Verange

Chapter 28

Elis paced across her kitchen floor in front of Lithiana and Hayden, her mind spinning endlessly. The cut on her forehead was still bleeding slowly, she could feel the blood sliding down her face, but she ignored it. Her mind was elsewhere, planning their trip.

If they left as planned, instead of seeking help from the oldest race on the planet, the Ruikan’s, she could just take Arya, Hayden, Balue, Lithiana, several other elves, and herself to the capitol. 6 elves and two humans should be able to take One man. Even if he is more powerful than she is.

She looked to Hayden and Lithiana with a grin on her face. “I have a plan.”

She spent the next few minutes explaining it all to them and answering their questions. Lithiana would group together three more of their past friends who were competent with a sword and magic. Andir would not be notified until they had already reached the capitol. If they all died, It was a good assumption to believe that no one would ever be able to defeat him and Andir would finally realize that the only way to destroy him would be to literally have every elf alive on his front doorstep. Even then, they still might not kill him.

After she finished, a yawn pushed past her lips. It was probably still several hours until nightfall, but her experience this morning  and the excitement of the past several minutes left her tired. 

A trickle of blood found its way into her eyes once again and she hissed in pain. The wound no longer pained her, but the blood that continued to flow from it worried her.  “Hayden. Would you please go into my room and getting  a tunic from the wardrobe?”

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned and left the room. She casually wiped the blood from her brow. “Lithiana… Are you up for this? We could all die.  It could all be for naught. “

The woman before her bowed her head slightly.  “Elis, I’ve been behind you since they day you left here the first time. “

A smile touched her face and she nodded. “Thank you.”

Hayden popped back in with a black tunic in his hand. After he handed it to her, she withdrew her blade from her belt and sliced it neatly, twice up the middle, forming a strip of fabric. She tied the strip around her forehead, covering the wound successfully.  

With luck, the slight bandage would stop the bleeding enough so it would no longer hinder her. No doubt it would be questioned tomorrow when she stood before the council again.

“Lithiana, If you wish to return to your dwelling, you may. I can stay with Hayden now.”

She gave her a slight nod and she left quickly, not bothering with a goodbye. “So Hayden, What did you think of breakfast?”

Judging by the happy smile on his face, she assumed he liked it. “Perhaps tomorrow morning, before  leave, I can make you something else. “

“I would like that.” He gave her a smile, a real one, and he leaned against the wall. His hair was wet, probably from swimming. The look suited him. He looked down at his hands, always refusing to meet her gaze, before he spoke again. “So what are you and I going to do?”

“I’m afraid I have to teach you a few things. But we can do something else while I talk, providing you can listen.” A smile threatened to tug at the corners of her mouth, but she refused to let them take hold. She needed to keep him at bay.

“Sure, I haven’t touched my sword since we arrived. Why don’t we spar?” Once again, his eyes never met hers. She really didn’t want to spar, or do anything really. She wanted to sleep. Deeply, as she hadn’t last night.

“Fine, but we have to go the sparring field near the palace.” She walked from the kitchen, heading to her room to get her sword, but his words stopped her.