Night of the Storm: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Eura Chronicles Book 2) by K.N. Lee Read Free Book Online

there did nothing to us. They soldiers will kill you for no reason other than being different.”
    “I am sorry for your loss,” Lilae whispered.
    Morrow shrugged. “No need to apologize. It was not your fault.” He picked up the pot of potatoes from the table and headed to the archway. “I’ll bring the food.”
    Lilae plopped into a chair beside Liam.
    “I wonder how many towns are occupied by soldiers,” Lilae said, picking up her cup of water. She took a long drink and felt the cool liquid travel to her empty belly.
    “I’m guessing most are. I’d be surprised if any kingdoms or cities this far south are still free from Emperor Kavien’s empire,” Delia said.
    “Holy Elahe,” Liam said. “So you think that the North is the only free land in Eura.”
    “Yes, Liam. I’m afraid so.”
    They all thought about that in silence. The armies Kavien must have gathered were more than they could ever amass.
    Morrow returned and set down a platter of goat in a dark sauce and a plate of potatoes. He set an empty plate before them all and left once more.
    Lilae didn’t wait. She dug into the goat, tearing off a chunk for herself. She bit into it and groaned with delight.
    “It’s so good.” She wiped her mouth of juice with the back of her hand.
    She was pleased when Liam put some potatoes onto her plate. She smiled at him.
    “Thank you.”
    “Anytime,” he said, returning the smile.
    They ate in silence, happy for the delicious dish before them.
    The flavors of goat were familiar. The sauce reminded her of one of the dishes in the Avia’Torenan palace. She stopped eating and looked down into her lap.
    Rahki and Faira—the harem girls that had been her friends and helped her when she was beaten by Dragnor.
    Lilae had left them behind, and that fact knotted in her stomach.
    A great commotion outside made Lilae tense. She strained to hear what was going on outside. A quick glance at Liam and Rowe, and she could tell that they were doing the same.
    Why were the people of Dunn shouting?
    A loud screech of pain made Lilae’s blood run cold.
    Morrow returned, a fresh loaf of bread on a plate.
    Liam stood. “What’s going on outside?”
    Morrow set the bread down. No one even glanced at it. The screams outside were too unsettling to think of food.
    “A Shadow Elf woman and man were found camped on the outskirts of town,” Morrow said, rubbing butter from his fingers onto his apron. “The soldiers are going to kill them.”
    Lilae shot to her feet. She had no allegiance to Shadow Elves, but she refused to let the soldiers kill innocent women.
    “Lilae,” Delia called, placing a hand on her hand. “We cannot reveal ourselves.”
    Lilae clenched her jaw, and looked at Delia. “You all can stand by if you’d like. If it were Risa and Jaiza, I’d want someone to rescue them.”
    Delia’s eyes searched Lilae’s, her face softening. She shook her head, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll not be staying until night,” she told Morrow.
    Lilae headed for the back door.
    “But,” Delia said to the old man. “You might want to stay inside.”
     

 
    THE VILLAGERS PULLED A young Shadow Elf woman and an older elven man by ropes tied around their necks and hands.
    These elves were nothing like the one’s Liam had fought back in Kyril.
    They weren’t ruthless soldiers. Just simple civilians. Their hair was shiny and black with small sticks and leaves entangled as if they’d been sleeping in hay. The last girl cried and screamed for them to stop. Liam’s heart immediately went out to them, but he was curious to hear their crime, if any.
    “Let’s us go,” the woman pleaded, her hands bound before her. “I swear we didn’t do anything. Please, we will leave your land and never return.”
    The man hushed her. He was on his knees, but his back was straight, proud, his white hair neatly kept despite the state of his clothing.
    “That’s enough, Oksana,” he said. “The humans do not