Read Online Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Elven Princess by Wesley Allison - Free Book Online Page A

may think that it would
be impossible to sleep under the circumstances, and ordinarily I
might agree with you. But as I had been awakened in the middle of
the night and cruelly marched almost an entire day, I was very
tired and very sore and the wound in my back was beginning to
sting. I suspected that without being cleaned it might gather an
infection, especially in such a place as I now found myself in,
full of noxious cave vapors.
    When I woke, there was a small bowl of mush
sitting just inside the bars. It was mildly humiliating to have to
eat like a dog, since my hands were still tied behind my back, but
I did it. I have learned on the few occasions that I have found
myself behind bars that one should keep up one’s strength if
possible. So if you are behind bars and you are given food, you
should eat it. In the jails of Theen, I was lucky when I got a
maggot-filled potato. In the prisons in Aerithraine I have eaten
curds and stale bread. Food in Lyrian prisons are a mixed bag,
depending upon which city-state you find yourself. And woe be to
him who is imprisoned in Thulla-Zor. I was once thrown in a
tomb-like cell there and had to hunt for my own food—and you don’t
want to know what it was. Imagine my surprise when I ate this bowl
of mush then to find a delicious mix of unborn grains and dried
fruits. So I ate, I sat down against the wall, and I waited to see
what would come.

Chapter Eighteen: Wherein I find out what
fate the elves intend for me.

    It was well into the morning before I was
given a clue as to what was going on. Three new elven men arrived
outside the bars of my cell. I mean that they were new because I
hadn’t seen them before, not that they were new because they were
newly born. In fact, they were fully grown though their age was
indeterminate, all looking quite youthful. One had long grey hair
while the other two sported long blond locks. It was the
grey-haired elf who spoke to me.
    “You are to be tried for the kidnapping of a
princess of the elven people,” he said.
    “This is a big mistake,” said I. “I had
nothing to do with any kidnapping. Quite the contrary. I was
helping her return to her home.”
    “All the important details will come out in
the trial,” he replied. “Our only purpose at this moment is to
introduce ourselves. I am King Jholhard and I will act as your
judge.”
    “Well, that’s a relief,” I sighed. “I know
that I will be treated fairly by Jholiera’s father.”
    “This is Iidreiion, Jholiera’s betrothed,
who will act as the prosecutor.”
    I didn’t know what to say to this fellow. I
looked into his face and didn’t see any obvious malice. Maybe he
would simply present the facts as known. I certainly hoped he was
dedicated to the truth and not to seeking out a conviction at any
cost as is so often the case in human societies.
    “And this is Iidreiior and he will act as
your defense counsel.”
    “I am very pleased to meet…” I stopped and
looked from my defense counselor to the prosecutor, back to my
defense counselor, back to the prosecutor, back to the defense
counselor, back to the prosecutor. They looked exactly the same.
They were twins.
    “Um, well when is my trial to begin?” I
asked.
    “In one hour,” replied the king. “You should
take your rest until then.”
    I was not going to rest until then. I defy
anyone to “rest until then” in a similar situation. Try this with
someone you know. Tell them “I’m going to tell you something that
will change your life in one hour. Rest until then.” See if they
rest. Or tell them “In one hour you will find out if you live or
die. Rest until then.” I will wager that they won’t rest. Or tell
them “In one hour I’m going to give you a pie. Then don’t give them
a pie.” They won’t rest. That may not be exactly the same, but they
won’t rest. Watch and see.
    “What are you doing now?” asked the
king.
    “I’m pondering the future.”
    “Such as it is,” he said, nodding