Alni Read online

  “I must tell you my story and pray that you speak the truth. That you do not work for our mad King Mallor. I once was a magic user employed by him, instructed to ensure the humans in neighboring villages were reporting back the appropriate rations for trade. Keeping his elves well fed and in lands that were lush while the humans died of illness and struggled to give what was demanded.”

  Atair gestured towards the men, women, and children that had now taken seat around the fire, digging into their meals. They were quietly talking and joking amongst themselves, not at all seeming to worry about the two newcomers or the Guardian of the Bridge as he spoke to them. Alni wondered if they believed in what Atair had mentioned earlier or if they had even heard he held the stone. Would they really use dragons against dragons and fight the King? Evil against evil would never win, the idea not settling well in Alni’s stomach as Atair spoke.

  “I was sent to kill these people after they were unable to meet the requirements of King Mallor, to make an example of them; but alas, I could not. After betraying the King’s orders, I had to get far away from his lands. Taking them, we made a new home for ourselves. I protect the main entrance to these lands, stopping anyone who has ill intent. I have stopped some of his top guards as they searched and devised plans, ended their trek back to the King. We have homes in the forests, farmlands tucked away. Scarcely anyone travels off the main course and as long as we protect that? We remain hidden away in Nevina.

  Even this far away we hear of what is happening. The fairies whisper of war blooming, of the King wishing to rid Desin of all humans and lesser life. Starting anew. If he has the rest of the stone, Alni, all the dragons will be summoned. Each monster that lay in slumber will be beckoned to attack, he will be unstoppable as the elves were before. But this time? There’s no room for humans.”

  A few mothers tucked their children close against them, whispering under their breath as conversations were held to the side amongst themselves. It was not a concept that was new to them, and Atair had done everything in his power to ensure open conversations were had with his people. Everything had been lost to save them, he’d lose it again. Especially if that meant it would end the death of humans everywhere.

  “I never wanted to be a part of any war, that was not my intention in traveling,” Alni finally spoke, Dora stilling next to him.

  “I just wanted to get away from my old life, find a place to settle down, and find honest work. I had nothing to offer and hoped Glade would provide me with the means…as it had my mother when she was younger. I can’t…fight. I don’t know how to control this…”

  “It does not matter what you are prepared for, the stone has chosen you. It saw something and has given you this power. I refuse to believe it’s only to remain dormant until the darkness finds it,” Atair looked back to the veal in his hands, returning to eat while the words lingered in the air.

  “I have to talk with my comrade,” Alni responded.

  Atair had yet to learn Dora’s name and Alni was not about to offer it up on a plate, lest more connections be made and her secrets revealed.

  As of that point in time, they were partners, and until she gave him a reason to not trust her, he would not pry into what she did not want to share.

  “Where can we set up for the night? We’re exhausted from travel and well-fed. We will want to digest this change in plans.”

  “Of course,” Atair said slowly, gesturing over towards the bridge, “Below you’ll find our home, or you are welcome to set up against the trees away from the main trail. Let there be comfort in knowing we’ll just be a noise away and keeping watch,” the unsaid meaning behind his words lingered and Alni nodded.

  Standing, he reached for Dora, “My pack and knife?”

  “-will be returned to you in the morning, of that I promise you. Just us being cautious, I’m sure you understand. If I was certain the stone wouldn’t turn against me if I tried to pry it from you, I would have attempted to take that, as well. Think about my offer…Alni,” Attair nodded his head towards the two of them, the villagers around him paying no mind as they ate and spoke amongst themselves.

  “Well isn’t that-” but Dora was silenced when Alni’s hand moved downward to her hand, giving it a warning squeeze.

  She grumbled the rest under her breath as they both left the warmth of the fire and headed towards the trees. Out of earshot, but neither foolish enough to believe they’d not be seen if they snuck off.

  Dora snatched her hand away from Alni the moment they left the trail, hand coming around and grasping onto the collar of his shirt, yanking him towards her. Once again, he found himself dangerously close to her face; Dora’s freckles so prominent up close even in the darkness of night. Only the soft glow from the fire across the trail danced along her skin.

  “The Stone of Dragons? Are you kidding me? When exactly were you going to share that? And I’m delivering you right to Mallor by following you to Glade!” Her voice was a hissed whisper, anger flashing across her golden eyes.

  “I didn’t know, and what I can do is none of your business, Dora. If I need to provide you with a list of talents, let me know. I’m sure I can come up with a few that will shock you,” he wasn’t certain where the flash of anger came from, but it was smothered the moment shock crossed her face.

  “Listen, I’m sorry. Obviously we don’t know much about each other and forgive me for not trusting a complete stranger. Let alone someone wanted for thievery and a list of crimes I know nothing about. Someone who has bad blood with the very beings that are going to be sent to destroy all humans? I mean, at least my dragon saved our lives.”

  He shrugged and Dora’s grasp on his tunic loosened until she released him, taking a step back.

  “I’m sorry, too,” she said, and the words surprised her as much as they surprised Alni.

  “Don’t say that often, do you Elladora?”

  “I suppose not. Already regretting it.”

  It didn’t take them long to set up an area for sleep, Atair insisting that they use a spare bed that had been collected by their people. The bed was a small cot filled with hay, blankets filled with feathers were provided. For a moment Dora looked as if she’d faint at the sight of the bed, her hands trailing over the blanket in shock. It was a much welcomed change after sleeping on the ground the previous night, and Alni wasn’t sure how long Dora it had been since she had a proper bed.

  “Take the cot.”

  “There’s room for both of us, just no funny business,” Dora responded, not looking up at him as she laid down on the softness.

  The fire across the trail was being stomped out, the rest of the dying flames destroyed as the world was thrown into darkness. Only the shining moon above provided any light for their small camping spot.

  Wordlessly, Alni made his way over to the cot and lowered himself, the hay providing enough cushion to rest his body; his mind on the words that had been spoken to them both earlier, the promise of a home there with them. A purpose, a place where Alni could finally be useful and wanted. But the idea of leaving Dora before she was at Glade? It wasn’t something that settled well with him, not wanting to have this girl leave him just yet.

  Which was laughable, really. Especially considering he was half convinced Dora would dance with glee the moment she was rid of him. It wasn’t like they were close friends or lovers. They were strangers and he had forced his presence on her life enough.

  “I suppose it…does make sense for me to stay. I feel I’ve complicated your life enough,” his words were soft and calculated as he stared at the shadows of branches reaching above them.

  There was a moment of silence before Dora spoke, clearing her throat.

  “I have not hated your company, but you have to do what is best for you. I don’t trust what they have to say or their interest in the stone, but I have a promise I must fulfill in Glade. I’ll be stopping to speak with my friend in the next village…” her voice trailed off and her hand moved to her side, a mere few inc
hes from his under the feathered blanket.

  The stars shone brightly above them as they laid there, listening to the soft words of the villagers as they settled beneath the bridge and wandered off to their various hidden homes. After a few minutes, everything was silent aside from the crickets.

  “Alni, you’re a good person. Whatever you decide to do, it will work out,” her hand moved over and grasped onto his.

  Surprised, Alni’s hand opened to welcome hers, fingers intertwining as they stared above.

  “You know, you aren’t half bad yourself.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dora awoke with a gasp, a hand pressed firmly against her mouth. It was still dark around them but all she could hear was the fast beating of her heart.

  “It’s me, we need to get out of here if we want a chance to head towards Glade before they stop us. I scanned the area, those watching are fast asleep. We can sneak across the bridge and run once we get to the other side.”

  Slowly, Alni removed his hand from her mouth. His emerald eyes shone down at her, taking a step away from the cot.

  “What about your stuff?” She whispered then, “My knife, I can’t leave without it.”

  “They are still asleep by the fire, I didn’t get much sleep…they decided to come back out and drink for the night. Our stuff should be there, too.”

  Dora, however, had slept like a log next to him. Peaceful and beautiful as she rested, no matter how busy Alni’s thoughts had been on the decision at hand. He had snuck out of the bed, doing his best to track where the watchful eyes were sleeping and figure a way past them once it was time.

  “So you’re coming with me still?” She said, rubbing her eyes as she slowly moved from the bed and stretched.

  There was hesitation in her voice, but also something else, something that felt almost like relief. Her eyes were darting from one eye to the next as she searched for an answer to an unsaid question.

  “Yeah. I’m seeing it through. At this rate, we’ll just get kidnapped again within a day, anyway. We work better together.”

  He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels, looking over to the bridge before looking back at her. Admitting he had not felt right about the situation with Atair and his group and wanted to stay with her was proving far more difficult than he had previously imagined.

  Dora was still looking up at him, the smallest of smiles on her lips, expression not something he could put his finger on. Whatever it was, though. He most certainly liked it.

  “Better hurry. If you’re so good at stealing, we’ll need to put that to work.”

  “You have no idea how good I am,” Dora shot back, moving ahead of him as she started off towards the pathway.

  “Wait here. When I return, get ready to get over that bridge and run.”

  “You’ve got it,” Alni replied, watching her head over to the fire and sleeping bodies nestled close to the bridge.

  It was hard to see the scene play out from his position so he moved closer, leaning against an oak tree as he watched. There were sleeping bodies nearby that he had found when exploring hours before deciding to wake up Dora, all of them surely getting fired from their positions the moment Atair found out they had failed to watch them. After not sleeping much more than an hour overall, he had plenty of time to think to himself about what he was going to do. Alni knew hardly anything about these people and no matter what sort of rocky start Dora and himself had gone through…he was intrigued by this girl. He wanted to learn more and somehow he trusted her. Not even the promise of a place to stay strayed him from the possibility that he could spend just one more day or two alongside her.

  An adventure he had only dreamed of.

  Dora was sneaking down towards the ravine, not making a single noise as her body leaned close to the ground. She was like a feral cat as she slunk towards the snoring men, scarcely seen in the dark morning. It would be hours before they awoke, if all went as planned.

  For one of Mallor’s previous magical hires, one would have thought Atair would have had better watch over them to ensure this very thing didn’t happen. Alni highly doubted the offer would be extended to him a second time if he ever chose to return.

  Dora was close to a hooded, curled up shape by the ashed fire. Her nimble body stretched over him, freezing for a moment as the shape adjusted in sleep. Golden eyes snapped up to Alni before she took a deep breath and focused back to the task.

  When she pulled away, it was with his pack in hand, her jeweled knife in her fist. She was smiling, positively beaming as she backed away and turned towards Alni.

  Unfortunately, the side of Alni’s pack lowered and hit the side of Atair’s face while he slept. There was a growl as his hand rose to his cheek, eyes snapping open and focusing on the elf that stole from him.

  Dora didn’t pause for a moment, kicking up heel towards Alni. Her body was yanked backwards as a strong hand grasped onto Alni’s bag, pulling her back by it. Dora turned and kicked out, boot making contact with Atair’s face. He promptly let go of the bag and she was off again, running closer and closer to Alni, face frantic as she pointed towards the bridge.

  “Run!” She managed out, continuing on as she started across.

  Alni took off after her, running as fast as his long legs would carry him. He was vaguely aware of yelling behind them, but they were both too fast, already across the bridge and into the forests with no sign of anyone keeping up. Atair was screaming after them, his voice a boom of emotion and rage that he could not decipher.

  Alni supposed he should have been terrified, should have been hyper-focused on the two of them getting to safety as soon as possible. When he caught up to her and grabbed his bag, running alongside her, he was feeling something else entirely. It was like a bubble of adrenaline and excitement poured out of his body and into the air around them. Happiness and relief that could not be masked by any other emotion.

  Tears of laughter ran down his face as they sprinted through the forest, jumping over tree roots and reaching branches. Dora was breathing just as heavily as he was, but soon it was replaced with her own gasps of laughter as they continued the race.

  Neither of them stopped until they reached the top of a hill and the edge of the Nevina forests, wheezing over bent knees as they fought the laughter and sheer exhaustion, bodies gasping for more air flow. Alni’s hand landed on Dora’s back the moment some control returned to him.

  “Well done, no wonder you’re wanted. Always get seen, do ya?”

  “Not…always,” Dora laughed, fighting for breath between each word.

  It wasn’t long before the two of them were heading down towards an old farmhouse at the bottom of the hill, the last of their laughter drifting away. Knowing they would not be safe there for long, it was better to see if they could find a place to get some proper food before heading out towards her friend’s village. It was the next stop on their way to Glade but the final leg of the journey was going to be an exhausting one for them both, no villages for a good two days’ walk.

  There wasn’t a true fear of getting caught by Atair and his gang, again. The two of them had easily run several miles away, doubting he would take any fighters and abandon the women and children under his care to follow them. Still, they were feeling the miles they had run, exhaustion, lack of sleep, and hunger eating at the two of them as they approached the farmhouse.

  There was smoke billowing out from the chimney, a clear sign that whomever lived there had been awake and starting their day. Things were finally starting to look lucky for the two, a change of pace that was so desperately needed.

  When they got closer Alni could see a child playing outside with sticks upon the ground. The girl looked about five summers old with dark brown straggly hair and wore a dusty red dress, the sticks in her hand were bashed together, her voice low as she spoke for them. She lifted her dirty head and peered over at the two approaching when Alni’s foot kicked a rock, standing with sticks in hand as the s
ound alerted her. Dora approached her first, flashing a bright smile, hand lifting and offering a small wave.

  “Hello there! Are your parents about?”

  The little girl opened her mouth to respond but stopped, her eyes fixed on Dora’s long ears protruding from her dark hair. The smile faded from Dora’s face as the little girl shrieked and ran for the front door of the farmhouse, tripping over her feet along the way. She opened the door and turned around, giving them one more fearful look before slamming it behind her.

  “Nice going, Alni.”

  “Are you kidding me? I didn’t do anything. It was you she was so scared of,” Alni scoffed, following Dora as she headed towards the house, stopping to knock on the large wooden door.

  Footsteps were heard inside, then a high voice from the other side of the door as someone approached.

  “Who be it?”

  Alni answered that time, “Just two weary travelers wondering if food would be available in exchange for manual labor.”

  The rest of their rations had been taken from the pack the night before. Thankfully his father’s knife and Alni’s journal and maps had remained. It was sheer luck that their weapons had not been passed off to others in the group. It seemed Atair had been somewhat sure they’d choose to stay and kept the things together under his care. Alni had been surprised himself when the decision was made not to stay; after all, they had given him the offer he’d been searching for.

  The door opened despite the wail of the child’s protest from inside, an enormously large woman stood in the doorway before them. She wore a brown dress, stretched snugly across her torso as she leaned closer. One hand lifted to adjust her glasses, looking at their heads while the small girl clutched her dress and peered around her leg with narrowed, accusing eyes.