Chapter 15
Guided Tour
“Everyone, why don’t you go about your business? The Sun King is just here for a visit. One of many, I’m sure,” Rohannan said to the curious crowd of onlookers.
Aquilan’s eyes slowly panned over the faces of the humans around them.
While some looked curious–getting up on their tiptoes to see him and his companions more clearly–others had faces wreathed in deep frowns and arms crossed tightly over chests indicating both distrust and dislike.
But Aquilan did not allow his own expression to change no matter the reaction he received.
He kept a small smile on his lips and an even, calm demeanor.
Though his beloved Shadow prowled around him protectively, he was in no danger with these people even if they brought out their weapons and fired them at him point blank.
What he saw were people who were afraid, unhappy and uncertain of their place in their own world, clinging to a past that would never be again, but not yet ready to embrace a future that might seem alien and unthinkable to them now.
“Go on now,” one of the young men who flanked Rohannan said, taking off his cowboy hat and literally making shooing motions towards the crowd. They moved back and some dispersed into the interior of the encampment, but others still lingered.
“There’s lots to do for the party tonight,” Rohannan reminded his people. “You all have things to occupy you. Don’t you want the Sun King and his party to experience human hospitality and cooking, not to mention some rock’n roll?”
There were a few hoots and hollers of agreement about hospitality, but especially about this rock and roll, which Aquilan was curious about.
But Rohannan’s words also had more people filtering away, but not without backwards glances and whispered conversations amongst themselves.
Having been out in Tyrael where humans and all the other species of the Aravae Empire milled about together, Aquilan realized just how isolated Hope might be if a few elves caused such a fuss.
Or maybe it was because it was his presence.
Though he had been a king for some time, he was always surprised by what that inspired in people.
Awe. Hatred. Worship. Distrust. Love. Concern.
“Move alone,” another of the young men said to a persistent cluster of humans by the gateway.
With muttered curses, these men and women slowly backed off until there was only what looked to be the usual amount of people coming and going into the encampment. Aquilan faced Rohannan again with a broader smile.
“I hope our visit will not cause you any trouble,” Aquilan said.
Rohannan had been angry and upset when he spoke with Aquilan on the road to Tyrael that first time, but now he seemed far more relaxed. He was clearly in his element and proud of Hope. Rohannan gave a surprisingly bright smile and shook his head.
“No, no, we welcome visitors in Hope. It’s good that you’ve come to see what we’ve built here,” Rohannan said, confirming that pride.
Out of the corner of his eye, Aquilan saw Finley’s mouth flatten as Rohannan said that. He had a sense that Finley was not impressed with what had been built. But the young man said nothing.
“It was a spur of the moment decision to come,” Aquilan confessed. Well, it had been a spur of the moment decision that Vex had made, which ensured that Aquilan could not let the Night King go alone. “Such a beautiful day and I have been wanting to speak to you.”
“Well, you just showing up at all is a potential step in the right direction. I don’t believe your brother has ever set foot in the place.
” Rohannan took off his cowboy hat and knocked it against his left thigh.
After that, he ran his hands through his thick dark, salt and pepper hair, and he set it back on his head.
“He likes to pretend that no one lived on Earth before you all got here.”
He couldn’t disagree with that. Vesslan saw the humans as an impediment.
He despised Rohannan. And Aquilan was certain that his brother would have swept Hope away just like Declan had done with the Leviathan nest near Illithor if he had been capable of it.
So he could not defend Vesslan here without losing whatever nascent trust that he was building with Rohannan.
Better to simply side step the conversation.
“My brother is my brother. I am me,” Aquilan answered evenly.
“And you are king,” Rohannan chuckled. “So your opinion is the one that matters. Your niece comes around quite a bit.”
“Elasha?” Aquilan’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. That was not what he had expected to hear.
“Yes, she and my daughter, Cara, are… friends,” Rohannan’s pause and slight twist to the word had Aquilan’s eyebrows lifting higher
“You mean that they are more than–”
“I don’t know. My daughter never tells me if she’s with someone or not, but they often meet at her cafe.” Rohannan tipped his head towards the interior of the encampment.
“Well, that’s wonderful!” Aquilan said, and meant it.
He truly feared that Vesslan’s prejudice against humans–and, if he were honest, all other species–might have rubbed off on his niece and nephew.
Considering how Elasha had reacted to Rohannan the other day, he would have thought that a sure thing.
But to know that Elasha was friends–or maybe even more than friends–with a human woman, Rohannan’s daughter no less, was a good thing.
It might help in getting over some breaches.
And it meant that his niece was more open minded than he had given her credit for, which was always a welcome surprise.
“They don’t think I know how often they get together and have tea or coffee and exchange their little notes, but a father always knows when his little girl is interested in someone,” Rohannan chuckled fondly.
He wondered if Vesslan had any idea that his daughter was spending time with Cara Rohannan.
He sincerely doubted it. He definitely couldn’t imagine Vesslan calling Elasha “his little girl” with such clear affection.
And, for that, his heart hurt for his niece.
Whatever faults Rohannan might have, loving his daughter was not one of them.
“Next time, I will ask her to come with me,” Aquilan said with equanimity.
“I’m sure Cara would appreciate that though we mustn’t let on we know anything. But I see that you’ve brought an interesting crew with you this time. I expected your Lord Neres here.” Rohannan tipped his head towards Aquilan’s best friend.
Rhalyf, who had been talking quietly with Finley, flashed a smile that showed a little too much teeth to be completely friendly. “Oh, Mr. Rohannan, I wouldn’t miss this second meeting after that memorable first one!”
A nod from Rohannan before he continued on, “But you also brought two of our most important humans: Declan and Finley. The survivors of Lightwell.”
Humans…
Aquilan couldn’t help but glance over at Declan as Rohannan laid claim to him and all his martial accomplishments with that single sentence.
He imagined that Declan, Gemma and Finley’s survival in Lightwell was something that Rohannan likely held up as an example of humanity's strength, ingenuity and ability to fight the creatures who had invaded their world from the Under Dark. He knew that Michael certainly had. But now, at least, Michael knew that Declan wasn’t human at all.
While that hadn’t seemingly lessened his love or caring for Declan, Aquilan wondered if it would change his mind about humans joining them in securing the safety of the planet.
But unless–or until–Declan was open about who and what he truly was, Aquilan could say or do nothing to indicate he thought him anything other than human.
He gives them hope. And now that must be a heavy burden.
But Declan was unreadable behind his dark sunglasses.
He stood tall and lithe, moving gracefully around him like a hunter would.
Nothing and no one would get past him. If Aquilan had any fears for himself–which he did not–he would have felt very safe indeed under his Shadow’s watchful eye.
Not for the first time on this walk over, he wished they were here purely for pleasure, that he and Declan could simply wander the pale, stone roads together without anyone noticing them at all. Just the two of them.
Duty first. Fun later.
“Our sister Gemma heard a rumor that you were working on some form of intranet. Is that true, Rohannan?” Finley piped up.
“Well, you’d have to ask my daughter about anything involved with technology. That’s a bit beyond my ken, but yes, I believe something is being tinkered with though it is difficult to find power,” Rohannan confessed and shot a look towards Aquilan.
The power that he was talking about, of course, involved pollutants, which were forbidden by the Empire.
While he might disagree with Vesslan about many things regarding humans, the outlawing of fossil fuels was not one of them.
But Aquilan did not have to say a word as Finley, evidently, had some clear thoughts about this.
“There’s plenty of power if you would coordinate with the elves,” Finley said firmly. “We could have a true internet again. The server farms could be restarted. Whatever data hasn’t already been lost could be secured and saved.”
“You should talk to your parents about that then. Or maybe they’re too interested in changing our ways to want to spend any time on the past,” Rohannan said with a slight barb in his voice.
Aquilan had considered asking Michael and Shonda to accompany him to Hope. But he truly did think that coming on his own was best. They shouldn’t be forced to answer for what his Empire was doing. It was his. He would answer for it.
Finley’s lips pressed together. “My parents are working on a million things for humanity. So many that there isn’t time for all of it. But if we were all working together that burden could be born by more hands.”