“THE BURNING OF BLACK ARROWS”

Note From Ulian: This transpires a day after Ulian's official release from Silvermoon's dungeons to Aeturnas Trinitas' Imperator, Sarafias Highbaurn and Praefect, Aora Nerel'Thos; Two months ago now. I apologies for the delay. IRL has been kicking our collective behind.



A light, cold breeze blew into the room, causing the sheer, crimson drapes to sway into the room from the doorway to a north-east facing balcony. The morning sunlight started to enter the room and ever so slowly crept towards the round bed in the center of the circular room. As the breeze swept over the bed, it caressed the two slender, naked bodies; it roused one of them from sleep as the other attempted to snuggle closer into the other for warmth.

With a loud groan, Ulian pushed away from his bed-mate of the evening. He pulled himself up and out of bed. His actions controlled by morning routine as his mind was still a daze. He reached for his brown leather pants that sat clumsily on a chair. His shirt hung by the left cuff on the seat.

As Ulian dressed he stared at the bed with a sorrowful gaze. He watched as the other elf rose in turn; Her form sensual and eye catching and her long, blond hair sliding down her body to her knees. She met his gaze and gave him a heart warming smile.

"Why not stay with me in bed sweetness? Nothing awaits us outside," her soft-spoken voice came across as a light chime in the room.

Ulian interrupted his glance at her to tighten his leather bracers as he spoke, "I am not in the habit of spending my days with whores."

He felt his own words sting as he raised his gaze up at her. Her face became business like in response to his statement as she acknowledged her job was done.

"I expect full payment." Her words were devout of their previous sweetness. She, in turn, got out of bed in order to slip back into her exotic dress that laid on the floor. Ulian gave a nod as he emptied his coin purse on the table. His fingers slide a handful of gold coins away from the rest.

"This should be sufficient," he assured her.

"With what you had me do last night I should be charging you double. It would have been triple if you didn't have light-given powers," she spit back.

"We BOTH agreed on the price. I want you to vacate my room before I return or else it is I who will be charging you... for room and board," Ulian stated as he fastened his belt and slid his sword into it sheath.

He didn't wait for an answer as he walked out of his rented apartment or rather, his small compartment. His present accommodation did not compare to the usual spacious and luxurious rooms nobles were offered. He descended the stairs into the common area of the Inn where he was greeted by a familiar face.

"Good morning, Ulian. I hope you had a pleasant evening," Aora greeted him.

"You are up early," Ulian dodged Aora's pleasantness.

"I arranged for breakfast. I need to catch you up remember," Aora said as she extended her arm to guide him towards their table.

Before reaching the table, the young blond tapped Ulian on the shoulder, "You're short!" she exclaimed while holding out her hand at him.

Aora had a curious look about her as Ulian turned to face the girl, "What I gave you is the price we agreed on. No more. No less."

"Then perhaps I shall have my manager come renegotiate our contract," the blond smirked.

Ulian narrowed his eyes as he snapped his hand to her neck and tightened his grip.

"ULIAN!" Aora protested.

"Listen, Whore. We agreed on a price and I gave you when you asked for. Send your manager if you choose. Just know that I am not the one that will be mismanaged. Clear?!"

"ULIAN let her go! NOW!" Aora screamed at him.

Ulian threw the gorgeous blond woman to the floor still training his gaze on her. She put a hand to her throat as she gasped for air. Recovered, she then stood and curtsied before she left.

"Have you no amount of civility left in you?" Aora scolded him.

"I do not appreciate people trying to dig a hole in my purse," Ulian sat down at their table.

"She is as much as a person as I am. What gives you the right..."

"What gives them the right to unjustly hunt me down and jail me with not a shred of evidence and then leave me forgotten?" Ulian raised his voice.

"Ulian..." Aora pleaded, "This is not the way."

"I will deal with my own affairs my own way. Thank you," Ulian poured Aora a cup of tea.

Aora sat down, still heated from what she witnessed but she knew better then to fight Ulian's pigheadedness. Both of them ate their breakfast without further incident. Aora spoke much of the time while Ulian simply listened to her. Towards the end of their conversation, and well after they had finished their breakfast, she passed him some documents. These documents, she explained, would unlock his personal accounts at the bank. This was the news he awaited the most. Ulian excused himself shortly after. Aora knew perfectly his purpose for the day even though she had mixed feelings about it she said nothing to stop him. Ulian walked out of the Inn and straight to the bank offices of Silvermoon. This was the building where nobility would keep their monetary holdings, but more specifically objects of great importance.

Once there, he was welcomed by a clerk whom he gave his documents to. The clerk's smile switched to one of displeasure as he read the name on the papers. This was not one of Ulian's supporters. The clerk had Ulian take a seat and then disappeared behind a door. Ulian clenched his jaw as he hid the displeasure of waiting. It festered in him. He needed this done. He wanted out of this doomed city. He knew Aora was now in the process of arranging new accommodations. He used this knowledge to quell his rage. He would be out soon.

The clerk returned to him after what seemed like an hour. Ulian stood up to meet the clerk's gaze. The clerk, a younger elf than Ulian, stopped short of a stone throws away from him. He called for Ulian to follow him through the door. Ulian walked forward, his sentiments still festering in the pit of his stomach. His heartbeat became louder as he walked on almost matching the clerk's pace. He hurried behind the clerk forcing the clerk to adjust and hurry his own pace.

Soon they reached a circular room with a table at its center. Ulian scanned the table from the doorway to see the contents of his account on the table.

"Is it all there?" Ulian questioned.

"Yes, as requested sir," the clerk answered, "I will be just outside. Simply notify me once you are done, sir."

Ulian walked into the room and stepped forward to the table. He heard the door lock behind him. The table in front of him had all sorts of objects. Some he had recovered from his childhood home while others reminded him of his ranger training, but he reached for a quiver filled with black, shining, iron arrows. He picked it up and held it in one hand as he caressed the craftsmanship of the leather quiver. It's edges encased a picture, a recollection of heroic acts that the Andiliens were best known for over the centuries, all of this embossed in the black leather.

After a few moments while still reminiscing, Ulian took one of the heavy black metallic arrow from the quiver and set it unceremoniously on the table before sliding the quiver onto his back. He then glided his fingers over the shaft of the arrow from tip to tip. It was quite cool to the touch and brought memories of a certain family ceremony. He recalled when this quiver, full to the brim of arrows, was given to his grandfather from his great grandfather when he passed along the lordship. The quiver passed from former lord to the next as the title passed from one generation to the next. Ulian was quite young then but his memory of the event was still sharp in his mind. Then each arrow would given to a deserving Andilien male of age demonstrating acts of heroics. This was the greatest honor the Andilien patriarch would bestow on any family members. But these arrows were also used in rite of retribution in extreme cases as a sort of mafiosi calling card back in the dark days.

Ulian then reached for a golden tipped black stained wooden bow. This bow was by no means his personal bow but a ceremonial bow that was meant to be held by the lord of the family and had as much significance as the quiver did. This bow had been crafted out of a branch of an old great tree, now gone, on the old Andilien Estate and was used in the great Troll Wars as the then patriarch of the family lead his rangers in battle. Ulian brought the bow closer to his face to inspect the fine details of the elven design across the curved elastic limbs of the bow. He then closed his eyes as he inhaled the delicate woodsy scent of the crafted bow. It was an aroma again reminded him of childhood memories that made Ulian smile.

He was the legal guardians of these artifacts as he was the only living male heir of the household after his veteran uncle was diagnose mentally unfit a year back. In normal circumstances, this was an honorary position that was usually bestowed on the eldest sibling of the lord. Much rested on Ulian's shoulders in the last year with respect to his noble family. His hard choices and his promises kept suddenly twisted and turned against him.

He took a few more moments to reminisce before he called for the clerk. He then gave the clerk some instructions to have his assets moved to another location before he left with the quiver full of arrows on his back and the bow over his shoulder. His next destination would be on the other side of the city.

The sun peeked through lacy curtains, tickling Agho'Linn's face and coaxing her to awareness. Theradiel snored next to her with gusto, and in the next room she could hear Therial's burbles and happy cooing. Days passed idyllic in her cottage, "Andilien's Retreat" as the rangers were calling it now. Never would Agho'Linn have thought that she would be pleased to be away from the hustle of the city, and yet here she was perfectly content.

Rising smoothly, she washed and dressed in the proud colors of House Andilien. There was a meeting she had scheduled for brunch this morning with one of the Farstrider Captains, and out of a desire to keep Andilien's Retreat private and secluded, Lady Regent Andilien had set the meeting at Andilien Manor in Silvermoon. The necessity to ride into Silvermoon was no hardship for her, it gave her a perfectly good excuse to exercise Arlen, her favorite talbuk.

She kissed her dozing husband and laughed as she batted away his hands that reached for her automatically. Slipping into her daughter's room, Agho'Linn scooped up the infant and nuzzled her softly. Bringing Therial downstairs, Linn was pleased to find Esere and Esere's boy, Tirdiel, already there. Esere was patiently feeding Tirdiel breakfast, and murmured quiet good mornings to Agho'Linn as the Lady Regent prepared Therial for the same. Tirdiel and Therial chattered at one another in a language only they understood, and Esere and Agho'Linn chatted quietly. Peaceful, happy sounds were abundant in Andilien's Retreat.

Ulian marched up the white cobble stone street that led up to the Andilien holdings in Silvermoon. It was mid-morning by the time he reached the fenced-in, green courtyard in front of the tall manor. It's windows glistened red as the morning light shone on them. Ulian gazed upon each window trying to guess which one would be her bed chambers.

He grunted in displeasure at the situation he was put in. The Andiliens, his namesake, not even lifting a finger to aid him but to instead declare him disowned because of his own andilien sworn oath to aid Silverleaf. Agho'Linn's mind was obviously twisted and bent on her former lovers jovial return from the underworld. Then imagining her spread her legs to that dusty rotting corps revolted him. The Lady Andilien with such crude tastes.

It blinded her. Love, Ulian thought, was now a foolish game. Worse, it was a foolish game that put his namesake in danger. But, no more. On this day, he would make sure to return the favor given to him.

"Agho'linn Nerel'thos Greenbriar Andilien, I call for your presence!" he yelled out at the top of his lungs.

This granted him the attention of anyone in the square including the rangers on guard at the manor. The guards approached him cautiously. Ulian stopped short of setting foot onto Andilien property as he placed each hand on either side of his hips. His actions at least guaranteed him no disruption from the Andilien guards as they had no legal recourse outside of Andilien property. They could not lay a hand on him for now.

"Agho'linn Nerel'thos Greenbriar Andilien, I call for your presence!" he yelled out again.

Ulian waited a moment longer as he glanced at all the windows to see if anything moved inside. The lack of motion, albeit discouraging, did not hinder the progression of his task here today. He proceeded to look around to find something that would be suitable and located a small brazier. He walked over to it and pulled it onto the street disregarding the mess of people now set around him. He pulled it as a metallic screech rang through the air from the heavy brazier sliding over stone. Ulian pulled it in position in front of the courtyard entrance between him and the guards. They now looked peeved.

"What are you doing? M'Lady is not here," one of the guards announced.

Once the brazier was adequately placed, Ulian straightened up to see if the Lady Regent had perhaps showed her face. It infuriated him to think that she would ignore him.

"Agho'linn Nerel'thos Greenbriar Andilien, I call for your presence!" he yelled out once more.

"She is not here!" the other guard hollered back, "Now be gone with you."

Ulian's eyes narrowed on the guards. He could not tell if they were deceiving him, or simply being coy.

"Come now Agho'linn! You're audience awaits! I know you are there..." Ulian shouted out, this time being less formal with his request.

He scoffed to himself as he watched one of the guards leave the grounds and head towards the Court of the Sun. He could infer the guard was on his way to bring the real authority of the city, the royal guards. Regardless, he started his planned ritual. He knelt down and extended his hand over the brazier to feel if their was still warmth. As his hand approached the surface of the coal he could feel the warmth of the ember left over in the bottom of the golden disk. All he needed was his flint, kindling and some tinder. In mere moments, Ulian had a satisfying fire going. He stood up and removed three envelopes from his vest.

"Last chance to do the honorable gesture!" he yelled out. He gazed at the entrance and then the windows. In a passing glance he noticed the remaining guard looked overly nervous. Fine, so be it, he thought.

He flung the three envelopes into the fire and watched as they burned and their contents both fueled the fire and changed its consistency. The fire was now higher and discolored between a violet and green hue. Ulian closed his eyes and lifted up both his arms after which he let out a primordial roar of rage. This silenced any whispers amongst the crowds gathered.

"Old Gods bellow..." Ulian yelled out.

"...I am Ulian of the most ancient and sacred House of the BlackArrow, of whose bones and ashes, the six hills of Silvermoon is built. I summon you to listen." Ulian paused as he lowered his arms to his sides.

"Curse Agho'linn Nerel'thos Greenbriar Andilien. Send her bitterness and despair for all of her natural life. Let her taste nothing but ashes and iron. Let her helplessly watch the house of the BlackArrow fall from grace at her charge. Burden those who would side with her misguided ways." Ulian's eyes narrowed on the guard as he spoke his last phrase.

"Old Gods in the underworld," Ulian yelled out again, "All that I have left as sole heir and rightful lord to this house I give to you in sacrifice if you will make it so."

Ulian slipped the bow from his shoulder and broke it in half with tremendous force, his knee at the center as a fulcrum. He then threw it into the vibrant flames. He followed by taking the quiver off his back and unceremoniously throwing it, too, into the flames. The fire grew and roiled and raged in color and size. Ulian then took a dagger out of the inside of his boot and rolled up his left sleeve.

The sting quickly dulled to constant pain as he watched his blood drain into the fire. The cute was deep enough to provide a sufficient amount to the ritual.

Once he felt his purpose accomplished, Ulian turned to the crowd and walked off pushing his way past them as he wrapped his wrist with a cloth.

...Lady Regent Andilien still had not shown her face.

TO BE CONTINUED

thud, thud, thud, thump

Arlen's hoofbeats against the loamy ground were a comforting, soothing kind of noise.

clip, clop, clip, clomp

The clattering sound of his hooves against the marble streets of Silvermoon was a jarring difference, but happy in its own way.

Whoa, Arlen... what is this?

Questioning the gathering outside Andilien Manor as she arrived sounded foreign to her, as if her voice was disconnected from her body. It was wrong, and sat in stark contrast next to the steady beat of a talbuk's hooves. The worried expressions of the Tera'Solas rangers at the Manor did nothing to calm her rising unease.

Lady Regent Andilien dismounted outside the Andilien Manor, as was her custom, and handed off Arlen to the Manor's groom as an uncounted number of fel-tinted eyes watched her. She refined her movements under the criticism, and unearthed a grace and elegance she hadn't occasion to use in months. Smiling and nodding as she went, Agho'Linn entered the Andilien Manor in Silvermoon as fast as she could without appearing to rush.

The oaken doors of the Manor boomed closed behind her, and she let out a small set of gasps. Outside, the crowd was making noises of dispersement. They had seen whatever it was that they were waiting for.

Only, Agho'Linn thought, what was it?

Looking up, her staff's expressions gave no answers. Maids scurried in and out of the parlor, readying the room for her meeting, but didn't look Agho'Linn in the eye. Tera'Solas rangers went about their daily routines, but walked in a stiff, rushed gait as they passed the Lady Regent. Finally, the butler took pity on his liege-lady.

"My Lady, Ulian An..."

"Ulian of Scalawag Point," Agho'Linn automatically corrected him.

"Ulian of Scalawag Point," the butler followed without missing a beat, "came to the Manor this morning. My apologies, My Lady, but we were unable to restrain him from making a display. My commendations go to the guard on duty, however, for cleaning up the mess quickly."

"Made a display?" Agho'Linn questioned, "What kind of display?"



One half-hour, an explanation, an inspection of the brazier, and one shattered vase later, Lady Regent Agho'Linn Nerel'thos Greenbriar Andilien sat in her dressing room furiously brushing her hair. Bess, her faithful lady-in-waiting, had been called back from her morning's errands and was now sitting not far from her lady. A pregnant pause filled the room.

"Tell me again," Bess broke the silence, "What, exactly, did he do?"

"He cursed me, and he cursed Andilien!" Agho'Linn flared anew, "He burned his bow and the black arrows that were his sacred right and duty to protect! I should have demanded them back when he went off to play as Lord Silverleaf! Augh!"

"Begging your pardon, Linn, but you don't believe in his curse, do you?"

"Believe in it?!" Agho'Linn shrieked, whirling around in her chair, "Bess! I've seen strange and wonderful things happen with Andilien ritual and tradition. The Zaram'dar Esta'miel changed Theradiel! Everyone adores Therial, worships her almost, just as the stars and the sheep-guts that were read for her said. Yes, I believe in it.

"But worse," the red-head continued, "others will believe it as well. Even those who aren't prone to mysticism will wonder. His curse will have its effect, one way or another."

"You've been through worse," Bess chided.

"I thought I was done with 'worse', Bess."

"Not yet, it seems."

"No. Not yet."