by K.N. Lee
“It’s so good.” She wiped her mouth of juice with the back of her hand.
She was pleased when Liam put some potatoes onto her plate. She smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he said, returning the smile.
They ate in silence, happy for the delicious dish before them.
The flavors of goat were familiar. The sauce reminded her of one of the dishes in the Avia’Torenan palace. She stopped eating and looked down into her lap.
Rahki and Faira—the harem girls that had been her friends and helped her when she was beaten by Dragnor.
Lilae had left them behind, and that fact knotted in her stomach.
A great commotion outside made Lilae tense. She strained to hear what was going on outside. A quick glance at Liam and Rowe, and she could tell that they were doing the same.
Why were the people of Dunn shouting?
A loud screech of pain made Lilae’s blood run cold.
Morrow returned, a fresh loaf of bread on a plate.
Liam stood. “What’s going on outside?”
Morrow set the bread down. No one even glanced at it. The screams outside were too unsettling to think of food.
“A Shadow Elf woman and man were found camped on the outskirts of town,” Morrow said, rubbing butter from his fingers onto his apron. “The soldiers are going to kill them.”
Lilae shot to her feet. She had no allegiance to Shadow Elves, but she refused to let the soldiers kill innocent women.
“Lilae,” Delia called, placing a hand on her hand. “We cannot reveal ourselves.”
Lilae clenched her jaw, and looked at Delia. “You all can stand by if you’d like. If it were Risa and Jaiza, I’d want someone to rescue them.”
Delia’s eyes searched Lilae’s, her face softening. She shook her head, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll not be staying until night,” she told Morrow.
Lilae headed for the back door.
“But,” Delia said to the old man. “You might want to stay inside.”
THE VILLAGERS PULLED A young Shadow Elf woman and an older elven man by ropes tied around their necks and hands.
These elves were nothing like the one’s Liam had fought back in Kyril.
They weren’t ruthless soldiers. Just simple civilians. Their hair was shiny and black with small sticks and leaves entangled as if they’d been sleeping in hay. The last girl cried and screamed for them to stop. Liam’s heart immediately went out to them, but he was curious to hear their crime, if any.
“Let’s us go,” the woman pleaded, her hands bound before her. “I swear we didn’t do anything. Please, we will leave your land and never return.”
The man hushed her. He was on his knees, but his back was straight, proud, his white hair neatly kept despite the state of his clothing.
“That’s enough, Oksana,” he said. “The humans do not care. And Ryus do not beg.”
Oksana nodded. “Yes, father,” she said, her lips trembling.
Liam stood in the doorway, keeping back so that the soldiers didn’t notice him. His mind raced with ideas of what to do.
Where was Lilae? She’d slipped out the back and vanished.
A tall soldier, with a long brown beard braided to his chest and a tattoed bald head, backhanded Oksana.
Liam sucked in a breath. His hand reached for where his sword used to be.
“I can’t watch this,” he said through clinched teeth to Delia.
“The Elder says that we need to remain unseen,” Rowe replied.
“Wait, men. The Shadow Elves didn’t do anything. Let’s just let them go,” the soldier said.
“Captain Garthem, let me string them up with the others.”
Oksana closed her eyes.
“No,” Garthem said, a grin coming to his thin lips. “Take the woman to the camp for now. She can be of use for a few days. Kill the old man.”
The other soldier pulled on the rope the old man was yanked onto his back. He freed his dagger from his belt and readied it at the man’s throat.
“No,” Liam shouted as he stepped from the doorway.
Liam froze as a flash of light flew past him. He gripped the doorframe.
All within a flash of a second, she used the soldier’s dagger, stabbed him in the heart, sliced the rope, and vanished away with the old elf.
Stunned silence filled the village as everyone’s eyes were fixed on the empty space where the elf had been. His daughter covered her mouth.
Their eyes hadn’t caught what had just occurred— but Tryan eyes were so equipped for tracing Shadow Elves, that it was unmistakable to Liam what Lilae had done.
While it was barely a flash of light to the villagers, Liam could clearly see Lilae’s determined face.
A grin came to his face—a surprised one, but also pleased by her determination and fearlessness. Lilae inspired him.
Liam should have saved the old man.
Then, it happened again, and the villagers started to run, leaving the soldiers to arm themselves.
Lilae swooped in and saved the woman, vanishing with her, and reappearing alone to stand face-to-face with Garthem.
Garthem’s eyes met hers, and the color from his skin faded as she held his gaze.
What had he seen that reduced him from a loud instigator to the shivering mortal that stood there?
“Let’s go,” she said, appearing beside Liam. “Meet me in the jungle.”
He jumped at seeing her move so quickly, and before he could speak, she was gone again.
Liam stood aghast for a moment, his heart thumping as he processed what had just happened.
There was something eerie about Lilae’s powers.
Yoska had once said something about The Flame that lingered in his mind.
Even though she was younger and not trained in her power, she was even more powerful than Liam, Yoska had said.
Liam finally let out the breath he’d been holding and looked back at Delia and Rowe.
“We better move quickly,” Delia said as she gathered her skirts and emerged from the inn.
“Seems we’ve lost our elves but have gained two Tryans,” a soldier said as he and another soldier blocked Liam’s path.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The soldier towered over Liam, hate in his eyes.
Liam looked up at the man. “Please step aside.”
Rowe stepped forward, between Liam and the soldier. Taller than any man in the village, Rowe looked down at the soldiers. “Is there a problem?”
Liam noticed that Rowe had grabbed an ax from the wall in the back.
The soldiers noticed as well, and eyed the large weapon within Rowe’s hands.
He stood ready, with his feet apart and a glower on his face.
“Really? And what are the two of you going to do against all of us?”
“We seem to have lost our captives for today,” the soldier said, a bit more hesitant now that Rowe had stepped forward. “Somebody needs to be hung in their stead,” he said loudly, summoning more of the soldiers.
Rowe motioned them forward. “Come on. I beg you. It’s been a few hours since I’ve crushed some skulls.”
There was silence between the soldiers.
“This isn’t good,” Delia whispered as she returned from her spot on the path.
A soldier shoved her aside, “Move, woman, before you get yourself hurt.”
Delia nodded, and she struck him in the jaw with her staff. He lay in the dirt, unconscious.
Unflustered, Delia sighed and folded her hands, meeting Liam’s eyes as every soldier in the village charged toward them. “Try not to make a mess.”
“I can’t promise you much,” Rowe growled.
There was a clashing of steel against flesh and bone as Rowe tore them both down with one slice.
Liam ducked just in time and rolled away. Rowe sawed right through one soldier and his ax lodged into the rib cage of the other in one fluid move. Blood splashed
and Rowe yanked his ax’s blade from the fallen soldier’s chest. Blood dripped onto the dry ground as Rowe turned on the other soldiers.
They looked up at him in horror as guts rolled off the blade like slime.
“Come on then,” Rowe coaxed. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at them. “You were all so energized a moment ago. Who’s next?”
Liam climbed to his feet. “I need a weapon. Do you have something? Anything?”
Delia pulled a small knife from her boot and handed it over to him, hilt first. “Can you Create?”
The instant the knife touched Liam’s palm, his fingers curled around it and the blade started to glow.
“No,” he said as the blade became a bright red. “But, I can Enchant.”
Rowe glanced back. “So, we’re showing off, are we? His ax began to glow green.
There were no introductions, or any words left between the two groups. The battle quickly grew to a roar as trained soldiers attacked from all sides.
Close combat wasn’t Liam’s preferred fighting method, but he was fast, and he needed every ounce of speed against the soldiers that bombarded them.
The tip of his knife whistled as it came around, and his blade slashed the neck of a soldier with a shirt beard.
He shrieked, his hand clamping over the gushing wound, and fell to his knees.
Liam didn’t pause. He sunk his sword into another exposed throat. He pulled it free and frothing, crimson, blood gushed from the man’s gaping throat and mouth. Liam saw their weaknesses and punctured jugulars and arteries.
Rowe, however, was less meticulous. He hacked and sawed away violently, making a scene that caused pause in the remaining soldiers. Heads lolled and other appendages were tossed into the air along with squirts of blood and dust. Those men had no idea how dirty Rowe fought. He was like an animal.
Rowe spun ahead and caught a man with his bare hands before slashing him across his belly, his glowing ax burning through his armor, spilling his guts. The man screamed in agony as he looked down to see his own intestines falling out of his body. He passed out, and Rowe dropped him.
Someone kicked Liam behind his knee, dropping him to the dirt. Liam rolled out of the way and jumped to his feet.
Liam ducked and lunged at the man as the blade just missed the top of his head. Liam caught the soldier’s tattooed wrist with his left hand and heaved his blade into the soldier’s chin.
When Liam removed the knife, the battle had ended. He surveyed the aftermath.
Every soldier in town lay in the dirt, covered in blood.
Delia walked surveyed the carnage. She ignored the gawking stares of the people of Dunn.
“Best leave now,” she said as she stepped over bodies. The people of Dunn made a path.
They were free from the soldiers.
For now. Horrified faces watched silence as Rowe, Liam, and Delia left their village.
THE SHADOW ELVES watched Lilae in silence. They’d thanked her repeatedly, but as they waited outside of the town’s perimeter for the others to arrive, not much else was said.
Lilae was short with them, unsure of what to say. Yes, she’d saved them, but distrust lingered in her mind as she sat on the plush grass, her back resting against a tree trunk.
The Shadow Elves still looked like Dragnor but with thin green eyes like a cat, and that fact alone made her overly cautious. Still, she couldn’t sit there and watch them get murdered—or used like slaves or whores.
Their faces were interesting to her. The white tattoos across their eyes and cheekbones were intricate and beautiful. Her own tattoos disturbed her, and she wished she had more clothing to cover them.
“I am Oksana,” the older woman said, breaking the silence. “This is my father, Vadim. What is your name?”
“You can call me Lilae.”
Oksana sat back on her heels. “Again, we are grateful for your assistance. If there is any way that we can repay you for your kindness, let us know.”
“I’ll never let injustice happen before my eyes,” Lilae said.
“As my daughter has said,” Vadim began, his steady gaze focused on Lilae. “We owe you our lives and will repay you for your aid.”
“That’s not necessary,” Lilae said. She heard rustling behind them and glanced over her shoulder.
Delia led the way, her lips pursed as she lifted the bottom of her gray dress to keep it from dragging in the mud.
The Elder still wore her clothes from Avia’Torena as well. The rich fabric did nothing but remind Lilae of Emperor Kavien.
Lilae climbed to her feet when she heard Rowe, Liam, and Delia approach. Her brows lifted when she saw Rowe and Liam covered in blood.
Traces of human guts still clung to Rowe’s ax.
“What happened?”
“What do you think happened, Lilae?” Delia stood before her, her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed. “You started a war in that town, and Liam and Rowe had to finish it.”
Lilae pursed her lips, glancing at Liam. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you all behind with the soldiers. I thought you’d sneak out somehow.”
“It’s fine. We took care of things,” Rowe said, wiping the blade clean with his hands and rubbed his hands onto his pants.
“You killed the soldiers?”
Rowe nodded at Lilae. “Every single one.”
Delia shook her head, her eyes landing on the two Shadow Elves. “We need to keep moving.”
“Wait,” Oksana said, standing. “We are going back home to Gollush. The human world is brutal, but we knew the danger when we signed up to be messengers. Come with us. We are closer to Gollush than any other villages for days of travel. We can help you with supplies, armor, weapons, and whatever you need.”
Lilae looked from Delia to Oksana. “Go to Nostfar?”
“Yes,” Vadim said. “We were heading to a holy man. An Elder. He has been visiting our village for many months now, convincing Shadow Elves to join the resistance against Wexcyn. My family and I have been passing information along between the goblin city and Gollush.”
“This was the first time we’ve gotten caught,” Oksana said.
To Lilae’s surprise, Delia nodded. “The resistance does need us. A quick stop to Gollush to organize the Shadow Elf resistance could be a good thing.”
Lilae pulled in a breath.
Liam stood beside her. “I wasn’t aware that Shadow Elves were divided. How long have you all been organizing?”
“For almost a year now,” Oksana said. “Vaugner warned us that The Barrier would be destroyed and that war would begin. But, the people of Gollush do not accept the terms presented. Nostfar will stand strong against tyranny.”
“Very well,” Delia said. “We will escort you home.”
Lilae hadn’t heard that name before. “Who is Vaugner, Delia?”
“The first Gatekeeper of the Underworld. I trust him with my life. He was my teacher.”
Vadim lifted a small translucent cube from his side pouch. “If you do not mind, I will summon a trio to help with the journey over the lava lakes.”
“A trio?” Warnings came to Lilae, making her feel ill.
“Yes, just guards from Gollush,” Vadim said as the cube glowed in the dim light of the jungle.
Liam looked suspicious. “Why didn’t you summon a trio before?”
“They cause too much attention,” Vadim replied.
“That is fine,” Delia said. “I’d very much like to meet with your leaders.”
Vadim nodded and spoke into the cube, the light from the sides intensifying.
“Thank you,” Oksana said. “The journey will be much quicker if we fly.”
THE SOUND OF A HORN sent Lilae and Liam to their feet. With the loud sound came dim lights in the night sky. They’d gone deeper into the jungle where the shiny, black trees were less dense. Vadim had said his necklace made it easy for the trio to locate them, and a clearing would make for a better landing.
Delia’s eyes went to the
sky. “They’re here.”
Rowe was on his feet within seconds, a scowl on his face.
“What is that?” Rowe’s eyes narrowed
Lilae ignored the cold as her ears picked up on whispers from the sky above. Her mouth parted as the swishing of the dark sky caught her attention.
Black wings flapped against the night sky, heading toward them.
“Those are wyverns,” Vadim said. “The fastest way to travel in all of Nostfar.”
Rowe watched them fly closer. “Only three?”
Lilae looked to Delia. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. Making an alliance with the Shadow Elves, even a small division of their race, could only help us,” she said, holding out her staff. The glow that erupted from the top brightened their surroundings and the sky above.
“Friends,” a female voice called. “Please, accept our humble gratitude for saving our valued messengers. We have come to escort you all back to Gollush.”
Delia held the staff higher, trying to get a better look at the stranger's face.
A Shadow Elf woman, with long purple hair braided into two braids and eyes that glowed looked down at them. Two other female riders waited behind her.
“Who are you?”
“I am Pretica, Chief of Gollush. When Vadim told us of your great deed, I wanted to welcome you myself. Please, let us take you to our village. Vaugner has mentioned you a great many times.”
Pretica smiled down at them as her eyes went from Lilae to Liam. “And, you have both The Storm and The Flame. Our luck has greatly increased.”
Lilae didn’t like that this stranger knew who they were.
“In Gollush, we have weapons and supplies to help you on your journey, and the Council meets in just a few days.”
“Weapons,” Rowe repeated. “I like the sound of that.”
Delia nodded at Pretica. “Very well.”
“You won't regret this; I assure you.” Pretica nodded at companions. “Ely, Caty, summon the wyverns for our new friends.”
Lilae hoped that wherever they went that it would be warm. She longed for comfortable clothes.
Ely and Caty tossed six ivory eggs from the leather sacks secured at their waists. Before the eggs floated in the air, the women whispered to them and without delay, wyverns emerged.