SERAPHINE

Flicking her velvet cloak behind her, Seraphine stormed back to where the prisoners stood. The village around her had been decimated, fires blazed among the rubble and the smell of smoke was still thick in the air, wafting in plumes up into the night sky. As she breathed in it irritated the back of her throat, causing a burning sensation and making it feel raspy and tight. Seraphine coughed slightly then regained her composure, determined not to show weakness in any form to those around her. Ash floated gently past her face and she looked up to see a group of her dragons circling above, ready to land and make their transition back into their human form before daybreak.

Turning to face General Dusard who had made his way over to intercept her on her path, she hoped that he bore her good news.

“The girl won’t talk your Majesty, she refuses to say a word and even with the torture we have inflicted upon her, she has remained silent.” General Dusard said, his face stern. “Her will is very strong, your Majesty, she won't give in.”

“Torture her again, the amulet must be found.” Seraphine replied angrily.

“We’ve tried all the usual torture techniques on the Princess but to no avail.” General Dusard said meekly, cowering slightly as Seraphine slammed her staff into the ground and stared at the General.

“Do it more intensely and for longer. She will break and she will tell us where it is.” Seraphine said through gritted teeth, angry at the General’s incompetence and the seemingly inability to think for himself.

“We don’t have that much time your Majesty, dawn is coming and once she changes we will have to wait until nightfall until she changes back.” General Dusard stammered in response.

“Then don’t just stand there, inflict more pain and get her talking at once.” Seraphine spat.

The General gave a quick nod and salute, then turned on his heel and marched off to the small pen where Ashalan lay tied with chains and secured to the ground.

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Seraphine looked up as a guard came towards her, pushing a worn and beaten Elf in front of him. Covered in soot and bleeding from a gash on his forehead, the Elf’s eyes were glazed and stricken as he stumbled forward.

“This one says he saw a young female Elf running and escaping on the outskirts of the village in the outer pastures.” The guard reported gruffly as he pushed the Elf to his knees.

“Tell me in detail what you saw.” Seraphine said, using her staff to tilt the chin of the Elf upwards so that she could look into his face as he spoke.

“I-I-I saw…” The Elf stammered as he tried to take a calm wavering breath. “…a young Elf girl, Elyusian daughter of the elder Timian, running away from the village. I was coming back from having checked my flock in the very outer pastures up near the hills when I saw her.”

“Was anyone else with her?” Seraphine questioned.

“No, but she was carrying something or had something around her neck. I took note of it because I thought it was odd.” The Elf replied.

“Why?” Seraphine prompted.

“Because the thing she had was glowing and it softly lit up the night sky around her.” The Elf said quickly, stumbling over his words in an attempt to contain his fear.

Seraphine smiled and lowered her staff, letting the Elf lower his head. He fell forward onto his hands and breathed in a long sigh of relief.

“Now I have given this information to you, please spare my family and I…Please.” Shaking, the Elf looked into Seraphine’s eyes and raised his hands up in front of him to plead with her. Seraphine looked down at him and raised an eyebrow.

“I detest begging.” She said as she lifted her foot up and pushed him in the chest with her boot, sending him backwards into the dusty ash covered ground.

“Guard, take him to the others and chain them all up. Ready them to be taken back to the caverns.” Seraphine ordered, then looked across to the pen where Ashalan was contained. She walked over to the pen and stood next to the rickety wooden fence surrounding it.

“General!” She called out and the General looked up quickly and came running over to her.

“General, gather up your men and prepare to track and detain a young female Elf escapee.” She commanded. “I will continue the interrogation so we can find out where our Princess has sent her with the amulet.”

The General nodded and saluted, then motioned for the guards with him to follow him as he exited the pen quickly to obey Seraphine’s order.

The sun was rising. Seraphine looked at Ashalan and smiled menacingly.