Baalenruud said with mock sadness. “You will be!” And then she laughed that gurgling, shrill laugh once more.
“Tell me what you know, aesir,” Iounelle firmly said.
“Have you ever seen an animal who doesn’t belong?” Baalenruud said. “Have you ever studied the small things that live in hives? They stink, and they make a mess of everything. They eat like gakr- pigs.”
“You mean the garonds?” Iounelle asked.
“Ha!” Baalenruud curled her legs in delight. “The earth souls? They could not be more entitled to this world. But you don’t know... You don’t know...” Baalenruud slithered close, until Iounelle again put her hand on the hilt of the moon sword. “Your eyes are blinded, like this mist,” Baalenruud smiled. “But I will help you” Baalenruud suddenly said with determination. “I like His fun, but I don’t want to die. Who would? Yes? So I will help you.”
“How?” Iounelle carefully said.
“I can lead you through this deception to his tower,” Baalenruud said with childish pride. “I can read His mind. I can tell you His plans.”
“Then do so,” Iounelle challenged.
“Ah, ah,” Baalenruud writhed in a circle. “But I want your promise.”
“Promise?”
“-that you won’t kill me,” Baalenruud said.
“Why should I promise that,” Iounelle said, “to the monster who killed my parents?”
“I was defending myself.”
“They were defending me, their child, after you swore to kill me,” Iounelle said with fire in her eyes. “And you were much more powerful in that incarnation.”
“I only said I would kill you after that silly heid said you would end my days,” Baalenruud smiled. “And it didn’t prove to be true anyway.”
“Not yet,” the elf said with meaning.
“I am trying,” Baalenruud said with mock exasperation, “to come to peace with you. I can help you. You can spare me. I’m only a little black adder.” Baalenruud tried to appear cute by curling and uncurling each of his legs.
“Besides,” Baalenruud said, “your parents were pathetic. They never could have stood against me. They only killed me with a trick.”
“Enough!” Iounelle cried and whipped the Moon Sword of Berand Torler out of its scabbard. “You die in the name of Galehthaire and Veranelle! And I hope this life is your last!”
Baalenruud scurried through the bush, shimmering and shuddering, transforming back into a snake.
Iounelle slashed at her, missing, losing her in the mist.
“You must be faster than that,” Baalenruud hissed from the shadows. “And you must be much more skilled,” Baalenruud’s voice seemed to come from four different directions.
Iounelle turned, sword ready, not allowing Baalenruud to strike from behind. The elf kicked at the small fire she had made, kicking the embers to life. She slashed at a bush, hacking a branch away.
“You are a length away from me, leethchel (elfling),” Baalenruud hissed from several shadows.
“I was not striking at you,” Iounelle said as she quickly picked up the severed branch and thrust it into embers of her dying fire. The dry branch blazed to life with flame. “Now let’s see where you’re hiding,” Iounelle said through clenched teeth as she raised the improvised torch to light every shadow.
Baalenruud raised and hissed in his black adder form. Iounelle hacked at the snake, which leapt like a bolt of lightning.
Iounelle spun, and raised her sword to discover the adder curled over the Lhalíi.
“Now it is your turn to suffer,” Baalenruud hissed. The Lhalíi warmed to life, as Baalenruud coiled around the glowing crystal. The light was different this time. It seemed to bore into Iounelle’s mind. She was paralyzed, as her sword slipped from her hand. She fell to her knees as the Lhalíi began to flood her mind with information. Her face was blank, and she was unable to scream from the overwhelming pain of the smothering power of the crystal. Iounelle fell prone to the snow and dirt, as
“Tell me what you know, aesir,” Iounelle firmly said.
“Have you ever seen an animal who doesn’t belong?” Baalenruud said. “Have you ever studied the small things that live in hives? They stink, and they make a mess of everything. They eat like gakr- pigs.”
“You mean the garonds?” Iounelle asked.
“Ha!” Baalenruud curled her legs in delight. “The earth souls? They could not be more entitled to this world. But you don’t know... You don’t know...” Baalenruud slithered close, until Iounelle again put her hand on the hilt of the moon sword. “Your eyes are blinded, like this mist,” Baalenruud smiled. “But I will help you” Baalenruud suddenly said with determination. “I like His fun, but I don’t want to die. Who would? Yes? So I will help you.”
“How?” Iounelle carefully said.
“I can lead you through this deception to his tower,” Baalenruud said with childish pride. “I can read His mind. I can tell you His plans.”
“Then do so,” Iounelle challenged.
“Ah, ah,” Baalenruud writhed in a circle. “But I want your promise.”
“Promise?”
“-that you won’t kill me,” Baalenruud said.
“Why should I promise that,” Iounelle said, “to the monster who killed my parents?”
“I was defending myself.”
“They were defending me, their child, after you swore to kill me,” Iounelle said with fire in her eyes. “And you were much more powerful in that incarnation.”
“I only said I would kill you after that silly heid said you would end my days,” Baalenruud smiled. “And it didn’t prove to be true anyway.”
“Not yet,” the elf said with meaning.
“I am trying,” Baalenruud said with mock exasperation, “to come to peace with you. I can help you. You can spare me. I’m only a little black adder.” Baalenruud tried to appear cute by curling and uncurling each of his legs.
“Besides,” Baalenruud said, “your parents were pathetic. They never could have stood against me. They only killed me with a trick.”
“Enough!” Iounelle cried and whipped the Moon Sword of Berand Torler out of its scabbard. “You die in the name of Galehthaire and Veranelle! And I hope this life is your last!”
Baalenruud scurried through the bush, shimmering and shuddering, transforming back into a snake.
Iounelle slashed at her, missing, losing her in the mist.
“You must be faster than that,” Baalenruud hissed from the shadows. “And you must be much more skilled,” Baalenruud’s voice seemed to come from four different directions.
Iounelle turned, sword ready, not allowing Baalenruud to strike from behind. The elf kicked at the small fire she had made, kicking the embers to life. She slashed at a bush, hacking a branch away.
“You are a length away from me, leethchel (elfling),” Baalenruud hissed from several shadows.
“I was not striking at you,” Iounelle said as she quickly picked up the severed branch and thrust it into embers of her dying fire. The dry branch blazed to life with flame. “Now let’s see where you’re hiding,” Iounelle said through clenched teeth as she raised the improvised torch to light every shadow.
Baalenruud raised and hissed in his black adder form. Iounelle hacked at the snake, which leapt like a bolt of lightning.
Iounelle spun, and raised her sword to discover the adder curled over the Lhalíi.
“Now it is your turn to suffer,” Baalenruud hissed. The Lhalíi warmed to life, as Baalenruud coiled around the glowing crystal. The light was different this time. It seemed to bore into Iounelle’s mind. She was paralyzed, as her sword slipped from her hand. She fell to her knees as the Lhalíi began to flood her mind with information. Her face was blank, and she was unable to scream from the overwhelming pain of the smothering power of the crystal. Iounelle fell prone to the snow and dirt, as
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