Ilrin watched the early morning mist outside her window. It eddied back and forth, thick, quickly obscuring everything. It always grew thicker in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of yesterday had been without incident. Ilrin wasn\u2019t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Dilmir had told her how he had been able to control the roots once he touched them, and how the Asdelarcen\u2019s spells had been blocked by his shield, but neither of them really thought the Asdelarcen had been beaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir had very nearly been killed. Somehow, this time it felt far more real to Ilrin. Even when they had both been surrounded by fire, she had known how to get out, provided she had enough magic. This time, neither of them had known what to do. Dilmir had told her how, before he had touched the roots, there had been a moment where he had realized just how powerless he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir, powerless. It was a concept neither of them were familiar with. Yes, Dilmir had again survived, and this time several Asdelarcen had been captured. But somehow it didn\u2019t feel like a victory. Ilrin knew the rest of the Asdelarcen were still out there, and the lack of an attack since then had her worried. She doubted they would just give up. They were planning something, and she hated to think what it might be. All of their attacks had been close calls. Would they eventually come up with something Dilmir simply couldn\u2019t escape?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook herself. She couldn\u2019t stay here all day, thinking. Dilmir was probably already at the middle of Eld\u2019rin, waiting for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with Endir and Inilidin, they had discussed the Asdelarcen and their attacks far into the night, staying up much later than they should have. Endir had been elated that his idea for a shield had worked so well, and had insisted on modifying it, adding even more safeguards. Ilrin had to admit it was a good idea, and Dilmir had replicated the new shield for all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually they had needed to concede that it was time to return home. Endir and Inilidin had left, and Dilmir had walked Ilrin to the middle of Eld\u2019rin as he always did. Ilrin wasn\u2019t sure why he always did that, nor why he insisted on waiting for her every morning. But she had no objections, and he seemed to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She glanced around her room quickly, making sure she had everything she needed. She had slept in this morning; Eledim would be waiting for her impatiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sighing at the thought, she left her room, walked down the short hall, and entered the living room. Her parents were still sitting at the breakfast table, their schedules not quite as demanding as hers. She crossed to the door and was about to open it, when her father\u2019s voice stopped her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIlrin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He got up and walked to where she stood. \u201cI want you to stop spending time with Dilmir,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin looked up at him, completely bewildered. \u201cWhy?\u201d she finally asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s dangerous,\u201d her mother said, standing as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This again. \u201cHe\u2019s not dangerous,\u201d Ilrin said. She was surprised. Her parents believed the Council like almost everyone else, but they had also met Dilmir on several occasions, and knew that he was no one to be feared. They generally didn\u2019t mind her spending time with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that,\u201d her mother said, \u201cit\u2019s because of the danger he\u2019s attracting. These Asdelarcen\u2026 everyone around him is in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin\u2019s father nodded. \u201cThey don\u2019t care who they attack,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you\u2019ve already been attacked once. We just don\u2019t want you hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you want me to stop spending time with him as a result?\u201d Ilrin asked. \u201cShun him like everyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot shun him, no,\u201d her mother said gently, approaching her. \u201cWe just want you out of harm\u2019s way. Being around him is dangerous right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot being around him is dangerous,\u201d Ilrin countered. \u201cHe\u2019s the only one who can stop these attacks.\u201d She didn\u2019t know if this was true, but he was certainly the only one capable of handling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese Asdelarcen have attacked only him,\u201d her father said. \u201cHe\u2019s the target, not anyone else. Someone\u2019s after him, and we wouldn\u2019t see you hurt as a result.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to stop spending time with him,\u201d Ilrin said. \u201cI\u2019ll be careful, both of us will, but he\u2019s my friend. I\u2019m not going to run away because I might get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opened the door and left before her parents could protest. It closed behind her, and she walked down the root. She understood them; they just wanted to keep her safe. And they were right, she knew that too. But abandoning Dilmir was the last thing he needed right now. She meant what she had said: she was his friend, and friends didn\u2019t abandon each other when there was danger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, they had a point. He was<\/em> attracting danger, and being around him was<\/em> dangerous. But Ilrin had known about his magic long before the other elves had, and she hadn\u2019t abandoned him then. She wasn\u2019t about to now, either. She hated going against her parents though. She knew they just wanted to keep her safe, but staying away from Dilmir just wasn\u2019t the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She walked down the roots, the mist hiding her, her feet knowing the way out of the Lower Quarter. It was still quite dark, the mist and shadows combining to hide Ilrin from the world, isolating her from all else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least until a shape drifted out of the mist and joined her. It was Inilidin, beads of dew clinging to her hair. She caught up to Ilrin quickly, and they continued down the root together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one could ever replace Dilmir for Ilrin, but it was Inilidin she could confide in. She listened well, never judged, and unlike Dilmir, didn\u2019t assume every problem was one she needed to personally fix. Not that Ilrin disliked that about Dilmir. But it did mean she didn\u2019t tell him everything. With Inilidin, it was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She told Inilidin about what her parents had said, and about how she knew they were right, but also knew that distancing herself from Dilmir was not the answer. As she had known she would, Inilidin was sympathetic and understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou just have to be patient,\u201d she said. \u201cThey know Dilmir. They\u2019ve met him. Once this is over, they won\u2019t mind you seeing him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ilrin said. \u201cI still don\u2019t like going against them like that though.\u201d They were silent for a moment, the mist shrouding them from the world as they walked. \u201cWhat about your parents?\u201d she asked. \u201cDo they still believe the Council?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inilidin nodded. \u201cI don\u2019t know how I can convince them otherwise,\u201d she said. \u201cThey haven\u2019t met Dilmir like your parents have. They really think he\u2019s dangerous.\u201d She sighed. \u201cI hate sneaking out every night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ilrin said. \u201cBut things will change in time. Eventually, everyone will have to admit that Dilmir really is just trying to help. Sometimes I wonder\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what Ilrin wondered was abruptly lost, as a spell flew by her, narrowly missing her arm, and slammed into the bark of the root just ahead of them. Thorns instantly sprouted in their path, quickly growing in size, trying to block their way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ilrin didn\u2019t pause to think. \u201cRun, Inilidin!\u201d she cried, dashing for the thorns herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inilidin reached them first, scrambling through the only remaining gap. The thorns scratched her as she squeezed by them, snagging on her clothing and costing precious seconds as she struggled. By the time she was free, the gap was almost gone. Ilrin was trapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo!\u201d she told Inilidin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inilidin didn\u2019t waste any time arguing, but promptly ran away down the root, the mist quickly enveloping her. No spells went after her. For that, Ilrin was thankful. Unable to get past the thorns, she turned to face whoever had cast the spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three elves, hooded and cloaked, were quickly approaching her out of the mist. Asdelarcen, she was sure of it. What they wanted with her, she couldn\u2019t guess. Her father\u2019s words came back to her unbidden, and she realized she might have been hasty in disagreeing with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three Asdelarcen stopped a short distance away, mist eddying about them. \u201cCome with us,\u201d the middle one said, \u201cand you won\u2019t be harmed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ilrin wasn\u2019t about to come with them willingly. She drew her sword, silently thankful that she had it with her out of pure habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not be foolish,\u201d the left-most Asdelarcen said. \u201cWe do not want to hurt you. Come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ilrin said. There really wasn\u2019t anything else to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asdelarcen looked at each other, nodded, and as one drew their swords. Ilrin realized they weren\u2019t even going to try spells. Did they know about the shields? How could they, unless they had spies inside Eld\u2019rin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slowly, the three Asdelarcen advanced. The two on either side fanned out, trying to come at Ilrin from the sides, while the middle one walked forwards slowly. Ilrin was gifted with the sword, and her particular style made it easier for her to fight multiple opponents. But these were three grown elves, and she didn\u2019t have much space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asdelarcen clearly knew she could handle a sword, because they didn\u2019t attack immediately. The ones on either side made a few feints, but never fully committed. They stayed out of Ilrin\u2019s reach, and she backed up as far as she could, her back almost touching the thorns behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They knew she couldn\u2019t watch them all. Sure enough, the second she turned slightly to her left, the one on her right attacked. She turned to face him, and the one on her left attacked, the middle Asdelarcen closing in to make sure she didn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ilrin could only go one way, and that was forwards, towards the Asdelarcen on her right. She drove her sword towards him, forcing him to get out of the way, and leapt away from the Asdelarcen behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The middle Asdelarcen swung his sword at her, forcing her to duck. She swiped her sword at his legs as she did so, causing him to leap backwards to avoid the blow, but even as she did so, she felt a sword connect with her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She shied away from the stroke, feeling the blade glance off of her ribs rather than penetrate deeply. Still, it stung horribly and she sucked in her breath involuntarily at the sudden pain. She spun on the spot, trying to strike at whoever had struck her, but the Asdelarcen ducked just as she had, and swung at her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ilrin leapt out of the way, but she was surrounded. She leapt away from one Asdelarcen only to move into the blade of another, this one slicing into her left arm. She cried out as the blade sliced deep, severing muscle, and pulled her arm away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was backed up against the wall of the root they were all on now, her back on fire, her arm streaming blood and deadened to all sensation. The Asdelarcen knew she was cornered, and all attacked at once. One struck her sword, wrenching it from her grasp. Another sliced his sword across her right leg, causing her to fall. The other lowered his blade until it pointed at her throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They didn\u2019t mean to kill her. They wanted her alive. This, more than anything else, frightened Ilrin. What could they want with her? What did they mean to do? She couldn\u2019t think. Her mind was going fuzzy from all the pain. Or maybe it was the blood loss. She didn\u2019t even immediately register it as two of the Asdelarcen stooped, and hauled her to her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuickly,\u201d the third Asdelarcen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the world flipped upside down. The root they were on tossed and writhed like a snake, and Ilrin was thrown down with the Asdelarcen. The thorns behind her parted in an explosion of ash, and beyond them, mist swirling about him, Dilmir appeared, hand outstretched, fury burning in his eyes. Inilidin was behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asdelarcen scrambled to their feet, backing away from Dilmir, but they didn\u2019t run. They still had their swords drawn, and neither Dilmir nor Inilidin had a sword, as both only trained at the blade in the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They eyed each other for a moment, the Asdelarcen and Dilmir. Then as one, the Asdelarcen charged, swords held ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dilmir didn\u2019t even move. With a horrible splintering, the root between him and the Asdelarcen shattered, countless shards of wood exploding outwards. Somehow, they all flew towards the Asdelarcen, none coming close to Ilrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asdelarcen tried to turn, to raise their cloaks to shelter themselves, but it was no use. Thousands of sharp splinters of wood blasted into them, shredding their cloaks into nothingness, and embedding themselves in the leather jerkins they wore underneath. They cried out, two falling to their hands and knees, as blood blossomed across them from a hundred small cuts. The wood wasn\u2019t lethal, but Ilrin was sure it was very painful. And judging by Dilmir\u2019s look, he meant to finish the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asdelarcen must have reached the same conclusion. They scrambled to their feet and ran, staggering into the mist as quickly as they could, leaving a trail of blood. Dilmir stood for a moment, clearly wanting to pursue them. But then he lowered his hand, and turned instead to Ilrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She felt a sudden shift in energy, and felt his magic flood into her. It wasn\u2019t exactly a comfortable sensation. It sometimes felt like someone was within her, controlling a part of her almost. Dilmir was the only one who could do it, and Ilrin had never told him how it felt, so he had no way to know how uncomfortable it could be at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dilmir didn\u2019t bother to speak any Elvish. He just twisted his magic with hers, commanding the magic to heal her body. Ilrin felt her back grow new skin, the slice in her arm knit together, and her leg stop throbbing. But Dilmir was no Lifeformer, and the healing was imperfect. No matter. She could fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He withdrew his magic as Inilidin approached, and helped her to her feet. Ilrin nodded her thanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat \u2013 What did they want?\u201d Inilidin asked, her voice quavering. \u201cWhy did they attack us?\u201d She looked uncertainly at Dilmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Dilmir said, the anger slowly leaving his eyes. \u201cI thought they were only interested in me, but it seems like they\u2019re going after my friends now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Ilrin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dilmir was silent for a moment. \u201cWe report this,\u201d he said. \u201cAsdelarcen in Eld\u2019rin? The Council will have to act. To be honest, I\u2019ll feel a lot safer with mages everywhere in the city. It will make it harder for the Asdelarcen to act.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ilrin nodded. He was right; it was the obvious thing to do. As she began healing herself more completely, she remembered her parents. If they had wanted her to stay away from Dilmir before, they would be doubly sure now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three of them looked at each other in silence as Ilrin worked. The same thought was on all their minds: why had the Asdelarcen attacked them? What were they planning?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ilrin watched the early morning mist outside her window. It eddied back and forth, thick, quickly obscuring everything. It always grew thicker in the winter. The rest of yesterday had been without incident. Ilrin wasn\u2019t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Dilmir had told her how he had been able … Continue reading Chapter Eleven – Escalation<\/span>