Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)
Chapter Seventeen

Riley’s hand moved frantically as he pushed all his clothes into a bag. “What are you doing?” Freya asked, walking into his room in the Inn.

“Leaving, pack your things,” he told his confused sister.

“Why?” Freya asked.

“Didn’t you see? Tatianna doesn’t need us to save her. She was perfectly content on wedding the Prince,” he replied angrily.

To his surprise Freya let out a bellowing laugh that came from deep within her. “Are you serious?” Freya said shaking her head.

“This isn’t a joke,” Riley told her, not impressed by her reaction.

“You’re an idiot if you thought she was happy at that wedding,” Freya said.

“You saw her, how she behaved.” Riley grabbed his sword off the bedside bench. “Then in the throne room as well. She found a new family.”

Freya stared at him intently, it was as if she was trying to pry him of his deepest thoughts. “That’s what this is truly about. It may have taken time, but you now consider her family, a replacement for the sister you lost. Seeing her become a part of another family would be like your sister leaving you all over again. If you weren’t so wrapped up in your own emotions, you would have noticed her completely blank expression. Yes, she wasn’t crying but she sure as hell wasn’t happy about getting married or standing up next to the throne.”

“How can you be so sure?” Riley asked.

“I just know.”

“Because your judgement is always is always right,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

“No, but in this instance yes. Anyway I did not come here to listen to you being a moron and a dick. I came here to tell you the Kayter wanted to tell us something.”

Riley took a while to comprehend what his sister was saying. “You think I will trust anything the Elf says?”

“No, but it doesn’t hurt to listen,” Freya replied.

“Lies always hurt,” he responded.

“Come on, you don’t have to say anything. You can do your glaring thing that you always do.”

Riley did not offer a reply. “Exactly, like that,” Freya said, noting his silence. “Kayter’s waiting in my room.”

“In your room?” he sceptically asked. He knew they were getting closer…but they couldn’t have. The mere thought of someone violating his sister made him even less enthused to carry out this meeting. However, he followed Freya anyway to the neighbouring room.

“Hello Riley,” was the first words from Kayter’s mouth as he entered the room. He looked the elf over once again, not letting Kayter’s skinnier frame fool him into believing the Elf was not dangerous. He did not reply.

“Well, this is awkward,” Freya said breaking the silence like she always does. “Let’s skip to the part where you tell us what’s so important?”

“I can’t really say too much,” Kayter said.

Riley rolled his eyes. “Waste of time this is then.”

“Sshh and listen,” Freya commanded, he did not argue with his sister. They had already done enough of that today.

“There is a meeting tonight with myself and a few other Elves’. I want you to come and listen in. Hopefully you will trust me more after this, just know that everything that is happening is far larger than you thought.”

“Where is this meeting?” Freya asked.

“In the forest to the north where only the trees can listen.”

“How do we know you aren’t taking us to our graves?” he questioned Kayter’s motives.

“What would I have to gain out of that?”

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“Describe Tatianna to us,” Gaviour, one of the Elf’s that were standing around told them. Riley was adjusting to all the Elf’s names, there were six of them in this meeting gathered in a small clearing about a twenty minute walk from the capital. Twenty minutes where Kayter refused to say anything to them.

“What do you mean?” he asked. Describe her looks? Her personality? Her greatest fears that she kept so hidden he did not know them.

“What is she like?”

“Guarded. She doesn’t give away her motives or feelings easily, constantly looking over her shoulder. However, she can be very straight forward doesn’t like lies and tries to seek the truth. Sarcastic at times, and very determined,” Freya described. “She is strong, stronger than anyone I have ever met. Why do you need to know this?”

“Tatianna isn’t who you think she is,” Kayter replied.

“You barely know her,” Riley countered.

“I don’t need to.”

“The Elves’ are not like the humans in many ways including how our leadership is dictated. If a King or Queen is determined unworthy for the throne by the people, they are then removed, and a new leader is elected. However about thirteen years ago there was a change in ruling unlike any in Elven history. The King and Queen did not willing give up their throne, so instead they were forced. An Elf named Salina Hark lead a group of Elves’ into the palace, murdering the King and Queen in their sleep. Chaos erupted, those who fought for their King and Queen perished in a bloody battle. In the end Salina was named Queen. She rules well, fairly and makes sure that we are all protected, housed and fed. We trusted her…until recently.”

“What changed?” Freya asked.

“Your arrival,” Gaviour replied. “The Queen told us an Elf would be arriving in the kingdom from the human lands. We were to not tell her anything in case she was a spy or something worse. Anyone who encountered the new Elf was to escort them immediately to the Queen.”

“So, I did. I would have done it without question had the new Elf not said her name. Tatianna Fiducia,” Kayter continued.

“Why is that important?”

“Have you ever wondered why the Queen took her. Why the Queen married her to the Prince instead of casting her out, letting her live amongst the Elves’ or killing her for potentially being a spy?”

“No,” Riley replied.

“Her mother and father were the previous King and Queen of the Elves’. Tatianna was already a Princess before she married the Prince. A princess we thought was dead until she miraculously showed up with no recollection of who she was.”

Riley was quiet, still processing the information in his mind. He was travelling with an Elven princess the entire time. Why was she left defenceless on the streets? Surely someone would have been there to protect her.

“That makes no sense,” his sister said. “Why marry her to the prince? If the Queen hated the previous rulers so much why would she give Tatianna power?”

“The title of Queen does not give you power. You may wear a crown, but that doesn’t mean you have power over everyone else. Power comes from strength, respect, and fear. The ability to make others seem beneath you despite being equal. Tatianna would have no more power than a tree has over a fire. The Queen did it for…other reasons. Political security, is one of them.”

“What else?” Riley asked.

Gaviour offered him a small smile. “It’s late, perhaps it’s time to cancel this meeting for now?”

“Yes, I agree,” said one of the other Elves. A few others were nodding their heads.

“Come on,” said Kayter and started to walk back towards the city.

“Wait…no. What other reasons?” Riley frantically tried to get more answers.

“Perhaps another night,” Gaviour replied, then walked away. Riley reluctantly left to go back to the Inn, now more unsure of the world than ever before.

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