Cyprien wished he wasn\u2019t here, stuck in the Great Forest, waiting. He liked to always either be plotting or attacking, and right now he was doing neither. The Asdelarcen were having a meeting nearby, their voices carrying to Cyprien, but he tried to ignore them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iskra. That\u2019s what he should be doing: trying to find her a body. If not for Aranthar, he would have started searching long ago. Once Eld\u2019rin was destroyed, he would let the elves panic for a bit before attacking again. He\u2019d visit some of the villages in disguise, try to pick up rumors of any young elf who the elves might fear or respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had to be young. Elves lived a ridiculously long time compared to humans and dwarves, but the older they got, the less suitable they became for possession. Of course, she couldn\u2019t be too young. She had to be well known, or at least recognizable. That was the whole point. Iskra would inspire far more fear if she inhabited a body the elves already knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need to kill him,\u201d one of the Asdelarcen said, his whisper carrying to Cyprien through the bare trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien glared at him, annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose were Aranthar\u2019s instructions,\u201d another whispered back. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAranthar said he couldn\u2019t be present,\u201d the first said. \u201cKilling him is preferrable, but he never said it was necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien frowned. More delays. He got up and walked over to where the Asdelarcen were, leaning on trees or sitting on stumps. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d he asked. He was getting tired of waiting. He might as well help if he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDilmir,\u201d one of the Asdelarcen said. \u201cHe has some magical shield we can\u2019t penetrate, and he\u2019s found a way to influence our enchantments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you can\u2019t kill him,\u201d Cyprien surmised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe could, eventually,\u201d the Asdelarcen replied. \u201cWe\u2019d find a way past his shield. But it would take time, and we\u2019re all impatient to destroy Eld\u2019rin. We need to get rid of him some other way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one spoke. Cyprien glanced at them all, displeased with their lack of initiative. \u201cAnd you have no ideas?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell\u2026\u201d said another Asdelarcen, this one much older than the others, \u201cnone of which are particularly easy. Obviously we can\u2019t kill him, so we\u2019ve got to pull him away from Eld\u2019rin. Far enough away that he won\u2019t know when we attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA distraction,\u201d said the first Asdelarcen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone nodded, but no one seemed to have any further suggestions. Cyprien looked at them all with contempt. They had no idea how to handle elves. Manipulating them was easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKidnap a friend,\u201d he said. \u201cSomeone he\u2019s bound to go after. Lead him along as far as you want, and by the time he finally realizes Eld\u2019rin has been attacked, it will be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2026 could work,\u201d said the old Asdelarcen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course it will work,\u201d Cyprien said impatiently. \u201cIt happens every time I abduct an elf for possession. Some fool always comes chasing after them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few of the Asdelarcen edged away from him at the mention of possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho though?\u201d the old Asdelarcen said. \u201cHe has no immediate family there, and we can\u2019t just abduct any friend of his. We have to be sure he\u2019ll follow, and keep following.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIlrin,\u201d one said. Several nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the old Asdelarcen shook his head. \u201cToo difficult,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s the obvious target, but she\u2019s never alone. Dilmir is always with her, and when he isn\u2019t, the Council is watching her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This struck Cyprien as odd. He had never heard of this Ilrin. \u201cWhy?\u201d he said. \u201cWhy does the Council watch her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Asdelarcen shrugged. \u201cAfraid of her,\u201d one of them said. \u201cDilmir\u2019s been teaching her magic, so they\u2019re afraid of what she might do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs she\u2026 well known?\u201d Cyprien asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several Asdelarcen looked at him quizzically. \u201cI suppose,\u201d one said. \u201cIn Eld\u2019rin, at least. Everyone knows she\u2019s Dilmir\u2019s friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien felt a smile flit across his face. A young elf who was feared. Yes, he would prefer to have an elf known by all, but such a prize wasn\u2019t commonly available. He would settle for one known to those in Eld\u2019rin. If she was young enough, this Ilrin would make a fine host for Iskra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs she training right now?\u201d Cyprien asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General confused nods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake me to where I can see her,\u201d Cyprien said. He had to see her, to see if she would do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
None of the Asdelarcen moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow,\u201d Cyprien said, letting the word out slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several jumped up to do his bidding. Cyprien followed them through the bare trees, cold leaves rustling underfoot as they approached the edge of the forest. Soon he could see elves past the trees. He and the Asdelarcen stayed behind the trunks, staying hidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere,\u201d one Asdelarcen said, pointing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien looked. All the elves seemed to be grouped up, watching something on the ground Cyprien couldn\u2019t see. He looked at where the Asdelarcen was pointing, and saw her: a young elf of about eighteen or nineteen years, with curiously brown hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A faint sense of familiarity stirred in Cyprien. Perhaps he had seen this girl before, on some nightly raid. But that hardly mattered. He looked at her critically. Yes. Yes, she would do nicely. She was young, healthy, and he could see the other elves standing apart from her, as if they were afraid of catching something. He nodded to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned, silently moving back further into the wood, signaling the Asdelarcen to follow. They did so mutely, probably wondering why he had wanted to see her. He didn\u2019t need to explain himself to them. They were elves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien reached where the undead lay a few moments later, the Asdelarcen who had stayed behind in a tense knot nearby. He strode up to them purposefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll make you a deal,\u201d he said, speaking directly to the old Asdelarcen, assuming him to be in charge. \u201cYou take this Ilrin, bring her to me, and I\u2019ll take her off your hands. I\u2019m sure it will be easier evading Dilmir without having to take her with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs you say,\u201d the Asdelarcen said nervously. \u201cBut what do you want with her?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is my business,\u201d Cyprien said, glaring at the elf for daring to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if Dilmir figures out we don\u2019t have her?\u201d another Asdelarcen asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let him come to me,\u201d Cyprien said. \u201cUncursed or not, he\u2019s still an elf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old Asdelarcen shook his head. \u201cShe\u2019s guarded,\u201d he said. \u201cDilmir has other friends who would be easier to take.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyprien stepped close to him. \u201cI don\u2019t want his other friends,\u201d he hissed menacingly. \u201cI want her. You will take her, you will bring her to me, I will take her to my castle, and then I will attack Eld\u2019rin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d the old Asdelarcen said, paling due to Cyprien\u2019s sheer proximity. \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way to capture her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood,\u201d Cyprien said, stepping back. \u201cDo it quickly. I grow tired of waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cyprien wished he wasn\u2019t here, stuck in the Great Forest, waiting. He liked to always either be plotting or attacking, and right now he was doing neither. The Asdelarcen were having a meeting nearby, their voices carrying to Cyprien, but he tried to ignore them. Iskra. That\u2019s what he should be doing: trying to find … Continue reading Chapter Ten – Plots in the Shadows<\/span>