7 Visiting the Councillors (part 2)

"In a day's time, the palace of Sezeria is holding a marriage ceremony. The eldest Prince- Prince Soren, the Scarlet Prince, is required to choose a mate by the end of the month, when the blood moon rises." I pause to lick my lips.

A fresh wave of perspiration has begun to build up on my brow, and I discreetly lift my hand to wipe it away, hoping that nobody would notice. "It is customary in events such as these that the leaders from each Elven clan- who have long since been on friendly terms with the vampires- make their debut in order to show respects, or bring potential courtiers.' I grate my teeth nervously, shifting from foot to foot. Clutching the pendant tighter between my fingers, I run my thumb over the golden links in the chain, trying in vain to steady my breath. "I propose that I go undercover and attend the ceremony as the leader of a new Elven clan. I will blend in with all the rest, no-one will suspect a meagre elven girl will be able to do any harm, let alone be a spy. It will be the perfect disguise."

I pause to catch my breath. "Then I will then have a month until the festivities are over, until the full moon rises, to find the eternal flame. The princes have obviously hidden it deep within the castle somewhere to prevent any angels from finding it, or any rogue vampires hoping to gain more power. But I'm confident I will be able to find it within the month. However, in the instance things go horribly wrong..." I glance down at the shiny hilt of my silver sword.

My pale reflection glimmers in the hazy layer of polished silver, wide eyed and quivering with a shaking in my body that I hadn't even noticed. Setting my jaw firmly, I look back up with grim determination. "I will kill the two princes instead." Silence drags out for seconds upon torturous seconds, my insides becoming a tumultuous inferno of fear and dread, before a pale skinned, elderly woman with silvery hair raises her hand to speak.

"If I may, my Queen, I really don't think it would be wise to go, especially alone. The palace is huge, and there is no telling what the vampires might do if they find you… snooping. They are vicious creatures, and the task you have set yourself is indeed a large one," A horrible sinking feeling fills my stomach, dropping further and further until I feel like I am going to be sick. They do not trust me to carry out the task.

No, I think gravelly, they do not think I can carry out the mission at all. Looking round at the stern faces and gently shaking heads of disapproval, all at once I feel completely alone. It was my word against the council's- and my word meant nothing to these ancient angels. Lip quivering, I clench the pendant tighter, my knuckles turning a grim, sicky white. Defeatedly, I lower my hand, dropping the pendant back into my pocket with a heavy thud. My head drops, my heart burns, a mixture of pain and outrage coursing through my veins like a grievous flood.

"Thank you for your time," I choke before the door crashes open in front of me.

"Wait," commands a deep voice, who's bulky frame silhouettes the doorway with an enigmatic darkness. I glance up in silent alarm at the shape who, strolling past me, brushes himself off just behind my seat, his visor muddy, his hands grimy; one was clutching at a strange object, the other, had another all too familiar shape in tow.

"Sincerest apologies, Councillors, we couldn't help listening in," Elris says gruffly, sounding extremely frustrated and not in the least bit sorry. I narrow my eyes.

"Elris?" I prompt, my voice startlingly quiet compared to the clangourous ringing resounding in my ears. I place a hand on the table to steady myself, wobbling slightly and somehow, almost delirious. My eyes wander down to the angel who has fallen beside the great bear of a man. His hair was red and flaming, wreathing like a dozen snakes trying to untangle themselves from a never ending knot. The figure gets up stiffly, brushing the filth off from his silky robe, wings ruffled up, the feathers stiff with rage.

"I apologise for such an untimely entrance, good Councillors," Ithuriel bows curtly, turning to glare at the bumbling figure beside him, whose ignorant hums fill the room as he fiddles with the object in his hands, seemingly unaware. Unlike Elris, Ithuriel makes a concerted effort to sound sorry-at least that makes one of us. "Elris insisted we waited no longer to, um," Briefly, his sun and moon eyes catch mine, searching. I nod. "To aid the Queen in her endeavours, you see Elris has-"

"A ring," Elris breaks in gruffly, his heavy footsteps dragging across the ground as he leans himself against the Councillors table, the object groaning under his weight. The wrinkles on his face contort as he speaks, pressing harshly into his skin as though it is moulded out of clay and alabaster, intense and rugged. He babbles in low, inaudible, rumbling tones, cradling the pearly white ring in his hand in a strangely paternal way, the little black crystals glistening along its sides like beady eyes.

For a moment the room is silent, staring with the same encaptivated trance that addles my own mind. Suspense hangs in the air like a dense mist. At last one of the Councillors has the nerve to ask the burly forger exactly what the ring is.

"Boy," Elris commands in reply, his deep voice reverberating through my skin, sending an uneasy shiver through me. "Come here," he gestures over with a free hand, beckoning. Ithuriel, whose hair has since turned a snowy white, straightens his robes out and glides purposely to Elris' side. Despite Ithuriel being relatively tall, he looks dwarfed against the giant's shadow, like sapling against a grand oak, hopelessly diminished. Taking care to neatly fold his wings behind himself, holds out a hand impatiently, a sigh slipping from his lips. Elris winks at me and whispers from the side of his mouth:

"Might want to take a hold of him, little Queen," Eye's wide, I move to wrap my arms around Ithuriel, who stiffens. Proudly, Elris slips the glistening ring on Ithuriel's pale finger, and after a brief seconds delay, I notice something is wrong. Ithuriel is burning. His skin is steaming, clouds of smoke lifting off him and obscuring my vision.

Shouts of alarm come from the Councillors table, who at this point are clouded by a screen of smoke and sputtering coughs. Wine goblets spill in a frenzy, viscous torrents of liquid bleeding into the rifts of the table, dripping onto the floor in a steady splatter of reds and greens. In a blind panic, I grasp at Ithuriel's robes. My hand brushed past something furry, and I scoop whatever it is into my arms, feeling the scrape of what might be claws against the skin of my forearm. Bit by bit the smoke clears. I look down.

My eyes widen alarmingly as a small, white woodfox stares up at me with its two tones eyes, the little fern like feelers on its head glowing and pulsing with curiosity. Tiny jasmine flowers and pointed green leaves poke out from the white fuzz covering its body. The ring, I notice, has expanded, forming a studded collar around its neck. Its oversized ears tilt and its nose twitches as I breathe out.

"That's Ithuriel?"

"The very same," Elris grins and makes a mock bow. "A spy needs an accomplice on such a perilous journey, don't you think?" I turn to Elris, the rest of the room disappearing around me, save for the warm, heaving ball of fluff curled up in my hands. Woodfoxes are characterised by their defensive magic, capable of temporarily immobilizing and blinding their enemies, and their leaden teeth are so strong that they can puncture metal. The little feelers transmit psychic signals, the source of their magic, to the extent they are able to communicate with a creature regarding they understand it's language. They are common companions of forest dwellers, due to their defensive capabilities, especially against a vampire. Elris really is a genius.

"I… I don't know what to say," I admit, for once finding myself lost for words. Elris waves me off with a smile, his hearty chuckle rebounding round the room.

"You say nothing, I'll handle the rest here. You've got preparing to do young Queen," he affirms, clapping me on the shoulder with a second laugh, and I brace myself, trying not to fall from the impact. I bundle up the little fox in Ithuriel's robe, turning to Elris for the last time.

"Thank you," I whisper, and with a sweep of my wings, turn from the room.