Legends of Belariath

An Eye For An Eye

Tehya, Savior of Dominion

by Tehya (quest response)

She packed some supplies to go on this quest, to find the emerald eye and the tooth of the dragon. After taking time to practice her new spells in Unigo she slipped out of the building to go on the journey to procure these items. Soft wheaten blonde hair was tucked inside the cloak, and her blue eyes seemed to ebb with excitement. What was entailed was a review of the map which she did before leaving the forest and she wondered what she would encounter along the way. No one said she was a hero, for she wasn’t. She did it with all her heart to serve the emperor and has lived in awe of him for five years.

Her steps were soft in the snow, and luckily the ice and snow coming down hid her tracks. She carried a pack, knew her spells she had memorized, and hoped to find these items.

The forest was forgiving and she made her way towards the southeast on horse, it would take too long on foot. Luckily Lord Ryo gave her a horse which was already trained. She traveled wisely knowing not all areas would be available to bring her horse, and wrapped her belongings in a back pack to carry when that occurred. Hearing of orphans and crime in one of the southern regions she would play the part of one …when the time came. It was a long cold travel, and she wished she had taken someone with her.

The horse was her only friend to speak to, and he galloped through the ice storm to the Eastern Bridge. It wasn’t that easy for they both became cold and had to stop periodically making her step down to clear the snow and ice away so he could eat the dried grass underneath. Her kindness and love for the forest was foremost upon the journey. She looked at the map and seen she was far from home. Soft music was played on her flute just to calm any predators as they approached the bridge.

It was getting late and she decided to rest and begin the journey when the sun came up in the morning. Tying the horse to the tree she put a simple shield of material overhead and tied it to another tree. A makeshift tent and a fire was started where she warmed her weary, sore body. Being dressed in layers it wasn’t long before the Sylvan fell asleep against the tree. A dream came to her in sleep and it was one of those real life-like dreams where you wanted to close your eyes and continue it. She did not, and instead got up to live it.

Eating some berries she had brought along, only stained her blue lips more as she whispered to her horse.

“When I am among the orcs you must stay away.”

She hoped the beautiful beast understood her. The dream she had was about the small bag Barador gave her of ashes of a rune... something she couldn’t ever get to become paper again as he requested of her. This small bag of ashes would be her bartering agent for the emerald stone, and she would rely on her quick wit and ability to act before Svantraima to gain the dragon’s tooth.

Tehya whispered to her horse as they approached the bridge it was time for him to stay, she didn’t want to see him killed even if she was taking a chance on her own life. She didn’t tie him but left him there. He was trained well enough to wait for her, and she would have to manage to leave with the two items she sought quickly finding safety. Just having a hunch she felt they wouldn’t come after her into a territory that wasn’t their own.

Her horse stood there in the snow a brilliant chestnut and gold color waiting for her, and she used her spell change self to be able to pass through their village looking like one of them. Her pack in hand she moved slowly among them amazed at their behavior and trying to avoid the male orcs that were eyeing her along the way.

She spoke to one, “I have a delivery for Ghekkufet and it must be delivered before nightfall. This cut of veal was ordered by him and it was penned and corn fed, some say an exceptional cut. The delivery just came and I picked it up on our side of the bridge.”

Oh her voice sounded perfect low and very uneducated, even the pronunciation of her words were so different than her own. They motioned her on and she trudged to the building they said he and Svantraima were in. Now the question was how to get through the guards and she ran into a corner near the kitchen to change her appearance again. This time she looked like one of the serving maids dressed in an apron and carrying what looked like a veal dish fit for the emperor himself. They ushered her through where both he and Svantraima sat. This was going to be her only chance to speak to them.

She admitted to have stuffed the veal roast with a small bag of ashes and told them of the superb powers they held. All were lies from the bard’s mouth as she explained the ashes power.

“I carry with me a bag of magical runes in ashes.” On the first moon of spring if you plant them in the ground they will show in their original form in gold and if you draw over them with your finger they will transport you to the Emperor’s palace… right to his very room if you wish in safety. This will only work if you give in exchange the emerald stone. If you do not exchange the stone it will make the runes resistant to their magic and you will instead be beheaded by the first moon of summer. That is the omen I hand you. Just think instead you gain free admittance to the palace whenever you want.”

Clever Tehya had to rely on their gullibility to believe this, working quickly before Ghekkufet could think too much, and she motioned to Svantrainma so neither had much time to think.

“And for you dear Svantrainma I bring you this.”

She handed her a simple bolt of red silk with a very flamboyant bow from her waist.

“For you Svantriama if you use this red silk you must hand me the Dragon’s tooth and cast the tooth over the silk ten times and repeat after me…I shall bear an heir that will overtake the entire empire if I lay myself upon this silk and be taken by Ghekkufet the night he casts the rune’s spell.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest and she didn’t know how long her spell would last, knowing that she would have to act quickly or be found out. Of course none of her promises were true, but she came for the two items. There was a fight in the great hall which seemed to interest Ghekkufet and he handed her the emerald stone, and Svantraima answered her in the same insulting tone.

“What makes you think I shall not bear an heir without the red silk and am not right now?”

She had to think quickly time was running out and she had no back-up with her. She pointed to her stomach which had no child.

“We both know you do not, take heed and here is the silk. Your first born will be wiser than any even Ghekkufet himself.”

There was a slight wince as she said that, and waited with her breath held wondering if she would do it. Not more than a few minutes of thought she handed her the Dragon’s tooth and told her to go off while they ate the delectable but now cold veal she brought with her.

Tehya walked out slipping both items in her pack and just as she got out of the building felt her spell wearing off. She still had to get over the bridge. Running through the fight that Ghekkufet found amusing to watch she slowly lost the image of an orc and became the slender Sylvan elf she was. There were guards by the bridge and she had to distract them so she could pass. One last spell was used, and she used mind over matter.

Making it appear as if fire bolts shot towards them from the right side of the bridge red bolts appeared to strike fear in them, and they ran off instead of going to see what or who caused it. She ran quickly over the bridge to her horse and got on him. This would prove how fast her horse was as they galloped back home.

For all Ghekkufet knew the bag of ashes would be used in spring and he tucked them away in a chest, and Svantrainma already gloated about the red silk she planned on using to obtain the special heir.

She was exhausted from using her spells, but more so the fear within her, and soon they came to an area she knew would be safe.There was no time to waste before an exhausted muse would arrive to hand the items to Duke Korgewrath in honor of the empire she worked for.

With a humble bow both the tooth and emerald stone was handed to him.

“Duke Koregwrath I hope I have pleased you and the emperor.”

On her cloak he would see the small silver pin Stormbringer gave her to record the world’s events, and her eyes glittered as the pin did in relief to be home.

Tehya

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