Thicker than Water

Chapter Thirteen

"So this is Para Carta," Kant said as we approached the large door of the city.  The walls stood as high as Nora's but were much more elaborate.  There was carvings on every inch of the wall.  Some of it was a language that only one kind spoke.  This is how you knew it was a Terr city.  A Terr was a classification for elves and fairies alike.  Para Carta was their home.  And here, they could practice their way of life freely.  Although they did have two representatives in the council, they had their own government here.  Usually, it was a sort of king ruling with the blood of both breeds of elves.  But, that's only what I've heard.  Not many humans ever entered the city because of the Debut of Trix.  Humans and elves no longer got along very well since then.  I used to go to school with a river elf.  He had gotten angry that my step father was a councilmen and slammed my hand in a locker door, breaking three of my fingers.

With that in mind, we stopped at the guard outside the door.  From the shadows within his post, you could only see the glowing amber eyes of a wood elf.  My brother stopped in front of the guard's post and bowed his head.  He then held his arm straight and on his sleeve was the symbol for Sanctuary, the same as the one on the haven's gates. 

The elf squinted at us.  "A guardian," he said, his voice deep and threatening.  To soothe my worries, I rested my hand on the bag with the dagger in it.  The man looked at the rest of us.  "Traveling companions?  Since when would a guardian -let alone a captain- need an entourage?"  My brother didn't say a word.  The man's wandered over me curiously. I kept my head down and pulled the scarf tighter around the lower part of my face.  "You even bring women with you," he says, a little too happily for my brother's taste.

"We come for refuge," he says to the guard, a little annoyed.  "And I'd like to speak with Hiram, your king."  I gave my brother a questioning look.

"Hiram is doing business in the capital," the guard snapped.  "Until then, you may not enter."

I coaxed Selka forward and stood next to my brother.  I pulled back my hood but didn't remove the scarf.  He would only be able to see my eyes.  "We have children with us," I pleaded, turning on the victim act.  "We're out of food and in need of a place to stay.  Please -"

"Sage?"  The guard leaned out, his pointed ears twitching.  I flinched and Selka stepped back nervously.  He squinted at my face then grinned brightly as if he had seen a celebrity.  "I didn't know your line was still alive," he said, sounding a lot more cheerful.  "Hiram will definitely want to see you, Lady Sage.  Any friend or member of the Sage family are welcome here."  He pulls a lever and the doors begin to open.  "I will notify Hiram right away of your arrival, Lady Sage."

I nodded slowly through my confusion and casted a curious look to my brother who looked as lost as I was.  The doors opened widely and we rode inside.  The sounds of flutes and chatting slammed into me as we passed through.  Then it went silent as everyone stared at us.  I looked at them strangely, feeling exactly the same as when I had arrived at Sanctuary.  Then the crowd exploded and the festive mood kicked back in.  Children waved to us as we passed and walked alongside our horses.  Marisol waved to each child erratically.  Some women laid flowers on the path. 

It felt nice to be welcomed like this.  But it was odd.  I looked around at my group.  Then, I noticed it.

The Terr were only paying attention to me.

The women stared fondly at me and the men hooted as I passed.  I glanced back to the rest of my group to find them being bluntly ignored.  My brother was watching me with a scary look in his eyes as men did cat calls and the women tried to touch my horse.  Marisol shifted uneasily now that the children had formed a cult behind us, they followed like a shadow.  I looked at each face, shivering at how they stared.  Why am I always stared at?  Is there something on my face, I thought and tilted my head down.