15. Secrets And Lies #2
“So whoever it is scares you,” Finley narrowed his eyes as he guessed.
Rhalyf’s arms tightened around himself.
“You’re very powerful.” Finley cocked his head to the side. “Who would scare–”
“Don’t follow that train of thought, Finley,” Rhalyf warned. “Let us hope I am wrong. But the fact that they not only knew what I would do but set a trap that I did not sense until it was sprung…”
“Is it V–”
“DON’T!” Rhalyf’s voice rose up like thunder. “Don’t say his name. Not here .” Rhalyf dropped down to his haunches opposite Finley and grasped his shoulders. The bloody leaves were between them. “If it is him then we are all dead . Do you understand?”
Finley’s eyes flickered over Rhalyf’s face. “I see that you believe this.”
“Because it is true.”
Was it true that if Vex was here that he would kill them all? He’d killed Seith and Leisha? But why? They had tried to attack Declan, but… but did that have anything to do with it?
“But why would he be here? Is it because of you?” Finley pressed.
Rhalyf’s statements about Vex–the familiarity of them–told him now that the Night Elf was not just some common Kindreth, but likely royalty . Rhalyf released his shoulders and scrubbed his face with both hands for long moments.
“No, I don’t think so. I’m not… Well, I am important in some ways, but not in others… Unless he thinks I was a main conspirator, but that’s insane! He won’t have found any evidence of that,” Rhalyf muttered. “So would he really chase me all the way here because of–of rumors? I don’t see why.”
“Conspirator? Did you go up against V– him ?” Finley’s eyes were huge.
Rhalyf had just confirmed that Vex was alive. Of course, the dread Night King still lived! But there was the thrill of knowing he was alive. Really alive. Somewhere. Maybe here. Could he be here? Finley’s eyes went to the forest, but he saw nothing but trees, dappled sunlight and nothing else.
“No!” Rhalyf looked horrified and his eyes flickered around the clearing. “ No . I had nothing to do with… with anything. I ran because I realized I would be suspected. And once you’re suspected, it’s all over. There are no trials. There aren’t even any questions! It’s just done .”
“I see. So someone went up against him and people suspected you were part of it?” Finley nibbled his lower lip. “And you fled here to escape him, yes?”
“That about sums it up.” Rhalyf nodded.
“Who are you to him?” Finley asked.
Rhalyf sighed. “His nephew. My mother is– was –his sister. I’m sure she’s dead, too, if she didn’t get away. I learned about the plot at the last moment by pure luck. I fled. Leaving everything behind but the clothes on my back.”
“He’s your uncle?!” Finley blinked rapidly. “So you really do know everything–”
“Finley, I normally love your fan-boying over the Kindreth. It’s quite refreshing. But not about him . Not right now,” Rhalyf sighed. He scrubbed his face again. “I have to restore my looks before we get out here. And we should get out of here as fast as possible. This place makes my skin itch.”
“Oh,” Finley couldn’t help the note of disappointment in his voice. “Of course, you have to hide yourself. Can’t let anyone else see you like this. But…”
He stared long and hard at Rhalyf, wanting to memorize his real looks.
That had Rhalyf blinking again, but then giving him a rakish smile. “Now, now, I am just as beautiful with my glamour on.”
“No, you’re not,” Finley hadn’t meant it to come out that harshly. That really had Rhalyf confused. “I mean you’re handsome. Of course, you are. No one would deny that. But your–your natural looks are better .”
A soft smile crossed the Kindreth’s face. “Well, you really are a poet, Finley. Thank you. But I’m afraid that only you will think that of me.”
They both stood up. Finley watched him carefully. He wanted to see exactly how the glamour was done. But Rhalyf turned and started heading deeper into the woods.
“Where are you going?” Finley hopped after him.
“Getting away from this spot. I am uncertain if any more little surprises were left that would be triggered by my magic. And I need some privacy,” Rhalyf explained with a pointed look at the last. Finley’s disappointment must have been written large on his face.
“Will that be your payment then? Watching me perform spells? You know you could ask most anything and I would have to give it to keep my secret.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Finley answered steadily.
“I… I appreciate that,” Rhalyf frowned. “You know that this puts me completely in your debt.”
“And that makes you uncomfortable?” Finley lifted an eyebrow.
“Well, no… and yes. I admit that when I imagined–when I allowed myself to be terrified by imagining–that I would be found out, I never thought I would get the reaction you’re giving me,” Rhalyf told him. His red eyes glowed softly. “One of wonder and…
“Friendship,” Finley finished.
“Yes. Friendship. You hardly even seem surprised! Which is interesting and a little worrying if I’m honest.” Rhalyf frowned.
“You were a little free when you spoke of the Kindreth. Too knowledgeable.”
“Yes, but I could just be a scholar like you!” Rhalyf protested.
“True, but you spoke with personal knowledge. Though I admit that I didn’t really put two and two together until I saw the evidence.” Finley gestured to his eyes and hair.
Rhalyf nodded. “Fair enough. I’m just grateful, I suppose, is the right word.”
“You’re the first elf who has ever looked at me and saw me as someone worthy to talk to. You treat me like I’m your equal even though I can’t do the things you do,” Finley admitted.
A crooked smile crossed Rhalyf’s face. “Most people can’t do the things I do.”
Finley let out a dry laugh. “Yes, well, that makes the fact that you talk to me the way you do matter even more.”
It was Rhalyf’s turn to touch Finley’s face.
His right hand curled around Finley’s left cheek.
His thumb lightly traced the line of his jaw.
“Finley, anyone who doesn’t see how extraordinary you are is a fool .
” Then he was turning and heading into the treeline. “Now, stay there. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m not. I have so many questions!” Finley called after him.
“Questions! Ha! Of course. Well, question away,” Rhalyf said.
Finley rocked back and forth happily. He would have first hand knowledge. Prime information. This was brilliant! “At least I know your version of ah him tonight for my game will be very accurate.”
There was a snort-laugh. “Yes, I suppose it will be though I doubt anyone but you and I will know that fact.”
“We’re the only ones who matter,” Finley said.
“I agree with that sentiment fully,” Rhalyf said, his voice slightly muffled as he stepped behind some large trees.
He realized in discovering what and who Rhalyf really was that he had forgotten the reason he had come after Rhalyf in the first place: Declan . But now knowing that Rhalyf was a royal Kindreth that meant the connection between his best friend and the Night Elf took on a very definite spin.
“You know I came here to ask you about Declan,” Finley called.
There was a sigh. “Yes, I figured as much. Putting two and two together and getting five, are you?”
“It is five though?” Finley’s heart was in his throat. “Declan is special. Strong, Graceful. Powerful. Fast. And he… he gets sick in the Sun.”
“Yes, but he doesn’t have red eyes or white hair, right?” Rhalyf asked.
“I can’t believe that Declan would hide being a–a Kindreth from me,” Finley said.
His heart hurt at the thought of that. But he couldn’t even conceive of it. Declan wouldn’t do that.
“He’s not.”
Finley blinked. “He isn’t? Then is he not a–”
“Oh, he’s a Night Elf, too,” Rhalyf said, “but he didn’t know it. Even now, I doubt he’s fully accepted it.”
“But his looks! If he’s having to cast a glamour on himself–”
“He isn’t. Whatever is hiding his true looks was put there long ago and with a very skilled hand.
Far more skilled than a child could weave,” Rhalyf said.
“Whatever protection it was giving him from the Sun though has waned. I gave him an Adiva –magical amulet–that will protect him from sunlight. But as to the rest… it may fail in time too. Ah, how do I look?” Rhalyf stepped out from behind the tree.
His dark copper locks and gray eyes were back. “Aravae-y?”
“Very,” Finley said with a nod. He couldn’t help the throb of disappointment. But Rhalyf was still handsome. And he knew what he really was underneath.
“Excellent.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I was worried that the trap spell might have done more than it did.”
“Declan has aged just like a human being,” Finley said as they began to walk out of the woods. “Is that a spell too?”
“Kindreth quicken their children into full adulthood far faster than Aravae do. The Under Dark is too dangerous to remain a child for long,” Rhalyf explained. He crossed his arms at the wrists behind his back. “But I’m guessing he was quickened a bit more. He’s likely about forty-years old.”
“Forty?!” Finley blinked.
“You make that sound ancient.” Rhalyf smiled and shook his head.
“I realize it isn’t, it’s just… Well, I guess it makes sense. But that means he had a whole life before I knew him, before he came here, yet he doesn’t–”
“Doesn’t remember it? Another spell, I’m guessing. And maybe a shock,” Rhalyf mused. “Whatever the reason he was brought here and left with a human family… Let’s just say that it couldn’t have been good .”
“So Declan’s parents had to know then what he was–”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Magic is a powerful thing, Finley, and the mind can be affected by it quite easily. Especially when you have Kindreth who don’t quite care if they cause any damage,” Rhalyf warned.
Finley thought about how careful and cautious Declan’s parents had always been about his seeing doctors or anyone who might figure out he wasn’t what he seemed. “No, I think they knew. But why didn’t they tell him?”
Rhalyf sighed. “Who knows? Maybe they planned to when he was older. I just don’t understand why the Kindreth who left him there in the first place didn’t come back for him.
The kind of spell used to obscure what he is shows extraordinary skill.
Declan wasn’t abandoned without care. Someone valued him very much. ”
Finley bit his lower lip considering this. Then an idea came to him. Maybe it was a crazy idea. But it might explain why Vex was here . Yet could it possibly be true?
“Could… could he be here because of… of Declan?” Finley asked.
Rhalyf drew in a sharp breath, but did not answer.
“Seith and Leisha threatened Declan, right? And now they’re dead. Killed in a Kindreth blood ritual,” Finley said. “Could he have returned here to get Declan back?”
“Why would he… Declan is too young to be his lover–”
“Not a lover. Maybe a…” Here Finley swallowed, “a child ?”
“He doesn’t have children!” Rhalyf cried, but he looked more disturbed not less by the possibility of that.
“That you know of,” Finley pointed out. “But maybe he kept it quiet. Maybe he brought Declan here to keep him safe. I imagine that he has many enemies and if they knew he had a child then…”
“Yes,” Rhalyf breathed. “Yes, they would go after that child. Such a child would never be safe if people knew who his father was.”
They exited the woods at that moment. Tyrael’s white buildings were painted gold by the Sun. Birdsong filled the air. The ticking and clicking of insects came back. The deadness of the forest where Leisha and Seith had died was gone. Life had returned.
“Is that Snaglak?” Finley frowned as he saw the orc was riding his reptilian naki mount Glom.
“And he is not alone. The Sun King, Elasha and Declan are coming from the palace.” Rhalyf pointed towards more mounted figures, but they were on horses.
“What do you suppose is going on?” Finley asked, even as excitement poured into him.
Rhalyf grunted. “Adventure, Finley. Whatever it is will be an adventure.”
The Story Continues in Book 3!