Chapter 15 (PoeteMaudit)
He walked through foliage unannounced and unnoticed. Patrick O'Brien surveyed all around him. ‘Who'd have thought’, he laughed despite himself. He had thought posing as a she-elf would have been more difficult to do. The elves he passed though did not seem to take any notice to his graceless gate. He tried to hold himself more upright, but still felt like a lumbering buffoon in comparison. He was still unaware of his purpose here, or his purpose anywhere, really. He had but recently acquired his powers and was unsure on what to make of them. The gentle priests who had tended him after the accident had told him he had the propensity to be good. He sighed. ‘What is good anyway?’ He had taken leave of the priests in the middle of the night, with no clear aim on what and where he was going. Traveling is all he had been doing for too many days to count. Searching for an answer, the answer, on why he was given another chance… given a gift. His eyes traversed the landscape. In days prior to his incident, he would have found this place an easy target. The elves were very trusting, so long as they supposed you were one of them. He had yet to see an elf lock a door upon leaving their home, and the guards all seemed to be located in the palace alone. ‘No doubt protecting their precious princess from all these vile men.’ Not that he could blame the Queen, if he had a daughter like that, he would lock her away for good. And if he had a woman like that…His mind started to wander and he shook the thought from his head. ‘A thief of princess' hearts? Not likely. And as for a thief of she-elf princess' hearts? Unthinkable.’
His eyes were still idly wandering when they came to a sight that intrigued him. ‘The fallen Knight of Kandor… Where is he going?’ His eyes followed ahead of the one called Kal-El. The path he was on suggested he sought the library. ‘A knight on a mission was going to catch up on some light reading?’ Patrick smirked to himself. ‘He must fancy that princess a lot. Poor lad, already whipped over an impossibility.’ He was about to head back when he was once again presented with an odd sight. It seemed another was also studying Kal-El. ‘That weasely Lord Tresstom… What is he up to?’ He watched as the Lord shadowed the path that Kal-El had already taken. A grin over took his face. He didn't know what would happen, but he knew it was going to be good.
The Dark Knight sat and pondered over his current predicament. ‘Ponder’ he smiled. ‘Most would insist the word was brood.’ He adjusted himself in his seat. ‘So what are the plans of the Emperor? And what about the Cup of Ages?’ The answers were still unclear, and that made him uncertain. And if there was anything he hated, it was uncertainty. The words of his wise tutor rang through his head:
"So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak."
Now he was standing and pacing. Calculations. He needed to make calculations… but there were still too many unknown variables in the equation. Allies, goals, times and places. Another lesson came back to him in force.
"Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays."
The Dark Knight slammed his fists down on the table next to him. They were being too complacent. Action was required and they were losing time. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard surprised shouts coming from down the hallway.
"Eureka!" James shouted and gallivanted around the room. He was still in the middle of celebrating when Lord Bruce shoved open his door. The knight had drawn his sword and was looking about the room. James's cheers came to an abrupt stop as fear of the knight over took him.
"What is going on in here?" The Dark Knight's tone was gruff and impatient.
James swallowed hard. "Um…" The scowl of the Lord made his blood run cold. James desperately tried to suppress the urge to run out of the room. Kal-El may trust in this Lord of Gotamsworth, but James was fairly certain he was imbalanced and potentially dangerous.
Lord Bruce gave him an irritated glare for his lack of response. He looked at the door he had shoved in and back at the former protégé of Kal-El. Deciding an answer was not coming, he moved to walk back out the door. The nervous and belated "Err…" refocused his attention to listening to James.
"Errrrrrrr….." James stopped and took a deep breath. "I um, er, think I er…."
"Out with it," the Dark Knight growled.
"The book!" James finally managed to exclaim. "I think I found something with this book."
Bruce followed the former squires quivering point of his finger to the table against the far wall. He approached it, while giving James a skeptical look.
"You see, I was, well…" James began to stutter again. Bruce took a calming breath and tried to put on a less annoyed face. James saw this and began to speak calmer and clearer. "I was practicing with my, well, you know," as he motions back to his bag, "and I found this." He hands Bruce a book that looks like an ancient relic of times gone by. James opens up to a page about the Cup of Ages. He grins broadly and announces that in Latin manuscript there is a prophecy. "Would you like me to tell you what it says?" To his surprise, the Lord looks over it and slams the book shut. With as serious a look as James has ever seen, the Dark Knight faces him.
With a voice no more than a whisper the Lord of Gotamsworth warns him. "Tell no one of what you saw. This stays with us… for now."
James notes the far away look in the knight's eyes as leaves the room as quickly as he came. James opens the book again after the sound of footsteps is far down the corridor. The smiles again at his finding, though he wonders why it was cause such a negative reaction to for the Lord. To him, it seems like a good omen. He looks over it again, but now a line seems out of place. "A hero's heart." James reads the verse again. *What does it mean to claim a hero's heart?*
Kal-El had been most surprised by the extent of the library owned by the elves. Though, he admitted, not nearly as surprised as the elves when he showed up with the intent to read about their history. He had just been shown the selection of books he could choose from when he heard the door of the library opening again. He heard the elf that had just helped him make a startled noise. Kal-El put aside the thoughts of rummaging through volumes of elven history to investigate the source. He could hear an angry whispered voice addressing the startled elf. He increased his pace to find that Lord Tresstom was leaning over the young she-elf demanding to find him. Kal-El's eyes narrowed as he witnessed the event. "I am right here, Lord Tresstom. How may I be of service?" His blue eyes were icy as the forced pleasantry left his mouth.
"Ah yes, so you are." Lord Tresstom stood up arrogantly and made his way towards Kal-El. "Though honestly, I was a bit surprised to find that you would be in the library. I do not mind telling you that stunned that a farm hand can read."
Kal-El ignored the insult instead, letting his gaze travel back to the verbally assaulted elf.
"Are you alright?" There was a hint of tenderness that crept back in as he asked.
The elf stood proudly and cast a foul look towards Tresstom to express her disdain for him. "I am fine, Kal-El. Thank you for your concert. YOU are always welcome in my library." The party was interrupted when another she-elf made her way into the library. Kal studied the new arrival. ‘Something seems off about that elf.’ The newcomer quickly made their way to a section of books, and presumably was quite enthralled with them.
Tresstom threw a haughty look back at the curator of the library, to show he was not affected by her regards for him. "So, Kal-El," he again addressed the fallen knight. "What do you think you purpose in this quest is? Hmm? I heard what they said, about the visions. They need a champion."
"I do not know my part, it is not our place to know." Kal-El tried to avoid answering with something that illicit another confrontational response from Tresstom.
"Oh, I think you know what you THINK your place is." Tresstom's voice turned into a his at the end. "I think, no, I know," he accused, "That you THINK you are here to steal what is rightfully for mine." Tresstom paused and then added forcefully. "But you are mistaken, dear, dear, deposed knight. Of what worth are you? A fallen champion. The only noble quest you are meant for is to bring in the harvest."
Kal-El's temper was beginning to flair, but he kept it in check. Realizing the argument was futile, he turned to make his way out of the library. Tresstom saw this and immediately blocked his path. "Going somewhere?" The Lord taunted while he placed a hand on his shoulder.
Kal-El does not make eye contact with the arrogant ruler. "Remove your hand." Kal-El's teeth are gritted and there is no sign of amusement on his face. Tresstom lets a dark grin over take his fair features. He pushes the former knight with his free hand. Kal-El does not raise a hand against him, merely shrugging the hand off his shoulder and again making for the door. Tresstom prevents his exit for a second time, this time placing both his hands on Kal-El's broad shoulders. As the royal hands tighten their grip on their captive, Kal-El can't help but wonder how important it is to keep peace between the members on this quest. He knows his self-control is waning but does not want to cause trouble. ‘Oh, but this guy has it coming…’ He couldn't help but think to himself. He sized up his potential opponent. The Lord of Doma was not physically intimidating to one such as himself. ‘Though the robes do nothing to help with that…’ Kal-El fought the smirk that threatened to appear. His blue eyes stared hard into his rival’s. Tresstom's hands increased their pressure.
Tresstom contemptuously regarded Kal. If he could get the renowned hero to strike at him, then perhaps…just perhaps… a brawl in the library would make the elves re-think allowing this despicable man into their territory. Tresstom was in no mood to let this plan go awry. He had seen the looks that the Princess and Kal-El had traded. ‘The looks that were meant for me…’ His eyes grew dark as jealous thoughts clouded them.
The sound of the main library door opening broke the simmering silence that had engulfed these two men. In walked the Princess, whose warrior eyes immediately trained in on the confrontation in front of her. Her expression spoke volumes as she made her way to the men, who had instantly drawn apart upon her arrival. Kal noted the way she seemingly glided across the room, the way her eyes shone in the light, the way her curls bounced... ‘Wait, is that a piece of hay in her hair?’
Diana glanced disapprovingly at her betrothed and then softer at Kal. "I trust nothing is going on here." She looked at both of them.
The Lord of Doma spoke first. "No, my dear, of course nothing is going on." He smiled a flirtatious grin that made Diana sick to her stomach. She turned to the former crusader next to her and raised an eyebrow for confirmation.
Kal-El bowed his head slightly. "No, nothing." He did not look her in the eye. He could not look her in the eye. It still felt…inappropriate…especially in public.
"What brings the two of you here tonight?" She smiled pleasantly, though the smile did not reach her eyes.
Lord Tresstom spoke first. "Why, I am here to learn about your religious beliefs and ceremonies. As your betrothed, I am particularly interested in marriage rites…" He paused for effect. "And those rights after marriage." He looked at her bawdily. Diana felt her skin begin to crawl.
"And you, Kal-El? What do you seek?" Diana turned to the tall handsome knight. He had been glaring at Tresstom during his last brazen remark. If Diana did not know better, she would have sworn his eyes had turned red. The corners of her mouth tugged up into a smile. ‘If looks could kill…’ "Kal-El?" His attention reverted back to her and his blue eyes became clear again.
"I was here to look at your history. I was hoping to learn more about your home." Kal gave her a sheepish grin. Diana smiled, a genuine smile, much to the chagrin of Lord Tresstom.
Diana nodded her approval and stated "Very well. I was also intending to review Themysciran history. Helene," Diana motioned for the librarian. The she-elf who had been desperately trying to make herself look busy, looked up from her desk. "Helene, would you be so kind as to show Lord Tresstom where he may find more information on our religious beliefs." The woman nodded and motioned to escort her charge.
Tresstom scowled. "But Princess Diana, I would much rather prefer the company of thee."
Diana smiled winsomely. "Ah, but Helene is a far better guide of the library than myself... I'm afraid that Kal-El will have to be the one to sacrifice his time to my meager knowledge of the library inventory." Kal-El's face showed not but surprise as the Princess hooked an arm through his and lead him off to the far wing of the library, leaving no room for a rebuttal.
Back in the foyer, Tresstom steamed as he watched the two walk down the corridor. Helene waited impatiently as he stood frozen in his spot. "Are you ready to see the section?" And after derisive glare, she hesitantly added "Sir." Helene inwardly groaned at the prospect of showing him around the library. But to her utmost delight, Lord Tresstom turned and stormed out of the library. Helene looked back to see an awkward young elf peering out from the section closest to the door. "Can I help you with something?" she called.
The elf stepped out from behind the shelves and stood looking very pleased with itself. Helene's jaw dropped as a masculine voice replied, "Nah, I got ta see all I came to see. Pity, would have been a might better show had yer pretty lil' Princess not shown up. Thank ye very much though." With a masculine laugh, the unfamiliar elf bounded out the door.
