It was still morning when Dilmir exited the Lower Quarter, alone. They had reported the attack as he had suggested. Bound by their laws, the Council had been forced to act, although Dilmir privately thought that several of their members wished the Asdelarcen had just finished him off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin had been sent home, and Council mages had been stationed outside her door. Mages had also been stationed throughout Eld\u2019rin: at the main gate, at the entrance to the Lower Quarter; everywhere there was a chokepoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir was beginning to doubt what he had said earlier about feeling safer with mages around. The Asdelarcen seemed to be Cursed \u2013 of that he was fairly sure now \u2013 but they still had magic neither he nor the Council seemed to know about. They were shielded, as were their spells, and that gave them a great advantage. Dilmir wasn\u2019t sure if the Council mages were really much of a threat to them, and if that was the case, then Ilrin really wasn\u2019t protected at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once he realized this, Dilmir had tried to stay and guard Ilrin as well, but the Council wouldn\u2019t have it. They couldn\u2019t easily claim he was a threat, since the Asdelarcen had attacked him as well as Ilrin, but Ilrin\u2019s parents had protested, saying that he was responsible for the presences of the Asdelarcen, and that everyone near him was in danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir hadn\u2019t expected that. He had met Ilrin\u2019s parents before, and had liked them. Yes, they believed the Council, but they had seemed more open-minded than most. To hear them say what they had\u2026 it had been a blow Dilmir hadn\u2019t been expecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so here he was, leaving the Lower Quarter. Training had begun long ago, but there was little point in going there. Dilmir doubted he could keep his mind on what Elmir was saying, and he didn\u2019t want to anyway. He was worried about Ilrin, about the Asdelarcen attacking her again. But he couldn\u2019t go there either. Her parents had forbidden him from coming near their home, or their daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir paused in the middle of Eld\u2019rin, unsure where to go or what to do. He had to stop the Asdelarcen someway. But how?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone whispered his name from the nearby shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned. The sun was up by now, casting long shadows across Eld\u2019rin. The voice had come from one of these, but he saw no one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDilmir!\u201d came the whisper again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He caught sight briefly of a hand, beckoning him towards the closest, and darkest, shadow. He paused only a moment, and then approached the shadow cautiously. He could just make out the shape of an elf standing there, crouched, hiding in the shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elf reached out and pulled Dilmir into the shadow. It was only then that Dilmir recognized him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFelnir?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Eltuthar had been attacked at Arath Imil, Alfimir had slain all of his followers, the Eth Aniliim, or Dark Elves as the Council liked to call them. None had survived. However, Felnir had been imprisoned by the Council at the time, captured as a Dark Elf, and had thus escaped Alfimir\u2019s fiery purge. The Council had been forced to let him go when Eltuthar fled. That had been the last Dilmir had seen of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Dilmir asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooking for you,\u201d Felnir said. \u201cEltuthar\u2019s with me. He needs to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEltuthar \u2013 What, here?\u201d Dilmir lowered his voice. \u201cIf he\u2019s caught\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe won\u2019t be,\u201d Felnir assured him. \u201cHe teleported both of us right into your Aunt\u2019s home. No one knows he\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar was Uncursed like Dilmir, but to end the Civil War, Sonlen \u2013 who had been archmage then \u2013 had put his own brand of curse on him. All of Eltuthar\u2019s magic had been purged from him. While he could still sense the magic about himself, to use it caused him great pain. If he continued to use magic, Sonlen\u2019s curse would kill him. To teleport both himself and Felnir to Eld\u2019rin must have been very dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he was here now, and there was no one Dilmir would rather talk to. Eltuthar knew more about magic than anyone he knew. He could answer all of Dilmir\u2019s questions about the Asdelarcen. He might even know how to get rid of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir nodded to Felnir, and they set out for the Upper Quarter, Felnir keeping his hood low to hide his face. He was still a Dark Elf, and as such was technically an enemy of the elves. It would be better if he wasn\u2019t seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They arrived at Aimim\u2019s home shortly afterwards, Dilmir opening the door and stepping inside. He closed it quickly once Felnir entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar was there, sitting in a chair in the living room, speaking with Aimim. He turned as Dilmir entered, and all of Dilmir\u2019s thoughts about the Asdelarcen died instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The last time he had seen Eltuthar, he had been strong. He was in his middle years by Elven standards, and his hair had been gray, but he had still exuded a sense of power and command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now he was weak. His cloak was dusty and tattered. His skin was drawn, the bones of his face sharply defined. He slumped in the chair wearily, as if he didn\u2019t even have the strength to stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDilmir,\u201d he said weakly, his thin face breaking into a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d Dilmir said, before he could stop himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar\u2019s smile flickered. \u201cSit, Dilmir,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is much I have to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir sat, Felnir finding a seat as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo answer your question,\u201d Eltuthar said, shifting in his seat to face Dilmir (Dilmir saw him wince), \u201cMorindan happened to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMorindan?\u201d Dilmir repeated. Morindan was the land to the east of Eld\u2019rin, a place of death, ruled by Cyprien and his vampires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMorindan,\u201d Eltuthar agreed grimly. \u201cI had been hearing rumors for some time, rumors about the vampires and undead moving, massing at Cyprien\u2019s castle. The land itself was growing cold and oddly still, and I found that all the energy, all the magic, had been sucked out of it. I hastened to Cyprien\u2019s castle, hoping to uncover what was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI arrived in time to overhear a meeting between Cyprien and an elf called Aranthar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aranthar. The name stirred something in Dilmir\u2019s memory, but he couldn\u2019t place it. He glanced at Felnir, but saw that the name meant nothing to him either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn elf?\u201d Felnir said. \u201cCyprien was actually meeting with an elf?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar nodded. \u201cPlotting, actually. They both seemed to want to destroy Eld\u2019rin, but Aranthar couldn\u2019t do so just yet. He said something about his work in Annelintia being incomplete, and that he couldn\u2019t leave until it was. What that work might be, I have no idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut he also said that because of me, he had to attack Eld\u2019rin early. Apparently, word of my research on the Curse had somehow reached him. He said it was possible I would succeed in lifting it, and that attacking Eld\u2019rin and sowing chaos amongst the elves would buy him some time if I was successful. I was, understandably, both elated and horrified at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is this Aranthar?\u201d Dilmir asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t immediately recognize the name either,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cI\u2019ve been hiding with the dwarves though, and they had several records about him. Once I realized who he was, I hastened here with Felnir, to warn you, Dilmir. You see\u2026 Aranthar is of our line. He is Uncursed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meaning of these words did not strike Dilmir right away. \u201cUncursed?\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUncursed,\u201d Eltuthar confirmed. \u201cAnd he\u2019s been alive for much longer than either of us. He\u2019s been alive for so long that I\u2019m sure he\u2019s using magic to keep himself that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow old is he?\u201d Dilmir asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt least two hundred fifty,\u201d Eltuthar said grimly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full meaning of what Eltuthar was saying finally sank in. Dilmir had the magic of nearly nineteen years, and he was easily the most powerful elf in Feylund. Or at least he had thought so. But now this Aranthar was Uncursed and had the magic of two hundred fifty years? And he wanted to destroy Eld\u2019rin? Dilmir couldn\u2019t even imagine what an elf could do with so much power. He didn\u2019t know what to say, and just sat there, trying to grapple with the number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrently,\u201d Eltuthar said, \u201cAranthar is in Annelintia. He said he couldn\u2019t leave there for at least a few months, and left soon after meeting with Cyprien. So at least we don\u2019t have to worry about him just yet. But he left an army with Cyprien, around a hundred undead, and told Cyprien to use them against Eld\u2019rin. He said these undead were shielded with magic, and I found his words to be true. Each was surrounded with more magic than a Cursed elf can possess, and their strength had been augmented as well. One blow from them could probably slay an elf instantly, and the magic makes them immune to both spell and sword. Only you, Dilmir, can hope to defeat them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir\u2019s ability to respond had long since left him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere are these undead now?\u201d Felnir asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat I don\u2019t know,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cI had trouble getting out of Morindan unseen. It took much longer than I anticipated, and the toll on me living in a place with no magic for so long was unpleasant. As you might have noticed.\u201d He spread his arms wide, showing just how thin he truly was. \u201cUnfortunately, I lost track of the undead. Cyprien could have led them here already.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been no attack,\u201d Dilmir said, finally regaining the ability of speech. \u201cIf they were here, they would attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the last thing Aranthar mentioned,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cHe has agents in Eld\u2019rin, and told Cyprien to wait until they said it was safe to attack. What they\u2019re waiting for, I\u2019m not sure, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Asdelarcen!\u201d Dilmir said, suddenly springing to his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe \u2013 who?\u201d Eltuthar repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Asdelarcen,\u201d Dilmir said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been here, attacking me. They must be Aranthar\u2019s agents! Who else could it be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been attacked?\u201d Eltuthar said sharply. \u201cWho are these Asdelarcen? Dilmir, tell me what\u2019s been going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So Dilmir did. He told Eltuthar about the Asdelarcen and their attacks, how their magic was slippery, how he couldn\u2019t affect it, and how they now seemed to be going after his friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he finished, Eltuthar leaned back in his chair. \u201cThese are Aranthar\u2019s agents,\u201d he said. \u201cI have no doubt.\u201d He was silent for a moment. \u201cAs for why they\u2019ve turned to your friends,\u201d he said, \u201cI have no idea. But it seems clear that they\u2019ve been trying to get rid of you, knowing that you pose a threat to the undead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan I defeat the undead though?\u201d Dilmir said. \u201cIf they\u2019re shielded like the Asdelarcen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you broke through the shield once, right?\u201d Eltuthar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy touching the root they had enchanted? Yes, that\u2019s the secret.\u201d Eltuthar leaned forward. \u201cThere was a spell, back in the early days of magic before the Curse, which could create such a shield. It was the dwarves of all people who uncovered the secret; apparently they make a habit of preserving very old documents. That\u2019s how I know about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAccording to what I read, it is possible to measure the distance magic has traveled. It loses power as it travels, so when a spell is cast, or even when you use your magic, Dilmir, it\u2019s slightly less powerful even a few feet away than it is right next to you. There was a spell which could detect this drop in power, and if it was above a certain threshold, just block any magic which touched it. The only way around it is to enchant the object at point blank range, which is what you did when you touched that root. The drop in power was too low for the enchantment to sense, therefore it couldn\u2019t block you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo\u2026\u201d Dilmir said, trying to keep up, \u201cessentially if I touch an Asdelarcen, I can go right through his shield?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the same holds true for the undead?\u201d Dilmir guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, Eltuthar nodded. \u201cBut,\u201d he added a moment later, \u201cthe undead have two shields. One is identical to what these Asdelarcen have. You can get through that. But beyond that is a shield of pure magic, strong enough to deflect any spell from a Cursed elf. Only you have the magic to overwhelm that shield.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not much of an advantage,\u201d Felnir pointed out. \u201cWhy are the Asdelarcen so worried about Dilmir stopping the undead? If he has to walk right up to them, they could kill him easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot\u2026 quite,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cI won\u2019t deny it\u2019s dangerous, but as an Uncursed elf, Dilmir, you have certain advantages. Magic is best suited to blocking energy. If you try and block a physical object or force with it, usually nothing happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir knew this. That was why he hadn\u2019t bothered modifying his shield when the thorns were crushing him \u2013 it wouldn\u2019t have made any difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever,\u201d Eltuthar said, \u201cthis is only because the energy required to block a physical force is a ridiculously large amount. A Cursed elf could never hope to conjure such a shield. But you, Dilmir, have access to much more magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo if I make a shield to block the attacks of these undead,\u201d Dilmir said, \u201cit will just\u2026 work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cYou merely have the magic to make the shield at least take a hit. After one or two blows, the shield will evaporate. However, being Uncursed, you can pull magic from nearby, and use it to keep the shield up. It\u2019s still dangerous, but if you can keep your shield in place, the undead won\u2019t be able to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir sat back, trying to process what Eltuthar had said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy guess,\u201d Eltuthar said, \u201cis that Aranthar doesn\u2019t think you can possibly defeat all of the undead. But he still wants you out of the way before he attacks, because there are only a hundred zombies. My best guess is that Aranthar has limited numbers of them, and doesn\u2019t want to lose any.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIlrin,\u201d Dilmir said to himself. He had been thinking about the shields of the Asdelarcen, and had just realized something. \u201cIf the Asdelarcen can block magic from everywhere except right next to them, then they are immune to spells, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar nodded. \u201cCompletely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen the Council mages guarding Ilrin have no chance against them,\u201d Dilmir said. \u201cThe Asdelarcen are immune to spells, and their own spells are shielded; there\u2019s nothing the Council can do. The Asdelarcen could just walk in there and take her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eltuthar sat back, thinking. Dilmir remained standing, on the verge of leaving Eltuthar and running straight to the Lower Quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think,\u201d Eltuthar finally said, \u201cthat it\u2019s time we alert Alfimir to what is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlfimir?\u201d Dilmir echoed, his worry temporarily interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cWe have to warn the Council about the undead. And I think\u2026 I think it\u2019s time we gave the Council an edge against these Asdelarcen. You can\u2019t be everywhere, Dilmir, and the Council is bound by its laws to protect Ilrin. They need to be able to fight back against the Asdelarcen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut\u2026 how?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSimple,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cThis shield the Asdelarcen possess \u2013 it is easily created by even a Cursed elf. The secret of its formation was lost long ago, but I, in my studies, uncovered it. We will show this to Alfimir, and he in turn will shield the Council just as the Asdelarcen are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir was shocked into silence. It was Felnir who finally spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 That\u2019s stupid,\u201d he said bluntly. \u201cAlfimir is our greatest enemy. Why would we give him such a secret?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlfimir is not<\/em> our greatest enemy,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cAranthar is, and he\u2019s Alfimir\u2019s enemy too. Right now, the most important thing is that we stop these undead. I think Alfimir will recognize that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2026\u201d Felnir protested. \u201cYou\u2019ll be giving him a great advantage over us as well! A shield even Dilmir here can\u2019t breach easily?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve met Alfimir before,\u201d Eltuthar said calmly. \u201cConsider what you know of him. I\u2019ve known him for most of my life. He has one goal only: to protect the elves. However misguided he might be, every action he takes ultimately stems from that single drive. He fears my magic, and what it can do in the hands of power-hungry elves. That is why I can entrust him with the secret of these shields: because I know that he will keep it hidden, and never let the Council or anyone else know how to create them. He was there at the Civil War. Neither of us want to repeat that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat if you\u2019re wrong?\u201d Felnir said. \u201cWhat if Alfimir has changed? What if you tell him how to create this shield, and then he turns around and tells the secret to the Council?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we\u2019ll deal with it,\u201d Eltuthar said, his voice still calm. \u201cYou know we can.\u201d He looked pointedly at Felnir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The look stirred something in Dilmir: a small shred of resentment. \u201cYou\u2019ve known how to create these shields all this time,\u201d he said to Eltuthar, \u201cbut you never showed me? Why? Why didn\u2019t you show me the secrets of magic you had found?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eltuthar turned to him. \u201cBecause I was afraid and unsure,\u201d he said. His response had been quick, and Dilmir guessed he had thought about this conversation for a long time. \u201cYou have to understand,\u201d Eltuthar said, \u201cthat I caused one of the bloodiest battles in Elven history with those secrets. I never, ever<\/em>, want to see that repeated. I trusted you, Dilmir, I did, but I saw far too much of myself in you. You had good intentions, but I did too when I was young. I didn\u2019t tell you everything I had found because I didn\u2019t want to take the risk \u2013 however small \u2013 of starting another war. And besides, you didn\u2019t need to know them. I didn\u2019t know about Aranthar then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell I could use them now,\u201d Dilmir said, wavering between resentment and simple exasperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ll tell you,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cBut right now time is of the essence. We have to warn Alfimir about the undead. If we find them and destroy them, then I\u2019ll tell you everything I can, Dilmir. But until then, time is against us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFelnir,\u201d he said, turning, \u201cyou must find Alfimir. I will be arrested if caught, but the Council has no grounds on which to hold you. And I doubt Dilmir has much credibility with the Council at the moment. It has to be you. When you see him, tell him how to form the Velyor Enedil Asvarien.<\/em> That\u2019s the shield the Asdelarcen are using. You remember the spell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Felnir nodded, frowning. \u201cAnd you\u2019re sure about this,\u201d he said. \u201cTelling this to Alfimir?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlfimir is nothing if not predictable,\u201d Eltuthar said. \u201cAnd besides, him having the shield hardly spells our doom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Felnir nodded grimly, and stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do I do?\u201d Dilmir asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eltuthar looked at him. \u201cStay alive,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd try to keep everyone else alive too. You might be able to kill these undead, but it won\u2019t be easy. You\u2019ll have to be ready when they come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dilmir nodded. A few short minutes ago, he had been concerned about the Asdelarcen and the threat to Ilrin. Leave it to Eltuthar to introduce an undead army and an all-powerful elf into the mix. Dilmir only hoped that was the end of the surprises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It was still morning when Dilmir exited the Lower Quarter, alone. They had reported the attack as he had suggested. Bound by their laws, the Council had been forced to act, although Dilmir privately thought that several of their members wished the Asdelarcen had just finished him off. Ilrin had been sent home, and Council … Continue reading Chapter Twelve – Things Worsen<\/span>