Page 74 of To Trap a Soul

“We’ll have to begin learning their language. It could prove insightful,” the woman stated. Then she folded her arms and poked her chin at the edge. “Why’d you save that female? She could have been food for the other Daekura.”

He sighed before turning to her and shrugging his lean shoulders. “I don’t know, Lettie. Just felt like the right thing to do.” Then he lookedbeyondthe canyon, as if he was trying to find something far away on the horizon, his gaze forlorn and... listless. “I guess I took sympathy on her. You can go after her, if it matters all that much to you.”

Lettie folded her arms, cocked her hip to the right, and snorted a huff. “You’re too soft-hearted. Just because you’ve forgotten how we sought refuge and they strung us up in cages doesn’t mean I have. They don’t deserve our sympathy.” She sneered as she muttered, “Look at what they do to each other.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Jabeziryth bit, before digging his bent foreknuckle into his left ear hole to wiggle it as though it itched. “I swear my ear still rings as a reminder. Just leave me alone. I’m not in the mood.”

“You’re never in the mood.” Lettie, with her arms still folded, poked her tongue out at him.

The older man placed his palm gently on her shoulder, causing her to loosen her arms, then lifted his other hand out to Jabeziryth.

“She’s right. You still carry the gentle nature of the Elves. You won’t last long being so forgiving.”

Jabeziryth’s features went from soft to hard within seconds, souring further as darkness crept into the dark-red depths of his eyes. “Don’t compare me to them. I haven’t forgiven anyone. I let a female, someone likely innocent, go. So what?”

“You will need to learn how to face needless death. Killing is in our nature. We must hunt and eat what is available.”

“I killed those males!” he shouted, tensing his fingers in front of him with obvious anger. “What more do you want from me? I have fed those below.”

The shorter male’s wrinkles deepened as he gave a stern yet sympathetic furrow of his brow. “You need to remove that gentle, empathetic heart of yours if you wish to be king.”

“Uh! Not this again,” Jabeziryth huffed, throwing his hands up. “That is your dream for me, not mine, Yusel. I have no interest in governing mindless Daekura until they evolve into intelligent beings. If you wish to have them safeguarded and controlled,youdo it. You have more years, more experience than me.”

“But you have more prowess with mana than anyone I’ve ever known, and as a young boy too.”

His upper lip pulled back in a spiteful sneer. “I’m not a boy.”

“My point is,” Yusel grumbled with a weathered sigh, “with training, both in wielding mana and in strength, you will be formidable. If you control them, you can build an army and take the revenge you seek.”

Jabeziryth’s head tipped to the side with a petulant groan. “I don’t need to be a king to do that.”

“But it would help. Take control. Be a lead–”

“Enough!” Jabeziryth roared. “I tire of this conversation! I’m returning home. You two tend to nurturing the earth to make a path.”

Then he swiftly sidestepped them both to enter deeper into the forest.

When he was gone, Lettie turned to Yusel. Her features were crinkled in concern. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, father. He doesn’t want this. Stop trying to force it.”

“You are both too young to understand that what he desires doesn’t come easily. I have experienced war in Nyl’theria, and someone must take up the mantle and be a leader. There are many Daekura chieftains, and they all fight to claim territories. If he settles himself into one of those positionsbeforemore come, and we defend that title, he can unify us all under one rule.Thatis what will garner peace within the blessed night, while we figure out the best course of action against the Elysians.”

Her gaze drifted to where he’d disappeared into the brush. “But he’s right. The Daekura will not follow a half-Elf. He will constantly be targeted because he’s different.”

“And that difference is what makes him stronger.” He folded his arms, as if to show he wouldn’t be moved from this. “Once again, you are both too young to see his potential.”

“Wouldn’t someone wiser or older be better suited? Someone like you?”

“No one would follow me. I’m not a warrior, and he can’t just command an army with someone else issuing all the demands. Like all of us, he would be forced to follow them.Heneeds to garner that loyalty. With enough training, he will be strong enough to convince all those who would question his blood tofollow him and then destroy all those who won’t. He’s young enough to train for it.”

Her eyes crinkled as she slipped her hand under her chin-length hair and rubbed her nape. “As much as I like him, his mind still isn’t well. I think he was trapped in that prison for too long, father. I’m not sure if you see it, but he swings from calm to unhinged within the blink of an eye.”

“He comes with his issues, but they can be overlooked.”

“He mutters to himself, and he often forgets where he is when it’s dark. The only thing that keeps him focused is expanding this canyon and growing the forest. He... may not be the right kind of person to lead anyone.”

“Lettie, my sweetling,” Yusel stated with another sigh, this time placing his hand on her shoulder. “Only the insane can lead. And it’s the heartless that hold their place. He will learn. He has to. For all of us.”

Both Lettie and Yusel continued to speak, expanding on this apparent war they wished to initiate. They wanted retribution for the hurt the Elysians had caused, both of them enraged that they were kept locked away. They felt as though they’d been lured into the pretty Elven city to be punished for merely what they were, despite the fact that they were trying to change their lives and become more civilised.

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