Bliath: Shattered Read Free Page A

my name is Ilsar.”
    Even the King in all his power could not go against, the spirits.  Estreal and Ilsar were inseparable.  Fifty years into their bonding the king became ill, , his body looked like that of a 70 year old human, but that could eons for an elf.  The King requested that Estreal and Ilsar take him to the Tree of Spirits.  When they placed the King at the base of the tree, lights seemed to flow around the King; wrapping themselves around him, pulling him into the tree. When the lights were gone, so was the King, he joined the many spirits that had gone before him.  A moon cycle of mourning had past for the elven people, then a coronation was held  for Estreal and Ilsar, normally only the blood descendant comes to rule but since the two were one, they would rule as one as well.
    Fera looked up from the book with a grimace on her face her heart was heavy.  Markus sat down across from her.  “My dear Princess Fera, what is wrong, you look ill?  Are you sad over the kings death, or…” Fera held up a hand to stop him, she was not sad, she was scared.
    “Markus, if the dwarves live a long time, and the elves even longer, how long will I live, how will I age?” 
    Markus could see the worry across her face. “Princess, you are mostly elven, my guess is like most other half elves, your aging will slow into the same pattern as that of an elf at 18.  You will look young and beautiful for some time, so do not worry.” 
    Fera was not thinking of her beauty or her youth, but of everyone that she loves, her father, the staff that were like her family, even Oren her horse, all of the people that she will outlive, that she will have to watch die at some point.  “How am I supposed to watch them all leave me, to only fall in love with others people that will come into my world, to watch them fade away as well?”  Her voice trembled slightly.
    Markus put his hand over Fera’s, “Princess, your father is half dwarf, he will be around for a long time, I am elven, I will be here too.”  
    That gave her little comfort, and Markus read it on her face, but she had to know, even if it is a lot for someone so young to bear, time in this case was not on their side, she would be 18 soon and he could see that her binding was already starting to break.
     
    *******<3~*~<3*******
     
    Fera’s night was restless; she woke before dawn, in a cold sweat, as chills set in, reminding her to get up and keep moving.  Her dream was haunting her, and she knew that today, they would be hunting her.  They would now know she was not hiding anywhere in Thoren.  As she turned over to find Oren still asleep under her, she couldn’t help but think they were cut of the same mold.  Since normal horses don’t sleep much and he likes a full 6 to 8 hours that was odd - but then again, she was odd for a Princess.    
    The moment she stood up, Oren felt her shift, and jumped to his feet, quiet comically, as if they
    were under attack.
    Fera giggled at the site of him¸ “Easy there tiger, we just need to get going.”
    He sighed in relief.  Going over to the bags, Fera took another bundle out, unwrapping it she
    found a few oatmeal bars, now normal oats were not a favorite of Oren, but when you drown
    them in honey and add berries, how could you go wrong?  After a quick breakfast, Fera pulled
    Out the map of Bliath, a small pang hits her chest as she saw the Valley of Thoran.  “Ok, Oran,”
    He looked over her shoulder at the map, like he understands it.
    ”I looked at the stars last night, if I am reading it right, I think we are somewhere in here.  That being said, I think our best bet, is the veer a little more this way, and avoid Nevire, it is a bigger Kingdom, if we stay along the outskirts, there might be a smaller village that we could get supplies in.  I want news of what is going on, but we can’t draw attention to ourselves.  Father said, 'Trust no one.  Go north and seek the dwarves'.” Fera folded up the