Crystal Stars, Chapter 2: Taken to a paradise prison

Please read the first chapter of Crystal Stars before you read this one, if you haven’t already. Thank you.

I sat on the city wall watching the pink and blue sunset, listening to the mocking birds and autumn breeze go past my ears. The smell of the bakers’ fresh buns filled the air. Everything felt as perfect as it would ever get. Suddenly, through all the peace, an eerie feeling overtook the air. Looking down, I saw a dwarf staring at me. He was dressed in rags, and looked to be comparing me to a chart. I stuck my tongue out at him and slid down to the ground inside the walls. Trying to get the memory out of my head seemed impossible, as over the next few nights, all I could think about was the dwarf.

It made me nervous, someone stalking me. I knew that was what he was doing, but what was with the chart? Did I have a bounty on my head? Was he going to show up soon with a few guards and shackles? I grew more and more worried with each night. One sleepless night passed. Two. Three. Each one brought more worries and fears. I grew so distracted that I almost spent one of those nights in the dungeon. I told myself repeatedly to forget about him, that if he were going to do something it would have been done by now. I was still waiting.

Eventually, after a few days and no sign of the dwarf, I calmed down a little. My old attitude came back, letting me dodge guards and find food as easily as before. One sunny day everything felt fine. I leaned on a wall from which I could watch the whole street. A few noblemen passed, their noses turned up and wearing smug faces. Beggars were at their feet, empty hands in he air. What a dishonorable way to make a living I thought munching on a carrot I had gotten. Mostly there were commoners and merchants just trying to survive in this world.

I giggled when I realized how lucky I was to be free. Free from the king, free from the limits of the law, free from the hands of the guards. With the grin trademark to the half-elves on my face, I took one last look at the crowd. There was the dwarf, battle-clad, right in the busiest street in the city. I blinked a few times, not believing that he was there. And he was an outcast. My being an outcast didn’t matter, I could look like any human if I so chose, but a dwarf… you could always tell what he or she was.

He started to walk towards me. The last thing I wanted was for him to come over. There was no telling what he would do. Me being a few heads taller didn’t make me any less cautious of the fierce race. They would slaughter the king in his sleep for what he had done to them if they were even allowed in the city. Which I supposed was the reason they weren’t allowed. He neared me, no one else seeming to notice him. I looked around for a quick escape if the need should come. Nothing. Once he reached me, he spoke in a deep voice, his bright red beard moving slightly as he did.

“My master has requested of me to bring you to him.”

“Yeah?” I asked, ready to jump over the short man and run. “You can tell him that I respond to no one. Bye.”

“He told me to bring you to him,” said the dwarf as he raised his battle-axe. “And I shall do as he asks.”

His breath smelled like garlic and rotten eggs. It was so powerful that I wouldn’t have minded to pass out, then and there. It didn’t surprise me that he stood firm. Dwarves were stubborn. And I was quick witted.

“How much of me are you supposed to bring?” I asked putting on an innocent smile. “All of me, or a simple scrap of clothing?”

“He didn’t say, but I don’t suppose you would part with you head.” He was just as quick. I’d have to be careful.

“No, I rather like my head where it is now,” I said, learning we were a true match for each other. “But you can have a lock of my hair instead, you know, in case you need a reference.”

A few strands of hair couldn’t tell you anything, I thought. He pulled out an electrum dagger and cut off about an inch long lock of my hair. When I looked at what was in his hand, I nearly jumped back in surprise. My hand went straight to my shoulder length hair, pulling it into sight.

“Blue?! You turned my hair blue!!” I screamed. He was as calm as anyone could be. My hair was light blue, like the sky on a sunny day.

“The affects are only temporary,” he said, his nimble fingers quickly weaving the short strands into one long thread. “In the mean time, you will come with me.”

The thread magically went to around my neck several times. When it tightened I desperately tried to pull it off, but to no prevail. Sinking to my knees I gasped,

“What are you doing? What kind of magic is this??”

“One of the finer kinds,” he replied while watching me struggle. “You willingly gave me your hair. And I did what I wished with it. You are the only one who it will harm.”

I could feel my face turn purple, surely a sight against my hair. None of that mattered at the time. As my vision went fuzzy, all I could think about was how stupid I had been to give a stranger something. That was the last thing that happened before I blacked out.

>Later<

My eyes fluttered open. My neck was sore, my face was still flushed, and all I could think about was What happened? Nothing came back. I had really fainted. Looking around the room, nothing made sense at all. The gray marble floor sparkled in the sunlight that came through and open stone window. I was in a castle tower. The sheets of my bed were made of clean silk, the unfamiliar texture feeling scratchy on my bare ankles. I was in a fresh white dress, my old tunic and pants washed, folded and placed on a bench in a far corner. A sickening feeling went through my empty stomach. I hadn’t undressed myself in my sleep. I got up to look out the window, the floor being ice cold under my bare feet. I wore long sleeves that went to my knuckles, hidden by gravity in the bed.

When I looked out the window, I immediately recognized the landscape. There were fields in the distance, and when I looked down, I could easily see the street I had been when the dwarf attacked me. Lord Elwynne, the only of the Marden that was allowed in the kingdom, overlooked the city from this castle. Elwynne’s father had been so loyal to King Han’li, Jen’lis father, that the new king had made Elwynne his second in command. Only a pardon from the king would allow such an un-pure race. The same sense of defiance that created the Marden, a rare occurrence where each of your grandparents are of a different race, created their untrustworthy nature. The king feared that trait even more than the half-elves mischievous one. I marveled at my being here, a feeling of amazment for Lord Elwynnes accomplishments in spite of his being a Marden filled the air. As I stood there a woman in a pink gown walked in.

“Oh! Your awake!” she said surprised. “I’m sure your wondering why you’re here.”

I looked at her and nodded.

“Well, you see…”

-<+>-

Your going to have to wait until the next chapter to see!!!

Dictionary:

Nova (noe-vah)

Elwynne (el-win)

Jen’li (jen-lee)

If anything is confusing, cilche or poorly written, please let me know. Thank you my readers!