Page 39 of Blood of Dragons
His look remained locked on mine.
I broke contact and looked at the book he handed to me. “What’s this?”
“It’s one of our popular love stories—and it’s in your language.” He turned his back to me and moved farther down the aisle. “Let’s see what else we have.”
We returned to my tree house, and I got to work making dinner.
He didn’t excuse himself or give any indication that he wanted to leave, so I invited him to stay. Since he’d given up his time to make me more comfortable in this foreign place, I felt it was the least I could do.
He sat at the dining table and watched me cook.
They didn’t eat meat or animal products, so it took more time to throw together a meal that would be satisfying. I went from eating only meat in the wild to only eating plants in the forest. My stomach was definitely confused.
I sat with him at the table, the fireflies casting light in the room. “Why do the elves not eat meat?”
“Why do you eat meat?” he asked.
I stilled at the question and realized how strange it felt to be asked that. “Because it’s filling, I guess.”
“I think this is just as filling.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you with the question. I was only curious.”
He finished his bite before he answered. “The forest provides everything we need. All life is connected here, drawn to Riviana’s eternal power. To claim the life of another, whether it’s a small creature or large game, is to tarnish your soul. When you’re this close to Caelum, you feel things more intimately.”
“What do you mean, this close to Caelum?”
“I told you Riviana is the god of life. Her tree is the gateway to the afterlife.”
“You mean, like it’s a literal door?”
“Yes.”
“So, anyone can just walk through?”
“The tree is off-limits to us all. Our purpose is to protect that gateway from anyone who wishes to enter. There are those outside the city who have less than honorable intentions, who wish to disrupt the natural way of life.”
“The elves who live outside the forest…”
He nodded. “Dark elves.”
“Is that who you protect us from? Since no one marches on your lands?”
“Our job is to be prepared for any battle, for any foe—at all times. But yes, our attention is focused to the west, where they live in the trees.”
“Has anyone ever tried to enter the tree?”
“Yes—a long time ago.”
“And what happened?”
“None of us know—because they never returned. Perhaps the passage works in a single direction.”
“But it must not since Riviana has been seen in the forest.”
“When you’re a god, different rules apply.”
It began to make sense why the elves didn’t travel south to our lands, why they didn’t intervene in our affairs. They had something far more important to protect. “Now I understand why the elves don’t leave their forest….