Rampage, page 19
part #1 of Land of the Elementals Series
Sylvester walked up next to her to see what had grabbed her attention.
“What is this? It smells so good!” Karri asked excitedly.
“It’s called chocolate. It’s a specialty of the city. You won’t find it anywhere else in Laedrin.”
“How is it made?” Karria almost demanded as the smell wafted over her again.
Sylvester laughed at that.
“There is a special bean that grows on the outskirts of the city. The trees can only survive here, due to the weather being warm all the time.”
An elf came from the back of the stall, and a wide smile lit her face.
“First time in the city, dear?” she asked Karria.
Karria nodded vigorously.
“Yes, it’s quite overwhelming, and there’s just so much to see!”
Sylvester interrupted the two of them.
“I’m sorry to cut this short, but we don’t really have a lot of time to hang around. We really should be going.”
Karria glared at him, but the elven woman just laughed.
“Here you are, dear.” She handed Karria one of the sticks of chocolate.
“But I don’t have any money,” Karria protested, but the woman waved her off.
“I hope you enjoy it, my dear.”
She could hardly believe her good luck and wasn’t one to turn down gifts when offered so generously.
“Thank you very much!” she said, as Sylvester tugged her away from the stand.
Karria glared at Sylvester one more time as she yanked her arm out of his grasp. Then she concentrated on the chocolate the woman had given her. Taking a small bite, her eyes went wide in delight. She had never tasted something so soft and rich before. The creamy chocolate was sweet and salty at the same time, but the opposing flavors complimented each other somehow. She finished it very slowly, savoring the chocolate until the very last bite.
Once she’d finished eating and could once again concentrated on her surroundings, she noticed that the buildings were changing around them, growing larger and more extravagant the longer they walked.
Sylvester led her deep into the heart of the city. She could see a tall wrought iron fence and a stone wall ahead, and inside was the largest house Karria had ever seen. She thought they would move around it, but Sylvester walked right up to the gates. Two guards stood here, but unlike the last time they’d run into a pair of guards, these ones broke out in wide smiles and opened them right away.
“It is good to see you back, Sylvester,” one of them said as he passed.
Karria was growing more and more curious by the minute.
Just what was going on here?
They walked down a cobblestone path, moving through a sea of flowers, the likes of which she’d never seen before. Butterflies fluttered around the garden, and Karria watched with wide eyes as they flitted around from flower to flower. She could hear the sound of running water and figured there must be some sort of stream nearby.
They came to the end of the path and were greeted by a set of large ornate doors, carved with vines. She noticed that the walls of the manor were entirely covered by ivy, vines, and flowers.
She’d never seen a house like it, let alone one so big.
She heard Sylvester take a deep breath. Then he pushed the doors open. The silence was palpable as they entered the large manor, and there was a loud echoing boom as the doors closed behind them. They walked into a large, empty entryway with three corridors leading off in different directions. The ceiling towered more than thirty feet above them, and a large wooden fixture with thousands of tiny lights hung above their heads. They moved out of the entryway and into the main corridor, their footsteps echoing off the walls as they did so.
Paintings of nature and fine tapestries dotted the walls on both sides, flowers stood in tall vases along the walls, and a rich violet carpet ran the length of the corridor. There were doors dotting the walls every so often, but Karria could see they were heading to the ones at the far end of the hallway.
Four guards stood by this door, and when they saw Sylvester, they stood straighter, their expressions changing to those of shock and disbelief. One of the guards knocked and quickly entered the room as they approached. Karria heard a loud cry from inside and the guard quickly emerged, holding doors open for them.
Karria noticed that Sylvester looked tense as he entered, and she followed behind him warily, wondering just what could be going on.
Just who was Sylvester really?
The first thing she noticed upon entering were the two elves sitting in bright wooden thrones, which sat on a raised dais occupying the back of the room. The thrones were stained a light cherry color and shone brightly with polish.
Looking around, she could see more guards dispersed throughout the circular room, all standing to attention. Tall vases were dispersed about the room, all filled with an assortment of flowers, and long banners hung from the walls. They were a deep violet and bore a symbol of a Goldenleaf tree, outlined in gold stitching. There was also a large table with a set of high-backed chairs, one of which were occupied by a female elf around her own age.
All three of them turned to look as they entered, and the woman sitting on the throne stood abruptly. Karria could see she was shaking, and the man stood to help her down from the raised platform.
They both appeared to be in their early fifties, the woman tall and slender, and had light, straw-colored hair streaked with gray. She had high cheekbones, long pointed ears, and a refined air about her. The man was handsome, despite his face showing signs of age. His gray hair hung to his shoulders and was tucked neatly behind his pointed ears.
Just like the woman, he walked with a grace and dignity that Karria had rarely seen. They were dressed in flowing robes of deep violet with the Goldenleaf coat of arms emblazoned across their chests. Each wore a golden circlet on their brows, and the woman had a flower tucked behind one ear.
Karria had pretty much guessed what was going on at this point and stood back as they approached.
“Sylvester?” the woman asked, her hand reaching out to gently stroke his face. “Is that really you?”
Karria was shocked to see tears in Sylvester’s eyes as he threw his arms around the both of them, laughing and crying at the same time.
The king and queen of the elves, for Karria had no doubt now to their identities, hugged him back, tears streaming down their faces as well. Then they were all talking at once, the queen asking where he’d been, the king wanting to know what had happened, and Sylvester trying to fill them in.
Karria felt embarrassed to be intruding in what was clearly a private family moment and was stepping back when the queen’s voice stopped her.
“Who might you be, my dear?” she asked.
She’d let go of Sylvester and the three of them were now looking at her.
She felt a bit awkward but dipped into a small curtsy.
“My name is Karria, My Lady,” she said, not knowing how to address a queen properly.
“Oh, what a polite young lady you are,” she said with a warm smile. “Sit down at the table, dear. We just want to speak with Sylvester alone for a few minutes. We’ll join you as soon as we’re finished.” She gestured to the table where the elf girl sat.
Karria nodded and walked to sit down next to the girl.
“My name is Kya,” the girl said with a dazzling smile. “I’m Sylvester’s foster sister. What might your name be?”
Karria thought that Kya was the prettiest girl she’d ever seen. She had long honey-colored hair, a sparkling smile, and the most beautiful hazel eyes. Her ears were long and pointed, and her brows were slightly slanted like the other elves. Her face was slim, her skin pale and flawless and her frame slender. Karria had thought the elves she’d seen were pretty, but none of them could even come close to her!
“My name is Karria,” she said, holding out a hand for the other girl to shake.
She had to admit that she was more than a bit jealous of the elf. Back home, she’d been the envy of Woods Clearing. There had already been suitors lining up for when she came of age, but this girl was something else entirely.
She chastised herself then, remembering what her brother had told her so long ago.
Who was she to judge someone based purely on their looks? This girl introduced herself and had been quite friendly with her. There was no need for jealousy. Besides, she wasn’t looking for suitors right now. She was trying to get into the magic school.
Instead of focusing on her looks, she decided to ask about something else that had stood out to her.
“You said you were Sylvester’s foster sister?”
“Yes,” Kya replied, flashing that dazzling smile again.
“Sylvester and I aren’t really the king and queen’s children,” she explained. “There is a law in the Goldenleaf Forest that the rulers must care for the orphans of their subjects, should they have no family of their own.”
“Wow,” Karria said, astonished at the care the rulers gave their subjects.
“Yes, it’s quite generous of them,” Kya said, still smiling. “Sylvester and I are currently the only orphaned children around without some sort of extended family. The king and queen aren’t required to treat us as family, but they insist on showing us both all the care they would, had they been our birth parents.”
Karria smiled when she heard that. They sounded so kind and generous. Maybe she would be able to stay here. Maybe the king and queen would take her in as well. Although she wasn’t an elf, she had saved Sylvester’s life and even now, he must be telling them what she’d done for him.
That thought made her relax a bit.
“I am curious how you to came to meet Sylvester,” Kya said. “Would you like to tell me what you’ve been through? I can feel quite a bit from you right now, and I’ve gotten a few snatches of memory, but I can’t get a clear picture.”
Karria blanched a bit at that.
“How do you know what I’m feeling?” She was on her guard now.
Kya just laughed again.
“It’s my magic,” she explained. “I have what’s known as Connection magic. Basically, I can understand people better.” She leaned forward in a conspiratorial whisper.
“It’s not a very powerful magic, but I can sometimes see into people’s minds,” she said with a devilish grin. “You wouldn’t believe the things some people are thinking about!”
Karria stared at the girl for a long moment as Kya’s grin grew ever wider.
“Really? What kinds of things?” she asked, more than a little curious.
Kya leaned in just a bit closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. Karria’s face went red as Kya spoke, and when she moved back, she stared at the girl in astonishment.
“There’s no way that happened!” she hissed, but Kya, despite the way she was flushing as well, merely grinned back.
“Oh, it did. I can tell you more if you’d like…”
“No! That’s fine,” Karria was quick to say, eliciting a chuckle from the elf girl.
When she’d first seen her, she’d thought the girl was a proper princess, but after what she’d just said, she could see that she was anything but.
Karria decided right then and there that she liked this girl and proceeded to tell her entire story. How her family had been killed, and she captured by slavers. How she’d met Sylvester and escaped with him. How she’d been forced to kill the tracker. Karria faltered at this part of the story but forced herself to continue on. She finished recounting her tale, with their meeting Silver and her discovery of magic on the way here.
Kya listened in rapt attention as she spoke, her earlier smile fading. By the time she was finished, she looked about ready to start crying. She moved forward, wrapping Karria in a tight hug.
“Oh, you poor thing,” she said, squeezing her a bit harder. “To lose so much at once and have your life change so drastically. It must have been terrible!”
Karria was a bit surprised that someone she’d just met was so caring but hugged her back all the same. She could feel a soothing sensation coming off the girl and had to wonder if she was using her magic on her.
“And about that man you killed,” Kya said quietly.
Karria stiffened up at this. That man’s death had been plaguing her for weeks. Some nights she would close her eyes and see that man’s dying face staring back at her.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered soothingly. “I feel the same pain and anguish you do for what you had to do. But you have to know that it wasn’t your fault. You can let go.”
Despite herself, Karria suddenly felt as though a massive weight had lifted off her shoulders. All the guilt she’d been feeling just melted away as though it had never been. By now, she had no doubts as to whether Kya was using magic on her or not. But she was too relieved to care. She sat back from Kya, tears budding in the corners of her eyes and at a loss for words.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Kya just smiled and hugged her again.
“Since you’re obviously going to be staying with us, let’s be friends.”
Karria laughed at this, sniffing and wiping at her eyes.
“Let’s,” she said, in total agreement.
25
The king and queen finished their talk and came to sit down across her and Kya a few minutes later, with Sylvester taking a seat between them.
“First, let us introduce ourselves,” the queen said. “I am Blyss, queen of the elves.”
“And I am Alvine, king of the elves.”
“First of all,” Blyss said. “We would like to thank you for accompanying our son on his journey back home.”
“Sylvester told us of what happened to him,” Alvine continued. “We know how much you might feel you owe him, but don’t fret, Sylvester was glad to do all those things for you.”
Karria’s brows furrowed when he said that, confused.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean by that. Why would I feel like I owe him anything?”
Blyss’ eyebrows drew together, and her mouth hardened into a flat line.
“I would think that you would be just a little grateful to him after he saved you from those slavers!” she said, outraged.
“Or,” Alvine interjected, also clearly annoyed. “For having to kill that tracker after you botched up a plan and were too scared to act.”
“Or when he saved you from those Gila lizards out on the Flatlands!” Blyss continued, “I should think you would be on your knees, thanking him!”
To say she was shocked would have been the understatement of the century. Karria gaped, first at the king and queen, and then at Sylvester, who seemed unable to meet her gaze and instead looked out over her head.
“I did all those things!” she finally burst out, feeling shock turn to anger. “All those things he claims to have done for me! I did them all for him!”
She was on her feet now, pointing accusingly at him.
“This little coward wouldn’t have survived a day without me! He was too scared to kill that man, and I saved his life!”
“Young lady!” Blyss exclaimed, also getting to her feet. “I know that you’ve had a traumatic few weeks but going so far as to claim credit for someone else’s deeds!” She shook her head. “Truly shameful behavior!”
Karria blanched a little at the queen’s icy glare, but she wasn’t about to back down, not when she knew she was in the right.
“Well it seems, Your Majesty,” she said, lacing the word with as much sarcasm as she could. “That your son also forgot to mention that another man was along for a good part of this journey. I am sure that if we can track him down, he will tell you what a lying snake your son is!”
She saw Sylvester flinch at this and felt a small amount of satisfaction at seeing him squirm.
“I see no man here!” Alvine bellowed, now standing up as well, his face livid with rage.
“All I see is a sad little human girl trying to take credit for my son’s heroic deeds! If a man did travel with you, where is he now?”
Karria took a step back at this and began stuttering.
“I… I don’t know where he is!” she shouted. She could feel a headache coming on. “Silver just left us at the edge of the forest and told us that he had to leave!”
Karria stopped her tirade as the king and queen had gone absolutely still, their faces taking on an ashen appearance. Alvine and Blyss looked at each other for a few moments, fear clearly written on their faces.
“Did you say a man named Silver brought you here?” Alvine asked quietly.
Karria was confused as to why it would matter who Silver was, but she nodded. She was having a hard time keeping her rage in check.
“Did this man have wild red hair, purple eyes, and orange-colored skin?” he asked again.
Karria nodded again, her eyes fixed on Sylvester and imagining all the different ways she’d like to throttle the lying bastard. And why the hell did it matter what Silver looked like?
Alvine and Blyss both looked at Sylvester now, who appeared to be trying to hide a look of discomfort. It seemed that he’d clearly not wanted Silver’s name to be mentioned, though she couldn’t be sure as to why.
“You didn’t mention meeting a man named Silver,” Blyss said in a quiet voice. “Tell me, Sylvester,” the queen sounded quite angry now, “Why would you not mention meeting this man, and what else have you not told us?”
“We didn’t!” he said quickly. “I don’t know what she’s talking about! She’s just grasping at straws and trying to take credit for all I’ve done for her.”
He looked her in the eye then and plastered a look of disgust onto his face.
“I should never have saved your life, you disgusting human. I should have let the slavers keep you!”
Karria was stunned! Why was he acting this way, and where was this all coming from? It was as if the last two months they’d spent together meant nothing to him. Why had he bothered bringing her with if he’d just planned to lie about her?
