Page 42 of To Kill a King
A gnome? She’d thought they were only fairytales.
The world spun and made her head hurt, so she closed her eyes again.
Male voices reached her ears. They were arguing, but their words were muffled, like she was underwater. She furrowed her brow in concentration. Her wounds stung, the pain radiated down to each fingernail and toe.
“Spreading misinformation is one of the least violent ways we have to resist, elf. We have no obligation to report to you or ask your permission.”
“Do you have any idea how much harder you’ve made things for me the last few months,” Elessan hissed. “You’ve had me literally chasing after dead ends at every turn.”
The gnome chuckled. “Perhaps you should be better at your job, then.”
Pottery slid across a shelf and shattered on the floor, accompanied by a string of angry expletives she couldn’t understand.
She tensed. Who would’ve known there were so many Elven curse words?
Footsteps shuffled across the floor. “Peace, elf. Forgive my poorly timed joke. However, if it threw you for a loop, we can at least hope it’s having the same effect on the king.”
“Unlikely,” Elessan muttered, his voice still dark. “Malkov already knows where his supply routes are, and what provisions and troops need to go where. By starting needless rumors, and inhibiting me, you may have handed your king the war, and doomed yourselves all to death at his hands.”
Aliya peeked one eye open. That was being a bit dramatic, though in her brief acquaintance with Elessan, he didn’t seem prone to exaggeration.
The gnome spread his hands at his sides, palms facing forward. “What would you have us do? We’re scattered to the winds out of necessity. We don’t have an artificer, no way to make magical bombs…” Shaking his head, he continued, “The king was smart, he murdered our warriors and greatest minds first. And with the massacre at the College…” He sighed. “Passive resistance is the only method left to us.”
Elessan scowled. “Did you even consider reaching out to the elves? We could’ve worked together. Now, with the magic stolen from the Mage College, he may well have the power he needs to wipe out our army—the last barrier between your king and his ambitions for the rest of the world.”
Aliya blinked, wishing she could shake her head to clear the fog away so she could follow the conversation. She hadn’t considered that Malkov would have designs beyond wiping out the elves and the mages. If he conquered the elves, the dwarves…what was left? The fey wilds or the deserts across the sea? With no one left to oppose him and an endless supply of enemy mages to drain, he’d be practically immortal, and the world was doomed.
Kavol stepped into view, his arms crossed over his chest. “The enemy of my enemy and all that aside, everyone knows you elves aren’t to be trusted.”
Elessan whipped around to face him. “What?”
He grimaced. “You raid our borders, kidnapping people and stealing the food they’ll need for winter.”
“Why in the realm would we want to bring humans into our territory?” Elessan shook his head. “And we only steal food that’s intended for the army.” He glared at the gnome and crossed his arms in a mirror of Kavol’s posture. “At least, as far as I could determine. It’s not our fault the Mage Underground was spreading bad intelligence.”
The dwarf glanced at Aliya. “And yet, here you are, with the human queen at your fingertips.” He raised an eyebrow. “Have you told her yet?”
Elessan snapped something in a guttural language Aliya had never heard before.
A malicious light sparked in Kavol’s gaze as his eyes flicked to the side to meet Aliya’s. “Oh, I think it very much concerns her.”
She clenched her jaw. She’d give almost anything to know what Elessan had said, and what they were talking about. He’d likely never tell her.
“Agreed,” the gnome said. “And I’m not going to heal her until I’m convinced it’ll be to the Mage Underground’s benefit.”
“What?” Elessan’s sudden outburst rattled her ear drums, and she squeezed her eyes closed.
“For all I know, she’s just as bad as the king.”
“I swear on my mother’s life, she’s the ruler the realm needs,” Elessan growled. “She is nothing like that bag of filth on the human’s throne.” His voice trembled with suppressed emotion.
“Hmm. Perhaps, but if I heal her today, and the king gets his hands on her tomorrow, that’s just one more advantage we’re giving him.”
Aliya opened her mouth to object, but the words caught in her parched throat.
“So that’s it then? The Mage Underground is a group of cowards who are too afraid to take a risk to achieve their goals?” The acid in Elessan’s tone melted Aliya’s knees. At least she was laying down. “I didn’t realize the lot of you were so worthless.”
Kavol huffed, the beads in his beard clanked against each other as he shifted his weight.