by Sarah Hawke
“Merciful Triad,” I breathed, frantically searching the nearby area for inspiration. Short of tossing Larric into the river and hoping the current would carry us to safety, there was nothing I could do.
The current…
I belatedly remembered the boat we had spotted tucked beneath the waterfall. It was barely larger than a raft, but it was still better than nothing. Grimacing, I grabbed onto Larric’s arm and dragged him back towards the riverbank. The boat was still there, thankfully, and it was light enough that I was able to break it free of the rocky riverbed without too much trouble. Larric’s body was a bigger problem. Even with the help of the Aether it was nothing short of a miracle that I got him onboard without capsizing, and once he was safely inside I leapt on top of him and let the current do the rest.
The entire time we were floating I expected more Covenant agents to emerge from the shadows. When they didn’t, I wondered if other Faedari might intercept us instead. But astoundingly, no one bothered us as we slowly floated away, and I leaned down atop Larric’s chest and watched the flames slowly spread. Soon an impenetrable blanket of smoke obscured the horizon, and I prayed to any god willing to listen that the townsfolk were able to tame the pyre before it spread.
But for now, there was nothing I could do besides lean down against Larric’s chest and pray for salvation.
To Be Continued
The Elf Slave series will continue with Unbroken!
If you are interested in more hardcore fantasy erotica, you may enjoy my Dark Elf Fantasies series starting with Web of the Spider Queen.
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Appendix
~Dramatis Personae~
The House of Kristoff
Elara: Faeyn female, avenari slave
Gabriel Kristoff: human male, Grand Duke of Glorinfel
Larric Aresi: human male, Kristoff’s bodyguard
The Imperial Court
Lucian Patravian III: human male, Emperor of the Veshari Empire
Nobles of Korvale
Aemond Darkstone: human male, Grand Duke of Korvale
Cassandra Darkstone: human female, Grand Duchess of Korvale
Varyl Darkstone: human male, the Grand Duke’s son
Baron Gaylen Ornosa: human male, provincial lord
Vaeyn Soldiers
Karethys: vaeyn female, Shadow Knight of the Matriarch Queen
Ralyne: vaeyn female, scout
~The Imperial Provinces~
Abenwreath: Also known as “the Wreath,” Abenwreath curls around the central province of Veshar and is known for its vast fields and farms.
Glorinfel: Once the ancestral home of the near-extinct dwarves, Glorinfel is a snowy, mountainous region in northeast Calhara.
Korvale: Also known as “the Vale,” Korvale is a fiercely independent province almost completely isolated from the rest of the Empire by vast mountain ranges.
Rivani: A warm, tropical province, Rivani is the center of power for the Covenant and the most important trade center in the Empire.
Sorthaal: Once the ancestral home of the Faeyn, Sorthaal is a sprawling mass of forests and hills known for its natural beauty.
Veshar: The central province of Calhara is home to Sanctum, the imperial capital and the home of the Emperor and the Imperial Legion.
~Terms~
Aeynshok: slang for “elf-lover,” considered a grave insult
Artificers: the lowest caste of Bound channelers who create enchanted armor and weapons for the Legion.
Bound: The vast majority of channelers in the Empire are granted their powers in a Covenant ritual that binds them to the “Godstone,” a crystal said to house the souls of the Triad. Through the stone, these “Bound” channelers are able to touch and manipulate the Aether, but the Covenant is capable of severing this connection at any time.
Calhara: The second largest continent in the world of Obsidian, Calhara is under near total control of the Veshari Empire.
Channeler: The all-purpose name for someone who has the ability to manipulate the Aether.
Covenant: The central religious organization in the Empire. They control and regulate the use of the Aether.
Faeyn: the name for the fair-skinned elves who once ruled most of Calhara. The seat of their empire was Sorthaal, now an imperial province.
Hierophant: The highest-ranking priest in the Covenant. Her power rivals that of the Emperor.
Inquisitors: The chief enforcers of the Covenant. The Inquisitors’ primary purpose is to root out and destroy Unbound.
Levinthian: The holy text of the Covenant.
Numen: A large country within Torsia known for its fine silks and berries. The Numense reject the rule of the Triad and instead worship their immortal leader known only as the “Shadow King” to outsiders.
Sanctus Veshar: The founder of the Empire and conqueror of Calhara. The Covenant preaches that Veshar ascended to godhood along with his wife and his top lieutenant. Together they make up the Triad.
Sorthaal Highlands: The ancient home of the Faeyn, now an imperial province under the rule of Duke Darian Arland.
Sulinor: The home of the Vaeyn located in the far northeastern corner of Calhara.
Talisham: A country located in the scorching desert region of Torsia and ruled by a powerful theocracy under the leadership of the Pah.
Tel Bator: Legion soldiers trained to channel Aether.
Unbound: A few rare individuals are born with the ability to channel Aether without being bonded to the Godstone. They are known as Unbound, and they are hunted and executed by the Covenant whenever they are found. Elves of all ethnicities are slightly more likely than humans to possess this ability, and it is incredibly rare in the other sentient races.
Vaeyn: the name for the gray-skinned elves of Sulinor. They are among the last free elves in the entire world, and the Covenant has long branded them demon-worshippers and heretics.
About the Author
Sarah Hawke is a thirty-something aspiring spinster with two cats, a horse, and a car that can technically still get her from place to place. She loves the cold, hates the heat, and desperately watches anything made by Joss Whedon for fear it will get cancelled.