Page 25 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
“What is this?” I mutter, breaking the kiss.
I leap from his lap and run towards the edge of the roof for a better view. The temples of the seventy-seven Elven Gods are burning. I recognize the shields scattered on the ground from House Trenton, House Elwood, House Clayborne, and the knights of Völundr.
I don’t understand…there are elves among the slaughtered warriors in the field below. A shiver goes through me.
My head whirls to look at the stranger but he suddenly grabs my jaw between his thumb and finger, forcing me to look at the raging flames and destruction.
His breath is hot against my ear as he whispers,“Come find me.”
Chapter 5 Rhianelle
Some of the Aldarelfs in the council room appear a little drunken after the Merafall celebration yesterday. It doesn’t stop them from raising their voices in the hall. A headache creeps into my head at the shrillness of their arguments.
“Are we waiting for loss of life to act?” Thurston, governor of the western frontier delivers his concern.
“No one wins in a war,” Lord Clayborne counters wearily. I feel horrible for what I did to his son last night. Though the Aldarelf doesn’t seem to be aware of it yet.
Each one of these meetings is slowly eating at my soul. My mind eddies to the dream I had last night.
“Come find me.”
His voice whispered near my ear. My dream guy is not an elf. But I still feel his summon in my heart and bones, calling for me from across worlds. If only I could remember his face. The nightmare is starting to leech into my waking hours. I quickly banish the thought and focus on the discussions at hand.
“Are there no additional motions? We should wrap this early,” Seneschal Kearne announces. “The Archon is to be honored when the sun is at its highest today.”
I take a deep breath. “That won’t be necessary. Garrett is no longer a contender for the throne,” I announce to the court.
Surprised murmurs resound in the holy chamber.
“But—but we agreed that the trial is to commence at noon,” Clayborne says, his words faltering.
“You announced that and decided things all on your own,” I say in a controlled voice. “I don’t remember agreeing to it.”
Garrett’s father slumps in his seat, completely stunned. His face twists in agony of despair and grief. The blow must be too hard for him to control his emotions, even as a High Elf.
“My son is gone…” he mutters numbly.
“The Queen has every right to eliminate her opponent as per tradition,” Kearne surmises, a light sympathy fills his voice as he looks at the distraught Aldarelf. Members of the council offer a moment of silence for Gerailt Clayborne.
The serene air shatters into noises of shock and disbelief the moment Garrett enters the hall with a grin on his face. His newly polished silver armor gleams in the soft elvenlight as he takes his place at the dais between Darstan and Aelfric.
“What is the meaning of this?” one of the Aeonians asks from their veiled position.
My heart almost stops at the question, but I slowly raise my head to look at the balcony. Elves like every other creature, fade to aging and death sooner or later. Even if the physical body can stand the test of time, the mind will not. Most elves will never choose to go past two thousand years old. The Aeonians, by the blessing of the deities, had stayed far beyond their time to become the heaven’s voice on earth.
To challenge their authority is to denounce the gods themselves.
“Lord Clayborne delivered his son’s name into the Holy Flame before the gods. It is only right that you respond,” the Elders command. “The rule of the Archon is ironclad.”
They’re going to insist I carry out the tradition.
“I have answered Lord Clayborne’s challenge. I have taken the life of his only heir,” I answer them in a clear voice. “He is my sworn knight now.”
My eyes fall on Garrett who returns my gaze with a broad smile. This is such a gamble. The Ancient Ones can have us both punished for treason.
“It has never been done before,” the same Aeonian bellows. One of them peers through their veil to look at me. A chill creeps through my veins as our gazes lock. Venomous is the only way I can describe that stare. The wrath and disdain in that look are so potent it poisons the air.
I fight through the paralyzing dread to stand my ground. “Garrett is mine. He will serve as my royal knight. His life is forfeit.”
