Page 62 of The Night Prince 2

“Pity,” Rhalyf murmured. “I shall have to find ways to surprise you again to hear such compliments.”

“Your ego can’t survive such puffing,” Finley informed him stiffly. “But… but… you’re a Night Elf!”

Rhalyf grimaced. “Yes, as we’ve established.” He ran his free hand through his silvery locks. “And I think I know who to blame for that. Show yourself indeed! Bastard!”

“I don’t understand,” Finley said. “When I came here, you didn’t seem to know that your–your glamour was gone.”

He assumed that it was a glamour. Not as complicated as the “Gran” one had been. But clearly something that hid the outward signs of his Kindreth-ness.

“Gods, no. I never take it off. I just hope not everything was stripped away.” Here Rhalyf closed his hand over the stylized Sun amulet he wore. He let out a relieved sigh and released it. “Good. The Adiva is still functioning though I will need to inspect the enchantment later. Just in case.”

“So you didn’t do this yourself?” Finley gestured to Rhalyf’s transformed body. “For the spell you were doing?”

Another shake of his head. “No, this was a trap.” Rhalyf’s lips flattened into a thin white line. “He must have known I would come here and–”

“He?” Finley interrupted.

“The Kindreth who killed Seith and Leisha. He left a spell behind to trap whoever would seek his identify by performing a divining here,” Rhalyf explained. “I was trying to determine their killer, you see? And their killer undid me.”

Finley gazed around the clearing. Dead trees. Blood on some leaves. Unnatural quiet. He nodded.

“People make up all sorts of things about murder leaving a mark. But that would make the whole of this world scarred and it isn’t. But this place… something bad happened here,” Finley said quietly.

“Yes, most definitely. They were sacrificed. A blood ritual. No Kindreth will waste blood if they can help it,” Rhalyf said the last bitterly, which had Finley turning towards him with a questioning look. “You haven’t asked me the obvious questions.”

Finley lifted an eyebrow.

Rhalyf ticked off on his fingers, “Does Aquilan know? What am I doing here? Am I a spy or a–”

“You’re not,” Finley interrupted him firmly. “Or if you were, you aren’t any more. You love Aquilan like a brother. You would never hurt him.”

Rhalyf let out a dark laugh. “That’s not saying much. For a Kindreth will kill his own brother as easily as breathing. Better to say that I love him like an Aravae loves their brother.”

“Fair enough. Does Aquilan know?” Finley asked as he slowly paced around the clearing.

“No.” There was a pause and then, “Do you intend to tell him?”

“If I did, I should hardly admit it to you especially when we’re in the middle of the woods with no one around to see,” Finley reminded him as he crouched by the bloodied leaves. “You could add me to this murderer’s tally if you wished.”

“Well, fair enough. But do you, Finley?” Rhalyf’s hands were tightened into fists. “Will you tell Aquilan? I promise I won’t… I won’t hurt you no matter what you say. I could… but I won’t.”

Finley considered this. “No, you aren’t a threat to him. The fact that your hair is white and your eyes are red seems like an inconsequential thing to tell.”

Rhalyf’s head lowered. “You could gain much by revealing a Kindreth at court.”

“I don’t need to gain things that way. I earn them,” Finley responded as he poked at the leaves.

“You know,” Rhalyf’s voice dipped, “if I didn’t believe you I have other methods of protecting my secret. I don’t have to hurt you. Magic is quite malleable.”

Rhalyf’s shadow loomed over him. Finley knew that this was a crucial moment. Teetering on the edge moment. But he still trusted Rhalyf. Would Rhalyf trust him? That was really the question.

“I’m sure there are,” Finley answered without looking up. “I’m not like the Separatists. I have an imagination where magic is concerned.”

Showing fear or concern might tip Rhalyf to act, but behaving unconcernedly would keep things as they were. He was not a threat. His knowing this secret was not a threat.

“I could take your memories, of course,” Rhalyf said. “You’d forget finding me here like this. There are complications with a spell like that. And you’re very… dogged. I’m not sure how well it would work.

“I would prefer you not touch my mind. It’s very important to me,” Finley answered as he dug beneath the leaves with no sense of urgency. If Rhalyf acted against him, there was nothing he could do.

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