Page 24 of Long Live the Elf Queen

“Even if you had it, it wouldn’t change anything.”

When Layala peeked over again Varlett was gone.

* * *

The acrid scentof something burning pierced Layala’s senses. Woken from a light sleep, she quickly hurried to the back door of the cart. It was still dark, but morning light peeked over the horizon. It smelled of burning wood. Oh Maker, no. Not again. Doonafell couldn’t take another attack from pale ones. They’d already suffered so much, just months before, and were still rebuilding. Layala kicked at the door, grunting as her foot slammed over and over. “Come on, you piece of shit.”

Why wasn’t the entire camp on high alert? Could no one else smell that? The few guards she spotted walking nearby were laughing. Aldrich emerged out of the tent closest to her and stretched his arms over his head with a big yawn. A slender brunette with big messy curls came out moments later and wrapped her arms around his waist. Layala stopped kicking, knowing he’d hear it. When he looked over at her, she stuck her arm between the bars and flipped her middle finger. “Stupid bastard,” she murmured. She almost blurted out about the smell of smoke, but she clamped her teeth together. If the pale ones attacked, that would be her way out of here.

With his arm slung around the maiden wearing only an oversized white tunic, Aldrich sauntered over. Layala grew a devious smirk when they approached the cart.

“You’re smiling for once,” Aldrich said.

“I was thinking about when I stab you in the back like you did to Thane and me, only I will be literally stabbing you in the back, and then I will stick your head on a pike after I cut it off, so all will know to never betray me… and that thought made me smile.”

Aldrich pulled his arm from around the squirming maiden and tucked it to his side. “You know, for how much you hate my father, you sound exactly like him.”

“Your father only wishes he is capable of what I will do. You chose the wrong side.” She plastered on a huge fake grin. “Have a nice breakfast.”

The female stepped behind Aldrich and after he stared at her long and hard, he walked away. Maybe he regretted what he did. There was some sorrow in that stare. But he could never be trusted again, never be redeemed after a betrayal of this magnitude. He’d only thought about himself, and his own power and Thane might be gone because of it. “I will bring magic back to the elves and they will love me for it.” Conceited, arrogant fool.

She pulled the last hairpin from behind her ear and held it before her face. “Don’t fail me.” Then she reached down and wiggled the pin into the big metal lock. She’d tried this every night for three days and broken six flimsy hairpins in the process.

She paused; a shadow passed in the dark forest ahead. The hairs on her arms raised before she lifted her chin. Were the pale ones here? She searched the tree line. Mossy vines hung from branches. Thick green foliage covering the forest floor and wide twisting trunks made it difficult to see deep inside. The horse attached to her prison, neighed, and shifted, moving the cart enough that Layala tipped sideways and lost her grip on the pin. She cursed, and reached for it again, praying it was still in the lock. Her fingers grasped the tiny metal bar, and she sighed in relief. Another shadow moved in the woods.Get out. Get out. Get out, she chanted in her head.

The crunch of metal and the dying groan of someone nearby made Layala work furiously at the lock. She twisted and pushed and prodded.Please. Please work.The metal pin snapped. “Damn it all,” she snarled.

Another quiet moan and a body hitting the ground, drew her arm back inside. At least the pale ones couldn’t get her in here, right? But they weren’t usually sneaky like this were they? More of a brute force attack with shrilling wails and—a black-winged helmet caught her eye.Holy shit.“That is a Raven helmet,” she murmured. That little spark of hope she’d held onto for weeks soared. Was he here? Had he finally come?

Snapping jaws and wholly black eyes on a ravenous face popped up outside the window. Layala shrieked and fell back hard on her wrist. It ached as she scooted until she hit the wall. The pale one sniffed the air. “Mmm, you smell delicious.” Chest rising up and down, she pressed harder into the wall as it circled to the side drawing closer. “You’re the mage, aren’t you? The one master says not to touch.” His voice was rough, and he smelled like he died weeks ago, like his flesh rotted while he walked and breathed. “But one little lick wouldn’t hurt.”

Following him closely with her eyes, she swallowed hard.He can’t get in here. He can’t get in here.

He wrapped his white hands around the bars and pressed his face against the metal and stuck out his long black tongue. What she wouldn’t do to have a weapon to slice that disgusting thing off. “Come here,” he said in a sing-song voice. “Let us have a taste.”

His eyes suddenly bulged, and he stiffened, and his mouth opened wide into a silent scream. Then he dropped, disappearing from view. That Raven winged helmet she saw earlier took the beast’s place. “Lady Layala?” a male with an accent questioned.

Layala jumped up, and dove at the window, heart crashing like a thundergod’s hammer. Bright red hair, tattooed moons on a beautiful, blue-eyed, and brown-skinned face. Layala beamed. “Leif,” she nearly cried, and reached through the bars.

He took her hand and held it. “Fightbringer,” he said with a smile. “It’s good to see you. We’ve been worried.”

“Where is he? Is he here?” She couldn’t keep the desperation from her voice. She searched the darkness around them. Another Raven moved along the shadows of a nearby tent, but he didn’t look large enough to be Thane.

“He’s here for you.”

Those words flooded her with relief and happy tears slid down her cheeks. “He’s alive? Maker above,” she breathed, smiling. ‘‘He’s alive. He’salive.” All that worry, that back and forth of wondering, finally put to rest. She wanted to shout his name, to see him come running, and behold his beautiful face. She couldn’t wait.

Leif patted her hand. “He is. And he’s come to get you. The Ravens are here for you, but not enough to defeat the king’s guard. We must be quiet.”

“The lock.” Layala moved to the door. “Break the lock. Get me out.”

Leif bent down to inspect it. “That’s a big bastard. It will take a lot of force to break it. Which will be loud. I need to get Thane. He will be able to get you out with his magic.”

He took a step away and Layala reached out. “Don’t leave me. Please.” Her breaths came faster now. She could picture him melting into the darkness and never seeing him again.

Offering a reassuring smile, he said, “You’re not going anywhere, and I’ll be right back with Thane. I promise. You’re safe now.”

She slowly nodded with threatening tears stinging. In a stealthy run, he took off and disappeared among the trees. It wasn’t but moments later a loud horn blew. Layala jumped and darted to the other side of the prison cart where the sound came from. Several groups of four to six soldiers made their way toward the blowing horn to the North, metal armor clinking as they dashed.

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