Forces Collide - Jamie Wilson (ebook reader macos .TXT) 📗

Nuala asked him to come here," I replied, only looking at Drannor now.

"What is his other half?" Sam asked.

"Human," Haemir spat the phrase out disagreeably.

"What is wrong with being half human? We're no different to you except in looks," Gemma said crossly.

Haemir's voice was bitter. "Humans are weaker than elves. You are mortal and die of old age, elves are immortal. Humans tire faster in battle. The females of your race run and hide in the event of war, while ours fight. It is an insult for elves to mate with humans." He paused. "This bondage is scorned upon by those of pure elfin blood."

"A bad thing for him, because his father's house lost all its honour because of his mother," Drannor told us. "Now he has to earn it back for them."

That made no sense. Last time I’d been in Anthatal, he was respected by most of the elves. I did not think that he really had lost all his honour because of his mother.

Also shouldn’t my family have lost all their honour? My aunt was married to a human, Linda Marcos of all humans. That was by far worse than what Haemir’s father had done.

No elf trusted that human. Those who did were considered insane by the rest of us. Not that any elf dared call my aunt that when one of my family was nearby. They would get in a lot of trouble if they did, as we would always take offence. To me it did not really matter; after all, if she loved the human, why should what they all think stop her from that?

I did not see anything wrong with that, even though it was the human that I wanted to kill. That made it all the more worse my desire to kill him. Surely she knew his death would come eventually.


Chapter 4

A few more days past. Drannor and I were busy preparing for the trip home to Anthatal. I mainly went out of the inn room with him, knowing my way around the town. We managed to buy enough horses from the humans, for the whole group.

I smiled as I worked, it was so good to have him back by my side again. It had been a very long and tiring fifteen years without someone like him near me.

To tell any human what I really was would have been folly during that time. They were so easily convinced to say things that we never wanted known. No wonder there was the occasional yelling at when someone’s husband came home drunk from the tavern.

None of the women dared go there after dark; it was such a rowdy place at the best of times. I’d never stepped in the place, the noise repulsed me. More than once I had walked past and someone was thrown out as I passed by. 

While that had once angered me to have someone hurled out in front of me, I knew they would not dare try anything while Drannor walked by my side. We often walked through the streets with our hands together and a few of the humans that knew me well stared at him. And at me.

I had a bit of a reputation that I did not like any of the boys in town. Not that I cared about eh staring, I would be gone soon, not to return for a long time.

The townsfolk seemed eager to see us out of the town; they obviously knew something was going on. I was eager to leave and was glad when after only three more days, we were getting the horses and leaving.

As soon as we had all mounted Drannor told the three humans and Ashlere, "Guide your horses to follow us alright? I don't know how safe we are while we travel so listen to us if we tell you to do something."

I saw the others nod, though I knew that none of them could ride, and told them, "Try any copy me, I know how to ride, so follow behind me."

Again they nodded and Haemir led his horse to stand in front of mine, beside Drannor's. Then they started to walk off, and I nudged my horse in to follow them. Having an escort like this did not bother me; I knew that when I lived back in Anthatal it would be normal. Looking behind me, I saw the children all riding side by side.

When we stopped for the night, Haemir and I called our wyverns down from the sky to us. When Gaelira came to me, she seemed overly happy. That was kind of unusual for her. She usually was not happy when I called her back to me.

“What's got you so happy?” I inquired.

“Ackron's been showing me some things just in case I get attacked while I'm up in the sky, though that is not likely,” Gaelira replied. Her wings folded neatly as she spoke.

“I think that in a few days we'll be stopping in one of the elfin cities. Drannor thinks I should visit a few of them,” I informed her.

“By then I should be able to carry you,” Gaelira said.

“I don't know, I am rather heavy, even if I do not look like I am,” I replied, a little surprised.

She snorted and walked away, which seemed strange to watch, she sort of looked like a lion walking, she used the short legs that extended from her shoulders to balance as she walked. Her feathery wings were folded like a birds would be, tucked in next to her back.

I looked after her, and then walked over to my fellow elves, which were being pestered by my friends. "Hey guys, slow down a bit with the questions." It was easy for me to tell that they were pestering Haemir and Drannor about me. "I'm sure I can answer some of your questions."

"Then who are your parents, Gem?" Gemma asked.

For a moment I struggled with my emotions before answering, "They were Queen Laura Berilan and King Zelphar Nightstar."

"You know how it's been just over three thousand years since we humans first came to Nuban. How many elves have ruled us?" Collin asked.

I chuckled. They wanted to know about me and my family? "Well since you humans came, I will be the fourth to rule the elves. At the time you came, with gentle hearted John Marcos as your king, my mothers father, King Sudryl Finnasla ruled with his mate, Ara. They are the second monarchs we ever had here. I am the fourth now. Sudryl and Ara had three children, Laura, Wyn and Ava who is now married to that despicable Linda Marcos. Apparently Wyn was shot with an arrow, so my mother being second oldest, took the throne. Now that she and my father are dead, no thanks to Marcos, it is my turn."

"How's Ashlere related to you then?" Sam asked.

"Nuala is her mother, Galan Evandari is her father. Nuala is my fathers little sister. As for Drannor, well, he was adopted by Nuala shortly before my tenth birthday. No one knows who his parents really are.”

Shortly after, we all decided to call it a night and get some sleep. We had a long journey head of us. Gaelira walked over and laid down next to me, covering me with one of her wings.

Thanks Gaelira, I said, she was so warm.

No problem, Gem, she chuckled.

As we traveled the next morning, I wondered at how much different life would be for me when we got to Anthatal. I knew I would not be so stressed out in my natural home which was a good thing.

As we moved on, my friends started to pester me again.

"Can all the elves use magic, or is it just those with wyverns? Can you use magic? How old are you really? Are the elves immortal?"

"One at a time please!" I laughed at their curiosity. "All elves can use magic but those bonded to a wyvern are slightly stronger. Of course I can use magic, but I am no strong spell caster yet. I only know basic spells. Once I get home I will become stronger as I learn more. The elves are immortal and I am really thirty one years old," I said.

"Can you show us some magic?" Collin asked eagerly.

"Just remember that what's simple for me is not so easy for a human to accomplish," I responded.

They all laughed and I was surprised that they were not worried by what I'd said. I thought back, trying to find a spell I knew was easy for me to cast.

"If you're looking for a spell, Gem, try one that vanishes the tracks we're making," Drannor called. Spells were his strongest offensive and defensive skill though he was an adept swordsman and archer.

I smiled at his suggestion. "Trackkus evaro!" Within a few seconds, my horse's tracks vanished. My friends stared at the ground in amazement as the horses tracks disappeared. "See I can use magic." In my mind I was laughing at their faces.

"Drannor, is home the same as always?" I asked when we stopped for the night.

"Of course. Nuala, has looked after you kingdom quite well," Drannor replied, coming to sit beside me near the fire.

"Did you complete your training?" I asked.

"Yes, with distinction. My trainer, Lord Arren, was surprised at how quickly I managed to do so."

"I'm glad, at least be caught unaware if danger comes," I said. Then I shifted one arm to around him calmly. I loved him more than anything in the world.

"You're cold," he muttered, gently pulling me closer. I sighed and rested my head on his broad shoulder. He chuckled and gently kissed my cheek. "Sleep if you want to, sweetheart," he said.
A few days passed and we came ever to Quessir Sdnal, my ancient realm. We could all see the rising sight of something else on the horizon in front of us. I knew that was the tree line.

The only place at the present time that we elves were safe in. at the moment, Lindan Marcos had not the interest in coming in there after us. I wondered whether he was afraid of the woods.

“With someone like me by his side, I doubt that is why,” Gaelira said. “If he was frightened, he could get his wyvern to burn you all out of there.”

“I doubt he has had the idea or there would be no home left for me to return to,” I said. “Nuala would never let that happen, after all, I currently trust her to keep the woods safe.”

When I got back, that would be my job to ensure the safety of the woods. Sure it might be a hard job, but I would manage somehow, I was sure.

“Plus there are other wyvern’s who live in there,” I said. “Ackron is not the only other male around.” I laughed glad of that.


Chapter 5

When we stopped three days later, I saw that the woods were so close. We’d be in them when we stopped tomorrow night. There would be elves guarding the edge of the forest. I knew this from when I had left them last time.

They were waiting for my return; they had said they would never challenge me when I came back into