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The Arcane Order |
| There was a crisp smell to the glade. The
grass was slick from the morning dew, and a faint mist still lay
suspended just above the ground. Kesar wandered through the elven
village, his war fork and shield readied in each hand. It was not long
until he found his way to a building with a fair amount of noise inside.
He entered the Free Elven Merchandise Shop and found Allanen fighting a
harpy and an orc. But the seasoned elven swordmaster made short work of
the two, and by the time Kesar approached the only thing left was to
bandage a cut that Allanen had received.
The two spent some time talking, asking the usual amenities — how each was doing, and if they had seen any others. They had begun talking of some subject or another when in walked a newcomer. He was a young-looking drow, almost gaunt in appearance. He looked malnourished at first glance, yet his movements were graceful and his gaze lucid. For just an instant, Kesar looked at the other with a blank look, his mind still not recalling the features from the forgotten past. A look returned from the other drow was all he needed, however, to open the floodgates of memory. The drow spoke a greeting to Allanen, and the elf greeted him in return, calling him Dolenamo. But the image was already clear in Kesar’s mind. This was Tel’Halda — the Shadowed — and Kesar could literally taste in his mouth the disdain and hatred he felt for this one. It had existed since the moment they had first met long ago... and now it returned, undiminished from its time lost in past memories. While Allanen and Dolenamo exchanged pleasantries, Kesar said little. Instead, the two drow assaulted one another with an icy cold stare, and both knew that this was the beginning of something terrible. Kesar clenched his jaw at the sensation, while Dolenamo seemed to revel in it. The two lingered in tangible dread, staring at one another, Dolenamo with amusement, Kesar with dread. Then Dolenamo shattered the silence. “Well... The time for discussions of many things will come in time. Time being a luxury I have little of at the moment.” He gave Kesar a smile that burned with its malice. Then, without warning, the drow left, leaving his parting statements hanging in the air. “I will continue the exploration of my new home. Aluve’... for now.” Kesar watched him leave, his breathing strained, as his heart pounded painfully in his chest. The one known as Khalin Wael, the trusting fool, could not explain the reaction. But something was terribly wrong. And at the center of it was Tel’Halda, the shadowed. |
The
Library Arcane: The Lord of the Dead