Dear Rival by Robin White Read Free Book Online

Dear Rival
    "Come on, Valtiel, he's not that bad. We could at least try to talk with him."
    "I have told you a thousand times already:  I won't. He's no better than a human." Valtiel huffed in annoyance while Etoille wheedled at him. He wasn't sure why they continued to discuss this matter, and he was tired of the conversation.
    "I doubt he is a human, Valtiel. Have you ever noticed his smell?"
    "Of course not. Why would I?"
    "If you had bothered, you would know he smells entirely different from a mere human."
    "Oh really?" Valtiel asked flatly, irritation clear in his voice—he was simply annoyed that Etoille insisted on wasting his time, surely. "And how does he smell?"
    Etoille snickered and shook his head, icy blue eyes sparkling mischievously as he pointedly looked towards the human in question, Kero. Valtiel took a deep breath, briefly allowing Etoille to see his annoyance, before glancing at Kero as well.
    Kero's eyes were closed and he held himself up with a single hand, perfectly balanced with his legs spread out slightly and his other hand held behind his back and yet, despite the heat, he wasn't sweating. Valtiel was unsettled to realize he had allowed his eyes to stray over Kero's body, taking in the defined muscles straining under the thin shirt he wore. Eventually, Valtiel had to silently concede that Etoille was right:  Kero wasn't human, even if he looked like one.
    When thinking about Dragon Knights, he usually imagined bull-like men with little more intelligence than an ox. Appearances deceived, as he knew by now. Instead of trading intelligence for muscles, the Dragon Knights had trained both, becoming the most dangerous sort of 'humans' known to the elves. And once he had gotten to know these unusual men, Valtiel's initial impressions about them had been shattered.
    Valtiel was aware that Dragon Knights were stronger than the average man, who weren't marked by the years they had seen. Only after having lived for several centuries would they eventually bow beneath the burden of time. With the fire of the dragons inside of them, they survived several centuries—if a fight didn't claim their lives first. At a glance, there seemed to be be very little to differ them from mere humans, but whenever he was close to them, Valtiel could see the almost enourmous differences. Kero was merely the best example of the average Dragon Knight.
    Kero's features weren't the rough, unrefined ones of a human, but something much softer, almost like an elf's. The deep bronze tone of his skin appeared to be natural, rather than a tan, as it never seemed to change beneath long hours in the sun. His long, snow white hair was common among the Dragon Knights, and his body didn't reveal exactly how strong Kero was. Valtiel had observed him enough that, in retrospect, he could see everything Kero did suggested he was far from plainly human.
    In Valtiel's eyes, humans were nothing more than animals, with their direct behavior and ugly faces. They destroyed everything in the course of time, began senseless wars, and thought of themselves as the rulers of the world, even when there were more powerful nations constantly threatening them. Valtiel never had understood their willful blindness, but that wasn't his concern just then.
    Kero had noticed them but hadn't said anything. Instead, an almost wicked smirk had come to his face, unfaltering even as he shifted from one arm to the other. Etoille gave Valtiel a meaningful look, his amusement clearly visible. There would be no escaping his friend's interference, that much was clear. Releasing a deep, measured breath, Valtiel followed Etoille.
    The surroundings of the fortress were dominated by soft hills, giving the illusion of a little paradise on Earth. The mountain ranges along the horizon reminded him of the cold harbored behind them and of the harsh winters yet to come for them. A river flowed by in the distance, the soft rush of water not quite reaching their ears. Short grass