Page 12 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse
“Um,” I knocked my head with a closed fist, trying to remember their names. I snapped my fingers as they perched on the tip of my tongue. “Oh, yes, Misra and Ladresel, right?”
“Do you know them?” An imposing male asked in perfect English. He appeared to be their leader, judging by the slight differences in his uniform. For one, it was expensive-looking, had a high collar, and a slightly different emblem embroidered in his tunic. He stood with regal confidence, had long brown hair pulled into a ponytail, leaving his pointed ears in full display.
“Yes, Captain Loraerris,” Misra said, stepping forward and inclining her head, causing her straight blonde hair to fall forward like a silken sheet. “She is an... acquaintance of Prince Kalyll.”
Loraerris? Why did that sound familiar?
“So she does know him?” One of the guards who had climbed down the wall asked. She had red hair, pulled back into a tight braid that draped over her shoulder.
Misra nodded and so did Ladresel.
“She was yelling at us to get the Prince for her, that it was an emergency,” the redhead added.
Captain Loraerris stepped sideways for a better look at the wolf lying at my feet. His keen eyes scanned Jake’s body, stopping at the protruding arrow. One of his pencil-thin eyebrows went up, and I could tell by his expression that he was reading clearly through the charade.
I let out a nervous laugh, snatched the arrow from under Jake’s armpit, and threw it to the ground. “This is Jake. He’s fine. Aren’t you, Jake?” I nudged him with the tip of my shoe.
He opened his eyes slowly and grinned a wolfish grin. The guards who had been up on the wall shuffled uncomfortably as Jake got to his feet and playfully sidled next to me. I patted his head and smiled like an idiot.
A long silence stretched as Captain Loraerris scrutinized us, his expression growing more shrewd by the second. This charade had gone too far. It was time to explain and quickly.
“My apologies for... this.” I gestured toward the arrow. “I admit it was a ploy to attract attention.
“I deduced that much,” the Captain said, “and I must say, it is in poor taste—not to mention disruptive of our cherished peace.”
Heat rose to my cheeks, and I lowered my head feeling like a chastised brat. “I apologize, but it really is an emergency. We need to see Prince Kalyll, and I assure you he will want to hear what I have to say.”
Captain Loraerris turned to Misra and Ladresel as if to consult what they thought of my claim. They could have easily dismissed my claim, but instead, both appeared unsure, which was enough to make the Captain curious.
He turned back to us. “What is it you need to tell him?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not at liberty to divulge that.” I had no idea if Gonira’s situation was something the Prince’s family discussed publicly. Either way, no one needed to know about the elixir and the fact that Kalyll was keeping it safe for me.
The Captain thought for a moment, then gestured toward the side, inviting me to a little privacy. My nerves prickling with restlessness, I walked with him a safe distance away from his guards. Jake stayed at my side, his sharp gaze never leaving the Fae male.
“You may talk freely now,” he said.
“I’m afraid I can’t.”
He sighed with irritation. “I am Kalyll’s uncle. I assure you it is quite safe to talk to me.”
I frowned, feeling unsure. For all I knew, he was Kalyll’s shoe shiner. I had no way of telling if they were really related. “Sorry. I need to talk to him personally.”
“Well, he’s not here. He’s away on business.”
So that was why he hadn’t come looking for us when we first crossed into Elyndell.
“When will he be back?” I asked, my heart threatening to sink to the pit of my stomach.
The Captain thought for a moment, then asked, “What is your name?”
“Toni Sunder,” I responded.
He stiffened, his narrow eyes going wide. “Is this about Gonira?” he asked in a halting voice.
I was taken aback. I hadn’t expected that. So maybe the Captain was, indeed, close to the Prince.
When I didn’t respond, he said, “Gonira is my daughter.”
