Heart Over Sword-Chapter 242: The Wilds

Garrett was quite the opposite of Axel, who was the same in size. One was a grump and stern; the other was a big, friendly giant like a protective older brother taking care of everybody.

Evanna fell back to walk beside Arawn, watching the others in concern. "*Do you think the Lyvarians will really help?*"

Arawn nodded once. "*They have no reason to send us away. And besides.. They will never cast away one of their own.*"

Evanna felt the prince’s stare, and she looked back at him. The white sabre did not speak aloud, so how did Arawn know she was Lyvarian?

"*Do you know the Lyvarian’s customs?*" Evanna asked, thinking back to the hand gestures she made. She didn’t know how she knew what to do. Everything just clicked in her mind. Maybe her mother taught her when she was younger?

Loraven taught her a lot growing up, claiming knowledge was power. It really was. That was why Fiza could wander the lands and probably held secrets over ruler’s heads, all the while smiling cheekily.

Evanna glanced at her prince. Arawn wanted to tell her something after the little run-in with the white sabres, and he already claimed to know she was Lyvarian. It wasn’t that much of a stretch, though, really.

Arawn nodded in response. "*There is more I wish to tell you. But when we are sheltered.*"

Evanna nodded. It was getting harder and harder to hear each other talk from the wind and snow that grew heavier. On and on, they walked, making the trail feel much longer than it appeared before the blizzard. But the weather made them grow weary quickly.

Their pace did not alter, though, until finally, they found themselves standing before tall white bricked walls, camouflaged to their surroundings, with arrows pointed at them from above. The gatekeeper pulled open a slab from the gate, revealing only his eyes.

"*Only travellers are fools to be out in the snow like this. Where have you travelled from? What brings you to the wilds?*" The gatekeeper, whose face was mostly covered by his furry hood and white mask, asked.

The wilds?

Arawn stepped forwards then, removing his mask and hood and smiled. "*Direwood Forest. Where else?*"

At the sight of the crown prince, the gatekeeper gasped and instantly shut the slab in place. The guards on the walls pulled back, and they could hear shouts to open the gates from the other side.

"What a lovely welcome," Ger muttered, making Fiza giggle, her voice musical and light-hearted to the dire situation they were in.

With a loud rumble, the gates started to pull open, revealing the town behind it. Lanterns and magical orbs were already set out to lighten the streets. The blizzard mostly seemed blocked off there, possibly because of the great walls that elongated as far as the eye could see, disappearing into the distance.

The guards behind the gates bowed at Arawn, and another taller elven man approached them; he revealed his features by pulling away his hood and mask. The man didn’t look much older than them, yet his eyes were sharp and full of intelligence beyond his youthful appearance. Elves.

With long brown hair and eyes, and sharp pointed features, he seemed friendly with a bright smile. Though Evanna still kept her guard up, there was something in her gut telling her not to trust him. She did not feel her sixth sense telling her they were in danger, but she wasn’t sure whether to completely trust that or not right now. It only told her if she wasn’t in danger, not her comrades.

"*Welcome, your highness. I am Balin. Please, let us get into the warm. Your companion is injured?*" The elven man, Balin, asked as he started leading them to what looked like a normal tavern.

After her time in Direwood and Arawn’s palace, Evanna was expecting there to be some sort of art and craftsmanship to their housing and taverns, but it all looked quite ordinary, lowering her expectations of the rest of the snow elves’ villages and towns.

"*No thanks to your mutts,*" Arawn complained. Evanna was watching the exchange much like the others, although she could understand, whereas Ger and Axel looked clueless.

They stood inside the threshold that reminded her of the Snake Pitt Inn, though it was not busy and those who were drinking and eating sat by themselves and looked to almost shine because of their sharp, angular faces and good looks, even if all they wore were casual, ranger clothes.

Balin’s eyes widened. "*You came through the cavern path?*" he asked, startled. Then blinked and started scanning the rest of the group over, his eyes finally resting on Evanna.

She noted his speech was much quicker than the Flori tongue of Muranthian. Her own accent seemed to be a mixture, something she picked up from her mother.

"*We did,*" Evanna answered, seeing as the man had yet to look away from her. She tilted her chin up slightly.

Balin stepped towards her, his interest increasing. "*What beautiful, rare eyes you have, even among our kind.*" He tilted his head to the side. "*Where did you say you were from?*"

"*She didn’t,*" Arawn interrupted, his tone laced with an icy warning. "*We need a room. If our friend dies here, I will hold you accountable for it.*"

Balin’s smile was rigid, eyes twinkling, but he bowed his head. "*Of course. Please, right this way..*"

Evanna didn’t pay attention to Balin’s orders to those working in the tavern or inn and followed behind the others, body still tense, eyes alert, scanning their surroundings. They walked up two sets of stairs.

"*You may have the entire floor. On us, of course,*" Balin explained, gesturing with his hand towards the other bedroom doors. "You will be pleased there is much space with living quarters and water closets." He switched from Muranthian so the other guys could understand him.

Fiza opened the closest door to Garrett, helping him to get Ronan through.

"Thin-era," Ger patted Balin on the arm and rushed after his injured friend. Axel nodded and followed after him, leaving the trio in the hallway.

Balin looked at his arm for a moment before looking back at Arawn and Evanna. "*Who among you are Lyvarian? I am doubtful of your commander. Which leaves..*" Balin stared at Evanna again. "You.*"

Evanna parted her lips to speak, but Arawn spoke before her. "*It is hard for Raven to speak of such things now. She was brought up Florian in Direwood.*"

Evanna didn’t so much as blink at Arawn’s lies. Why was he lying, though? freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

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