Elf Prince - Protected by the Elf Prince Part 3

Chapter 4

It was later that evening at the Akashian ruins. I was sitting by one of the campfires made in the Akasha courtyard that night.

And it was dinner time.

A few guards had caught a deer on the hunt, skinned and butchered it, and pressure cooked it with an underground oven made out of dirt and clay. They used its blood, organs, and meat along with our rations to cook a hearty stew over the campfires. Most of the guards were gathered around them, eating the meal they made, having conversations, and generally enjoying themselves. A few others were on watch duty along the castle walls, keeping a vigilant lookout for any enemies.

The griffins were resting to the side, scrapping their beaks on rocks and preening their feathers. The Lieutenant had release them earlier so they could hunt and feed themselves. They were truly intelligent animals, on the same level as crows and dolphins. They caught deer, wild boar, and rabbits for their supper. They swallowed the rabbits whole while tearing off chunks of flesh from the deer and boar. They left nothing behind but the bones and antlers, which they began to play with.

Just wait until Aurora sees this. She's going to have a field day studying griffins.

Thinking of my best friend reminded me of Earth. About my life in the city and collage. I didn't miss the noise, the smog, the crime, the fighting, my crappy apartment, or the stares. But there were many things in the city that I missed. The buildings and parks. The animals and the streets. The beautiful stars, moon, and sunset. Working with animal patients at the vet clinic. My clients for my fortune telling business. Watching my favorite movies and TV shows. Listening to my favorite songs on Pandora.

I especially missed Aurora. Her fun smile and enthusiasm. Her smarts and her wits. I even missed her criticism, cowgirl talk, and colorful language. She was probably worried sick about me, wondering where I was. I was sure she would give me an earful. And I also missed her one-year-old son, Theoden. My godson.

I remembered how I had a Fourth of July cookout with Aurora and her family before I returned to Philadelphia for my last year of college. They had barbequed beef ribs and sausage with baked beans, coleslaw, grilled corn on the cob, spicy collard greens, sweet potato fries, and homemade bread. Her family would dry rub and smoke the ribs for up to a day beforehand. Her grandma would then cut and drown them in their homemade BBQ sauce. It turned out juicy, tender, and sweet and spicy. And the recipe was top secret. Not to mention her grandma's prize-winning peach and blackberry cobbler. She'd make them with fresh sliced peaches and blackberries, bake each one in its own mason jar, and serve them hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Aurora liked to tell scary stories about the campfire. Especially ghost stories. I didn't like scary stories, but I listened. We also played some family social games and launched our own fireworks before travelling to Phoenix to watch the main fireworks show. I remember telling Aurora during the show that we would always be best friends forever, always at each other's side.

But with the banishment decree, it seemed like I would be unable to keep that promise.

"Here you are, my dear. Hope you don't mind. Tonight's dinner is... Isilme? Are you alright?"

I looked up at the person speaking to me. It was Adresin, carrying two plates full of food for our dinner. Each plate had about three ounces of cubed venison steak, some meat and veggie stew, and a large slice of bread. He also brought napkins, spoons, a sharp knife, and two whole apples. He was looking down at me with concern.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized, "I was daydreaming for a moment. About the Earth realm."

"Daydreaming about the Earth Realm?" said Adresin as he handed me a plate and spoon smiling, "Now you have my curiosity. What would you be doing right now if you were there?"