone."

"Interesting... I wonder what happened to him. Do you know?"

"No, but I have come to think it may have been an abusive parent. He mutters about his father sometimes."

Giela nodded in understanding. "He does seem a bit... broken, somehow. He is very kind, though. He offered food to the other elves, and he even gave his clothes to Vielchena. Yesterday he came and apologized to me for touching me, even though it was an accident."

Dettella cringed at the thought of that incident, then considered for a moment. "...Yes, he is kind. I think that is very fortunate for everyone considering the power he holds. I used to think I was quite powerful in that regard, but after seeing his pool... my own power feels insignificant. I'm one of 74 known SS class mages, well 75 now with my sister, and even though I am on the lower half of the class there shouldn't be anyone who can dwarf my magic as he does." Stating it as she did, it gave her a thrilling exhilaration. He was quite an interesting individual, to say the least.

"He's really that powerful? The Anged'der are after him then. What about the Urbeddists?" Giela asked.

"Yes, the Anged'der had payed the governor to kill him. They have a disturbing level of information about him," Dettella replied. "As for the Urbeddists, I don't think so. Even if they were, I wouldn't know. If they have approached him, he clearly decided not to join them. I don't think they have nearly the resources the Anged'der have though, so I doubt they've heard of him yet."

Giela nodded in understanding. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the princess with trepidation. "I think you know, but... I mean, you're quite intelligent I've heard so I'm sure you've noticed, but do you think Samson isn't... from this land, so to speak?"

Dettella raised an eyebrow. "I don't think he is from this world, no. It is partially why I am so interested in him."

Giela frowned. "Interested... in him? You talk like he is an object to be studied."

"I... I didn't intend it that way." The princess winced. 'Am I really becoming this kind of person?'

"I've seen the way you look at him at times, milady. Excuse me if I am being to presumptuous, but it seems as if you are taking advantage of him." The elf's pale features were flushing with red. Apparently she was angry. "If you don't fancy him, you shouldn't treat him like you do! How will he feel when you suddenly find something new to be curious about?! He is fragile as it is, you will utterly destroy him if you continue such a farce!"

Each word hit Dettella like a blow to the chest. "I-I..." She was stunned. Hearing her own doubts spoken aloud made them more painful somehow. "I..." Her lip quivered, and she felt her eyes getting watery.

Giela looked at the princess, her expression of anger changing to bewilderment. "Milady...?" She asked tentatively.

Dettella put her head in her hands, unable to hold back the tears beginning to stream down her face. "I-I do like him, I do! It's just m-my curiosity! I-I can't con-control it! It just overpowers everything... I hate it! I feel, I feel like such an awful person, but I can't help it!"

The elf scooted closer to the princess and slowly put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I... I'm sorry for what I said, I didn't realize... I let my own emotions get the best of me, please forgive me."

Dettella shook her head. "No, you were right. I do see him as a thing to be studied more often than I'd like to admit. I-I want to help him, but I just... I don't know, I feel like, like my curiosity will end up hurting him somehow."

"I think that as long as you do genuinely care for him that it will work out. I'm sure if you explained this thing about your curiosity he would understand, and I think he would appreciate it too." Giela said.

"Yes, you're right." She replied, drying her tears with the sleeves of her pale blue dress. "I'll talk to him about it."

The elf smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Suddenly, the princess laughed, realizing how foolish she'd been. It felt good to laugh, it was refreshing. 'I have been doubting myself far too much lately.' Her mind felt cleared. "Thank you, Giela. I feel like my anxiety has been relieved considerably."

"Of course, milady. If you have another issue like this I will be here for you to talk to. I promise that you can trust me not to speak of it beyond the two of us. Unless of course you ask me to."

Dettella smiled gratefully. "I will probably take you up on that offer in the future, but for now I think I need to relax before we reach Geylin. My headache is being persistent. I may need to ask that healer for a remedy if she has one, but that may require me swallowing my pride, a thing I'm not enthusiastic about." She laughed and leaned back against the cushioned seat, closing her eyes. "I feel much more optimistic now."

———

Sam didn't look away from the trees until he realized Letta had begun to slow. He shook his head. 'Has it already been an hour?' He asked Letta.

'I believe so. I smell civilization ahead, so I decided it is best I stop here.' She answered.

He blinked and looked around. Down below, the carriage was slowing to a stop beside Letta. "She smells the city ahead, so we'll leave her behind here!" He called down.

Darrel nodded and directed his winnem to the carriage window and spoke softly to Dettella inside. A few minutes later and they were already moving again, using only the carriage after Letta disappeared into the forest. They had managed to bind three of the captives to the carriages driver seat, which wasn't in use due to Darrel's ability to direct the winnem while riding. Sam was now sitting next to Theodore, across from Dettella, Giela, and Frinala.

Trying to avoid the uncomfortable atmosphere, he thought back to the last week. It was difficult, like trying to remember things that happened years ago. The major events he could recall, but the minor details were lost. He sighed and combed his hair back with his fingers. He was worried for Letta, the forest land around the city seemed more sparse than the rest, making her position more precarious.

'Do not worry for me, pup. I have gone unnoticed in more dangerous places than this. At midnight I will come in contact range, we will talk more then.' She'd said, then loped into the trees.

The awkward air of the carriage was becoming unavoidable now, especially with all three of them looking at him constantly. Letting his attention return to the present he considered what to say. "Do we need to come up with some sort of plan for this?" Sam asked.

Giela jumped a little when he spoke. Dettella's eyes flickered for a moment, then she replied, "When we first arrive they will allow us to settle and freshen up before our audience with the queen. When we get to that, it would be best to let me speak to her. I've—"

"Wait," Sam said, cutting her off, "How are you so certain we'll even be allowed to speak with her, let alone clean up before it?"

She looked at him oddly, like she didn't understand the question. "Why wouldn't she receive us?"

'...Is there something I'm missing, or...?' He looked into her eyes, searching for some sort of humor in them. "You're serious. Well, first we came into their territory without some sort of warning ahead of time. Second, we killed more than a dozen of her people, one of which was a governor of a city, despite the fact that it was in self-defense I wouldn't imagine she'd be thrilled about it. Third—"

Now it was his turn to be cut off. "No," Dettella said, shaking her head, "Regardless of what has happened, she can't imprison a foreign princess, let alone kill one without expecting to have a war on her hands. The forest elf population isn't large enough, nor is it's military strong enough to be prepared for that. There is a chance that she's heard something of my sisters relationship with me, but she won't want to risk the chance that it's wrong.

"At the moment my country is at war, but even considering that, we would have the might to defeat the elves handily. She will hear us before making any decision." Dettella glanced at Giela. "I mean no offense when I say this, it is merely fact."

Sam scratched his head. "I see... Why is the population so low?"

"The elf war." Giela answered. "Only 13 years ago the mountain elves' queen and king were both poisoned. The queen managed to survive miraculously, but her husband was not so fortunate. There has still been no answer as to who tried to have them killed, but at the time it was thought to be orchestrated by our queen. The war lasted nearly 6 years, and more than half of our men were killed, and a quarter of our women. It only ended when they captured and executed Queen Dolleifren. When our current Queen Elleifren, the second daughter, took the throne she managed to negotiate a truce with the queen of the Fenne Mountains."

Dettella nodded, the loose golden ringlets of her hair bouncing with her movement. "Both took heavy damages, and have only just begun to recover recently. Trade between them is still stagnant as well, and Crestell has only recently started receiving caravans from the mountain elves. I don't think even the southern lands have been in contact with them since before the war, and they are known for their interest in trade."

"Interesting..." Sam said, he found himself curious about the 'southern lands' of which he'd heard mention before. He shook his head, he needed to keep the conversation focused. "So we just meet with the queen and try to negotiate or something? Putting all our eggs in one basket seems a little risky... Shouldn't we come up with a plan B?"

"All our eggs...? Plan B...? What are you talking about?" Dettella had a twinkle in her eye.

"Ah, just an expression," He said quickly. "What I mean, is that we should have a backup plan just in case negotiations don't go as we hope."

"Hm, yes I suppose that does seem logical." She replied.

"You mean you didn't consider it before?" Sam was baffled.

"Well, I don't really think it necessary." She said calmly.

"Why not?" He wasn't sure if he was still misunderstanding something. 'Why is she so nonchalant about all of this now?'

"Because I won't fail." She said it with such assurance that Sam found himself believing her.

'Is this the arrogance of royalty?' He wondered. 'Well, I'm not sure I can think of any reasonable backup plans with this limited time anyway... If it comes to that, I'll get Theodore out of there and he'll have to lose his legs for good.'

"Why such a grim expression?" Dettella asked with a frown.

"Ah, was I scowling or something? I was just thinking that I haven't eaten anything this morning, or last night for that matter."

"Oh, well we will be provided a small meal before our audience with the queen, so you need not worry about that. Once we get ourselves situated I'm sure we will be invited to dinner as well." She said and Giela nodded in agreement.

"The queen is known for her extravagant feasts. My mother has spoken of them several times to me." The elf said, sounding enthusiastic.

"Your mother has been invited to them?" Dettella sounded surprised.

"Oh, no. She is one of Queen Elleifren's butlers. She oversees her meals and coordinates the dishes of the feasts. Originally she'd been a chef but found that she was better at dish arrangement than the actual cooking." Giela said with a laugh.

Sam and Dettella stared at her blankly for a few moments. Finally, Sam spoke, "And it never occurred to you that this information might be useful?"

"Well, my mother never spoke of the queen. She always said that it was ill-mannered to speak of her directly, so she only told me of what she did in her work." When both of them frowned at this, the elf continued. "I never understood it, but that's what she said. I should also mention that I haven't seen my mother since I left Geylin four years ago."

"That is... understandable, I suppose." Dettella replied with a confused frown.

"It really won't be that useful then." He said as he brushed back the lock of hair that fell over his forehead.

Giela shifted slightly, then looked away and muttered, "That's what I was saying..."

"Hmm... How much farther do you think Giela? I find myself suddenly impatient in anticipation of a warm bath." Dettella asked.

For a fraction of a second, an image of her naked body submerged in a tub flashed through Sam's mind. 'Samson, are you back?' He asked into his mind, despite knowing the answer. There was no reply. He shook his head and turned his focus back.

"...So if we are that close, my estimation would be that it should only be 15 minutes more." The handmaiden said.

"Good. Then we should start seeing the signs of settlement by now." Dettella replied as she peeked out the glass window.

To his right, Sam caught a movement. 'Frinala. I forgot she was there.' He thought. She'd been completely silent, and had yet to move an inch until that moment. She had moved to look out the left window. She let out a small gasp."What is it?"

The elf jumped slightly at being spoken to."O-Oh, it's just... I haven't been to the capital before. Fraeline is the furthest I'd visited, and that was to escort the villages taxes out. We only stay long 'nuff to drop it off."

Sam nodded."I wasn't much of a traveler either, until fairly recently,"He said. Out the window he caught a glimpse of an unearthed tree stump. Most of the roots were thicker around than a telephone pole. 'How in the hell did they manage to dig that up?'

He started listening to what Dettella and Giela were saying again. "...It still is incomplete?"

"Only the northern side, and I think it is most likely near completion by now. It takes many trees to construct a wall 50 feet in height, especially around a city as large as Geylin." Giela replied. She continued, a bit of pride slipping into her words. "When I was 18, just before I left, I helped to take down two trees for the wall. One of them I took down with only my father's help. It was a long week."

Sam started blocking them out again, and called out for Letta. 'Are you still in range?' He asked. There was no response. He sighed, it really was more lonely somehow without her or Samson hanging around. 'I wonder if he's had any luck finding Rentell...'

The minutes seemed to speed past, and all of a sudden Sam found himself stepping out of the carriage onto a broad, smoothly paved road of reddish-brown stone.

"Samson...?" Dettella looked at him questioningly.

"Huh? What?" He fumbled out as his head swiveled to take in his surroundings.

They were just outside an enormous double doored gate of a dark, almost blood red wood. Into the left side of the gate, a massive, six-legged hoshind was carved in both bold and intricate lines. On the opposite side, a matching carving of a great reptilian beast with bat-like wings and a pair of muscular hind legs. The creature's muscles were wiry, but well defined on it's aerodynamic body. Sharp barbs maned the roaring beast's head and traced along it's spine, ending in a leathery tail fin.

"A wyvern..." Sam muttered. 'These carvings are beautiful, intimidating, yet I can't help but feel they are nothing in comparison to the tree's carvings. Hers were like... like a window, almost.'

"You are ignoring me again." Dettella said, sounding frustrated.

"Hm? Ah, uh, sorry. I was... transfixed by the carvings." He said, smiling at her apologetically.

"I was saying that you didn't need to get out of the carriage. We just stopped to tell the gatekeepers our purpose in being here." She said.

Sam looked around again. This time he noticed Giela off to the right, speaking to an armored man. The armor consisted only of dark green breast and backplate, with dark gray chainmail beneath. His right hand rested on an ornate rapier at his hip, and held a helmet under his arm of the same metal as the breastplate. Feathery gold wings protruded from the sides of the helmet where the ears would be. The man had one of those ruggedly handsome face, with a slight shadow of whiskers and a nose that had clearly been broken several times in the past.

He was taller than most elves Sam had seen thus far. He was the same height as Dettella, who Sam had guessed was around five feet and five inches. Another odd thing was his hair, which was a dark greenish brown color, and when he turned Sam saw that his ears were more rounded than normal elves. 'A half human?' He thought, and glanced at Dettella. She didn't have the glint of curiosity in her eyes that he'd expected to see as she looked at the man.

The man knelt and kissed Giela's hand, then stood and gave her a winning smile. 'Smooth.' Sam thought. The half-human, half-elf turned and strode back toward the gate and waved up to other guards atop the wall. Giela turned and hurried back over toward Dettella with flushed cheeks.

"That is one of the queen's personal guards," She said quickly. "The queen heard tell of your coming and had him and three others sent to bring us straight to the castle. She is honoring you greatly. I think it is a good sign. Also, they will take the prisoners from here."

Dettella smiled. "It is a very good sign indeed," She replied. "Let us go then, I am eager to see the city. Samson, would you sit with me in the driver seat? We will get a much better view from there I think." She held out her hand to him.

He looked at it uncertainly for a moment, then took it. "It might be messy if they start throwing stuff at us..."

"They won't. Not with the queen's guard escorting us." Dettella assured, dragging him to the front seat just as more guards appeared from the slowly opening gate. Loud clanking sounds echoed from inside the wall as massive chains pulled it open.

Sam found himself smiling despite his rising anxiety. The three elves were still bound to the front seat and he quickly released the binds holding them there. A pair of guards took them, along with Frinala, and disappeared back inside the wall. A few minutes later, they were passing through the gates. The liar, as he had begun thinking of Fenella, had decided to ride in the carriage alongside Giela now that there was more room, leaving Darrel and Vielchena as the only ones riding winnem.

The elf knight glanced at Sam occasionally, her blank eyes unnerving him. Dettella squeezed his hand and he forced his gaze away from the elf. He looked around as they slowly passed through the gate. Fields of some sort of unrecognizable crop filled the immediate area inside the wall, continuing inside for a mile or so. At the edge of the farmland Sam could see a shorter wall of stone and the same dark red wood surrounding the city.

In the distance, an enormous spire of blue-gray towered above the city. "Whoa..." He whispered.

"Indeed," Dettella said, "It is even taller than the paintings make it seem."

"Yeah, but look at how huge the city is." Sam said. "How did they even manage to build this enormous wall all the way around it like this?"