To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice by Jack Bessie Read Free Book Online Page B

alone, to see which of us might die! What I don’t want is to see our people die for nothing, overwhelmed by an endless foe!” she replied coldly.
    “Forgive me Princess, for sounding foolish! But this is quite different from what we know!”
    “I just hope the Elvin view it with as much shock and alarm as some of you do!” she sighed.
    They act like scared girls, about to be stripped and had the first time on their wedding night! she thought, this idea appealing to her sense of cynical amusement. I never considered how much we are creatures of habit, doing things as they have always been done! No wonder the Elvin can so easily stop us! Perhaps we have found a better way... she thought, a trace of a smile touching her lips. Seeing Garen, she called to him, waving for him to approach.
    “Yes Princess?” he asked, showing neither timidity nor fear. The old Eridian had long since established his devotion to Shocara, watching over her and assisting her since she was a young girl. His love for her, though never spoken, showed in his eyes, giving her a solid and dependable anchor that no one else matched.
    “Have the scouts returned?”
    “Only a bit ago...they are tired and hungry, but have much to report!”
    “Good!” she whispered, and turned away, to seek them out. She found the three weary ones sitting with food and drink, sprawled comfortably on the ground. Seeing her, they would have leaped up, except for a curt gesture.
    “Stay...what did you find?” she asked, her impatience easy to note. The three exchanged glances, before one spoke.
    “We flew long at night, and in the breaking dawn, found a place to hide and shelter in the vast forest glades. The terranaks were loath to be lead under the trees, but slowly obeyed us. We saw an occasional patrol during the day, but mostly there was little movement...at least for the first day!”
    “Were these lone riders or more?”
    “Mostly we saw two together each time,” the man sighed.
    “Wise. They are no fools, to risk a lone one to attack, and have no one to give warning!” Shocara declared.
    “True. The second day, we waited and went off, hoping to arrive at dusk. We nearly turned back, when we arrived before the light had faded enough to offer better cover! Flying out over the lake aided us, allowing the light to become weaker, so when we turned in towards the city, we were much less visible.”
    “Did you see others aloft?”
    “Several, and we saw three large groups returning from afar! Should we arrive timely, we would appear like any other of their own!”
    “Could you make out any landmarks, which might guide us?”
    “The large gathering of buildings that sits on the highest ground...that is most visible! It is at the heart of the city! There are many places near that where there are open places. We should be able to land our warriors easily on any of a dozen spots, and do much harm. Our retreat in the dark will be harder, if we have no moonlight to guide us!”
    “But the Elvin would be hard pressed to follow us...that may be quite worthy!” Shocara suggested. “We can guide by the stars, if it is clear!”
    “True,” the man suggested, hesitant. “Princess...we will face another foe, when we arrive, that is most...unexpected...”
    “And what might such be?” Shocara wondered, puzzled.
    The warrior, Atrucin, shrugged. “It will be the overwhelming sight of the city. It is staggering in its size...and as the sunlight faded, the entire place became aglow with some sorcery...there are lights everywhere! We will not be fighting in darkness, once we land!”  Shocara stood, transfixed, this possibility a new and dangerous factor she had not considered; none of her people had ever seen the Elvin city that they wished to attack.
    “Then speed will be our only hope. We would be vulnerable to attack from the sky, should the Elvin be able to mount up!”
    “Clearly, we must be able to land, attack any whom we can find, and then withdraw