Crowns and Guns.

Storm (part 2)

After a terrifying climb, up the slippery and mossy rocks, I reach the entrance of the cavern. I am the last one to arrive. To my surprise, the cavern looks like a long corridor, leading deep into the cliff. I can't see the end, it just ends in darkness.

I climb inside and look back. I feel like I am behind a waterfall, with water just pouring down behind me. I can't even see the forest, the water looks like a thick grey curtain.

Katie removes her dress and wrings it out, while Kelsey and June are just trying to squeeze the water out while keeping their dress on. Both have limited success. They are all shivering in the cold air. Their ankles and wrists are decorated with faint black lines. The toxins are already getting in their veins. I should have realised. The water on this planet is not safe to drink nor to shower in, and we waded around in it for a long time.

I sit down against the stone wall, taking a deep breath, trying to keep calm, trying not to panic. Did I lead these three girls to their deaths? Should I just have stayed in the base, where it is safe, and let the commander remove the gems? I shake my head. "Eyes on the prize, Skye" I whisper to myself. "They are not dead yet. We can fix this."

Well, at least they were somewhere dry. And the cavern was even not that cold, compared to the outside. I wonder how June knew about this place tho. The longer I look around, the less it looks like a cave. The walls do not look natural, but as if they were carved out. Not dug, but carved. I can see the claw marks of a large creature on the wall. And the black stripes from their toxin.

I jump up. "Is this an elven lair?" I yell.

The moment the words escape my lips, I hear a familiar voice. "Didn't expect any visitors in this weather."

Out of the shadows steps a dark figure. Star. He skilfully crawls through the hallways, putting his arms and legs against the floor, walls, and ceiling.

"Please come in. It would be rude of me to leave you out in the cold."

He gestures for us to follow him, and the girls comply. I look back at outside and look at the water still rushing down. I guess there is no way to go but forward. I reluctantly follow the elf.

"Do you promise not to harm us?"

"I promise I do not mean, nor will cause any harm upon the four of you," Star says. "Please come in."

After walking a while, we reach a large metal door, inscribed with strange runes.

Star opens the door and leads us into a large room. The room is stuffed with shelves, and there is barely any other furniture, except for a single hammock mounted on the ceiling.

June and Katie look around in awe. The shelves are filled to the brim with all kinds of magical objects and trinkets. Some are flashing, some are buzzing and shaking, and some are emitting strange sounds. I didn't know what I expected an elven lair to look like, but I did not expect this. If anything, it reminds me most of a library. But with trinkets instead of books.

Star climbs through the shelves, in his always spider-like fashion. "What can I get you?" he asked. "I can give you water. And I might have some berries somewhere."

"I would love some food and water," I say, painfully aware that water is still dripping from my dress and a large puddle is forming on the floor where I stand.

"Here you go" Star hands me a wooden stool and a small woven basket filled to the brim with blueberries. I carefully put the stool on the floor, and sit down. I immediately regret it as the cold wet fabric of my dress is pressed to my skin.

June tries to grab a blueberry, but I slap her hand away. I turn to Star. "You promise me that these blueberries are not poisoned or cursed or otherwise messed with?"

Star smiles. "I promise. And they help against the toxic effects of the rainwater."

I hand June a blueberry, and she starts eagerly eating it.

"You know," Star says. "It doesn't happen often that a human visits my lair. This is the second time in a couple of days that I have had a visitor. The third time ever. Why do I get the honour?"

I narrow my eyes. "A human came here? A couple of days ago?"

"Yes." He points at June. "She found my lair a couple of days ago. I brought her to you. Remember?"

I nod. "How could I forget? And before that. Who visited you? I thought you didn't like humans? Why would you let them in?"

Star shrugs. "A year ago. A lieutenant came here."

"A lieutenant?" I ask, pressing my lips together.

"Yeah." He says. "Lawrence or something was his name."

I slap my hands on my lap, almost flipping the basket of blueberries. June narrowly catches it. "So Commander Lawrence was the spy himself?"

Star shakes his head. "No, he didn't spy for us. Why would I want a human spy? Humans cannot be trusted."

I cheer. "I know right? I told him that when he was looking for a spy. But if he wasn't a spy?" I grab another blueberry. "Why did he come here?"

Star looks down avoiding my gaze. "He wanted the ring of revelations."

My jaw drops. "The ring of what?"

"Revelations. A ring which you can use to see if someone is lying or not. It was manufactured by humans at the beginning of the war. It is made from elven bone. A cruel weapon we elves cannot use and have no use for. But I can see it's appeal to humans."

"So that is where his magic ability comes from!" I say. "So, why did you give it to him."

"He brought something in return" Star says.

I raise an eyebrow. "What could he possibly bring that you wanted?"

Star looks over at June, who is still munching on blueberries. Her face and hands are covered in blue stains, and so is her dress.

"I rather not tell in front of the child." He says. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

I nod at Kelsey and Katie. "Can you two look after June?"

Katie nods. "Sure!"

I follow Star to a more secluded part of his maze. When we are out of sight of the other girls, he leans over to me, and whispers.

"The lieutenant came here, with a five-year-old girl. He wanted to trade her for the ring."

I gasp. "So you accepted the trade? Why?"

He shrugs, rubbing his ear. "I was hungry."

I cross my arms, while my heart pounds in my throat. "I am leaving."

Star jumps down blocking my path. He taps his claws together.

"Please don't leave."

I sigh. "I am sorry Star. I know you want us to put our differences behind us, but honestly, I don't think I can ever make peace with you. How many children did you eat over the years? Hundreds? Thousands?"

Star sighs. "I understand you can never forgive. But I expected you would at least do me a favour."

I cross my arms. "What kind of favour."

Star picks up a small stone from a nearby shelve. "Well, a long time ago, we created a messaging stone that connects to the human empire's leader. We promised to never use it during the pact of Flesh, but the pact said nothing about a human using it. So I would like you to use it."

I sigh. "Who does that even connect to? Commander Herrera?"

Star shakes his head viciously. "No, not the local commander. It connects to the leader of the human empire."

I look at him, dumbfounded. "There is no human empire anymore."

Star looks at me, pleadingly.

I sigh. "If I talk with whoever is at the other end of the line when I grab this stone, will you let me leave?"

Star nods. "That is all I am asking."

"Fine," I yell, and I reach for the stone.