new breed of elf.
‘You knew them as Silent Priests, though even then they were seen rarely enough. Now, they call themselves the ClawBound. They have reverted to nature and run with panthers.
‘Today’s attack followed a human raid on Aryndeneth. Many good elves were killed, elves who had been training to help free you. But the ClawBound do not take orders from the TaiGethen. They exist to cleanse the forest, to return it to its pure state.
‘To them, humans are a disease, a fungus that must be eradicated from the canopy. And while they would never harm an elf themselves, they are deaf to the consequences of their actions. They understand what we are trying to do, and why we are waiting until we have sufficient strength, but man crossed a line when they attacked the great temple of Yniss and we could not stop the ClawBound.’
A mutter ran through the gang. The sentiment was plain, but Auum could not understand much of what was said. Koel helped him out.
‘Too many of the humans now know some elvish, so we’ve developed something else. We’ve had plenty of time to, after all.’
Auum smiled. ‘The will to win is greater than the desire to surrender. What are they worried about?’
Koel shrugged. ‘They want to know if the ClawBound will strike again.’
Auum sighed. ‘I have no reason to think they will stop now.’
Hearing his words, a collective gasp went up from the gang. Koel’s voice was hollow.
‘You have to stop them. We told you what will happen. Two hundred elves will die as a result of this attack alone. The humans do not care if we all die; they will simply accelerate the influx of human workers. All the ClawBound will achieve is to bring more humans to Calaius. Don’t let them waste all we have lived and suffered in hope for. We want to die free.’
Auum shook his head. ‘I cannot believe they would slaughter their entire slave workforce merely to replace it with humans. It makes no sense. It goes against all reason.’
‘You don’t know them,’ said Koel. ‘We do. Our lives mean nothing to them. The moment we fall sick or are deemed too old to work, we are taken away to die in the cells beneath the temple of Shorth. We are no more than animals to them. And they would kill us all if they thought it would draw you into a fight to the death.’
Auum closed his eyes briefly in silent prayer before looking to his left where Malaar stood waiting.
‘Where did they go?’ asked Auum.
‘The tracks are separate but all head north and seem to converge on the same point. They never move in a pack unless on the hunt.’
‘Yniss bless our limbs, may they be swift and sure.’ Auum turned to Koel. ‘Do you have other gangs further upstream?’
‘No. We are the northernmost on the Ix.’
‘Then they are tracking gatherers. Koel, have your people eat their fill then go with the blessing and prayers of the TaiGethen. Catch up with the human the ClawBound let escape. Take the logs too. Perhaps bringing them will speak for you. I swear that I will stop the ClawBound, and if I fail, I will break into your compound and rescue you myself.’
‘Appos bless you, Auum, all of you,’ said Koel. He made a circling gesture with one index finger and his gang began running for the barges. ‘Somehow, we’ll let the others know, and urge them to keep the faith.’
‘Do that,’ said Auum. He drew Koel into an embrace. ‘Man will die. You will be free. But eat first, please.’
Koel smiled. ‘We’ll eat on the move.’
Auum watched Koel climb onto the lead barge and order the sail raised. The flotilla was soon sailing, the nets holding Beeth’s hewn trees strung between them, the cargo rumbling and splashing as it began its journey downstream to Ysundeneth.
Elyss came to Auum’s side. Malaar extinguished the cook fires.
‘Those are bold promises, my Arch Auum.’
‘And I will keep them,’ said Auum. ‘Tai, we move.’
Chapter 6
The elven strength of will is simple to exploit.
‘You knew them as Silent Priests, though even then they were seen rarely enough. Now, they call themselves the ClawBound. They have reverted to nature and run with panthers.
‘Today’s attack followed a human raid on Aryndeneth. Many good elves were killed, elves who had been training to help free you. But the ClawBound do not take orders from the TaiGethen. They exist to cleanse the forest, to return it to its pure state.
‘To them, humans are a disease, a fungus that must be eradicated from the canopy. And while they would never harm an elf themselves, they are deaf to the consequences of their actions. They understand what we are trying to do, and why we are waiting until we have sufficient strength, but man crossed a line when they attacked the great temple of Yniss and we could not stop the ClawBound.’
A mutter ran through the gang. The sentiment was plain, but Auum could not understand much of what was said. Koel helped him out.
‘Too many of the humans now know some elvish, so we’ve developed something else. We’ve had plenty of time to, after all.’
Auum smiled. ‘The will to win is greater than the desire to surrender. What are they worried about?’
Koel shrugged. ‘They want to know if the ClawBound will strike again.’
Auum sighed. ‘I have no reason to think they will stop now.’
Hearing his words, a collective gasp went up from the gang. Koel’s voice was hollow.
‘You have to stop them. We told you what will happen. Two hundred elves will die as a result of this attack alone. The humans do not care if we all die; they will simply accelerate the influx of human workers. All the ClawBound will achieve is to bring more humans to Calaius. Don’t let them waste all we have lived and suffered in hope for. We want to die free.’
Auum shook his head. ‘I cannot believe they would slaughter their entire slave workforce merely to replace it with humans. It makes no sense. It goes against all reason.’
‘You don’t know them,’ said Koel. ‘We do. Our lives mean nothing to them. The moment we fall sick or are deemed too old to work, we are taken away to die in the cells beneath the temple of Shorth. We are no more than animals to them. And they would kill us all if they thought it would draw you into a fight to the death.’
Auum closed his eyes briefly in silent prayer before looking to his left where Malaar stood waiting.
‘Where did they go?’ asked Auum.
‘The tracks are separate but all head north and seem to converge on the same point. They never move in a pack unless on the hunt.’
‘Yniss bless our limbs, may they be swift and sure.’ Auum turned to Koel. ‘Do you have other gangs further upstream?’
‘No. We are the northernmost on the Ix.’
‘Then they are tracking gatherers. Koel, have your people eat their fill then go with the blessing and prayers of the TaiGethen. Catch up with the human the ClawBound let escape. Take the logs too. Perhaps bringing them will speak for you. I swear that I will stop the ClawBound, and if I fail, I will break into your compound and rescue you myself.’
‘Appos bless you, Auum, all of you,’ said Koel. He made a circling gesture with one index finger and his gang began running for the barges. ‘Somehow, we’ll let the others know, and urge them to keep the faith.’
‘Do that,’ said Auum. He drew Koel into an embrace. ‘Man will die. You will be free. But eat first, please.’
Koel smiled. ‘We’ll eat on the move.’
Auum watched Koel climb onto the lead barge and order the sail raised. The flotilla was soon sailing, the nets holding Beeth’s hewn trees strung between them, the cargo rumbling and splashing as it began its journey downstream to Ysundeneth.
Elyss came to Auum’s side. Malaar extinguished the cook fires.
‘Those are bold promises, my Arch Auum.’
‘And I will keep them,’ said Auum. ‘Tai, we move.’
Chapter 6
The elven strength of will is simple to exploit.
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