Lorthrendel heaved a deep sigh and leaned his head back on the wall behind them. His eyes slowly shut. "How humiliating," he muttered. "Frostjaw, I pray to Thynryx that your friend knows what he's doing."

"Isendir always knows what he's doing," the dwarf sourly returned. "He may be a tinhead, but he ain't all that daft."

The four sat on a bench that was positioned directly in front of the doors that led to the Courtroom, where Isendir was now. They were all handcuffed, their weapons confiscated along with their belongings. Lorthrendel had been shackled with bonds enchanted with a silencing spell, preventing him from casting any magic. The only one who wasn't completely defenseless was Aerysdren, and that was only because he was an expert at concealing weapons on his person.

Paintings of past knights and kings decorated the grey walls of the corridor, with ceremonial weapons displayed all over. It was actually quite lovely in a simplistic sort of way. Aerysdren thought that it was lacking nature and the color green, but he figured that humans didn't like or appreciate that kind of thing.

"Care to explain why he's wanted by the knights?" Lorthrendel prompted after a while. "They seem to really not like him, and that's saying something."

Ragnus was silent a moment. "He never told me the full story. And I don't suppose that it's any of your business, you pointy eared princess."

Lorthrendel cast Ragnus a sharp glance. "You know, I am beginning to get tired of your little nicknames. However, I do think we have a right to know."

Ragnus grumbled something incoherent into his beard.

"The fae is right," Varenyl said. Though he didn't want to agree with Lorthrendel, he had to admit that the mage had a point. "We have a right to know, Ragnus. We did, after all, get in this predicament because of him. Although I do have faith in him."

Aerysdren, who was sitting right between Varenyl and Lorthrendel, awkwardly looked down at his shackled hands, watching the dust that sifted down through the light cast by the window. He felt extremely out of place. He was just tagging along; he had no real goal unlike the others. He was worried about the future, and there wasn't really anything he could do about it.

He just hoped that Isendir would be alright. He really liked him.

Ragnus frowned underneath his beard. His nose twitched. "He only ever told me that some witch who he had neglected to pay off for a job when he was twenty framed him for his wife and son's murder some eight years ago, as revenge of some sorts. He was disgraced by the knights and sentenced to death, but somehow escaped before his execution. He never told me the exact details of his escape either. It always seemed like an extremely hard subject for him to talk about, so I never pressed it." The dwarf fell silent and gazed intently at the wall ahead of him, as if the stone surface was the most interesting wall in Syrania.

Lorthrendel chuckled. He reached up to twist the corners of his mustache, only to grimly remember that his hands were bound. He frowned. "Seems a bit sketchy to me, dwarf, especially him making a deal with a witch. However, most witches are not evil or unholy, as most people make them out to be, but I am going to assume that this one is not one of those. Although, I have known people like Isendir in the past. They prefer to bury their past, to try and forget. It is less painful that way."

"He would never 'try and forget' it," Ragnus grumbled. "Hence why he still wears his wedding band on that chain around his neck."

"I can understand that," Varenyl said in a quiet voice.

"I like Isendir," Aerysdren muttered, still gazing at his hands. "There's just something about him that makes him seem like a- what's the word? Well, good person, anyway. Gods, I need to work on my vocabulary."

"You've known him for a day, Aerysdren." Varenyl cast him a sideways glance.

"Well, we're still alive, aren't we?" Aerysdren returned. He sighed. "He's just...different."

"He does have the eyes of an honest man...I figured that out when I first met him," Varenyl admitted after a brief pause. He turned his blond haired head to Ragnus. "As do you, dwarf. I will also admit that."

Ragnus slowly looked over at the elf. His green eyes gazed intently at him. "I wish I could say the same about you, lad. After your little outburst this morning, I am going to need some time to build up trust for you."

"I tend to think that I have a good judge of character. Despite what you tell me of his...past, Isendir seems like a good man, which is more than I would say about most humans. The majority of them tend to be the types that only care about power and sensual pleasures, to fill in their brief time on this planet," Lorthrendel commented in a dry voice. "As for you, Varenyl Jorona...I told you yesterday that I can tell there is something wrong with you just by looking at your eyes. I see the eyes of a man that has nothing else to lose. You may seem like a trustworthy person, but I think that you would also stab a man in the back if he were to somehow block the way to your goal."

Aerysdren, feeling very awkward in the tension between Varenyl and Lorthrendel, sank down in his seat to try and evade the crossfire and to avoid making eye contact with either of them. He began picking at his nails. He was surprised, however, when Varenyl did not lash out at Lorthrendel for his words.

The Sylvari gazed at the mage with melancholic blue eyes. "And what would you know about loss, Lorthrendel?" he asked in a soft voice. "How could you ever understand?"

Lorthrendel briefly glanced over at him before heaving a soft sigh and shutting his eyes once again. "Death is an odd thing for my people. Our lives span a thousand years, and those who die young usually do so because they were killed in battle. The oldest of my kin greet death like an old friend, for they have lived long, fulfilling lives. Thus young men and women who lose their lives are mourned greatly. As for me...I have only ever lost two people that I could honestly say that I cared for, and they were not fae. So no, I cannot say that I ever will understand."

He looked over at Varenyl again, studying his face. There was a few strands of premature white hair mixed in with Varenyl's blond tresses, and dark smudges lay underneath his dull blue eyes from the many sleepless nights he had spent the last two weeks. Though Varenyl would be younger than Isendir by about five years if he were human, the elf looked far older. Whatever he had been through had aged him, and like fae, it was rare for elves to age prematurely.

Varenyl, seeming to be pleased with the mage's response, ever so slightly smiled. "I am not entirely sure if you're a smart man or a brash one who is a royal pain in the ass, Lorthrendel."

"It depends on how I'm feeling, moment to moment." The corner of Lorthrendel's lip lifted upward into a smile. His face turned serious. "However, you must forgive me for my...behavior. I realize I am a bit insufferable at times. Much like that short old man sitting next to you. Isendir has my respect for putting up with him-"

Just as Ragnus was about to let out a very strong oath, the doors to the Courtroom suddenly opened.

"The Court Master would speak with you all now," said a young squire. "If you will just follow me."

~-~-~

"Hey Ragnus." Isendir cast the dwarf a kind glance as he came to stand beside the Highlander.

Ragnus gazed at Joseph for a few moments before responding. He could tell by the Court Master's lowered eyebrows that he was less than happy.

"Piss him off, did ya?" Ragnus grumbled in dwarven. He shook his head at Isendir and looked back at the Crownguard. "I thought we agreed on keeping him happy."

"Did we?" Isendir wrinkled his eyebrows. "I don't quite recall that. I do remember you yelling at me, however, telling me that I am a 'self sacrificing idiot' for coming here."

"Because that's what you are," Ragnus returned. His wispy white hair fell around his eyes as he shook his head once more. "Self sacrificing doorknob."

"You know, at your age you're going to end up breaking your neck if you keep shaking your head like that," Isendir retorted.

"What a ragtag group this is," Joseph commented as he leaned forward. He squinted his eyes. "Isendir tells me that you four have something important to tell me. Do make it quick. I have a meeting with Amnestria Wintermourn after this is over and the High Sorceress doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Lorthrendel raised an eyebrow at Joseph. He chuckled. "That's Mistress Amnestria to you, Joseph Murphy. Do not speak of the High Sorceress of the Eastern Fae so casually. Do not flatter yourself. And what 'meeting' do you speak of?"

"And who are you to correct me, fae?" Joseph frowned. A few of the knights murmured amongst themselves.

"I am Lorthrendel of the Council of High Sorcery in Shyliska, and I hold a seat on the High Council itself." Lorthrendel's brows lowered above his almond shaped eyes. "So please watch your tongue when addressing me and the High Sorceress, human."

Joseph's eyebrows raised. "Lord Lorthrendel! My apologies! I-I had no idea-"

"Wait...so that's the man that Amnestria never shuts up about?" one knight quietly mused to his friend. "Hmph. Wouldn't his spectacles mark him as an 'imperfect fae', or something?"

"Why the hell you asking me?" The knight scowled at him. "Just shut up and listen."

"Why is the High Sorceress here in Rosepoint?" Lorthrendel prompted in a stern voice. At a gesture from Joseph, a knight standing by the door came over and quickly undid the mage's shackles.

"She didn't tell you? Mistress Amnestria has summoned an Almoran Council. All leaders of the races and kingdoms of Almora will be arriving here shortly, including Drenmyr Warmaster of the Vilwuhr Dwarves. She claims that something terrible is at work," Joseph explained. "And if she is the one to call a council, then it must be bad."

Varenyl, with a quick glance at Lorthrendel, stepped forward. "Including the High King of Sheeth Dorei? But he is in no condition to be traveling."

"He is coming." Joseph nodded at him. His eyes suddenly took on a very uncharacteristic sympathetic look. But there was a fakeness in it that made Isendir blanch.

"He told me about what happened in Lyrenbel. You have my sincerest apologies, Sylvari," Joseph continued.

"I...he did?" Varenyl let out a soft sigh. If the High King came to Rosepoint, and if he himself was still there...Varenyl didn't know if he could face his kinsmen again.

Isendir cast Varenyl a confused glance. The Sylvari ever so slightly shook his head at the Highlander, silently telling him that he would explain later.

Now was just not the time.

"Iksyn City has also been destroyed," Ragnus said after a while. "That was the main reason we came here."

"Indeed," Isendir commented dryly. He nodded his head towards his companions. "Me and the dwarf met these three there and decided to travel together."

"Hi." Aerysdren smiled weakly at the knights.

"The Sylvari is Varenyl Jorona, and the Sylvanaar is Aerysdren Ravenshard." Isendir glanced grimly at Lorthrendel. "You seem to already know who the fae is. The dwarf is a friend of mine, Ragnus Frostjaw."

"I see....I am guessing that you, Varenyl, are one of those Royal Guardsmen that wield axes the size of a grown man? I would hate to be on your bad side when you're armed." Joseph let out a long sigh. He turned to the knight next to him. "Has anything been heard of the Lord of Iksyn?"

"No sir. I will send a patrol out there after this, however," the knight responded with a slight nod.

"Well, I suppose we're done here then. Thank you all for this information. And Lorthrendel...my deepest apologies." Joseph nodded respectfully at the fae. "We will tell Mistress Amnestria of your arrival. You are all free to go."

"What of Isendir?" Aerysdren asked in a low, anxious voice. "What will become of him?"

"He will face knightley justice for his crimes, child," Joseph returned evenly. "As he was meant to eight years ago, had he not escaped."

Aerysdren's eyes widened. "What? No! He can't-"

"Is it possible for me to take responsibility for the Highlander?" Lorthrendel suddenly asked.

Isendir cast him a shocked glance. "Lorthrendel-"

"Quiet, Isendir," the fae shot back.

Joseph laughed, thinking that the mage was joking. Surely no fae as high ranked as Lorthrendel would care for the life of a lowly human fugitive-

The Court Master's obnoxious, piglike laughter slowly died down when he realized that Lorthrendel was being serious. "What? You're being serious, aren't you?'

"In return for his life, I can promise you whatever you ask of me," Lorthrendel returned in a smooth voice. His red eyes glinted dangerously from behind his spectacles. "And I just happen to know that you're a very corrupt man, Lord Joseph Murphy."

Joseph's eyes narrowed. "Just what are you trying to tell me, Lord Lorthrendel? Isendir belongs to the country of Dalyntarth. He is beyond your jurisdiction."

"Well, is he still yours to execute if he is an innocent man? You never did order any real investigation into his case, and I could tell each and everyone of the members of the Crownguard why." Lorthrendel smiled charmingly.

Ragnus and Isendir stared at him with stunned expressions. The Highlander chuckled on the inside.

Joseph turned bright red. "Wha-what are you talking about?" he sputtered.

"Do you really want me to tell them?" Lorthrendel returned. He gazed at the other knights. "Although, judging by your comrades' expressions, they already have somewhat of an idea of what occured eight years ago...."

Joseph's beady eyes flashed with fear. When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "I'll fill out the paperwork."

~-~-~

Once they were out of Castle Stonewall, the Knighthood's headquarters, Isendir confronted Lorthrendel.
"You did not have to do that, friend," he said, placing a hand on the fae's chest to keep him from walking away. "How did you even know?"

"First off, don't touch me, Highlander." Lorthrendel's eyes flashed as he removed Isendir's hand from his chest. "Second, you're welcome. I am not entirely...unkind, unlike what you probably think. Third, I have a spell that I like to use occasionally that allows me to see into a person's heart for exactly four seconds. In that four seconds, I can read their deepest and darkest secrets. Joseph was bribed by that witch to ensure that you were found guilty and executed. Now, I have to go find Amnestria before she finds me. We will discuss your very interesting past later." He started to walk off, but stopped. He looked back at them from over his shoulder. "I suppose we will speak again later, hmm? I for one am interested in how that council turns out. And whatever tragedy apparently happened at Lyrenbel. My curiosity betrays me, although I cannot help but feel that something ominous is going on." He slightly bowed his head and turned back around and walked away.

When he was gone, Isendir turned to Varenyl, only to find that the Sylvari had disappeared.

***🐉***
Thank you so much for reading! I am extremely sorry for the long chapter too, and the late update. I feel this needs a lot of work, so please tell me any suggestions you might have.

This chapter is dedicated to my newest partner on the Wonder Writers Bookclub, highonrandomness, for his support and amazing book When Sparks Fly❤️

Please tell me any criticism and advice you may have, and until next time~