War Of The Wildlands(17)

Seeing the pointed tips to his ears, Arla recoiled with a scream of fright and clutched her chemise to her chest. She backed away quickly and stumbled to the door. Yori sat stunned, not knowing what to say. He knew why she was upset, but he had no idea how to calm her.

The girl began to scream as she flung open the door and proceeded, undressed, into the streets. “Help me!” she cried, her throat raspy with terror. “Someone, please! He’s tried to rape me! An elf! A Wild Elf!”

Yori’s eyes went wide with fear. He stood frozen in the doorway, holding his breath and staring at the young woman. Another woman came running over to her and helped her wrap the chemise around her body to cover her nakedness.

Pointing at Yori, Arla cried, “He’s an elf! He tried to force himself on me! An elf!”

A small crowd began to gather as they heard the commotion. Two guards approached and grabbed Yori’s arms. One of them punched him in the stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. He offered no resistance, for fear they might kill him on the spot. His messy hair barely covered his ear tips, and he could not possibly deny the crime of being an elf.

The guards dragged him to the palace dungeons as half the citizens in the marketplace watched. Tossing him roughly inside a stone cell, the guard slammed the iron door shut and turned the key. Yori sat on the damp stone floor and buried his head in his hands. He was certain they would execute him. An elf could not expect a fair trial in Na’zora.

His mind swam with the possibility of being tortured before he was killed. Tears began to flow as he wished with all his heart that he had departed the palace district immediately, rather than wasting time around town. If only he could change that one moment, he would be free to return home to his family. He thought of little Meladee and how sad she would be when he did not return. The best he could hope for was a swift execution, but he knew that was unlikely. In the cramped stone cell he would find no comfort, only despair.





Chapter 11




For two days Yori languished in the cramped cell. He was given a few bread crusts and just enough water to make him feel constantly thirsty. No one had spoken a word to him since he arrived. The only sounds in the dungeon were the footsteps of the guards, the dripping of water, and the occasional cries of a fellow prisoner.

A pale torchlight illuminated the darkness in the hallway. Someone was approaching his cell, but his eyes were blinded by the sudden light. The footsteps indicated that two men were coming his direction. Fearing they would take him to his execution, Yori began to breathe heavily and closed his eyes.

“You’re tall for an elf,” a voice commented. “For a male, anyway.”

Yori looked up at the man standing outside his cell. He wore fine boots and a brocade tunic. Behind him was a younger man, who glanced nervously from side to side.

“I never would have guessed you were an elf. You hid it well, my friend,” the first man said, moving closer to the bars and lowering the torch slightly.

The face revealed by the light stunned Yori. His heart missed a beat as he recognized the face of none other than Prince Aelryk.

“I believe it’s customary to stand when your prince approaches,” he said.

Yori scrambled to his feet, still in a state of shock. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” he said, stammering. His balance was poor from sitting so long in one position, and he leaned a hand against the bars to steady himself.

“You have been accused of attempted rape,” the prince began. “Are you guilty?”

“No, my lord,” Yori replied.

“Then the girl is a liar?”

“I think she was frightened when she discovered I am half elf, my lord.” The last thing Yori wanted to do was accuse a Na’zoran citizen of lying.

“I believe you,” Aelryk said. “I am young, but I am a very good judge of character.”

The prince took out the fine sword that Yori had helped craft. Yori held his breath, expecting the sword to pierce his heart. Perhaps this was the swift execution he had hoped for.

Instead of running him through, the prince spoke again. “This is a very fine sword. If you are an elf, you can learn to etch runes.”

“I am only half, my lord,” Yori began. “My father was an elf, but my mother was human.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Aelryk replied casually. “I’m told a drop of elven blood is all that’s required. You have a talent for crafting metals, and it shows. I will offer you an opportunity for freedom. Seek out your elven kin and learn the art of rune carving. Once you are proficient, you will return to Na’zora and work for me.”

“Surely the elves would kill me as I approached,” Yori replied, shaking his head.