AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Outside of a city's wards, near the mountains, I could hear the elves in the sky, dancing on the wind. Longing and fear, equally sharp, stabbed through me.
I tucked my chin on my knees, sweaty and hungry. Men made the yearnings easier to cope with, but I had no one here, no way to be distracted by touch and movement. My blood and my magic made the dream of joining the elves too possible. Sex made me fly a different way.
Damn Silver for barring me from that. Damn me for not being satisfied simply by using inanimate toys.
I got up and folded the blanket. There’d be no more sleep for me, so I sat in the doorway with the sentry. The lightning danced from cloud to cloud, at this height I could feel the occasional puff of cool air from the storm.
The first pale light of dawn colored the sky as I unmoored my borrowed boat. in. The silver-green splash of water and a chorus of waking birds accompanied me as I headed for the city.
It took longer, since each time the bigger swell of a fish nudged the boat I pulled a knife. It was difficult to manage the pole as well, and I needed it to move.
I didn’t ask one of the swampers to pole me. The guards stationed on the outskirts of the area hassled swampers. They couldn’t pass within a mile of the pristine lawns and hills if they didn’t have a pass from a touring company. Local color, then.
I folded my hands as the little Warden grav skimmed by, nearly overturning the boat. There was one brief moment when I imagined myself in the freezing water with the hungry fish, before the grav passed. It left me drenched and covered in water, weeds, and muck, but I swallowed my temper. It was better than actually being tossed in. Besides, I’d expected this and made plans based on them being asses.
“Display your pass.” The words crackled with volume, intended to display authority. I swiped a hand across my brow.
“Indentured. Hall business.”
Light played over my face, a tech confirming the gem was real.
“Check in at the gate, Indentured Quinn.”
The guards at the gate, after a whiff and reconfirmation of my identity, sent me to the cleaning facility.
The hot water shower beating on my swampy hair and muddy skin rinsed out tension, too. I left my clothing at the washing facility and borrowed guard issue off-duty sweats. I didn’t want to take the time for them to be cleaned, and I doubted there’d be much danger in the city during the day.
Smoothly polished families heading to the docks for tours stared at me, and I waved back at them. Too many people. A mass of conflicting emotions hammered at me. This wasn’t normal. Why the hell was my anxiety shooting through the roof? What was wrong with me?
Breathe.
I leaned against the outer wall as I awaited clearance to enter the resort area of the city. I watched the shadows of leaves playing tag. An excited child ran by, nanny in close pursuit.
There was something familiar here… I tried to grasp it, but it fluttered away, running through my mental fingers. It was just so much, all at once. My temples throbbed as my teeth clenched in frustration.
Why was this place so familiar? The scent of hyacinths in the spring called to my memories. Who was it? Who was near me that seemed so familiar? I risked closing my eyes to focus on it.
A grip like stone clamped my arms to my sides as a mask slapped across my face. I held my breath, writhing and kicking. Whoever had me, wore good quality body armor and took the hits without flinching. I assumed it was a ‘he’, since my searching fingers met a cup.
Stars exploded in my eyes. The people surrounding us ignored us.
Starving for breath, I sucked in the sweet-scented air, and the world went away.
