11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Elessan

E lessan found Aliya half an hour later, still at the same table in front of the bakery. The sweet roll and two of the three loaves of bread were missing. He smiled. The sugary bun probably hadn't lasted two minutes.

Wait. Where was Zadé?

The burden of the two new packages in his knapsack was far exceeded by the weight of the wanted poster rolled up beside them. The king didn't intend to let Aliya escape quietly into the night, judging by the one thousand gold piece reward. At least the notice specified ‘must be alive and unharmed.' The payment made an enticing bounty. Even in a place like Westcliff.

The posters wallpapered the village square. It was fortunate they'd stuck to the edge of town, but they needed to leave. Brooks and his men may well still be in the area. With Zadé around, Aliya couldn't shift without revealing her final secret, and he wasn't sure yet where the moon elf's loyalties lay.

He would find time later, when they were alone, to show Aliya the poster and figure out their next steps.

She glanced up as he approached and grinned. The heaviness crushing his heart lifted. Her smile never ceased to dazzle.

"Zadé went to the market to grab a few things. She'll be back soon."

"What?" Valek. Between falling asleep during her watch, and now abandoning her charge, he was beginning to think Zadé's reputation as a responsible strategist and leader was mere propaganda. His error in judgment could have cost him or Aliya their lives. He ground his teeth. "I asked her to stay with you until I returned."

He wouldn't make such a mistake again.

Aliya shook her head. "No, you asked her to guard me, like I need a nursemaid or something. I'm an adult. I can supervise myself, you know."

"That's not what—"

"Hey, Elsan!" Zadé's voice rang out across the street. She sprinted in a lopsided line to join them.

He frowned at her serpentine route. Was she drunk already? The sun had barely risen.

She stumbled up and slapped a piece of paper in front of them. The table shuddered under the impact. Several patrons glanced in their direction.

Covering his face in his hands, he groaned. A slightly skewed rendition of Aliya's head stared back at him, a carbon copy of the poster in his pack. At least it wasn't an exact representation, thanks to her shape-shifting ability.

Zadé swung one arm over the poster with enough force to throw her against the corner of the table. She grabbed the edge of the slab and held tight for two heartbeats as she steadied herself. "Look-ee what I found, Princess! Yer more n more interestin' the longer I know yeh."

He grabbed Zadé's arm. "Keep your voice down!"

Aliya's face went white, her gaze glued to the parchment.

"I'm sorry, Aliya," he said, with a glare at Zadé. "I meant to tell you somewhere less public."

"You knew?" She stared at the picture, massaging the same wrist she'd been rubbing this morning.

He nodded. "They're all over the market. We need to leave Westcliff immediately." Snatching the remaining loaf of bread, he reached for the paper. It burst into flame.

"Valek!" He pulled his hand back before the fire singed his fingers. People at the tables nearest to them gasped in alarm.

"I'm so sorry!" Aliya's wide eyes met his. "I didn't mean to."

"At least it wasn't lightnin'," Zadé said.

"Lightning? I've never shot enough to do any real damage." Aliya's gaze turned off into the distance. "Well, except this one time, when I was like twelve. But those were extenuating circumstances."

Elessan glanced around. The baker and several others eyed them. Their time had run out. He ushered Aliya to her feet and down the road, trusting Zadé would follow. "Sounds interesting. You'll have to tell me the story some time."

"Not just once," Zadé piped up. "Yeh also shoot it when yeh git stabbed!"

She raised her eyebrow and tilted her head to the side, her entire countenance perking up. "Really? I did?"

Elessan nodded, one corner of his mouth turning up in a smile. One day, she'd be a force to be reckoned with. "Remind me to not make you angry."

Freezing, she paled. "Did I hurt anyone?"

He shook his head and glared at Zadé in a silent warning. Telling Aliya she killed one of the bandits in self-defense would accomplish nothing.

A voice called, "Hey! That's her—the girl on the posters!"

Elessan tightened his grip on Aliya's upper arm and increased their pace. "Time to go. Can you run?"

"Of course I can."

Praise Abaddon for healers and their thoroughness. "Then come on!"

The yelling behind them intensified and forged ever closer. Aliya's side cramped, and while she ran as quickly as her legs allowed, the townspeople still gained on them.

Elessan glanced back and frowned.

"Keep going!" He pushed her forward. Turning to face the crowd, he drew his swords.

No way was she going to let him commit suicide to save her. Spinning around, she reached deep into the core of her magic. Imagining a brick wall, she pulled out a fist-sized chunk and threw it in front of the villagers.

Pink sparkly lights erupted in the air between them and the mob. Heat blasted back, washing over her as the land groaned and trembled. As the last of the glittering sparks faded from her vision, the earth gave way with a mighty crack.

Elessan scrambled toward her, herding her further from the rapidly widening fissure. The ground shook, knocking her off her feet. On the far side, the townsfolk froze. One by one, they broke off and fled back to Westcliff.

The world stilled, leaving behind a crevasse at least twenty paces across, stretching into the distance in both directions.

"Damn, Princess." Zadé stepped up next to her. "Why'd we run, if'n yeh could do that the whole time?"

"I didn't mean to," Aliya said. "I was just trying to erect a wall between us."

She searched Elessan's face for any sign of fear or disgust. His eyes were clear of judgment. Her shoulders dropped and she fought the urge to throw her arms around him in a big hug.

He checked her bandage, nodding when he found no new blood. "I think it's safe to say no one will be coming after us for quite some time. Regardless, we shouldn't linger."

Aliya focused on the deep gouge her magic carved. "Do you think the town's in danger?"

Elessan frowned, following her line of sight. "From the fissure? No. It's at least a hundred paces from the nearest building, so if the crack did expand, I don't think it would do any damage. It looks like they'll be cut off from trade for a few days until they build a bridge. It could've been much worse, I think."

He turned away from Westcliff and headed down the road. "You've conjured lightning before? I'd love to hear the story of how that happened."

Aliya shrugged and frowned at the ground. She should've known better than to mention that particular misadventure, even in passing. It was just her luck that he'd be curious enough to ask about it.

She kicked a small rock into the bushes. "The tale isn't that exciting. When my power first manifested, my father hired a tutor to show me enough to keep my magic under wraps." He hadn't actually taught her anything, though, beyond how to expertly stare at someone and make them feel like an utter failure. "After a few weeks of trying to help me control it, he told me I was a menace to society and disappeared."

Zadé spoke up. "Yeh mean, magical-like?"

"No. One day I showed up for my lesson, and he was nowhere to be found. Father said he quit." She shrugged one shoulder. "Honestly, I wasn't upset to see the old man go. But afterward, as the days passed and I thought about what he said, about my lack of skill being so dangerous. I decided to never call on my powers again."

Elessan raised an eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know it was stupid. Turns out, if you don't use magic, it builds up. Eventually the pressure got to be too much, and I just knew the power would explode the next time I reached for it."

Zadé stopped walking and stared at Aliya. "Even I realize how foolish that was, Princess. And I'm not smart like you."

Aliya slouched and shook her head.

"How long did it take to reach that point?" Elessan asked.

"I'm not sure." She licked her lips. "Two or three months? I waited until the night of the summer solstice, because I always felt more in control of it then. Anyway, I went out into the woods behind my father's estate. I found a clearing I thought was open enough so as not to catch the surrounding trees on fire."

He nodded. "What happened next?"

She bit her lip and glanced at him. "I pulled on the magic."

Zadé's jaw dropped.

Taking a deep breath, Aliya swallowed. "I don't remember most of it. Lightning came down from a cloudless sky and struck me. When I woke up, the area had been carved into a perfectly round crater. The bottom of the basin turned black, like melted glass. And the forest was burning."

"Valek." Elessan shook his head. "You're lucky you survived."

She shrugged. "Other than a bump on my forehead from falling, I didn't hurt. My father was livid. He thought I burned his hunting range on purpose."

She frowned at the pinched expression on Elessan's face. He already didn't like her father, and this story probably hadn't helped.

"It's negligent to have a powerful mage in your family, and not make sure they're trained." He crossed his arms.

She raised an eyebrow at him and held back a snort. "Powerful? Hardly."

"No, he's right, Princess. Yer magic jus' gouged a new canyon through th' earth to sep'rate yeh from the townsfolk. There's only a few other mages who can do that."

She peered at Zadé. "How many, exactly?"

The other woman shrugged. "Two, maybe."

A hard lump crystallized in Aliya's gut. She'd always believed the wizard when he told her without control, she and her power were both worthless. And now with Jalius saying she needed someone stronger than her as a teacher, her chances of mastering her powers were getting slimmer by the minute.

Elessan broke the silence. "What Zadé isn't telling you is her aunt is one of them."

Aliya spun her head to gape.

Zadé snorted. "She is. She's also snobby, stuck-up, and thinks she's smarter'n everyone else."

Aliya studied the moon elf. "Does that mean you're a magic user, too?" She didn't act how Aliya had imagined an elven mage would, but she didn't have a ton of experience with elves, so…

"Nah," Zadé waved the comment away. "I fell too far from th' apple tree, as the humans say. My family wants nothin' ta do w'me, and the feelin's mutual." She crossed her arms and looked away.

Her gut twisted. "I'm sorry."

Zadé scoffed and turned her back on them.

Elessan beckoned. "Aliya, come here. I promised to hone your skills with a sword, didn't I?"

His change of subject shattered the tension.

She jogged to catch up to him. Handing her one of his blades, he adjusted her fingers. "Here, hold it like so. As we walk, we can start with some basic grips, and how to move your arm and wrist. Tonight, after we camp, we can work on your footwork. A physical weapon may be more reliable for you than magic for the time being."

Satisfied with her grip, he took a few steps away, turned and walked backward. "Now, attack."

Holding the steel above her head in her right hand, she swung hard. The blade wooshed several inches from his face, missing him completely.

"Okay," he said once she regained her footing. "Excellent first attempt. Why did you lead with your shoulder?"

She thought for a moment before answering. "Because that's how you swing in stickball, and it feels strong."

He nodded. "You're correct, it is. But you left your torso undefended when your arm was up and knocked yourself off balance afterward. Moving that way is also slow. Fighting with swords needs to be fast, or you'll be dead. Try again, but imagine your elbow is tied to your waist, and you can only pivot it and move your wrist. That way, your weapon is in front the whole time, protecting you."

She did and the steel swept past him much faster. The swing felt a little more controlled, too.

He smiled. "Well done. Now, do it again, until it's natural. Then we'll switch to your other arm."

Elessan plopped down next to an exhausted Aliya as she brought the last bit of quail to her lips. Her arms trembled from fatigue—she'd be sore in the morning, but at least now she was a little more confident with a sword. Tomorrow, he'd teach her parry and riposte. It was a good way to pass the time, and he had a feeling she'd need every skill he could teach her when the Arcane Inquisitor finally caught up with them.

To his right, Zadé shoveled down the final few bites of dinner.

He set his fork on his plate. "Aliya, we worked your upper body hard today. There's a hot spring hiding about three hundred steps to the east. Why don't you go soak, and loosen those muscles so you're not too sore to continue tomorrow?"

Her eyes lit up as she gazed in the direction he indicated. "How do you know there's a spring?"

He opened his mouth and snapped it closed. Admitting he'd drowned someone in it the last time he came through would do nothing but destroy the fragile whatever-it-was building between them. "I've been a messenger for a long time and have traveled this road before."

She smiled through her exhaustion and stumbled off in the direction he'd indicated.

Zadé let out a "whoop!" and stood to follow.

"Not yet, Zadé," Elessan said. "I want to talk to you about something."

Flopping back down with a dramatic sigh and taking a deep swig from her water skin, she eyed him. "Sup, Elsan?"

"Aliya needs to learn how to control her magic."

"So?" Zadé took another swallow. "Why're yeh tellin' me?"

He bit back a groan. She intended to be deliberately thick tonight, it seemed. Perhaps as punishment for delaying her soak in the hot springs. "Your aunt could teach her, if you introduced them."

Zadé choked and fought not to spit her drink across the camp. "Yeh think I should do what? I ain't talked ta the wench in almost two hundred years, and I aim ta keep it that way."

The corners of Elessan's lips hardened. "Aliya needs guidance. Cressida Brightleaf is the foremost expert in magical theory. Studying under her is the opportunity of Aliya's lifetime. A skilled tutor is her best bet to learn to control her power."

"Seems ta me yer girlfriend is doin' just fine without my help. Her magic does what she wants, even if it's not the way she ‘xpects."

Elessan sighed. He really should let the girlfriend comment slide, but if he did, he'd likely never hear the end of it. "She's married to the human king."

Zadé spewed a mouthful of ale into the campfire and guffawed "And she ran off with you? She must be stupider ‘n I am. An' I doubt the marriage's still on, what with th' treason posters, an' all."

"Royal unions are not so easily undone." Except by execution. "If she does end up in power, wouldn't it be nice to have an ally to the elves on the throne again?"

"What do I care about political crap?" She squinted her eyes and leaned in. "Do you care about it? I thought yeh was too smart for that…"

"Personally? No, I don't at all," he lied. It would be glorious, not having to skulk around the world doing the sun elf king's dirty work. "But people who are important to me do. And I suspect your aunt does, too."

"She prob'ly does." Zadé thought for a moment. "And then Cress would owe me a favor fer introducing her ta th' queen." She sat back, crossing her arms behind her head and gave him a flat look. "Assuming we could sneak a human into Filathas in the first place, which we can't."

Elessan pursed his lips. "Aliya is…skilled with disguises. And she's fluent in Elven. She can pass for a moon elf with a little preparation."

Zadé tilted her head. "Tha's fine fer her. Yeh won't be able ta enter, either, since yer a mountain elf, ya know." She raised an eyebrow. "Unless Princess can help with that, too?"

The lump in his gut solidified. "You don't think we could convince them to make an exception?"

Zadé shook her head. "You sure you still wanna send yer girlfriend t' Cressida if you can't go with?"

He sighed as the weight of that thought settled on his shoulders. "Yes." Maybe Princess Tsara could pull some strings to get him access, if he came up with a believable enough story. "And Aliya's not my girlfriend."

"Yeh want her ta be, though."

He glared at her and turned away as heat crept into his face. Kicking the dirt at his feet, he said, "Your aunt's the perfect person to teach her what she needs."

Zadé spit into the fire pit, unconvinced.

He slouched forward. If logic wouldn't work, then it was time to switch tactics. "If you help me convince Lady Brightleaf to apprentice Aliya, I'll buy you a bottle of the best vintage wine in Filathas."

She studied him as she chewed the inside of her cheek. After several heartbeats, she nodded. "Okay. But be warned. I have ‘xpensive tastes," Zadé said, taking another long drink from her flask. "I'll think about what ta say. Cress hasn't agreed ta a student in over five hundred years, ya know."

Aliya closed her eyes and tilted her head back against the rock. The hot springs were glorious. Their heat penetrated her muscles, loosening the day's knots. She groaned and sank deeper into the warmth.

Something heavy fell into the spring, splashing the heated water over her face and hair. She opened her eyes and coughed the liquid from her nose. About five paces away, Zadé's arm extended from the center of the pool, holding her waterskin safely above the surface. Moments later, the rest of Zadé exploded up, showering Aliya with a second wave.

"What are you doing?" With a flick of her wrist, Aliya wiped her face. If she wasn't alone, she should be wearing something. She snapped her fingers underwater. A geyser shot up in front of her. As the droplets rained down, she frowned at her bare skin. Stupid magic. It looked like she wouldn't be conjuring a bathing suit this evening after all. She sank down to her chin and crossed her arms.

Zadé stumbled backward, flailing, until she came to a stop against a boulder almost identical to Aliya's. She took a deep swig from the waterskin. "Sorry, Princess. Didn't mean ta splash yeh. Didn't want ta lose th' booze." She held the flask out. "Want some? Itz the good stuff."

Aliya went to shake her head but stopped. The drinks the first night with Elessan hadn't been so bad, and that had been cheap ale. What was the harm if she had just a little now, especially if it was quality? "Sure," she said, accepting the offering.

Zadé blinked, her mouth opening wide as Aliya brought the bottle to her lips.

She choked and spewed the contents into the spring. "This is water!"

The other woman shrugged with a sheepish grin. "Wasn't expecting yeh t' take me up on th' offer."

Aliya looked at the elf, and back at the flask. "I thought you were a drunkard."

Zadé snatched the waterskin back. The affronted expression on her face was almost comical. "I am. Whenever possible."

"But why?"

"Why not? It's easier that way." Zadé frowned at the bottle, sighed, and took a swig.

Her drunken slur was gone, suddenly, too. Zadé put a lot more energy into the drunken fa?ade than her temperament hinted was possible. The woman had more depth than met the eye. "Easier? Having people think so little of you?"

She stared at her hands. "People think little of me, sober or drunk. At least when I'm drunk it doesn't hurt as much."

Alia looked at Zadé, really looked at her, for the first time. She would have never guessed the woman was in so much pain. "What happened to you?"

Zadé looked away. "I don't want to talk about it."

"You brought it up. It's bad manners to mention something and refuse to discuss it."

The elf snorted. "Been a long time since I worried ‘bout bein' polite."

"Zadé!" She was so infuriating sometimes.

Zadé sighed. "I was too close to where one of those exploding fireball weapons landed." She tapped her temple with her knuckles. "Woke up from somethin' I shouldn't've."

Aliya froze, her thoughts screeching to a halt. "You fought in the war?"

Zadé nodded. "I was good, too. If I'd'a stayed smart, we'd've beat yeh. And you wouldn't be here today."

She raised her eyebrow. "You would have won single-handedly?" Zadé sure did think highly of herself.

"No, not by myself." She pointed to her forehead. "Tactics. Strategy. All kinds of good ideas lived in here. ‘Twas enough fer them ta ferget I wasn't an elf." She shrugged. "‘Til it wasn't."

"What're you talking about?" She studied the other woman's high cheekbones and angled face. "You are an elf."

"Not full." She tucked her hair behind her ear, displaying it. "Human's in my blood."

By the ancestors. She was right—the tip was blunt. "I didn't realize there were mixed bloods."

Zadé glowered. "Not voluntarily."

Oh. She fought the urge to look away. "I'm sorry. But surely they didn't blame you for that? It's hardly your fault."

"Why not? They blamed me for wakin' up stupid, too." She stared at her flask again and sighed. "I need a drink. A real one."

"If you're not drunk, why act like you are?"

"Better ta be underestimated than over." She glared at Aliya, shaking her finger. "Don't be tellin' anyone. Iz none o' their business."

With a nod, Aliya reached for the wineskin, which the other woman handed over. "As far as I'm concerned, your background is your own to share." She took a few swallows. "This tastes good. Thanks." She returned the waterskin. "And thank you for helping us escape the Red Cloaks."

"Sure thing, Princess." Zadé perked up. "Oh, hey! I suppose I shouldn'a be callin' yeh Princess, huh? Elsan says yeh‘re queen?"

Aliya frowned as her stomach hardened. How many of her secrets had he blabbed? "I'm not going to rule. Not if Malkov has anything to say about it."

"Why not? All kings need a queen, what fer heirs ‘n all."

Ugh. Kids? With him? Aliya shuddered. "Not this one. His last three wives died gruesomely, under questionable circumstances. The servants said he killed them, and if I married him, I'd be next."

"Sounds like a real jerk. Most men are," Zadé said, taking another drink.

"Elessan's not." The words left her mouth before she could censor them.

Zadé gave her a knowing smile and saluted with the flask. "No, Princess. Yer boyfriend seems ta be one o' th' decent ones."

"He's not my boyfriend," Aliya countered with a little more heat than necessary, closing her eyes and leaning back against the rock again. Even if she wanted him to be, she wasn't ever going to admit to being such an idiot as to fall for the first kind person she met after her escape.

"Sure, he's not." Zadé sat up suddenly. "Hey, Elsan says you can impersonate an elf?"

Aliya blinked as a flash of panic flooded her body. The water turned ice-cold. His lips were much looser than she expected.

Taking her silence as an affirmative, Zadé asked, "Can ya fool another elf?"

"I think so?" She swallowed. "I don't think I can do Elessan's accent, though."

Zadé waved her hand like she could brush Aliya's cares away. "Yer accent's fine. Iz yer looks I'm worried a‘bout."

"My appearance is the last thing anyone needs to concern themselves with," she mumbled, half to herself. "Wait, why are you asking?"

Aliya marched back into the camp, her hair dripping, dressed only in a white shift. Elessan gaped as his mouth went dry. The nearly transparent fabric clung to her hips and breasts. He averted his gaze, afraid of being caught staring, and busied himself poking at the logs in the fire.

"Elessan." She came up to him and squatted so they were face-to-face. Her skin was flushed, either from anger or the heat of the springs. "What's this about sending me to Filathas?"

He sighed, glancing at her face then back to the flames before his eyes wandered. "Zadé's aunt is the perfect person to teach you to control your magic. Learning from her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Plus, being in the elven lands will put you out of your husband's realm for a while. Possibly long enough for this traitor sentiment to blow over." As an added bonus, it would get her out of reach of the sun elves, who would no doubt use her as a political prisoner.

"But I can't pretend to be an elf! Not for any amount of time, anyway." She paused. "Zadé also says you won't be allowed into Filathas."

"A human wouldn't be, either. Elves are fairly exclusive about who they allow to come and go from their lands." His stomach was a gaping pit at the thought of handing Aliya off and moving on with his life, probably never to see her again. He'd just have to cross his fingers that whatever story he came up with for Tsara, it would be good enough for her to stick her neck out for him.

"Princess!" Zadé came running into camp, carrying fabric rolled up in her hands. "Yeh fergot yer clothes!" Coming to a stop at the edge of the firelight, she noticed Elessan. A slow smile crept over her face. He stifled a groan.

Aliya's face paled. She looked down at herself and gulped before standing to accept the bundle. "Thanks," she mumbled. Looking anywhere except at him, she pulled the dress over her shift.

Zadé's eyes glinted as she smiled at him, exposing her fangs.

He sighed. Zadé would never drop the ‘girlfriend' nonsense now.

Clearing his throat, he steered the conversation back to a safer topic. "If no one stands up to the king, he will continue to murder innocent people, no?"

Aliya raised an eyebrow. "I suppose."

"It's the duty of those of us who are strong to safeguard those who can't protect themselves, yes?" As he had with her.

She dropped her eyes and her shoulders drooped.

"You possess the magical strength to remove Malkov from power and save his subjects. By virtue of marriage, you also have the right to sit on his throne." He frowned. "And don't forget your vow to the Mage Underground."

Aliya's face went white.

The lump of lead in his gut turned to ice. She didn't have it in her to deliberately murder someone, even a serial killer like the king. There was nothing to keep him from doing it, though… assuming he could get close enough. What he wouldn't give for access to her shapeshifting ability, just to get him into the castle and the royal suite. He shook his head and forced his thoughts back to the conversation at hand. "You need to learn how to control your magic if you want to do your duty to the people and not be a fugitive for the rest of your life. Training with Cressida Brightleaf is the best possible first step."

Aliya sighed as she turned and laid out her sleeping bag. Sitting on the cloth, she tucked her knees to her chin as she gazed into the fire.

"Hey." He reached out to comfort her, but halfway through the gesture dropped his hand. There were so many things he could say, but none of them were appropriate or useful.

Zadé took a healthy swig from her waterskin and attached it to her belt. "What he meant ta say, Prinzess, was yeh look hot."

Elessan stammered. "Zadé!"

"What? I figure'n I can say it, as it won't be thought I'm courtin' her." She pulled the flask back out and took another drink. "After all, young ‘n impression'ble ain't my type."

A wave of embarrassment flooded over Elessan, making his face and chest flush with heat. He snapped back, "Is drunk and drunker a type?"

With a quick glare at Aliya, Zadé flashed her canines at him and shrugged. "Hopefully, for my sake, I suppose."

Aliya's quiet voice drifted across the campfire. "Do you really think your aunt would teach me?"

Zadé lay back and stared up at the stars. "I dunno. Maybe. If she didn't realize yeh weren't fae." She rolled on her side and studied Aliya. "Are yeh sure yeh can pass yerself off as an elf? Yeh seem pretty human ta me."

Aliya ignored the question, though it set a flock of butterflies loose in her stomach. "Elessan, messengers of the realm can go anywhere, right?"

"Yes, as long as there's something to deliver." But spies and assassins didn't really qualify.

"Does the same apply to the elven lands?"

He smiled, a kernel of warmth settled in his chest. Hope sprang eternal, it seemed, even for someone like him. "It does, but not many diplomatic communiques get sent back and forth between humans and elves, the political climate being what it is."

Aliya studied the two of them. "Do either of you know if they would be likely to receive something Elessan could transport, so he'll be able to come with us?"

He glanced at Zadé. "I've never been to Filathas before. Any idea?"

"Sure. Sometimes, but I doubt we'd be so lucky. Best t' have a backup plan."

He lay back and stared up at the stars until the fire burned low and his eyelids grew heavy. He'd need Tsara's help if he hoped to accompany them.

Less than an hour later, as the sun dropped beneath the horizon, Elessan stepped behind Aliya and nudged her elbow into place. "The hardest thing about archery is correct arm position. Close your left eye, and sight down the shaft at the target."

She shifted her feet and braced herself. "The dark knot in the middle of the tree?"

"Yes. Exhale when you let go."

Her breath tickled the small hairs on his forearm, sending shivers up his spine. She loosed her arrow, which flew in a graceful arc across the clearing, burying itself in the bush several paces to the side.

He bit his lips to keep from chuckling. "Good. Hold your arm straight as you release, and the arrow will fly straight. Reduce the vertical curve by pulling the string further back."

Aliya massaged her forearm with her free hand. "Any tricks so the line doesn't snap into me?"

"Sure." He put his hands on her hips. "Shift your stance like so. Excellent. Now, point your front toe at the target. Bend your wrist a little." He placed his head next to hers, checking her aim. Her hair brushed his cheek.

She smelled like the lilac grove they'd walked through earlier. He lifted her arm. "Elbow up. Yes." He slid his hand around her waist. "Abs tight."

The muscles in her stomach rippled at his touch. Sparks tantalized his nerves everywhere his skin touched hers. Heat swelled in his core. He stroked his thumb down her midriff again.

Her breath hitched. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. He buried his nose in her locks and inhaled.

She turned, not breaking contact with his fingers. The hand that wasn't holding her bow brushed up his arm to the back of his neck, slow enough to give him time to protest. She licked her lips, the motion drew his gaze and trapped it.

Flames exploded in his blood and flooded his face.

This was such a bad idea on so many levels. She was the human's queen, and he had a duty to his people to destroy her realm.

This could only bring heartache and pain to them both.

But her lips were full, her skin soft, and she felt incredible against him. Best of all, she didn't treat him like an outsider.

She pressed herself close, nudging his head lower.

Screw it. He buried his free hand in her hair and pulled her closer, meeting her mouth with his. Where they touched, fire erupted.

The bow clattered to the ground as she wrapped her other arm around his torso, pulling him tight. She groaned in the back of her throat and opened her mouth, inviting him to deepen the kiss.

That groan was his undoing. He growled in return as something primal awoke inside him. Roaring louder than Ithabasa Falls flooded his ears. There was nothing except his tongue dancing with hers, the soft press of her lips against his as she held him as desperately as he craved her.

Someone coughed. Aliya tensed, jumping back with an adorable squeak. He whipped around, hands on his swords as the thundering in his skull subsided to deathly silence.

Zadé stood several feet away, hip jutting to one side, her arms crossed. She tapped her toe on the ground. Beside her loomed a human with a small backpack and a lute over his shoulders.

Elessan grabbed Aliya's wrist and tugged her behind him. "What are you doing," he hissed in Elvish.

Zadé took a deep swig from her flask as she swayed side-to-side. "What? I went ta th' local inn for infer-mation," she slurred. "Bards's good fer gossip ‘n news. And this one makesss the best Pálinka I'z ever had. Filled me right up, he did. Dinner's done, by th' way." She raised her eyebrow and took another drink, holding on to the minstrel to remain upright. "If I'z not interruptin' anything?"

The stranger glanced back and forth between the elves, clearly not understanding the words, but picking up on Elessan's tone. "Um, maybe I should just go?"

Zadé threw her arm around the human's shoulders. "No," she slurred in Common, "stay. He's jus' bein' his normal grumpy self. Speakin' of, His Grumpiness is Elsan, and the girl behind him—"

Elessan stepped in front of Aliya, blocking the newcomer's view. "Her name's not important."

The human studied them for several heartbeats. "I'm Stephen, a traveling minstrel." He nodded to Zadé. "Your friend here mentioned you'd be open to exchanging dinner for an evening of entertainment?" He gestured to his lute.

Elessan bit back on a sigh. The last thing any of them needed was a stranger, one who might identify Aliya.

What was Zadé thinking? He frowned. Nothing seemed to stick in her head except where to get her next drink. He narrowed his eyes and peered at the newcomer. This human appeared far too muscular for one who made a living strumming an instrument. He clenched his jaw. There was no way out of this without arousing the human's suspicions. His gaze slid back to Aliya. He'd make sure Stephen didn't survive the night, then he'd figure out what to do about Zadé.

"Well," he said with a broad wave, "if dinner's ready, lead the way."

Several minutes later, as they stepped into camp, he blinked. He'd half expected their belongings to be looted by some of Stephen's friends lying in wait.

Quit being so paranoid, Svialto.

They settled around the fire as Zadé ladled out portions of rabbit stew by the light of the setting sun. Aliya groaned in ecstasy as she took her first bite. "This is delicious!"

The muscles in Elessan's core tightened at the sound. His brain supplied an image of something else that would warrant that same utterance.

He was in deep trouble.

Shoving a spoonful of the meat into his mouth, he scowled as it singed his tongue. So much for tasting dinner tonight. But at least the pain pushed the thought of Aliya from his mind.

Zadé saluted Aliya with her flask. "Thanks, Princess… ‘s got Pálinka in it."

"So, Stephen," Elessan said, his voice a little more harsh than necessary, "where're you headed?"

The minstrel shifted in his seat. "Oh, you know. I travel here and there." He waved his spoon around. "Making my living as I go. One day, maybe I'll be lucky enough to play at the castle."

Aliya froze mid-bite before catching herself.

Stephen smiled as he caught her gaze. "And you?"

She swallowed.

"We're takin' Princess here ta the elves in Filathas for magic training."

Aliya choked and started coughing. Elessan thumped her on the back. The alternative was leaping across the fire and throttling Zadé. "Shut your mouth," he snapped in Elven. Now the bard definitely had to die.

"Filathas, huh? What kind of magic do you have?" Stephen tilted his head to the side as he studied her.

Aliya stared at Elessan like a deer frozen in a hunter's sight.

"Do you know The Bear and The Hare?" Elessan asked.

The human focused on him and blinked, like he'd forgotten the elf's existence.

"What? Oh, yeah, sure." He set down his empty bowl. "Let me answer the call of nature first?"

Elessan frowned but nodded as Stephen pushed himself to his feet and made note as to which way the man headed. He gave the musician several heartbeats to get out of hearing range then turned on Zadé. "What in god's teeth are you doing telling random people we're bringing a non-elf ," he hissed as he gestured to Aliya, "to Filathas, for training ? Humans with magic are rare enough to be notable, and mages aren't well-received here. There's every chance that information would make it back to his King before we reach the elven lands."

Zadé waved her hand in front of her face like she was swatting a mosquito. She tilted dangerously to one side, kicking her leg up into the air to rebalance.

He leaned sideways to avoid being kicked in the face.

"Relax, Elsan. He's no spy, jus' a harmless bard."

"You may be willing to bet our lives and the war on that, but I'm not."

"The war?" Zadé chortled as she fought to not tip over. "Think a lot of ourselves, do we?"

He clenched his teeth. Ancestors save him from drunken stupidity. "Valek, Zadé. I meant—"

"Guys," Aliya interrupted.

"What?" They both turned to her.

"Shouldn't he be back by now?"

They stared in the direction Stephen had disappeared.

"Don't think so, Princess." Zadé waved to the abandoned seat. "He left all his stuff. Even his lute."

Aliya grabbed the bag, frowned, and spilled its contents on the ground. Several fist-sized rocks rolled toward the fire. She dropped the backpack and picked up the instrument. "It has a huge crack down the back. No way this would play." She focused on Elessan.

Valek. He unsheathed his sword and stepped out into the night to find the minstrel.

Studying the scrub brush and dirt for signs of the human's passing, he utilized all his skills to follow in the dark, a silent shadow in the night. He placed his feet carefully, ducking around branches to avoid rustling them and giving away his position. When Elessan found him, Stephen would breathe his last breath. Not only for the less-than-honorable intentions, but to protect Aliya. He'd throw Zadé's corpse in a ditch too, for endangering her, if they didn't need her access to Filathas.

How could she be so stupid? And with an enemy , nonetheless. That thought brought him to a sudden stop. He was being idiotic, too, though his budding romance with Aliya was hardly on the same scale. And she wasn't really human.

The man's footprints emerged from the forest and disappeared into a well-trodden road. He'd never find him now. A ball of ice settled in his gut.

"Valek!" He kicked a small rock into the middle of the path. He should've followed the bard as soon as he got up. Now, who knew where Stephen had gotten to, or what he intended to do with the information he learned.

Elessan spun on his heel and sprinted back to camp.

Aliya and Zadé glanced up in shock as he burst into the campsite. He scraped a double handful of dirt from the ground and threw it into the flames. "Pack up your stuff. We need to get out of here, now."

"What's going on?" The forced calm of Aliya's voice almost hid the tremble.

"I lost him," he said, throwing more soil on the fire. "He might be gone, taking his information to the highest bidder, or he could be planning to come back with friends. We can't chance the second option."

Zadé sighed. "Guess we're not getting much sleep tonight, huh?" She blinked, catching his gaze. Her eyes were clearer than they'd been a few minutes ago. "I'm sorry, Elsan."