The Elf King by Sean McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

smirked. “My Elven
senses are not as sharp as yours, Qenn. If I were
you...”
    He stopped abruptly, his
face quickly changing as he looked past Qenn, down the trail they
had followed. His right hand rested on the pommel of his sword, his
expression turning angry. Moving off the trail, he motioned for
Qenn to follow.
    Qenn listened intently. His
vision was highly keen without light, but his hearing was even
more-so. Minutes passed but he heard nothing. He looked to Tane
with a shrug. As he slowly began to rise, Tane grabbed his arm and
yanked him down, pointing into the darkness.
    “ Sh. It’s coming up the
trail.” Tane’s words were hushed, filled with fear as he began
breathing faster.
    Qenn saw it then, something
huge coming down the trail, materializing out of the darkness. He
began to tremble. Takers , he thought. They found them.
He crouched down even lower, seeking to hide from the madness
coming towards them.
    Tane noticed Qenn’s
condition and gently placed a hand upon his brother’s arm, watching
him jump in response. “Don’t be scared,” he whispered. “Wait for my
lead.”
    Qenn nodded. Together they
sat unnoticed in the darkness watching the object approach. They
could hear each others breathing; they could almost feel the
other’s anticipation. The woods went silent. The night seemed to
hide within its own shadow.
    Within a few minutes, the
object took shape: it was a wagon-carriage with one horse and two
riders. Muffled voices spoke, but the conversation was unclear.
Almost instantly though, it was ruled out that Takers were coming. Qenn felt his
nerves settle.
    The creaking of the wooden
wheels closed in on them and then the wagon was right in front
passing along without hesitation. They could see sleek puffs of
steam shoot out of the black horse’s nostrils, could make out the
rugged clothing that the two men wore, and hear the chains in the
carriage shift and slide with each bump. Seconds later, it was
gone, disappearing again in the night.
    Tane watched it until he
could no longer see it, then looked back down the trail to see if
anything followed. Once he was satisfied that they were alone, he
stood to his feet and sheathed his sword. Qenn followed, feeling
his heart return to normal rhythm.
    “ We could’ve hitched a
ride,” Qenn sighed. “Maybe a bite to eat as well.”
    Tane shook his head. “Too
dangerous. This isn’t Meadow, Qenn. We have to watch our backs and
trust our instincts. And mine was telling me that those two were
bad news.”
    Qenn slipped his dagger
back beneath his traveling cloak. His brother was right, but the
thought of walking all the way to Skadar Port if they didn’t have
to bothered him. “You’re right. Let’s keep moving.”
    As they began to depart,
walking side by side, peering back every so often, Qenn whispered
to his brother. “Tane, I didn’t mean anything by it. I mean your
Elven senses. I consider you a part of Elven heritage as well as
anyone.”
    “ Qenn, it’s okay. I didn’t
take offense. You’re my brother and I love you, even if you are a
full blooded elf.” Tane smiled, pushed his brother playfully.
“Sometimes I wish I was either one or the other.”
    “ You don’t mean that,” Qenn
groaned. “You have a uniqueness, Tane.”
    “ I know. I just wish I had
answers that I’ll never have.”
    Qenn patted Tane’s broad
shoulders. “The answers are within you, brother.”
    Tane smiled. “You’re a good
brother. And a strong elf.”
    Qenn smiled in spite of
himself. “I am terrified in ways that I don’t think you ever will
be.”
    “ We’re in this together.
Remember that. You won’t be alone, Qenn.”
    They stared at each other
for a few seconds, understanding in their eyes that they would not
fail the other, that they would not let the other die
alone.
    Tane patted Qenn gently on
the back before leading the way. Qenn stayed like a shadow at his
side.
    They walked for the
remainder of the night without so much a sigh to