Page 20 of Dark Elves of Ardani

“If they are anything like my group was, they are probably more concerned about finding their next meal than they are about revenge.”

Theron spoke to the others for the next few minutes, leaving Zara to finish her meal in blissful quiet, but he returned shortly after she’d taken her empty plate to the kitchen.

He sat down next to her, tapping his chin with one finger. “You’ve given me an idea.”

“Have I?”

“We’re leaving again in a few days. We will be going north to continue our hunt for the remaining elves. There can’t be many of them left now.”

“Mm-hm.” She couldn’t help but be a little annoyed with the topic. All the Paladins talked about were elves.

“I know you’ve been through a lot recently,” he said. “And I know the last thing you want to see is more night elves. But I want you to come with us.”

That was not what she’d expected him to say. “Come with you? To hunt Varai with you?”

“What we need is someone who can help us locate the elves and get rid of them for good. Yesterday, when we were dealing with the prisoner, I realized how useful it would be to have someone with us who could speak to them. Even if the half-elf wouldn’t listen to reason, perhaps others will. Perhaps we could even convey messages to their leaders in Kuda Varai. I think you could be useful in ways we haven’t even thought of yet.”

Zara blinked at him. She didn’t know how to express how offended she was by what he was asking. He didn’t understand the gravity of his request. He was smiling at her, excited for her reply.

It was one thing to help defend the villagers from an attack. It was quite another to chase down Varai and murder them indiscriminately. He wanted to use her to hunt the people who had raised her.

“You will not have to worry for your safety,” Theron said. “We’ll all be there to protect you. I’ll even give Naika permission to use her magic to defend you if necessary.”

Zara glanced over at Naika, who glared stonily back at her. Her presence was not the comfort Theron seemed to think it was.

“I think you were delivered to us for a reason,” Theron went on. “I think Paladius brought you here because you are uniquely equipped to help us end this for good.”

She watched him closely, wondering if there was some deception here that she was missing—but no, there was nothing dishonest in his eyes. He was not skeptical of her the way that some of the others were. If anything, he had a little too much faith in her.

She was trying to decide how to tell him no, and then she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Basira leaning against the bar, arms crossed, watching them.

It occurred to Zara that if she had never come to the village, the Paladins might still be tormenting that half-elf.

Theron was right. She was uniquely equipped, but maybe not for what he had in mind.

If she went with them, she could do something. Perhaps she could find a way to help protect both the Varai and the Ardanians.

But if she didn’t go, she would be powerless to help anyone.

“All right,” Zara said. “I will go.”

Chapter 8

“Ready to go?” Theron asked.

Zara looked up in surprise. She’d not seen him come in, and the inn was otherwise empty that evening. Some of the Paladins lived at the inn while they were in town, but she knew that Theron had a small house at the other end of the village—a place he’d inherited a few years ago, apparently.

“It is almost dark,” Zara said. “Do you not have to return home? You should be careful.”

He came to stand beside the hearth with her. “I hope the dark doesn’t frighten you. We’ll be camping in the mountains every night, soon.”

She shrugged. “It does not frighten me. I have lived in the dark for most of my life.”

He looked a little sad, and didn’t reply.

Zara pressed her lips together, feeling awkward. “Was there something you needed, Paladin?”

He shifted, clasping his hands behind his back. “No. In fact, I wanted to see if you needed anything from me before we leave tomorrow. Have you packed your things?”

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