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“About forty thousand years.”
Surprised, my feet mess up on the steps. “Forty thousand?”
“That’s right. Although Number Two suggested fifty thousand, I didn’t want to follow his instructions exactly in case he decides to follow us.” When he sees my jaw opening and closing like a fish out of water, he reassures, “Don’t worry. I don’t think he’ll find us.”
“I’m not worried about that. The time travel… we went back too far. People are cavemen right now.”
“Valora time is very different from Earth time,” Ellister informs me, shaking his head. “A year here is merely one day on Earth, so we’re not as far back as it would seem. Civilization is very much intact. Architecture is advanced. Agriculture is booming. Our lack of technology is a choice. It’s not that we can’t manage it—we just don’t want to because there are creatures in this world that wouldn’t be able to survive certain fumes or electronic frequencies.”
“What kind of creatures?”
“Sprites. Little things that look like miniature people. They fly very fast, and a sighting is rare. Then there are trolls and gnomes. All lesser beings, of course,” he states matter-of-factly.
“Whoa. Discriminate much?”
“What?” Ellister’s totally clueless.
“Lesser beings?” I ask pointedly.
“We sacrifice for them so they can keep living. We could have moving pictures and telephones, but we don’t so they can survive.”
“And your motive is purely selfless? They contribute nothing to this world?”
Ellister blinks as I poke holes in his defense. “Well. Not entirely. Some of them have magical abilities. And the sprites can carry messages across entire realms within hours.”
“What kind of person was Astrid?”
“Troll.”
“She didn’t seem lesser to me—just different. In fact, I’d say she’s probably superior in many ways.”
Perplexed, Ellister frowns. “I suppose. After all, she did what I couldn’t—got your heart and mind in tune with mine.”
“See? If she hadn’t helped, I’d still be terrified of you. Her power might be different from yours, but that doesn’t make you better.”
“You’re passionate about this,” Ellister observes with a hint of surprise.
“It’s not the first time I’ve had to defend someone for being different.”
“Cody?”
“Yeah. Some people underestimate him because of his uniqueness, and they write him off when they automatically assume he isn’t as valuable as the average person. But the truth is, he’s extraordinary.”
Seeing my point, Ellister inclines his head and concedes, “You’re right, darling. My way of thinking is outdated. The fae tend to be conceited and overconfident. It’s just engrained in us, and it’s even worse with the dark fae. Vaeront’s group is filled with the worst offenders because when you believe you’re above others, you start to think you’re above the law. Above reason and morality. And when you live that way, no action is off-limits, no matter how despicable it may be.”
I can sense his shame. It comes off him in heavy waves as he admits the truth.
“You’re not a dark fae anymore,” I remind him. “Not inthistime. Not with me.”
Emotion shimmers in his light eyes, and he gives my hand an affectionate squeeze. “You’ve saved me, Hannah Wildwood. In so many ways. Before I met you, I was lost, ancient, and ready to die at a moment’s notice. Now, I’m renewed. My life has just begun, and it’s all because of you.”
“Want to know how you could repay me?”
He looks intrigued. “Anything.”
“Indoor plumbing,” I quip.
He laughs, then gives me an apologetic half-smile. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to the chamber pot.”
