Record of Lodoss War Fansite.

Archives: Hunt for Kiran

Chapter 4: The Marfa Temple of Salbad

    Mica led the three dark elves into the the new Salbad. Five years ago, it had been a dark, dangerous city. Threats lurked in every alley and shadow and lawlessness reigned. Yet now, it was a bustling, lively city with the Flaim guard patrolling the streets. The new inhabitants were mostly people who had become refugees during the war. As soon as Flaim established a military presence on Marmo, ship loads of the refugees who had crowded Blade, Shuva and Hilt were brought to the island. They helped rebuild the decrepit city, and they were able to claim the abandoned homes and buildings. Adriel had never been to Salbad, nor had Sythenra, but it definitely changed from Yrsanne’s memories.

    Adriel maintained his cool and aloof demeanor. The guards didn’t hesitate to let them pass through the gates as the new government wanted to be able to trust the dark elves. They gave them the benefit of the doubt in the hope that the elves would do the same. So far, the elders of most clans agreed.

    Mica the way through the busy streets of Salbad, making his way towards the temple. It was an amazing coincidence that the place that he had to go to get healed and the place he had to go to get paid was one and the same. “Anyways, let’s make haste to go...to the temple. I need to get healed before I accidentally, or purposely bump into my wife.” He sped his pace accordingly, taking his brother and companions through the bustling market towards Marfa’s temple.

    Yrsanne followed Mica closely as he was leading the way, “I bet they’ve built Marfa temple on the ruined altar of Kardis,” she said in common. I guess our stay here won’t be long… Yrsanne sighed and continued on her way.

    Adriel chuckled at that. “I suppose they would have to put something there. Humans do not like to waste space, it seems,” Adriel commented.

    “Human ingenuity,” Mica mumbled. “Either that or fear of something or other...” He lead the way to the temple with ease and haste, there was little there to worry about lest he was seen by his wife.

    Entering the temple of Marfa, Mica strode close to the altar and took a seat. He figured she’d know as soon as he showed his face in the temple that the work was done. Now all there was to do was to wait for her to make her appearance.

    “Take a seat Adriel, you two as well. There’s no use rushing time. That’s something you elves have in spades,” he stated rather crudely.

    Adriel was nervous as he entered the temple, though he maintained his aloof elven dignity. He had to admit, a part of himself worried that Marfa might just strike him down for entering the temple, but the holy place had a soothing feel to it.

    Adriel took a seat on the pew beside his brother, then looked at his two guards expectantly. He turned to the altar, then breathed in, closing his eyes for a moment as he let his spiritual senses reach out. “I could get comfortable in a place like this,” Adriel said, opening his eyes again. The temple was definitely sanctified, from the calm, peaceful feel to it.

    Yrsanne sat in a pew next to Sythenra. She glanced at the altar but turned her eyes away from it, maybe because her memories of the past weren’t all pleasant. But she sighed and tried to be relaxed.

    Sythenra was sitting next to Yrsanne and she too looked towards the altar of Marfa. She sighed, without really meaning to. She too felt that comfortable feeling as she let her own spiritual senses out. “I agree...it does feel nice,” she said with a slight smile. She looked at Yrsanne, and she could clearly see that the other female was having trouble. “Relax, it’s alright to do this once in awhile,” she said.

    Emerging from a corridor behind the chapel came the Duke and Duchess of Marmo, Spark and Neese. Besides being a Duchess, “Little” Neese was the high priestess of both this temple and the main one in Persei, and the youngest high priestess ever. When one manages to resurrect the mother goddess, one tends to be granted such roles. Neese was obviously pregnant, mid-way into her third trimester, and held onto her husband’s arm. Spark was out of armor and dressed in fine clothes while Neese was ever clad in her priestly robes. Tagging along behind them was a young half-dark elf girl in plain white robes, a priestess in training.

    Neese noted the dark elves and Mica. They weren’t the first dark elves to come to the temple, and certainly weren’t going to be the last. Spark had hired Mica to get rid of a bandit gang terrorizing the road out of the city. Their leader was a were-wolf, and a very advanced one at that. They tried sending out a few knights and soldiers, but they were slaughtered by monsters in the forest. A half-dark elf assassin could fare far better than a human army there.

    Mica was wounded, and if he fought a were-wolf, he could possibly have that curse in his system. Neese had to heal him quickly, though he had weeks until the curse manifested and became incurable. The pregnant priestess hurried over to the elves as fast as she could, pulling her arm free of Spark’s. The little half-elf followed behind her like an attendant.

    “Mica, you’re a mess! Did that were-wolf bite you?” she asked, but she didn’t bother to ask if he wanted a healing. Neese laid her hands on Mica’s head and began to channel healing energy into him.

    “Bit, clawed, scratched, and exploded,” Mica grumbled. He pressed the release on the Harrowing to let the terrible gauntlet off his arm. Blood oozed from the wounds it had inflicted upon his arm. Although it must have looked like it hurt, the arm was completely numb to Mica. “His blood must have got into me at least once. Not too sure though, he kinda went everywhere when I blew him up.”

    With his still movable hand he jerked his thumb at Adriel. “As I went to complete the job I ran into Adriel and his merry coworkers. Seems as though he and I are related through our joint father.” He pointed to the half-elf priestess. “Who is she?”

    Neese’s healing completed as he spoke. The wounds from the Harrowing even closed, though the old scars were unhealable. Neese withdrew her hand once he was healed. The new wounds had healed without a mark, as could be seen through his torn and bloodied clothes.

    “Well, what an interesting coincidence,” Neese said, looking at the three dark elves. The girl with her was standing behind her, eying the dark elves warily. Her skin and hair was suspiciously similar to Mica’s, though her eyes were green. “This is Elohssa,” Neese introduced her. “She’s the first half-dark elf that Tarba has ever accepted, though I’m tutoring her until she’s old enough to be raised to full priestess.”

    Spark stepped forward and took a small coin purse from his belt pouch. “Here’s your pay,” the young duke offered Mica. “Thank you for your help. The road will be at least a little safer without that damn were-wolf bandit.”

    “Elohssa?” Mica nodded. “Anyways, the bandit wasn’t too hard to get rid of, but if you ever need my services again don’t hesitate to call.” He removed half of the money in the pouch and handed the pouch back to Neese. “For the church,” he said pointing at the money. He pocketed his half of the pay and continued to look Elohssa up and down, studying her. “Pray tell, perchance, the name of your father, Elohssa?” He had a fear that his encounter with his half-brother wouldn’t be the only sibling he’d meet today, but it was better to get his suspicions out of the way.

    Adriel remained silent as the priestess tended to Mica. Neese. I’ve heard that name... the dark elf mused. Is this the Marfa priestess who was used to resurrect Kardis, then resurrected Marfa as well? Adriel was suddenly in awe of the humble, pregnant priestess. Even if he was a dark elf, this human girl’s accomplishments were incredible.

    He turned his attention to the half-elf. He had never seen his father, but he had his mother’s description. Pale blonde hair, dark coppery skin, and amber eyes. This little girl certainly had the first two. Adriel held his breath, waiting to hear if she said Kiran.

    Elohssa bit her lip. Her green eyes traveled across the three dark elves, then back to Mica. “Well, my mom mentioned it a few times...” Elohssa said, apprehensively. “Kiran, I think it was.”

    Adriel breathed again, a small, controlled sigh. His white brows furrowed, realizing yet another sibling. Adriel leaned back against the pew. “Well then. I greet you, little sister Elohssa,” Adriel said. “I am your brother, Adriel, a son of Kiran as well.”

    Sythenra was both stunned and honored to find Spark and Neese there. Having had heard so much about them she couldn’t help but to smile, this surely was a rare experience to say the least. She let out a small sigh of her own when Elohssa told her father’s name. “So, he’s been here too,” she couldn’t help but to mutter under her breath.

    {“Don’t worry, I’m fine,”} Yrsanne replied with a smile to Sythenra and kept listening to Neese. She was glad that she had never known Kiran, and hopefully would never know him.

    Sythenra sighed. The talks about Kiran had left her a little upset. Standing up, she bowed respectfully toward the Duke and Duchess. “Forgive me, but I have some things on my mind. I’m going to go out and get some air. Excuse me,” she said to them. With that, the dark elf went outside and put her back against the wall. “Kiran... Why in names of the gods have you done all this?” she muttered.

* * *

    Neese was just as surprised by Elohssa’s admission as the dark elves. “This is a strange coincidence!” Neese commented. That dark elf, Kiran, certainly got around. She knew Elohssa’s story. Her mother was a victim of rape and took the anger out her illegitimate daughter by making her a servant. The half-elf was intentionally left behind, locked in a closet, when the city was evacuated by Ashram.

    Elohssa looked between her two newly discovered brothers and began to fidget with the sleeves of her robes. “I...dunno what to say,” the half-elf said to Mica and Adriel, then drooped her head. She had older brothers, her human ones. They were terrible to her. “So I’m your sister, but what does that mean? Is it just a matter of fact, or will you love me?”

    “You sound like I did,” Mica grunted. “At least you got to keep your ears.” Mica traced the scar tissue on his ears from his mother’s butchery. “My mother was thirteen when she had me. She raped, defiled and scarred me. She took a finger of mine because she saw it unsightly. She removed part of my ears because they weren’t human. She never once blamed him though, all the blame was mine, and mine alone. Had I not been born, she would have had a nice blissful life. Had I not been born she would have forgotten the rape,” Mica scoffed. “The woman was delusional, even for a selfish, whiny, thirteen year old bitch. The first act of love I performed towards my mother was choking the life from her at the tender age of ten, years before either the Duke or Duchess was even conceived. If you want me to love you, I can love you, but you have to take that look of disdain off of your face. You’re a priestess first. Your face guides people’s faith. You look at dark elves like we’re a plague and you’ll scare away hopeful parishioners.” Mica cursed under his breath, “Damn that old man. Even years pass and I still am haunted by that self-righteous dark elf’s words.”

    Elohssa’s ears laid back in discomfort while Mica ranted. One of the dark elves stood and walked out, and Elohssa watched her leave. She wanted to hide from Mica’s words, but she couldn’t protect herself behind some priestess’s skirts any more.

    “I’m not disdainful!” she defended herself. “I just don’t want to have two more brothers like my human ones...”

    Mica laughed. “There. Some honesty and insight into your life, Elohssa.” Mica stared down his sister. “Adriel is far kinder than I, and I would never mistreat someone unless they first wronged me. That should eleviate some of your concerns, priestess.”

    Elohssa blushed and looked down at her sandaled feet. Adriel slipped from the pew and knelt in front of his sister. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he proved that he indeed was the kindest of the pair. “Elohssa, do not worry,” Adriel said. “I will be the best brother I can, but first, I must seek our father.”

    Elohssa blushed more and nodded. “I don’t care about him, he’s not a part of my life,” Elohssa said. “Why do you seek him?”

    Adriel looked down for a moment. “I...well, my reasons are not as dire as Mica’s. I want Kiran to know the consequences of his actions.”

    Elohssa shrugged. “Well, you guys can do what you want. I personally don’t care about what happens to my father,” the half-elf said. Her face cracked in a smile though and she leaned forward to hug Adriel. “It’s good to have a nice brother for once.”

    She pulled away from the dark elf, then looked at Mica. “Can I get a hug from the intimidating assassin brother as well?” she asked Mica with a playful little smirk.

    “Heh,” the half elf breathed out and rose to hug his sister. He obviously dwarfed her in size, as he was six inches taller than Adriel. He pulled his little sister into his arms and patted her back. “See? I’m not that intimidating.”

    Elohssa gave a little giggle and hugged Mica back. When he set her back down, the half-elf looked at both brothers, grinning. “Too bad I can’t come with you,” she said, “but I can’t use any of Marfa’s healing magic until I’m raised to a full priestess. Maybe one day you guys can watch out for me on my pilgrimage.” The little half-elf winked to Adriel and Mica.

    Yrsanne decided not to follow Sythenra and leave her with her thoughts for some time. She watched Elohssa and her two new-made brothers with a soft smile, “So the half of the family united at last…”

    “Perhaps some day we will accompany you on that pilgrimage,” Mica answered. “But it’s almost time for Adriel and others to pilgrimage to my house to meet my wife.” He kissed Elohssa on her forehead. “It was nice meeting you.”

    Aiden stood up to leave with Mica. “I will be certain to come back and visit you when our journey completes,” he assured his new little sister who was absolutely beaming from the kiss on her forehead. “How long until you take your pilgrimage?” he asked, pausing just a moment.

    “Well, I’ll be going back to Tarba when I’m fifteen to be raised, but it’ll be a couple more years more before I can take a pilgrimage I’ll send you a letter if I can!” Elohssa replied.

    “I will be waiting,” Adriel said with a smile. “It was good to meet you, Elohssa.” Like Mica, he leaned down and kissed the half-elf’s forehead too.

    Rising and turning to Mica, he looked up at his taller brother. “I am ready,” he said, waiting for Mica to lead the way to his home.

    Yrsanne stood up after Adriel and was ready to follow him. She waited for Mica and looked out for Sythenra who had gone out and hadn’t shown up yet.

    Mica bid Elohssa and the two nobles his leave and a good day and made his way out of the temple with Adriel, Sythenra, and Yrsanne following behind. Their next stop was Mica’s house, a few blocks south of the temple. It would be best to go along the backroads, Mica thought. There’s less of a chance accidentally bumping into Parsley that way. The half-dark elf showed the group of dark elves the way to his house, dodging the main streets as best as he could.

« Previous Chapter | Next Chapter »

Chapter List | Hunt for Kiran Storyline