Page 115 of To Kill a King
He handed the container to the thane. “The humans created weapons that can shoot these bits of metal into people, killing them. They murdered Cressida Brightleaf. Elven armor is no protection. But with the skill of your armorers, perhaps some can be developed.”
He took a deep breath and caught Hedul’s gaze. “They’ve also built another weapon. Devices known as Whisperers that kill all living beings within a half-mile radius.” He wasn’t about to pull one of those out of his backpack to show. Not yet, anyway. “I’m going to ask the gnomes and mages to work on discovering how the Whisperers function. It’s vital we destroy these weapons before they can be put into mass circulation. We must stop Malkov and his alchemists, and soon, or it’ll be too late.”
Elessan stepped back, nodding at Hedul. “Thus ends my story. Thank you for listening, and I’m sorry for the breach of etiquette I committed.”
The thane stroked his beard, his focus still on the silver spheres. “We—your elven friend, you, and I—will talk. And you’ll tell me the exact method of this weapon, and its use. Then, the Council will decide if we will go to war. And if anything can be done about metal balls that kill.”
Elessan nodded. Fair enough.
“Next tale!” Hedul hollered.
A stout dwarf in the back stood and made his way to the front. As one, the dwarves thumped their mugs on the table. Elessan sighed. It promised to be a long evening of stories before he and the thane would sit down to discuss his request. Lindir’s brief description of the manner of Lady Brightleaf’s death would have to be sufficient.
“Before we begin, I’d like to order some food.”
Hedul chuckled. He slapped Elessan on the back hard enough to make the elf pitch forward. “Can’t hold your liquor, eh? Barkeep! Some dinner for our new elven friends!”
As Hedul escorted Elessan back to his seat beside Zadé, the dwarf leaned toward him. “You’ll stay in one of the rooms upstairs, as my guests. I’ll meet with the other thanes tomorrow, and we’ll give you a decision in two days’ time.” He studied Elessan, pointedly glancing at his stomach. “And I’ll send a healer up.”
Elessan glanced down. At some point during his story, he’d torn a stitch. The front of his tunic was soaked.
At Elssan’s nod, the thane turned away, rejoining the crowd.
Zadé laughed as Elessan flopped down in the chair next to her. “Good job, Elsan! I didn’t know yeh were such a skilled storyteller!”
He glared at her. “You didn’t leave me a choice. Some warning would’ve been appreciated.”
She chortled. “But t’was so much fun, watching yeh squirm.”
Irritation flared. She’d literally risked the success of their mission on his public speaking abilities.
She met his gaze and dropped the smile. “Sorry. Figured it’d be th’ fastest way ta get th’ thane’s attention.”
The heat burning in his chest abated as her words churned through his mind. She was right. With his misstep, he’d become acquainted with exactly the person they’d needed.
The bartender put a steaming roll the size of his head and a rack of ribs in front of him.
Pushing the plate so it sat between the two of them, Elessan raised his eyebrow. “Care to share the meat?” He grabbed the bread and tore off a bite-sized chunk. Hopefully it would absorb some of the alcohol in his stomach so he could avoid a hangover tomorrow.
The barkeep threw him a knowing smile and slid him a glass of water.
Elessan nodded his thanks before he returned his attention to Zadé.
“We have rooms upstairs, to stay as the Thane’s guests, until they come to a decision.”
Zadé’s eyes brightened. “Free room? Free food ‘n ale, too?”
He held back an eyeroll. She was incorrigible. “I doubt it.”
She slumped. “I suppose yeh didn’t think ta negotiate that little detail.”
“No. I didn’t. We need these people’s help. So, no bar fights while we’re here.”
She sighed, giving her empty mug a morose look. “Spoilsport.”
Chapter 25
Aliya