Page 34 of Bound By Darkness

I shrug as I consider the question. Regardless, I will have my way with her, and then I’ll be done with her. It will be simpleto walk away, as I don’t believe she’s the answer to anything, though perhaps Dragan still clutches that ideal.

To me, she’s nothing.

***

It’s perhaps another two hours before we reach the road. In that time, the only one to speak has been Flumph and I would prefer to avoid his conversation—it’s inane, at best.

I find myself growing curious as to why Dragan is so introspective. He’s more brooding than usual. I decide he’s simply eating crow regarding the fact that I am now in charge of our band and my leadership is quite superior to his. I imagine this is not an easy detail to digest.

“I hear something,” he finally says.

I pique my ears and, sure enough, the sound of a sputtering engine can be heard perhaps a mile down the road. This time, I don’t believe it’s wise to stand our ground.

“We must get off the road,” I tell the group.

As I am the one holding the rope that binds the demoness’ hands, I lead her toward the cover of trees. Keeping my grip firm, lest she attempt to flee, I cloak the two of us (er, three of us, since Flumph is riding on her shoulder) with an illusionment charm that will block us from view. Baron and Dragan do the same.

We’re perhaps twenty feet from the road, watching in nervous anticipation as the sound of the vehicle’s engine grows louder. Without incident, a red truck trundles by, its wheels bouncing merrily on the thick, uneven gravel.

I have yet to understand how these motorized carriages work but it’s a subject better left for another day, when I’m not wanted by the false king.

I let out a sigh of relief before I release my hold on the ropes and remove the protective layer of invisibility I’d magicked for us. Then I wave everyone onward.

It’s night by the time we reach the river.

For a moment, I’m awed by its beauty.Riverinelines the water on either bank, making it appear crystal clear. The water moves quickly, slicing through the land as it meanders out and around the road before disappearing into the tree line of the forest.

Overhead, the moon is full, lighting our way in milky shades of blue. Nearly everything exists in a monochromatic blue-gray hue.

The cover of darkness will be ideal for our entry into Earlann. Even so, we’ll need to find a way to attract the attention of Raflamir and Raflamir alone. It will be well understood in all realms that Variant is hunting us, and we are to be considered enemies to the crown.

The confidence I portrayed regarding Raflamir’s loyalty may have been slightly exaggerated, as I have not seen nor heard from him in a very long time, but I’m certain he won’t betray us. Raflamir was always a man of high moral character. Even though we haven’t spoken since the war, I have no reason to believe my friend won’t come to our aid. His allegiance to the new order has been fickle over the years, usually in response to whether or not he holds Variant’s favor. And rumor of late is that he’s lost Variant’s favor.

Though I was never able to leave Geldingstock, owing to my banishment, news was still able to reach me. It is true that nothing travels faster than gossip.

I can only hope my request for food and shelter will fall upon favorable ears, and I believe it will. Elves are creatures of community and family. We pride ourselves on our loyalty to our own kind, and our honesty and magnanimity to those weconsider comrades. It’s this sense of noble honor that I shall appeal to, where Raflamir is concerned.

Furthermore, we place the utmost importance on the balance of the natural world. In this way, no elf would ever choose to accept the false king, for he exists solely for himself and has already and will assuredly continue to uproot the balance of all things natural.

I am positive Raflamir will be true to his race, and will proudly and graciously open his arms and his home in support of what is noble and what is right.

Cutting through the underbrush, I make my way swiftly towards the entrance of Earlann. The scent of lilac and magnolia clings to the light breeze that rustles the nearby foliage. It’s sweet and syrupy, mingling with the collective odors that hover around my travel companions and me.

Flumph flutters beside my head as I crouch low to the ground and pluck one of the glisteningRiverinerocks from the flowing stream. I hand it to the insufferable little creature and point to a shard of stone that juts out from the outcrop of the rockface. “Hold it up to catch a beam of moonlight. Don’t lower your arm until I signal you to do so.”

The sprite’s little wings flap wildly as he struggles under the weight of the stone. “Oh, sure, make me do all the heavy liftin’. Ain’t like I gots anythin’ better ta do.” He flies toward the shard of stone even as he complains tirelessly, his squeaky little voice fading away with each flap of his wings.

Dragan eyes me from where he lurks in the shadows, reluctantly holding the demoness’ rope. “Are we here?” he asks.

“We’ve reached the gateway to Earleann, yes,” I answer.

He shakes his head. “I still think this is a terrible idea. It’s best that no one know our situation or our whereabouts.”

“You are allowed your own opinion,” I respond archly as I make my way over to them, chewing the inside of my cheek tokeep the sharp comments that hover on my tongue at bay. But, only for now. The gargoyle crosses his massive arms over his chest, and cocks an arrogant brow.

“What’s the plan?” he grumbles.

“We need to catch Raflamir’s attention without signaling any sentries.”

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