Page 85 of A Fractured Song

The elf chuckled, the sound tinkling but not exactly merry. “You know a little something of our ways, it seems,” he said. “But surely you agree I am entitled to know your business with the Imperator.”

Zev folded his arms. “Do you claim to be the Imperator?”

“I do not.” The elf’s answer was swift.

“Then our business with him doesn’t concern you.”

The elf raised one thin eyebrow, his ears wobbling again. Zev thought there was humor in his emerald gaze, but it didn’t make him seem any more approachable.

“That is not for you to say,” the elf said in a business-like manner. “But my instructions are to take you to the Imperator.”

Zev frowned, reluctant to blindly follow the unknown creature. A glance at Marieke showed both excitement and trepidation on her features. She looked up at him, and he nodded in acknowledgment of all the unspoken thoughts.

It was almost unbelievable that they’d found such a straightforward way around the enchantment that kept the elves safe from humans—unbelievable enough to make him wary—but they didn’t know of another way forward. And they hadn’t come this far to give up or turn back.

“We’ll come with you,” Marieke said, turning back to the elf with dignity. “But if you intend to play us false, it won’t go well for you.”

“Is that a promise?” The elf’s eyes gleamed unnervingly.

“No,” said Marieke quickly, not needing the warning rising to Zev’s lips. “Just an opinion.”

“Very well.” The elf seemed both amused and a little disappointed. “Follow me.”

He turned and plunged back into the trees, disappearing so quickly they had to scramble to gather their things and follow so as not to lose him. Zev expected him to lead them straightinto the jungle, but he traveled alongside the road for a short distance before coming to a stop.

“Through here,” he said, gesturing to the space between two tree trunks. “It might be disorienting, but it won’t harm you.”

“What won’t harm—”

The question died on Marieke’s lips as she, like Zev, got a proper look at the place the elf was indicating. The trees in question were the same as those around them, but the space in between them looked all wrong. The surrounding jungle was thick with lush foliage, but between those trees Zev could see a large clearing. It was like looking through a window onto an entirely different scene.

“Go on.” The elf seemed disinterested in their confusion.

“After you,” Zev said flatly. He wasn’t ready to take the elf’s word for it that they weren’t at risk of harm.

The elf just sighed, apparently bored by the suspicion of his companions. He strolled forward, his little legs not breaking stride as he went between the trees. He paused in the clearing on the other side, one thin eyebrow raised in impatience.

Marieke started to move forward, but Zev beat her to it. He stepped carefully between the tree trunks, his senses on high alert. He was expecting some kind of magical sensation, but in fact he felt nothing. The air felt slightly different on the other side—less close given the sparser foliage—but that was it. He turned to see Marieke following him through, her expressive face showing all the fascination he was keeping to himself.

“Whatwasthat?” she asked.

The elf looked like he was debating whether to answer, but thankfully decided not to be ornery.

“We call them doorways.” His bright eyes passed between them. “Your kind used to know of them. They helped develop them.”

“Our kind?” Zev repeated. “Humans?”

“Singers,” the elf clarified.

“I’m not a singer,” Zev said. The answer rose a little too quickly to his lips, the thought occurring belatedly that he probably shouldn’t offer information for free.

“What?” The elf’s gaze sharpened, and Zev realized he’d captured the creature’s interest. “Neither of you?”

“I am,” Marieke said.

The elf’s alabaster brow furrowed as his gaze shifted to Marieke’s feet, then flicked to Zev’s before flicking back to Marieke’s face.

She shrugged. “Don’t ask me to explain. I can’t.”

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