Torrent(100)

“How long would I have to be the warrior you need in exchange for this... healing?” she asked.
Eleriss tilted his head. “The warrior we need? Do you not yet understand? This, all of this, is for your people’s sake. There is nothing here for us. Rather, it would be easier on us if we’d never come at all.”
“Indeed,” Jakatra said dryly. “Our presence isn’t sanctioned.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that—some division amongst his people?—but filed it away to remember if it became important later.
“I see,” Temi said. “Let me rephrase my question, please. How long do you think it would take to fight all of these... jibtabs you believe are coming?”
“Jibtab may be singular or plural without modification,” Eleriss said. “As to the rest, who can know? Not I.”
Not for the first time, I sensed he knew more than he was telling us.
Temi didn’t look happy with the answer, but she didn’t press for more. “Who would do this training?”
“Jakatra has volunteered,” Eleriss said.
I had no trouble reading the flare to Jakatra’s nostrils; if he’d “volunteered,” he’d been strong-armed into doing so.
“Oh.” Temi considered him. If she’d been intrigued by his handsome face before, she seemed to have lost some of that now, for she regarded him with wariness. “When would we begin?”
“Soon,” Eleriss said. “There won’t be much time. If you agree, I’ll search for a healer for you.”
A hint of doubt returned to Temi’s face. “I’ve been to all the best surgeons already.”
“I will not search here,” Eleriss said.
“Here? Prescott?” Temi asked.
“Earth,” I guessed.
Eleriss did not agree out loud, but he inclined his head toward me. And now I was really jealous. Maybe I could go along and hold Temi’s scabbard for her. Like a golf caddy. Except with swords. Just because I hadn’t encountered the “sword caddy” profession in RealmSaga didn’t meant it wasn’t a thing.
The skeptical expression hadn’t left Temi’s face. Either she didn’t believe—which was understandable—or she didn’t think this was a job for her. I gave her an encouraging nod when she looked at me. For as much as I’d love to take the job, if she could get her leg fixed, she’d be the ideal choice.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Temi said.
Jakatra tossed a few surprised words to his comrade. What, was he shocked someone would have to “think about” training with him? Maybe he was something special where he came from and his own people would line up for the opportunity. Personally, I’d rather have Eleriss.
“We will leave you time to do so,” Eleriss said. “But we cannot give you too much time. If your decision is no... another alternative must be sought.”
“Are there other alternatives?” I asked.
“If the criminal did not survive the flood, there are not. Not that we have discovered yet. And time... time is a concern.”
Jakatra said a word in his own language and walked out the door.
More polite, Eleriss said, “Good night,” before heading in the same direction.
“Wait,” I blurted, a thousand questions on the tip of my tongue. They’d told us so little. Who was responsible for making the monster? Why had it been made? Would the next one be the same or worse? Where were his people from? How long had they been visiting our world and why? Why had they plucked humans out of history and locked them up? What crimes had those people committed? “What are your people called?” I asked, thinking he might at least answer a simple question like that.
Standing in the doorway, Eleriss gazed back at us thoughtfully. Perhaps he wouldn’t answer even that question. Then he glanced over his shoulder into the hotel parking lot. Checking to see if Jakatra was out of earshot?
“We call ourselves the Dhekarzha,” Eleriss said quietly.
Simon stepped forward. “Are you at all aware of our people’s mythology stories that speak of elves?” He wriggled his eyebrows, silently asking if Eleriss would like to confess to being an elf.
My first inclination was to jab him with an elbow, but I found myself watching for a response instead.
“I am aware of some of the mythologies of your numerous cultures,” Eleriss said.
“And?” Simon prompted.
“They’re very creative.” Eleriss inclined his head again, repeated, “Good night,” and stepped outside.
As soon as he was gone, Simon and I faced Temi together.
“You’re going to do it, right?” I asked.
Simon nodded, though he looked like he wanted to say something too. Apparently, now that the life-and-death situation was over, he was back to having a hard time speaking to her.