40

A Dance of heart and a Dance of Blades.

Slyfer suddenly looks in the direction of where the strange man is standing. “Why did I suddenly get a bad feeling?”

Trisha’s voice pulls him back. “Slyfer I did not want to talk only about us, but about the tigers as well.” As if on que the Shaman steps closer. Trisha squares her shoulders; personal feelings must be set aside to discuss the future of her people. “I did not tell the Queen what you are, however I had to tell my mother.”

Slyfer does not say anything and only looks between the two. The fairies have also stopped flying around playfully and have come to rest, sensing the seriousness of the situation. Slyfer also shoves his feelings aside, whatever may be said now, must be said with his end goal in mind.

The Shaman smiles, but her voice is still stern. “The tiger ancestors have made me aware of the deal you had with each other. I wish to know if this extends to the tigers still living.” Slyfer frowns starting to feel a bit angry.

The anger is ins his voice when he asks. “What did the ancestors say?” he had expected this, that they may want to worm themselves out of it and not be involved, the truth to Slyfer is clear as day. “This is a world war, you are a part of it no matter what you do, where you run where you go in the end the war will find you and by then it will be too late.”

The Shaman also frowns his anger affecting her. “The deal was made by the old ones and not by us, why should we abide by it?” Slyfer nearly roars like a dragon in frustration at the stupidity of it.

He controls his voice when he speaks. “I have said this to many others and I will say it to you as well. You may not want a part of this war, but it is coming for you as sure as we stand here it is coming and there is nowhere you can hide. Sure you can leave, go the farthest reaches you can find and live in peace, but for how long, ten, twenty, a hundred years? But what then, what happens when all of us have been crushed and the tendrils of anti-magic makes its way to every nook and cranny of the world? Then it won’t be a war. No, you will be hunted down like dogs and killed maybe even experimented on like Luna. Changed into mindless beasts to hunt and kill whoever you are pointed at.” Slyfer leans back breathing hard, he needs to stay calm to talk sense into these people.

His gaze falls onto Trisha along with lashing words. “And you, will you also leave to be hunted and killed at a later date? Abandon the last hope of all magical creatures?”

Trisha is about to speak, but the shaman interrupts. “What does she owe you? What do I owe you?” Her eyes stretch in surprise when Slyfer starts laughing.

He finally stops. “What do you owe me? Nothing, but then again what do I owe you? If there is anyone most likely to survive in a world where magic will be outlawed, it’s me. Since young I have been prepared for this-“ he gestures around him. “This joke, being told its your destiny to go out and save the world is ridiculous! Is it fair towards me? Why should I go and fight for people like you who do not even want to fight for themselves? Its madness! Yet here I am. Great destiny my ass, it’s more like a curse!”

The Shaman’s eyes had grown wider the more he spoke, a prophecy she once heard of plays through her mind. “Could it be could this boy be that person?”

Slyfer who had turned around to look in the same direction he did earlier. Starts to speak again. “I give up, just leave, and run to your corners go hide in your holes. If you don’t have the heart to join, you will only drag us down.” His eyes narrow, he had felt something with his sense however it was only there for a split second before it disappeared.

Trisha walks closer while glaring at her mother. Her voice is strong and without any doubts. “I have already told the Queen that I will be following you in the future, the old ones inside me have agreed to this.” She does not get an answer from Slyfer and thinking he didn’t hear her she puts her hand on his shoulder.

In truth he is shocked by her words. Shocked and happy. The Shaman steps forward her face now a mask of anger. “Trisha you can’t, your people need-“

“If the black dragon wins the war my people will have nowhere to go anyway. Besides it was a dragon that saved us, we owe the dragons.”

Slyfer finally turns around, he looks calmer more composed and his voice reflects it. “You said a green dragon saved you right?” Trisha nods her mother does not deem to do so afraid Slyfer will hold it against her people. “Then it was most probably Serina…… my mother. I will introduce you to her one day.”

Trisha’s heart starts to flutter. “Serina....”

Slyfer turns to the Shaman. “You don’t have to follow the promise the other tigers made, but no this once my back is turned I will not be so welcoming again. You have a chance until we start to move again to decide.” Having made his choice, no matter the consequences he must accept them, so too must the people around him and if the tigers want to join at a later stage and may be as spies for the black dragon. “I hear a song which I trained to dance to, I will not let it go to waste, so please excuse me.”

Slyfer wanted to take Trisha with him, but he imagines she needs to talk things through with her mother first, it may be the last time they talk after all. When he reaches the tent he makes his way towards Ban first.

Ban quickly stands up at seeing him, the bows. The change in the man never ceases to surprise Slyfer. “ban get all the blood packed sober and ready to move at a moments notice. Send out the scouts to the North-East of us. I sensed something, but I can’t be sure.”

Ban nods without any questions and heads of to do his work. If his leader asked him to jump into a fire he would do it without question. Aldowin seeing the action makes his way towards Slyfer and talks with a smile. Slyfer soon realises his master is a bit drunk. “Slyfer, is something wrong my boy. Here have a drink, no need to be so serious!”

Slyfer can’t help but laugh at the man. “The presence of the Queen must really be working on him.” Slyfer drags him to one side. “I sensed something and asked Ban to be ready, but if it’s nothing then it’s nothing.”

The sparkle in the Elf’s eyes disappear, he stands up straighter. Just as he is about to speak, the Queen interjects. “You also sensed something?” Slyfer a bit irritated with her listening in only nods. “I sensed it also, but it was there for only a moment and thought you people were planning something.”

Slyfer fills his voice with a bit more disdain than he means to when he speaks. “I am not a liar like you, it may be nothing however I suggest you keep a few men ready in case it is something. A few days ago we attacked an outpost and took some important people, the humans may retaliate.”

She does not say anything and only nods. In her heart she feels angry and this boy who dislikes her so openly. What he had said earlier had hurt her like nothing else ever has. “It was true, that why it hurt. Nothing hurts like the truth. I had only thought of my people and not all the people.”

She is about to say something, when Slyfer leaves without excusing himself. It causes one of her guards to bristle with anger. In truth Slyfer had not done it on purpose, even though he would have if he knew it was rude. He left so abruptly because he had spotted his dancing partner!

The guard is about to make his move, but Aldowin in his drunk state is there in a second. “Hey, you don’t like my student?” The guard only stares at Aldowin. The Queen behind him shakes her head.

When Aldowin leaves the guard can’t help but ask. “Why did you stop me, my lady they disrespect you so openly.”

The Queen holds up her hand and replies in an icy voice. “The last person to fight with Aldowin while he was drunk died. Now if you ever question me again I will have you flogged, do you understand?”

“Yes my lady.”

Jade is standing and chatting to a dark elf Slyfer does not recognize. As soon as she sees him her face goes pale. Slyfer smiles and a glint enters his eyes as he thinks. “There is no running away!”

As if locked in place her feet won’t move until he reaches her. She laughs nervously her eyes twitching. “Hello Jade, its been so long since we have had a dance please join me.”

She wants to object, but before she can he has her hand and is already leading her to the dance floor. Her bright green and yellow dress, draws everyone’s attention as they make their way toward the dance floor. Slyfer’s presence is enough for the other dancers to make way for them. Before the music starts she gives him a pleading look before saying in a meek voice. “Slyfer please, just one dance okay?”

He only smiles and dips low in preparation of the dance. By now a circle has formed around them. The Queen also stands watching, hoping he will make a fool of himself. Her people are all great dancers. Aldowin also makes his way through the crowd with Vanya in tow. “Hah, like I would let my student outdo me, let’s see what you have got.”

The drum starts and they circle each other. As they do despite being afraid of the exhaustion this is going to bring Jade feels her heartbeat rise along with the drum. The fairies fly around them singing with the song. To Slyfer they feel like a barrier that has cut them off from the real world.

The flute starts and their bodies close in pressing tightly together. His arm wraps around her waist and lifting her hand he she spins out of his embrace. Another drum, another spin before she falls back o be caught by her shoulders. And slowly lifted up. Her legs stretch into an arc as she jumps the fairies follow in a stream, making her look like a fairy herself leaving a trail of sparkling lights. Slyfer is there the instant she touches the ground and they start to circle each other again, their arms bent and touching.

His eyes don’t leave hers and his crooked smile is infectious, she soon starts to smile as well. The drums speed up causing their feet to do the same. Slyfer bends down and hooks his arm around her middle. He lifts her up easily! She kicks her legs forward and spins around his shoulder ending the move by sliding down his back into a split on the ground. Her arm locks on his and he once again lifts her up. Her legs still in a split swing around as he pulls her forward.

She lets go and the crowd gasps aloud.

Her arms are outstretched like a great eagle in flight. The fairies form wings behind her back. Heart racing blood pumping she stops the split and straitens her legs as she starts to crash down towards the ground. The dress and her hair flow up as wind rushes past. It ends a split second later when she lands cleanly in Slyfer’s arms again.

She starts to laugh enjoying every moment of it. In the original dance she would not have to be caught, but due to Slyfer’s strength even when holding back he throws her too high! With one leg bent and the other pointed straight and mildly touching the ground Slyfer carries her backwards making her slide over the ground. The come to a stop and circle again. Dark and high elves start to clap together, but soon stop when they realise the other group is clapping with them.

The drum beats increase and so do their feet, the movements still fluid and graceful. The last part of the song draws closer and closer Jade prepares herself for the last move. She spins into his arms only this time he leans back until she is basically leaning onto his hip. Her hands are around herself one holding his, the other rests on his hip.

Slyfer suddenly moves faster than usual, straightening himself. Her hand that was resting on his hip launches her into the air while the hand still holding Slyfer’s causes her to spin. They let go and she does another two spins in the air before landing softly with one leg bent just as the music ends.

The crowd is quiet for a second before Old Sun starts to clap loudly, the rest join in not caring who is high elf or dark elf! The Queen frowns to the side. She gives Aldowin a look and nods to herself.

Not willing to be outdone she walks over to the Elf on the podium who is also clapping. “Make the announcement.” The Elf smiles with understanding and turns to the musicians that wanted to start the next song.

Slyfer who is waiting for the next song while holding tightly onto Jade since she had already tried to leave, frowns. The man makes his way up to the podium.

“To the high elves that train in the art of the sword, please make your way to the dancefloor, the blade dance competition is about to begin.” Slyfer looks at the Queen with surprise only to notice she has a smug look on her face. None of the dark elves know the blade dance, so it’s a good way to show them up. “You have ten minutes to prepare for it as always, the one who beats the Queen will receive the Old Kings sword as was decreed by him by his dying breath.

Murmurs of surprise fills the tent the competition had not been held for over a hundred years and now to have it in front of strangers was something unheard of!

Slyfer smiles to himself. “So you want to show the dark elves who has the better sword arm do you?”

Aldowin swears under his breath. “Damn woman she waited for just the right moment.” He gestures toward Slyfer. “The Old King’s sword will win you a large amount of support from the High elves. If you can win it, that is.”

Slyfer only nods before sending a dark elf to go fetch his sword. Ten minutes later he finds himself standing with twenty other high elves that are smirking and glaring at him. He had taken the heavy cape of to give him more freedom. In his hand is th sword his master had given him. The Queen not standing far from him has been looking at the sword in thought, ever since it came.

She unconsciously bites her finger. “Why are there dragons on the blade, is this a joke dragons would never bring up human like creature, they are too proud. Yet Aldowin knows the importance of a sword and what it means, why would he lie?”

The Old Kings sword has been placed on a pedestal in the middle. The Queen never goes anywhere without it by her side. It belonged to her husband and now belongs to her in a sense. Since she has lived as long as she has she had trained her magic to perfection, after that she had taken up the sword.

Three elves sit in front of the group looking at each with calculation in their gaze. The elf on the pedestal starts to speak again. “Now that we have judges, the competition will begin! One…two…three!

Swords swing through the air unhurried and slow. Each cut minimizes movement till there is only one slow continuous move. Gazes are drawn towards Slyfer who’s sword rings even now without being moved too fast. This is because of the strength behind each swing. The three masters acting as judges, cant help but shudder at hearing the noise.

“Stage two!” The pace increases and becomes more intricate, when you think it’s going to be slash it suddenly turns out to be a thrust. By now the deathly ring is drawing the attention of the other contestants, it causes two of them to make mistakes and they immediately leave on their own accord.

“Stage three!” Faster the sword moves faster the same movements as before only now the speed is near perfect. Not too fast and not too slow it’s the perfect pace for every swordsman to hold his own in long outdrawn battles and not get tired too quickly. Slyfer feels most comfortable in stage three, he no longer has to hold back and force himself to go slowly, this is his natural pace at the moment.

“Stage four!” Five more elves leave, knowing they screwed up somewhere. Not only are sword cuts needed for this stage, but acrobatics also start to play a roll. This along with the speed of it makes it difficult for all of them to perfectly complete the movements.

“Stage five!” Slyfer smiles and the ring of his sword is like a continuous sound in your ears. Everyone around gets goose flesh knowing what the sound means. The Queen starts to break into a sweat, she had not expected a boy of sixteen would have reached this stage already. One has to know that Aldowin was considered a genius since he reached stage five in just more than a hundred years, but to be sixteen and already here is beyond that.

“Stage six!” The last and final stage, Only two remain pitting themselves against each other. By now the Queen and Slyfer has turned into blurs that appear here and there, The air seems to reverberate with every cut. In truth Slyfer had discovered that he was only able to do stage six after the last strength training he had received from Aldowin. Even then it had torn his muscles to complete the movements. Stage six is bad for your body since you basically put it into overdrive, taring your muscles and sinew is a normal occurrence wen doing this stage.

The Queen however is a master in water magic, meaning she is adept at healing! So as her muscles tare she knits it back together using her magic. Slyfer has the gift so the same applies to him the only difference is he does not need to split his concentration in order to heal.

Slyfer had thought this win would be easy, but what astounds him is how the Queen has been holding on for so long, even with healing, the amount of concentration it would take is huge, which means it would be a matter of time before she makes a mistake.

Twenty minutes later, even Slyfer starts to breath hard, his attempts to control his breathing is slowly starting to fail! The Queen however is still holding on, her breathing is smooth and unrestrained. Her body moves like a robot by now they had started the sixth stage from the beginning!

Thirty minutes later, forty minutes later, fifty minutes later, They still move, still power through. Slyfer's muscles are starting to writhe and move under his skin as they snap with strain. It makes it difficult and painful to complete the movements, but he powers through. His lungs are burning, and sweat is dripping from his back. “How long is this woman going to go!”

He had thought of giving up, but the dragons had threatened him every time the thoughts entered his mind. “It’s not just a sword it’s your pride as a dragon, you keep going until you pass out or die, but you will not give up!”

Meanwhile in the capital a man with a large frame and scar over one eye is reading over a letter for the second time. He swears under his breath drawing the attention of a messenger who is sweating because of being in such close proximity of the man. He looks up over thin rimmed spectacles. His voice is slow and silent almost a whisper when he speaks. “When did the message arrive?”

The thin messenger swallows audibly. “Half an hour ago my Lord.”

The large man stands up from his chair which creaks in thanks for being freed from the overbearing weight. The voice does not change as he replies. Ever silent, ever deadly. “Half an hour ago and I only receive it now?” The messenger starts to whimper.

With a voice full of fear, he starts to beg. “My Lord please have mercy, I ran here as soon as I got it. Your guards made me wait outside saying you were busy in a meeting.”

The man turns around his face bristling with anger is voice now on the verge of madness. “Do not blame your incompetence on my guards!” Just as quickly as the anger came it leaves again as he makes his way over to the messenger with heavy steps. “Do not worry, don’t fear everything will be alright.” He pats the messengers head as if he is a long lost child that has returned home. “I forgive you its okay.”

The messenger on the verge of tears thanks him over and over again for sparing his life. He gathers his nerves and looks up only to feel the hope he had in his heart snuffed out like a candle in the wind. He starts to scream, but its cut short by an envelope opener now protruding from his neck.

The big man sighs and sits back on his desk while looking and his blood covered hand as if it’s a nuisance. “I apologize young Prince, its so hard to find good help these days. Living among these savages has made me rather moody.”

A young man’s voice filled with charisma speaks out of the darkness. “Don’t worry Alexo. I know how you feel, the other day a maid brought me food and the meat was touching the rise. Can you believe it.”

Alexo nods, he too had suffered the same thing on multiple occasions. The young voice turns a bit more serious. “Well what is the news? Do try not to keep me in suspense.”

“I feared for the worst, but this goes beyond my expectations.” Alexo hands the letter over to the young man who is sitting in a dark corner in order to hide his face. He reads over it slowly, not needing light to do so.

He finishes and clicks his tongue. “I am sorry to hear your son has been captured, he has always been such a sensitive soul. As for my future finance we cannot allow her to be affected by the savages. Even if it leads to an early war, we need her back as soon as possible!”

The big man sighs again retaking his seat on the edge of the desk. “My son has always been useless and his…. Tastes caused even the other nobles to look down on him. Well if he is dead we will have a reason to keep the savages from joining the council. As for your fiance. Clock is a capable commander and will be able to recapture her I am sure.”

The young man stands up and his voice turns a little threatening for the first time. “I do hope so; she is the last of her race and in her blood lies the key to lift a curse. A curse that I need not explain the origins of. If she dies you, and everyone you have ever known dies with you.”

The young man steps forward, a smile on his face. “I leave it in your capable hands.” Alexo bows low keeping the anger in him down forcefully. If it wasn’t for the boy’s backing he would have tortured him to death a long time ago. But this is politics and politics is Alexo’s game.

He smiles. “I can wait patiently, like a snake under leaves waiting for its prey to come and step on it. The so called Prince will not always be so lofty and when he falls I will be there under the leaves to devour him whole!”

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There you go as promised. I hope you enjoyed the read.

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