Page 99 of Dark Elves of Ardani

Tahir turned to Zara as she ate with Basira and Naika. “Do you really mean to get rid of the Paladins?”

“I do.”

“Do you really think you can do it?”

“We can do it,” Crow said, coming to stand before them, folding her arms over her chest. Her eyes quickly scanned the humans, and for the first time, Zara saw a hint of fear in her face, despite her air of confidence. Her husband and daughter were Varai, even if she wasn’t. She herself was a half-elf, even if she hid it well. Zara wondered how many times she’d been betrayed by other humans.

“The Witch-Paladin was the one we were really afraid of,” Crow explained. “Everyone thinks she’s only their servant, but she is their protector. She’s more of a threat than the rest of them combined. She’s the reason the Paladins haven’t been removed from these mountains already.”

Everyone looked at Naika, who looked taken aback by this statement.

“With her on our side, and all of you, we can do this.” Crow paused, looking over them carefully. “If you are willing to work together, that is.”

The humans exchanged uneasy looks.

“Are you sure they aren’t going to kill us?” someone whispered to Zara.

Zara sighed. “Yes. But I am less sure that getting rid of Theron will be so easy. There was something odd about him. Something different. Did you notice?”

Zara looked over at Naika. The mage hesitated, frowning, then mimed writing.

Tahir retrieved a small notebook and pencil for her, and Naika began quickly drawing something.

The outline of a face became clear—a man with dark hair. She drew the symbol of Paladius next to him.

“Theron?” Basira asked.

Naika nodded. She moved to another spot on the page, then hesitated again, the tip of her pencil hovering over the paper. She glanced up at Zara, looking like she wished she could say something.

“What?” Zara asked quietly.

Naika frowned and started another drawing.

Basira turned to Zara as they waited. “What do you mean by ‘odd’?”

“He was healing himself. Magically. I watched him do it.”

“He’s a mage?” Crow asked, raising her eyebrows. “A Paladin?”

“No. I do not think so. I do not know for certain. He said it was a blessing from Paladius.”

“Do you believe him?” Crow asked.

“I do not know what to believe.” Zara looked down at Naika’s drawing. It was another face. But Zara became confused when Naika added two objects protruding from its crown. Horns.

“A… demon?” Zara asked in disbelief.

Naika set her pencil down and nodded. There was a pause as everyone looked at the drawing with confusion.

“Obviously the Paladins are bastards, but I don’t think they’re actually demons,” Crow said.

Naika just shook her head and tapped the drawing with her finger.

The longer Zara looked at the drawing, the more it unsettled her. “He is possessed,” she said slowly.

Naika nodded emphatically.

It sounded crazy. That was why Naika had been reluctant to tell them. She was afraid they wouldn’t believe her.

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