Fall of the Elves, page 29
part #1 of Elves of Asarton Series
Precious, maybe. Necessary? I think not. You are a smart girl, Zariah. And it goes without saying that my intelligence far outshines that of any other creature. I think it unnecessary for us to read these old documents.
I fixed the dragon with a stern look. “Though you may have exaggerated your intellect somewhat, Rana, it is true that you are no fool. You understand exactly how important these documents are, and why we must read them. You would not so easily dismiss the teachings of previous monarchs. Now, stop complaining and read.”
Rana snarled and lumbered to her feet. I don’t think I will. I think I’ll stretch my wings. You may be queen of the elves, Zariah, but not of the dragons.
I stared in shock, counting each step as she left. But the distance meant nothing because the magic in the forest was enough to keep us connected. Despite that, we were never far from each other’s side.
Sighing, I leaned back against my chair and picked up the first tome. Ever since my coronation a few weeks ago, Rana had been getting more and more erratic. The slightest misstep could earn her ire. To others, it would seem as if she were simply in a bad mood. Only Torren and I knew why she was acting out.
She was worried.
It had begun with the warning my father gave us. And the meeting with her mother and the first queen had not done anything to help ease her mind. She was terrified of what the future held. Of what her hatching meant for our two peoples.
Torren and I had told nobody of the omen Rana’s hatching presented, but our silence did not make the truth any less dangerous.
I found myself repeatedly glancing to the open doors of the balcony Rana had left through, hoping for a glimpse of my dragon.
She wasn’t coming back. I could feel her, flying toward the Tersatran Mountains. Probably to speak with Ferlon. The dragon was like a father to her. She’d been speaking with him often recently, regarding her problems. I wasn’t sure how much he knew, as I was never privy to those conversations.
But why couldn’t she confide in me? Sure, Ferlon was like a father to her—but I was her elf, was I not? Supposed to be the person closest to her heart. I cursed and threw the tome against the far wall. There would be no reading for me today.
“Zariah?”
Without enough conviction to look his way, I knew Torren would be standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Oops,” I said, not very convincingly. I stood and hurried over to the fallen tome, picking it up and brushing off any imaginary dirt. “These old things are very slippery.”
“Of course they are,” Torren murmured, walking over to me. Thankfully he chose not to chastise me on my treatment of ancient scriptures. He gently took the tome from my hand and placed it on the table. “Come along. That’s enough studying for today.”
“Well, I do so hate to finish now, but if you insist, I suppose I must.”
“Zariah, if you wish to continue studying I do not wish—”
“No, no. Really. It’s fine.”
It was only when I looked up and saw the mirth dancing in his eyes that I realised he’d been teasing me.
“Come on. We should go.” He paused and looked around. “Where is Rana?”
“Off with her new favourite,” I said bitterly, kicking at the ground.
“Oh.” Torren’s eyes softened when he turned me to face him. His hands rested on my upper arms, my bare skin warming where he touched me. I lost focus for a moment, losing myself in his touch. He shook me gently, bringing me back to him. “Zariah, you understand Rana is just worried. She loves you, truly. She’s just… these past few weeks have been hard on her. She is scared of losing you.”
“She will never lose me. I’ve told her that, many times. I don’t know what more I can do.”
“Give her time.” He squeezed me gently, lips curving into a reassuring smile. “She’ll come around.” He dropped his right hand and trailed his left hand down my arm, lacing his fingers with mine. “Come on, now. I have somewhere to take you.”
He tugged me toward the door. I followed behind, somewhat reluctant to do anything when Rana wasn’t here. The few elves we passed stopped and bowed their heads until we passed.
I was still getting used to that.
Evernight was waiting outside for us, his glossy coat catching the midday sunlight and making him seem a brilliant gold rather than his usual snow white.
Torren lifted me onto the stallion’s back—not that I needed the assistance—before mounting up behind me. He threaded his arms through mine to grasp the stallion’s mane. I listened as my king clicked his tongue, urging the horse forward, before leaning back against his firm chest and closing my eyes.
It had been some time since we’d ridden Evernight, just the two of us. Torren had been busy with his new duties while I’d been attempting to learn how to be a queen.
The smooth gait of the horse coupled with Torren’s warmth lulled me into a doze. For a while, all my worries fled as we journeyed through Asarton, bathed in warm light.
Finally, Torren roused me with a gentle kiss to my temple. I opened my eyes, squinting while my sight adjusted.
We’d stopped at the crest of a hill on Jasran. Torren dismounted before reaching up to take me into his arms. He did not relinquish his hold even when my feet were planted firmly on the grass. Instead, he kept his hand in mine and led me to the base of a hill.
When we reached a flat expanse of grass, Torren dropped my hand. “Wait here.”
I crossed my arms, tapping my foot just to have something to focus on as my king walked away from me. Finally, he stopped and turned back to me.
“You have not trained with Valeria for some time,” Torren said.
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been restless,” he countered.
I watched with growing excitement as he drew his sword, then fumbled for mine. It rested in its sheath at my hip, where it always was. I loved to spar, I truly did, but since the death of the late queen, I hadn’t had the time to train. Not nearly so much as I once had.
I rubbed my finger over the design hammered into the silver. The dragon and the elf. Torren had replaced the original design—the first elf and dragon pair—with a likeliness of Rana and myself. It was supposed to be reassuring, but now it only made me ache for my dragon.
The air shifted slightly, my only warning before Torren brought his sword down. I raised my blade quickly, blocking his swing, before kicking at his chest to give myself some more room. He stumbled back, the smallest of smiles flittering across his face, before he lunged at me again.
I countered his swing, then went on the offensive.
Neither of us were trying to best the other, nor were we trying to escalate this spar into a fight. I allowed myself to sink into the movements, the familiar burn of muscle waking something in me that had been dormant these past months, smothered by revelations and responsibilities.
Finally, when sweat poured down my face and my breaths came in heaving gasps, Torren hooked my sword with his and twisted, forcing the blade from my grasp.
I doubled over, hands on my knees and struggled for air. We’d been going at it for hours, the sun already beginning to dip below the horizon.
Torren wasn’t in much better shape. He was sprawled on the ground, one arm resting on his stomach and the other flung out at his side. His chest rose and fell rapidly, beads of sweat falling from his soaked hair and trekking down his temples.
When I’d caught my breath somewhat, I walked toward the panting elf, bending over him. “Thank you, Torren. Truly. I needed this. A lot.”
A smile quirked his lips. He lifted the arm that had lain on his chest, reaching up to take my hand. “Of course it did. I won’t have anybody saying that I do not know how to cheer up my own wife.”
“Mother forbid,” I said teasingly, crouching down beside him.
We existed in silence for some time, him on his back and me sitting cross-legged next to him. No contact but for our joined hands as we watched the sun set. A thin stretch of orange, a slice of pink, then darkness.
Finally, I turned to my king. His eyes were closed, the faint shadows of his long lashes brushing gently against his cheekbones. His brows were furrowed slightly, as if he were worried, though his breathing was even.
I reached over, brushing a silky strand of snow-white hair from his forehead. His eyes fluttered open, fixating on me, and a soft smile brushed his lips.
“You are not the only observant one, my love. You do not think that I have not noticed your worry these past months? What is it? We keep no secrets from each other, remember?”
His smile disappeared and his frown deepened. “It is nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
“It is obviously important enough to make you worry. Therefore, it is something to concern myself with. Torren…”
At my pleading look he sighed and sat up. “I did not wish to worry you. The ragtok are… a bigger issue than we first thought.”
I stiffened, with the same cold rigidness of a corpse.
Torren turned to me quickly, taking my hands in his. “Zariah, my queen, you mustn’t worry. I have a number of contingency plans that I am forming should the worst happen. The information I received from my father and the first king was very helpful. Without the ancestors, we would have been blindsided. But now I know, I am able to prevent it.”
“I can help, Torren,” I said quickly, forcing my jaw open. “Rana and I both.”
“You will,” Torren assured me. “Do not fear. If all else fails, I have the beginnings of a plan that will definitely work. It involves the two of you. As long as you two work together, everything will turn out alright.”
“You promise?”
“Zariah, I would never lie to you.”
He pulled me into his lap, turning us both to face the horizon where the sun had dipped out of sight. He pulled the shoulder of my tunic down and rested his head on my Soul Mark. I leaned back against him, feeling the rapid thump-thump of his heart.
As long as Torren was around, everything would be okay.
It had to be.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Passing out so often really couldn’t be good for me.
I open my eyes slowly, surprised to see it was the early morning. How long had I slept?
“Tessa!” Aidric appeared out of nowhere, helping me to sit. He shoved a waterskin at me, giving me no choice but to gulp down the refreshing liquid.
I was finally able to shove the water away when Leon and Herlon came to kneel at my side.
“How long was I asleep for?” I asked.
“Not long,” Herlon assured me. “You fainted last night. Rana said it was too dangerous to move you when you were dreaming.”
“And you didn’t object?” I asked, turning to Aidric.
His cheeks flushed. “Of course not! If Rana said it was too dangerous, then we had no choice but to stay.”
I turned to the dragon in question, who seemed quite put out by all the commotion. She was watching the four of us, eyes cold. I remembered my dream last night, how Zariah and Rana’s relationship had been in the midst of change—and not for the better. I’d never seen the dragon shut her elf out like that.
Truthfully, it scared me. What had she done to make Zariah hate her so much?
I would not concern yourselves with Tessa’s fainting spells, for she is no damsel, Rana said, drawing the attention of the men clustered around me. As the ragtok issue becomes more prevalent, her dreams will come faster. Her past few sleeps have been short, but they will get longer. Days may pass while she slumbers. My elf’s memories will demand to be heard. The elves are the catalyst. Tessa is becoming more sensitive. Actions in her life will align with those of my elf, forcing her into slumber. Soon, even the mention of the elves will be enough to send her to sleep.
Aidric frowned, not seeming pleased with this revelation.
“If she begins to sleep for days at a time as you say, then will she even finish her dreams before the ragtok attack?” Herlon asked.
I was surprised at the worry in his tone. Up until now, he had not shown he cared too much about the dreams one way or another. Certainly not in the way Aidric had sought to use them to vanquish the ragtok.
Everything will be fine, Rana said, as if that answered the question.
While Herlon and Leon—who also seemed concerned—discussed this new development, I made my way over to Rana.
What is it? the dragon asked, scenting the air. You smell worried.
“Rana, lately, I’ve been… confused.”
About?
I hesitated for a moment before speaking my fears. “Myself. I keep thinking I am Zariah. I don’t… I don’t know who I am anymore. I’m afraid I’m losing myself.”
Rana didn’t seem too concerned. I would not worry about it. You spend your nights as an elf and your days as a human. You are bound to get confused. Until the dreams end, the line between the two worlds you live in will blur.
That was not in the least bit reassuring.
But Tessa, you haven’t many dreams left. Soon enough, they will be finished with completely. I promise, when that happens, you will not be confused anymore.
That filled me with more sorrow than I cared to admit. As confused as I was, I didn’t want to let go of Zariah.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
I blinked, looking up. Aidric stood over me. Rana had wandered off at some point, engaging Herlon in conversation.
“What am I thinking?” I asked.
“You’re worried. I overheard what you were saying to Rana, about how you’re beginning to lose yourself.”
“I don’t—”
“Tessa, you must remember the elves are gone. These dreams are important, yes, but purely for the information they hold. The elves are not worthy of you. The lives they led are not something you should even want to get lost in.”
I frowned, slightly confused. “What?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “The elves… I understand that for humans, they make up a huge part of our stories. Their passing was very tragic, and we remember them only as these beautiful, magical, perfect beings. But Tessa, you must understand that elves were people, too. They were flawed. They looked down on us humans, thought themselves better than us.”
I shook my head. “That isn’t true. I know what Zariah felt when she saw a human, know how the other elves acted. She was curious, certainly. Fascinated by them, but—”
“In much the way a scholar is fascinated by the life cycle of an animal. Fascination that such a lowly creature could have such an intricate cycle.”
“No, you’re wrong. She was no more curious upon seeing a human than they were upon seeing an elf. Once they grew used to each other, she saw them as equals. One of her best friends was a human.”
Aidric shook his head. “You have been blinded by your dreams, manipulated into seeing things a certain way. They looked down upon us, Zariah. They saw us as weak, inferior. In that respect, they were no different than the ragtok.”
I didn’t understand what he was saying. How he could truly believe this. I felt a tinge of anger, not the kind that had overwhelmed me and made me scream at a dragon. No, this anger was entirely my own. Anger at a man who could be so blinded by his views and not think for a moment about how base they were. “You can’t be serious. The elves were a proud, ancient race. They were stronger and more powerful than us, it is true, but that does not mean they looked down on humans. They recognised our intelligence, that we were strong in our own ways. They made alliances with the different kingdoms, were staunch supporters of Varal and even came to their aid when Lugon attempted to invade a few times. Would a race who looked down on us have ever taken the time to make trade agreements with us? To waste the time on sending their people out as ambassadors?”
Aidric shrugged. “They are a nice story, but that is all. The world is better off without them.”
I saw red. “You have no trouble using their queen’s most intimate memories for your own gain, yet you condemn their entire race simply because of your own childish views? The ragtok had actual reasons for hating the elves. They didn’t just wake up one day and decided elves were the enemy. But apparently you did. You’re worse than a ragtok.”
Aidric stared. Perhaps a slight overreaction, but the point I’d made was true.
“I’m going to wash up,” I called to the boys, who were busy packing down our camp. If I stayed another moment, I might’ve actually raised a hand to the crown prince. I may have a dragon on my side (sort of) but even I wasn’t brave enough to risk being charged with high treason.
Herlon grunted in reply, eloquent as always, before returning to his work of rolling up a sleeping mat.
I trekked through the forest, leaving Aidric standing in his place and heading for the stream I’d used to draw water from last night.
Maybe some part of me should have been surprised when I saw him sitting on a rock next to the stream, staring into the water. But, truthfully, I’d known he’d show up again somehow. Our story had ended too abruptly in that cave for him to disappear completely.
He looked up at me, brown eyes impossibly sad. I stepped closer, unafraid, knowing he wouldn’t hurt me.
“Hello, human,” he said, standing and jumping off the rock, landing in a crouch a few feet from me.
“Hello, ragtok.”
He was still a monstrous creature to behold. Charred, peeling skin. Matted hair, foul teeth, awful stench. Black nails, long and curved. That terrible sword at his side, rusted with blood.
But I did not fear him.
He cocked his head to the side, observing me. “You are not scared of me?”
I shook my head.
“You should be. I’m your enemy. One of the creatures of nightmares for your kind.”
I smiled. “You’re not so bad. If all ragtok were like you, perhaps your kind could be reasoned with.”
“No,” the ragtok said, a little too quickly. “No. There are only a few like me. The rest… they are exactly as your stories depict them.” He hesitated, obviously wanting to say something. There must have been a reason he’d shown himself to me. “Although I am… different… I am one of our best. I will be leading the charge against your people. I know it is not custom for humans to allow their females to fight, but… I feel you are different. You left the protection of your home in the company of men and a dragon, and you show no fear. Given how you have bonded with the dragon, I think it likely that you may fight.”
