The Tears of Elios (17 page)

She bit her bottom lip again, and he wondered if it always looked so full due to repeated trauma. “I don't know. Maybe. I still have the crystals. But why would you need me to create another gate?”

The naivety of her question troubled him, and he tried to push the thought of the Elgean soldiers storming the camp out of his mind. The macabre image of them slaughtering the inhabitants had been haunting him for several days, but he knew it would become a reality if he failed. “I want to make sure the women and children have a way to escape if something bad happens.”

Her fingers brushed his hand, more soothing this time than the shock he felt earlier. When he looked at her face, he marveled for a moment in its expressiveness. Elves always tried to keep their emotions concealed from others. Kira, on the other hand, wore her thoughts clearly on her face for everyone to see. She was confused, yes, but he was surprised to see worry there. Not concern about herself, but worry for him.

“Am I interrupting something?” a nasal voice drawled from the flap. Galen knew the voice before he turned to see Elisus staring at Kira without attempting to hide his disdain. “Is this your little human I've been hearing so much about?” he asked in Elvish.

“What do you want, Elisus?” he replied in the same language. He already knew this was one conversation he didn’t want Kira to hear.

“I wanted to have a private word with you, but now you've whetted my curiosity.”

Galen jumped to his feet to stand between him and Kira, but not in time to block the spell that flew from Elisus’ fingers. Kira's body began to glow with the bright blue light her aura produced.

Elisus arched one blond brow. “That was unexpected.”

“Leave her alone.” He moved closer to her.

Elisus laughed as he circled them. “You were always too fond of humans, Galen, but with this one, I can see why. Her potential powers are remarkable, especially for one of her race.”

Galen's fingers tightened around his sword. The implications of Elisus’ words caused his gut to clench. He was threatening both of them. “Elisus, stop.”

Like a snake striking, Elisus was behind her. His palms pressed against her temples, his slender fingers forming white spikes through her dark hair. “I could crush her fragile little human mind.”

Galen began to draw his sword to defend her, but a flash of blue magic knocked Elisus back.

“Stop it!” Kira shouted as she stood and faced him. “I don't know who you are, nor do I care, but I don't appreciate you touching me without my permission.”

Elisus stared up at her from the ground with wide eyes.

Pride surged through Galen at her spunkiness. Perhaps she wasn’t as helpless as he thought. He released his sword and felt it slide back into the scabbard with a comforting thud.

“Galen, I think I should leave,” she whispered as she leaned closer to him. “I don't know what you’re talking about, but I know when I'm in the middle of something I shouldn't be involved in.”

He grabbed her arm. The last thing he needed was for her to be wandering the camp without someone to watch over her. “I wish you wouldn’t, but if you insist, go immediately to some place you feel safe and stay near someone you trust. Don’t be caught alone—do you understand?” His voice softened as he added, “Please promise me that. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Fear flickered across her face. She nodded and cast one more glance over her shoulder at Elisus before she hurried out of the tent.

“I'll be watching her closely, Galen.” Elisus brushed the dirt off his clothes.

“As will I.” He would like to see him try and hurt her. It would give him a reason to silence the Elder once and for all. He crossed his arms. “Why did you come here?”

“I demand to see the Tears of Elios.”

Galen probed the contents of his mind, trying to discover his motives. Elisus must have sensed his presence in his mind because everywhere he searched, he was blocked. “The answer remains the same.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't trust you.”

Elisus’ sneer darkened for a moment before fading as he tried to laugh casually. “You don't trust me, one of the Elders of the High Elves, yet you will let humans see them?”

“Yes.”

“Then at least tell me whom you’ve sent to find them.”

Elisus no longer made an effort to conceal his anger, but Galen wasn’t frightened. He knew as long as he had something Elisus wanted, no harm would come to him. In his fury, Elisus let his guard down enough to allow his thoughts to become visible. He was planning to intercept one of the parties and capture the orb.

“One of them is Ranealya,” Galen replied, knowing the he wouldn’t dare risk an encounter with her.

“You would trust that creature and not me?” Florid color rose into his normally pale face.

Galen savored the moment for a second. It wasn’t often he saw an elf lose control of his emotions—it was considered primitive. And here was Elisus, an Elder of the High Elves, sputtering with rage. His lips curled up in a smile. “At least she has no ulterior motives.”

He then realized Galen had seen into his mind, which further enraged him. “You're a disgrace to all elves. If your father was alive, he'd be ashamed of you.” He paused long enough to add, “I can't wait to see you fail,” before throwing the flap open as far as he could.

Galen exhaled. Dealing with Elisus was never a pleasant experience, but this encounter disturbed him more than usual. He knew his words were nothing more than a petty attempt to retaliate, but Galen still dwelt on them.
Would my father approve of my actions? And what if I did fail? Could I bear to live knowing the blood of all those who trusted me would be on my hands?

Galen pulled himself from his doubts when he remembered Elisus saying he would be watching Kira. He needed to find her before the High Elf and his entourage did. Her tent was deserted when he checked it, but he was quick to note it was already void of the beer barrel and tankards that had been its centerpiece when Tyrrus occupied it. He stood outside and contemplated climbing up to the bluff in the darkness but concluded it would be useless. Even with his elvan eyes, it would be difficult to spot her in the night.

The wind carried the sound of her laughter, and he followed it. As he weaved his way through the maze of tents, the music of pipes and drums became louder. It led him into a corner of the camp he knew the Highmounters occupied. He hid in the shadows, watching them.

In the center of the clearing, a large bonfire burned bright enough to cast the appearance of daylight on those surrounding it. Across from him, a woman kept time with drums as three men played a lively melody on their pipes. From the rising smoke, he smelled roasting venison.

Shadows danced around a fire, their faces only becoming visible as they neared him before disappearing beyond the wall of flames. The woman playing the drum began to sing a song in the language even he didn’t understand, but the Highmounters cheered when she began. The dancing became faster as the couples whirled around the fire with renewed frenzy, their smiling faces flashing in the firelight.

He almost missed her as she danced by him, but he immediately knew her. Kira laughed as a young man twirled her around the fire. When she passed him again, it was in the arms of another man. He watched the cycle through several rotations before he realized that the men were taking turns dancing with her. She was nimble on her feet, never missing a step as she switched partners, and she appeared happier than he had ever seen her before. Despite her boyish haircut, she had more male attention than she could handle at once.

His chest tightened. He regretted giving her that red dress now.

“Aye, she's quite a lass, isn't she?” a thickly burred voice said next to him. He’d been so engrossed with watching Kira that he failed to hear Arlisle approach him. The fire glinted in Highmounter's dark eyes as he watched her.

“Yes,” Galen replied, “she is a remarkable young woman.”

Arlisle turned to face him. “Galen, do you mind if I ask you a question of a personal nature?”

Galen focused his attention on Arlisle and watched him fidget with his shirt for moment before answering, “That entirely depends on the question.”

“Well then, here it goes. I canna help but notice that you spend a right fair amount of time with Kira, and far be it for me to step on another man's toes, but I was wondering if there was anything going on between the two of you?”

Galen raised one brow as Kira passed him once more. She was oblivious to his presence in the shadows. “She's my student.”

“I meant more along the lines of a romantic nature?”

An odd twinge formed in his stomach. “She's a human. I'm an elf.”

“Then you won't mind if I pursue the lass.” It was more of a statement than a question, and Arlisle intercepted Kira when she passed by.

As he watched them dance around the fire, Galen realized she wasn’t changing partners anymore. The firelight illuminated her face. She looked up at Arlisle with a smile, causing his gut clench even more.
By the Goddess, am I jealous?
He began to probe Arlisle's mind.

At first, he only saw the obvious. The Highmounter was fond of Kira and found her pretty. He also knew she appreciated any sort of attention. But then, Arlisle's thoughts changed from what was right in front of him to what he wanted to do. Galen watched as he imagined leading her back to his tent and unfastening the ties on her red dress.

How dare he try to take advantage of her!
He’d seen enough to make him more furious than he had ever been in his entire life. He emerged from the shadows, attracting several stares as he moved through the dancers to them. They hid in a dark corner of the clearing, and Arlisle was in the process of lifting her chin as he lowered his head. “Kira, a word with you.”

It was amusing to watch her jump when he spoke and even more amusing to see Arlisle's scowl. Galen didn’t need to read his thoughts to know he had interrupted them at an inopportune moment.

Kira regained her composure and smoothed her dress. “Of course, Galen. What about?”

Even in the darkness, he could see the flush in her cheeks. “I was wondering if you would care to join me on my mission to Sylvania.”

The entire bonfire reflected in her eyes. “I'd love to go!” She turned to Arlisle. “Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

“Absolutely.” His eyes simmered as they stayed on Galen.

He made no effort to hide his smirk. “We’ll leave at the usual place at the usual time.”

“Daybreak?” The corners of her mouth turned down when he nodded. “Then I suppose I should go to bed now and get some sleep.”

Arlisle looped her arm through his. “Please allow me to escort you back to your tent.”

Galen positioned himself directly in their path. “That's quite alright, Arlisle. Her tent is on my way. Stay here and attend to your guests.”

Arlisle refused to relinquish his hold on her. “I said I would escort her.” He locked his eyes with Galen's and tensed, ready to attack if further provoked.

Galen's fingers caressed the cool metal hilt of his sword. He wasn’t as stocky as the Highmounter, but he could take him, if needed. “But it is completely illogical for you to walk all the way across camp and then walk all the way back when I will pass—”

“I said I would take her, you pointy-ear.”

A hush fell over the crowd, and several men flanked the Highmounter. “Is there anything we can help you with, Arlisle?” one of them asked.

Kira's eyes traveled between the two of them. She pressed the palm of her free hand against Arlisle's chest as she unwound the other arm from his. “He does have a point, Arlisle,” she said soothingly. “It doesn't make sense for you to go out of your way when he can easily drop me off as he goes back to his own tent.”

He took the hand on his chest and kissed her fingers. “Be careful out there with him, Kira. I'd be very upset if something happened to you.” His eyes flashed to Galen.

“Don't worry, Arlisle.” She slipped her hand from his. “I can take care of myself.”

The Highmounter lifted one brow in disbelief and opened his mouth to say so, but then changed his mind.

Galen met Arlisle's eyes one more time before he turned, wanting to make sure the human knew he wasn’t intimidated by him and his gang. Then he fell into step with Kira.

She walked faster than normal, and even in the dim light, he saw the redness in her cheeks. Her arms hung ramrod straight at her sides, ending in clenched fists.

“I believe you when you say you can take care of yourself, Kira, especially after that display with Elisus this afternoon.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Was that his name?” She kept staring straight ahead, but her steps slowed. “I didn’t understand a single word he said, but he didn't sound very nice.”

“You would be wise to avoid him. He has little love for humans, and I think you embarrassed him.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” She shivered and rubbed her arms as she walked. It was only then that he noticed her cloak was missing. Not that it was much of a cloak to begin with. When he asked her where it was, she replied, “There was a child in the Highmounte camp without one, so I gave her mine.”

“How will you stay warm?”

“Spring will be here soon.”

She’d slowed to a strolling pace now, but she hadn’t looked in his direction since they left the bonfire. This time, however, he knew better than to suspect she was hiding something.

“I apologize for taking you from the party. You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”

Her whole body tensed as she spun on her heel to face him. “I was having a good time until you decided to pick a fight with Arlisle. And don't try to lie to me and tell me something different. I've been around boys long enough to know when they're trying to intimidate each other.”

“I couldn't lie to you if I tried, Kira—it's against my nature. I confronted Arlisle because I did not like what he was thinking.”

“And what was he thinking?”

“Very inappropriate thoughts about you.” He refused to elaborate. To do so would require him to recall each sordid detail, and his body’s reaction to them troubled him already.