Tiafell The Femboy Elf Ch 19

Chapter 19: The Assault on Steelweld

Alto, now a vampire, had entered the throne room at Esteban's call.

"This is the elf you told me about before." Dred examined the vampire elf, unimpressed. He hovered around him in a circle, making the young man feel uneasy.

Alto had learned about Dred before leaving Elfandall with Vasasti to look for Tiafell. Even though his body was comprised of only a head, torso, and very long arms, the black demon was quite large, being six feet fall from his head to the bottom of his cut-off trunk, hovering two feet above the floor made him seem even taller and more intimidating. Alto remembered that the creature in front of him originally had a much larger quadrupedal body, but the top half was cut off by the wizard Marlon more than 800 years ago. His undead blood even colder as the figure looked down at him, he could sense its distrust toward him.

"Yes, My Lord." Esteban boasted. "He is the first elf to be turned into a vampire. Elven blood is not only delicious, but it serves his race well! If you think a demon/elf has vast potential, just image what an elven vampire is capable of!"

"Are you suggesting that he is superior to Tiafell and Trista?" The ghost-like demon narrowed his yellow eyes.

"Oh, certainly not My Lord! I am simply suggesting that should Tiafell become a problem, my young friend here will be able to stop him."

Dred looked Alto over, then turned his attention back to Esteban. "Tiafell will not be a concern when this is over, as he and I will have become one. Gather however many vampires you need for the attack. Trista is going to need backup, but we will let her humiliate herself first. With her spirit broken, she will fall completely under my control, then I will use her to take the lives of Tiafell's friends while I possess him. The more enraged he becomes, the easier it will be."

"Understood, My Lord" Esteban bowed. Dred glanced at Alto again, then vanished.

"Come, Alto, help me select some potential recruits for the attack." Esteban commanded.

"A moment, if I may. What was that about Tiafell?" Alto asked.

"As you just heard, we are going to attack Steelweld in one week to eliminate the threat they pose. We anticipate that Tiafell will be there, and Lord Dred wants to possess him to replace the body he lost 800 years ago." Esteban explained. "But not you, I need you to stay here and keep the castle safe while we are away."

"I must respectfully refuse. Tiafell abandoned me and my fiancé, and now she is likely dead because of it! I must kill him to avenge her! Please take me to Steelweld with you!"

"You will remain here, Alto, my word is final!"

"I cannot accept-" Esteban grabbed Alto by his throat and shoved him against a wall with enough force to shake the room. The seven-and-a half-foot tall vampire lord then raised the elf to his eye level.

"Making me repeat myself is an excellent way to get yourself killed, chico! When I tell you to do something, you do so happily without question!!!"

"Why are you doing this? You serve a master that wants to destroy the human race, OUR food source!! Just what are you think-" Esteban put his other hand over the vampire elf's mouth, then leaned in close.

"Listen very carefully to me, Alto, and do not repeat what I am about to tell you. I am not the fool you seem to think I am. I'm not going to let our food source disappear, but we need to play our hands carefully. I have a plan to stop him, a method to seal him away and make his power my own. It will only work when the opportunity presents itself. Until then, I must serve as his loyal subject and wait for the right moment to strike."

"What if Dred succeeds in possessing Tiafell before that happens? He'll be far too powerful for you to do anything then! Let me kill Tiafell, then Dred will never have the power he desires!"

"That would give us away, imbecile!" Esteban leered at him. "He would kill you and then me for allowing it to happen! I shall deal with this my own way, all YOU need to do is what I command, understand?"

"Fine.. but what happens once you seal Dred away? What is your goal?"

Esteban chuckled. "Isn't it obvious muchacho? We will carry out his plan to rule over this world! Demons had their chance and fucked it up. Soon, it will be time for us vampires to take our rightful position as the dominant species! After Dred's power is mine, I shall cast all of Elistria into an endless night so that every vampire can walk about freely without fear of the sun. And humans will be kept alive as livestock, so we'll live forever with an endless supply of food!"

"I see" Alto nodded slightly. "So, what about Tiafell?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a one-track mind?" Esteban let Alto go, allowing him to drop to the floor. "I don't give a shit about him. Once Dred is out of the picture, you can carve that sissy elf like a roasted bird for all I care. Until then, play your part."

Alto coughed a bit, then looked up at Esteban. "I understand, Master."

"I'm glad we came to an understanding." One corner of Esteban's mouth curved upward. "Come, we must select some vampires for the assault on Steelweld." Alto stood and left the throne room with him. Behind them, Dred reappeared.

"Fascinating..." the black demon chuckled.

Outside, Cardexx had tied a note to a pigeon's leg that was perched on his wrist. "Go now, make haste!" He waved his hand, sending the bird airborne. It flapped its wings and flew Southwest.

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Tiafell and his friends had been training to harness their magical talents by learning new spells and mastering them under the tutelage of the wizard Marlon and later Samora, his daughter. Tiafell was required to undergo additional training to learn how to control his demonic energy and balance it with his elven aura. Though he was able to reign it in to a degree, it seemed that full mastery would forever be out of his reach.

They spent every morning studying academics to broaden and strengthen their minds, followed by learning and practicing new spells. For three days every week, the group also sparred with Marlon's golems to keep up with the physical training they received in Steelweld. The other days were spent resting in the evenings, encouraged to spend their time reading to increase their knowledge while resting their minds. "An educated mage is a powerful one", this was the foundation of Marlon's lessons.

As for the elderly wizard himself, his already failing health declined further, leaving him too weak to stand or sit upright and rendering him bedridden. He was asleep more often than he was awake, often sleeping for 16 or more hours every day. Samora, who he had passed all his knowledge to, became the overseer of their training while also undergoing her own to adjust to everything she received from him. Though she accepted her responsibilities as the new master of the tower, Samora's heart broke for her father. She knew that his time was coming soon, but she could not fathom how someone who had lived for more than 900 years was about to die. She regretted the time they had spent apart after their heated disagreement years ago; all that time they could have spent together was gone.

One day after practice, Tiafell was sitting under a dogwood tree reading a book about the Continent of Adrui, which was home to the other major kingdom in the world. His mother, Erafell, was buried next to this tree. Sitting in that spot brought him peace, as it did for his mother before him. It was her favorite spot to eat, read, and take naps, it had become his too.

"The major terrain of Adrui is something called a 'desert', an arid sand-covered place where it is scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night." Tiafell summarized what he was reading out loud. "The Adruian citizens must be remarkably tough to live there!" He leaned his head back against the tree in awe. "Our world, Elistria, is so remarkable, I didn't know it HAD a name until recently! My mind is still blown away by the fact that it is round like a ball, not flat like the elves claim. That makes SO much more sense!!" He kicked his feet up and down giddily as he absorbed knowledge that was previously inaccessible to him. As he was reading, the ghost of an elven female was reading along over his shoulder and enjoying being with her son, though he was unaware of her presence.

Marlon was asleep in his room; his breathing had a slight rattle to it. The pigeon that Cardexx had sent days before landed in his window seal and chirped loudly, startling the ailing wizard awake.

"Oh, a letter?" He held his tired hand out, allowing the bird to perch onto it. Using his other hand, he freed the note from its foot and let it fly back outside. He unfurled the note and read it carefully. "Oh no..."

Samora was in her bedroom, the next room over, studying one of her father's tomes when she heard him call her name. The witch immediately rushed to his side.

"Father? What's wrong, do you need help?" The concerned daughter asked.

Marlon looked at his daughter sternly. "I need you to bring everyone in here immediately, we have an emergency!"

Without questioning him, Samora left to gather the four youths together. Tiafell was still reading near his mother's grave, Cirris and Mirya were browsing the library, and Nadia was outside honing her spells to summon familiars, having learned the value of training during the day when her vampiric powers were dormant. Once they were together, Marlon explained the situation.

"The attack was planned six days ago; it takes that long for a carrier pigeon to arrive here from Basilix Castle. To conclude, Trista and her forces are going to attack Steelweld tomorrow night before coming here to kill us and take Tiafell." He summarized.

"Steelweld is a four-day ride on horseback from here, we'd never get there in time to help!!" Cirris pointed out.

"I have a way to get you all there within an hour. It's the same method we mages use to instantly send letters to each other." Marlon responded.

"Right, of course! That should work!" Samora added. "Letters are sent instantly, but larger objects, like people, take about an hour to travel the distance between here and Steelweld. But unlike letters, people have to use a transportation circle, which we have."

"But even if we get there that quickly and warn them, will they have enough time to prepare for it?" Nadia inquired.

"The amazons will be more than ready for them by tomorrow night, I am certain of that." Marlon coughed, then cleared his throat. "I'm more concerned about Dred and the others getting involved. They will bring reinforcements with them, enough to overwhelm Cleyene and her fighters. I fear that many of them are going to lose their lives, even in the best case scenario.."

"We'll do what we can." Tiafell stepped up. "Maybe we will be able to end this war before it even begins. But the longer we stand here talking, the less time the amazons have to prepare!"

"Well said, my boy." Marlon smiled. "Help me to my wheelchair, we must go to the transportation circle." Tiafell and Cirris helped the frail old man into his chair, he had become so thin and light that it was easy to move him. Samora was saddened further to see her once strong father in such a helpless state.

The same golem as always pushed the rolling chair and lead them to a round room with a circle drawn on the floor. Inside the circle were many other shapes and patterns. At the wizard's command, the other five stood in the middle.

"Steelweld does not have a transportation circle like this, so this only goes one way. You will need to return the old-fashioned way." Marlon told them. "I shall send you to their main gate."

"Shouldn't we take we take our horses with us for the trip back? Mirya asked.

"No, my girl, they will be safer here. When it is time to return, you can summon them to your side. Now then, let us hurry."

"Father, if I may..." Samora nervously spoke. "How much longer do you have left..?"

"It is only a matter of days now, Samora. Less than a week." Marlon somberly answered. The tearful witch went to his side, knelt down, and placed her hand on his cheek.

"Will I.. get one more chance to see you after this is over..? To say goodbye..?" She swallowed the lump in her throat, dreading the answer.

Her father smiled and put his cold, weak hand on hers. "I make you this promise, my dear daughter. You will be by my side when I draw my last breath."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Thank you. It hurts, it hurts so much, but knowing that I will see you again almost makes it bearable" she lightly hugged him. She had lied to him, his words brought her no comfort at all. After she pulled away, Cirris and Mirya said their own goodbyes to the wizard, followed by Nadia.

"I can't think you enough for what you and Samora have taught me. I will do you both proud!" The Latina dhampir clenched her fist.

"I know you will, my dear, have faith in yourself."

Tiafell also approached. "I feel the same way, thank you for your help. I am so happy to have finally met you. I don't know what it is like to have a grandfather, but that is how I feel about you." The elf sniffed and wiped his eyes.

"Your mother and father would be proud. You are as fine a young man as any I have ever known." Marlon smiled. Everyone gathered back to the center of the room as the wizard started the transfer spell. "Everyone, your training has exceeded my expectations. Your foes are formidable, but I believe with all my heart that you can stand against them now! Be strong! Fight!!!" There was a blinding flash of light in the room. When it disappeared, the five that were standing in the circle were gone.

The ghost of Erafell was in the room behind Marlon, she had witnessed everything. "Good luck Tiafell, everyone. Please come back safely, all of you..." She spoke with a ghostly echo in her voice.

"Have faith in them." Marlon answered, startling the ghost.

"You can hear me???"

"Yes, I can also see you. I have been able to for some time." The golem turned the old man's chair so that he was facing her. "My mind isn't what it once was, but I know full well that I taught you a dying mage becomes sensitive to the presence of the dead." He teasingly scolded her.

"Right, you did. I suppose I'm the one who had forgotten." She giggled. "So, you really don't have much longer, do you?"

"No, I am going to die in my sleep six days from now, that is the fate I have always foreseen for myself. However, considering recent developments, that does not sit well with me. Why should I spend my remaining time in bed when there is something only I can do to help someone?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I will explain everything as we go to my office. You can keep me company, this place already seems so lonely without them here."

Erafell hovered behind Marlon as he was rolled into his office. Using magic, he wrote two letters at once, with one of the quill pens moving on its own. Once finished, both letters disappeared. Back at Basilix Castle, one of the letters appeared before Cardexx inside his quarters.

"Marlon?" He opened the letter and read it.

"Cardexx,

I have received your message, thank you for your prompt warning. I have sent Samora and the others to Steelweld using a teleportation spell so they can help the amazons prepare for battle. I have a plan, read very carefully and speak your response quietly. This letter will then disappear and return to me immediately, I will hear your answer after I receive it. This plan is almost certainly going to cost us both our lives, but it is the only way we can save that poor girl and keep Dred from getting what he desires. I urge you to make your decision quickly, time is not on our side."

Cardexx read the rest of the letter thoroughly, then spoke his response. When the letter disappeared, the middle-aged incubus moved his long salt and pepper hair away from his face and sighed.

"My life is but a small price to pay. I deserve this fate for failing both of my children..."

Cardexx's letter returned to Marlon's desk. When the wizard opened it, he heard the demon's response.

"Yes..."

"Cardexx.." Erafell closed her eyes. "I have never heard such sadness in a single word.."

"I am not surprised that was his answer, that tormented man must be more willing to accept his fate than I am mine." Marlon lamented. "Very well, I have work to do. Time is of the essence." The golem pushed the wizard out of his office with Erafell floating behind them.

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Samora and the others appeared in front of the main gates to the massive wall surrounding the village of Steelweld.

"Let's never.. EVER do that again..." a woozy Nadia suggested, holding her head.

"I never pegged you for being prone to motion sickness, Fang Girl." Cirris teased.

"Shut the fuck up, Dickhead. I'd beat the shit out of you if I wasn't about to.." the vampire put her hand over her mouth, then promptly ran into the bushes to vomit. Guards looked down from the watchtowers.

"Hey, when did all of you get back? We never saw you approach!" One of them called out.

"Please let us in, we have an urgent matter to discuss with Lady Cleyene. My father says that your village will be under attack tomorrow night!" Samora answered. The guards ordered the gates to be opened to allow the group inside. As they walked to meet with the Chieftess, word spread about the imminent attack. Inside the Meeting Hall, Cleyene, Brion, Kanah, and Varpol were already waiting when they arrived.

"Lady Cleyene." Samora bowed with the others doing the same.

Cleyene folded the paper in her hand. "Samora, so it's true. Your father wrote me and said that you were on your way. He explained everything."

"I'm afraid so. The fact that he wrote you a letter saves us time. We must begin preparations immediately. I have already taken the liberty to inform a few of your soldiers, not to step on your toes, My Lady."

"No, that helps me, but I must personally address my people nonetheless." Cleyene stood from her throne. "Varpol, sound the alarm to call everyone to the Village Square, go now!"

"Yes, My Lady." Cleyene's second in command bowed and left to do so.

"I want all of you there too, I wish to speak to everyone that will be taking part in this fight." Cleyene urged.

"Absolutely." Samora told her.

Everyone made their way to the Village Square as the alarm sounded. Within minutes, Samora's group and the citizens of Steelweld were gathered in the square, with Cleyene standing in the middle. She addressed her people.

"Tomorrow night, our village is going to be under attack by an army of demons, vampires, and other monsters. This information comes from the wizard Marlon himself, so we have no doubt this threat is accurate. All inactive soldiers are to report for duty immediately! Our first priority is to evacuate all non-combatants into the caves deeper into the forest, I will assign a group for the task. I want everyone else to focus on fortifying the walls. Once this is finished, gather your weapons and armor, then spend the rest of the time resting so you will not be exhausted when the attack begins. We are about to have enemies on our doorstep that want nothing less than the total extinction of the human race, but we must show THEM even less mercy and more ruthlessness than they will give to us! WE, THE AMAZONS OF STEELWELD, WILL SHOW THESE BASTARDS THAT WE ARE NOT TO BE FUCKED WITH!!! FOR THE AMAZONS, FOR STEELWELD!!!!!"

"FOR THE AMAZONS, FOR STEELWELD!!!!!" The crowd roared in a united deafening response, repeating the phrase multiple times.

The citizens got to work immediately. Cleyene picked a small group of soldiers and assigned them to the escort task. Non-combatants returned home to pack lightly, taking only a change of clothes and small amounts of food before meeting with the escorts. The Chieftess walked to Samora's side.