Page 65 of Entangled

“Breaking tension? Breaking tension?” Sebastian repeated, each time getting louder. “Do it again, and it’ll be your neck that is breaking instead, and with my hands clasped around it.”

“Aye, my lord,” said his captain of the guard in not more than a whisper.

“Farrimond, make yourself useful.” Sebastian pointed at the door. “Get to the stable and ready my horse.”

“Aye, my lord.” Farrimond took a few steps and then stopped, looking back over his shoulder. “You aren’t really going out to find the elf at this hour, are you, my good king?”

“I sure am. I need to talk to him before Merrow does. And when I find him, I promise you, he is going to pay for making me look like a fool.”

“Keep up, squire,” Sebastian called over his shoulder as they rode their horses in the dark over the steep incline of the Picajord Mountains. They’d been traveling all night, trying to make it to Elric’s home which was on a pinnacle mountain just outside of Glint Castle.

“This is crazy, my lord.” Hitch yawned, nearly falling off his horse, still feeling the effects of drinking too much whisky. “Why didn’t you bring Farrimond instead of me with you? You know I’m no good if I don’t get my sleep.”

“You’re no good even with sleep,” grumbled Sebastian. “Besides, I don’t want Farrimond anywhere near me right now.”

“Because he laughed at you?”

Sebastian hadn’t thought Hitch even knew about that since he’d seemed to be sleeping at the time it happened. It was exactly the reason, but he didn’t want to admit it to the boy.

“You were the one at Evandorm spying, and who also knows the most about what is going on. Therefore, you should be with me,” was all he said.

“Well, I don’t know where to find the sage.” Hitch yawned again.

“You didn’t see him at the castle, did you?”

“No.”

“Then he must have gone home. So, that is where we will look for him.” Sebastian led the way.

“My good king, the last time we crossed the Picajord Mountains and entered into the land of magic, a war broke out, if I must remind you. It might not be a good idea to come here alone, and in the middle of the night. The elves or the fae folk might consider that a direct threat.”

“We’ve made alliances with them all, so don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine.” Sebastian honestly hadn’t thought this over much before leaving his castle in a fit of rage. His squire might be right. It was dangerous at any time for humans to show their faces in the land of magic. Still, it was a chance he had to take. If he was going to be in an alliance with the other kings and queens, he couldn’t have the damned elf making a fool out of him at every turn. “We’re just about there. I can see the pinnacle mountain with Elric’s home atop it from here.”

“Another mountain,” complained Hitch, looking like he was about to fall fast asleep right atop his horse.

Thankfully, they’d managed to avoid any elves and fae and made it to the foot of the pinnacle mountain just as the sun started to rise.

“All that’s left to do is to go up there and knock on his door and confront him.” Sebastian looked upward, realizing it was too steep of a climb to bring the horses. “We’ll have to go on foot.”

“On foot?” gasped Hitch. “All the way up there? I’m not sure I’ll make it.” The squire dismounted and collapsed atop a rock. His eyes closed but he jerked awake at the sound of Sebastian’s voice.

“I can see you are only going to slow me down. Stay here then and guard the horses. Try to keep your eyes open if that’s not too much to ask.” Sebastian handed him the reins of his horse. “It’ll be faster if I go alone.”

“Aye, my lord.” Hitch yawned again and leaned back, stretching out his legs.

“If Merrow or anyone from Evandorm shows up, keep them from going to the elf’s door until I am done with him.”

“Done with him,” repeated Hitch, nodding off.

Sebastian hurried up the pinnacle mountain, feeling the burning in his legs by the time he made it all the way to the top. Who in their right mind would purposely live all the way up here? The man must be some kind of hermit. Or addled. Probably both.

Out of breath and feeling exhausted, Sebastian took a look at his surroundings. A bridge led over a crag, leading to a small wooden house with a blue roof directly ahead. The house perched like a bird atop the highest peak, watching down over the Queendom of Glint as well as the Whispering Dale, land of the fae. Sebastian started across the bridge, stopping for a moment to take in the beauty all around him.

To his left, far below, he saw the elegance of Castle Glint. It was a tall castle with balconies and turrets and a bright green roof that couldn’t be missed. It was constructed in the shape of a cross, reminding Sebastian of a church. Outside the ornate golden gates of Glint lay the village. Each home of the elves was encircled by tall hedges, almost making a privacy barrier, or perhaps a protective natural setting. When he fought the elves in the past, under the command of his uncle, he never realized how beautiful and green their land had been. Now he felt bad for the past lives he’d taken. This elven homeland seemed so peaceful and serene.

He looked to his right and could see down upon the colorful little dainty cottages that made up the Whispering Dale, land of the fae. From his position, he could tell the fae lived in a beautiful paradise of tall colorful flowers and crystal clear lakes. The scent of Lippenbur Lilies drifted all the way up the mountain, smelling sweet and magical, making his senses tingle. He tried not to breathe in the aroma of these flowers, having heard that the lilies contained an aphrodisiac that made anyone and everyone lustful, wanting to mate.

He could see lots of butterflies, dragonflies, and all the brightly colored roofs dotting the landscape. Just beyond the fae village was a lake with the pyramids of the gods. Near the shore were the Quamm Caves inhabited by those pesky gnomes they’d had to fight when King Sethor met his demise. But as dangerous as all these places were, his attention was drawn to the most dangerous of all. Across the water was the Isle of Denwop, inhabited by giants. He shivered, remembering the battle against these beasts that had occurred in the near past. It was something he never wanted to experience again.