The Warrior Elf by Mackenzie Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

Everyone’s fine, but we need to talk. Now.”
    Rhianna’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
    “I got a message from the Council of Elders,” Hayden added.
    Rhianna’s eyebrows arched even higher.
    Glendymere gave Hayden a nod. “Why don’t you talk in Rainbow Valley? Sari and Taelor have finished for the day. You won’t be disturbed. ”
    Fifteen minutes later, Hayden, Rhianna, and Xantha were at the cave entrance in Rainbow Valley.
    “Is this all right?” Rhianna asked. “Or would you rather go inside?”
    “Here’s fine.” Hayden handed Rhianna the note.
    After she read it, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I had no idea.”
    “What happened?”
    “It was supposed to be so simple,” Rhianna began. “Just a quick trip to Milhaven and back.”
    “Why in the world did you let her go to Milhaven? You know Rolan’s searching for her!”
    “We were only there for one day. We thought we could get in and out before anyone noticed.”
    “And how did that work out?!”
    Rhianna felt her face flush.
    “Whose idea was it to go to Milhaven anyway?”
    “Actually, mine,” Rhianna said slowly.
    “Why?”
    “Landis has never lived around humans and she had no idea what human magic could do. I thought it might help her decide whether or not she wants to become a sorcerer if she could see what one does. The plan was for her to follow one of Myron’s sorcerers around for the day and observe. Simple as that.”
    “But why did you go?”
    “I went in case she needed me, and to be honest, I wanted to see what human sorcerers did, too.”
    “But if only Landis had been seen, no one would have connected her with us and we wouldn’t have Rolan’s men crawling all over North Amden making nuisances of themselves!”
    “I didn’t think about being seen,” Rhianna admitted.
    Hayden shook his head. “Did you throw a knife at that man?”
    Rhianna hesitated. “Yes, but he wasn’t an innocent bystander. He shot Marcus, the sorcerer, and I was afraid if I didn’t do something he’d shoot Landis, too. Even so, I didn’t throw the knife until he was taking aim.”
    “Did you kill him?”
    Rhianna shook her head. “I hit him in the shoulder. He did fall and break his leg when my knife hit, but we were in the backyard of a chapel. They took care of him right away. He would have been fine if someone hadn’t murdered him in his jail cell that night.”
    Hayden frowned. “Murdered him? In a jail cell? In Milhaven?”
    Rhianna nodded.
    “Bet General Crandal wasn’t too pleased about that.”
    “No, from what Myron said, he certainly wasn’t.” Then Rhianna frowned. “You know General Crandal?”
    “I’ve known him for years, through Badec. He’s a good man.”
    “Oh,” Rhianna said quietly. “I keep forgetting you knew Myron’s father.”
    “And his grandfather.” Hayden sighed. “I didn’t want you mixed up in this to start with. If you’d listened to me and stayed in Crinsor Run, none of this would have happened.”
    “You were afraid I’d get hurt, but I haven’t. I defended myself and Landis. I think it was a good thing I was there.”
    “If you’d stayed home where you belong she never would have been in Milhaven, the man wouldn’t have shot the sorcerer, and there wouldn’t have been any reason for you defend anyone!”
    The look Rhianna gave her father could have melted lead.
    “Now we’ve got one big mess on our hands and Crinsor Run isn’t safe for Landis or Taelor anymore.” Hayden paused and took a couple of deep breaths. “I’ll grant you that you didn’t cause all this trouble on purpose, but it’s still your doing, so it’s up to you to clean it up.”
    “But I don’t know how to do that,” Rhianna said as her face paled.
    “Talk to Myron. It’s his fault, too. He should have known better than take either of you to Milhaven, but especially you. Everyone who saw you knew you were an elf, and where do elves live? North Amden! You gave Rolan a target, Rhianna. If this