It didn’t take long for me to find out.
I watched, wide-eyed, as an elf walked past. My chest seized as I stared at him. There he was, baring the ears I had so carefully tucked under my hood for all the world to see. Right away, I could tell that this was Lord Greenriver.
Not only did his fine clothing mark him as a member of the gentry, but his long ears that peaked out through his red curls were a marking characteristic. The Lord was wearing a dark blue tunic that complimented his skin, a few shades darker than mine, and his thick blue-black feathered wings like that of a bird were held tight behind his back as he walked with his head held high.
Behind the lord came a large male wearing a suit of armor that chinked with every step. And behind the soldier…
My eyes widened, and I trembled as I took in the scene unfolding before me.
“Xander,” I whispered, my voice ragged. “Those people…”
My voice trailed off as I struggled to comprehend the line of a dozen ragged humans shuffling after the lord. Iron manacles bound their legs together as they moved along. Despite the frigid weather, their clothes were little more than rags. Rusty red trails ran down their backs as their emaciated bodies shuffled along the dirt road.
Following my gaze, Xander’s arm tightened around me. Suddenly, I was very glad to have such a large male by my side. A vein popped in his jaw as he leaned down.
“Welcome to Thyr,” he whispered, disgust lacing his words. “The human slave trade has thrived here for centuries. Lord Greenriver’s family has made their fortune off of the backs of humans.”
I had no words.
For the first time in my life, I had nothing to say.
Growing up, I had thought my life in the tower had been… difficult, but at least I had been fed and clothed. Twice a week, the servants had brought up warm water so I could wash. They had been instructed never to speak to me, but I had been clean. Boredom had been my constant companion but never had I ever imagined that something like this could even happen.
I swallowed, my gaze following those poor people as I tried to understand. To think of what to do. We had to help them.
“This isn’t right,” I whispered. I went to pull my hand out of Xander’s grasp when suddenly, the slaves began to yell. They were marching through a large puddle of mud when a female in the middle of the group stumbled and fell to the ground. Her long, stringy brown hair dragged in the mud as she cried out, trying to get back to her feet.
The others didn’t stop. Before I could question why, a loud crack sounded as a whip unfurled in the air, shattering the final remnants of the peaceful morning.
My back clenched in agony, and for a moment, my vision blurred. Echoes of pain rippled through me as unwanted memories threatened to come flooding in.
I sucked in a deep breath.Focus,I commanded myself.Pay attention.You got out. He can’t hurt you anymore.
The female screamed, and I shoved all thoughts of the past away. My heart fractured as a second crack, then a third echoed all around us. My lungs grew tight as the female’s wails became louder and louder.
No one moved.
Even Xander stood still, his mouth in a grim line as he watched the nightmare taking place before us.
The fluttering of wings filled the air, and soon, I realized maybe marriage wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to me in Ithenmyr.
Seen and Not Heard
Looking up, I watched as Lord Greenriver’s wings flapped in the air as he hovered above the fallen human. I trembled as bright red tendrils of magic erupted from his hands. The deadly ribbons snaked out of him, writhing in the air before enveloping her from head to toe.
The slave’s mouth opened in a silent scream as her shackled hands went to her throat. She clawed at her own neck, her fingernails making tracks in her skin, as tears ran down her dirt-stained face.
Lord Greenriver was a Death Elf.
My breath caught in my throat and my heart raced in my chest as I shrunk back into myself. The female’s eyes bulged, and the Death Elf chuckled. The sound was sinister and malicious andfamiliar. It was far too similar to a sound that haunted my nightmares.
His wings flapped as she fought valiantly against his magic. She struggled, her hands scrabbling at her throat as she fought to breathe. Even from here, I could see her face paling beneath the layers of dirt that coated her features.
“Why isn’t anyone helping her?” I whispered in horror. The female was less than two hundred feet from us, and there were many others lining the roads between us and the slaves. And yet, no one was moving. Urgency filled my voice as I said, “We have to help her.”
Xander’s arm tightened around my waist, and even though I struggled, I couldn’t break free.
“Don’t,” he hissed in my ear. The word was filled with warning. Something about his tone sent shivers down my spine. He moved his other hand, reaching to grip my fingers with his. His skin was so pale, but even so, I could see his white knuckles as he held firm onto me. “Ana, you can’t stop this. Don’t draw attention to yourself. To us.”