Rhoda padded softly through the mansion so as not to disturb those who were still sleeping. She nodded to the sentries at the rear door of the mansion, as she did every morning, and pranced out into the darkness. She raced down to the waterfront and ran along the wooden boulevard until it ended. As she leaped onto the sandy beach, she felt the soft sand flow over her toes. She squealed softly with joy as she ran along the beach, away from the mansion. When she reached her favorite cove, she halted and spun in a circle, letting her arms fly out from her sides.
She inhaled deeply again and closed her eyes. The breeze was almost nonexistent in the cove and a frown fell over her face. As an air mage, she loved the feel of the wind. She stared upward and could not see the stars. The smell of fog was strong, and she looked down and gazed upon the sea. She could just make out some wisps of fog just offshore. She sighed with resignation and began to take off her robe for her morning dip.
A foreign sound echoed softly through the fog, and Rhoda froze. She tilted her head as if to hear better, but the sound was already gone. She remained unmoving for several long moments, hoping to hear it again.
Suddenly, she heard the air ripping apart to her right. She whirled to face the noise, her mouth opening to scream, but it was too late. The freeze ball slammed into the air mage, instantly halting any movement. Her open eyes stared through the ice as she watched helplessly. Several men dressed in dark colors ran towards her. She could barely make out the shapes moving in the darkness, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Four men seized her frozen frame and lifted it off the beach. They carried her swiftly along the beach to a waiting boat. She saw two other men already in the boat as her capturers lowered her to the floor. The sounds that filtered through the ice were grossly distorted. The men spoke briefly, but she could not understand what they were saying. What she did understand was that her life was about to change, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
* * *
“Great shot!” congratulated Huckel. “Both of you are excellent archers.”
“It was a fair shot,” grumbled Caldal as he held the bow away from himself and stared at it. “If you humans had a decent bow, I would show you what an elf could do.”
“If you can tell me how to make a better bow,” offered the Khadoran trainer, “I would have on made for you.”
“These bows will do,” replied Caldal with a shake of his head.
“Aye,” nodded Huckel, “you do well with them. Anyway, it is time for you to head up to the Emperor’s office. “Come back when you have time. I would like to learn how you shoot so well.”
Caldal did not reply as he turned and strode off. Eltor ran to catch up to him.
“Why were you so cold to Huckel?” asked Eltor. “He was kind enough to you.”
“He just wants to learn our elven secrets,” scowled Caldal. “I will tell these humans nothing.”
“Your mind creates enemies where none exist,” scolded Eltor. “These humans do not hate us, and Huckel was just genuinely interested. He was not trying to pry secrets out of you when he offered to make you a bow. He was trying to please you.”
“And what about learning our secrets of accuracy?” retorted Caldal. “You heard him say that he wants to learn how we do it.”
“Of course he does,” Eltor shook his head in frustration. “If you saw someone doing something better than you, wouldn’t you want to learn how it was done? Huckel trains soldiers from all over Khadora. If he can learn better ways of doing something, he is eager to do so. I admire him for that. He really cares about teaching his men the best that he can. Your rudeness to him was insulting.”
“Insulting?” balked Caldal as he halted outside the rear door to the Imperial Palace. “How did I insult him?”
“You insulted me,” Eltor corrected. “After your performance towards him, I am ashamed to be known as an elf. I can only imagine what that man thinks of us now. I suppose he will see all elves as being rude, arrogant, and egotistical.”
“What does it matter what he thinks?” shrugged Caldal. “It is against the law to interact with humans. We are not supposed to be here, and he will never be allowed into Elvangar. Who cares what a human thinks of us?”
“I care,” admitted Eltor. “I know the hatred that was shown to us by the humans of Motanga, but we have seen none of that here in Khadora. In fact, just the opposite is true. Emperor Marak has opened up his palace to us. Our every request is instantly fulfilled. He has given us fine animal-skin clothes and weapons to call our own. Even though you attacked him when we first met, he lets us go armed and unescorted. That is not the mindset of an enemy.”
“But the law…” Caldal began.
“I know the law,” Eltor shouted. “The law also said that we were forbidden to pass the Barrier Islands,” he added more calmly, “but we did so knowingly. Do not hold up the law to me when you willingly break the portions that you want to. We will already face punishment when we return to Elvangar. I will not mistreat these humans for fear of the punishment that I will receive. In fact, I want to learn what I can from them. This is a golden opportunity, Caldal. No one in our lifetime has interacted with these humans. Their entire understanding of elves will be based upon what you and I do here. Do you really wish to create more enemies for our people?”
“But they are humans,” frowned Caldal. “There will never be any relations between them and our people.”
“You may be right,” conceded Eltor, “but you may also be wrong. Elves and humans did live together at one time. Who is to say that it can never happen again?”
“Queen Alycia will not allow it,” Caldal said firmly.
“Do you know her mind so well?” asked Eltor. “What if Emperor Marak is right about an invasion from Motanga? What if Queen Alycia agrees with Emperor Marak? What if she changes the law?”
“I cannot imagine that happening,” Caldal shook his head. “It is just not imaginable.”
“And what if she does want it to be,” posed Eltor, “and we have already poisoned the relationship with the way we treated these humans? Is your stubborn pride worth alienating all humans? Will it burden you so to act cordial to these humans during our stay here?”
“I suppose I could be nicer,” conceded Caldal, “but you ask too much. I cannot feign friendship where none exists.”
“Not even for MistyTrail?” smiled Eltor. “She may be an elf, but she is a product of this land. She has grown up in the land of humans. Are you willing to accept her scorn for the way you treat her friends?”
“Why would she care?” questioned Caldal. “Once she sees Elvangar, she will never return here.”
“I cannot see the future,” declared Eltor, “but I can see the hurt in her face when you are rude to the humans. You must have noticed it.”
“She has been more distant since we arrived here,” admitted Caldal, “but I figured that she chose her human friends over us.”
“It is we who have been more distant,” corrected Eltor. “Ever since we set foot on the human’s ship, we have withdrawn from her and Mistake. I can see it now as I look back on our behavior. I wish I had been able to see it then.”
“You almost sound like you are growing close to these humans,” frowned Caldal. “Next you will be telling them the secrets of Elvangar.”
“No,” Eltor shook his head. “I will never reveal anything that will endanger our people, but I am growing fond of the humans. Think about how we have been treated and then imagine that these people are a lost tribe of elves. How would you feel towards them?”
Caldal thought silently for a moment before answering. “I would feel differently,” he conceded, “but they are not elves.”
“No, they aren’t,” agreed Eltor, “but they have treated us more than fairly. All I ask is that you try to be diplomatic in our relations with these people. You do not have to like them, but try not to hate them. Can you do that?”