A Song of Roots and Ash

Part 3

                "Uth Zoe-Brar..." The elf said, hugging her. Around his eyes, and his eyelids, was a light blue that sparkled light stars against the light of her lantern. His features were particularly stereotypically elven, long, angular, handsome in an almost alien way.

"An Quarion-Rail..." She replied "It has been so long."

"Indeed, what troubles you so that you called me...? Or is this a social call?"

"Behave..." she replied in a humorous tone "but I have guests who will be in need of your assistance. Come inside, and let me explain further."

"Ah..." he replied with a tone of disappointment "So it is a business call."

"Sorry..." she said with a playful one. "Also if you don't mind can you come in; unlike you the night wind and I are not friends." He smirked.

The elf stepped in and she pressed the stone in the wall again, and the archway morphed back into a solid wall. The elf put his arm up and she wrapped her arm around it, the arm holding the lantern, as they walked towards the other end of the hallway.

"Who are these humans?"

"Messengers from the White Queen..." Zoe said in a serious tone.

"Ugh, what does that witch want...?" Savi was now curious. When Zoe rolled her eyes, she thought nothing of it from the 'demon', but now an elf, one of the night folk, slayers of monsters and the savages from the ashen wastes, spoke of her monarch with contempt.

"Be nice, it's not the same one."

"Does it matter, she rules by the might of her 'White Order', and they have never done anything else but trouble us. Were it not for the presence of monsters in the world, would they not have turned humanity's arms against us?" They walked past her room.

"Perhaps, but the White Order has no say here in the Great Woods, so do not trouble yourself with such thoughts. Besides, these are rangers not zealots, though one of them doesn't seem to like me..."

"You are a demon..." he said in a dry tone.

"I would prefer to not be associated with the rest of them. By fate's decree we share a shape and blood, by my choice that is all."

"Very much noted..." They turned the corner of the hallway around the stairs, and entered into a different room. Savi could no longer hear them, once they were inside. She could perceive that words were being said, but could not make them out.

Slowly she stole out of her room, low to the ground, only to be surprised when the other two rangers came out of their rooms in the same manner. She grabbed them from behind, walking ahead and pointing back to their rooms. This and her glare, told them to go back, which Daniel did, but Derrick did not. The two older rangers made their way outside the room and they listened.

"You must be joking..." said the elf.

"I am not..." Zoe replied "there is no way for me to take them without Vian being...well, being Vian."

"You have the Elder's ear. How is he an issue for you?"

"He has influence over the town guards and he has been gathering influence for some time now."

"And the other council members?"

"Some resist him, some do not, for now the council is divided between those on Vian's side and those against him."