Page 12 of The Ivory King (Crowns of Melowynn #2)

I SAT ON THE BED IN THE PLAIN ROBES OF THE SISTERS , empty plates on the dresser and desk, watching V’alor sleep sitting up in a chair that looked too small for his frame. The tub holding his filthy bathwater sat in front of the hearth, waiting to be emptied. I’d not called on the sisters to return to fetch it or the platters that had held his simple but filling meal. V’alor had nodded off before he had even touched his peach cobbler, his dark eyes drooping downward as he valiantly battled exhaustion. The soft call of a night wren drifted in the window. I rose to close the shutters, glancing out to see small flakes of snow falling from a passing cloud. The sisters would be harvesting their lavender soon. The fields would be covered with old bedding from the stalls that had been allowed to compost, then turned over, all by hand, and all under the watchful eye of Ihdos.

I turned back to find V’alor awake, his sight on me. “How long have I slept?” He sat up, stretching out the kinks as his robe gaped to show his smooth chest and stomach.

“As long as your body required,” I replied, moving over to kneel in front of him, my hands falling to his bare thighs as I stared up at him. “It is night. We shall journey forth tomorrow morning with Lady Raewyn for Celear.”

“We should have left today,” he argued, but his words lacked any real punch. He was still tired, I could see that, for the bags under his eyes were lessened but not fully gone.

“The lady was not ready,” I lied, and he accepted that fabrication. “She has much to sort through before she leaves the sisters.” I reached over to the desk to pluck the plate with a square of peach cobbler from atop my letters. “Here, eat this. I know you enjoy sweets.”

He sat up, the long bathrobe sliding off a thick shoulder, and tipped up my chin with his finger. It was a plain brown robe, much like the daily robes the sisters wore, only open in the front and tied with a sash of russet cloth. Never had I seen burlap look so good.

“You are thinking of yourself, my lord.” His lips gently moved over mine. I sat back on my heels, cut into the cobbler with the smooth wooden spoon, and held it up to his mouth.

“Right now, I am thinking only of you,” I confessed. He ran his finger along my jaw and opened his hand to comb through my hair. “My values are skewed and greedy, for I should be concerned for the throne, but I am not, nor do I feel badly about it.”

He opened his mouth, and I fed him the dessert carefully. His eyes closed in rapture, then reopened to find mine.

“That you are expressing your worries to me about your perceived lack of concern for the nation tells me that you do worry about the kingdom.” He lifted my hair into the air and let it fall over my shoulder. “And worry you should, for we are far from the king’s guards and the assassins are surely waiting for us to leave this holy valley.”

This was not what I wanted to discuss. Truly, if I never had to think about hired killers, a dead king, or the mourning elves of Melowynn, I would be ecstatic. I fed him more cobbler as a green log in the hearth popped.

“Tell me about what happened after we left Lake Tolso,” I said as I rested on my heels.

He chewed, swallowed, and waved off the third spoonful of peach and flaky biscuit topped with clotted cream.

“The attack was vicious, and the fisherfolk lost many good people,” he said as a sadness settled on his face. I thought of Beiro, where he was, and if he was dealing with his grief well. “It was a silent strike, as they all are with those bastards, and caught me unaware. Sleeping again, which is why I asked not to be allowed to slumber.”

“You cannot go without sleep, V’alor. You are only elf.” I took a bite of the cobbler. He rolled his eyes. “Do not blame yourself.”

“Who else shall I blame? I am your guard captain and twice I have been short-sided by assassins who seek to harm or kidnap you. The failure lies with me.” He was growing agitated. “Where is my armor? My clothing? We need to send ravens to Umeris.”

“The sisters are cleaning your armor and underclothing. Your shield and sword stand in the corner by the bed.” His sight darted to where his weaponry rested. I remained kneeling on the floor as I spooned the cobbler into my mouth. He went to rise. I placed a hand on his knee to stop the oncoming fit of stalking and self-blame, then placed the empty cobbler plate on the desk beside a crock of melted butter, an empty bottle of dandelion wine, and his cleaned dinner bowls. “V’alor, please, my love, ravens have been sent. Tezen and Pasil have relayed what little news there was to the capital. Sirdal is recovering from his long run. Stalking the room like a caged Sandrayan desert cat will only agitate you.”

His breath out was hearty. He sank back into the chair, his head falling back to bare his long, thick throat.

“I rode through nightmarish visions as we made our way here,” he confessed to the ceiling. I moved closer, pressing between his thighs to rest my cheek on his chest, my nose pulling in the glorious scent of his freshly washed skin. I let my eyes close as I breathed him in, my hands slipping into the loose robe to clinch him to me. “Imagining of what we might find. You lying dead in a muddy pit with an assassin’s blade in your neck…”

His chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought the dark memories.

“I am fine, my love,” I whispered, turning my head to drop small kisses to his pectoral as his heart thundered like a smithy’s forging hammer. “What you saw were hallucinations brought on by fatigue and worry. We are all alive, healthy, and with a future that—”

He pulled me from the ground, sliding me up over him and sealing his mouth over mine. I straddled him as the kiss deepened, rolling my hips over his rapidly hardening prick, his tongue claiming mine. I melted into him like butter on a warm bun, licking over his teeth and tugging on his lower lip. His hands roamed up under my robe to cup my buttocks. A shudder ran through me as he kneaded the orbs roughly.

“Curse me for my weaknesses, but tonight you are mine. We shall speak not of the future until morning light,” he panted, his grip on my ass firm and possessive.

“But Lady Raewyn is not at all as we—”

He ravenously kissed me into silence. Knees pinched by the arms of the chair, I nonetheless refused to move. V’alor found my hole. I gasped into his mouth as he rubbed the furl, pressing a fingertip in and then withdrawing it. His lips left my mouth to nip along my jaw as his middle finger teased at my opening. He shoved my robe aside with his nose to bare a nipple. His teeth found it. My cock began to leak as he sucked sloppily on the tight bud.

“Rise up,” he growled a moment later. I did as asked, his hands guiding me up to that his cock nestled between my ass cheeks. My eyelashes fluttered when his cockhead slipped over my hole. “Ah, Aelir, my love, may Ihdos strike me down for my shortcomings and my transgressions, but I adore you.”

“And I you,” I gasped as I rocked my hips, his cock gliding up and down the valley of my ass, his leaking seed making the path slippery. “I love you. I shall always love you,” I whispered as I took his face between my hands. I stared into dark brown eyes, then kissed his brows, his lashes, his cheeks, and his nose. His fingers spread me wide. “Let me…one moment…” I panted as I pecked his cheek while flailing for the crock of butter on the desk. When my fingers fell into it, I sighed in relief. The thought of impaling myself on his fat cock without lubrication the night before days in the saddle was not a pleasant one, but I would have done so and suffered just to feel him filling me. “This will aid us,” I said as he suckled on my shoulder, the burn of the love bruise making my balls tighten. “V’alor,” I whimpered as I smeared butter over and into my greedy hole. I rose up and sat down on him, crying out in pleasure and pain as his cock stretched me to my limits. He captured my mouth in a wet kiss as my body adjusted.

“You are too impatient,” he huffed when I began moving, up and down, around in circles, his cock rubbing on that spot deep inside that made me see shooting stars every time it moved over it. “By Ihdos your ass is perfection!”

“Spend inside me, deeply, as deep as you can go. I wish to feel your seed leak from me for days,” I barked as I rode him hard. The chair legs creaked dangerously with each mad thrust and bounce but I was too far gone, too deeply driven, too rapturously in love to care if the chair splintered under us. His fingers bit into my buttocks. His thighs flexed as he planted his feet on the cold ground for leverage to rut upward with all his strength. My hole would be tender on the morrow, but I would deal with that then. Right now, all I lived for was this man loving me with mad passion. My cock bounced madly, the sensitive head gliding back and forth over burlap, my balls drawing up as my release drew near.

V’alor’s cock swelled, his grip on my ass tightened, and the hot splash of his spend deep inside shattered the shaky control I’d had. His head rolled back, his jaw clenched, and his cock spurt over and over, filling me until I overflowed. Warm seed seeped out of me, making my ride that much slicker.

His fingers left my ass. One hand went to my cock, the other fisted into my hair. He led my mouth back to his as he pumped my prick with expertise. One stroke for every thrust of his still-stiff cock brought me to the edge and then over. I shattered as he smashed my lips to his. Licking into my mouth, he swallowed my cries of completion as my channel squeezed him, milking more spend from him.

I collapsed over him, my cheek resting against his, my arms dangling over his sweaty shoulders. His fist remained in my hair as my body shuddered and squeezed each drop of his essence from him. He turned his head gently to drop a kiss to the tip of my pointed ear, his hand rising to lift, then drop a handful of hair.

“I love the candlelight when it dances on your hair,” he breathily confessed as I lay limp and spent atop him. “It’s like watching gold from the eyes of Ihdos fall down from the heavens.”

“Mm, you are a poetic soul locked in a soldier’s body,” I whispered as my chest slowed. I had no urge to move so I stayed where I was. “I hope to hear your honeyed words every night for the rest of our lives.”

His lips stalled on my ear. “Aelir, that will not be possible come the morrow.”

“But it will.” I rubbed my nose against his jawline and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before sitting up. His prick was soft now, resting just inside me, the trickle of hot spend seeping from me making me shiver with pleasure. “We shall be together, V’alor.” He began to protest. I placed a finger over his mouth. “We shall be together. Please, let me explain.” His expression was dubious. “Let me wash up and then we shall retire and speak into the wee hours as lovers do.”

I rose from his lap, his cock slipping free, and moved to the tub. The water was tepid and covered with soapy scum, but I cared not. With expedience, I shucked off the itchy brown robe, washed his spend and mine from my flesh, and then crawled into the bed. V’alor sat in his chair, robe open, flaccid cock hanging down between his splayed legs, his eyes never once leaving me.

“You are perfection, Aelir,” he gruffly said as I pulled back the covers. I glanced over my shoulder, a flirtatious look, and smiled at my lover. One side of his well-kissed mouth twitched before he rose from the chair. His robe slid to the floor. I slipped under the coverlet, my sight on him as he washed our lovemaking from his skin and padded over to join me. “Tell me now of this glorious future that you think we will have.”

I curled into his side after he pulled the blanket over us. His heart beat strong and true, as always, under my palm. So I began to explain things as they stood now between me, Lady Raewyn, Merrilyn, and him. Each moment that passed, his brown eyes widened until, when I reached the end of the explanation, his mouth hung open. I closed it with a finger under his chin.

“I cannot…” he said, faltered, and then wet his lips to try again. The fire was low now, the glow a soft scarlet that warmed his skin and dark hair. “What manner of feminine skill allows for a woman to…for a woman to be with child and not have lain with a man?”

“I cannot say, nor do I wish to know. A woman’s body is a mystery that greater men than I have yet to truly understand, but Raewyn seems most assured that her maid knows what needs to be done and that all will run smoothly.” I let my mind wander to a bit of knowledge about the elves that called the Black Sand Isles home. The Sandrayan people were not limited in their marriages in any way when it came to more than one wedded pair. Much like us, they were generally freely open to lying with either sex but had taken that personal freedom one step further. They sometimes had multiple-partner marriages alongside traditional two-partner unions. “Are you familiar with the ways of the Sandrayan people when it comes to multiple marriage partners?”

“I am, to some vague degree. They believe that the heart is capable of loving more than one soul at a time.” I nodded. “Hmm, I am not sure I could love another as I do you.”

“And I feel much the same, but many people surely feel differently. Perhaps we could have such an arrangement, but different. One that suits our unique situation?”

He began playing with my hair, combing it absently with his fingers, as he pondered. “Are there laws in the scrolls of Ihdos that pertain to such a unique situation? What would the elders think of such an arrangement? What if the method of impregnating Lady Raewyn fails and you are called upon to lie with her?”

He was right to ask, for there were many possible problems with Raewyn’s plan. “I do not know. We would have to deal with that situation when it arose. As to the legality, I have no knowledge of any laws of Melowynn that speak upon a marriage with more than two parties. Certainly, the elder elves would have knowledge of such.” I felt him shake his head and so I glanced up.

“I am not certain that is a viable idea. Surely four people could not be joined. A king must have his queen.”

“Yes, he must to produce a successor, but might he not also have his royal consorts, and might they not all be joined in a ceremony to pledge fidelity? I think I shall speak to the grand cloisterer about this. If there are no laws against a monarch taking more than one spouse, then we shall simply all be joined as a betrothed group.”

“Aelir, I do not even know either of the women involved. Surely Lady Raewyn and her maid, if they are not fond of the male body, do not wish to be promised to two men.”

“But the ties are strictly political,” I hurried to reply now that this idea had taken root. Why could a ruler not take more than one partner? The Sandrayan people lived in family groups where there were more than one man and one woman. They shared the work and the pleasures—most not sexual, according to my tutors—of having multiple spouses seamlessly. “As long as the kingdom has a noble-blooded heir, the advisors should have no complaints. Nobles and monarchs alike have lovers on the side. The streets and brothels of Melowynn are filled with half-noble elves from their indiscretions. Surely a foursome joined under the eyes of Ihdos would be far better than forcing a king to take a queen that he loathes or making a queen lay with a man she abhors.”

He grew quiet as the fire sizzled and spat sending a few sparks up the flue.

“I think this plan needs to be discussed with all the parties who may be involved,” he finally replied.

I kissed his chest. “We shall talk with Raewyn and Merrilyn!” I shot up and out of bed, leaving him to gape at me as I found and stepped into my borrowed trousers.

“Where are you going?” he asked as he sat up, the cover puddling in his lap.

“To speak to the other parties who are involved. I shall not wait a second longer to ensure that you and I are together forever.” I paused with my pants halfway over my ass. “That is if you wish to be bound to me as my husband for the rest of your days? If you do not—”

He tossed the coverlet aside and stood. My gaze moved over him, my breath hitching at his masculine beauty. “Being at your side for the rest of our days would please me more than anything else, no matter my title, but I do not want you to see a gilded future for us before you have looked into all aspects of this idea.”

I jerked up my pants and buttoned them. “If things play out as Umeris wishes I shall be on the ivory throne by the next full moon. Then I shall set forth the laws that I wish. And if I say that four can be wed, then that shall be a royal decree.”

“And if you are not chosen to wear the crown?” he asked, thick arms folded over his chest. He was always the one to look for problems in any plan, which was a good mindset for a guard captain.

“Then we shall return to Renedith, and I will take you as my consort and marry Lady Frostleaf to ensure an heir and the joining of two vills. Raewyn and Merrilyn may do as they wish when the night arrives, just as we will. It matters not where we live, V’alor. I will not spend another day without you at my side. So, do you wish to speak to the ladies with your cock dangling in the wind, or would you like to pull on a robe?”

“You have always been like a hound with his teeth locked on a stick when you have an idea. I recall your rabid fixation with badger pups as an early example of how resolute you can be at times.”

He knew me so well.

We moved on quiet feet to Lady Raewyn’s door.

A subtle knock brought a quick reply. Merrilyn, in a sleeping gown of the dullest gray, opened the door, her long blonde hair free, her jaw set in disapproval as soon as her eyes met mine.

“Good eve, Merrilyn,” I said as pleasantly as possible. “Is your lady awake? I have brought my guard captain so that she may meet with him and perhaps discuss our plans for the morning?”

Her bright blue eyes darted to V’alor standing awkwardly behind me in a plain brown robe with his shield and sword in hand. I’d teased him about his weaponry when we’d left my room. When Merrilyn stepped aside to allow us to enter, I caught the glint of firelight off the broadsword she had hidden behind her back. V’alor looked at the sword, then at me. I ignored the little jab of righteousness as we entered a large suite. One door to the left stood closed, the bedchamber I assumed. The sitting area was decorated with sturdy and tasteful furnishings, serviceable to be sure, but well-made. A fire burned brightly in the hearth. A desk covered with neat stacks of vellum, inkwells, and quills rested by a double window with closed shutters.

Merrilyn left us standing on a soft rug of yellow and green to summon her mistress. A moment after the bedroom door closed, it opened, and Raewyn hurried through it in a cloud of frothy white robing. Far and away from the usual sleeping attire of the sisters.

“My lord Aelir, it is so good to see you. I thought we would not lay eyes on you until the morn, given that your beloved has returned to your arms!” She rushed to clasp V’alor’s hand between hers, her hazel eyes glowing. Her cheeks were ruddy as well, and her usually neat hair tangled. “I am so happy you are well. Our lord was grievously worried about you.”

“The pleasure is mine,” V’alor said, bowing over their joined hands.

“Come, sit! Tell me all about your journey here, V’alor. I am nearly bursting to set off come the morn! I’ve not set foot from the holy steppes since I was brought here as a small child and I wish to see the world! All of it! Do you two sail? I hear the seas calling to me! My soul longs to sail and discover the mysteries that my family never could.”

She pulled V’alor to a chaise and sat beside him, her hand still clasping his. Merrilyn moved about in silence, pouring wine into goblets carved from light wood before taking a stand behind Raewyn, a hand on her lady’s shoulder. I took a seat on a well-stuffed foot stool as I sipped at the pale pink wine.

“Our people have sailed to the Black Sand Isles for diplomatic reasons, but it has been many years since we have done so,” I explained, enjoying the sweet taste of the peach wine on my tongue. “Lady Raewyn,” I began. She frowned. “Apologies, Raewyn, we have come to you with a proposition that you may find unsettling. If so, please speak truthfully, and we shall never speak of it again.”

Raewyn glanced at V’alor, gave his hand a squeeze, and then leaned forward, sending her knotted tresses over her shoulder.

“Tell me of your idea, my lord.” I frowned. She smiled. “Apologies. Aelir. Tell me what your clever mind has dreamed up!”

And so I told her my idea. V’alor sat quietly, his shield and sword at his side. Merrilyn stood stoically behind Raewyn as I relayed my thoughts as succinctly as possible. When I was done, Raewyn chewed her lower lip for a moment before turning to look at her handmaiden.

“What do you think, Merrilyn?” Raewyn gently asked. The strapping woman nodded just once and gave Lady Frostleaf’s shoulder a soft caress. Raewyn turned her attention to me. “I am willing to take on two husbands as long as neither requests a presence in my bed. Only my dear Merrilyn sleeps at my side.”

V’alor seemed vastly uncomfortable with how open Raewyn was about our unique situation, which was odd for a lad raised in a whorehouse. Surely, he had seen many things in that brothel far more carnal than four willing adults entering into a contract of marriage.

“And V’alor is the only one who shall sleep with me,” I said and looked at my love to ensure he felt the same. He bobbed his head, his unease apparent. “We shall work out the details on our journey to Celear. I know this is unusual for mainland elves, but an open union will negate us having to lie and sneak about in the dark.” We all agreed on that point. “We now need to secure the grand cloisterer’s agreement to such a diverse request. Before we approach her with our announcement, we must research. Is there a way we can read over the scrolls of marriage laws?”

Raewyn gave me a wink. “I have access to all the libraries here. Let me grab my slippers and a covering!”

The lady pecked V’alor on his cheek before releasing his hand and dashing into the bedchamber with her maiden following behind. The door closed softly.

“You look stunned,” I whispered to V’alor.

“There is much taking place at a rapid pace. I prefer to have things laid out in advance, so there is less chance of mistakes made from rushing.” I knew that well about him. He was not a fan of spontaneity. “Also, is the maid dumb?”

The door opened. Merrilyn stuck her head through the crack.

“The maid is not dumb,” Merrilyn said and closed the door once more.

“So she can speak and possesses the ears of a harrier, good to know,” V’alor commented dryly as we shared a look of gentle amusement. I hoped the grand cloisterer would be as amused when we presented our plan to her.

The grand cloisterer was not amused.

She was not happy with being woken before the sun rose, nor was she overly excited about our very Sandrayan plans. She balked numerous times as we presented our findings, finally acknowledging that there was no written law forbidding a union from being more than two people. We all sighed at that terse announcement from a very aggrieved Eldacar still in her sleeping robes and soft slippers.

“I shall do the binding ceremony as you request, Lord Aelir, but know that a raven will be sent as soon as it is completed and that when you arrive at the capital the exalted cloisterer of that temple may refuse to acknowledge the troth made here,” Eldacar stated as she rose from behind her desk with a weary sigh just as the first rays of a new day peeked through her shutters. “If she does, remind her that the vows you make here on this morn are irrevocable. Be sure that you are happy in this decision for once the troths are made, they are not easily undone.”

“We are aware that there may be discord,” I said before getting one final nod from the other three, who would soon be my chosen life partners. “And we are sure.”

Eldacar gave us all a long look as she lifted a plain gold cord from a carved box sitting atop a handcrafted side table filled with scrolls, spent candles, and a jar of lavender spikes.

“I do not wish to guess why you four are entering into such a union, but as I have been bid to ensure Aelir and Raewyn are promised to each other with haste, I shall do as Umeris has instructed. He and Ihdos can sort out the other two additions to this situation.”

It was a simple ceremony. The gold cord was looped around our wrists, all four of them, and the grand cloisterer blessed our betrustment with a baleful expression. Over in the space of a spring swallow call, it was official. We all smiled uncomfortably as we kissed each other on the cheek and then crept off while Eldacar studied us intently.

We met in the bailey an hour later, sleep-deprived but oddly invigorated. I felt as if I finally had some traction on the slippery road that had become my life. I had a queen, or would if the need arose, and I had V’alor. And Merrilyn. Whom I still wasn’t sure wouldn’t rather impale me on that massive broadsword of hers rather than look at me.

Pasil and Beiro awaited us, all four horses saddled as well as two disgusted-looking mules for the lady and her maid.

I made my way to Beiro and placed my hands on his squared shoulders. “I am so sorry for your loss, my friend.” His green eyes flared at the endearment. “V’alor has told me of the deaths of many in the village but knowing that Thavus is alive must bring you some comfort.”

“It does,” he conceded even though his eyes held great sorrow still, his gaze darting to the two women in leather armor petting their mules. “The mules will slow us down, but they promise to do their best to keep up. They are named Aja and Wisp.”

The brown mules brayed when the petting ceased, making Atriel bare her teeth at her long-eared companions.

“All will be well. Are you staying with us once we are past the holy barrier?”

“If you will have me. There is nothing this far north for me now.”

I gave his shoulders a thump. “I am glad. You have proven a valuable guide. If you stay in Celear, I shall ensure your name is mentioned far and wide.”

“Thank you,” he whispered, his gaze flicking to Pasil as he and V’alor fell into a rather strenuous conversation. I assumed the announcement of our unconventional pact was being explained. Given the stunned look on Pasil’s face, I was rather sure of it.

“We are to protect the women with our lives. They are both my fiancée. As is V’alor.” Emerald eyes grew to the size of dinner platters. “It is a long story, but know it is a happy circumstance.”

He studied the lady and her maid. “Nobles are odd, but if you wish to be pledged to three others, who am I to comment? They look well suited to protect themselves, your duo of future wives…and husband.”

I gave him a shaky smile and turned. V’alor always looked impressive in his armor. It was the women who had surprised me. Seeing them in fine leather armor had been a shock. Noting the whip on Raewyn’s hip had taken me aback. No gowns of pastel color now and no flowing locks adorned her head, just neat braids tucked into the back of her armor just as my hair was, no dainty slippers. She was dressed for a rough ride and possible danger. Merrilyn, who stood as tall as V’alor and Pasil, was just as intimidating as my guards with her two-handed blade.

Tezen flitted about the women, talking steadily as we thanked the sisters for their graciousness. The mules were restless, as were the horses, and our saddlebags were full. Ours filled with food stuff and Raewyn’s with her precious books, quills, and vellum. Lady Raewyn’s other belongings would be shipped to her in Celear, or Renedith, wherever we ended our journey. With a final thank you to the still unsure grand cloisterer, we saddled our mounts and began the long journey down the lavender steppes.

The ride down was quiet, the sisters in the lavender fields pausing their work to wave at Raewyn as she passed. She wept silently as she called out her farewells, with Merrilyn riding to her left, her gaze locked on the valley far below. V’alor was fixated on the shimmering veil of magical protection as well, each of them trying to see any danger that may lurk just past the barrier. I doubted the assassins would strike in the bright of day so close to the veil. They would wait until we were miles away, sleep beckoning and our guards down. I tried not to dwell on what the night would bring.

Once we passed through the veil, we all withdrew into ourselves, pointed ears—aside from Merrilyn’s—attuned to every sound as we headed south. Beiro was leading us far from the Glotte woodlands, down to the outskirts of Kanazen and then through vast farmlands to Celear. Avoiding the woods seemed a wise move. Now that the rains passed, the rivers should be receding and travel somewhat easier.

Despite our silent ride, every time I glanced at Raewyn, her brown-green eyes were wide. She had not seen Melowynn before, and it was a glorious sight, even at the base of the Witherhorn. If all went as Umeris wished, she would be queen soon. She would make a strong, smart, beautiful monarch. Although her face bore the scars of the widow’s touch, her inner drive to improve the future of all elves shone through the blotchy markings. Beauty was truly found in the heart and not in the looking glass.

Night arrived with speed and with it, the threat of those that moved in shadow and deceit.