Page 66 of Whispers of the Elderoak

Jorrar placed a piece of cloth in her mouth and secured it at the back of her head.

“I’m going to let go of you, but don’t try anything,” commanded Raine.

He let her go and held onto a long rope attached to her wrists, leading her into the woods, while the woman and Jorrar flanked her.

Their short trek ended as they came upon an open field with rolling hills and the same mountains in the distance, even closer than they were before. The sun started to peek over the horizon, and she was now able to get a look at her captors as they led her to a small camp.

A fire of mostly coals and cinders still glowed in the middle of their site, surrounded by a few small logs being used as seats. Four tents were neatly set up around the fire and they appeared to have been carefully placed so as not to disturb the terrain. As if they cared for the flora around them, not wanting to harm the grasses and flowers growing in the field.

The opposite of the brutal army camp where she had been staying before.

It wasn’t the daemons.

She watched them with suspicion as Raine led her to the center of their camp. He was tall, lean and stunninglyhandsome, with a beautifully sculpted face and perfectly symmetrical features. His hair was so blonde it was almost white and cascaded down his back, his pointed ears peeking out, and he had cunning blue-gray eyes filled with mischief. He was dressed in leather armor thick enough to halt blades but allowing for better movement than the cumbersome metal armor the daemon army wore.

Fae. They were fae. Though they weren’t part of Deidamia’s army, they still might be dangerous, and she didn’t know what they wanted with her. Why they grabbed her and brought her to their camp.

The woman to her left had olive skin, the same pointed ears and captivating upturned eyes of brown. Her long black hair was woven into intricate braids down her back, and she had multiple daggers strapped to her. She wore a forest green cloak over the same leather armor as her companion.

The one to her right, Jorrar, was older than the other two but just as handsome. With smooth ebony skin, peppered with a few small scars and graying hair at his temples, he donned the same armor and cloak as the woman and had the same pointed ears.

Are all the fae this good-looking?She wondered.

They reached the center of camp as the woman spoke.

“Cas, we found something interesting you might want to get a look at,” she said looking over Ava with suspicion.

Ava stood, waiting, surrounded by the three warriors as the flaps of a tent opened and a large fae stepped out. His presence was imposing, lacking any semblance of kindness on his face. While his expression wasn’t mean, he was stoic, giving nothing away. He wore the same armor and green cloak, and an emblem was stamped into the leather at his shoulder.

A tree.

Her eyes widened when she recognized it as the same one from the book. The book which was still in Deidamia’s hands.The Elderoak, Luna had called it. Were they from her kingdom?

They had called him the general. Realization washed over her as she recalled what Remy had said. This had to be the general of the Earth Kingdom’s armies, The Bear. This was a group of fae from Monterre. Racking her brain for more information, she remembered Remy said the earth fae were welcoming but protective. She had to be careful but figure out how to win them over without telling them her secrets.

He walked toward her with the grace and brutality of a trained warrior who had seen many battles. His chestnut brown hair matched the color of his beard, and flowed below his shoulders, adorned with several small braids, his pointed ears barely peeking through. He had a scar that began near his chiseled jawline that trailed down the side of his neck and disappeared under his collar. Though he wore armor, it was obvious that he was rippling with muscle as he stopped and crossed his arms; a general assessing the threat before him. Despite the suspicion in his bright golden eyes, he was devastatingly handsome, and Ava shifted beneath his scrutiny.

“Percy found her sneaking near our camp, Casimir,” said Raine, still holding the rope. “She killed the helwraith we were tracking. And fucking stabbed me.”

Ava glanced at Raine’s leg. Blood dripped down his thigh, though he wasn’t acting like he was in much pain. She didn’t feel bad about it.

Casimir’s eyes widened at his companion’s statement and bored into hers as she met his stare.

Ava wanted to blurt out she wasn’t sneaking; she was only trying to get somewhere safe. She didn’t want to be here with yet another group of people she knew nothing about. That they scared her and she fought back, thinking they were part of the enemy army.

But she remained gagged and didn’t attempt to speak.

Casimir grunted and looked to the older male awaiting his assessment.

“It looks like we found the human woman,” Jorrar stated.

The warrior spoke, a gruff yet smooth low voice. “Obviously.”

Ava kept her face neutral and said nothing. If they wanted her to speak, they could remove the gag. Casimir walked forward and stopped a mere foot from her. Though she was tall, he still towered over her five-foot nine frame, causing her to look up to meet his eyes.

Fuck, he’s huge,she thought.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” he asked.

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