Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon

Several days later Ollen was looking nervously up at the walls of Farmell. It was early morning and a thick fog lay about the land. Looking up he could barely make out the figures of guards at their posts on the wall.

"Who comes to gate of the elves! Don't approach or we will open fire." Came a voice from a guard.

"Fetch Kephiyr for me if you would my good sir. He sent me on a secret mission and I have brought him news of it. Mission accomplished, and I ask that he hold up his end." Ollen replied. The others kept quiet, a nervous energy running through then.

"I have not heard of any mission, who are you!" The elf replied.

"Well if you had it wouldn't be a secret mission would it? Kephiyr and I and my companions here are the only ones who know of it, at least to my knowledge. Fetch him for me, and we will wait here until he arrives."

"Very well. I'll send for him, you might have a bit of a wait."

"That's fine, we're patient." Ollen replied, honestly he was fine pushing back entering Farmell as long as possible.

"Try to calm down Ollen I'm sure Kephiyr will set everything right." Ember whispered draping one arm around him.

"I hope so, but I don't trust it, you nor he have any idea how much Melek hates me. If he has his way, I'm sure he would torture me to death, probably over several days." Ollen whispered back.

"Why does he hate you so much?" She replied.

"I'd rather not talk about it, let's just say I don't blame him for hating me. And I probably deserve whatever punishment he would dish out."

"Well it might make you feel better to get it out." She replied, and Ollen sighed and looked sidelong at her. Then he drew close and whispered very quietly in her ear.

"I have been an expert theif and assassin for years... I was hired by my jarl to steal the heirloom of his house, the price was very generous. However, the theft didn't go as planned. I left with his heirloom but Melek's son Taher caught me in the act. After a little skirmish I killed him. Angry about the whole ordeal, and quite foolishly, I made a spectacle of his body by hanging it up naked. News reached Beryl of what I had done, and after handing over the heirloom the jarl refused the agreed payment, and I threw a knife at his throat. I was young, proud, and foolish in those days. Ever since I've only been welcomed by thieves and murderers, mainly being an assassin for them. Political and personal targets, and large money thefts. Until Kephiyr gave me a chance. If I can indeed get a second chance, the criminal life isn't for me anymore. Hasn't been for some time, but didn't think I had a choice." Ollen replied.

"You don't seem like that person anymore, indeed it's hard to picture." She replied after a few moments of silence.

"I'm not, I'm quite tired. I'd rather die than continue on the same path. Hence why I'm here, I'd rather die giving a new life a shot, than to disappear and return to the old one."

The gate suddenly opened, Kephiyr and Melek came out to meet them. Upon seeing Melek Ollen shuddered.

"Ember!" Kephiyr shouted and ran to her, he swept her up and kissed her deeply. She laughed and they both collapsed on the ground.

"I guess you missed me huh." Ember said softly kissing him again.

"Gross understatement." He replied and kissed her again, then he helped her up.

"Ollen, mission accomplished I hear. Abeh it's good to see you, glad to have you on our side now. You are all most welcome."

"I daresay they are!" Melek roared signaling for his guards. "Ember, Abeh, and the faun are. Ollen is, in a sense." He said with a cruel smile.

"I hired Ollen to poison Kelpon, behind enemy lines. Mission accomplished, and I have pardoned him. The law states that unless the King refutes the ruling of a Jarl, no other Jarl may go against another's rulings." Kephiyr replied.

"I don't care about this law! The King is poisoned you say and we are already in treason! He killed my son and humiliated him and my family! He dies, slowly!" Melek yelled and the guards seized him.

"I have given him my word, if you kill him you kill me in the same manner!" Kephiyr yelled back and Ember grabbed at him.

"No Honeybear! You can't put your life on the line like that for him." Then she looked over at Ollen. "No offense to you. But I just got him back" She added.

"I gave him my word, that if he died I die. What does a man have if not his word?" Kephiyr replied and kissed her.

"You will put your life on the line for this murderous thief?" Melek said looking questioningly at Kephiyr.

"I will, only let me say goodbye to Ember before you take me." Kephiyr replied. Melek merely nodded and looked hungrily at Ollen.

Celan Melek's right hand man, leaned into him.

"Are we really going to torture and kill one of our best fighters, and the man who brought our alliance together, so you can have revenge?"

"Yes, a thousand times yes." Melek answered with a slight growl.

"I'm going to see the members of the council about this." Celan said and ran back toward the city. Kephiyr embraced Ember again and kissed her deeply.

"I'm sorry to have met like this Sunshine. Do me a favor." He paused and whistled and his unicorn Brendor came running out. "Take my horse, ride North to Elcor, fetch Eloff he'll set all this right. Melek will listen to him. Hopefully Celan can stall the process until he arrives." He kissed her again.

"I will my love. I'll be back as soon as I can." she kissed him and cried slightly.

"Abeh go with her show her the way." Kephiyr said turning to his friend.

"You got it boss." Abeh replied and they both jumped on Brendor and began a mad gallop North.

Kephiyr and Ollen were chained up and lead inside. Lenan seemingly forgotten in the whole situation merely trotted in and made himself at home in one of the Inns.

"Well that worked out nicely! So what's your big plan for getting out of this one?" Ollen glared at Kephiyr as he paced back and forth in their very tiny cell.

"Be patient, have faith Ember will come through. Eloff will save us." Kephiyr was sitting in thought looking at the floor. Ollen chuckled and punched the wall.

"You just don't get it do you? I told Farmell you was a death sentence for me. If anyone gets out of this it's you not me. I should've followed my better sense and ran when I got the chance."

"Do you trust me Ollen?"

"No, I don't trust anyone. People are always out for themselves and nobody else."

"Perhaps you should take a long hard look at yourself with that statement!" Kephiyr yelled back finally showing his frustration.

"I wasn't excluding myself in that statement, it's the rule of life."

"It may be, but I'm here, backing up my word to you, in the face of torture and death. Now if you don't mind I'd like to sleep."

"Sleep! How can you possibly sleep! We're going to die a horrible death!"

"Look, it's not exactly easy to explain, but I just know we're both going to be alright. Sure there's plenty to stress about, but what good will that do me? I can't do anything about it from in here."

"How do you know we're going to be alright?"

"Let's just say, I've seen the God I trust move before. He does things that are impossible, and I believe He'll do it again."

Ollen sat down finally and just thought. He scratched out a little artwork on the floor and sat rather quietly. Kephiyr fell asleep, and Ollen hated him for his ability to sleep. Close on sunset a meager dinner came in and they ate quietly. After they had finished eating Kephiyr lay back down, but this time Ollen wouldn't let him sleep.

"How has your God moved!?"

"I was a peasant orphan, I grew up in the castle. I randomly bump into you at the perfect moment, in order to take out Kelpon. And you unexpectedly bring my long lost love back to me. Coincidence isn't a kosher word. I believe He has a plan for me, and it's not to die here."

"Seems like, well, coincidence and people acting not a God."

"True in that we have choice, but our choice doesn't effect or change His plan. And quite often our choices advance His plan."

"So what about someone like me? I haven't seen Him working. And most of my life has been pain." Ollen said angrily.

"You have, you just didn't recognize His hand at work. As far as the pain, was it not mostly due to your own choices?"

"It was, but couldn't He have corrected me?"

"Sometimes He uses His hand to correct you, sometimes He uses yours. But tell me, would you of had the skills and knowledge to kill Kelpon if you hadn't?" Ollen's shoulders sank and he glared at Kephiyr.

"No, I wouldn't."

"Sometimes, a raw painful path is the path we need to fulfill what needs to happen. And had you not tasted the pain and desperation, would you have longed enough for something different."

"Okay, fair enough I get your point. But why me? Why did I have to be the one to take that path?" Kephiyr laughed grimley.

"I can't tell you that, I could say the same thing, why me. I don't know that answer for myself any more than I know that answer for you. Let's just say, everything has a reason, just because you don't what the reason is, doesn't mean it doesn't have a reason. Which makes you wonder, are our mistakes really mistakes." Kephiyr snickered grimley. "I think the proper term would be lessons." And with that he rolled over on the bed again and went to sleep.

The next couple days were bland, they talked little and ate even less. Until the morning of the third day when Celan appeared at the cell doors.

"I'm sorry Kephiyr, I prolonged this as long as I could. I tried to convince the Jarl and the council to reconsider completely. But I have convinced them to give you both a quick death. Instead of being tortured you're to be hanged, now." Celan said with a frown.

"And what has your son Effen have to say about this?" Kephiyr said in a calm but angry tone.

"He has no say. He is but a member of the Queensguard, high ranking warrior but still merely a warrior. Come." Kephiyr sighed and Ollen looked sidelong at him.

"Well, at least we won't be tortured." Ollen said smugly and they followed Celan out of their tiny cell. He lead them to a courtyard where a gallows had been erected, they were given an opportunity to watch the sunrise and have a few quiet moments.

"Well we did our best, it seems our demise was set for this time. What more could we do?" Ollen said softy as the sun began to peak out over the horizon.

"Nothing more. But if I had to choose someone to hang by, I'm glad it's you. In my opinion you've earned your spot." Kephiyr sighed and a tear ran down his face. "I don't think we'll win this war even with Kelpon's time ticking. We keep fighting amongst ourselves as well as fighting the enemy. Our enemy is united, and we are divided. With my execution one can only guess what this will do to our alliance, and Farmell. I fear they're doomed."

"It seems you and I are doomed already, why worry about those who'll kill us."

"Even with Kelpon gone, I fear Doon may continue his quest. And with this the alliance dies. I look over these woods and buildings, I see what will be. Ash, fire, and smoke will be all that remains. I fear the end of Fardel may be near, there's something more at work believe me."

"Oh pull yourself together man! Get a grip! Forget about them, if you're going to weep, weep about us. Who cares what happens to them, they deserve what's coming to them."

"And you deserved execution a long time ago, if you remember I showed you mercy when I could have just killed you. Have pity, they'll see worse days then you or I will know." Kephiyr looked grimley at the sky and then smiled. "Most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen." He said and then they were lead to the ropes. They fitted the nooses around their necks, and they clasped hands and looked up at the sky with a deep breathe. At that moment a door burst open and Eloff stormed in with Abeh and Ember at his side weapons drawn. Eloff seemed to grow immense and a dark storm cloud formed over him. Lightning flashed from the cloud that now engulfed the entire court yard, and from the wizards eyes.

"Release 'em or face my wrath! Anyone not fighting against us is fighting for us! Release 'em now!" The wizards voice boomed like thunder, and Ember began to manipulate the lightning in the storm to intimidate that captors. The once mighty wood elves seemed to shrink in fear and at long the guard squeaked an answer.

"We cannot, we have no choice."

"Where is Melek!? Bring him to me!" The guards scurried off as quick as possible. Eloff shrunk again and the cloud vanished.

Ember ran and kissed Kephiyr pulling the noose off of his head and held him tightly. Then she slapped him.

"Don't you dare scare me like this ever again, should've given you the nickname Nabal or maybe Chamowr!" She scowled at him and then kissed him again.

"Luckily for you Kephiyr, only Melek wants this done." Eloff broke in. "Had it been otherwise you would've been dead long before I got here. Melek's high officials argued long with him, but alas Melek always gets the final word. Would that he was as wise as his father. This would not have happened if Abmelek was still over Farmell."

"Do you speak to me, or to yourself Eloff?" Kephiyr laughed and kissed Ember again.

"A little bit of both actually. It is good to see you alive and well Kephiyr, my has been sick with worry for you. Now if you don't mind telling me, why on earth you would choose to hang beside Ollen?" Eloff said gruffly.

"I pardoned him, and I gave him my word that if he should die, I would die with him. In return he was to assassinate Kelpon."

"Has he?" Eloff said in astonishment.

"Yes, he yet lives, but he has been poisoned. In few months he will pass."

"Well then I think my riddle is answered, all Ember and Abeh would say was that you were choosing to die beside Ollen of Beryl. And that Melek would be the one to kill you both. I know the hatred Melek has for Ollen, and for good cause. Couldn't fathom why you would stand in the way, or lay your life on the line." Eloff said with a slight smile.

"Hopefully you won't be too hard on Melek for going against and attempting to hang a fellow Jarl." Kephiyr said.

"Only as rough as I must be, too much fighting among ourselves will weaken us. And I commend you Kephiyr for sticking by your word even to death."

At that moment Melek came bursting in as proud as ever, Eloff's wrath was kindled again. The storm cloud filled the courtyard again but with more ferocity. Hurricane force winds whipped around and knock Melek off his feet.

"How dare you! Your hatred of Ollen, though possibly well placed, to kill the captain of our alliance is nigh unforgivable! What do suppose would happen if you killed Kephiyr? Our alliance would crumble! And though Ollen has made a great step in ending this war, we would yet loose! And if that wasn't bad enough, you want to execute a Jarl and not out of war! He is your ally! Release all rights to their blood, or face my wrath!"

Melek shuddered and gave the order to his soldiers to release them. He soon signed the paperwork, rather in protest, pardoning all claim to both Ollen and Kephiyr's blood. Not long after they got into some rooms up in the tree tops. Ember got one two trees away from where Kephiyr was staying and he watched her longingly as she set her things in order.

"Truly, as a lily among thorns, so are you my love." Kephiyr said softly.

"Now, not too hasty my Honeybear, we need to plan our next move, and have supper."

He tucked his left hand under her head clasping her neck gently, and with his right he pulled her in close and embraced her.

"How can I plan, I am sick with love." She kissed him gently but pushed him back.

"You're sick with something." She laughed charmingly. "Buisness first, pleasure later." Kephiyr smiled.

Such a delicious little game you play, pulling me in yet pushing me away." He whispered in her ear. She clenched her lips and looked up at him out of the corner of her eyes.

"It's time to go, we mustn't be late to the meeting." Kephiyr sighed and followed her lead.

All through the meeting Kephiyr kept staring at Ember and mouthing little nothings to her. For which she smiled but also kept telling him with her eyes to focus. Several ideas were pitched but the only plausible one seemed to retake Zolon. And that seemed almost redundant at this point. In the end it was decided to play off of their enemies play. Wait until they moved and move accordingly, like setting a trap in a game of chess. Dinner was long after that and filled with small talk. Mostly about how reckless Kephiyr had been, and how the whole affair between Ollen and Melek would play out. By the end of the evening a thunderstorm had rolled in from the sea. Rain came down in sheets and the wind made the trees sway.

Ember lay alone on her bed, wearing a white nightgown, and simply laying and listening to the rain. She seemed to be drifting in and out of sleep, at least to her mind. Suddenly there was a sound that made her stir and sit straight up. It wasn't thunder, was it? She thought and listened closely. A soft rat tat at the door.

"Who is it?" Ember called out.

"Sunshine, it's me. Please open up, I'm getting soaked out here." Came Kephiyr's voice from the other side. Butterflies filled her stomach and a shot of adrenaline coursed through her veins.

"It's rather late Honeybear, and, and I have only got a slight nightgown on. Maybe we can talk tomorrow."

Kephiyr tried the door handle but it was locked. Ember felt her emotions run away with her, she wanted nothing more than to open the door, embrace him, and draw him in.

"Please Sunshine I just want to be with you, nothing more." Her heart melted but she said nothing. So many emotions were running through and she was fearful of every single one, fearful of her desire for him. At last she heard him leave.

She lay in bed fighting the urge to chase after him. It wouldn't be proper, she told herself. But the more she tried to tell herself why she shouldn't, the more she wanted to. At last after a few minutes of fighting with herself her emotions won. She sprinted to the door not even grabbing extra clothing.

"Honeybear! Honeybear! Come back, where are you?"

The rain pelted down and lightning flashed as she ran this way and that across swinging bridges between trees in the night. She tried desperately to remember which was his room, but her memory failed her. After a few minutes more of searching and calling, knowing her calls were being drowned out by the storm. She collapsed in tears on the bridge.

"How foolish of me, to not let him in. My beloved is the chiefest among ten thousands, and I have turned him away. Oh my Honeybear, where have you gone!?"

At that she felt a hand on her shoulder. She swiftly jumped up but in the dark it looked just a figure. The lightning flashed and she knew it was him. Both drenched and getting more drenched by the second, they kissed on the bridge for what seemed like an eternity. Then they made their way back to her room.

"I was afraid to let you in before, now I'm a bloody mess." Ember said as they entered.

"No, you are fair my love. There's no spot in you. You have ravished my heart with your eyes. Turn your eyes from me, for they have overcome me. There is not a part of you that isn't perfect, because I love you." She smiled warmly and dropped her nightgown to the floor.