by Terry Spear
The lady nodded.
She was curious how the female winged elves came of age. “Do you have to perform ten tasks, too?”
The woman shook her head.
“Do they just turn transparent then?” Eloria frowned as the woman shook her head again. What was her problem? “Can you not speak to me?”
The elf glanced at Eloria’s necklace and studied the glowing gem, then quickened her pace, her gaze averting toward the floor. She was afraid of her, Eloria assumed. Whatever for? Eloria had exhibited no malice toward the elves, and even Viator and Balen had showed her the greatest kindness, if she didn’t take into account his taking her hostage or threatening to torture her for information about the poisoned river in the tunnel.
So what was the woman’s problem anyway?
A guard stopped them, and confiscated Eloria’s pack, sword, and stun gun attached to her belt. Great. Just great.
Eloria heard muffled laughter and turned to see several children watching her from behind white marble pillars streaked with green. Blue and red feathered birds chirped as they flittered about in flower gardens hanging off the balconies. The brilliant colors of red, purple, yellow, and orange flowers filled the hanging baskets attached to brass hooks on the trellis overhang.
“What are you doing with the creature?” a young woman asked as she stopped the other.
“Prince Viator asked that I find a gown for the lady, Lady Sendal.”
Lady Sendal glowered at Eloria. From what Balen had said about his twin sister, Eloria was certain she wouldn't ever become friends with this woman, and she also realized she hadn’t been able to use her ability to persuade people to do anything she’d wanted them to. Maybe they were too primitive for her to influence them. At least, she still had some magical tricks up her sleeve.
5
“Viator wants a gown for this creature?” Sendal walked around Eloria. “What is it, exactly?”
“The rumor is she’s a human,” the maid said, “like the other one the shadow elves kept for themselves.”
“I am,” Eloria said. She figured there was no sense in trying to explain what she was exactly. “You must be Balen’s sister.” She studied the pale blue eyes of the woman and her dark ash-blond hair. She looked just like Balen, only more feminine.
Sendal turned her head to the side as her mouth dropped open. “Has this human no manners when she is among elven royalty?” She sniffed the air. “What is that sweet fragrance she wears?”
“I’m not sure,” the woman said.
Sendal furrowed her brow at Eloria. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll address my brother as Lord Balen from now on.”
“The king wishes an audience with her, my lady, at once.”
“Whatever for?”
“The rumor is he’s afraid of her.”
“Bah, take her as she is.”
“Prince Viator commanded I—”
“Very well. I’ll get her a gown,” Sendal snapped.
“But he said—” The lady stopped speaking as Sendal glowered at her. “As you wish, my lady.”
“Come,” Sendal said to Eloria. “I will get you that gown.”
One of the worst she could find, Eloria was certain. What was it her father had always said before he died? He didn’t get mad, he would just get even. So do your worst, elven lady. She hadn’t seen the tricks this “human” could do.
“But my lord father…” Viator paced before the king seated on his throne. “I must complete my quests where my instinct drives me.” He couldn’t believe his father could be so stubborn about the matter. He’d never heard of any father denying his son the right to accomplish his missions to come of age. It just wasn’t done.
“I say again, my son, Lord Balen will return the girl back to the cliffs and Prince Zorak can have her if he wants to take on the trouble she could be. Balen will see to it that our waters are cleansed. You will have no more dealings with the human.”
Viator made a last-ditch effort to persuade his father that he was doing what was right. “But, Your Majesty, I was the one to discover that the river elves had poisoned our water supply. And Eloria was the one who learned what poison they’d used on the river. If Balen leaves her at the cliffs, no one might find her for days, weeks. She is simply a human and could perish out there on her own.
“It is my duty to resolve the issue of the water. As for the human, we could use her like the shadow elves use Persephonice.”
“Balen will go!” the king commanded as his voice raised and his face reddened. “You won’t see this girl any further.”
The muscles in Viator’s jaw grew taut. His father had hidden the secret of the prophecy from him then. And he was the crown prince. How could his father have done such a thing to him? “Then what Balen spoke of was true. You are afraid a strange girl will conquer the realm.”
“Nonsense. As unfounded as the notion your grandmother, on your mother’s side, wasn’t royalty.”
“I’ve never heard that said.” Viator frowned at his father. What was this all about? Had his father thought he might have heard this unconscionable rumor and was trying to dismiss it as another lie?
“You must journey to the seacoast of Neferon, as you have before mentioned. But, of course, you’ll have to wait until your wings heal. Why have you not completed any new tasks of yet?” The king was studying Viator’s wings.
Viator folded them behind his back. “I rescued the girl. I should have earned a credit.”
His father furrowed his brow.
“If you do not fear she is the one spoken of in the prophecy, why do you treat her thus?” His father’s concern was as transparent as a grown elf’s wings.
“Humans do not belong here.” His father folded his arms across his chest. “Lord Balen told me you did not earn any credit when you pulled the human from the water the first time. Do you not see the trouble in that?”
Viator knew that his father was eluding to the same thing Balen had. That Viator had feelings for her, but they were wrong. She could prove useful to them. He was certain of it. He didn’t believe the prophecy or that she had any part in it, if it was true.
The king waited for his response anyway, then, when it was not forthcoming, finally said, “This makes me assume that the female has enchanted you. This is a dangerous business, Viator. Do not take this infatuation lightly.”
Infatuation? “You are wrong, my lord father. I feel nothing for the woman.”
The king looked beyond Viator, who turned as two castle guards escorted Eloria into the throne room.
His heart skipping a beat as he considered her, Viator studied the white gowns layered in ivory pearls and feathers she wore, her step light as she drew close. She curtsied to his father and him. “I thank you, Your Majesty, for seeing me. Prince Viator was good enough to take care of me when the river elves tried to kill me. He hoped I might aid you in some way, but I’ve come only to see Persephonice.”
The king glanced at Viator. He smiled and shrugged. “Persephonice is negotiating a peace up north.”
“Why did you come to see the other like you?” the king asked her.
“Her father wants her returned so he can take her home.”
Viator’s jaw hung. That’s why she came? To steal her friend away from the shadow elf? That could cause overwhelming repercussions, as much as Persephonice had brought peace to several warring factions.
Then he figured she’d never convince Persephonice to leave her mate.
Though Eloria was but a commoner, she carried herself like a queen, and he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by her presence. Her red hair had been brushed neatly and rested in curls over her shoulders. He wondered why the elven maids hadn’t braided it and tucked it under veils as was their custom. Women’s satin tresses were just too enticing for the men to see and were to be tucked away and veiled at all times.
“Lord Balen will return you to the cliffs in the morning. In the meantime…” The king paused when Eloria’s ga
ze shifted to Viator. “You will be fed and given a place to sleep for the evening.”
Eloria curtsied deeply once more. “You are most kind, sire.”
He waved for his guards to escort her out of the room. Viator’s gaze never diverted from her. She moved with charm and elegance just like any other noble winged elf female, but she could climb trees, fall off cliffs and survive, and swim like no other. And her red hair and green eyes distracted him something fierce. Sendal was no match for Eloria’s distinctive beauty.
His father cleared his throat, scowling at him.
Viator sighed deeply as Eloria disappeared into the corridor beyond the throne room. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with her, but he wasn’t going to leave her cliffside where any danger could befall her if Prince Zorak didn’t return for her. And he was going to resolve the water issue, despite what his father dictated. He had to. It was part of his mission. And he wasn't going to let Balen earn all the credits they needed for their wings…first.
“She will be seated at one of the lower tables with the lower lords during the supper, though she is but a commoner,” the king said.
“As you wish, sire.” He knew his father was making a great concession to allow her to dine with his lower lords, but he wondered then, why? Was she someone to really be concerned with? He couldn’t imagine how she could be dangerous to his kingdom.
“My physicians tell me your wings will be well-mended by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yes, sire.” It annoyed Viator that it would take that long. He’d wished there was some kind of elven potion to cure them sooner, but after the physician sewed the cuts in his wings, rest was all that would heal them now.
“Then perhaps, as you will be away longer this time, you should visit with your betrothed for a while.”
His father had never suggested for him to do such a thing before now. Was he trying to tell him who he truly owed allegiance to? It was assumed he was betrothed to Sendal, but no ceremony had been performed in that regard, nor had he any intention of marrying her.
Viator bowed his head, then hurried out of the chamber. There was no way that he wished to spend the time with Sendal. Once he was beyond his father's hearing, he asked a guard, “Where is the human girl staying?”
“West wing, sire, but only the ladies are permitted to—”
“I know very well who is allowed to go there.” Viator charged toward the west wing while Balen tried to catch up to him with a hurried pace.
“So what did the king say?”
Viator frowned. His friend had known about the prophecy. Did everyone know but him? “What else was said about the prophecy?”
“Ahh, so he finally told you.” Balen smiled. “I figured he couldn’t keep it from you forever.”
“No, he denied it, but he is bothered by the notion. So much so, that you are to take my place, Balen, in handling the problem with the water. I won’t agree to such a thing, however.”
Balen took a deep breath. “And the girl?”
“You are to take Eloria to the cliffs.”
Balen arched his brows. “And leave her there with no protection?”
“Yes.”
Balen nodded. “It won’t work, you know.”
“What won’t work?”
“Your father trying to change the prophecy, won’t work.” Balen stared at the hallway as the tapestry hangings featured gardens and female elves clustered together singing or sewing. “What are we doing in the women’s quarters?”
“I have no idea what you are doing here. My father has told me to have a word with your sister.” Though he was crown prince, all were forbidden from the single women’s chambers, all but the king himself.
“You have not been told to speak to my sister in the women’s chambers, sire.”
A maid walked into the hall from one of the rooms and hurried to curtsy to the prince, then to Balen. Viator asked, “Where is the human staying?”
Balen laughed. “My sister you wished to see, you said, my prince. My sister.”
The lady motioned at the third door on the right. Viator didn’t hesitate to walk to the door. He knocked, then waited. A maid opened the door and quickly curtsied to him.
“The human girl?”
The lady motioned behind her. He entered the room as Balen shuffled his feet outside the door.
“Eloria.” Viator found her staring out the window at the cloudless sky.
She turned to face him. “What did your father say about me?”
“That we must leave you at the cliffs.”
“Where you took me hostage.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“You would have no protection.”
“Then show me the way to the shadow elf kingdom and I’ll wait there for Persephonice.”
He didn’t say anything with regard to that but studied her gowns. “I’ve never liked white on most elven women. If they have blond hair, they fade away in such a gown. But with your red hair, you are like a goddess.”
Eloria chuckled. “She thought you wouldn’t like it.”
“Who?”
“Sendal.”
“I should have known.” If Sendal thought Viator would have lost interest in the human girl, she was gravely mistaken. Her choice of dress only made Eloria intrigue him even more. Yet, he told himself it was only because she could be valuable to them like Persephonice was to the shadow elves. But maybe she wouldn’t be. Maybe she was bad news.
“Why is your father afraid of me?” Eloria asked.
Viator shook his head. “Sometimes as we grow older, we become afraid of things we shouldn’t fear. My father says I must go to the seacoast of Neferon. The cliffs are on the way.” But he was wracking his brain for another option.
Eloria tilted her chin down as she considered his sincerity.
Viator smiled. She wasn’t letting him get away with his phony story at all. “Well, maybe not quite on the way—”
“The truth?”
“Quite out of the way in fact, but that’s where you were supposed to go.”
She took a deep breath. “And Balen?”
“He’ll have to come along also… just for show. Since my father said Balen would take you there, it would seem odd if he returned too soon to the castle.”
She frowned. “What about the water?”
“I have the minister of health looking into a solution to counteract the poison. We’ll take it with us to the river in the caves.”
Outside the chamber, they heard Sendal say, “Why, Balen, my brother, what are you doing in the women’s quarters? You know it is strictly forbidden.” There was silence then she said, “The prince is seeing the—”
Her words broke off as Sendal hurried into the room. “Well, my prince, you’ve missed me so, you’ve come to see me here. My room, however, is across the hall, sire.” She curtsied deeply, then smiled her most charming smile that was as wicked as any elf's could be who was up to no good.
6
Eloria couldn’t contain her amusement and smiled broadly at Sendal's comment to Viator about where her room was. “He wished to compliment me on the gowns you selected for me to wear.” Eloria twirled around in the shimmering dresses, layered three on one, as her long red curls swirled. “I feel just like a princess… which I will be once I marry my prince.” She meant her lifemate, if she could have ever had one.
Sendal glanced down at Eloria’s green crystal and frowned. “It’s not glowing now.”
“Nope. It comes and goes. One minute it does, the next, it’s asleep.” The green crystal was a source of concern for Eloria since she’d been on the planet. The way it glowed from time to time confounded her. Normally, it only did when she had to call on it to focus certain kinds of her magic. It didn’t light up and turn off like a broken light fixture at will.
The sound of melodic bells rippled through the air. “It’s time for the meal.” Sendal looped her arm through Viator’s. “Escort me to supper, my prince, as I�
��m famished.”
Eloria followed after the two as Viator turned back to her and winked. They walked into the hall and Balen’s eyes grew big as he watched his sister holding the prince’s arm in hers with a tight grasp. Eloria smiled as Balen hurried to escort her to the great hall for the meal.
“You don’t mind walking me to supper, though I’m but a human and a commoner?” she asked him.
Viator turned his head to hear what she was speaking of.
Balen shook his head. “You have turned our world upside down with your presence here. My being with you has elevated my position tenfold. And now, I’ve been told, I will return you to the cliffs. Lucky me. There are several who have beseeched the king that they be allowed to go in my place.”
“Why?”
“We’ve never seen a red-haired girl before. Never. We’ve only heard all the talk about Persephonice. You are as rare as the neleron flower on our southern slopes. The others wish to learn if there are more of you in your lands.”
“Some.” She shrugged.
Sendal scowled. “Father won’t like it you speak so kindly to this outsider, Balen. And he is having a fit the king has requested you take this creature back to where Prince Viator found her.”
“Then perhaps, I should do the deed as I have promised,” Viator said.
Sendal’s back stiffened.
Eloria smiled. Sendal wasn’t winning any points with Viator, if that’s what she intended to do.
When the four walked into the great hall, the courtiers grew quiet. Viator looked back at Balen, who led Eloria to one of the lower tables.
“At least she’s not being seated with royalty,” Sendal said loudly enough for Eloria to hear as she took her seat beside the prince at the head table. But she soon frowned as she saw that Eloria was seated with lower ranking royalty.
Balen joined them at the head table while Eloria sat between two barons.
The king and queen entered the hall as everyone stood and bowed. Before they could take their seats, a stiff wind blew through the open windows of the great room. All at once, the candles shivering on the marble walls were extinguished and the hall was plunged into darkness… all except for Eloria. Her crystal cast a soft green light over her ivory skin and gown. Whispered voices grew in volume as candles were hurriedly relit.