Page 40 of The Serpent’s Shadow

I had seen the elder councilmen of Corym’s people. The trio in the command tent had gray hues in their silver manes, yet had the pristine faces of unbroken snow. Elayina, by contrast, looked like a human woman well into her hundreds. Her ears were not as long and pointy. They drooped a bit, likely from age.

Perhaps she hasn’t “aged well,” in that sense, because of her human side?

“Ah,” she muttered. “The child returns. With the visitor.”

“The” visitor. Not “a” visitor. Interesting. Does Elayina know Corym?

Corym went to one knee, bowing his head like he was about to be knighted by a queen. “Lady Ancient One, it is an honor to make your presence.”

“There are two of you, youngling,” she answered in response, giving no indication or acknowledgement of Corym’s deference. “I do not like twos.”

Corym lifted his head, staying kneeled. “Ravinica Lindeen is a special case. As I think you know,Anvari.”

“Aye. I told her the same thing. Did I not?” She looked at me as she finished her words, tilting her head just so.

I swallowed hard, nodding. “You did, ma’am.”

“Have you discovered what it is that makes you relevant, child?”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I shook my head. “My magic is no longer dormant, however. I wonder if you had something to do with that.”

“I can draw magic out of people in the same way I can hold the sun. Meaning, I can’t.”

I had almost forgotten that Lady Elayina, despite her age and status, had a funny way of talking. She spoke in riddles, somewhat, but also had a biting sense of humor or commentary behind her words. She shared the same glinting eyes my friends and lovers did—sly, mischievous, rebellious.

“I will allow it,” she said with a firm nod, motioning to the two of us. “Perhaps I am a bored, lonely old hag, as the humans believe.”

Corym stood from his knee, hands curling into fists at his sides. He spoke forcefully, jolting me. “You are not,Anvari! The humans know not of what they speak.”

My head swiveled between them. I was surprised it took Corym, a much younger elf, to instill confidence in the ancient half-elven seer, considering how powerful I thought she was. He was propping her up, lifting her out of her self-pity—a trait of hers that was decidedly human, I believed.

“Why are you here, visitor?” she asked him, raising her chin. Her rheumy eyes were slits behind the bulging skin of her eyelids.

Corym put a fist to his chest. “It is time for you to come home, Lady Elayina.”

For a long moment, the Ancient One said nothing. She simply tilted her head again, smacking her lips as she mulled over his words. “Is that so? Who has decided this? You? The elven council?”

“Both,Anvari.The wards separating Midgard from Alfheim are weakened.”

“I have felt the life of these magics weakening in the wind, aye. Yet they still exist. And human blood still festers inside me.”

My throat went hollow as I stifled a gasp, listening to them converse.Is she saying humans cannot go through the portals, even with weakened wards?I supposed that meant my daydream of visiting Alfheim was a nonstarter. It made me sadder than I wanted to admit.

“We have the power to bring you home, Lady,” Corym said. “Three wardtracers line our vanguard. Elder councilmen.”

“Fools and soothsayers,” Elayina spat. She was growing agitated, and Corym had a shocked look on his face when I glanced over at him—not expecting this retort. “Where have the wardtracers and elders been until now, hmm?”

Corym, fell silent, bowing his head. Eventually, he spoke in a low drawl. “Ljosalfar did not have the means to return to Midgard until now, Lady.”

“Nonsense,E’tre’arus! Do not speak to me of means and ability, youngling. Do you know who you are talking to?”

She showed anger and grandeur—a clear sign of her swelling, ancient power. The tree began to creak around her as her temper increased. The room suddenly felt sweltering, as if she controlled the soil and weather in this cave.

Corym saluted again with his fist to his chest. “I do,Anvari. Apologies. I did not mean to offend with my crass words.”

The elf was walking a tightrope. Elayina was not as cogent and malleable as he had hoped. She was stern, had a backbone, and believed the elves had not done enough to help her. Her rage seemed well-deserved, to me, an outsider.

When the room fell silent and tense, I held my breath, listening to my heartbeat rattle in my ears.

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