The Elf King Read Online Free PDF Page A

was
informed that Prince Pal Rae, son of King Andelline of Cillitran,
was missing. He presumes me to have taken him.”
    Terill leaned across the
table; his eyes focused sharply, his eyebrows slanting angrily. “I
have no such prisoner. Nor would I have reason to. I have sent word
to King Andelline time and again, but none of my messengers have
returned. Each night Men attack outer posts. Threats have been
issued: bring the Prince back or die.”
    Shadox sat motionless. His
face was still settled in the same fashion as it was when he sat.
“I know Turyn Andelline. He would not attack if he did not have
reason to. Why he seeks the Elves, I do not know. But I will speak
to him. Perhaps I can gather some information.”
    Terill sat back in his
seat. “Do what you must, for your friend’s sake. If the Elves are
attacked...” he slowly shook his head.
    Shadox studied the other
for a moment, his black eyes penetrating the elf’s thoughts. A
minute later he looked down to his hands and unfolded them, rubbing
his fingers slightly. When he looked up again, his stare was razor
sharp and Terill was forced to look away.
    “ I have come a long way,
Elf Lord.” He watched Terill’s expression sag. “What is it, Terill?
What do you keep from me?”
    After taking a deep breath,
Estrial began. “Dren joined two Dark Elves and has left the Ailia.
I cannot find them.”
    Shadox’s posture seemed to
stiffen. His mouth sagged slightly as his eyes opened wide. “When
did this happen?”
    “ Several weeks ago.” Terill
watched the other sit back in his chair, his eyes drifting into
thought. “They have taken our most powerful talismans.”
    “ No.” Shadox gasped in
disbelief.
    Terill’s voice became cold
as he spoke slowly, his eyes filling with anger. “A Mrenx Ku has been
formed.”
    “ You are certain?” Shadox
jumped out of his chair at once. “Quickly! We must find
them!”
    Shadox moved to the center
of the room. Drawing his hood over his head, he warned, “I will
search for him now. This will take a moment.” Without waiting, he
closed his eyes and lowered his head, muttering something beneath
his breath.
    Shadox could feel the heat
of his magic racing up and down the length of his body, searing
through his fingers. He was testing the air, casting out his magic
in search for Dren’s presence. He kept an image of his young friend
in his mind and sent his magic to track him down. He found nothing
at the Ailia Court, nor the Lyyn Forest. From there his magic
branched out in all directions. The effort was painstaking and
slow.
    Several minutes had gone by
and the sorcerer had not moved. Drops of sweat trickled off
Shadox’s face as he tried harder, dipping deeper inside his magic
to cast further. At the brink of exhaustion, the sorcerer withdrew
his magic and fell to his knees.
    Terill rushed over quickly
and helped Shadox onto the bed, feeling his body shaking under the
heavy cloak. “Are you alright, sorcerer?”
    “ A moment,” he replied
raggedly. Shadox closed his eyes and allowed his body to
recover.
    Terill stood
watching. What did he do? Keeping his look of disbelief, the Elf Lord stayed
at his bedside. They had been close allies for as long as he could
remember. He couldn’t think of a better friend to have at the
moment.
    The world was changing,
Terill thought. The Elves knew better than to keep with its ways,
but things were working into their midst that they could not
ignore. Rumors had spread to the Ailia Court from the far south,
where the use of magic was being banned. Seers were disappearing.
So were others either practicing magic, or born with it. Terill
shook his head at the thought. Men were foolish. They were treating
an ability to use magic as if it were poison, instead of the gift
it was. They were scared of it. As they tried to remove it from
their existence, the Elves welcomed it, harnessed it. Elves
understood its nature far more than any other race; they develop
it, study it, and commonly