“I can hear them,” Eldaren says, “and I scouted earlier. They’re about a hundred yards ahead.”
I wave a hand dismissively. “They’ll be fine with you guys. We occasionally get visitors from outside of the clan. They won’t mind.”
I can’t read any emotion on his face, and after a moment, he nods. “Very well. Let us continue.”
He even talks like a hero. I do my best to hide my excitement. Elves are different from the stories I’ve heard from those who’ve been to Liberty. Eldaren doesn’t seem cold and indifferent; he seems very sure of himself. True, he hides his emotions very well, but some members of the clan are like that, too. It’s protection, in a way, not letting people know what you’re thinking or feeling. I do the same thing myself, if not nearly as well as Eldaren.
The prince of the stars.
This would be the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me if Stella wasn’t here to spoil it.
Still, observing the two of them, they aren’t acting like there’s anything romantic between them. Stella spends most of her time gawking at the trees around us, and she’s walking beside me instead of with the prince. Still, it’d be nice to know upfront what sort of relationship they have.
How do you go about asking people if they’re a thing without being awkward about it?
We almost pass the checkpoint without the notice of the guards, but suddenly Eldaren reaches out and pulls Stella and me behind him. Stella squawks indignantly.
With a crackling crunch, Baer steps from behind some trees and onto the path. “Who goes there?” he says.
“I have come to speak with your leader,” Eldaren says calmly. “Please take me to her.”
Baer narrows his eyes suspiciously, but I step from behind the elven prince. “It’s me, Baer,” I say. “This is a friend I met in the woods. He needs to speak to the Watcher.”
That gets a startled glance from Eldaren. “What?” I say.
“You don’t even know me,” the prince says. “How can we be friends?” He tilts his head to regard me. “Unless ‘friend’ means something else, as well?” he sounds puzzled. “I know the English language can be strange like that.”
I drop my gaze, feeling my face heat. “Well, whatever. You could have attacked me back in the clearing, but you didn’t.”
“Why in stars would I attack a defenseless girl?” Eldaren’s eyes have widened, and there’s a slight wrinkle in his nose. Is it surprise? “I come with noble intentions.”
“I’m not defenseless,” I say—defensively—and hold my head up. “I am a gaia.”
Eldaren arches an eyebrow, and I know he’s not fooled. He remembers I basically said I don’t know how to use my magic. Drat.
“Regardless,” he says slowly, “You said I must meet with the Watcher before you would agree to come with me.”
Stella’s looking at both of us but says nothing. Why did she even bother coming?
“What?” Baer growls. “What kind of nonsense are you talking about, stranger? The girl isn’t going anywhere.” He lifts his head. “Ethan,” he barks.
More crashing of undergrowth sounds and Ethan emerges on the other side of the path, huffing and puffing, his face flushed. “What is it?”
“We have a newcomer,” Baer says, pointing the tip of his spear at Eldaren.
Eldaren turns to me. “Is the Watcher in the house just up ahead?” He points to where the Central Keep is peeking through the trees.
I nod.
“Excellent.” Eldaren turns back to the guards. “I really don’t have time for delays,” he says. “I have a world to rule and people to save.” Then he picks up both Stella and me, and we’re gone.
I blink, my eyes watering against the wind. Eldaren is running, and the world is a blur. He skids to a halt in front of the door and sets us down. I smooth the front of my skirt, blushing furiously. I’ve never been carried so effortlessly, and I kind of liked it.
Stella staggers and almost falls until Eldaren steadies her.
“What in the world?” Stella barks. “Don’t pick me up like a sack of grain and hightail it without giving me a warning!”
“My apologies,” he says blandly. We can hear the distant shouts of Baer and Ethan from the forest. They’ll be here before long, and mad as wasps. “Time is of the essence, however. We need to get this matter sorted, so I can properly see to my duties, as prince and protector.” He looks at me. “Please take us to the Watcher.”
“Sure.” I open and door and step through. “Come on in.”
Eldaren and Stella follow me inside.
We’re immediately assaulted by hordes of children. Well, only six, but they make enough noise for twenty.
“Who are they?” Prissy stands there with her mouth slightly open, eyes wide. “We almost never get newcomers.”
“He’s tall.” Hannah is only five years old and short for her age. She stands with her neck craned, looking up at the elf. “Wow.”
“Mom!” I bellow, before remembering that this isn’t a family call.
This is official Clan business.
The Central Keep is a sprawl of multiple corridors and rooms, the clan adding on to the structure over the years. The North and South Keeps are built in somewhat similar fashion. We need to have enough room for the community if there’s a bad storm or an earthquake, or the rare occasion when we’ve had gangsters from Liberty roam the forests. Most clan members would then take their kids and neighbors and flock to the closest Keep. It was a good system. The people were taken care of.
“She’s in the Meditation Hall,” Prissy says, still staring at Eldaren.
“Cool. This way.” I motion to Eldaren and Stella to follow me. “We might want to hurry. I guess Baer and Ethan must be pretty mad by now.”
“Understood,” the prince replies.
We walk down a couple of halls, leading us past the dining room and the solarium. Eldaren pauses in the doorway of the latter and nods in satisfaction.
