Chapter 17

It was well before daybreak the next day as Turi dug her heels into the side of her horse. She set a steady pace, steering straight west. Taryan's cabin became visible just as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the thin and young forest around her.

She rapped urgently on the door, painfully aware of the early hour and the unannounced nature of her visit. But this couldn't wait. Turi had been tossing and turning in bed all night. She was still wrestling with the feeling that she was missing some vital clue in her investigation.

No one had been able to tell her much about Telerin elves, as in Council of Ascetic Telerin. And her elvish senses told her something about the palace attack didn't sit right.

A sleep drunk and somewhat alarmed Taryan stuck his head out of the roof window. Upon seeing his young friend, he smiled thinly and retracted his head. A bit later the two were huddled over cups of steaming tea at a rickety kitchen table. Taryan, still wearing his nightgown, absorbed Turi's updates on the case.

Apparently he hadn't heard about the failed assassination attempt on Mýlill, nor about the palace collapsing but Thranduil getting away. This was exile, after all. He stared at her wide-eyed, listening intently whilst sipping the hot liquid.

When Turi had quite finished updating him, they sat in silence. Her old ex-partner seemed to be organising his thoughts.

'Well, Telerin is really a language' he started. 'It's closer related to Quenya that to Sindarin.' Guessing this was of no use to Turi, he pushed on. 'In a past beyond the memory of many, the Telerin elves split according to whom they followed. From hence came the Falmari, the Nandor and the Sindar.' Turi looked at him blankly.

'Ok well to put this in more recognizable terms: they are all elves, but living in different places and speaking different languages.' 'Aha' Turi said, sensing this was going nowhere fast.

Rubbing his chin, Taryan offered 'Well would you like to know what I further remembered about the events that happened 1400 years ago? You know, since your last visit?' Turi's face brightened and she nodded enthusiastically.

'So, these attacks were claimed to have been carried out by a political splinter group.' 'Yes, the C.A.T.' Turi offered helpfully. 'When they were active last' Taryan continued 'they preached an ascetic, elitist and sexist ideology. The group had five active members in the days, but many supported their radical stance. Most of these members were caught or exiled.'

This was old news for Turi, so she just nodded some more, and offered 'We only know of two current members: the son and the mother.'

'I see, very cryptic' Taryan nodded pensively. 'You know Rusgan was involved with them, back when? And Duvainor.'

Now this was new.

Turi's eyes widened and she leaned forward. 'Rusgan was a very young elf then, of course' Taryan continued with a genial smile. He liked having a captivated audience.

'He was studying to be a healer and looked up to the senior member of the group, Coruon.' This name did not sound familiar, in spite of Taryan smiling at her with great enthusiasm.

'No, doesn't ring a bell?' he tried. Turi shook her head. 'Coruon was a senior member of the council, Thranduil's right hand elf. He hand two sons: Amarthelion and... Areurion.'

Now it was like bells were going off all around the place!

Turi took in a sharp breath. 'Areurion is the son of the former head of the C.A.T.? As in, Areurion, current head of the council?' She sat upright in her chair. 'How is this possible? What happened?'

Taryan continued. 'Well, over time the group became more extreme in their criticism, and eventually planned a coup against Thranduil.' Turi nodded gravely, having heard this before.

'Rusgan was very young at the time, but not entirely stupid. He feared what would happen to his future career as a healer if their plan went south, so he told on the C.A.T. He informed the king and the head of the armed forces about their plan.'

'Mýlill's father was the head of the armed forces back then.' Turi added. 'Indeed, indeed' Taryan said admiringly. He was pleased to see Turi was figuring things out and coming into her own on this investigation.

'The young one snitched, and the headquarters of the group were raided. The members were arrested by Rhaidmir, who at the time was the head of border patrol.' Turi leaned back surprised. She hadn't known her deceased boss was once in commander Coamenel's position.

'And Duvainor?' 'He quit the group before they staged the coup.' Turi whistled. Duvainor, the rich trader and glutton, a sell out. 'He sure defected the ascetic cause.'

And then it hit her.

The poisoning of Rusgan sure sounded like it was revenge for snitching. And the punishment for defecting dealt to Duvainor: once again revenge. Turi's eyes widened in shock. She may have jumped to conclusions thinking that the palace attack missed its main target – Thranduil lived, after all. But maybe it hadn't missed at all. Rhaidmir's death seemed awfully purposeful now!

A stark realization swept over her. Maybe this was more personal than anyone had realized so far. The attacks focused on those involved in bringing down the group 1400 years ago: Rusgan – a snitch, Duvainor – an apostate and the judge. Mýlill's father had died since, so the group went after his daughter for revenge.

Indeed, this all seemed family related at some level. Mother, daughter and son, wasn't that what Methedel had said? Did this mean that Areurion was involved? His father was the leader of the former C.A.T. Her heartbeat shot up at that thought.

Turi grabbed Taryan's arm. 'The sons, Amarthelion and Areurion' she started 'why weren't they exiled?'

Taryan nodded. 'They were granted asylum. The sins of the father aren't necessarily the sins of the sons.' Turi rolled her eyes. That was so typical Thranduil – ever the just ruler, the diplomat. She smiled at the thought.

Taryan woke her out of her reverie. 'So this is revenge?' Turi nodded 'Looks like it. In a big way.'

'Well...?' he prompted. 'Well?' Turi asked.

'Are you going to do something about it?' Taryan now rolled his eyes. 'Who is the one elf involved who hasn't been dealt his comeuppance?'

Turi's eyes widened with shock. Thranduil had escaped the palace without as much as a scratch on him. No other attacks had been aimed at him. This could only mean one thing...

She scrambled out the door, shouting thanks and sorry's over her shoulder to Taryan.

Turi was on a mission to save the one she loved.