by Sarah Thomie
He put his hands on my hips and jerked back slightly. “Are you wearing your daggers?”
“Of course. I do not go anywhere without them. I know you have a knife in your boot, so you cannot say anything.” I laughed.
“Carrying weapons to a festival…” He laughed with me. “We are quite a pair, you and I.”
We both stopped laughing after a little bit.
“So, how long does this thing last?” I asked him.
“Well, I am guessing that we are getting close to the end, so not much longer. I am surprised you have not tried to escape to the spring yet.”
“Sparrow threatened to take away my pillows if I hid,” I grumbled. “Speaking of running away, I am surprised that you wanted to stop dancing with the eligible women. I saw your face light up when you saw the pack of them.”
“Pack of them would be a good descriptor,” He mumbled back. “But I promise you that I did not smile because of the pack of eligible women.” He pulled me in closer. “I smiled because I saw you.”
I stopped moving and just stared at him. “Why?”
“Well, because…” He looked uncomfortable now, running his fingers through his hair. “Do you think we can escape now?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the spring. He ignored Sparrow calling to us, but I just gave her a wave to put her at ease.
“What is this about, Howling Wolf?” I asked him when we stopped moving.
He took a deep breath, turning to face me. “Snow, I have been trying to figure out how to say this for a while now. I thought that you knew, but Sparrow warned me that you were clueless.” He grabbed my hands in his. “I smiled when I saw you because I thought you looked beautiful tonight. I smiled because I was hoping that you would choose me as a partner. I smiled because I love you and have been wanting to tell you for a while now.”
I did not say anything for a second, trying to process what he was telling me. “You have felt this way since before the Enforcer test, have you not?” I realized why he was so angry with me because of the challenge.
“Yes.”
“Good, because I think I fell in love with you when I saw the sheaths you gave me. I mean, I guess I see how it should have been obvious. Now, I see why the women were giving me a hard time.”
He touched my cheek with his hand and leaned in close to me. His lips brushed against mine, an invitation.
I moved closer, pressing my lips to his to accept it. When he pulled away, I finally saw what the other women had been talking about. “This changes things, you know,” I told him.
“How so?”
I grinned. “Your sister told me that I was not allowed to take your heart. I am pretty sure that she warned off every other woman that tried to get closer to you, so who knows what she will do when she finds out about this.”
He cringed. “Well, if needed, you can stay with me.”
“You only have one pillow.”
“Hm… You’re right. But if we leave now, then we might be able to get your pillow before she gets back to her house.” We ran back to Sparrow’s house to liberate my pillow, before going to Howling Wolf’s home.
I took off the daggers, keeping them close, as he removed his boots with his own knife in it. We crashed on the bed, facing each other. “Howling Wolf?”
“Yes?”
“City Elves do not have partners normally, because the humans can use them to punish someone. So, we do not really have courtships or anything like that. I do not know how to act now.“
He reached over, pulling me closer. “Just act the same way you always have been. That is the woman I fell in love with, so I do not want you to change.”
I yawned. “I think I can do that.”
“Get some sleep, Snow. We can talk more tomorrow.”
“Or the day after that… I mean, I thought Wood Elves try to partner for life? At least that is what the stories said.”
He kissed my forehead. “Only if you want to.”
Chapter 17
“We got a message from the Star Clan,” the Elder told Howling Wolf, First Son, and I.
“What is happening?” Howling Wolf asked him.
“They received word about humans in a nearby village, so they want to borrow some of our warriors to assist them.” The Elder looked to me. “The humans have ties to the slave trade, so I know that there is no point in trying to stop you.”
“When do they need us?” I asked calmly, though inside, I could feel like I was already on edge to fight.
“You leave after this meeting,” the Elder answered me. Then to First Son, he said, “I want you there as well, since they call you our Emissary. Raven will keep the village safe while you are all gone. If we get any word that we need to call you back, we will send Lynx since he is the fastest scout.” He stood up, “I do not have to tell you how dangerous this will be, so be careful.”
“Yes, Honorable Elder,” we all replied at the same time.
He waved us off in dismissal. We went outside, and First Son went to get his weapons.
I went with Howling Wolf to his house to get my spear and his bow. “Are you going to be all right?” he asked me as we both put on our black clothes.
“I do not know. I will let you two know if it starts getting to me,” I promised, as I checked the daggers in their sheaths and grabbed the whetstone First Son gifted me after Howling Wolf and I started living together. We left his house and waited for First Son.
Sparrow came up to us, handing me a bag. “These are some herbs for your wounds, and some bandages.” She hugged her brother, then me. “Stay safe, and make sure you both come home.”
“We will.” I smiled. “Would not want to worry you for longer than we have to.”
“I swear on the Goddess Above, Snow. If you charge into battle without Wolf, I will beat you black and blue,” she threatened.
“Howling Wolf has already explained that I will be by his side, not running ahead.” I gave her the most innocent smile I could.
“Why do I not believe you?” she grumbled, as First Son came over to us.
“Do not believe what?” he asked her.
“That Snow will not be the first one to fight.” She gave First Son a kiss on the cheek. “You better stay safe as well.”
“Of course, I will. And I will make sure these two do not get too much blood on them.” He pulled her into a kiss on the lips, stealing whatever she was planning on saying.
“All right love birds; we have to go.” Howling Wolf grabbed the back of First Son’s shirt and pulled him away from his sister. “We will be fine, Sparrow,” he promised, as we headed out of the village and into the forest. “Are you going to do your forest walking, Snow?”
I nodded, blinking, bringing out the Snow Cat. Her vision lit up the shadows so I could see the best way forward. Over the past few years that we have been allies with the Star Clan, there was a path between our villages. It was not fully there yet, but I could pick it out with the Snow Cat’s vision. The males followed me through the forest, until we reached the message stone. I blinked again; the Snow Cat’s vision faded back to my regular sight.
Ursus waved us over to him when we found him. “Thank you for coming, you three.”
“You are welcome. It is only the three of us, though, so I hope that is enough,” First Son said.
“With the four of us, we should be fine.” Ursus looked to me. “We wanted you involved because of the slave trade. We are hoping that we only need you three along with me to defeat them. We are just looking to liberate the slaves, but if there is blood-shedding to be had…” He shrugged.
“City Elves do not like being liberated,” I told him. “Last time they killed a slave trader, the City Elves were not exactly happy with it.”
“We got a report that the City Elves who are in this grouping were a part of a failed rebellion years ago,” he explained.
My eyes widened. “Did they say where from?”
Ursus shook his head. “No, we did not get any of that info
rmation. We are hoping that these City Elves are willing to become our liaisons to other liberated ones.”
“Here is hoping.” I prayed to the Goddess Above that I knew these City Elves, and they would trust me.
“Let us get going.” Ursus led the way through the forest.
We left the Star Clan’s land, entering Tree Clan’s territory, where the human village was hidden. We stayed silent when we reached a cliff above the village. Since this was Ursus’s show, we followed his lead.
He looked at me and said, “Get closer, if you can. Do not be seen in your trees. We need an accurate count.”
I nodded before sliding down the cliff, using the trees to slow my descent. I climbed up a tall tree that gave me a good vantage point and counted the number of humans I saw roaming the village. There were only males, which was weird, since most villages were a mix of genders. I saw a couple City Elves and understood why. These were not just slavers; they were buyers.
I counted the humans, trying to ignore the bad feeling I was getting. I counted fifty-seven humans with thirty-three City Elves. I took the trees back to where my males were, silent as the falling snow. “There are a lot of them. Fifty-seven males, no females, thirty-three City Elves. I do not think the City Elves will fight, but I also do not know what their captors have done to them.”
Someone screamed from below, and my eyes flashed blue.
Howling Wolf grabbed my arm as a warning.
I nodded to him, deferring to him as his Second.
“Did you see a way into the village where we would not be spotted.”
“Yes.” I reigned in my fury to head off to the village and leaving my males behind.
“Lead the way.”
Another scream reached up to us, and I had to fight the urge to run down there without them. Only my loyalty to Howling Wolf stopped me. We walked down the cliff, toward the village. I kept them close to the trees, as a third scream came from the village. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I pointed to a blind spot between two buildings, where they would not see us. I then pointed to where I knew the City Elves were being held from prior experience from my slavery.
Ursus pointed Howling Wolf to the top of one of the buildings, since he had a ranged weapon. He pointed me to the second building since I could jump down easier than the males could. Ursus and First Son stayed where they were, ducking behind wooden crates, before going into the back rooms of the two buildings.
We kept watching, and a female City Elf was being dragged to a familiar sight. She screamed and pleaded that she was sorry and that she did not mean to spill the soup.
Howling Wolf stiffened on the rooftop next to me.
Someone thunked the wood under me, followed by a second and a third. I gave one back as an affirmative. I looked to Howling Wolf, and he nodded.
He got an arrow ready as I gave the count.
One, I tapped my foot once. Two, I tapped again. Three, I tapped a third time, then launched myself off the roof. I landed in the center square.
“Let her go!” I yelled out to the human dragging the woman.
“Where did you come from?” He dropped the woman. “Men, we have a visitor!”
Human males poured from around the village to where I was. I counted them, only forty came out, meaning the rest were somewhere not near me.
A single Wood Elf male spoke from the entrance of the largest building. “She is another City Elf. But she wears the clothes of the Moon Clan.”
“You are a long way from the Moon Clan, City Elf.” Their leader stepped out from the largest building. “But if you want us to take care of you, you just have to say so. We will take good care of you.” I wanted to wipe that smile off his lips.
The woman looked at me, recognition crossing her face, “Kinkiller…” she whispered as she made a sign to the Goddess.
The human that was closest to her kicked her down. “What did you say, bitch?”
“She is the Kinkiller! Cursed One! Murderer!” she screeched; fear laced through her voice. She was more scared of me than of them.
“Kinkiller, eh?” The leader looked at me. “That tiny bitch?”
“Maybe you should ask her why I am called that,” I spoke, pulling my daggers from their sheaths. “She will tell you how many humans I’ve killed and how many City Elves died.”
“City Elves are weak and useless without their masters. Killing many of them is not an accomplishment,” the leader said to me.
“If you truly believe that, then you will not mind dying to prove it.”
“I would be careful, humans,” the Wood Elf warned. “She wears the clothes of the Moon Clan’s Enforcer. I would not underestimate her.”
I got into my normal defensive stance, as the familiar thrum of the bow string letting loose an arrow came from Howling Wolf’s bow. The leader stumbled as the arrow hit his chest. The humans watched their leader die, before looking back to me. “You see, I came with the Moon and Star Clans. Our combined strength will easily destroy this village.”
Male screams came from inside the two buildings where First Son and Ursus were.
“Or, if you think you can kill me, then come and get me.”
The humans drew their weapons before the area erupted into chaos.
The doors to the buildings opened, Ursus and First Son joining the fray. Howling Wolf shot arrows at the mass of humans. I saw it all, letting the Snow Cat take over. I looked at the City Elf female. “Stay down and get back, or you might get hurt.” She nodded before she scrambled closer to the whipping pole.
The humans came at me, their weapons raised. I used the Snow Cat’s speed to attack, letting my rage from the hurt woman and captured City Elves to guide me. I slashed through enemies, as I cut through flesh. I made sure to give them killing blows, not wanting them to get back up. My back hit someone, and I looked to see First Son with his twin axes. We nodded to each other, then switched sides, to take on different opponents. Ursus’s large two-handed axe cut through bone as he slashed them. Howling Wolf jumped off the roof of the building and used my spear to join the fight.
It may have taken about ten minutes to thin them down from forty to three. “Where are the rest of your warriors?” First Son asked one of the humans. I looked around and the Wood Elf who had been on the slaver’s side was gone.
Someone screamed, and the smell of smoke wafted from where the City Elves were being held, followed by a malicious smile on the human’s face. “The City Elves!”
Howling Wolf and I ran to the two-story building where City Elves were kept.
I slashed through the last of the humans, Howling Wolf killing them alongside me. Although I tried to get the door open, I was not strong enough. “Ursus!” I yelled, hoping his axe could get through the wood. I ran around the building, trying to find a way into the building. Howling Wolf and I found a window high up. “Give me a lift,” I told him. He looked unsure, until I shouted, “Hurry! I will try to get them out, if I cannot then I will come back out through this window.” He readied himself, as I stepped into his hands, and he pushed me up. I caught the window ledge, smashed it in, and climbed inside.
The smell and smoke were thick, so I used my black linen shirt to cover my nose and mouth. I called out, “Is there anyone here?!” I ran through the building, finding a couple City Elves on the second floor. I found another window and used the butts of my daggers to smash them outward. “Get out!”
I saw the stairs and hopped over the railing. “Is there anyone still alive down here?!” Memories mixed with reality, as I needed to save them, since I could not save everyone last time. There was a faint yell from below. I ran through the building, finding the way into the cellar through the pantry. I found the rest of the City Elves there, pressing themselves as low as they could to the floor.
“Snow! Where are you?” Ursus shouted as he busted through the door.
“In the back, in the cellar!” I yelled back, hoping he could hear me above the crackling flames. “Come on! We nee
d to get out of here!” I helped them stand, the smoke hurting our lungs. I got them up the stairs into the main room, where Ursus got them outside. I got the last City Elf out of the building, the pantry collapsing above me. I tumbled into the cellar, trying to keep the flames away from my face. I tried to get back up the stairs, but the debris blocked it. I searched the cellar, trying to find a way out.
“Snow!” I barely heard his voice above the loud crackling flames. I knocked on the floor, hoping he would hear or feel it.
“Goddess Above, please do not let this be where I die,” I prayed, hoping She could hear me above the loud sounds of the fire. The floor gave way above me, Ursus’s axe trying to get through the floor. I used my daggers to try to tear at the wood from my side. My shirt was failing to keep the smoke from my lungs. The heat of the fire was becoming too much, and I fell to the ground. The Snow Cat hissed at the fire, since it was something we could not fight. She returned to her den; her extra strength could not help me.
Ursus’s axe made it through the floor, “She is down here!” he yelled. They tore open the floor, making a big enough hole for Howling Wolf. He jumped down into the cellar, picked me up, and handed me to Ursus and First Son. He jumped out of the hole, Ursus helping him out of it. First Son carried me out of the burning building. He set me on the ground. Howling Wolf and Ursus came out of the building next.
“Are you well, Snow?” Howling Wolf asked.
“Minor injuries.” I gave him a thumbs up. “Goddess Above, I hate fire.”
First Son walked over to talk with the City Elves, “Are all of you doing all right?”
I sat up to their murmurs and whispers calling me a Kinkiller, Cursed One, and Murderer.
The woman that we saved first chastised them. “Stop it. You think she would have risked her life to save us if she was a Kinkiller?” She stepped up to First Son. “We will be fine, just a little bit of smoke inhalation and minor burns.”
“Thank the Goddess Above.” Sickening relief washed over me. I looked at Howling Wolf, tears filling my eyes. “We saved them all.”
“You saved them, Snow.” His eyes were soft, “I know that it does not make up for those you could not save, but you saved all of them.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. “She is not a Kinkiller. The master she was forced to serve killed the City Elves when he burned their buildings to the ground. She tried to save them like she did now, but she could not get to them all.”