Chapter 175

El-kor walked confidently down the halls, his footsteps echoing on the red carpets atop hardwood floors.

The walls around him were covered in elaborate, gold wallpaper. On the wallpaper were sconces, the candles in them all looking brand new when they were in truth years old. Everything he walked past had never changed since their creation and yet not a soul could tell save those who held the knowledge of it.

Arriving at the end of the hall he paused briefly before opening the mahogany doors.

Upon opening them he was met with darkness. He knew his king preferred the dark from whence they'd been born but El-kor himself preferred some candlelight.

Closing the door he bowed and, seeing perfectly in the pitch black, he saw his king sitting on his throne, his blue eyes piercing through the dark abyss.

"My king." He said in a reserved tone.

The king regarded him but his eyes turned and his smooth, foreboding voice said, "Nerwin, come."

El-kor stiffened and then relaxed himself. The fact that he and Nerwin were lovers was not a fact hidden to her father but it was not exactly approved.

The young woman entered, her bright features dulled in the darkness.

"My king." She greeted her father, "My lord." She nodded to the Elven General.

Both men nodded.

"Tell me El-kor, where were you during the heat of the battle, when those two troublesome siblings of Alpha Thresh appeared? Remind me." The king's voice questioned.

El-kor steeled himself, prepared for his king's wrath.

"I left the Lady Nerwin and Lord Nodere at our camp and then I left to investigate-"

"El-kor please," The king spoke in an eerily kind voice, but El-kor had never known kindness in this man, "We both know that you were investigating nothing. You were speaking to the human girl."

"My king, I assure you. I entered their strategy base intent on observing their tactics and plans-"

"You did nothing of the sort. You were distracted!" The king bellowed, "Nerwin!" He snapped and El-kor clenched his fists.

"Yes, father." She said hastily, her voice steady.

"Pour me a drink."

Nerwin padded over to where the cabinet was and pouring a liquid she brought it to her father. The king muttered a few words and the drink began to glow a ghastly, bluish, grey colour illuminating his pale physiognomy.

"Now… El-kor, tell me, where were you during the battle?" He repeated.

"I was leading your troops and being your general." He said attempting a different route of speech.

"You were distracted!" The king bellowed, "If you had focused on the battle and not the girl then we would have breached the barrier."

"We did." Nerwin said her clear voice breaking the tension.

"What?" Her father said turning his sharp, blue eyes to regard her.

"Ti-sir managed to breach the barrier, but…"

"But what?" The king asked.

"But he was thrown back, injured."

"Injured how?" The king asked his voice intrigued.

"It was different than the Faerie magic but the same." Nerwin said confused, "He was also covered in long gashes, but they healed."

"Why did you not tell me of this sooner?" The king asked his voice menacing.

"I… I am sorry, please forgive me, my king. I did not tell you because we still were unable to enter their realm." She explained.

"I see…" The king said reclining in his throne.

"What do you think it could've been?" El-kor asked.

"Something that wasn't there before." The king replied, "Find out what it is and how to defeat it. If we can get in then that unknown magic is the only thing stopping us."

With those words he dismissed the pair and they left.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nerwin asked as they walked back to their chambers.

"Tell you that I was with the human girl?"

She nodded.

"Because she has a very precious secret and I wouldn't want her to be found out. Though she needs to be killed, I know the king will blame me for my incompetence because she is not dead yet."

"Hmm." Nerwin replied sounding thoughtful, "I suppose you can't tell me?"

"That is correct." He said.

"Well then it's your problem." She said impishly.

"Indeed." He replied grimly.

They'd wait to see what the future would bring.