Viscount Como stomped endlessly across the polished marble floor of his manor's great hall, the cold northern light pouring through the tall windows. His fingers drummed idle rhythms against the hilt of his ceremonial sword, impatience twisting his handsome visage.
"Where is the support from the Marquis?" he asked, turning heel and glaring at Elereen. The five-star fire mage stood poised and calm, her bright red hair coiled tightly back in a single braid. Slightly shimmering red robes, their runes flickering at the edges.
"My lord, I have no word," she said coolly. "The winds are still. The knights you sent have not returned."
Como's complexion heated up, and he snapped at his butler who flinched at the heavy wooden doors. "And you? Useless, as always! If I wanted a stupid dog, it could be had for half the price!"
The butler bowed profoundly. "My lord, I am sorry! I have sent every runner I could find."
Como let out a rough breath, he rubbed his rich doublet nervously. "Once the Marquis's men are here, we will clear the way of Alfrenzo like dust. Do you understand, Elereen?" His eyes grew glassy, and his tone became dreamlike. "We will turn his forests to ash, hang his elf friends from the trees… the people of Eclion, and Alfrenzo—he will be a ghost story."
Elereen said nothing, but Como had noticed that gleam of malice slip away from the edge of her eyes, replaced by an uncertainty and a flicker of worry.
Suddenly, the heavy doors flew open, and a knight stumbled inside. His armor was dented and caked with blood, and one arm dangled uselessly at his side.
"My lord... the army of the Marquis... they are gone." His voice wavered. "Alfrenzo's forces... lead by Luenor Sureva... they ambushed us in Frostwood. Even the forest itself marched against us. Few... few survived."
Como's face turned a waxy pale. "You lie," he hissed. "The armies of the Marquis cannot be - broken - by…by...some boy in a cloak."
Before the knight could speak again, there was a sudden snap from Elereen's head. Her mana spiked and her hands glowed a shade of red. "An arrow -"
She cast a fire shield in front of the Viscount as the Knight's head jerked back, an arrow embedded in his skull. He toppled over, lifeless, upon the marble floor.
Como's breath rattled in his chest. Outside, two carriages stopped in the snow, an elf still sitting atop the carriage with the bow still raised.
"Alfrenzo," Como whispered, knees trembling.
He turned to Elereen, raising his voice into a panic, saying: "Elereen, please... protect me. Do you hear me? Protect me!"
Elereen's lips pursed; she did not speak. Her eyes were trained out the window, watching the carriages come closer, and showed uncertainty.
The carriage door opened, and Alfrenzo stepped down. He wore a long black cloak lined in forest green, a hood drawn low over the lined mask covering his face. Behind him walked Hunter, as heavy and silent as a mountain, and an elf whose green eyes glimmered with ancient patience.
As more elves walked out of the treeline with arrows pulled tight on their bows, a silence hung over the ranks of elves like a cloud of ominous dread.
Elereen raised her hands and red mana sparkled at her fingertips, but Hunter's cold gaze fell on her and the pressure of it was enough to suppress her casting before it was finished.
Alfrenzo stepped closer, his boots softly crunching under the snow-kissed stone. He rasped like someone with a burden down his throat, but his voice was low and careful. "Viscount Como," he said in a tone almost reminiscent of a casual greeting like an acquaintance who has moved back into the neighborhood. "I hope the forest has not been too unkind to you?"
Como swallowed, expelling a shallow breath. "Why....why are you here?" he croaked. "What do you want?"
Alfrenzo's gloved hand moved slightly, "Protection, Viscount." He spoke slowly, quietly. "I gave you protection. Not only against bandits, or against beasts, but still you called upon the Marquis to kill me. Because of you, I was forced to kill so much talent of the kingdom when young. You had blood on your hands, Viscount."
Como's mouth worked without sound, his mind racing. "I...I had no choice. I was afraid."
"Ah," Alfrenzo interrupted, tilting his head slightly. "You feared. Good. Fear, I'm told, is the first step to wisdom." He let the words linger in the cold air, each syllable digging deeper into Como.
Alfrenzo stepped forward suddenly, tapping his gloved finger on the hilt of Como's sword. "Now you will pay for that fear. You will owe me double what you owe me, for protection. And, your daughter, . . . she is going to visit Eclion for a . . . friendly meeting."
Como's mouth went dry and his eyes widened. "My daughter will not be the subject of negotiations," he said, forcing the words out as his voice hardened.
Alfrenzo tilted his shoulders in a slight shrug. "You should be careful Viscount. In this forest, everyone plays a role - no matter what they wish, or do not wish to play - by the way, I will send munition of mana stones to your people as a token of good faith. I'm sure your daughter will have a . . . enchanting experience."
Como tightened jaw, the rage behind his eyes warring with shame. ". . . You . . . You've gone too far," he said, but even as he said it, Como could feel his voice trembling.
Alfrenzo leaned in, his voice low and almost warm. "You listen to me, Como," he said, his gloved hand lightly on the shoulder of the Viscount. "You think you are a player in this game. You are not. You are an item. Play that item... and your county will prosper. Try to play mine... and you will be as a shadow on the snow."
He stepped back, his cloak swirling as if it were the night itself. "Tell me, Como... and how is your health?" he asked, the tone of his voice mild, almost playfully.
Como shivered. "I... uh... I am ok."
"Good," Alfrenzo said, his tone whispery. "Keep it that way."
He turned to depart, the elves all simultaneously lowering their bows. "Remember, Viscount... loyalty is always rewarded," he said, his voice growing thin as he eased himself back into the carriage. "Betrayal... well, you have seen how the forest judges that."
Como staggered in place, breathless, his knees shaking as the carriages departed, leaving only Alfrenzo's quiet yet unyielding power to linger in the Northern air.