Brian Anderson - Of Gods And Elves

Grentos backed away a few steps. “I am. Do youaccept?”

Malstisos slid from the saddle but made no move to drawhis weapon. “You have no right to do this.”

“Don't I?” scoffed Grentos. “I think Ihave every right to call out a traitor.”

“What's going on here?” Maybell demanded.“What challenge?”

“If I were a seeker and broke their code, or hadrefused judgment of the elders,” Malstisos explained. “Grentoswould have the right to challenge me to single combat. But as neitheris the case, he has decided to take matters into his own hands.”

Vadnaltis placed his hand on Grentos' shoulder. “Heis right, brother. You cannot do this. Call him to face judgmentinstead. You have that right.”

“He will not honor it,” Grentos countered.“He's just like the rest of our kin who have taken up with thehumans.”

“Perhaps,” said Vadnaltis. “But thenhe shows his dishonor, and can be put to death. As it is, you have noauthority. The elders have not given any such edict, and our lawsforbid it.”

“We have already been through this,” Grentoslet out with frustration. “The elders already ordered the deathof a traitor without judgment. What is the difference?”

“They were wrong to do so,” said Vadnaltis.“And the difference is, we are from the steppes ,and we hold to the laws that have guided our people for thousands ofyears. Would you behave as the rebels, and throw away the lawsbecause they are inconvenient?”

Grentos shook off Vadnaltis' hand and turned his back.“We've been over this. I will not be swayed.”

“And if Malstisos refuses the challenge?” heasked. “What then?”

“Then not only will he die,” Grentos replieddarkly. “But his human pet will die with him. As it stands, I'mwilling to let her go in peace.”

Sadness washed over Vadnaltis' face. “I will askyou, one more time, to reconsider.”

“I will not,” Grentos replied, sternly. Hespun around to face Malstisos. “Do you accept or not?”

Malstisos opened his mouth to answer, but Vadnaltisstepped in front of him.

“I challenge you, brother,” said Vadnaltis.His eyes were full of tears. “Do you accept?”

“What is this?” Grentos cried. “Youcannot do this.”

“I ask again,” he pressed. “Do youaccept?”

“I…” Grentos stammered. “I… I do.”

The two elves stepped away from the horses and tookopposite positions on the road. Maybell moved close to Malstisos andgrabbed his arm. “What is going on?” she whispered.

Malstisos bowed his head. “A tragedy,” hesaid. “And an act of pure honor.”

The two elves put down their bows and quivers, and eachdrew their long knives. “Why?” asked Grentos. “Whydo you do this?”

“Because I love you too much to see you live indishonor,” he replied. “Should you strike me down, it isunlikely you will be able to defeat Malstisos after, even if he isnot a seeker. And as you well know, the challenge made cannot bewithdrawn.”

“Then I hope I die by your hand, brother.”Grentos charged.

Vadnaltis stepped aside, narrowly avoiding Grentos'initial onslaught. Time and again they traded blows, each unable togain advantage over the other.

Eventually, it was Grentos that drew first blood, as hisblade cut deep into Vadnaltis' left thigh. Blood soaked the elf'sleather trousers as it poured from the wound. Any human would havecollapsed in agony, but Vadnaltis showed no signs of weakening. Hespun around and brought his blade across the right shoulder ofGrentos. Grentos staggered forward but quickly regained his balance.Both elves stepped back for a moment, blood dripping from theirblades.

Grentos felt the wound on his shoulder and smiledsorrowfully. Tears streamed down the face of Vadnaltis.

“Deep enough,” said Grentos looking at theblood on his hand. “You have killed me. I beg you… finishit.” He dropped his weapon and fell to his knees.

Vadnaltis slowly walked over to his comrade and stood infront of him. “I will join you soon enough, brother.” Heplaced his hand on top of Grentos' head and muttered a prayer. “Isend you to the Creator.” With that, he plunged the knifethrough Grentos' heart. The elf gasped, then fell to the ground.

Maybell was weeping uncontrollably. Her thoughts went tothe death of Berathis.

Vadnaltis pulled his knife free and cleaned it on hisshirt. “Malstisos of the Finsoulos Clan.” he said withoutlooking up, “I call you to judgment for crimes against ourpeople.”

Malstisos took a step forward but did not approachVadnaltis. “I am bound to see this woman to safety,” hereplied. “But upon the fulfillment of that duty, I will facejudgment.”

“Then go in peace,” he said. “I wouldperform the rites alone.”

Malstisos bowed low and motioned for Maybell to mounther horse. They urged their mounts on in the direction of town insilence. Once they were a few hundred yards away, Malstisos began toweep. Maybell rode in silence, tears stinging her eyes. They haltedjust before they got to town.

“I know you don't understand what just happened,”said Malstisos, softly.

“I think I do,” Maybell replied. “Atleast part of it. What I don't understand is why Grentos allowedhimself to be killed.”

“He was dead either way,” answeredMalstisos. “The fight would have continued for some time, andGrentos was losing blood. Even if he were victorious, he would havebeen so weak that he could not have challenged me successfully. Hechose to die by his brother’s hand, instead.”

“Seekers and their ways are beyond myunderstanding,” said Maybell. “I could never kill asister… even that devil Salmitaya.”

“Yes,” said Malstisos. “But they weremore than just seekers. They were brothers .”“You don't mean…” she gasped.

Malstisos nodded slowly. “I do. They were brothersby birth.”

“How do you know?” She reeled at thethought.

“He is performing the burial rites alone,”he replied. “That is only done under two circumstances. Ifthere are no others to help… or if it is blood kin, killed by yourown hand.”

“Monstrous,” Maybell cried. “And youintend to let such people judge you?”

“They are my people!” he yelled, causing Maybell to recoil. He took a breathand calmed himself. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't expect you tounderstand. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” she assured.“It's just… I can't…”

“I don't expect you to understand all of ourways,” he said. “But know that I am not afraid to facejudgment. In fact, after today, I welcome it. I am tired of thedivision within my people. Perhaps this is the only way that we canheal.” He urged his horse forward.

They spent the rest of the day in utter silence. Maybellpicked up a few supplies, but was in no mood to linger. The onlything she wanted to do was get back to her tent and sleep. On thetrip home she could smell the funeral pyre, somewhere in the forest,and she began to weep once again.

Vadnaltis did not return to the camp, not that Maybellor Malstisos expected him to. When asked, they said that the two wentoff hunting, but when they didn't turn up the next day a search partywent to look for them. After a time, it became clear that they weregone, and the camp divided their belongings, and gave Malstisos apurse with coin matching the value of the gear and possessions.Malstisos promised to give it to them should he see them again.

Something had changed in Malstisos. Maybell could senseit but did not know what it was. As the days passed, the elf becamemore withdrawn, sometime disappearing for hours. When she tried tospeak to him, he would just say that he was fine and only needed tothink. But somehow, this didn't ring true. It was as if his spiritwas broken. She prayed to the Gods that she could help him to heal.