Page 67 of A Brat's Tale
I’m tearful. I never thought I’d have something like this. If I hadn’t been abducted, I wouldn’t have. My time in Aldrien, something that could have been bad, brought a lot of good with it.
Papa,
I will make all of you proud. I’m closer to becoming Elf. I can feel it and not a moment too soon, I need to be out of here. I know I should be stronger, that being locked in a room shouldn’t be thething to break me, but it might if it’s for much longer.
How’s Lucca? Is he allowed to write in the book? Corrik didn’t say. He had to leave on a mission and now I’m feeling some of what you must have when you couldn’t go with Father and had to stay home with me.
Tell everyone I say hi as well.
Lots of love,
Tristan.
Finally, I hear the opening of locks opening, and my heart lifts in anticipation, but it’s Corrik’s twin, Ditira. She’s nearly as tall as Corrik and almost as muscled albeit in a more feminine way. Her hair is long and blonde, tied on top of her head, and then wound into a tight ponytail, with streaks of purple, like Corrik’s used to have. She looks fierce. I haven’t seen her fight in battle, only to help me practice, but I know she must be phenomenal on the field. “Hello, Tristan,” she says.
“Hello Ditira,” I respond, and attempt to make my Elvish curl as nicely around the words as hers does. I can only assume she has come to tell me bad news about Corrik, or Corrik would be here himself. I’m sure the worry is written on my face.
“Corrik sent me. He won’t be back tonight.”
“Any idea when he will be back?”
Her lips turn down. “No. I’m sorry Tristan, it could be awhile. Days? Weeks? We’re not sure.”
My heart sinks to my gut. Selfishly, I know this means me, alone, for a lot of the time. But that’s not the only thing I’m churning about. This sounds dangerous, what if Corrik doesn’t come back?
“He will return, Tristan. It’s a rescue mission. Several children were taken from the surrounding villages. Alrik wanted him on the case because he’s good at location magic. Originally, he was to locate the children and send the army in, but it’s proved difficult. He’s staying on the case until its seen through. He had to head into the Unbroken Mountains.” Her voice is dark.
That sounds bad. But like the warrior I am, I accept what he has todo for duty. Besides, I don’t want to think about it, especially when there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I understand, Ditira. I have much to do anyway, probably better without distractions,” I say, but Corrik being out there, where I can’t actively participate is a distraction. I should be beside him, watching his back.
“That’s the spirit. I will visit as often as I can, but Alrik has me busy too. Unfortunately, the same for Diekin. All our efforts will be put to this.”
I take a breath. “Very well. I will work hard on my husband’s behalf and do him proud so that when he returns, we can leave to make me an Elf.”
“Good. I am here for a short time, to relay the news—he wanted it to be me that told you where he was headed—I want to get back to him.”
She stays for a quick cup of tea, but too soon, she’s gone again and I’m alone.
Two months pass with no word from Corrik. It gives me the chance to miss him again. I miss waking up next to him and his fingers running through my hair, I miss his laugh and his giant presence. I even miss his scolding voice and all the things he’d tell me not to do. Yeah, figure that one out. I realize I live for finding and pushing against the boundaries and having Corrik yank me away from said boundaries.
I go deep into my studies, learning all I can to make the basic requirements, with plans of Corrik and I riding off into the mountains, where I need to go to become an Elf.
But when I reach month four, my endurance has long waned. I’ve learned what I need to and have been going over things on my own, only calling for my designated professors and Cupper when necessary.
The other change has been Alrik. He stops by to check on meoften, which is not as endearing as it sounds. And while Corrik thinks he’s taken a shine to me, I believe he thinks I’m the scum you would scrape off scum. I hear the locks being undone, and it’s likely to be him; my tummy churns. My other regular visitors, Diekin and Ditira are gone too. For that part I’m glad. They are with Corrik and I want them to keep him safe.
I’m right. In he strides, bringing the cool air with him and his dark presence. His hair is long and white, and he has a large scar on his face, which travels from temple to chin, which only serves to remind me of Baya, with his gorgeous eye scar that ran from his forehead to the bottom of his eye—he was so proud of that scar since he thought it was handsomely garish, plus he could show off what an accomplishment it was to keep his eye—he could have lost it.
Alrik’s scar is either one he’s chosen to keep since Elves can be healed in most ways or one he got from a time in which he was ghastly injured and could not be healed in time to prevent the scarring. It makes him look deadly. Especially when his long white hair flourishes around him. He’s like a being from the underworld come to life.
I haven’t attempted to use my Tristan charm on Alrik, figuring there’s no point, but since these meetings are becoming more frequent, I decide on being friendlier. He does not pay me the same courtesy. He sits at my table without asking to be invited and stares at me for a length of time without speaking. I would greet him, but I’ve been told that I’m meant to wait to address him until he deigns to speak. I’m surprised he hasn’t told me I’m to prostrate before him. He folds his hands on his belly. “Have you been attending to your studies?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” I tell him. “I’m working this very moment.” There isn’t much time for relaxing with Alrik as my keeper.
He grunts, which I think means good. He stares some more and then he lays it on me. “Kathir, Corrik isn’t coming back. We can’t find him. He went deep into the Unbroken Mountains, both Diekin and Ditira went to look, but they came out with his horse and no Corrik.” He delivers the news with a heavy voice.
“What? No. We have to keep looking.”
