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We huddled together for the rest of the night. Not one of us dared to sleep, afraid of what else lurked within the trees.
The next morning, we piled into the wagon without a word. The girls in white no longer giggled and laughed. Last night was proof that their lives weren’t worth a single drop of alfar blood. I kept my head down and my mouth shut, contemplating how I was going to get myself to the dark court to save my sister from a worse fate.
Chapter 5
The kingdom of Urial was more extravagant than I could imagine. The castle towered into the sky from the top of a mountain. Waterfalls, coming out of the top of the castle ledges poured out of each corner into a crystal-clear lake at the base of the city. There were five tall towers capped in gold. The palace was made of white and gray stone. Balconies were seen from every point. Gorgeous gardens and plants saturated the landscape with more colors than I knew existed. It was the most beautiful prison I had ever laid eyes on.
Across the surrounding territory, grain fields and orchards were scattered on the outskirts of the rolling hills and flat plains. Human workers tended the crops, working under the watchful eyes of their alfar overlords. Males and females greeted the six alfar warriors as we entered the main road. Shops, markets, and beautiful entertainment littered the perfectly paved streets. Alfar women danced barefoot throughout the alleyways as music filled the sweet-smelling air.
Fruits and vegetables were abundant lining every table. Alfar exited the shops covered in beautiful fabrics and fashions I had never seen before. A bit revealing for humans, but I guess if you looked the way they did, why cover it up? Small alfar children laughed and played in a nearby fountain as we continued to the large castle up ahead.
The wagon came to a halt at one of the palace’s arched entrances. The alfar males dismounted without even looking back at the wagon. An older human woman came to the back and instructed us to follow her. We made our way through the back halls of the palace. Humans scattered the narrow corridors, rushing around as they tended to their daily work. The rooms that I could see into were plain with scant furniture. Only the basic; chairs, tables, and a few armoires for clothing.
The older woman finally stopped at the entrance of a washroom. She flagged a young human male over to her and whispered something in his ear. The man took the three boys from the wagon with him as they moved to another part of the castle.
“Everyone in the room,” demanded the old woman.
We pushed into the small bathroom. There were four tubs, three sinks, and a wall of mirrors. The scent was crisp and smelled of eucalyptus. There were no windows to let in natural light and the lighting that came from the candles was dim. She set out clean yellow dresses with white lace trim for each of us.
“Are these our uniforms?” asked one of the other girls.
“No. One of you will be chosen to tend to the needs of the next king,” she said, running hot water into the small tubs.
“The needs?” asked another girl hesitantly.
“Did I stutter? Yes, needs. Laundry, cleaning his room, mending his clothes, and keeping his bed warm, if he desires you, that is,” she snapped.
“I—I didn’t sign up for this,” said one of the girls from my town. She backed away from the group. The old woman reached out her hand, aggressively wrapping her grip around the girl’s forearm.
“This is your life now, girl. Adapt or die, the choice is yours. Now, you all will wash and clean yourselves thoroughly. Place the oils along your neck when you are clean and then dress and be ready in thirty minutes. The court awaits your presence.” She stopped and looked at me before leaving. “And take that thing off your head,” she said, looking directly at me. “They will want to see as much of you as possible. Including your hair.”
I bit the side of my lip nervously. Thankfully my ears didn’t stand out far from my head like most of the other alfar. The tips were noticeable, but I could hide them well enough in my thick dark curly hair. The older woman left, and we all slowly began to undress as the reality of our current situation sank in. I dipped down into the hot bath, not remembering the last time I properly washed. I cleaned every inch of myself twice, including my hair.
I dried my thick mane and dressed in the soft yellow dress the woman laid out for us. Two of the other girls were now crying at the thought of being enslaved and raped by the future king of the light court. I focused on my goals and kept my mind on Lily. My hair sprung into curls around my face and stretched down the length of my back. The hair acted as a shield for my ears, as I knew it would. I never wore my hair down. I almost didn’t even recognize myself. I was so used to putting it up in a bun to hide it under my scarves and hats.
The dress was baggy on me. I barely had any fat on my body which included my breasts. Starving will do that to a person, I guess. My skin was golden from the summer sun which made my eyes pop. Even cleaned and properly dressed, I still stuck out from the other girls. They had fairer skin, with shades of lighter hair and their figures didn’t resemble a skeleton.
The door opened without warning. The older woman appeared at the threshold and signaled for us to follow her. We created a line and walked with our heads down in silence. As we made it to the upper level, the alfar we passed didn’t even look at us. We were nothing more than a placeholder, not important enough for their acknowledgment.
Bowls of fresh fruit and pitchers of wine lined every table. The smell of oils and incense filled the halls. Grand arches created walk spaces between each room. Two large pillars stood on either side of each arch, reaching thirty feet into the air. The walls were lined with masterful paintings and murals, creating the most captivating views. Tapestries hung from the inner walls, and windows cut into the ceiling of the castle allowed natural light to illuminate their beautiful craftsmanship.
Statues and sculptures filled the spaces in between each doorway. Indoor fountains trickled and echoed through the vast mass of halls. Luxurious couches and seating areas were scattered throughout, allowing for social gatherings and resting places for the court. Gold and silver metals littered each surface. Gold goblets, silver plates, gold rings, gold vases. It was clear that the alfar didn’t want for anything. The sun-filled each corridor as we made our way to two large golden doors. Two alfar guards stood on either side of the entrance.
The older woman turned to us. “You do not speak unless spoken to. Even then, keep your responses short. They are allowed to touch you and look wherever and however they please. Do not make direct eye contact with them. Keep your head down and your hands folded in front of you. After the future king has chosen one of you, the others will meet me back here for your work assignments.” She moved out of the way.
The doors opened slowly to the throne room of the castle. Tables and chairs were placed in rows leading to the front of the room. Each surface was adorned with a golden tablecloth. Floral arrangements as large as a person were placed every six feet down the center of each table. Food displays, meat trays, and sweet treats littered the surfaces. Anything you could imagine or crave, the table provided. Doves flew overhead, as the throne room's ceiling did not exist. It was open to the outdoor elements, allowing the fresh air and sunlight to fill the room.
Members of the high houses sat eating and drinking while conversing with one another. At the head of the room was a large platform, covered in white rose petals as if it was one massive carpet. There were three thrones on top of the platform. A male, who I assumed to be the king, sat in the middle. He had long golden hair and a strong and slender face. His eyes appeared kind, though his mouth never turned up to smile. A female who resembled his age was to his left and wore a vibrant blue gown. She was tall and slender with hair as golden as sunlight. She had thin red lips and a small button nose. Her eyes were crystal blue, accentuated by her long lashes. On the king’s right sat a younger female who I figured to be their daughter.
We were being auctioned off to be the princess’s future husband’s whore. The alfar didn’t have the same values as humans when it came to marriage. Since they could live for over a thousand years, I guess the concept of monogamy didn’t appeal to them. Why have just one when you could have them all?
The light court was at least discreet about their affairs. There were rumors that the dark court had monthly orgy parties, where you could have whomever, whenever, however, you’d like. They only married for formality and political matters. I had even heard one rumor that claimed the dark alfar would take slaves right in the middle of the halls in front of everyone.
We walked into the room and formed a line in front of the thrones as we were instructed. I didn’t dare look up to gaze upon the three royals, even though I was tempted by my curiosity. I had to keep my head down and keep a low profile if I would have any chance of escaping to get to Lilian. A small flutter of fear ran through my body as I tightened my eyes together, trying to remain invisible.
The chattering of the room continued as if we weren’t even there. I heard footsteps behind me that treaded to the platform where the three royals sat. I briefly glanced up to see a white-haired male bowing in front of the royals. He stood and made his way over to the princess, taking her hand and kissing it formally.
The princess was stunning. She had long blonde hair and beautiful violet eyes. Her skin seemed to glow as if she had diamonds underneath the first layer. Her nose was long and pointed. Her ears peeked out from behind her hair. She had a long neck and a desirable figure. Why in heavens a male chooses to bed another female if he could have that was beyond me. One of the other girls elbowed me and broke my attention. I dropped my head back to the floor before anyone could notice.