Page 59 of Crown of Flame
“That was fun, but it’s over for you now.”
With one hand on the hilt of my sword, I spin around, staring them down. They laugh at me, but I remain undeterred. I grab a lit sconce beside me and unsheathe the sword.
“Very well,” says the leader. “You’ve chosen a humiliating death for yourself. Quite admirable, really.”
“Come on already!” I yell.
The truth is that I’m terrified. But I won’t let fear take me down without a fight.
21
CINIS
The portal’s bright pathways are blindingly shimmering as I travel through them, thinking of the events that have led me down this path.
I’ve lived a countless age of existence before I ran into Serena. Life was nothing more than survival, fleeting moments with nothing for me to grasp onto.
Now I find myself back on the path toward her. The truth is that she’s changed everything for me. One can’t taste life with her and reject it to go back to nothingness.
Without her, there is no future for me. I must have her. I’ve already forgotten what it’s like to exist without her company. I crave a lifetime with her, but I must focus and get her back if that is to happen.
“I’m coming for you, Serena.”
I step through the shimmering threshold, finding myself deep underground. The sounds of monsters cry out in dark tunnels, taunting me.
But they are no match for my power. And they’re certainly not wearing power-nullifying armor.
I pry myself free from the earth’s depths, crossing tunnels and subterranean bridges - passing strange fungi and creatures that float along the cavern ceiling.
When at last I find myself on the surface, I realize immediately that I’m not alone.
Hissing voices of a grating, nasally tone ring out from somewhere in the distance. Dark elves.
The camp is no more than a few tents, but I wonder why they’ve settled here of all places? A look around reveals nothing of interest to the immediate eye. Just mountains and jagged cliffs as far as my eyes can see.
It’s possible though that they’re hidden on purpose. From what I’ve heard thus far, these elves are expert conquerors, I’m sure they’re intelligent to have terrorized so many lands.
Perhaps listening to them will reveal something. I spot a group of them huddled around a shoddy fire. Chucked to the ground behind them is the corpse of an animal. How undignified.
“I’m freezing my ass off,” one of the dark elves says. “What can a guy do to get a little warmth around here?”
“If you’re that cold, just use your magic,” another replies.
“You know that’s not a long-term solution!”
One of the dark elves massages his forehead.
“Just think of the bigger picture, Grale. Soon, we’ll be living in luxury in heated cabins, with those humans attending to our every need.”
He smiles wickedly.
“And I do mean every need.”
Unsatisfied with the answer, the first dark elf holds up his arm, and a small flame forms just above his palm.
“Just seems like we’re stalling for time,” Grale says. “I say we take the human camps now. We’ve got more than enough power at our disposal.”
“You know Aldris has a plan,” another replies. “Ultimately before we act, we wait for Aldris. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it will continue to be.”