Page 63 of To Kill a King
The walls between the trees were made from thin waxed paper, though they had to be much stronger than they looked. The branches interlaced into an intricate mesh forming the domed roof high above. A soft carpet of moss cushioned their steps.
Elessan stepped up to her, nudging gently with his elbow. “Stop staring.”
She glanced at him and shrugged. “Sorry.”
Their guides ushered them to a small buffet table against one of the edges of the room. The spread included many fruits Aliya was familiar with, such as strawberries, honeyberries, and some sort of rhubarb tart. There were also several colorful delicacies she’d never seen before. At the end, a pitcher of what smelled like strawberry wine and glasses waited.
Aliya’s stomach growled. Horror sped the blush to her face as the moon elves turned to face her in response. She closed her eyes. If only the ground would open and swallow her whole so she wouldn’t embarrass herself more.
After what seemed like forever, the lead elf averted his gaze. “Stay here. Please eat. We’ll inform Lady Brightleaf of your arrival, and your request. She’ll decide if you can stay.”
Aliya blinked. A mage…in charge. The elves certainly did things differently than the humans.
Once their stoic guard departed, Aliya drifted over to the food. Elessan and Zadé’s quiet footsteps followed behind. Picking up a yellow star-shaped fruit slice, she held it out to them. “What’s this?”
Elessan reached around her and grabbed a piece for himself. “Starfruit,” he said, popping it into his mouth. “Those red things are fizzleberries.”
“Don’t swallow the seeds,” Zadé added, selecting a couple of oversized strawberries for herself. “And don’t look so awestruck. It’s obvious to everyone you’ve never been to an elven village a’fore.” She nodded to the table. “Or eaten our food.”
Aliya’s gut twisted. She may have already ruined her chances, and she hadn't even met Cressida yet. Hopefully the other moon elves would explain away her behavior as being consistent with someone from a small, backwater settlement. She took a bite out of her starfruit to distract herself. Citrus tang exploded on her tongue. “Mmm. Delicious.” She grabbed two more. “So, what happens next?”
Zadé paused, halfway through a fruit pastry. “You’ll meet Cressida and make yer request. If she decides to train yeh, we’ll be taken t’ the inn. If she declines, we’ll be escorted out of Filathas lands with a warnin’ ta not return.”
That didn’t sound too bad. Zadé sent her a frown that made her opinion of their chances quite clear.
“Any hints for winning her to our side?”
“If yeh can figure out a way to tell her yer th’ human queen without lettin’ her know yer human, that’d be a start.”
“What is this nonsense about an apprentice-petitioner from Goldenwood?”
A tall woman with long gray hair swept into the room. Her regal bearing was equal to Malkov’s but lacked his menace. Her navy ankle-length gown highlighted her slim waist and blue eyes. Matching gems glittered in her tresses. She peered down her nose as her eyes traveled over Aliya from head-to-toe, skipped over Elessan, and came to rest on Zadé, who leaned against one of the tree trunks in the wall.
Cressida Brightleaf’s eyebrows drew together as she jerked her head back. “Niece.”
Zadé saluted with her flask. Her smile dissolved into a sneer. “Aunt. Been a long time.”
“I’m surprised you’d come back,” Cressida murmured.
With an irreverent grin, Zadé raised her water skin one more time, taking a lengthy drink.
The tall elf scowled before turning her piercing gaze on Aliya. “Young lady, I believe you owe me an explanation.”
Aliya swallowed as her mouth dried out. The butterflies in her stomach became acrobats. Bowing deep, she fixed her eyes on the moss-covered floor. “Lady Brightleaf, I know you haven’t agreed to an apprentice in over five hundred years, but I would ask you to make an exception and share your wisdom with me.”
“Are there not sufficient magic tutors in Goldenwood?”
“Oh, well… um…” She glanced at Elessan. Was there a master mage living there, too? This was why she hated lying…it was too hard to keep their story straight.
Cressida interrupted her. “Of course there aren’t! Not since the humans razed it to the ground ten years ago.”
Aliya’s thoughts slowed to a halt and her gut turned to lead. She opened her mouth to say something but froze. Now what?
Zadé’s whispered curse reached her ears.
“Your next words better be the truth, young lady. I don’t stand for liars.”
Aliya snapped her teeth closed and gulped. Well, here went nothing. She took a deep breath. “My father forced me to marry Malkov Cerel, and now the king wants to kill me and steal my magic. I need to learn to control it before he finds me. You’re my one shot.”