Writing Resources from Fifteen Minutes of Fiction

A Draken Rising; Part 7

Rafael stepped through the warp panel to find himself back at the eastern spring of the oasis. Quickly he began making his way to were Ellius would be staying for the next six months. As he approached, he saw Ellius come to the door, “I am back with your things Ellius.”

“Good, very good. Come here.”

Rafael obeyed, and soon Ellius had his things back. Ellius sheathed his katari on his left side, before looking lovingly at the book. “It is good to have these back again. Wait for a moment while I put my book inside.” Ellius disappeared inside for a moment, before coming back outside. “There we go. Come, it is about
dinner time now, Markus and Estrella will be waiting.”

Ellius and Rafael walked over to Markus house in complete silence, each caught up in thoughts of the day. Rafael was puzzled, what had Emily meant when she spoke about honor, trust, and kindness? He had never heard those words before. As dinner began, Rafael continued to puzzle over those three words.

“Captain, is something wrong? You have a confused look on your face,” Marcus questioned.

Rafael snapped back to reality. “Do you ever miss anything Markus?” Rafael chuckled, “It is nothing really, I have a few questions for Ellius later on, that is all.”

“Uh-huh… well, alright then,” Markus shrugged, “I probably would not have been able to answer the questions anyhow.”

Rafael grinned, “Well here is a question you can answer, how is that little chestnut mare doing?”

Markus eye’s lit up, “She’s doing right well, she’ll be giving birth within a fortnight, and…”

Dinner finished quickly, and soon Rafael and Ellius were back in Ellius’ place. Rafael was sitting in a chair that Ellius had set in the center of the room. Ellius stood in front of him.

“Captain, I am going to read your mind, and go through the events that took place on your mission. Are you ready?”

Rafael nodded, “Yes.”

Ellius took a place behind Rafael, and put his hands on Rafael’s shoulders, “This will only take a minute, now, close your eyes.”

Slowly Rafael closed his eyes; he could feel a strong presence enter into his mind. It seemed like his memories were being sifted through, one by one, scenes of the last few hours appeared before him; first, the back-alley, then the crowded streets; the business, then the guard; the cold glint in Darion’s eye, the apologetic look on Emily’s face, and finally the eye’s of the Count, the eyes of the Count staring into his own as the Count knelt at Rafael’s mercy. Then the scenes cleared, and the presence that had sifted threw his memories gently left.

“Open your eyes,” Ellius’ soft voice commanded.

As Rafael opened his eyes, he saw that Ellius had pulled up a chair, and was sitting in front of him.

“You did well,” Ellius nodded approvingly, “You were able to do exactly as I requested, and you even managed to bring Count Horatio to his knees, that does not happen very often. I am somewhat concerned about what you saw in in Darion, but this is not the time to worry about that. Now, at dinner you said you have some questions to ask me, what are they?”

Rafael bowed his head for a moment before speaking, “Kindness… honor… trust. That lady Emily seemed to hold those things in high regard. What are they?
Never have I heard of them, and they seem to be important.”

“Never heard of them? Hmm…” Ellius stood up and walked over to the fireplace, reaching up, he lifted a piece of paper and a pen from where they lay, before taking a seat at the dining room table, and beginning to write. “Count Horatio LeMar is my cousin, and half-brother, he is far better at explaining such things then I am.” Ellius blew on the ink to dry it, before folding, and sealing it . “Give this to Horatio, he is usually in the great hall playing his violin at this hour.” Ellius handed the letter to Rafael, “We will discuss this farther in the morning.”

Rafael nodded, “Of course Ellius. I will see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight Captain.”

“Goodnight Ellius.” Rafael calmly formed a warp panel, and stepped through.

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