Page 11 of Between Realms

Ihavebeen a burden.

“Sweet mortal, I only meant that my life can be hectic, with hardly a moment of peace. It wasn’t a slight against you.” Oakes swoops his long arm backward and places his hand on my lower back to encourage me to keep pace with him.

My body lights up with his gentle contact, as if I were caught in a lightning storm.

“I’ve enjoyed your company,” he adds. “Your energy is a wonderful presence. Besides, I have the honor of keeping you safe until we reach our destination.” When I nod, he pulls his hand away.

An emptiness washes over me with the loss of his electric touch.Strange. Maybe I’m far more lonely than I would like to admit.

5

CROWLAND

WYNSTELLE

As the morning passes, I don’t feel the need to fill the time with empty words and awkward conversation. I find we create a comfortable silence between us when there’s nothing to say.

I enjoy Oakes’ quiet strength and protective presence. We trade smiles when a bird song delights our senses. I point out flower faeries as we walk and list their special traits unique to their kind. When I see a type I haven’t seen in person before, I dance with joy. Instead of rolling his eyes at my excitable behavior, he grins in amusement at my happiness.

He recounts a few stories of Elven lore. I’m able to come up with a few tales even he hasn’t heard before. Or so he claims.

He’s probably indulging me like he might a young child, but I’m fine with him being sweet and showing interest in my words. I don’t know his age, so he could be several hundred years old, while I am a mere child in his eyes.

Once the sun reaches its peak, we stop to take a break to sit in the shade on a fallen tree and eat a snack. Oakes offers me some of his cheese and bread. This time, I gladly accept his generosity. It’s smart on my part to stretch my resources. Besides, I sense it brings him genuine satisfaction to share with me.

“I’m impressed by your knowledge. It sounds like your keeper provided you with many books.” Oakes raises a questioning eyebrow. “Or she recited to you many of our tales. And you have an exceptional mind to remember so much.”

I smile at his praise. Elves are known for their sharp minds, and I’ve tried to hone mine to match Merlara’s intellect as best I can. “When I was little, she taught me to read by using the old faerie tales. But now, I read whatever she brings home for me.”

“Then you really have enjoyed your time with Merlara?” Oakes asks with a searching look in his eyes.

“I have.” I nod, nervously picking at my bread. “I’m worried the Ryven Court won’t let me return.”

“What if they offered something better for your future?”

I chuckle softly, unamused at his innocently hopeful question. Is he really that naïve to how his kind views my kind? Briefly, I wonder if the elves in Ryven don’t have the same prejudice as the ones in Betonie, but then I quickly shake off that silly idea. “I don’t see why they would. I’m just a human.”

“So what if you are?” Oakes looks genuinely puzzled.

Why does he believe it’s possible for the royal elves to treat me any better than Merlara has? The common elves in my village weren’t even friendly with me.

“I doubt any good will come from this summons. I expect they will ask me to leave Elfhame.” Rubbing my fingers, I note the tiny scars from my metalworking. “I don’t really belong here.”

“Perhaps you are not Elven. Perhaps you were not born here.” Oakes says adamantly, “But youdeservethe right to stay and be happy. You are a good person.”

I blush at his intensity of his conviction. “How would you know what kind of person I am?”

“I’m sort of an expert on reading people.”

“Oh. Is that your Elven gift?” I ask, excited to know someone with a magical gift. “If it is, what else do you sense about me?”

Oakes stares at me, as if thinking about what to share. My body heats under his scrutiny.

“I sense you put others before yourself,” he finally says.

“You could have guessed that when I tried to let you go on without me, so you wouldn’t get into trouble.” I chuckle, waving him off, realizing he has been messing with me. “And here I believed you had a magical gift. You’re just observant.”

Oakes laughs. “You found me out.”

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