Reunification by Timothy L. Cerepaka Read Free Book Online

could not understand
why the Xeeonites would even design such a thing after a snake;
then again, there were few things about the Xeeonites I did
understand, so perhaps it wasn't as puzzling a mystery as it first
seemed.
    Nonetheless, I pointed a finger sharply at
the woman and said, “Then tell me your name, woman. I have never
laid eyes on ye in my life; nay, not even once.”
    “ My name is Lanresia,”
said the speaking snake (though I perhaps should have thought it as
Lanresia, but to me the snake and the elf were still different
entities). “It's an old elvish word that means 'kind one,' if you
didn't know.”
    “ Lanresia?” I repeated.
I scratched my chin. “I seem to recall knowing another elf with
that name once, a fellow Knight of mine in the Order. Though
perhaps not; I sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between
you elves.”
    Though the speaking snake's expression did
not change, I noticed a shadow of annoyance cross the elf's face,
as though she was offended by mine words. Though I cared not; after
all, I did not know whether she be friend or foe, so why should I
care if I offended her or not?
    “ Yes …” said the elf,
though I could tell based on the way her ears twitched that she was
trying not to be highly offended by my words. “It's a common name,
but it is my only connection to my home, so I wear it with pride
just the same.”
    “ Ah ha,” I said,
stroking my chin in satisfaction. “I knew it. Ye are not a
native-born Delanian elf at all; rather, ye are one of the Xeeonite
elves. Tell me, did ye move here or were ye born here?”
    “ How I got here doesn't
matter,” said Lanresia, shaking her head. “Nor is it any of your
business. All you need to know is that Xeeo is my home. I will tell
you only what you need to know when you need to know
it.”
    Though the speaking snake's mechanical
voice seemed incapable of changing its tone, I could tell easily
that Lanresia was quite offended by my questions. 'Twas not
something I understood, though in truth, I barely understood elves
as it was, even the ones I worked alongside with in the Order. They
were a strange people, the elves, with their focus on the more
mystical aspects of skyras magic and their odd dances.
    Still, I conceded that the question was an
irrelevant and trivial one, which could be answered at a later
point if necessary. I had more urgent questions, then, that I knew
she would have to answer, unless she was trying to keep me in the
dark, though why she would, I did not know.
    Thus, I spake, “Very well, then, she-elf.
But I have other questions to ask, such as, where am I? How did I
get here? And how do I know I can trust ye? Among countless others,
of course.”
    Whilst I said that, I kept a careful eye
on the she-elf. I could not be certain if or when she was lying to
me, but having worked alongside several other elvish Knights for
some time, I had learned to understand some of the physical clues
elves displayed whenever they lied. A lying elf usually shuffled
their feet unnecessarily and sometimes twitched their ears as
well.
    This she-elf, however, displayed none of
the usual signs of a lying elf. That may have meant she was not
going to lie to me, though I kept mine guard up anyway, for I was
unarmed and in an unknown location. Indeed, for all I knew, she was
going to kill me in cold blood and dispose of my body where no one
would ever find it, despite not seeming that psychotic.
    “ Where are you?”
Lanresia repeated. She gestured at the room. “You are in a secret
place near Xeeon. I can't disclose its exact location to you just
yet, but rest assured that you are safe here.”
    “ I care not for mine own
safety, she-elf, if that is what ye believe my main concern to be,”
I replied. “I want to find mine sister, Kiriah, not hide
underground like a rat.”
    “ You don't want to find
your sister,” said Lanresia. “Trust me. It's better that the two of
you stay apart.”
    “ Stop speaking in
riddles,” I