The three of them entered the Diova Gruss Tavern. Even though it was long past the normal dinner hour, many of the tables still held those Angels that remained behind from their dinners. They were talking and getting caught up on the happenings around the village.
Deamon looked around seeking the faces of people he didn’t know. There were two people towards the back of the place that he didn’t readily recognize. He made a mental note to find out who they were and where they were from. His eyes continued to scout the room looking for Kat. Now, there was a woman who made friends quickly and seemed to get lots of information while serving the tavern’s patrons. She was probably in the back kitchen helping Earnest with the clearing up. He made a mental point to ask her what she knew about the two strangers. He also had to get caught up on any recent gossip going around town. One of his jobs, as Master of Whispers, was to keep track of the goings on around the village. Then he would be able to help keep not only the Angels safe but Larien, too. Kat was in the perfect place to hear things; people having too much to drink end up talking too much or she’d flirt with them and they would start bragging. He always followed up on each tid-bit she gave him. No matter how small it seemed to Kat, all were important to him.
Larien was searching for the council members that needed to be told of the impending meeting. She spotted Carl clearing a table over by the hepzabilas. She didn’t find Zigaroth anywhere in the main room. She would have to ask Carl if he was in one of the rooms upstairs. Caro was here with her twin sister, Cat. It looked like they were finishing their dinner and having a bit of Carl’s apple pie. Susana was over to the left sitting with Saori and Bernardo. The three of them looked like they were in a deep discussion. Their faces were intent and their voices low. Good, it looked like she would only need a courier for two people – King Sylvain and Zigaroth.
Finn was tuning into the thoughts of those left in the tavern. While he knew many of the Angels by name from stories Larien shared with him when she came to the wood, he needed to put faces to those he “knew”. He was hoping that by reading their thoughts, he would be able to put faces to their names. It was a little game that he liked to play. He really enjoyed surprising people he first meets if he can call them by their name before they are formally introduced. He quietly chuckled to himself thinking of the fun he would have with the Angels this time around. He knew the council members since he had been to several meetings over the past several hundred years and they already knew of some of his abilities. However, this was a first battle for an all-out assault on the Angels’ castle that he could ever recall so more Angels would come into contact with him. Ha, ha, ha. He also didn’t think all of the Angels knew how Larien came to live among them and not with her own kind. Not that he minded her not living with the elves because it gave him certain advantages that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy should she actually live there. Now if he could have the authority to make the really big decisions, he would be a very happy man. But the only way that would happen would be if something happened to Larien. Finn pulled his thoughts back to the problem at hand, thinking he would analyze the other thoughts at a later date when he could think them through more clearly.
“I’m going to get a tankard of drink, Larien, while you round up your people. Do you want anything from the bar?” Finn questioned the two people standing next to him.
Deamon responded to Finn’s request first, “No, none for me, merci. I would like to see if I can catch up with someone to ask them a couple of questions. Larien?”
“Nothing for me either, Finn. I see Carl over there so I will alert him to the meeting. Caro and Susana are also here so I will chat with them quickly to put them on the alert. We should be able to go on to the meeting in a few minutes.” Larien was already moving in the direction of where Carl was. “Enjoy your drink, Finn.”
Each one went their own way. Each was wrapped in their own thoughts. Each had their own agenda to reach.
Larien walked back to where Carl was clearing the tables. He looked up and smiled when she approached. “Hello, my Queen. How are you today?”
“Hello, Carl. I am doing well. I worked in the garden earlier today. I should be having some produce for you to use in a few weeks’ time.” Carl glanced up and looked across the room. Yes, there was Deamon chatting with Kat and, if he wasn’t mistaken, that looked like Finn at the bar. Larien continued, “Deamon found me at the glen after my gardening.”
Carl stopped what he was doing when he detected a change in her voice. “What’s wrong? Please, sit down and tell me what is on your mind.”
He held the chair out for Larien to sit down and pulled another out for himself. His eyes were intently watching the changes cross her face. He could tell by her quiet demeanor that this was very important news or she would not have sought him out in such a secluded area of the tavern. She would simply have said hello and waved her hand at him. Adding Larien’s mannerisms to the fact that both Deamon and Finn were here did not give him a good feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Larien reached across the table and rested her hand on Carl’s arm. “We are soon to be under attack, Carl. Deamon has informed me that three armies are advancing on the Castle Angels. They are not coming from just one direction either but one army each from the east, south, and west.” Larien could tell that Carl was about to talk when she continued, “We cannot meet them on the plains as they are too close for that and,” Larien’s voice lowered further, “orcs are within their ranks.”
Carl’s sharp intake told Larien that he understood the seriousness of what she said. “Carl, I am calling a Council meeting now to discuss our strategy. I need you in attendance. Finn has already sent word for Tuls to meet us there. I need to send someone to tell King Sylvain. Is Zigaroth upstairs by chance?” Carl shook his head no. “Then I need to send for him, too. I will have Caro and Susana on stand-by in case we need their expertise.”
Gravely, Carl replied, “I will be there. Let me take these dishes to the kitchen and let Earnest know that I have to leave. I think we should wait to tell the Angels what is about to happen until we have the plans in place. Am I right, Larien?”
“Yes, Carl, you are. They will know soon enough and this way they will have a good night’s sleep at least. We can ring the bells at first light.” Larien patted his arm as she got up. “We will get through this challenge together. Our Angels are good, strong, and dedicated fighters. We also have a little warning which most villages don’t have due to Deamon’s informants.”
Carl looked deep into Larien’s eyes and still read something there that she wasn’t voicing. “What else is bothering you, Larien? You and I go back a very long way and I can see something in your eyes that you are not sharing with me now. What is it?”
“You are far too observant, Carl. There is something more but it’s not something I can put my finger on. Finn and Deamon were giving each other strange looks at the house. Their conversation ended quickly when I came out of the house. There is nothing I can put my finger on right now. And you know Finn can block me out so I cannot read him and I still cannot read Deamon. So, they could have been talking and I wouldn’t know what it was about. I just feel,” Larien hesitated trying to find the right words to use, “unsettled, I guess.”
“Go, and let Caro and Susana know and send the news to Sylvain and Zigaroth. I will just finish my work here and be right over to the Council Chambers. You will discover the cause of your unrest soon enough, I’m sure, Larien.” Larien gave him a weak smile. Carl stood and started to gather the dirty dishes and finish clearing the table as Larien left to deliver her news to the others.
created originally 7 September 2011
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