Posted on: Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Fifty-three elves stood ringed around the Tree of Life: all that remained of Suldanessellar's defenders. Eleven of them were Elhan and the few of his men who were still sound enough to fight. The rest were able-bodied men and women drawn from the crowd of survivors. They were clad in the blood-stained armor of the fallen, grasping swords and bows with desperate strength. There were no smiles. All that could be seen was the silent and grim determination of those who knew their end had come.
Cassandra tried to ignore the knot in her stomach as she surveyed the elven ranks. It was her first time at the forefront of an army, and the feeling was not a pleasant one. To see a friend die – that she had learned to accept. But to send four dozen people to their deaths...
She glanced reflexively over to Imoen. The sorceress had begun the day with a smile, but it'd quickly disappeared. The air was different. The trees were different. Some strange, malevolent energy pervaded the surroundings, and everyone could feel it. It was as if the Gods themselves were watching. History would be written today, and each letter would be stamped in blood.
"How are you holding up?" she murmured.
"Fine. I'm fine." Imoen's rigid back and trembling fingers gave away the lie. She noticed Cassie looking and quickly stuffed her hands inside her robe. "Just nervous, that's all."
"Do you see anything?" she asked, her gaze rising to the Tree itself. They stood in the palace garden: a large atrium, now half-collapsed, that ringed one of the main branches. The thick, gnarled limb was easily fifty feet thick. Ellesime's scrying had brought them here. Somewhere above them, in the labyrinthine canopy, was Irenicus.
Imoen's grey eyes flickered upwards, then just as quickly away. "Magic," she said simply, unconsciously wrapping herself in a protective hug. "A lot of magic."
"Im..." Cassie tried to take Imoen in her arms, but the mage shook her head. She ignored the refusal, cupped her sister's face gently in her hands, and held her gaze fast. "Im, he's not going to hurt you. You aren't in a cage now; you aren't alone; you aren't outnumbered. You have your spellbooks, you have the elves, and you have me."
Imoen's lower lip began to tremble, but she stilled it with stubborn force of will. "I know.”
The fear in Imoen’s eyes didn’t go away. Cassandra drew her closer, pressing their foreheads together before bestowing a kiss upon her lips. "I swear by every god in Faerûn, by every friend who has fallen, by every drop of blood in my veins: he will never touch you again.”
“Cassie—“
They were interrupted by Elhan’s familiar voice. “We are ready, Cassandra.”
