A Starlit Promise

Questioned Not Answered

The provisions were simple but nourishing - bread, dried fruits, and a single small piece of cheese. She took a tentative bite, the food helping to ground her. As she ate, she noticed the Shadowman watching her with a curious intensity, as though he were waiting for her to ask the questions that were burning in her mind. After a few moments of quiet, Rylla decided to break the silence. "Who are you?" she asked. For whatever reason, the question weighed heavy between them for a minute before he answered, "Kaelith," he said plainly.

"You saved me from the fire, but why? What's your connection to Elderglen? And why did you bring me here, to... the edge of the forest?" Kaelith's expression reminded inscrutable, but his gaze softened just a fraction. "I had my reasons," he began slowly, "but first, you need to understand the bigger picture. The conflict between your world and mine has been brewing for years. It was only a matter of time before the tensions erupted into violence."

Rylla's eyes widened. "Your world? You mean the fae world? Otherworld?"

Kaelith nodded. "Yes. The fae have been watching from the shadows, so to speak. The attack on your village was not a random act of violence. It was a calculated move, a signal that full-on war is going to happen soon."

Rylla frowned, feeling a mix of fear and confusion. "But why would they target Elderglen? What did we ever do to them?"

"It's not about your village specifically," Kaelith retorted, his voice carrying a hint of regret. "The attack was part of a larger strategy. They aim to destabilize the borderlands and create chaos. Your village was caught in the crossfire, and the loss is far greater than I think they intended."

Rylla felt a shiver run down her spine. "And you Kaelith? Why were you there? If you're from Otherworld, why would you help me?"

He looked away, the expression on his face hardening. "Has it ever occurred to you that there might be a reason you're one of the only fae still left in these lands?" He asks, stretching his arms wide and gesturing to the world around them. "You don't even know who you are," he accused, "Not everyone in the fae world supports the war. Some of us have our own reasons for opposing it. I was there to rescue you because I believe you have a role to play in the events to come." 

 A heavy silence settled between them. Rylla stared at the forest around her, feeling the weight of his words. She had been officially thrust into the middle of a war she barely understood, with a stranger as her only guide. "Okay," she finally said, "Tell me what I need to know. What comes next?" 

Kaelith's gaze met hers with a look of determination. "We need to find allies and gather information. There are groups of fae who have fled to Elora that oppose the war, and we need to reach out to them. But for now, rest and recover. We have much to do, and time is not on our side. We will head out at dawn tomorrow." 

Rylla gasped softly at his answer. "There are fae! Here? In Elora?" She asked, practically glowing with anticipation. "Where do we start?" 

Kaelith chucked, the sound coming from deep in his chest, "Yes, there are fae here. Really, they never left. The humans like to believe that they were snuffed out long ago, but even you are proof that is not true." He poked at the fire while he spoke, "I have a few contacts who might be able to help us. We need to travel to the coastal town of Alaris." He said, looking up at her. 

Of course, she knew of Alaris. It was only the infamous coastal merchant town where illegal trade still happened between Elora and Otherworld. 

"How far is Alaris from here?" Rylla asked, "I don't even know where we are." 

Kaelith rolled his eyes before he answered, "Where do you think we are?" He prodded. 

Rylla took a moment to consider the facts. Elderglen was as close to the Dulmer Range that separated Elora and the Otherworld as mortals could get. If it took them a full day and night to get to their current location, and she could tell they were close to the coast, her best guess is that they were somewhere between the Village of Palor and the town of Alaris. Kaelith watched her intently as she worked out where they might be. He could practically see the gears of her mind turning, and he thought the concentrated look on her face was utterly beautiful. The way her brows stitched together and she bit her bottom lip while she thought might drive him mad, if he let it. But he knew better than anybody that wasn't an option, despite his deepest desires.