Read Online The Elven King by Lexi Johnson - Free Book Online Page B

whipcord muscle over fine bones, his hair a burnished gold, in contrast to Aranion’s moonlight silver. Both elves were pale, graceful, and possessed of a beauty that compelled full attention.
    For Sade, Meldigur’s looks held no candle to Aranion’s, but had she met Meldigur first, she would have found him attractive… at least, until he opened his mouth.
    “Ignore him,” Aranion told her. “What he was trying to say is that even a Bane Sidhe wouldn’t bind themselves in a cave of dirt and rock. Our people live in the branches of the World Trees, far above the earth. Most live their lives without ever setting a foot upon the ground.”
    “So…” Sade ventured. “Does that mean we have to climb?”
    “Hardly,” said Meldigur. “Since I’ve no need for stealth, I can simply use a homecoming spell.”
    Aranion reacted quickly. “Sade and I must speak with my father before we are seen by anyone else in the court,” he said firmly. “An interrogation would be…difficult.”
    He took his silver knife from his belt. In one quick motion, he sliced free a hunk of his pale, shining hair. “Hide us somewhere in the court,” he said. “Give this to my father. And have him come to us.”
    Meldigur said warningly, “You’ve given your word you won’t run.”
    “And I won’t,” Aranion assured him. “But this requires the greatest delicacy. Please -- as my bond-brother, will you do this for me?”
    Meldigur sighed.
    “I’ll take you both to my home,” he said. “It’s already been thoroughly searched, so you should be safe there. And I’ll do my best to persuade your father. But, as you know as well as I do, the King follows his own rules. We dance the steps of his choosing.”
    Aranion nodded, and handed the hair to Meldigur who, with a flick of his fingers, made it disappear.
    Even a few hours ago, Sade would have marveled at the trick. But now she was too tired, too confused, and too scared to care. Magic was real, then. Wouldn’t Charles be surprised?
    Sade shook her head. No, better not to think of Charles.
    “Are you ready?” Aranion asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
    “As ready as I’m going to be,” Sade said. “Let’s get this done.”
    Meldigur nodded. He walked to an open space between two trees. Holding his arm out straight, he carved a large circle in the air with his finger.
    A line of liquid light followed his movement. And, when he had completed the circle -- the center fell away. It was like looking through a clear window, into another place. Although, unlike the gate that had brought Sade here, Meldigur’s portal didn’t shimmer or move at all.
    On the other side of the window there seemed to be a common space of some kind: a floor made from a patchwork of woods, with colorful throw pillows scattered around. Beyond, a break between brightly flowering branches showed what seemed to be an endless vista of treetops. The sun shone brightly; its rays passing through the portal and struck the mossy ground with shocking brilliance.
    It was beautiful.
    Meldigur gave an ironic grin, and waved them toward the portal with an exaggerated flourish.
    Aranion stepped through first. Sade followed.
    The room smelled of flowers, and birdsong filled the air.
    Sade stood close to Aranion, and suddenly reached for his hand as what she’d assumed to be flowers started hopping about the tree branches, flexing their wings and chattering to each other.
    Meldigur stepped in behind them, and the portal closed.
    Sade looked around the elf’s home in amazement. She’d never seen anything like it before. For one thing, it was so open! She supposed that, this high up, mosquitoes wouldn’t be a problem (if they were a problem for elves at all!) But this room didn’t even have windows. What if it rained?
    The birds seemed to have open run of the place, although, at least, they kept to the branches that served as the room’s borders. Sade glanced down at the floor. It didn’t seem as if they