Fight For The Throne-Title page

The Beatings

After Layeline had cried for a while, she went down to the humans, with a water jar. They were asleep, so she just left it inside the door.

That evening, around five or six, Layeline came down to the cell. Shara kept quiet, nervous and worried for her fate. Lornash rose willingly to his doom. He believed that to go to one’s death willingly would allow you to be sung about for the centuries to come.

Lornash knew from experience where they were going, but Shara knew the town better. They were led to the whipping posts, but had to pass the stocks. The whipping posts were rarely used.

There was a small tent set up for the humans to change their clothing in. Or rather, Layeline helped Shara and Lajhorn helped Lornash. The tent was divided.

Lajhorn spoke quietly to Lornash. “I know you’ve had this before.”

“And you initiated it.” Lornash also spoke softly, not wanting Shara to hear. The elf seemed to understand.

“All elves go through a simpler form of it when they’re fifteen, save for the granite block.” He sighed and ran a hand through his unbrushed, but braided hair. Thick hair came off his forehead. “The question is where we’re going to get one.”

“You could use the top of the tower.”

“Yes, but the trouble is getting it back up to do it again. There’s two of you, you know.” Lornash laughed. Elves do have good humor, I just don’t like how they’ve always got knives to your throat if they don’t like you. His pulled his shirt off. He brushed its soft fabric against his cheek. He doubted he’d ever wear shirts again. He pulled off his breeches. He didn’t care about those, the material was rough, but the clothing was necessary. Lajhorn handed him a second pair, one that was more like shorts. Lornash shrugged and pulled them on. They were a little tight, but he didn’t mind.

Lajhorn’s hair was long, half-way down his back, and though Lornash’s was pretty long also, it only reached his shoulders. He shook his hair, wondering how anyone could stand having so much thick hair on their back all the time. Lajhorn pulled Lornash’s hair into a tie to keep it out of the way.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” Lornash redid the tie.

In the other tent, Layeline helped Shara out of her dress. Shara was quiet, and for a change, so was Layeline. The dream had troubled her. Layeline gave Shara a dress that connected around her neck and was sewn together at the base of her back. The skirt passed her knees, but Shara wasn’t used to anything so short. Layeline then lifted up the skirt of her dress and pulled off her pants.

“What?”

“I always wear pants under my dresses. You can use them for now. I’ll get them back eventually.”

Shara nodded grimly. Then Layeline pulled Shara’s hair into a loose bun, tied back with ribbons. Layeline’s hair was up today, but Shara knew it was as long as, if not longer than Lajhorn’s.

“Ready?”

“I guess.” Shara said. Then she clutched Layeline’s arm. “I’m scared.”

“I’ve had it too, save for the granite.”

Shara shuddered. “You’re too pretty for that.”

“Thanks.”

“Oh…you’re welcome.”

Layeline paused, then said, “you’re too pretty for it too.”

“Thanks.”

“Tit for tat. Go on now.” Layeline patted her shoulder.