“It is true, that humans and the rest of the races have been cruel to us. But we have lived long enough to know that there are those among them who are different. Who does not share the greed and bloodlust of their kin? Merhawi the Great, who we all sing about in our epics, was a human. We cannot let the deeds of a foolish majority tarnish the entirety of the human race.”
After the feast, Siem excused herself from Eldana and Hermon’s company. She had spotted Mikko leave the table with D’rmas, without so much as a glance her way. Despite herself, she had felt a spike of hurt, and decided to resolve things with him.
“Hey.” She called, as she walked up to him.
Mikko turned, and seeing her approach, stopped.
“Hi.” He said as she came to a halt in front of him.
“Hi, D’rmas.” Siem greeted. “How did you find the feast?”
D’rmas grunted.
“I found it boring at some point. And entertaining at others.” He replied.
Siem laughed. “I think we all felt that way. The elves and their ways, huh?”
D’rmas shrugged. “The elves and their ways.” He parroted.
D’rmas was no child and understood that Siem was seeking time alone with Mikko, so he bade them goodnight, and told Mikko not to get lost on his way back.
“Do not pick a fight, D’rmas.” He called out.
D’rmas, still walking, laughed.
Mikko watched him leave, with a smile on his face.
“Nice fellow, hm?” she asked when he faced her.
Mikko smiled. “D’rmas has his quirks.” He said. “But in a nutshell, one can survive around much worse.”
“Are you saying he is a bad companion?” Siem asked, her eyes widening exaggeratedly.
“Oh, of course, no,” Mikko replied immediately. “I am only saying there are lots of people he is better than.”
Siem laughed. “I know what you meant. I was only trying to have a pull your leg,” she said.
Mikko chuckled, as he mock-pleaded, “Please do not tell him I said something of this nature about him!”
“Of course, not. Your secret, or rather, his secret is safe with me,” Siem said.
Mikko breathed a sigh of relief. “D’rmas would as soon challenge me to a fight as he would someone who sullied his warrior ego. He would think I called him a softie if he heard what I just said.”
She nodded.
‘What a character, hm?” Mikko chuckled.
“Aren’t we all?” Siem replied.
They caught the eyes of each other for a moment, then looked away.
“Look, erm, I just wanted to apologize for how I reacted earlier,” she started. “Being around a race as proud as the elves takes its toll on the mind.” She lied, and blood rose to her cheeks. Her eyes were blinking rapidly.
Mikko nodded. “I understand.”
“So, everything is good between us?” she gave him an inquiring look.
“Of course,” Mikko said, his lips spreading into a smile. “Everything was always good between us. I just wanted to give you some space to allow whatever was going on with you to abate.”
Siem felt her heart lurch at what Mikko had just said. She locked eyes with him for a couple of moments, and Mikko thought he could see a gleam in her eyes.
“Tomorrow then?” she said, putting an end to the moment of silence.
Mikko smiled and said, “Tomorrow.”
As he walked back to his tent, his face was all lit with smiles. Even though his mind cautioned him to not jump to conclusions and misinterpreted what he thought the gleam in Siem’s eyes met.
While Siem lay in bed, she tried to convince herself that the happiness she felt was only because she had mended things with Mikko, and not because they had shared some moment of connection. She was used to being alone.
CHAPTER NINE
Fears and Regrets
The capital city of the Middle Kingdom was preparing for war. One look at it, and one would be inclined to think that it was a military Kingdom. Most of its citizenry had taken to staying indoors, due to concerns for safety, or the fears of being forcefully conscripted into the army. The streets were filled with squads of soldiers, in red capes emblazoned with two intertwined dragons, with crowns on their heads – the symbol of the Middle Kingdom – silver mail, and silver helmets. Sometimes, a different battalion would patrol, all outfitted with dark blue body suited armor. These were the acclaimed warriors of the Middle Kingdom, known throughout Toas, for their incredible speed, agility, and precision at killing.
King Henok, sat On his throne, made of bars of sky iron, and the femur of his prizes – people, and beasts who had met their end by his blade. His full dark gray hair was matted back, and his head ringed with a silver band studded with jewels of variegated color. He had a grim expression on his face.
Standing before him were two men in black flowing robes with runes emblazoned on them.
“How is it that none of you has the girl by now?” Henok asked.
“My King,” one of the men began.
“Please, Lord Taboon.” Henok interrupted. “Spare me the encomiums of royalty and go straight to the point!”
Lord Taboon, the shorter of the two with a staff in hand, made a slight bow, acknowledging the king’s wishes.
“If the girl were alone, my king, she would have been caught long before now, as she has little experience outside the palace. However, she is in the company of devious characters, characters that have proven their potency for mischief in the past. I am talking about none other than Siem, and Hermon.”
“Am I supposed to know who they are?” Henok asked.
Lord Taboon bit his lip. Time, and time again, it was Henok’s underestimation of his foes that came around to bite him in the hind. Lord Taboon had been Henok’s teacher in the magical arts while the king was young and still went by the title of prince. But on days like today, he had
