Page 145 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

It was only then that he noticed the pair of dull blue eyes set in a pale, smooth face staring out at him from behind the curtain at the window.

Callias. The boy who had always assisted the old mage in the room with the dripping ceiling and the stone table. He’d hidden here when the alarm sounded.

The boy’s eyes widened when he realized he’d been spotted. Vaara stared at him, dismayed.

He couldn’t kill him. He may have been human, but he was still only a child. So Vaara started to leave.

“...this way,” came a too-close voice from outside. “Going to check the rooms…”

Vaara stopped, trapped.

He looked at Callias, who was still staring in terror. Vaara was certain he would shout for help now that they were so close. But the boy didn’t move. His mouth remained tightly shut.

With no other options, Vaara faded and ducked against the wall behind the door. He readied his sword as footsteps approached. Blood dripped down his wrist, making his fingers slide on the hilt.

The door swung open. The guard on the other side of the door cast a long shadow across the floor.

“Callias,” the guard snapped, and the boy jumped. “Have you seen anything? Did a prisoner come by here?”

Callias hesitated. He didn’t look in Vaara’s direction even once. His mouth opened as if to speak, but nothing came out.

“Well?” demanded the guard.

Callias shook his head emphatically.

Vaara raised his eyebrows. He lowered his sword a fraction.

The guard grunted. “You should hide under the bed, boy. I can see your feet under the bottom of the curtain. Better yet, pick up a sword. Make yourself useful. Didn’t your parents teach you not to cower like that?”

“Yes, lady.”

The woman snorted, then shut the door.

Vaara listened to her footsteps fade away, then let his spell drop. Callias’s eyes immediately darted in his direction.

Vaara’s eye narrowed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Callias stared at him. After a moment, he shrugged.

Vaara took a careful step toward him. Callias stiffened and suddenly looked like he was about to run or scream.

Vaara stopped. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Callias relaxed slightly, but didn’t look completely reassured. “I bet night elves always say that to people they’re about to kill.”

“On the contrary,” Vaara said. “If I mean to kill someone, I want them to know it.”

The boy bit his lip, uncertain. His eyes wandered toward Vaara’s arm. “You have normal blood,” he said.

“What?”

“I always thought it would be blue, or maybe black.”

“What in the fifth hell are you talking about? You must have seen me bleed a thousand times by now.”

He shook his head again. “I always avert my eyes for that part. I don’t like blood.”

There was another pause as they studied each other warily.

---