Page 77 of The Daughter of the Scarred Elf

Kolfinna swallowed down the sudden apprehension thickening the air. Now that she was in front of the elf, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the woman purred. Her voice sounded like smooth velvet—strong and feminine, with a hint of a dialect she had never heard before.

Kolfinna flinched. “Have you now?”

“But of course.” The woman rose to her feet slowly. She was at least a head taller than Kolfinna. She peered down at her with gleaming, blood-red eyes.

Even though there was a barrier of runes between them, Kolfinna inadvertently shrank back.

The woman gracefully bowed low, her hand pressing against her chest. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

She blinked.

Your Highness?

Her heart hammered. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. “I’m not—” Her throat closed up. She was not … She was not the heir. She couldn’t be. “I’m not royalty.”

“You are my commander’s daughter.” The woman flashed a white-toothed smile. One of her teeth was sharp like a dagger’s tip. “I must show my respect.”

“No.” The word ripped from Kolfinna’s mouth sharply.

The woman didn’t seem the slightest bit deterred. “My name is Rakel, Your Highness. I came all this way to see if you were here. We’ve been looking all across this country for you. Just my luck that I found you before the others.” She chuckled softly, in amusement, or perhaps something more sinister. “Come now, we must go?—”

“No.” Kolfinna took another step back. She suddenly became too aware of the fact that she shared the woman’s white hair, and that she was likely part elf too. But she couldn’t come to terms with it. Couldn’t fathom that she was also an elf. “I came here to ask you some questions. Not to go somewhere with you.”

Rakel tilted her head to the side, red eyes glowing. “I am more than happy to answer your questions, Your Highness.”

“Stop calling me that.” It sounded ridiculous out loud. There was no way she could be royalty, but in the back of her mind, she remembered the way the black shadows had melted out of her.

“Your father?—”

“My father is dead.” She clenched her fists together. The two gashes on her palms had healed hours ago, and the feel of the new scars made her feel even more out of place. “He died when I was four.”

Rakel studied her expressionlessly. “Your father is very much alive. The other was not your father.”

“I have questions I need answers to. Youwillanswer me.” Kolfinna didn’t know where her confidence came from, but the words came out like fire. Quick and heated. If the woman was intimidated by them, she didn’t show it. If anything, she appeared amused. Like watching a child throw a tantrum.

Rakel nodded. “What are your questions?”

“Who are you?”

“Rakel. I have no family name.” The woman smiled. “I am one of the four generals under Commander Alfaer.”

The half-elf commander. A shiver ran down her spine at the mere mention of his name. Kolfinna recognized it from the journal she had read all those weeks ago.

“Why is the half-elf commander’s army awake?” Kolfinna whispered. “He is … from Queen Aesileif’s time, is he not?”

“Yes,” Rakel said slowly. “The queen is his wife. And you are their daughter.”

“That’s not possible?—”

“When Commander Alfaer set the seal, its condition was that only his daughter Kolfinna could awaken theDød Sværd. And thus awaken him and his army.” She raised her brows at her. “You woke the blade, did you not?”

All the blood drained from her face. “How do you know my name? How do you even know who I am?”

“It’s obvious.” Rakel pointed to her. “You look like him and your eyes are pink.”

“Pink eyes are normal among the fae.”

---