Chapter 2 - Tenser

I had never thought I'd be chosen as a Stone Caretaker at such a young age, typically elves are at least 500 before being selected so at 429 I'm well below the average age for my dream job. Caretaking jobs are highly sought after so I never imagined that not only did I get chosen but I've also been assigned to the oldest temple.

Despite being new to the job and the temple my supervisor had assigned me to watch over the necklace which contains one of the oldest unclaimed Stones in the country. Every elf studying to become a Caretaker learns about this necklace due to its age and history, the Stone is one of the few remaining unclaimed Stones created by the Gods themselves even the necklace itself is over a thousand years old. To make it even more unique the Stone is part of the only set of four ever made and the other three had all been claimed by very powerful individuals.

With how precious this Stone is, and how powerful the other holders are, it is the only Stone under constant watch during ceremonies. That's why I've been stood watching over the Stone since dawn when the ceremony first began and it's now after lunch time. It has been a very boring day as many people didn't enter this small room or even come close to Stone, but I had been told to expect that as nothing had ever happened the thousand years that the temple had been caring for the Stone.

I'm half asleep as someone finally enters the room, a tiny dirty human girl. This instantly woke me up after all the necklace is very expensive but as a Caretaker I must let her near the necklace in case she claims the Stone but also make sure she doesn't steal. I watch as she moves closer and picks up the necklace, I prepare to go over and get her to put it down and leave when she suddenly sits down on the floor. I freeze.

This is something I had never even dreamed of happening, the Stone has been claimed. Not knowing what to do about such a momentous event I take off running for my supervisor. I find him quickly not far from the small room and come to a stop in front of him trying to catch my breath.

"Tenser, by the Gods what are you doing? How could you leave your post?" he demands.

"I'm sorry sir. The Stone, it's been claimed." I manage to gasp out. My words shock him and without saying anything else he heads off to look for himself as I follow along behind him waiting for instructions. Arriving at the room he takes one look at the girl before scoffing.

"I know your young Tenser, but I didn't think you were this stupid. Someone like that couldn't have claimed that Stone so get her up and out of this temple." Scoffing once more he leaves. Since I'd started here my supervisor has been very arrogant because he's been here for nearly 700 years making him the second most senior Caretaker after the Head Caretaker. I never thought though that he would have forgotten what it looks like when someone claims a Stone and that someone's look, race or background has no effect on their Stone.

Now I'm torn either I follow orders and remove the girl or risk going to the Head Caretaker herself with the news of the claim. The choice between the two bounces around my head for several hours before being made for me as the girl suddenly slumps over in a faint her head bouncing slightly on the stone floor but luckily not bleeding. Panic filled me immediately and I take off running to the Head Caretaker's office, this matter is now definitely bigger than I can handle.

Rushing into the office I completely ignore the guard and secretary who try to stop me bursting into the Head Caretaker's office. Stumbling into the office I come to a halt I try to catch my breath enough to speak even as the guard grabs me to try and drag me out.

"My Lady! Please I need to speak to you it's urgent!" I manage to shout out.

"Head Caretaker, I'm so sorry. He just burst in; we'll remove him at once." The secretary apologizes as she indicates for the guard to take me out. Gods this is it my supervisor will fire me and then the Lords will come and kill everyone after seeing the state of their mate.

"Wait." A calm voice speaks out as the Head Caretaker turns her attention towards me, "What do you want to speak to me about?" At her words the guard lets me go so I can breathe and speak easier.

"The Lord's necklace, my Lady, I've been charged with watching over it today and it's been claimed. Someone needs to inform the Lords." The Head Caretaker lets out a defeated sigh.

"It is probably too late for that. The spell they cast over the necklace before it came to us has no doubt been designed to inform them of this day. They are already on their way." At her words I became lightheaded. The Lords are known to be deadly are likely nearly here and their mate is unconscious. "Go and bring their mate here, I'll send guards to wait for the Lords."

"There is a slight problem my Lady." I manage to whisper afraid to speak the words as though not saying it will prevent it being true. "Their mate is unconscious. She was sitting near the stand for some reason and after being there for a while she fainted." Everyone's face paled as I told them what has happened, from seeing her claim the Stone to her fainting.

"We can fix this." States the Head Caretaker rising from her chair ready to take charge of the situation we have found ourselves in. "Caretaker Tenser head outside to await the Lord's arrival. Guard come with me to bring the girl here, we will have to hope the Lords will be merciful if we make her comfortable here until they arrive."

Running outside I stand waiting by the doors for the arrival of the Lords. They are three of the most powerful beings in the world and some of the oldest as well. Although we don't know their exact ages it is rumoured that two of the Lords were born even before the creation of the Stones. They are all considered ancients by their respective species earning them the titles of Lords as well as great respect from everyone. However, they are also said to be extremely dangerous and have short tempers which we will likely be on the receiving end of today.

I haven't been waiting for long before the sound of heavy wingbeats fills the air accompanied by the screaming and shouting of the residents of Bellit. Dragons are rare in this area so the presence of one is terrifying to the largely human population of Bellit who had likely never seen one before. I start trembling as the massive black dragon comes closer and lands in square in front of the temple that had quickly vacated of people once they realised that he intended to land there. Two figures climb down from the dragon and begin walking towards the temple while the dragon shifts into human form, a rare talent among dragons that can only be acquired with age and power, quickly catching up with the other two.

My terror increases again once they reach the temple and I move forward to greet them, realising that they are all much taller than I am even the shortest of the three, the Elf Lord Lilas, was a head taller than me. Lord Lilas stepped forward slightly as I bowed in greeting.

"It seems our mate has been found. Is that true, Caretaker?" he asked in a smooth calm voice that speaks of great intelligence. I want to run away and die; he may have asked a question, but they already know. The fury in their eyes tells the truth even if what he said doesn't.

"Y-yes, m-my L-lords." I inform them cursing the stutter that emerges in my voice from the terror that they have installed in me, "S-she is inside. P-please f-follow m-me." I turn and begin leading them inside to the Head Caretaker's office where hopefully she can handle the Lords and their fury. Going to the office though means walking past the room that held the necklace and as we pass by I'm shocked to see that the human girl is still lying there unconscious on the floor. Praying to the Gods they wouldn't notice I continue only to be stopped by a deep terrifying voice.

"Why?" I turn around and nearly bump into a wall that turns out to be Lord Ruikor glaring down at me obviously the one to speak. The rage flowing off him is almost visible, the ultimate predator ready to kill at the slightest sign of weakness.

"W-why w-what?" I manage to stutter out wanting today to end. Why had I ever been excited about this happening on my watch?

"He means why is our fragile little human mate unconscious on the floor rather than conscious and comfortable?" Even though Lord Belath is grinning he is somehow scarier than Lord Ruikor is. If Lord Ruikor is a predator ruthlessly hunting down his prey then Lord Belath is the cat who plays with his prey for as long as possible before finally delivering the killer blow.

"I'm s-so s-sorry, my L-lords." I bow down on the floor hoping that they will realise that I'm only a new junior Caretaker and move onto bigger prey like my supervisor or even the Head Caretaker, "We have been careless with your mate. Please forgive me!" I cry out hoping to get away soon so I could get myself transferred to a small temple in the middle of nowhere where I will only ever see humans, I never want to deal with powerful creatures ever again.

"Kor, Bel let's not ruin today with bloodshed. It'll scare our little mate; we should take her home where we can for her properly." Lord Lilas spoke up calm and collected even though I could see rage burning in his own eyes. Luckily this calms the other two Lords as they agree with his course of action, Ruikor nodded and so did Belath who is pouting as though he is sulking about not getting to kill me.

"Very well, my love." Lord Belath said grabbing hold of Lord Ruikor's arm and going ahead to their mate where they begin arguing over who got to pick her up.

While they did that Lord Lilas hung back and turned to me, "Be grateful we have waited over a thousand years for this day otherwise I would have let Kor rip your head off. And that would have been mercy compared to letting Bel play with you. You should probably still move far away from here; we have very long memories, and my mates get bored very easily. Who knows if they may decide to make a gift of you to our little mate in the future?" With that final threat he joins his mates as they all finally leave together, the little human being carried by Lord Ruikor.

I head straight to the Head Caretaker's office being allowed in straight away by the secretary. As I enter the Head Caretaker looks up at me, "Caretaker Tenser, my apologies for not moving the girl, I was waylaid before I could do anything. I hope the Lords weren't too much trouble?" I don't understand how she can be so calm as though we hadn't just barely escaped death.

"My Lady I would like to request a transfer to a different temple." I plead not wanting to stay here anymore and from Lord Lilas's threat it is best if I move far away.

"Are you sure, this is only your first year here?"

"Yes my Lady. I would like to move far away from here, to the smallest temple possible."

"Very well." She sighs, "A new temple is opening in a remote village in the Southwest I will arrange your transfer to there."

"Thank you my Lady." I bow and leave her office slightly happier to be leaving. It turns out that my dream is easily changed by what should have been the highlight of my career and now all I want is to live quietly for as long as possible.