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She frowned. “I feel distinctly juvenile, and here I thought I’d left those years behind me.”
“You aren’t juvenile, but I realize our actions toward you and your friend may reflect otherwise at times. Still—”
“Sorry to interrupt but let me guess. Once we are more accustomed to this world, that’ll change. Right?”
“It seems you know me too well.” He drifted his lips over her neck, creating a pleasurable tickle that spread throughout her body. “Now tell me more about your life. Your family, were they supportive of your endeavors?”
***
“Do you have to go?” Cal rumpled the fabric of her skirt between tense hands. She knew she was grasping at grains that would slip through her fingers, but she had to try. Though he often left on short patrols, this one would be longer. She’d dearly miss him. They’d only grown closer since Eamon’s attack on her two months ago.
Relian took her by the arm and guided her toward a settee in the sitting room connected to his bedchamber. He pulled her fingers away from the mangled material of her skirt before laying an affectionate hand against her cheek. “Yes. There are renewed attacks on some of our more remote settlements. They called for aid, so we must go to them.”
She turned to him and wound her arms around his neck. When she spoke, his shoulder muffled her voice. “I know you have to go, but my heart doesn’t seem to understand that.” She cringed at how plaintive her voice sounded. “So tell me about these darkindred people. You promised me you would.”
Relian sighed. “The darkindred started from exiles, a kind of bandit group, if you will.”
“I can hardly believe you have people like that here.”
He chuckled. “We’re not paragons of morality. We may have a greater fortitude against the vices of mankind, as we have long years to perfect this stance. Indeed, we need this, for conversely it’s our long years that would allow complete lawlessness to spread.” His voice grew progressively darker. “There would be no controlling our excesses if we didn’t take the proper means to contain them. Humans in your world can be anarchic and evil, but their time is finite and measurable. Though humans can do much damage, elves can do irreparably worse. Our laws, once you learn of them, might seem harsh and inflexible. But they are that way for good reason.”
Alarm bubbled up. She didn’t like the sinister overtone the whole conversation had taken. Though it sounded like there were scary creatures in Eria, there seemed to be even scarier laws that governed the country. The utopia she’d pictured vanished before her eyes. “Strict policing of the people reigns here?”
Even though dread clogged her throat, she tamped it down. She hadn’t seen any evidence of such tactics employed in the day-to-day life of those around her. For the most part, everyone seemed content, with no fear or disgruntlement apparent in their demeanor.
“I didn’t intend to give that impression. It’s simply not so. Our laws aren’t so cruel and unreasonable. But there are offenses that are deemed unforgivable and call for banishment or death.”
Cal joked weakly, “So no three strikes and you’re out? No second chances?”
“If you mean someone gets a chance at clemency two times before the repercussions set in for a serious crime, then no. For crimes of a lesser nature, it depends on motivation. For instance, theft will not necessarily lead to banishment. Those overseeing the trial will carefully scrutinize the circumstances. In fact, if real need existed, the perpetrator will likely face minimal punishment. However, the lord or lady who governs the thief’s town or province will face disciplinary action. Everyone in Eria is to have sufficient food and shelter. There can be no excuse if even one person doesn’t have that. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often, as only those who seek to better their people remain in positions of power.” A wolfish grin came to his lips. “My father sees to that quite effectively.”
The blood drained from her face. “He kills them?”
Relian released a bark of laughter. “No, not unless the crime truly calls for it. In these instances, being removed from a position of power is usually recompense enough for the wrongdoing. Now, murder and rape—we won’t suffer those who seek to commit such atrocities.”
“So an instant death sentence for those who are guilty of such crimes?”
Relian picked up a strand of her hair and ran his fingers over it. “For the most part, either banishment or death is the penalty.”
“Only for the most part? So those in power can pay their way out?” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. Was their society no different from hers in that respect?
“Wealth and standing bear little importance in such cases. If anything, with their position of power, they’re held to a higher level of accountability. Our leaders should be above reproach. What I meant is that extenuating circumstances do happen but rarely.”
Cal snorted, relieved. “I somehow believe extenuating circumstances are hardly allowed to exist.” That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It ensured people didn’t get off when they shouldn’t. “So those in power can’t make mistakes?”
He shook his head. “Elves aren’t perfect. Like humans, we make mistakes. We just tend to remember them longer than humans do, individually and collectively as a society. My father allows his lords and ladies much leeway in governing their settlements. All he expects in return is loyalty and good stewardship of his lands and people. As I said, everyone should have food and shelter. Work should be distributed and denied to none if they are capable of it. Everyone is to have a part in our society.”
“That seems like a nearly perfect system. Even in some places on Earth, we have such rules. On paper, they sound good, but the practical application is anything but. Especially when one takes into consideration infirmity and mental illness.”
“We don’t have many cases of either, at least not for long. We can overcome many instances of infirmity with modification, even if we can’t heal the original problem. As for mental illness, we don’t like to kill our own kind, but if insanity lurks, we’ll respond appropriately.” Apparently seeing her wince, he assured her, “Not always with death, but elves with those disorders invariably turn violent in their long lives. Mayhap that isn’t so with humans and their short lives. Nevertheless, our system, as a whole, works well for us.”
Not wanting to think on such somber matters, Cal turned so she straddled him. She threaded her hands through his hair, stopping to trace the outline of his ears.
He groaned. “Stop that, or I won’t be able to talk.”
“You like this, do you?”
“I like it so much we won’t finish this conversation if you keep doing it.”
