Page 41 of Potions & Pints
“I brokered a treaty, sir,” Pili said. “With Prince Valar of the North. To avenge Idrulo and restore our honor. I know who masterminded the assassination. And I’ve brought weapons. They are on the ship we arrived in. It’s at the dock, Father.”
The old man paced back and forth, once, twice, three times. Tan exchanged glances with his friends.
“I’m curious, Piliphre,” the chieftain finally said.
“Father?”
“Under whose authority were you acting when you brokered this treaty?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t understand?Idon’t understand. You were — are — banished. You not only have no authority to speak on my behalf, on behalf of anyone of this tribe, you are no longer a member of this tribe, or this family anymore.”
Beside Tan, Ogen let out a muffled cry.
“I understand, sir,” Pili said. “I’ll go now. You’ll never see me again.”
A lump formed in Tan’s throat. Somewhere in this palace, Vir was sleeping. Wearing one of the many vests his father had carefully, with love, sewn for him.
Vir’s father hadn’t disowned him, where many a father would, just because Vir had been subject to just about one of the cruelest curses of their world. Being turned into an orc was an absolute tragedy.
Yet here Pili was, begging for his father’s forgiveness — for something that wasn’t even his fault — and his father would have none of it. Even though his father had already lost one son to death. Better to lose another? Tan couldn’t understand.
“Guards!” the chieftain commanded.
Elves instantly stepped out from behind the large bookcases. They had been hidden from Tan’s view. He couldn’t tell if Pili had been aware of them. When they dragged him to his feet he looked more defeated than surprised. When they slapped the shackles on him, Tan had had enough.
“We’ll leave,” he called out. “You don’t need to chain him.”
“You are not one of us,” the Librarian said. “Best hold your tongue.”
“I will leave,” Pili said. “You’ll never see me again.”
“That was the point of the banishment,” his father said. “But you didn’t listen. So now it is exile. Take him to The Abyss.”
“No!” a voice next to Tan cried out softly.
What made it even more disturbing was that it was Cheruck who said it. Tan turned quickly, but the elf had already composed himself. Tan could tell he was shaken. Cheruck was far too tense to be relaxed. He was doing whatever he could to hold it together.
“Say something,” Tan said desperately.
“I’m sorry,” Pili said.
Tan wasn’t sure who Pili was apologizing to. By the set of Pili’s jaw Tan could tell there was no way he was going to beg for mercy. Tan was not above begging though. They would still be on the beach, Vir half dead if not fully dead by now, if Pili hadn’t brought them here.
He must have known,Tan thought.
That’s why Pili had argued and pleaded with Valar not to send him. It wasn’t just the Heaving Sea or Gamlin Ait. He knew if he dared to set foot in the palace again, his father’s wrath would know no bounds.
They needed to get out of there. Maybe if they could overpower the guards and free Pili and then…
It seemed impossible. Tan raised his eyes and met the chieftain’s gaze. Whatever horrible fate the man had in store for them, Tan was ready for it.
20
The looks on the faces of the guards, of Pili, even of Chieftain Sinifris himself made it clear that whatever The Abyss was, it wasn’t a good thing. With a name like that though, Tan could have figured as much, even without the grave stares.
He didn’t quite know where he and Pili stood with each other now, but given all that had passed between them he felt a certain level of camaraderie with the water elf. He had, after all, saved Vir, and for that Tan would forever be grateful.
