Asra was grateful for that at least From the other side of the wall she recognized surprise and anger in Macta’s final shriek but not pain Not real pain Wouldn’t it hurt to have one’s soul devoured A sliver of moonlight worked through the bars of the high dungeon window The Princess crouched like a child in the feeble glow head in hands with her back to the damp stone wall Her matted hair hung over her face and though she’d squeezed her eyes shut she’d been unable to block out Macta’s scream It still rang in her ears She shuddered but felt a tinge of relief that the deed was done if she could believe that shape-shifter Jal-Maktar’s promise she herself was in no immediate danger Jal-Maktar had vowed to eat only one soul and Macta had more or less volunteered Now that chapter of her life was closed for good a book best put aside and forgotten But what new horror might open up in its place Asra’s descent from Princess to prisoner had been swift When she left the forest with the Human girl Rebecca she honestly believed they’d be able to waltz carefree into the palace of Helfratheim Now Asra was trapped in the bowels of that distant fortress with no more hope than a mouse at the bottom of a well Rebecca was gone Macta her relentless suitor was dead Asra guessed there was no one alive who knew she was here except for Jal-Maktar She could rot in the vaulted chambers of this prison and no one would ever suspect a thing Her only chance was that Jal-Maktar might help her escape She’d probably be forced to pay him for his favors with some part of her body some
He’s gone The figure let out a choked laugh Jal-Maktar is gone Asra felt faint she dreaded the words she knew were coming His time ran out before he could take me You heard him say that he had to work fast don’t you remember I kept him talking and his time in this world ran out He’s gone He’s disembodied once more He can’t hurt either of us he can’t hurt anyone anymore We’re safe Asra What were the chances of that You Tis I said the figure and in the feeble light Asra could see the glee in his eyes Tis I Macta I’m alive Asra I’m alive piece of lung or liver but so be it She would do anything sacrifice anything to get away Asra’s eyes blinked open at the sound of approaching footsteps In the dim light she was shocked to see that Jal-Maktar was still impersonating King Macta He had to have known how much this would hurt her It would have been so easy for him to change his shape to something less emotionally charged Jal-Maktar could after all become anything anyone at all Is this some kind of joke Asra hissed Then she noted that the figure shambling toward her was not dressed in royal finery but was as battered and disheveled looking as Asra herself The figure’s right arm was missing and there were Bloodstains on his torn shirt Why would you choose to appear like this Asra demanded Does it please you to wound me Now that you’ve killed Macta must you go on pretending to be him Macta drew the little book from his pocket found a bit of charcoal and squatted on the floor In a trembling hand he began to write I’ll calculate the odds if I can I’ll make a bet as to the chances of us getting out of here Luck is with us again Asra I can feel it Asra’s spirits sank at the realization that once again she was trapped with the Elfin prince who not that long ago had nearly become her husband How could fate be so cruel She got to her feet and pressed her body against the wall as if she could dissolve into the stone Then it wasn’t you who screamed No no Macta giggled almost hysterical It was that monster Jal Maktar When he looked down and saw himself disappearing he let out a roar but that’s all There was nothing he could do he was completely helpless Helpless like me Asra thought struggling to rein in her growing sense of panic Macta’s scratching in his little book was driving her mad Stop that
she cried Stop Macta looked up eyes wide He wasn’t used to being told what to do Asra glared at him Put away your stupid book and think for a minute You grew up in the palace above us Isn’t there any way out of here The moon its pockmarked face pale and full hung sullenly over the towers of Helfratheim Prashta head of Dockalfar Security Operations was in the midst of his speech He stood in the high tower window explaining to the citizens why the thousand Human children had not in the end been sacrificed to the Gods according to Brahja-Chi’s Acquisition He said that the Gods were appeased merely by the offer of the sacrifice and that the heavenly hosts had made it clear there was no need for the plan to be carried to its Bloody conclusion The risk of contamination from the foul Human children would have been high after all and the Gods love for the Elves was far far greater than their thirst for Human Blood How comforted the Elves should be Prashta assured them to know that he was there to relay the glad tidings of the Gods What of our Mage Jardaine a peasant called from the crowd And our King someone else shouted Why are our leaders not here to speak to us Prashta cleared his throat The only thing he knew for certain was that Brahja-Chi had died at the hands of the shape-shifter Jal-Maktar It seemed likely that Jal-Maktar and Jardaine were still together plotting their revenge against him and the Council He had no idea what might have become of Macta Nervously he fingered the medallions around his neck Jardaine and King Macta are understandably tired after the events of this busy day and have retired to their quarters Rest assured that all is well in Helfratheim and that the Gods are smiling down on each of you grateful for your love and devotion Good night gentle Elves and may you rest peacefully this night beyond the Gates of Vattar Prashta turned from the tower window and wiped the sweat from his brow He’d be lucky if his flimsy wall of lies and evasions got him through the night Guards he called as half a dozen Elves in maroon uniforms snapped to attention I want you to find Jardaine and bring her to me The guards hesitated one of them stepped forward and bowed his head Sir he gulped if Jardaine is with that shape-shifting monster our weapons will be no match for Our weapons are the best in all the realm Prashta bellowed Each of you
