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16
“50 meters. He hasn't seen me yet."
"You know what you have to do"
The arrow flew to its target, avoiding every branch, every obstacle to pierce the target's skull.
"I got him, he won't be a problem for us anymore. »
"Good shot"
As if with a last urge to survive, the target quivered, its venom dripping to the ground, before freezing.
I pulled the arrow violently from the creature,
“Watch out Taylor!”
The huge tail of the Azure Serpent approached me. I wouldn't have time to dodge, I thought when suddenly a second arrow lodged in the animal's blue eye. The tail fell noisily to the ground.
“I told you to always be careful. Just because they're not moving doesn't mean they're dead." Endar said as he jumped out of the tree from which he was watching me.
“I know, I'll be more careful next time. I said before pulling out one of the knives I kept on my shoulder strap. I had initially thought of sticking with the sword and the bow, but I had found it interesting to practice a more discreet weapon. We could not always rush into the heap.
“I won't always be there to save you, Taylor. he said, running his hand through his short beard.
Endar had changed since the start of our journey. He had gained weight rapidly through exercise and a richer diet. An elf did not eat much meat unless it was the result of his near hunt. It was a way of being in tune with nature, not wasting what you take. A life was precious whether it was that of an elf or an animal. The monster meat had properties of great value, since they had managed to form a core. A monster was therefore only an animal which by absorbing magic had created a core which over time allowed them to acquire intelligence. At death, as with any creature, the core calcified but temporarily retained magical properties that fascinated necromancers. But the meat had great regenerative properties. However, like many things, it was necessary to consume it in moderation. Endar was now a tall, healthy man who looked no older than 50. Only his eyes gave his true age.
“I am aware Endar, I am no longer six years old. I retorted before opening the animal. I had to do it several times, the skin was surprisingly hard there. Then my hand entered the opening. I hated this task but it was necessary.
“You are not an adult at 11, Taylor. You just saw more things than others your age. he says in a patient tone
"Did you add the 17 years in a girl's body, or did you just forget about them?" I replied sarcastically.
Endar sighed
I knew I was not easy. The years I had trained had toughened me up, but tomorrow it would be five years since I left my family. We had traveled aimlessly through the horned forest, living on fruit and monster meat, seeking shelter in the hollows of the trees, in the dark and damp caverns. I had learned to know with a simple breeze when the rain would fall, with a simple trace in which direction my next meal had gone and my connection with Aella had become stronger as well as my magic. Yet every evening I dreamed of a golden and warm tree, and of being lulled by the sound of a flute.
I missed my family bitterly and that only reinforced my feelings of hatred towards the Duchess. Sometimes we ventured into a village. But we soon learned to limit the experiment because of the dangers it brought.
I looked at the core in my hands. It was still vibrating like a heartbeat. I crushed him with all my might. There was only dust left in my hand, yet I knew that the essence of the serpent would be part of me forever. If I looked at myself at that moment in the water of a river, I knew that my eyes would be the same blue as the snake. This would last a day or two, the time for all the energy to be absorbed by the core to be transformed.
Then I turned again to the carcass. I reach for something in my pocket and pull out a black glove which I nonchalantly put on. I opened the animal's mouth with one hand and blocked it with the knife, then I searched with my fingertips for the pocket of venom before taking it.
I didn't turn to look at Endar, I knew what I would see, disappointment. Endar loved noble weapons, the bow, the sword. He accepted that one needed a dagger in the worst situations, but poisons were something he hated.
The first time I talked to him about it, he didn't talk to me for three days, until I explained to him that I wanted to have a solution in case of emergency and that I in no way wanted to become a bloodthirsty killer. He had then put a book near my sleeping bag one morning detailing poisonous plants and their dangers. I had since kept hidden under the shoulder strap where I kept my five knives, tubes that had in them mixtures ranging from mild itching to immediate cardiac arrest.
Endar had forced me to have the antidote to every one of my concoctions, he didn't need to. What idiot would walk around without his own antidotes.
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“We will have snake meat tonight,” I said before starting to prepare the animal.
When night fell, I sat down on a flat rock, watching the fire swirl around the orange flame. I absorbed a small amount before letting the fire work on the flesh of the animal.
When it was finished I took a piece of bread from my bag, then cut a piece of meat and placed it on the hard crumb. I then handed it to Endar and served myself. Meat was scarce, we only had it once or twice a month. If we took any more, the guilt would eat away at me. So was the elf, taking life only rarely or out of necessity. For to feel nature was also to feel its pain and to sympathize.
Thank you, I thought with a twinge in my heart before taking my first bite.
" Too salty. »
“If you don't like it, cook. »
He wouldn't and I certainly wouldn't allow it. His cooking was unspeakably atrocious.
" Winter is coming. " I said
“I know, kid. »
"We can't stay here. " I said
" It's true. But you know the risks. »
“I am aware of that. I am stronger. »
He gave me a dubious look
“Murderers don’t care about strength. They stab you in your dreams, they poison you when you're thirsty. They hide in the shadows. Strength has nothing to do with it. »
“Then I will wait for them. »
“Don't underestimate the Duchess, kid. »
“How could I, she made those 5 years hell. »
At dawn, we took the direction of the nearest village. While a light smoke rose from the ashes of the hearth that had protected us the day before.
I climbed the nearest tree to reach the top, to watch the sunrise, and breathed in the clean, invigorating air. There were only trees as far as the eye could see. The orange leaves of autumn offering a marvelous spectacle. I thought I heard the sound of a flute carried by the wind.
“Mother, father, wait for me, I will get stronger, I promise. »
I observed a flight of birds migrating to the more lenient islands of the archipelago.
“Taylor! »
I sighed, then plunged into the forest and danced between the branches.
The journey took a week and when we arrived in front of the paved road, the main track of Eteryddyn. I looked apprehensively down the road.
"Let's not stay here." said Endar
I would have preferred to stay in the woods, but the villagers were generally suspicious of those who arrived from the woods without announcing themselves at the entrance to the village. The first time we did this, a guard interrogated us for over three hours and wanted to confiscate our weapons until we left. Of course we did not accept and it was by paying a gold coin that we were able to return without worry.
Even elves loved money. I had been disappointed to learn this truth and yet I was not really surprised.
It took us an hour to reach the entrance to Lignia. The smoke rising from the chimneys made me dream of a bath.
Lignia lay near the boundary that separated the horned forest from the bright sand archipelago. If I stayed on this road and went east, I would arrive at the castle. It was so tempting and yet I knew it was not yet time.
When we arrived at the entrance to the village, a guard was sitting in a chair. He looked at us, then resumed his nap.
It was our first time here and I was surprised to see more houses than trees. Was it really an elven village?
An elf approached us, but when he saw us, quickly looked down. I frowned. I didn't like that reaction. I didn't know why, but this elf seemed different to me. He was less brilliant, but I couldn't tell why.
As we walked, the windows and doors closed. But I was certain that we were being spied on.
“End…”
“I would have liked to take you somewhere else, but Dalanne will not believe that you stooped to come here, you the son of a duke. »
" Where are we ? »
“Welcome to Lignia, the village of the unwanted, the sanctuary of the half-elves. »
I looked at the village differently
"I didn't think there were so many half-elves. " I said
Endar gave me a pained look.
“Those you see here are only those who have the spark of immortality. But as you have certainly noticed, it does not shine as much as ours. »
" What does that mean ? »
“That means they will never be seen as elves, because they are tinted. »
“But other than their sparkle, they don’t look any different from us. " I said
" Do you believe ? he asked pensively
" Follow me." he said
As we walked, the cobblestones gave way to the muddy path. Then I heard screams. They resonated deep within my being.
"Look." he said
I suddenly felt nausea creeping over me. The sight before me was horrifying. A man was sitting in a cart holding the reins, but that wasn't what shocked me.
Women and men were bound together by chains and moved resignedly towards the cart. Those who resisted were whipped immediately. A few steps from the cart, a girl about my age was the source of the screams I had heard. The cracking of the whip on her back would haunt me. Her blood stained the earth and she still tried to get up.
"What's going on Endar?" What do they do ? »
“I didn't want you to see the cruelty of the half-elves. Despite their status as pariahs, they have organized a hierarchy among themselves. Look at the spark of those who are chained and that of a passerby. »
I looked around before turning back to the prisoners.
“The spark of the prisoners is less bright. " I said
“Indeed, although they are immortal, the spark differs according to the individuals. Yet these differences do not call into question their immortality. »
" So why ? I say looking at this horror
“For two reasons, power, they are nothing but a disgrace to the elves, so they replicate the pattern among themselves. Second, the money. Humans are fond of elves, because of their beauty and magic more in harmony with nature. But selling elves is forbidden and would quickly lead to war. Half-elves are not part of this agreement. To finance this village, some villagers are sold. »
“Why do the elves allow it? This is their territory. Half-elves are living beings.”
Endar shook his head.
“Not in the eyes of the elves. They are a reminder of their imperfection. You have seen enough horror, let's go to the inn. »
As I was about to follow Endar, I met an amethyst gaze. The young girl got up awkwardly, and her look full of rebellion did not turn away from mine. It was the first time since I entered this village that someone looked me in the eye.
She limped slowly toward the cart but brushed my shoulder as we passed. She then turned her head towards me and widened her eyes but said nothing. I gave him a small smile and continued on my way.
We quickly arrived at the only inn in the village. A man was standing behind a bar and rushed towards us when he saw us coming.
“Sirs, what…can…I do for you. he stuttered
“A room for two for a week for now". said Endar
" Of course, of course." he said
Endar paid for the room and then the innkeeper led us to the first floor. Our room was down the hall. The door opened into a modest bedroom with two beds. The window overlooked the fields.
“Could I have hot water for a bath? I asked, seeing the curtain that hid the bathtub.
"I'll take care of it right away" he said before disappearing.
When the door was closed I sat up on the bed and sighed in relief.
“So are you going to tell me why you gave away one of your precious vials to a stranger? »