Brendel Eldrien rode in silence alongside his Silver Spear companions. The border patrol around the western Keep was a boring post, at best, but at least it was a post. He contented himself with the fact that the Lord here was a very powerful man worth protecting, and not that there were no threats to guard against. Frankly, with Brendel's track record, he was secretly surprised to have a post at all. More then half the time he was unwittingly irritating a superior officer just by having more common sense.
He winced at the thought. It was those sorts of ideas that got him in trouble. The rest of the silver spears - his companions included - were full blooded family heirs. They all shared many things; the platinum hair, the grueling training, the loyalty to the Elven Throne. But Brendel felt he had things they lacked. For example, he had green eyes, denoted by his mother's status as a handmaid, vibrant in comparison to the rest of their silvered gray. He also boasted a rather enlightened opinion of humans as well as the other status elves who lived on the border towns.
He had been raised as the rest of the Silver Spears, to believe that all life was sacred and that all elves deserved their protection and respect... but Brendel felt like he was the only one who really believed any of it. It was a constant source of irritation, seeing as the crown Prince spoke of these ideals himself, and yet few other followed those Tenements.
Being half moss-eyed forest elf did have some benefits though. Brendel was often overlooked and underestimated as soon as nobility saw his eyes. Many times it warranted him posts in close proximity to said nobility, as a sort of unobtrusive bodyguard. Most of the times it was fine. They spoke a lot of gossip and hear-say.
But two nights ago it had been different. Some of the nobles were plotting something against the human kingdoms, despite years of peace between them. He hadn't told anyone what he had overheard two nights ago, not yet. He'd been on post at the Lord's estate, where his duty had assigned him, and he'd just... overheard it. Two men's voices, hushed, outside for the fresh spring air and some pipe, and their whispers had been careless and hateful, and he'd simply stood there.
What else could he do? It was not his place to say anything. Regardless of the sinking in his stomach at the mention of 'razing the town to ash' and 'blaming it on human bandits'. They had completely ignored him, never locking eyes, barely acknowledging his presence. His first thought was to speak to his Captain, but Captain Rolivyr hated humans almost as much as he hated Brendel.
He hadn't known what to do, so he'd written a letter.
He knew in his heart that there was at least one person who would agree with him; The Prince. Prince Neuvyn was always outspoken and liberal in his opinions. So Brendel had composed a letter, sealed it, and paid for it to be sent with haste from the soldier's post. He'd been succinct and composed, in the hopes that if anything it would warrant at least a sliver of investigation and notice.
"Captain?" Brendel asked. They were well into the woods now. He could hear the Lyrius River howling in the canyon close by.
The Captain harumphed. "Eldrien."
"We ... are out of our patrol route, sir." Brendel came back from his thoughts.
They had indeed strayed from the route, closer to the Lyrius river. He didn't recall any reports that would require their attention here. He glanced around. There were only two other men with him and the Captain. Being a Shield himself, Brendel was in no position to make demands or question orders, but... well, he had a problem with that too.
Captain Rolivyr, rolled his eyes. "Quiet, Shield."
Rolivyr was from a noble class, pure blooded as the rest of them. Ever since their time in training, the Captain had looked down on Brendel - even when it was from the flat of his back in the sparring ring. Though Brendel hadn't the class distinction or favoritism required to advance, he had always been able to best Rolivyr. A fact which had brought upon him immeasurable amounts of ire. From just about everyone.
Very shortly after, the Captain gave the signal for a halt. Curious, Brendel followed the suit of everyone else as they dismounted. Thinking very little of the situation other then it was a foolish waste of time, Brendel turned to regard his horse.
Starlight on the shining metal of the Captain's blade was the only thing that gave him warning, and Brendel stumbled to the side to avoid the close swing. He jumped back from a second, bumping into the rear end of his horse. His hands were raised in alarm. The tableaux would have been lovely had it been a different situation - their shining, oiled leather armor, green and silver, the moonlight-dipped shine to the Captain's sword, the roar of the river... Brendel tossed the thought from his head, vividly calling himself all sorts of imbecilic for thinking of sketching at a time like this.
"Captain!" He searched the other man's eyes. Surely they were rivals, but wasn't this a bit much?
"You nosy little moss-eye." The Captain snarled. "How dare you speak lies about the Lord of these lands!" He swung again.
Brendel ducked, itching to draw his own blade, but still wary, still confused. He couldn't draw steel against his superior officer, especially if it wasn't for a training drill! His bow and quiver bounced on his back as he put his shoulders to the tree line and looked at the other two Shields. They were both equally bewildered, hands on their hilts, and ready to draw.
"I did nothing wrong!"
The Captain pulled Brendel's letter from beneath his breastplate and let it fall to the ground. He crushed it beneath a heel. "You Traitor."
Traitor? What? "Captain, it is all true, that human town may be in danger -"
"I have seen your lies! Besides, it's just a human town. Just talk. You have no right nor privilege to question your betters. Shields, this man is a traitor. Take him, and if he does not come willingly, end his pathetic life."
Brendel's eyes went wide as he searched the faces of the three elves before him. What? No, this has to be some sort of sordid prank. He'd been pranked before in good fun (and abject malice, he suppose) but this was going too far. And though he tried to find a sliver of remorse or good humor in his Captain's eyes - he saw none.
Brendel's hand went for one of his swords, and that was all the signal the other two Shields needed to drive themselves into action. The Captain made one more swing at Brendel, who deflected it with ease, before the reinforcements made their moves.
One blade was not going to cut it against two soldiers, but he had no desire to harm his fellow Silver Spears. He deflected, parried, and deflected again, and then with his free hand he grasped the incoming wrist of the nearest assailant, ducking the blow. The second man's next blow he mostly managed to avoid, the blade landing a rather shallow hit to the joint of his grasping arm. Brendel winced, but then his foot came up and he kicked the first man in the chest, releasing in time to send him careening into the other Shield.
Then Brendel turned and ran. The Captain shouted after him.
This is insanity. What exactly had I overheard? Surely it wasn't an actual plan, and surely once the Prince heard about it, the rebellious idea would be crushed, and everyone would move on... what I don't understand is the Captain's behavior. Did he truly hate humans that much? Or... or does he truly hate me that much?
The thoughts were distracting him from the trail, and the woods opened up only to reveal the cliff's edge. Brendel frantically looked from side to side for an opening, but none came.
Lancing pain, sharp and rending, tore through Brendel's side, the force of which turned him. An arrowhead shot from close range and with extreme force. Brendel could see the shining head of it poking through his abdomen. The momentum spun him around. His foot lost purchase, and suddenly he was no longer upright. The feeling of plummeting was quickly replaced with shocking, inescapable cold as the waters of the Lyrius overcame him and swept him away.
