Soldier

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I didn't manage to go far before someone called out my name. “Alice!”

I turned around and saw Yoesphin, with red eyes that you get after crying. I could tell she was trying to withhold it and not let it burst out again. Her skin didn't seem so white in the yellow light from the fire. “Can I talk to you?” I nodded and we increased the distant from the people. Yoesphin took a deep breath. “I'm sorry for being angry at you before. It isn't your fault we live like this” “Hey” I took her hand and made her look at me. “I know” I said and gave her a hug.

“No, you don't...” “Amos told me about your crystal” She went stiff and quiet. Then I felt my shirt getting wet from her tears. We stood there in silence for a while.

“I'm scared of what will happen if things don't get better any time soon” She whispered and I rubbed her back. “I feel so weak all the time. It's like someone cut my heart in two” For the first time she noticed my bag beside me. “Where're you off to?” She looked confused and I could understand her. “I have to go back” I said and gave her a sad look. “I have to know what happened to my friends”

Then it hit me. I haven't even once explained to her where I came from and what I was running from. “And you don't even know why” I mumbled to myself, a little too loud. “No, but I'll be glad if you tell me” Yoesphin sounded amused and stood there with her arms crossed. Then I told her everything, not how I got to Tahol, but my adventure at the palace. I told her about me dressing up and the offer from the princess. I told her about the battle with the trolls, how I got my wound and when I got caught and sentenced to death. Not even once did she blink or interrupt.

“And I have to know if Phee and Nick are okay. It would kill me if I was the cause for their death” Yoesphin stood still and only stared at me. It was getting a bit uncomfortable, to be honest.

“Can you please say something?” I asked. She opened her mouth and my ears were getting ready to hear her opinion. Then she closed it again, like she was figuring out how to form her words.

“You are thinking about sneaking in to the capital city, to the king's castle to be more exact, while you're a wanted prisoner who was supposed to be executed. There's something wrong with that picture” Now it was my time to be confused. I know I haven't exactly figured out a plan about this particular rescue-thing, but I'm sure things will work out. “Alice, the chances of you getting caught a second time is bigger. And you shouldn't go by yourself, I'll come with you”

My confused face changed to a surprised one. “You'll accompany me?” I stuttered. “But you're an elf! You're not even supposed to exist” I exclaimed. “Details, details” She dismissed my words with her hand, like it was nothing to worry about.

“Fine, but you're Amos daughter. I will not set my own head on stake here as well if you die. You will go talk to him first” I said with a stern voice. The thought of what the elves would do to me if I let anything happen to Yoesphin was terrifying. “Deal” She said and shook my hand.

* * *

It took longer than I thought to convince Amos to let us go, more likely to let Yoesphin travel that distant with me. I eavesdropped on their argue about the subject and it wasn't a silent one.

“How did it go?” I asked her once they were finished. “We have to take Thyon with us” She said, her facial expression irritated. I grabbed her arm, making her stop. “Look, I can go by myself. I don't want to risk either of you” “Alice, I see you as my friend and I don't like to see my friends getting killed or even vanish” Yoesphin reassured and I let her go. The next day we gathered our things and were on our way. Thyon was another elf, with the pointy ears and blue eyes, bigger than the others and with blonde hair. It reminded me of silk when the suns light shone upon it. He reminded me of a soldier, the way he stood and waited for us with arms straight and his head held high.