by Rebecca Hb.
* * *
Torellan Sgian'Jyel spoke softly to Kaen Kedger, "Dariel tells me the prisoner is awake."
Kaen glanced at her then strode over to Dariel and the bound sylvan. She trailed after him, feeling obligated to keep an eye on him but wanting to be with her thralls. They seemed simpler than other elves.
Torellan tensed as Kaen hunkered down next to the bound sylvan. She hoped he wouldn't do anything too drastic. She didn't really want to stop him.
He looked the sylvan in the eye and spoke calmly, "If you do any magic, we will kill you. Do you understand?"
The sylvan nodded stiffly, dirt getting among its leaves.
He stood up and looked at Dariel, his calm almost frightening. "Can you carry her?"
Dariel Sgian'Kiri nodded slowly.
Torrellan backed away, as Kaen gestured at the sylvan. She did not like this. She didn't like this at all. Just kill the sylvan. Burn it with the writhing jungle, if you must, but don't play with it, Kaen.
She remained silent, though, as Dariel hefted the sylvan over his shoulder. The sylvan hadn't destroyed her home.
Kaen led them to a spot where they could see the jungle. "Put her down, Dariel. Let her see what she created."
* * *
Maliar led her horse through the portal. She calmed it on the other side, offering it an apple for putting up with the nastiness of going through a portal.
Behind her, she heard the heavy clop of Aboreal's monstrous horse. The beast snorted irritably as Aboreal soothed it with words and probably a bit of snuck sugar.
Maliar almost smiled at being back in the Estaury, in her home. Almost.