Years of the Covenant: Part 10

Wind rushed by their heads as the two riders galloped along the forest path that opened into rolling hills, revealing the capital city of the Pelennex Kingdom. Nightfall was near, and the tournament known as the Pelennex Pinnacle would begin at high noon the next day.1

They slowed their horses' pace as they neared the great outter wall, and entered through the portcullis. After presenting their proof to compete they were directed through the city streets to the palace stables. Afterwards they were shown to their luxurious room and told to prepare for a royal banquet.2

Darrien bathed in one of the tubs of hot water provided to them, and dawned his black formal tunic and robes. Vannolyn followed suit, removing all of his belongings from his pack. As he removed his own formal wear the two leather pouches that Silious Roh gave him fell out, onto the floor.3

The pouches were light, but they gingled like glass. Curious to know what exactly they were, Vannolyn pulled the draw string of each pouch and poured the contents across the bed in front of him; black jagged crystals, small polished amethyst spheres, slightly larger polished onyx spheres, several small vials with filled with a murky liquid, and a tiny scroll. Darrien paid no attention as he groomed himself in front of a full-length mirror.4

"Darrien." Vannolyn called over to him, "What exactly is all this?"5

"Hmm..." Darrien sighed as he picked up an amythest sphere, "Alright, pay attention closely. This right is known as a Pearl of Sight. These are used as eyes in places for which you cannot be, but must know what is happening. They're essential to complex missions such as these. They work hand-in-hand with Vision Scrolls."6

Darrien tossed him the tiny scroll on the bed. "Open it up, and look for yourself." Vannolyn did as he was told, and to his intrigue he found that the scroll portrayed livid image of Darrien and himself in the palace suite.7

"When you pass one hand over its surface it transitions from the vision of one pearl to another. This is how we always know what our other men are doing when out of eye sight and ear shot." Darrien explained, placing the pearl down and picking up an onyx sphere. "Now this is what we call a Memory Orb. These are mainly used in scouting targets and as security measures. Wherever they are placed, they will record everything of sight and sound in the given area, and be recalled at another time."8

He tossed the orb back onto the bed and picked up one of the vials. "Ah, this is absolutely vital to our work. This is a toxic poison drawn from the nectar of Deadly Nightshade. In a tournament like this its expected that magic will be effectively reduced to ensure no one will die, but no precaustions are taken against poison edged and tipped weapons."9

Placing the vial back, re reached for one of the jagged black crystals. "And finally, this is what will save if all else should fail. Its a Shadow Shard. When wielding one of these concentrate on the Shadow Plane and slice through the air. This will create a temporary tear in the barrier between here and the Shadow Plane, providing quick escape. The same goes for crossing from the Shadow Plane to to here. But be careful, they can only be used once."10

Vannolyn tried to take it all in, carefully calculating all of what Darrien had explained. "Did you get all that?" Darrien asked, turning back to the full length mirror.11

"I think understand well enough." Vannolyn replied, knowing that it would take time for all of it sink in.12

"Well hurry up and dress yourself, we can't be late to this banquet." Darrien pushed him along. "Besides, I want to get a good look at our target before we kill him."13

Vannolyn hastily dawned his own formal tunic, groomed his long white hair, and tied it back into a pony tail. Shortly after an attendant knocked at their door. The short man led them through the intricate maze of the palace corridors to the dining hall. A high gabled ceiling towered over them, supported by massive stone columns, with chandeliers lining the room overhead. It was magnificent to say the least.14

Small tables filled the empty spaces around the king's banquet table. Nobles and aristocrats filled these tables; gamblers no less. Royal guards stood at their posts along the dining hall's walls, stone faced and serious.15

As the attendant led them to their seats along the king's banquet table they could see the royal family near head of the table, already seated. Further down were the competitors in the Pinnacle, nine seats were already filled. Four other seats still remained open other than their own.16

They looked interesting enough. Two of them looked like woodsmen or rangers, four were lavishly dressed knights wearing the insignia of Pelennex, one looked like an elven bounty hunter, and the other a gnome mercenary.17

In the moments that followed a dwarven paladin entered, followed by two sorcerers, and lastly what looked like a cleric. The cleric wore a golden tunic adorned with an emblazoned sun. This was the man they were looking for.18

Vannolyn reached for the dagger at his waste, but Darrien stopped him.19

"Not here." he whispered, "Wait until tomorrow, now is not the time ... just wait."20

Reluctantly Vannolyn shoved the blade back in its hilt and watched ever the cleric ever closely; studying his every move.21

The two of them kept silent, keeping a watchful eye upon those in the room, though they were of no interest to them. Only the cleric mattered in the scheme of things, and the man breezed down around the table as the guards led him to his seat, addressing each warrior that was seated. He wished them luck and blessings in life, his teeth shining, his hair gleaming. The aura he gave off lit the dim room brighter than the lanterns and candles, and it was obvious that the man sported a charisma that was quite admirable. The two Nightshaders stayed within the silence of their stoic forms, watching occasionally as they picked their plates clean. He was seated beside Darrien then, and before he reached for his own morsels of the banquet in front of him, his eyes turned to Darrien.22

"We have such a colorful variety of warriors here I see," he stated with a booming voice, the cheer never once leaving his voice. He held out his hand to the drow with a bit of a grin. "I wish you luck in the competition, and a safe journey home." His blond locks fell within his line a vision, and he brushed it aside in one swift stroke, the grin never leaving his features as Darrien hesitantly took his hand, giving him a curt nod.23

The cleric soon turned his attention to Vannolyn, leaning forward in order to give him one of his charismatic smiles. "I see you have brought a friend to compete within the battles that await us. I wonder just how interesting this tournament shall be; by the looks of the hardy warriors, I would say rather intriguing, indeed. Good luck to you, my friend!" He held out his hand across Darrien toward Vannolyn.24

Vannolyn eyed him a moment, his eyes squinting into the man's face, wondering how he could be so naive. Still, he took the man's hand, almost feeling filthy for having touched the man at all, as if that light would burn his flesh to ash like sunlight. "I'm sure you will find this tournament most challenging," he murmured lowly before withdrawing his hand and turning back to his food.25

A soft laugh escaped the cleric at Vannolyn's words and he shook his head, his smile ever remaining. "I'm sure that I will. Perhaps we will see one another in battle."26

Darrien had to force down the smirk that threatened to take over his features, finding the man's words to be quite ironic. If only he knew what awaited him at the tournament; he would not have been so excited, or friendly. The mere thought of the words were enough to make the drow want to cringe. It was infectious; the cleric's charisma was like a poison to his kind, something that must be snuffed out.