Page 9 of Ties of Starlight

“That... That would be accurate.” Frode nodded, still wincing as though Nyrunn might throttle him.

“And you've searched the whole castle?”

Frode closed one eye. “That… That would also be accurate.”

“And the city?” Nyrunn’s voice rose with each word.

“We have not verified that yet.”

“Search the city and find him.” When the men didn't move, Nyrunnshouted, “Now!”

Then they jumped into action and Nyrunn gestured to the door and said, “Have you searched his room for any clues as to where he went?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty,” Frode said, as one of the guards opened the door. “We were discussing our next steps when you arrived.”

Nyrunn swept inside, throwing over his shoulder, “Then I’ll search it myself while the guards search the city. Maybe there's a clue about where he's gone in there.”

He scanned over the room, and the first thing he saw was that all the windows were open, but if Olaug had gone out one, Nyrunn could not determine which.

The room was mostly in order, no sign of it being disturbed, not even from Frode and the others who had first discovered Olaug's disappearance. It certainly wasn't disheveled enough to suggest Olaug had been taken from it unwillingly. There was no sign of struggle. Which would be the only thing that would save him from Nyrunn's wrath.

No. From the made bed and the neat dresser, it was clear Olaug had gone of his own accord.

Wait, there was something on the dresser.

Nyrunn turned to Frode, who had followed him into the room. “What is that and why didn't you examine it?”

Frode blanched. “Well, Your Majesty, I didn’t see it when I first looked; I was more preoccupied with the missing groom. When I saw the room was empty, I rushed back out to get the guards to begin searching the castle.”

Nyrunn rolled his eyes and moved toward the dresser. Maybe there would be some kind of reasonable explanation that would spare him when Nyrunn got his hands on him.

It had better be a good one, especially since they were going to have to give it to Idonea if they couldn'tfind him quickly.

But when Nyrunn reached the letter, it didn't have Idonea's name on the front.

It had Nyrunn's.

He snatched it up and tore it open.

To His Majesty, King Nyrunn,

If you're reading this, then you know I'm gone. I can assure you that you won't find me. Not in time for the wedding.

I tried. I tried to convince myself I could do this, but I can't. Being part of the Cometa Couple, it's not an honor. It's a curse. And I can't even make myself do it for our people. No one even cared if I ever wanted to be part of this. It was forced upon me.

I would say there are plenty of other elves who meet the requirements and would be willing, but after Idonea was selected, that's not the case. Any human blood is hard enough to get past, but few are willing to entertain the idea of marriage to a half-human. And one of her standing? Her appearance?

At least the three-quarters elves and more actually look like us.

She's alright for a time, but she's not a girl you marry. Her features are interesting enough in their novelty, but a taste of exoticism is more than enough to satisfy. To have children with such a creature? The shine wears off fast the longer you look at her. For being so short, there’s far too much of her. Her limp, dead black hair. Her mostly curved ears. It’s clear she knows it too, given how she desperately covers as much of herself as possible in a pitiful attempt to make it seem like there’s less of her, but all she does is make it more obvious. That alone is enough; I can’t stomach her for the rest of my life.

Even if I could swallow my revulsion enough to suffer her until I had an heir, that would only be the case if the rest of her was unobjectionable outside her repulsive physical appearance. Being near her, I feel sick to my stomach. I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t know if it’s the pathetic way she looksat me or her strange, disconcerting silence. You can almost smell the desperation on her.

There is something wrong with that girl, and I won't chain myself to her for the rest of my life.

I'm sure you understand. You never had a choice either. From the moment you were born, you were trapped in your position. I think I was too. It's a never-ending cycle. Look at what happened to the last Cometa Couple. And the ones before them.

No. I'm not going to be part of it any longer. You want to force someone to marry that girl and be condemned to suffer her? It won't be me.

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