"Understood," Vann says with a nod. "I will find out everything I can. Did she give his name?"
I cross one leg over the other. "Mikal." The room around us is stuffy, and I'm tired.
"Before I go, should we speak about the Festival of Endu next week?" Vann is hesitant after so many heavy words hanging between us. “Or, should I say your wedding?”
I shake my head. "Not now, Vann. I need to think."
Vann nods, then takes a deep breath. “Teo, you’re not a bad person. Even now, you are thinking of your mate—what she needs, what she wants—while balancing all of our people. I haven’t forgotten what you did on the day of the eruption. You saved my life.”
“You saved mine, too.” I blink back the moisture in my eyes, but he’s not done.
“You believe that one good act does not strike out an evil one, and you might be right. But I believe that our gods will weigh the purity of our hearts and our loyalty to our family. When it is your turn to be put on judgment by Endu, I believe your heart will be the purest of us all. You have carried the hardest burden from the beginning. It is an honor to follow you.” He presses his fist over his heart and bows. Then he leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
I'm left alone with my thoughts, haunted. I think of Estela crying on her bed. Every time I have lowered my guard, I find myself betrayed. I might deserve it, but I don’t know how to be her mate.
The demands of destiny are impossible to deny. Like hoping the sun will not rise on the over land or thinking that the earth below us will not quake.
I sit down at my desk and reach for the quill. It is time to begin drafting a letter to the elves, hoping against hope that this will be the first step in rekindling an alliance that will help us all.
As I dip the metal pen into the shimmery inkwell, my mind begins to wander, and my thoughts return to Estela. She dances through my veins to the song of our matehood, infecting my mind with her sweet features and fiery voice. I can feel glimmers of her emotions, flickering in my own body. I feel the sadness, the anger, the helplessness.
With a heavy sigh, I begin to write my message to the elves, taking care to choose each phrase. Diplomacy was my favorite part of learning from my father—though I have no great talent for stone working like others, words are my tools. Finding the right ones is like finding that perfect pocket of ore or that precise temperature to temper a sword or spear.
As my hand moves across the parchment, my anger settles. After three drafts, I have finally drafted the perfect words. Just in time, because Turalyon arrives.
He bows as he enters the room, his eyes darting between me and the scroll I've been working on. "My Lord," he greets me, "I am honored to be sent on this mission with Lord Lothar."
I nod in acknowledgment, handing him the scroll and giving him detailed instructions on what to do next. "Make sure you are cautious. Elves are not to be trifled with, and they may see our attempt as a sign of weakness. We need their support, but we must also be prepared for any eventuality."
Turalyon nods, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Of course, my Lord. I will be careful."
As he turns to leave, I speak up again. "Turalyon, stay alert, and return as soon as possible."
"I will, my Lord," he assures me, bowing once more before exiting the room.
I am left alone with my thoughts once again, still staring out the window. I stand up from my desk, and start restlessly pacing. Perhaps a walk through the caverns will clear my mind. As I make my way through the winding tunnels, I hear shouting.
My pace quickens as I move into the residential section, only to come across four of the human men. They are saying something to a small group of my people.
Svanna is there, still wearing her mining equipment. With dust coating her face, it emphasizes her silver eyes and pointed white teeth.
"What's the matter?" I ask them.
One of the humans looks up at me, anger etched into the lines of his face. "King—" he stutters. His fierce bravado is completely erased at his fear.
Am I really so terrifying to these people?
"Yes?" I try to move him along.
Svanna speaks up. "Of course the humans are welcomed here. But they are more mouths to feed, we only ask that some of their men help us hunt."
Another one of the human men steps forward. "King, I am called Mauricio by my people. We understand that we must help if we live here, but there is something in the tunnels they sent us to hunt in."
My thoughts race, trying to figure out what could be frightening the humans.
"Take me to where you saw it," I say, knowing that I cannot let anything that could endanger my people reside in our caverns.
Svanna follows as they lead me to the tunnel entrance, and I can feel the energy shift as we descend into the darkness. It's cold, the kind of cold that seeps into your bones and stays there. My breath mists in front of me as I move forward.