father in the back when he held no weapon as he rescued his son?” Farrendel’s silver-blue eyes flashed, even if they remained slightly unfocused, as if that human drug was still keeping him hazy and disorientated.
Melantha squeezed her eyes shut, seeing again her father’s body, arrowshot and still, laid out for the funeral she had planned. Heard again the shake to Weylind’s voice as he told the family what had happened.
And Farrendel...his body scarred and his mind broken, refusing to leave their father’s side until the burial as if he felt it his duty to stand guard.
And she had given Farrendel back into the hands of the trolls who had killed their father, killed her mother.
Why would that stab in her chest not leave her alone?
“Then you admit your guilt?” King Charvod’s hand tightened on the knife, yanking Farrendel’s head back farther.
Farrendel glared, still swaying. “No.”
Melantha struggled against the troll prince’s grip. It had been one thing to betray Farrendel and close her eyes and heart to what that really meant. It was another to stand there and watch it happen. Especially after Farrendel had given up a chance at escape to keep her from being hurt. “Do not—”
The knife flashed down. But instead of red blood spurting, it was silver-blond hair that parted, coming away in the troll king’s fist.
Farrendel stiffened, his eyes widening.
King Charvod held his fistful of Farrendel’s hair in front of Farrendel’s face. “I have heard this is a symbol of dishonor for you elves.”
Farrendel stared at his hair in the troll king’s hand, as if he could not believe what had just happened. His shorn hair hung in ragged strands across his forehead and around the tips of his ears.
The troll king tossed Farrendel’s hair onto the dirt and ground it beneath his heel.
For a long moment, Farrendel continued to stare. Then, his body stiffened, and when he lifted his gaze to the troll king, his silver-blue eyes simmered. He did not speak, his gaze all the more unnerving for his silence.
After a moment, the troll king looked away and kicked Farrendel, sending him to the ground once again.
Prince Rharreth’s grip tightened on Melantha’s arm as he lowered his knife and turned to his brother. “The elf king’s army will not be far behind me, and we need time to carry our honored dead across the river.”
King Charvod sighed, as if annoyed to be reminded of his responsibilities as king. He pointed at several of the trolls behind him. “Take Laesornysh to the boats. The elven princess too.” His gaze lifted to Melantha, and his mouth twisted into a smirk. “It seems she will provide leverage over both her brothers.”
Melantha dug her heels into the ground as Prince Rharreth shoved her forward. “Farrendel was right. You have no honor. You promised peace.”
“I promised that we would not invade your kingdom.” Prince Rharreth handed her off to a waiting troll. “I didn’t say anything about luring the elf king into attacking us. He and Laesornysh have held us off for years in this forest where they are strong. But now your elven army will be forced to fight in our mountains where we are strong.”
Last time Tarenhiel had been forced to invade Kostaria, Melantha’s father had been killed. Would Weylind be killed this time? Would Melantha have any family left when this was over?
ESSIE STOOD NEAR the gangplank of the elven ship as Averett gave last, hushed instructions to Edmund and Julien before departing. Weylind gripped Jalissa’s shoulders as they also spoke in lowered tones.
This parting would only be for a week at most. Not that long when it came to mobilizing armies. But far too long when each day meant Farrendel was imprisoned that much longer.
Essie wrapped her arms around her stomach. Even if Escarland’s army managed to march into Tarenhiel within a week, it could still take another week, optimistically, to assemble the joint elven-human army at the border with Kostaria.
Then it was anyone’s guess how long it would take to invade. As no one knew where in Kostaria Farrendel had been taken, everyone was assuming their goal would have to be Gror Grar, the trolls’ mountain fortress that guarded their capital city of Osmana. Even if Farrendel wasn’t being held there, they would have to conquer it to end the war they were about to start.
Jalissa stepped away from Weylind, her head held high. With a glance toward Averett, Weylind turned and stalked toward the ship’s bow. It might have looked angry, but