Xep frowned. She hated the tone of this creature and resented his caviler attitude towards everything she believed in. She understood that he was so far removed from proceedings in her world but felt that that was not an excuse for acting and behaving like a fledgling child. She folded her arms across her chest and stood there standing. By now, both of her companions had already sat down on either side of the elf but she choose to remain standing. She wanted to be able to make a quick leave of exit in case he decided to end her existence.
She stared into the deep blue eyes of the elf. Had she not recognized him for who he really was, he looked almost quite human. He had long blonde, but almost white hair, and his ears were just barely pointed, in the trademark tell-tale sign of being a high elf. His skin was soft and almost a cream color. It almost seemed like he did not get very much sunlight. He wore a white linen button down shirt, which almost hid the entire design of the medallion from sight. He wore tight fitting black jeans. There was a chain connected to a loop on the front of the pocket; it extended all the way around his hips and moved to the back pocket where it trapped a small rectangular item inside. He wore canvass style shoes, the laces were worn ragged and one of the shoes had been untied. His heat signature seemed steady and Xep had a hard time reading his emotions. She knew that she was dealing with a master, he was very good at what he could do.
“Fine. You want information. I will go ahead and give it freely. I have been tasked by the Council of High Regents, the order of law and rule that replaced the Queen almost shortly after you abandoned your station, to come here and figure out what is disturbing the veil and the balance of energy in this world. Apparently our magi have been tracking some disturbances and they are coming from here. My job was simple, so very simple. Travel to this side through the Portal, through the veil and onto this plane. The landing site was apparently near by the disturbance and I was to spend time observing and assessing the threat to our side. It was so simple that I am almost questioning why they chose a high ranking individual to do this task.”
“And they sent you, a mechanical, with wings? Wow… I am so not impressed by this council so far.” Tristian flashed a smile at Xep and then winked over at Paige who puckered her lips tightly over one another, as if she was either trying to stifle a laugh or trying to avoid being stuck in the middle of this word war between two unfamiliar people. Sardonios also kept silent but he did send Xep a look of sympathy, as if he had gone through this strange dance of words time after time again with Tristian.
Xep growled, “You would be wise to hold your tongue. I am NOT a machine.” Xep wished she could flare out and zap the insolent elf with a blast of lightening, even though it would do nothing if he could really help her attain her goals, “I am a wisp, by birth, a spy employed by the Council to infiltrate high risk situations and report back without being caught. Something went wrong, and somehow I got trapped inside this thing. After the magi activated the Portal, all I recall was that there was a loud crack, then I felt the wind pass through me as I descended down from the air, and then waking up, trapped, inside this metal container. Do you not think that if I could have escaped, I would have done it by now? I have tried and tried and I cannot break free from this metal and grease enclosure. It is very confining to someone who grew up being a free floating individual. But I have been trained by birth to do what I do. I have crossed over enemy lines countless times and have returned successful.
I have walked, yes, walked, where I would have chosen to blip around and have come here seeking help. Walking is no easy thing. I do not know how you two leggeds get around as quickly as you can by not blipping. But somehow my legs lead me here and to first Paige and then she took me to Sardonios, who claims to be a friend of yours. With the help of this so called friend of yours, he has given me the means to continue surviving this world until I am able to figure out what is going on. I have saved lives and I could probably save even more if I had landed at my original destination and not have fallen and been trapped here, now catering to head games with the likes of you. But this is all I have at the moment.
Somehow, Sardonios thinks that you might know something that could help me. I am not sure what you could possibly help me with, except in reminding me of the failures of the past and how important it really is that I actually survive and report back as soon as I can about what is going on over here. If this is how you treat your friends then I question why I would want to pursue your help in my matters of state?”
“Because,” Tristian said. “Because I know things that obviously you do not know.”
“I am growing very tired of these games. What is it that you know?”
Tristian grabbed another fry off his plate with two fingers and placed it at the edge of his mouth. He then folded the whole fry over on top of itself and gently pushed it inside his mouth. He slowly closed his lips around the fry and started chewing, carefully, and deliberately. He kept his lips closed while he chewed. He noticed that this infuriated the so called wisp and this pleased him. While he ate, he started formulating ideas and plans inside his head. He needed to choose his words carefully and not end this before he wanted it to end. He was amused, for the first time in a long time. It had indeed been a long time since he laid eyes upon anyone from the other side and he wanted this to last a bit. She did seem authentic, even if her appearance was not.
He reached out his hand and grabbed the glass cup in front of him. It was filled with water. He brought the glass up to his lips and took a slow, deliberate sip of the cold, wet liquid. Ice cubes shifted uncomfortably making the only sound that the four heard around them inside the ever so quiet restaurant.
“I can not tell you that now. But yes, I can help you. I will help you,” he said smirking. “But you have to do something to help me out in return first.” ”Oh and what exactly do you need. You know there is not a whole lot I can do for you being on this side of the veil,” Xep growled, tired of the small head games the elf was playing with her. “Speak and be quick for I tire of your games and silences. Every tick of the clock means that time grows thin and if you wait too long then there may not be a realm for either of us to go back to if this world is destroyed and we are still sitting upon it, carelessly tossing words back and forth.”
“There is one thing you can do for me. I love being here, but I am getting older and older as every passing day goes by. Do not worry, I can wield a sword better than anyone on this side. And after three hundred years of being over here, I have seen all sorts of transformations that most mortals have yet to even uncover. I know places, seen things that many have yet to seen. But traveling and seeing is not enough anymore. I want to go back. I want to be able to see my family and friends, or what is left of them. I know that things have got to be different over there, otherwise they would not have sent you here. So yes, in exchange for helping you get to where ever you need to go and figuring out what is going on, you figure out how to get me home. I will protect you and make sure that nothing harms you while you figure out what to do on behalf of this Council of yours.”
Xep opened and closed her mouth a few times, she had no idea how to respond to this request. She knew that it was already dangerous as it was to be making this sort of deal. She had no idea whether or not he could be trusted, nor if he was considered an outlaw of the state on the other side. If she brought him back with her, she could be branded a traitor as well and her career, everything she worked hard to become in the ranks, would disappear forever. Xep was not sure she was ready to risk all that for the help of the might of one of the legendary warriors of the old kingdoms. But she also knew that if she blew this one chance at gaining some real tangible proof that her quest was still alive then she would never be able to return back home and report back to the Council. She knew only of the hunt, the quest and she knew that she would do anything to make sure she achieved success at her assigned task. She sighed and watched the emotions cycle through Tristian. He was obviously enjoying this way too much.
“I do not care how you do it, just get me home. Now do we have an oath or not?” Tristian said as he dropped a few dollars on the table top.
Xep sighed once more, “Just do not make me regret going into oath with you.” She sat down opposite Tristian, “Now let us really talk.”
