The Hopes of a Crystalline Heart (As Light to Its Shadow #1)

Prologue

P ale starlight emanated from his lantern as the elf made his way through the dank, musty cellar.

He passed by rows of stale vegetables rotting in open barrels until he came to a darkened corner.

This cellar belonged to the temple and some of their “donations” were going bad, though not many elves came this far down.

He opened a concealed hatch and stepped down the rickety ladder.

His lantern illuminated the cell before him, but it was still far too dingy for his taste. There was an entrance to a tunnel here in this abandoned dungeon that was a direct path to the river via the waterfall. But he was not going to the river. What he was looking for was already here.

A dark figure stepped out of the shadows. The elf jumped in surprise.

“You startled me,” he said, clutching his chest .

The figure made no sound to reply or make a move toward him. He was quiet, unassuming even. Yet in that lay malice. The elf knew this all too well.

“I have it here.” He handed a small coin pouch to the figure clothed in all black before him. The black mask the assassin wore prevented the elf from seeing his entire face, but his unmistakable red eyes glimmered in the darkened room. “The last half of the payment you … and your mistress require.”

The assassin grabbed the pouch from his hands and abruptly opened it the moment he got it, counting out all the gold coins.

“I added something extra for your troubles,” the elf said. “I know this is a dangerous mission, especially for a Dark Elf such as yourself.”

The assassin nodded. He seemed content with the payment.

The Light Elf sighed in relief. There was something sinister about the Dark Elf.

He was an assassin, but something else about him made the hair on the back of his neck stand.

He seemed too calm. That was it. As if this job was just another day for him.

The thought made the Light Elf feel a little sick to his stomach.

“The high priestess is in her prayers now. The temple will be quiet. You should wait until after prayers to strike.”

“And anyone else?” the Dark Elf spoke. His voice was deadpan.

“Please,” the Light Elf begged. “Try not to kill any of the other priestesses. I don’t want an incident with their families.”

“The high priestess must have guards.” The Dark Elf crossed his arms. “That will cost more.”

“If,” the Light Elf said, then sighed. “If it comes to that, do not worry, I will make sure you get paid for the … ahem … excessive labor.”

“How many guards are we talking?”

“The temple has three guards posted, but the high priestess has only one personal guard. Guards don’t matter as much as the priestesses because they only come from poor families, so do what you must to escape unnoticed.”

The Dark Elf narrowed his eyes at him, and this made him shiver. Such an intense look.

“Ljósálfar,” the Dark Elf spat.

“Be that as it may,” the Light Elf replied, being very careful not to take offense. “You know to get the job done.”

The Dark Elf took a step closer to him, and this was when he noticed the twin daggers at the assassin’s side, wicked things with deeply curved serrated edges like the spine of a dragon for maximum blood-letting. The answer was adequate.

“Very well,” the Light Elf said. “I will keep the door to the cellar unlocked. You can escape back the way you came from.”

“And if it is blocked? What’s the alternative?” The assassin had a harsh, guttural tone to his voice now.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but the entrance to the temple leads out into the market. Past that is the city gate. It is open during the day. ”

The Light Elf went to climb back up the stairs. “The priestess should finish her prayers soon. Be ready,” he said, looking back one last time at the Dark Elf.

The assassin gave him a curt nod and stepped back into the shadows, disappearing in an instant.