the general finishes, but I know instantly he’s said the wrong thing. At the word ‘friends,’ the queen looks like she’s just been slapped in the face, her disgust clear to see in her expression as her eyes run over me.
“Vaeril hated humans, even more so than most. He would never be friends with one. She must be lying.” The queen’s pitch is high, and I can tell she’s trying to keep her voice down and maintain her calm appearance for her audience. “Take her away and prepare for an execution.”
My heart drops and I feel like I’m about to collapse. Even Elier seems surprised, if his quiet gasp is anything to go by, his grip tightening on my arm, but I feel it’s more in support than to stop me from trying to escape. We both know there is nowhere I could run to without being caught.
“Your Majesty—” the general begins, surprise lining his features, but she cuts him off.
“She was probably his captor!” she shouts, her eyes wild as she glares at me, seemingly not bothered that she’s causing a scene. The elves we travelled with shuffle about, sharing looks of confusion and surprise.
“Your Majesty, she is just a youngling, she couldn’t have—” He tries again, but I know it’s useless from the wild, mad look in her eyes.
“She is lying human trash.”
I try not to be offended at her words, she doesn’t know me, after all, but that comment stings. I don’t know what possesses me to do it, or where my bravery, or possible stupidity, comes from, but I take a step forward, shaking off Elier’s grip, and clear my throat.
“Vaeril told me you were a fair ruler, that I would be safe here.”
As soon as I speak, I know I’ve only made things worse, as the queen starts to storm towards me, her hands glowing green as I feel a large amount of magic being called to her.
She’s going to kill me. The thought is sudden and sure, ringing like a bell through my head.
“Liar!” she shouts, making the closer elves wince as they quickly moving out of her way as she gets closer. Elier stiffens at my side, torn between stepping out of the path of his wrathful queen and fulfilling his role of guarding me. Thankfully, the general catches up with her and jumps in front of me, placing a hand out in front of him as if to stop her.
“Get out of my way, General,” she hisses, her eyes widening at his actions. He quickly drops his arm, but takes a small step closer to her, blocking me from her view. I’m not sure if it’s intentional or not, but I’m thankful for it regardless.
“We should ask Vaeril when he wakes, let’s not be rash, Your Majesty.” His voice is calm and even, and I don’t miss when he tips his head slightly towards the other elves who have gathered to watch. “Remember who is watching.” His voice is so low that I don’t think anyone else was supposed to hear, but since I’m close, I catch the hushed words.
All of a sudden, the queen seems to realise what she’s doing, her chest heaving with her anger. Taking a deep breath, she briefly closes her eyes, a crease appearing in her brow as she concentrates. When they open again, they are calmer, calculating, as she regains her regal mask.
“Very well,” she agrees, moving as if to step away, but she turns to look at me one last time, a shudder taking over her as her look of disgust returns. “I want her locked up in the meantime. Humans are dangerous.”
Spinning away, she begins her climb back up the stairs to the castle entrance, her ladies in waiting and advisors following behind her, but one remains. The younger elf who shares some sort of relation to the queen. He’s watching me with a hungry look in his eyes, except he’s not looking at my body, but my still faintly glowing Goddess mark.
Two palace guards approach me and take me from Elier, leading me away and around the side of the castle, but I can still feel his eyes on me as I go.
The guards take me past the front of the castle, their hands gripping the top of my arms as they hurry me away. If it was different circumstances, I would be admiring how beautiful this place is, especially the crystal clear river that tunnels through the rock under the castle. I’m