Page 67

Valentina beamed, a hand already on my shoulder, pushing me to get up. “I knew you’d find it. Come on,” there was no hesitation. Everything about her was always on go. I couldn’t even sit in my own wonder for a few moments before we were set off to explore.

Standing, I offered my mother a hand. She kicked off the wall, taking it graciously as I guided her through the threshold. “Are we even supposed to meet them? Your dad said I shouldn’t be meeting anyone yet?” I called out as we caught up to Valentina.

She turned to walk backwards as she spoke. “The Elves are neutral in all this. That’s why they retreated underground after the Endless Winter began. Honestly, I’m surprised they left an entrance this exposed.” As we moved deeper, the tunnel lit. It was a soft, low light spilling from the ceiling. Just enough to see. It came from clusters of strange insects clinging to the rock. They hissed softly, like cicadas at night. Valentina turned around as she continued to lead us down the path. “We just stumbled right in.”

“Maybe it’s a trap?” my mom added warily.

“Maybe?” I echoed as my eyes adjusted to the depth.

Valentina looked between us, brow lifting. “Not every creature here is untrustworthy. The only ones we really need to worry about… are our own.” A warning, and a correction.

My eyebrow lifted at the statement. I knew there were more than just vampires. I saw the werewolves, fae, and mermaids. So adding another one to my list of fairytale creatures come true wouldn’t be that hard to understand.

“Oh,” my mother muttered.

The walls narrowed, moist and breathing with the earth. Those low flutters I'd heard before now drummed deeper in my ears, bouncing off the passage in all directions. There were too many to count, but I knew we were surrounded. My own quickened just a fraction at the thought. At the end of the hall, the path split. There were two openings parallel and identical to each other. Both tunnels were lit by thousands of glowing insects clinging to the rock like living stars. Both paths sloped downward, disappearing into shadow.

Releasing my mother’s hand, I walked closer to study each path. Valentina watched in silence, trusting my instincts. This was as new to her as it was to me, so it didn’t matter who chose. But my gut was telling me either path led to them. Hiding was impossible here. This was their domain, and we had no choice but to make ourselves known.

I chose the left and led us down into the unknown.

The deeper we went, the dirt gave way to polished oak stairs lit by fire-torches mounted along both walls. Vines and flowers bloomed unnaturally against the stone like mounted murals. Even the steps gleamed with a near-mirror shine. Instinct kept them behind me. As green as I was, I wouldn’t let either of them take the first hit. I’d defend them if it killed me.

At the base stood three doors stacked in a single frame, each a different size. The largest was nearly fifteen feet tall, the medium around seven, and the smallest no more than three. For a moment, I wondered if there were giants here in Velarune. Then my mind thought of Bomani, no, he wasn’t fifteen feet tall, but he was far larger than the average person. We approached the medium door, and I turned its knob to find it unlocked. Taking one deep breath, I pushed the frame open.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward us. When Valentina had said we’d be meeting elves, I expected… well, I didn’t know what to expect. But they were unlike anything I’d seen. Most didn’t reach my kneecap. With a clear shock on my face, my eyes bounced from Valentina, then my mom, then back to the elves. Their eyes were oversized, taking up most of their skulls, with fleshy, tall ears pointed skyward. Even though they were tiny, they were elegant. Their coloring was tinted cobalt and blush. Some had thick manes spilling to the floor with lush blondes and deep brunettes. Then the men wore beards framing their small faces. The women wore fine silks like Val’s; the men wore suits or armor.

The space felt more courtyard than room: stone paths branching into intersecting caves; buildings with tealights glowing in their arches. We’d interrupted their buzzing day. Some sat on stone benches; others stood mid-conversation as our gate opened.

At the end of the street, a stairwell descended behind an enclosed stone wall. Two guards stood post at the bottom, thick wooden staves in hand. In unison, they slammed them to the ground with thunderous claps that shook the floor.

“The Orprus and his Delatrus,” they roared.

Two figures descended the staircase. The elves parted instantly, clearing a reverent path. Those seated rose to join the bowing. It was like watching a movie play out before me, when a King came to greet their subjects.

We stood frozen at the entrance, waiting for their move.

One of the figures was slightly taller than the other. His skin was a deep, rich caerulean, ears twice as big as the rest. Three thick silver braids flowed behind him, and a matching beard hung to his abdomen. He wore robes instead of a suit, embroidered with a tree whose roots stretched into carved tunnels. He walked chin high, staff taller than himself in hand. The other wore similar attire in white and silver. His ears were large as well, but his skin was salmon-pink; two jet-black braids fell down his back, his beard to his waist.

As they passed, the crowd dropped to their knees, foreheads and palms to the stone in solemn reverence. Beside me, Valentina bowed, forehead to the floor. Instead of raising her hands, she clasped both wrists behind her back in disciplined deference. My mother mimicked her without hesitation.

I began to follow suit, until Valentina hissed, “Stay standing, my King.” Knots twisted in my stomach as I hesitated. A part of me itched to be in uniform with the others, but another part laughed at the mere thought of submission. The only thing my pride could allow me to do was bow my head as I stayed upright.

No one lifted their gaze. Only heartbeats filled the chamber, beating in anticipation.

The blue-skinned elf strode toward us, the pink one gliding at his heels. “GUEST,” he boomed, his voice rolling through the hollow like thunder. Amusement flickered underneath his features before it was replaced by an unreadable mask. He looked me over, slow and deliberate. “Friend or foe?”

The question caught me off guard at first. I wasn’t expecting them to approach us almost immediately. I didn’t know if I could trust them, but answering foe seemed like a death sentence in itself. Clearing my throat, I managed, “Friend,” carefully. It felt like the only right answer. I couldn’t go acquiring enemies in week one.

“Then why did you not bow before royalty? I am the Orprus,” he asked, head tilting.

“I didn’t know you were royalty,” I said quickly. I had to try using ignorance as an apology. From his clothing alone, I should’ve known. It was the finest garments in the court. Then the way they bowed like he was a god was a giveaway.

He chuckled. “Then how can you call yourself a friend when you don’t even know who I am? Who we are?” His eyes slit as he studied me. “You barge into our home in the middle of a war your kind ignited… and greet us with insult. Some friend you are.” He swayed his staff toward my face as he approached, voice darkening with every syllable. “Now the question is: what kind of friends shall we be to you, sir…?” He lowered the staff to my chest, prodding as he interrogated me. He glanced at my mother, then Valentina. “At least your women understand respect.”

The way he questioned me with fever had my answers stuck in my throat. He didn’t even give me a real chance to answer as he kept tossing them out.

He stepped to my mother, lifting her chin with one long finger until her eyes met his. He inhaled. “I can still smell the humanity clinging to her skin.” Another breath. “What is your name?”