Crowns and Guns.

Promise (part 1)

I am sitting on my bed, staring at the whispering stone. It looks so small, I can't believe these small stones are so powerful. Then again, the small crystals embedded in my skin are way more powerful in comparison. I carefully pick up the stone.

Suddenly, I find myself embedded in darkness. I look around, and there is nothing but ink black void around me. My first thought is that the lights have been killed, but I can still clearly see my arms, and my blue dress, which seem to be sprinkling like sunlight. I can see my bare feet poking from my dress, sitting on seeming nothingness. I can't feel the mattress I am sitting on anymore nor the wall I am sitting against. All I seem to feel is a cool summer breeze on my skin. I am still holding the stone, which seems to emit a clear blue light.

In front of me, I see a large shade. At first, I can't make out what it is, but I soon realise. It is an elf with only one arm.

I gasp at the sight and drop the stone. The moment it escapes from my hands, the vision is gone. I am sitting on my bed again, against the wall.

The stone drops on the mattress and comes to a halt between my legs. It stops glowing and looks like an ordinary stone again.

Do I dare to grab it again? What if that vision is not just a vision? What if that elf can attack me? What if I can get stuck? Then again, this might be my best option to get answers.

I take a deep breath and stretch my arms. After gathering some courage, I pick up the whispering stone again.

The moment I touch it, I am surrounded by the black void again. I wait patiently as the gaseous shape in front of me slowly takes form.

The elf looks at me and smiles. "What a nice surprise, Human Spawn. I wondered when I would see you again."

I feel my breathing going faster, and my heart pounding in my ears. I look straight at the elf, determined to keep it in my sight, and determined to drop the stone the moment it tries anything.

"Can you harm me?" I ask.

"I can't harm you while we speak like this. I promise," it answers.

That statement calms me down a bit. I take another deep breath and compose myself. I am surprised at how nice the black void smells. Reminds me of the perfume my Mom used to wear.

I ball my fists at the thought of my Mom. She is dead because of that elf. She and so many others. And it didn't just kill her, it roasted and ate her, like an animal. And then fed her to me.

I take a deep breath again, savouring the air. I look over to the elf again. "Lost your tongue again, human spawn?"

I cross my arms. "I have a name. It is Skye. Don't call me human spawn."

The elf laughs. "Nice to meet you again Skye. My name is Star."

I frown. "I didn't know elves had names."

"Of course we have names. How else would we refer to each other?"

I shake my head. "Okay, I have one question for you. Did our commander use this stone to communicate with you?"

It shakes its head. "Straight to the point. I thought humans preferred small talk? No human has ever contacted me using a whispering stone. I didn't know they were able to."

Okay, that is good news, if the elf is speaking the truth. I correct myself. Elves can't lie. It is speaking the truth.

"Alright then, why do you think the Commander hid this communication stone in his office."

The elf scoffs. "Probably to use for the coronation ritual. It needs such a stone, in addition to the crown. Ever since the Elven queen gave that crown to the humans, they have tried to perform that ritual. We are bound to follow whoever gets crowned king or queen, so if they succeeded, this would have meant total control over us. Luckily for us, humans have not succeeded. Imagine that. During the ritual, the monarch has to swear they will serve the empire, and the other elves swear they follow the crown. Imagine if one of the parties could break that promise. Horrible." It shivers.

This is new. I sit up and lean forwards. "Wait, are you telling me you gave the crown to the humans?"

Star laughs. "Of course, it was part of the pact of flesh."

I shake my head. "My history book says the pact of flesh was a promise made to other elves, about eating animals. Why would it include giving humans the crown?"

Star falls on his back and rolls on the floor laughing. It sounds like a tortured hyena. Black liquid flows from its eyes. After a while, it is done laughing, and it stands back up.

"Human, you have the ability to lie and deceive, have had it all your lives, grew up with other humans with that same ability, and you still blindly believe whatever other humans say? Instead of thinking for yourself?"

I cross my arms and legs. "I got it from a reliable source."

The elf rolls its eyes. "If you want a reliable source, go ask Commander Herrera. He personally oversaw the peace talks. You can go ask him."

"No way, he wouldn't lie to me."

"He is a human, Skye. Humans lie. It's their nature."

I shake my head. "If all humans are liars, as you say, then why are you talking to me? A human."

The elf shrugs. "You called me. I thought it was polite to answer."

"Polite?"

"Yes. And besides, I quite like the fact that we can talk without it ending us fighting. Don't you like that too?"

I shrug. "Maybe. I don't know."

I was just looking for answers. But the elf is giving me more questions, questions I didn't even know to ask. Part of my body wants to escape, get away from the monster that killed my parents, and eat human flesh. But then again, he might provide me with answers. Answers I will otherwise never get. And the elf, Star, said it himself. He does not lie.

I shake my head and ask the question that has been on my mind.

"If my parents had just handed me over, would you have let them go?"

The elf shrugs. "They would never have just handed you over. Humans have a certain bond with their children. The most similar thing they have to an Elven promise."

I grind my teeth. "Love is not the same as a promise."

Star laughs. "If you say so. You are the human. You understand love better than me."

I swallow twice and look up at him. "If that is so, then why did you demand them that they would hand me over? Why ask, if you know they would refuse?"

The elf laughs. "I needed them to attack me. Elves are unable to strike first. That is why we provoke humans. So they will strike, and we are free from our promise."

I look at the black void below me. "That makes no sense. Elves attack humans all the time."

"Did you ever see an elf kill a human without first being punched or shot at?"

I think for a bit. Star has a point. I have never seen that. Ever.

Star shows me his claws, holding them way closer than comfortable to my face.

"Unlike humans, we elves are not pursuit predators. We are ambush predators. Build to strike from the shadows. Yet, when fighting humans, we always show ourselves. Why do you think that is?"

I think for a minute. He is making a lot of sense. For an elf, at least.

"If what you say is true," I say. The elf rolls its eyes. I continue. "Then why are you unable to attack humans on sight?"

The elf shakes his head. "Also part of the fact of flesh."

I cross my arms again. "The pact of flesh seems to include things I don't know about."

"Well," Star says. "Let me enlighten you then."