In Lost Dreams the Four Were Bound

05 - Nerin - Conflation and Selflessness

Lounging on his old, downy mattress, Nerin Delvori sat with his back pressed against the hard wooden interior of the Emri great tree that served as his current abode. Beside him slept a young pale-skinned woman, plain-faced, as all the village women were, her dim hazel eyes closed. While it was amusing to please himself with the timid, little fawns of the fallen people who called themselves Hyunisti, the ordeal left him feeling drained. Such ordinary attentions were beneath him, and yet he needed these dimwitted plebes to succeed in the final steps of his grand scheme. Still, he had to admit that the attention was gratifying, though he wished a certain woman could understand his goals and wishes.

Nerin's mind was full of bitterness as he pined over the one dear to his heart. Though his father had been vile, full of hatred, spite, and wanting, the old man had been right about one thing: greatness lay in pure blood. The Delvori royalty had kept their line clean for generations, marrying only other lords and mistresses in the hope of maintaining their strength and virility. However, within their ranks were those who betrayed such a noble goal, one such woman causing the downfall of their great civilization. He found it hard to believe it was his mother who had forsaken them all. But with his sister so much like the storied woman in her flippancy and disobedience, there was little he could do to dispute the dead man's words. But he knew his sister could be saved from herself and that she would come to her senses once all other distractions were purged. Neris would recognize her place beside him. Time would be certain of that, as it always was.

A light breeze crossed the large, round room, prickling his skin as he stood to shake off the morning's fatigue. The air in the room was pleasant compared to the other smaller trees and hovels that made up much of the canopy town. The windows of the top-most room of the great tree opened far above any others in the forest. They were separated from the dust and smells of the undergrowth that clung to the wood dwellers. Likewise, his demesne was far away from prying eyes, allowing him to meet and engage with whomever he wished without fear of the gossipier talvuo spying him. Unlike his sister's propensity for exhibitionism, he wanted absolute privacy for his guests and his personal affairs.

Standing before one of the grand carved windows, Nerin ran his hands over his toned physique. His skin outlined his ample musculature, his fingers sliding over the smooth, perfect surface, sending chills up his spine. He couldn't help but feel empowered as he looked out over the forest while thinking of the thin, undefined men who made up most of the forest folk. He walked over to an old, ornate serving cabinet. He pulled his dark hair back. Fingering the knots and curves of the etched wooden surface, he pushed aside a large, empty wine bottle and several varnished wood trays. Drawing forth a simple cup to pour himself some refreshment, he mused over his recent successes and acquisitions.

When they had cleared the abandoned dwelling, he had inspected everything they had tossed. He had hoped some rare or obscure Emri artifact would fall into his hands. Few in the village had a recollection of those that last dwelled within the large living structure, much less the significance of their ancestors. However, nothing noteworthy remained, save for some ornate examples of their craftsmanship and a few nicer baubles and trinkets. There were journals and other documents written by the woman that had become the new namesake for the forest folk. They were full of nothing but trivialities and personal turmoil.

He would be lying if he said he took no pleasure in reading the trite manuscripts. In particular, he had taken an interest in her earliest memoirs, finding evidence of the greatness of the original people before she had destroyed their identity and vitality. In her writings, she lamented having acted in anger and desperation, using ancient powers to drive the newly risen kingdom and its harriers in the south from their forests. She had thought to protect her people from further hostilities, and they had trusted her every word. Instead, she had isolated them in a fairytale world that threatened to sap them of everything they held dear. The audacity of the story tickled Nerin's darker fancies as he imagined such weakness. Had she turned the power against her enemies, the story would have gone differently. But passivity was a common trait of the finer sex, something he lamented but could not help but exploit.

Gulping down the contents of his small glass, Nerin turned back toward the bed, watching as the sleeping woman lay sprawled out beneath his sheets. The day was drawing on, and he needed to prepare for the evening's activities. Ideally, he'd persuade the young woman to stay late into the night or keep her inebriated enough that she wouldn't have a choice. It was much simpler to move someone through the dark, private halls of the great tree than to try to lure them out or fetch them from their own abode. He had already had to quarter four Hyunisti men, having bought their allegiance with fancy trinkets, better food, and the leftovers of his seductive forays. In turn, they helped him carry out his covert operations. But even those four were taxing in their inability to comprehend basic skullduggery, making him wonder if it wouldn't have been more worthwhile to do everything himself.

A shiver crept down Nerin's spine as he thought about the meeting he would have that night. Everything of late he owed to a powerful master. The wizard had instructed and guided him in uncovering the hidden talvuo peoples. He also owed his life to the mysterious figure. While he hated feeling beholden to others, he was overcome with strange admiration for the wizened, old mage. Furthermore, the elderly man had selected Nerin to inherit the deepest and most potent secrets of his long study and trials.

The man had shown Nerin visions of the ancient magic once practiced by the majestic forest folk and how to obtain such power. With it, Nerin could reclaim the Delvori's proud heritage and lay waste to the talvuo's enemies at home and abroad. All it would take was a simple ceremony performed to cleanse the Emri of the curse that plagued their blood and locked away their potential. In doing so, Nerin would earn the title of savior, allowing him to take hold of and direct the risen people. It was almost too good to be true, but the old counselor's advice had proven unerring thus far. Nerin couldn't help but be caught up in the dream of rebuilding his ancient homeland. With Neris at his side, he would lay waste to the southern and eastern human territories and perhaps even expand talvuo influence. All would know the name Delvori.

There was only one more problem to deal with, one more complex and unpredictable than everything involving the ceremony or the subtle manipulations of a disgraced populace. The man responsible for the loss of his comrades and the near-deaths of Neris and himself had appeared upon the forest floor. The Hyunisti had brought back the demon-handed fiend, their survival instincts overridden by their welcoming ignorance. Before he could make a case, his sister had beat him to the outsider's side. She had been vicious in her defense of the human, her words cutting him to the quick.

Then she dared to involve one of the villagers, a blond-haired, tanned talvuo woman whose secretive nature was a complication in and of itself. The mysterious hermit, an exotic talvuo named Elis of the mythical Renai clan, was the longest-lived person in the quaint town. According to the women he had bedded, she was regarded as more significant than the village elders but left to her own devices. Her knowledge and skill had intrigued him, but the feisty blonde had spurned every advance he had made toward her.

As if the woman's unwillingness wasn't trouble enough, she had taken up pairing with his sister. Together, they had kept a rotating vigil over the sleeper, making it impossible for him to assassinate the fiendish human. With every day that passed, the beast regained strength and composure. Any day now, he would awaken.

But with careful scheming, even the most trying of times could be surmounted. Nerin would find a way to win the blonde hermit to his side, whether through coercion or force. There was talk she cared for a child. By a stroke of luck, that child had been drawn to his side. Given how the little green-eyed girl gawked and blushed, he was sure that he could use her for leverage. With the blonde's connection to the human and Neris's fondness for the tanned woman, he could use the girl as a leash to bind the other two to his will. With any luck that would allow him to make a move against his unholy foe. If not, he was sure he could find some use for the little girl's admiration.

"Naisure . . ." gargled words called from beneath the sheets of the luxurious bed. Writhing, the half-asleep talvuo woman tried to free herself of the bright linens, only entangling herself further. He stared at the helpless woman, taking time to open another bottle of cheap wine before making his way to the bedside. Wearing a charming grin, he sat on the edge of the bed, ready to placate his guest. Despite all the problems, he was getting ever closer to his goal, and nothing would stand in his way.