frightened when she discovered I
am half elf, my lord.” The last thing Yori wanted to do was accuse a Na’zoran
citizen of lying.
“I believe you,” Aelryk said. “I am young, but I
am a very good judge of character.”
The prince took out the fine sword that Yori had
helped craft. Yori held his breath, expecting the sword to pierce his heart.
Perhaps this was the swift execution he had hoped for.
Instead of running him through, the prince spoke
again. “This is a very fine sword. If you are an elf, you can learn to etch
runes.”
“I am only half, my lord,” Yori began. “My father
was an elf, but my mother was human.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Aelryk replied casually. “I’m
told a drop of elven blood is all that’s required. You have a talent for
crafting metals, and it shows. I will offer you an opportunity for freedom.
Seek out your elven kin and learn the art of rune carving. Once you are
proficient, you will return to Na’zora and work for me.”
“Surely the elves would kill me as I approached,”
Yori replied, shaking his head.
“A quick death at their hands is far better than
what my father has in store for a raping half-breed,” the prince said
matter-of-factly.
Yori considered his words for only a second. He
had no doubt the prince spoke the truth, and he did not wish to find out what
King Domren’s punishment would be. “I will go,” he said. “If I live, I will
return when I’ve mastered the runes.”
“Guards!” Aelryk shouted. One of them came running
at the sound of the prince’s voice. “Release this man. He is going on a mission
for me that will most likely result in his death. I pardon him of all charges.”
The guard bowed slightly to his prince and sorted
through the keys that were tied to his belt. Finding the correct one, he
unlocked the gate to Yori’s cell and opened the door. Bowing again to Aelryk,
he disappeared once again into the darkness of the dungeon.
Aelryk turned to the young page whose face still
showed his uneasiness. Being in a dungeon, even as a free man, was not a
pleasant experience. “Get this man some clean clothing. He’s about your size,
so bring him something of your own. Nothing too fancy, just a simple shirt and
pants. He’ll also need a decent pair of boots.”
The young man bowed and ran out of the dungeon
quickly. Any task was better than standing in the oppressive dungeon. The
prince motioned for Yori to follow him, and together they ascended the stairs
leading out of the dark, cold prison.
“You’ll want to keep your hair covering those ears
as best you can until you’re safely out of the palace district. Your kind trade
at some of the market villages along our border, but few people here will
tolerate an elf.”
Yori nodded, squinting his eyes as they adjusted
to the light.
The page returned carrying a green shirt and a
brown pair of pants which he offered to Yori. Slung over the boy’s shoulder was
a pair of leather boots that had hardly been worn.
“Well done,” the prince said, clapping the boy on
the back.
Yori changed into the new clothes, wishing he had
the opportunity to bathe first. He had no desire to hang around, however, and
decided it would be best to wait until he was safely back on the road that
would lead him home.
Once he had finished dressing, the prince handed
him a small purse. “This will help you if you encounter any more trouble. Most
guards are easily bribed. They may expect double when they find out you’re an
elf.”
“Thank you, my lord,” he said, tucking it safely
away in his pocket.
“You are on your honor,” Aelryk said. “I expect
you to keep your word and return here someday. If you do not, I will assume you
have died.”
“I am grateful for your kindness, my lord,” Yori
said. “I will return one day.”
The prince nodded and looked him in the eye. Yori
felt it strange that a nobleman, especially a prince, would have such trust in
him. Most Na’zorans did not see elves
am half elf, my lord.” The last thing Yori wanted to do was accuse a Na’zoran
citizen of lying.
“I believe you,” Aelryk said. “I am young, but I
am a very good judge of character.”
The prince took out the fine sword that Yori had
helped craft. Yori held his breath, expecting the sword to pierce his heart.
Perhaps this was the swift execution he had hoped for.
Instead of running him through, the prince spoke
again. “This is a very fine sword. If you are an elf, you can learn to etch
runes.”
“I am only half, my lord,” Yori began. “My father
was an elf, but my mother was human.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Aelryk replied casually. “I’m
told a drop of elven blood is all that’s required. You have a talent for
crafting metals, and it shows. I will offer you an opportunity for freedom.
Seek out your elven kin and learn the art of rune carving. Once you are
proficient, you will return to Na’zora and work for me.”
“Surely the elves would kill me as I approached,”
Yori replied, shaking his head.
“A quick death at their hands is far better than
what my father has in store for a raping half-breed,” the prince said
matter-of-factly.
Yori considered his words for only a second. He
had no doubt the prince spoke the truth, and he did not wish to find out what
King Domren’s punishment would be. “I will go,” he said. “If I live, I will
return when I’ve mastered the runes.”
“Guards!” Aelryk shouted. One of them came running
at the sound of the prince’s voice. “Release this man. He is going on a mission
for me that will most likely result in his death. I pardon him of all charges.”
The guard bowed slightly to his prince and sorted
through the keys that were tied to his belt. Finding the correct one, he
unlocked the gate to Yori’s cell and opened the door. Bowing again to Aelryk,
he disappeared once again into the darkness of the dungeon.
Aelryk turned to the young page whose face still
showed his uneasiness. Being in a dungeon, even as a free man, was not a
pleasant experience. “Get this man some clean clothing. He’s about your size,
so bring him something of your own. Nothing too fancy, just a simple shirt and
pants. He’ll also need a decent pair of boots.”
The young man bowed and ran out of the dungeon
quickly. Any task was better than standing in the oppressive dungeon. The
prince motioned for Yori to follow him, and together they ascended the stairs
leading out of the dark, cold prison.
“You’ll want to keep your hair covering those ears
as best you can until you’re safely out of the palace district. Your kind trade
at some of the market villages along our border, but few people here will
tolerate an elf.”
Yori nodded, squinting his eyes as they adjusted
to the light.
The page returned carrying a green shirt and a
brown pair of pants which he offered to Yori. Slung over the boy’s shoulder was
a pair of leather boots that had hardly been worn.
“Well done,” the prince said, clapping the boy on
the back.
Yori changed into the new clothes, wishing he had
the opportunity to bathe first. He had no desire to hang around, however, and
decided it would be best to wait until he was safely back on the road that
would lead him home.
Once he had finished dressing, the prince handed
him a small purse. “This will help you if you encounter any more trouble. Most
guards are easily bribed. They may expect double when they find out you’re an
elf.”
“Thank you, my lord,” he said, tucking it safely
away in his pocket.
“You are on your honor,” Aelryk said. “I expect
you to keep your word and return here someday. If you do not, I will assume you
have died.”
“I am grateful for your kindness, my lord,” Yori
said. “I will return one day.”
The prince nodded and looked him in the eye. Yori
felt it strange that a nobleman, especially a prince, would have such trust in
him. Most Na’zorans did not see elves
Similar Books
