Story: Truth Be Told (All Parts)

[Fashka Trelao]

After a long but swift march Sentry Roselyn reached the hollowed Altar of Initiation. The sentry grabbed the mass slumped over her shoulder and laid her on the ground in front of the matron of the Hand of Shilen.
“You are Tatiyana?” The elder warrior asked with a plain tone.
“Xas, I am.” The oracle responded with a note of concern in her eyes as she observed one of her own being slumped to the ground like a sac of potatoes.
Concern welled into anger in Tatiyana as she pondered why one of her new additions to her family was brought in such a state. “Why have you brought her to me in this condition Sentry? You have obviously not done a good job and why are you so far from the village?”
“Matron of the Hand,” the Roselyn stated calmly. “Master Harant taught her a lesson of respect, but perhaps you should speak to Tetrarch Thifiell about this… If you dare.” With a flick of her wrist and a swirl in her hip Roselyn releases the magic of an escape scroll. Emanating blue light energized around the sentry and she was whisked away from the Initiation Alter.
Kant shook off the shock of the odd entrance and exit of the sentry and knelt before the battered Comson. With a discerning eye Kant looked over Comson. He wiped away a bit of blood around her mouth. His finger probed her ribs where there was obvious trauma from Harant’s boot. While probing the point of impact, Tatiyana twirled around in a fit of rage at getting no answers and yelled, “What’s going on here!?” Kant jumped a bit in surprise by the Domina’s yelling. His probing fingers jolted a bit and touched too hard into the young dark elf’s ribs. Comson moaned in pain. Kant jumped to his feet. His arms swirled quickly and rhythmically as he prepared a healing spell.
“You will stop now, Kant!” Tatiyana demanded.
Her voice startled the dark wizard causing him to lose his focus. “But Domina her ribs. They are broken, one badly so. It is dangerously close to her lung. I can mend it.”
“No, Kant. I need answers. Mend her enough to keep her awake and that is all.”
Kant gave a solemn nod as his matron evoked her escape scroll to taker her back to the dark elven village.
As swiftly as her feet would take her, Tatiyana flew up the steps to the hall of elders. No sooner had the matron reached the final step she gazed upon Tetrarch Thifiell. The old tetrarch greeted Tatiyana with a smile and motioned her closer, as he knew why she was here.
“Thifiell why is it an elf under my care is bleeding and broken laying upon the initiation altar?” Tatiyana demanded.
Thifiell calmly raised his hand and replied, “Because my dear Tatiyana, your little assassin insulted and disrespected a member of this elders council. You should consider yourself lucky she is still alive.” Thifiell paused a moment before continuing, “You should watch your tongue to, in my presence.”
Tatiyana bit her tongue. “I apologize if I caused any offense Tetrarch. You can assuredly understand my concern. Why Comson was disrespectful to you…”
“No, no she was never disrespectful to me, Tat…” Thifiell stops himself while interrupting Tatiyana. “Oh … oh so your young member has yet to tell you of what has transpired.” The Tetrarch smirked while he continued speaking, “No she disrespected her for master Harant. It appears Comson has not been forthcoming with her past to you.”
“Perhaps you could enlighten me grand Tetrarch?” Tatiyana asked.
“Hmm, well it would be best to get the story from Comson, but I will fill you in with what I know.” Thifiell replied.
“It would be my honor Tetrarch.”
“Yes. Well, many moons ago Comson’s house, Qu’ellar d'lil olath maral, was destroyed in a bitter battle with Harant’s house. The survivors, Comson being one of them, were each treated to either death or enslavement. Comson being the daughter of the dead matron was given a fate some of us here would have thought to be a fate worse than death, servitude under Harant himself. I actually pressed Harant to not do such as enslavement could beget hostility with his house and the other houses that had once turned their back on Qu’ellar d'lil olath maral. He opted for a stipulation and proclaimed in front of the council of elders that if Comson found acceptance in another house that he would give up his rights to her as his property. To my disbelief the council found this acceptable as did most other houses. Harant had successfully pulled off his little coup. I, obviously, retracted my demand on him. Now fifty years later, Comson finally found you Tatiyana. It is a pity she did not mention this to you.”
“Yes, a pity indeed,” the Domina muttered under her breath as she clenched her fist in anger. “Thank you for your time Thifiell, but I need to talk to Comson.”
The old Tetrarch smiled and nodded dismissing Tatiyana who was still muttering as she left.

[Fashka Trelao]

Comson let out a little laugh that was quickly stifled with pain.
“What so funny?” Kant inquired.
“Think she’ll kill me when she gets back?”
“I am no Oracle, Comson, but I think you are going to have to do a lot of smooth talking to get out of this one. There is no letter on me this time so I cannot help you.” Kant watched the forest ahead of him nervously as if he was going to be next on Tatiyana’s hit list.
Kant continued, “One thing will be interesting. I must say if you do get out of this in one piece I really want to see how you do it.”
Comson started to laugh at Kant’s comment, but her laugh quickly fell silent as foot falls came from the road leading to the altar.
Kant backed away from Comson knowing the next few moments might not be pretty.
From the road Kant could make out Tatiyana’s figure approaching the altar at a slow but direct pace.
“That her?” Comson asked.
“Good luck,” Kant replied as he moved further away from the young dark elf.
“Comson!” Tatiyana yelled. “You have some explaining to do!”
The matron mother pounced upon the wound elf. Tatiyana grabbed Comson’s bruised jaw with one hand and squeezed her fractured ribs with her other hand.
“You have not asked me any question,” Comson moaned.
“I do not need to as you already know what my questions are Comson. Speak now while I let you breathe.” Tatiyana hissed.
“Xas, xas, I will tell you what you want to know … Domina.” Comson panted in pain.
“Good, you are making the wisest choice in your life, Comson.” Tatiyana retorted as she released her grasp on the young dark elf and sat down next to her.
Comson started, “Firstly you should know my birth name is not Comson Elghinn.”
“I figured as much now,” Tatiyana interrupted. The Oracle crossed her arms and observed Comson’s movements with a stern look.
“My … my birth name is Olath Maral Comson of the House of Olath Maral.”
“Tetrarch Thifiell mentioned you were involved with and daughter of the matron,” Tatiyana again interrupted.
“Nau that is not entirely true,” Comson replied. “I was not the daughter of the matron of Olath Maral. I was the daughter of the Grand Matriarch who was also a part of the house of Olath Maral.”
Tatiyana quirked an eyebrow at hearing what Comson had said. “A Matriarch? Comson there has not been a Matriarch in,” Tatiyana trailed off indulging in her own thoughts.
Comson continued, “Xas it has been many moons since we were ruled by a Matriarch and the houses run by their respective matrons.”
Comson with much strain turned on her side to face her Domina and look her in her eyes. “Domina once when we were ruled by a Matriarch and her council of elders our existence was much different then they are today.”
Tatiyana simply smirked at Comson’s words as she began to remember her own early years. “Maybe for a member of a royal family, Comson.”
“Xas perhaps Domina,” Comson conceded. “But in any event as you may already know the Grand Matriarch, my mother was assassinated.” Comson watched Tatiyana nod as the Oracle half listened to Comson and half reminisced. “The Grand Matriarch’s death sent a shockwave across the houses as a power vacuum developed. The very night of my mother’s death her entire council vanished without a trace. The matron of my house assumed she would be accepted as Grand Matriarch, but Mitraell and his ally Harant had other plans. Their two houses banded together against my house, which under normal circumstances would have meant very little to us. In those days, Mitraell and Harant ran fringe houses, but with the Grand Matriarch dead and the council missing the pact which held the seven great houses fell apart. Soon houses bickered amongst themselves and wars broke out. One such war was a sneak attack made by Mitraell and Harant’s house while we fought bitterly against another house.” Comson paused a moment. “Thifiell’s house now that I think about it. Well, before he ran his house anyways. The civil wars raged and eventually my house and its lineage was crushed under the foot of two fringe houses run by patrons and a grand house that was over thrown by Thifiell himself. With the blood of his matron still on his hands Thifiell swore allegiance to Mitraell and the pact of three was born. The remaining grand houses alone and without alliances fell one by one to Mitraell. Soon after, he was ordained Patriarch of all Brown elves. I guess now that we are considered dark elves he has taken the title of Hierarch?”
“Xas he has,” Tatiyana confirmed Comson’s question. The young elf’s story began chipping away at the Domina’s stern expression as curiosity began to break down her harsh façade.
The dark elf continued her story, “Many of my blood relatives were slaughtered but some of us were spared from what I understand. I do not know the details as I sat in a cell for many years awaiting my fate. I just know one day Harant, himself, came to my cell. He tore off the tattered remains of clothing that adorned me and strapped this collar around my neck.”
Comson rubbed her neck as if remembering the day. “With a chain connected to the collar he drug me thru the city and up the great stairs to the hall of the elders. I do not remember exactly all of what he said but I do remember his pledge to the council.”
Comson recounted Harant’s words, “‘per my agreement with the council and Mitraell’s approval I have accepted the responsibility of this spoil to be my servant until she has been deemed worthy of another house or my own. Until then she shall be my personal servant to be disciplined and ordered as I please.’”
“Great man that Harant,” Comson continued with a sarcastic smile on her face. “I will spare you the details Domina, but my life was not much of a pleasant one.”
A swirl of thoughts flooded through Tatiyana’s mind as Comson’s words began to thump into the Domina’s head like an old drum beating a familiar song. The Oracle’s stern anger had been washed away and replaced by some signs of sympathy as she unconsciously began stroking Comson’s hair to comfort the dark elf’s obviously harsh life.
Like the crack of a whip, Tatiyana’s compassion was set aside with inquiry. The domina stopped comforting Comson and pulled away. “This is all well and good Comson, but this does not explain why Harant was training you to be a fighter for one and two still does not explain why you lied to me by saying you were an orphan and not a slave to one of the elders!”
“That’s where it gets tricky Domina,” Comson replied with a morbid tone. “For the longest time I never understood why he was training me either. I figured, since Harant commonly trained fighters to become Palus Knights, he was going to train me in such. At first, he did. I learned to use the short sword but one evening he gave me a dagger and tossed me out of the village. He yelled at me to not come back until I had enough pelts to clothe myself. I accepted the use of the dagger and he started training me more with the dagger; in fact, Harant encouraged my fighting with a dagger. I thought he was finally giving me a chance to break out on my own and find a house that would accept me, but I would soon find myself disappointed. Every house I looked to to gain acceptance refused me without even asking a question. My failure to find a house and my odd training sessions with Harant started to make me question what was going on in my master’s head, so…” Comson trailed off.
“Well go on, Comson,” Tatiyana pushed with a dry voice.
“So I seduced him and while he slept I snuck into his study. After pillaging his room for a good hour I came up with a couple letters that were of quite an interest…” Comson again paused.
“Go on,” Tatiyana prodded.

[Fashka Trelao]

“Well,” Comson started. “The first letter was a demanding one. He was bribing a patron to refuse my request into his house, which instantly clued me in as to why I was turned away post haste. I was an idiot. Every time I searched out a potential house I, of course, being a good little servant told my master of my intent, but by the time I would confront the house patron or matron I was quickly turned away. I had figured it was my lack of training but this letter made me realize that he was unwilling to let me go as a slave.”
“Hmmm,” Tatiyana replied while nodding. “And the other letter?”
“Well the other letter was about you.”
“Me!?” The oracle exclaimed.
“Yes, Domina, you,” Comson continued. “The letter had no addressee but Harant apologized for his failure in not killing the ‘ilharess ilhar d'lil rah.’”
“Matron Mother of the Hand,” Tatiyana pondered out loud.
“Yes, apparently the attack was a failure because they did not ‘retrieve the body successfully.’ He then mentioned that he had been training an assassin he had better control over. Someone he could dangle a carrot to do his bidding.”
“You,” Tatiyana sighed while closing her eyes for a moment.
“Yes, Domina, me, I am the only logical individual that matches his description.”
The domina opened her eyes and stared at the battered dark elf. “And you have proof of this yes?”
Comson frowned as she knew she had only her word as proof. “No, I have no physical proof.”
“Lies!” Tatiyana snapped. “Why should I believe you now Comson?”
Tatiyana’s tone caused Comson to snap out of her calm demeanor. “Why would I lay here broken and beaten and tell you that I was suppose to assassinate you to your face! What grace, what benefit, what desire would that instill in you to give me sympathy in a lie!?”
Before Tatiyana or Kant could react Comson whipped out her dagger, but instead of slashing at Tatiyana the dark elf quick slashed her own wrist causing the blood to pump out of her.
With fire blazing in her eyes Comson snarled, “If you do not believe me then take my blood. Divine your answers with Shilen herself!”
“Fine then Comson but your blood better not turn black in my hand or else I am through with you,” Tatiyana retorted. She ordered Kant to cup his hands and pool Comson’s blood in them. The Oracle searched her back and muttered an incantation while sprinkling finely crushed bone into the blood pooled in Kant’s hands.
“Comson stay awake I have to ask you questions,” Tatiyana demanded.
“First question, why did you want to join my house?”
Comson replied. “You are a fringe house. It is run by you not some jaluk and it makes Harant cry in anger.”
“So far so good,” the Oracle replied while observing Comson’s blood. “Now then, did you really seduce Harant and read a letter which you honestly speculate he was involved in an attack on me not but a few weeks ago?”
“Yes, Domina that is true and I believe he wanted me to kill a matron of a house which inspired me even more to be by your side,” the dark elf replied with some weariness in her voice.
“Good Comson,” Tatiyana said with an odd smirk on her face. “One last question… If I became weak and you truly felt that my impudence made me incapable to run this house would you attempt to kill me and take over the house?”
Comson drew a long pause but finally answered with a hiss, “Xas with all my heart, no house should be destroyed by a weak matron!”
The oracle turned and started to walk away. She got a couple paces away before stopping and turned around. “Sorry Comson I do have one more question.”
“Go ahead,” Comson murmured while trying to keep consciousness.
“If I am a strong Domina…”
Before Tatiyana could finish her question Comson answered, “I would give my life for you and no assassin will tear you asunder without rending me of my flesh first.” Tatiyana pondered a moment then motioned to Kant that it was alright for him to clean the blood off him.
Tatiyana turned to leave, and mentioned as she left, “Welcome into my family Comson. But I have one demand. If I ever see you with a dagger near me again I will cut your hands off and feed them to my pet prowlers. In fact, you may want to pick up another path. You will not walk the abyss in my presence.”
“Bel’la dos ussta ilharess xal Shilen dumo dos,” Comson said while trying to salute her domina as she left. The battered dark elf smiled watching her domina leave.
“I think it should be alright to mend your wounds now,” Kant interjected.
“Thank you Kant,” Comson replied. “I owe you again.”
“You are making this quite the habit,” Kant mentioned with a bit of a relieved chuckle in his voice.
“Yes, yes I am.”