Page 27 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
I can almost hear the screeching of the monstrous wyvern.
“We must send an envoy to negotiate with the Demon Lord before it’s too late,” the Elder mandates.
“That would be a problem,” Cedwyn interrupts with a small voice. All heads turn in his direction.
“He will not agree to meet with any of us unless it’s—” the young knight pauses to cast his look upon me. “It’s you, Your Grace. He made it a prerequisite to only speak to the Queen of the Elves.”
Fear grips my throat at the revelation.
“Nonsense,” Rainer snaps at the boy.
Whispers of the demon’s treachery and the dangers of my travel filter through the chamber.
The Aeonian speaks again, “It is up to the queen whether she would sacrifice an ounce of her time to carry this negotiation for the sake of our kingdom.” There is a hint of ridicule and a challenge in that statement.
Rainer’s lips curl to a snarl. “The bastard lives in the In Between. Do you think I will let you lead my niece into a trap?”
As much as I detest being some kind of passkey for the Aeonian to bargain with a demon, I need to find out what happened to Blaire. People don’t vanish from the surface of the earth. I swallow once before rising to my feet. “So be it. I shall meet the Demon Lord, Kheirall Balthazar.”
The blowof trumpets announces the departure of our envoy to the human world. My heart soars with pride as the mighty bell of the clocktower rings seventy-seven times, signifying the blessing of the gods. The city has never looked more beautifulfrom outside the walls, with the sun baking the malachite stones on the rooftops of the buildings.
Dread coils in my chest whenever I think of Blaire, wherever she may be. I distract myself by rubbing the soft fur over my mount’s golden coat. The Noctral neighs at the gesture, the black horn on top of her head glinting purer than a newborn star. What would have taken an ordinary horse weeks and months to travel through forested hills and rivers will only take the Noctrals until the sun sets. A creature blessed by the Goddess of Light and can tear through the fabric of time itself. Less than two hundred of their population remains, and we are taking half of them with us on this journey.
I wave back to the crowd that is praying for my safe passage to the In Between. This convivial commotion reminds me of the triumphant cheer they offered my mother whenever she went for battle.
The cheer becomes deafening the moment Rainer strides in on his Noctral. The Silver Stag of the East is looking glorious in his battle suit, the perfect embodiment of a warrior from the Noble House of Völundr. His very presence commands respect. He has earned that along with the adoration from the people.
A war hero.
No one questions what he does. Not even when he has two dozen assassins tailing behind his back. He canters his steed close to mine.
My heart constricts in my chest. “You don’t have to come, Uncle.”
Despite the appearances he puts up, I know Rainer is not in the best of health.
“The last time those bastards sent my niece on a mission, she never came back,” Rainer says without feeling.
“It’s too convenient the way they fished you out of these walls.” His gaze is locked on the three Aldarelfs at the helm ofour small procession. The Aeonians have appointed Lord Ctibor, Lady Tierra Elwood, and Commissioner Eamon to be their voice in this mission. “They’re sending you to your death.”
I wince at the brittle words. But this is something that I must do.
As my uncle continues his drivel, I take another long look at my kingdom, my people. I will not let the streets of Aelfheim be covered in ash and blood.
Darstan and Garrett flank my mount the moment Rainer leaves me for the company of his Grimsbane. Immense guilt still haunts me for what I did to Lord Clayborne’s sole heir. I study the beautiful red hood and cloak of his house over the dark riding leather of the royal guard.
He catches me staring and flashes me a grin.
“You can’t inherit your father’s seat, you can’t marry without my blessings, you can’t even speak without permission,” I confess, my voice breaking. “I feel like I’ve stolen a life from you.”
“I have never been happier,” he chuckles softly, his broad smile lighting up his emerald eyes. “Come and look at this.”
My eyes slowly follow the direction he points.
“That stone marks the furthest I’ve ever ventured out in my patrols.” His voice bright and careless. “We’re fulfilling our dreams, Your High—Rhianelle.”
A small smile tugs my lips over his words and at his slip. I insist on him calling me by my name outside of formal occasions.
It’s only after the tall walls of Atlas have vanished behind us that a sudden fear takes hold of me. The outside world is a beautiful and dangerous place.
