1

Beyond The Forest Line

Chapter 1: The Proposition
It was the last day that the human’s caravan would be in the forest, and likely the last time for a long
time that Cilia would be able to see any human. She rummaged through her room for clothes, finally settling
on a fluttery green blouse that hugged her around the waist. Next, she looked in the mirror as she applied a
red powder—made from dried and ground-up flowers—over her eyelids and lips. She turned when she heard
a knock at her window.

Veronna, Cilia’s closest friend for as long she could remember, stood on a branch just outside. “ooh,”
she cooed with a sly grin. “Someone’s going above and beyond,” she said as she slid through the window and
jumped on Cilia’s bed. “Though, if you’re trying to impress someone, I’d recommend you find some clothes
like this.” She gestured to herself. Cilia’s eyes went from Veronna’s top which fully exposed her mid-rib down
to the short skirt fashioned from leather and dried leaves.

Cilia rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to impress anyone. It’s not everyday human caravans are this deep
in the forest, and now that they’re leaving, well, it’s not that strange to dress like this...is it?” She finished as
she turned back to the mirror.

Veronna laughed. “So no one to impress, hm? Not even a tall, dark-haired human boy? One that may
have been injured for some time, and was nursed back to health by a beautiful, if not slightly shy elf girl, and
also may have developed some...attraction!” Veronna grabbed from behind and Cilia squealed.

“Colton is just a friend. And I’m sure he thinks of me the same way.” Cilia said as she pulled away.

“I’m sure, I’m also sure he’ll love that color on your lips.”

“You think! Ah...you’re not fair.”

Veronna burst out laughing. Cilia turned back to the mirror and worried at her appearance. “Cilia,”
Veronna hugged her from behind and pinched her cheek. “You’re as beautiful as always, besides, the longer
you spend on your hair is the less time you’ll get to spend with Colton.”

“I said—” she stopped when she felt a twinge of sadness. “It’s the last time, isn’t it. I’ll never see him
again after this, will I?”

Veronna sighed. “You never know what the future holds. You might just get to see a lot more of him.”

“How would that be?”

 2

Veronna shrugged. “The will of Gaia is mysterious, now come on!” She ran through the window and
Cilia followed.

They walked along the broad and twisting boughs of great oaks and waved at the other elves going
about their day. Soon, the powerful scent of human cuisine struck Cilia’s nose. Just below them, the members
of the human caravan toiled away. They packed wagons, sharpened swords, and tended to their horses.

“Oi, Cilia! Veronna!” A rough voice called.

“Sebastian!” Veronna waved at the man. “Stand right there!”

“Here? Why?”

Veronna leaped from the branch and Cilia could see Sebastian’s bushy brows rise as his eyes widened.
Veronna landed right in the man’s arms.

“Are you mad, girl!” Sebastian cried and Veronna laughed.

“It’s faster than climbing down! Come on Cilia!”

“I think I’ll do it the normal way!” Cilia said as she climbed down the rough bark.

“See,” Sebastian said as she approached. “That’s how a girl ought to act. There’s a good head on her
shoulders.”

Cilia smiled at him. Sebastian was the leader of the caravan, A tall and rotund man with a head bald
on the top and short hair, peppered with gray, along the sides. He gazed at Cilia and stroked his mustache
which was so large it seemed to completely consume his lips. Cilia never understood why so many of the
human men seemed to want to grow out their facial hair. Even Colton let his sparse wisps grow. Though in
his case it was more endearing than anything else.

“You look different,” Sebastian said, ignoring Veronna who climbed his back, sat on his shoulders,
and beat his bald head like a drum.

“She put on flower pigment for you know who,” she said.

“Ah, the boy...And what in blazes are you doing you damn elf! I’m not a tree or a drum!” He grabbed
Veronna by the waist and held her upside down before him. Veronna giggled as she grabbed at his mustache.
Cilia was slightly impressed by the show of strength. Humans were always described to be heavier and
clunkier than they were, but she was always surprised to see just how much of a difference there was.

She imagined Sebastian trying to live in the trees. Those poor boughs. “Veronna, stop that,” Cilia said
as Sebastian put her down.
 3

“Hm, he doesn’t mind it, do you?” Veronna grinned at the man and he harrumphed. “So, Sebastian.”
She dug her toes into the ground. “Where’s Rodney?”

“Oh, why would you want to know that?” Sebastian said and winked at Cilia when Veronna
stumbled with an answer.

“Oh, very funny!” She snapped and the pair laughed.

“He’s down by the stream,” Sebastian said. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”

Veronna smiled and skipped away.

“No matter the race, the taste of some women baffles me,” Sebastian said as he stroked his mustache.

Cilia had to agree on that one. Rodney was certainly...a specimen. He was taller than Sebastian, even
taller than some elves. And he was big, not like Sebastian, there was no rotundness in his bigness. Cilia
shivered at the thought. She looked back at the old man.

“My parents always told me that humans are short-tempered but you always seem to put up with her
antics.”

“Ah well, you see. It’s charming, in a sort of way. That childishness she has. Even you.”

Cilia huffed. “I’m not childish!”

Sebastian bellowed with laughter, “maybe not in the same way as her, but in your own way.”

“Whatever that means.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Come here, child.” He said as he started away. “I have something for you.”

Cilia followed him to his wagon. It was furnished like a small house. The wheels creaked as the whole
thing tilted when he stepped inside. “What is it?” Cilia asked.

“Well, all you elves have been wonderful, but you and your friend especially made us feel welcome,”
he said as he rummaged inside. “I thought I’d show my appreciation.” He stepped back out with something
wrapped in a soft cloth. He pulled the cloth away and Cilia gasped at the pale silver circlet that glistened in his
hands. She took it carefully. It was thin and made to look like woven branches with leaves of some green gem.

“Sebastian, I can’t take this.”

“Nonsense, there’s nothing to it. Try it on.”

And she did.

“Absolutely beautiful.”
 4

Cilia ran into the man, and though he was too big for her hands to wrap around him, she hugged as
tightly as he could. She shook when he chuckled.

“I’m going to miss you girls,” he said.

“Us too,” Cilia sniffed.

“The next time you see Veronna, tell her to stop by too.”

“I will.” Cilia answered.

“Cilia!”

She stiffened as her eyes widened when she heard the voice. She turned and there he was. Colton. He
was fairly tall. His eyes were round and dark. The ribbons of light that shone down from the canopy made his
black hair — which was usually wild but now seemed combed and pulled back—glisten like silk. He also
seemed to have shaved the few wisps and strands on his above his lip and on his chin. “Morning, Colton.”

“Well, it seems you’re not the only one who decided to pretty yourself up. And this is my cue to
leave.” He touched her shoulder and started in the direction where, apparently, someone who mishandled a
crate deserved a firm talking to.

“Well...you look nice,” Cilia said as Colton approached. Usually, he wore more rugged clothing. A
sun-burnt leather coat. Rough-spun pans. Hard boots, but now he seemed genteel with a vest done up to his
neck.

He pulled at the collar and gave a shaky chuckle. “Too much?”

“Not at all, though it makes me wonder why?” She knew the comment was unfair coming from
someone who had spent so long looking for just the right pigment to paint herself with.

“Heh, no reason.” He said with a bit of color on his cheeks. Cilia grinned at him. He's so adorable.
“That’s nice, by the way. Where’d you get it?” He tapped his forehead.

“Oh!” She just remembered the circlet. “A friend gave it to me.” She said carefully.

“A friend? Like, an elf?”

“No, one of the men from the Caravan.”

His nose flared as he took a sharp breath in.

Aw. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like it?”

“No, I mean, yes, I like it. It looks good on you...which one of them gave it to you?”

“Why’re you asking?” She folded her arms.

 5

“Ah...no reason.”

Alright, I’ll stop now. “I got it from Sebastian as a gift! There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Oh! Ha...worried, I wasn’t—why would I be?” He said that but his sigh of relief revealed the truth of
it. “It does look nice on you, and I like that make-up you’re wearing.”

It was Cilia’s turn to blush.

“Anyhow, I was walking around the other day and I found this really nice clearing, a lot of these pretty
white flowers, I’d thought you’d like to go there?”

Cilia did like the flowers. She knew the exact clearing he was talking about and went there regularly.
She wasn’t about to tell him that, of course. “Wow! It sounds great!”

He beamed. “Alright, I need to collect something from my wagon first.” At that, he jogged away and
Cilia only then noticed the red ribbon that tied his hair at the back. It also seemed that the last bit of his limp
had healed. When the caravan first stopped by Colton had fallen a week or so before. It was bad, even
Sebastian had been saying that it might have to be taken off. She remembered wondering then: if that was
how humans handle such simple injuries, how weren’t there more of them with missing limbs?

Colton started back with a wicker basket. “What’s in there?” Cilia asked.

“Oh, just some stuff in case we get hungry.” He held his arm towards her. “Shall we?”

Cilia wanted to laugh out loud. She was so tense this morning and seeing that he apparently put in as
much effort put her at ease. He was definitely acting differently, but Cilia wanted to play along, for as long as
she could.

They walked along the forest floor. Cilia always found it tedious, or at the very least awkward. The
clearing was as it always was. Like a small circle where clouds from the sky decided to rest. Colton pulled a
blanket from the basket and laid it out. When they sat, he plucked a white flower and placed it in Cilia’s
golden hair. “A flower for a flower,” he said.

Cilia chuckled. “Not quite a poet.”

Colton laughed as he pulled some bread from the basket. “Can you tell me again?” Cilia asked. “Of
the places you’ve been?”

Colton sighed as he sat back. “How many times have I already? Hours upon hours of healing and you
wouldn’t stop asking.”

“I was interested!”

“Clearly. But why?” He asked as he pulled out some glasses and a bottle of wine.
 6

“Because,” Cilia pulled her knees up to her chin. “I’ve never seen the world. Never left the forest.”

“The world isn’t that special,” Colton said as poured a glass. “Sure some places have different races.
Some people are tall, some not. Some cultures have different clothes and foods, but…”

“But?”

“It’s all the same. It might look different. But it’s all the same once you’ve experienced enough.”

“Well, that’s just it! I haven’t experienced enough, so it’ll be all new to me!”

“Maybe.” Colton sipped the fruity liquid. “But it won’t be long before you’re pining to come back. I
almost don’t want to leave.” He laid back. Seemingly unaware of how Cilia watched him.

“But you are leaving.” She laid down beside him, her face only inches from his. His breath was warm.

“I am.” His fingers tickled the hair behind her ear. “And I still haven’t been above the canopy like you
promised.” He pinched her ear and she squealed.

“Of course you haven’t, how could you with your injury?”

“Well, if you haven’t noticed—” He slapped his leg. “Good as new.”

“I don’t know…” Humans certainly weren’t as nimble as them. One misstep and the picture of
Colton falling made her shiver.

“I’ll be fine,” he said as though he read her mind. “I...I just want to see...just once.”

Cilia knew the feeling. “Alright.” She said. “One of the taller trees is near here.”

Colton downed the last bit of wine in his glass and jumped with an extra hop on his newly healed leg
as though to prove to Cilia he really was in shape. He offered her hand and pulled her up like she was a leaf.
“So, where’s this tree?”

“A short walk from here.” Cilia led the way and soon they approached it.

Colton whistled when he saw the trunk so wide you couldn’t see where it curved away when standing
close. “So this is the tree we’ll be climbing?”

“Yes. We could climb the other trees but to get above the canopy we’d have to climb to the very top of
those...and at that height, trees get a bit bendy. I’m alright with it so…”

“No, I can do without bendy.” He tugged at his collar again.

Cilia rolled her eyes, grabbed at him, yanked open his collar down to his chest, pulled the ribbon from
his hair, and ruffled it for good measure. And in a moment the rough, slightly untidy Colton she was used to
returned.
 7

“It took me an hour to get all that just right,” he said.

“And I appreciate it, though I prefer your usual look.”

“Noted. I’ll get back to growing my beard too.”

“Beard...no, that can stay away.” She kissed him on the cheek and handed him the ribbon.

“No,” he said as wrapped it around her neck. “You keep it. Now.” he stepped towards the tree. “After
you.” He bowed as he gestured to it.

“Such a gentleman,” Cilia said as she found a grip on the rough bark and started her climb. It wasn’t
long before she realized just how much she took her climbing abilities for granted. She thought she was
moving at a slow pace but when she glanced down Colton was far beneath her. “Colton!” she called down to
him. “You haven't even reached the first branch!”

“Is that so!” he returned with a strained voice. “I haven’t noticed!”

She laughed as she made the final push to the first bough and waited a minute or two for Colton to
finally haul himself up, huffing and heaving. He crawled over to her and dropped his head in her lap. She ran
her fingers through his hair. “Want to turn back?” she asked. “It doesn't get much easier.

Colton swallowed before speaking, huffing between words. “Maybe...No...I don’t...think I will.” He
grunted as he sat up. “I want to see the top. I Need to before I go.”

Cilia smiled. “Alright, but we’re not going to be able to stop like this otherwise we won’t even get
there before midnight.”

“Right then.” He rocked before standing. “Let’s get on with it.”

He threw himself against the trunk and climbed. Cilia noticed how he had kicked off his boots before
she climbed after him. Colton was clearly pushing himself to keep up with Cilia. She stopped more often
than usual and told Colton that it was usual because she knew he wouldn’t rest when he needed to otherwise.

“How do you elves do it.” He said as they climbed.

“We just do. We grow up in the forest, this is only natural.”

“Well, it is a different world up here.” He looked to the side and Cilia followed his gaze. She saw the
streams of light that danced between the swaying leaves, and the branches that branched from branches
endlessly. Like veins. “It feels alive.” He added.

“It is.” Cilia said. “Come one, we’re almost at the top.”

“Right.” He took a step and a sharp crack pierced Cilia.

 8

She whipped her head down. “Colton!”

He chuckled. “No worries, just a loose piece of—” The bark broke with a gut-wrenching snap.

“Colton!” Cilia shrieked as he fell. For a moment he wheeled, but he managed to grab onto the bark
and grind to a stop. Cilia fell to his side. “Colton, are you okay!”

He pressed the side of his head against the trunk as he hugged the tree. “Yeah, but my fingers are
burning.”

She looked at the red liquid that dripped from broken and torn nails and painted the scratch marks
that Colton made when he dug his fingers into the bark. “Oh no, not your hands.” she blew a kiss on them.

“Thanks,” Colton said. “That’s a great painkiller but I might need some actual medicine when we get
down from here. Now, shall we? We’re just about at the top.”

Cilia gazed at him. She could remember all the times she fell on one hand, but she also remembered
the first time it happened from a similar height she was frozen in place. That’s the thing she admired most
about Colton. He took even the most petrifying of things in stride. “Alright, let’s.”

From there it was a short climb. Cilia stood just on the edge of the canopy and emergent layer. She
offered a hand to Colton. “Together?”

Colton grasped it. “I’d have it no other way.” They made the last push, and the golden glow of the
afternoon sun is what met them. The winds were strong above the canopy with fewer branches to break
them. Colton’s hair whipped and glistened as he stepped forward on the bough, staring at the seeming
infinity of green, and brown, and red, and all forest colors.

“Colton?” Cilia said as she approached.

Colton sat and gazed at the distant mountains painted blue with the haze of the sky. “Up here, it all
looks so beautiful, doesn’t it?”

She sat beside him and kissed a single tear from his cheek. “It’s beautiful from down there too.”

“Maybe here, in the forest. But out there…”

“You keep saying that, but there has to be amazing things out there!”

“There are. Beautiful places. Mile-long fields of thousands of flowers with too many colors to even
picture. A waterfall that drains into a hole with an eternal flame so that there’s always a rainbow, be it day or
night. Beautiful people…” he grinned at her. “Beautiful women.”

Cilia flared. “Oh, you’ve met a lot of them have you!”

 9

He pulled her close by the waist and tickled her neck with his lips. “A few, but after meeting you, I
can’t even remember their faces.”

“That’s not as romantic as you think.”

“I’m not a poet, remember.”

“Certainly.”

He looked back at the forest. “You really want to see the world, don’t you?”

“I do.” She rested her head on her shoulder.

“And I don’t want to see anything if I can’t see it with you.”

She gasped.

“What?” Colton asked.

“Now that was clever language. There might be a poet in you yet!”

He chuckled as he clasped her cheek. “Cilia. There’s a way for both of us to get what we want.”

“What?”

“Leave with me. Leave with the caravan. I’ve seen so much. But if you’re by my side it’ll all seem brand
new.”

“And the clever language continues.” she giggled. But then sadness rested in her gut like a stone. “I
want to, Colton. But...my parents.”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “I know.” he touched her lip so lightly with his thumb that
sensation webbed her face. He kissed her. His hand on her thigh made goose-pimples rise as it glade up. She
stopped it and pulled away.

“I—I can’t. I’ve never...and.”

“Don’t explain. You never have to explain your no’s to me.” He pulled her in and hugged her head
against his chest. He was so warm. The beat of his heart was so soothing. She wanted to. The fire somewhere
deep let her know that but…

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be, having known you is more than a man like me could’ve asked for.”

He spoke in the past tense, Cilia realized. In his heart, he had already said goodbye. She hugged him
tighter and pressed her face in his vest to wipe away the beginnings of tears.
 10

Chapter 2: A Caravan on Fire

“I’m sure there’s going to be some sort of farewell event,” Colton said as they passed through the
white flower clearing. “You’ll be there, won’t you?”

“Of course I will.”

When they returned to the caravan, Cilia was on a mission, but Veronna got to her first. She squealed
as she jumped on Cilia’s back.

“Don’t start climbing me!” Cilia said.

“We need to go. Your room, now!”

“Why?”

Veronna jumped to the ground and blushed as the muscle mountain that was Rodney waved at her.
“I’ll tell you, come on!”

“He asked you to go with him?” Cilia gaped at Veronna.

“Yes!” she jumped on the bed and kicked her feet in the air. “You should have seen him too, the way he
held that little flower in his massive hands. I wonder if that’s how I look when he holds me. Anyways, enough
about me. I heard you spent some time with Colton, alone? Well, tell me.”

“Well...he…”

“Yes?” her eyes were wide and sparkled as she stared at Cilia.

“He asked the same.”

Veronna gasped. “Really!” she jumped and hugged Cilia. “This is great! You and me and Colton and
Rodney! It’ll be perfect!”

“Veronna, I...I didn’t say yes.”

Veronna froze. “What do you mean you didn’t say yes. Cilia, you’re always talking about seeing the
world!”

“I know...but talking about it and actually leaving are very different things.”

“But...don’t you want to be with Colton?”

“Of course I do.”

“Exactly, and I’m sure he’d love to ‘play in the clearing’ some more.” Veronna grinned.
 11

Cilia reddened. “Veronna!”

“What? We’re basically sisters, you can tell me.”

“We’ve never!”

“Wait...really?”

“Of course, have you and Rodney—”

“That’s besides the point. Oh poor Colton, these past few months must’ve been hard on him.”

“Stop.”

“It’s all right, since you’re staying he’ll be free to find all the release he needs.”

Cilia glared at her.

“Well, that’s a dark look. I’m only teasing.” She stepped back and fell on the bed. “But from what I’m
hearing about human men, to wait so long, that boy must be hopelessly in love with you.”

“Not more than I’m in love with him.” She laid down beside Veronna who turned and looked her in
the eye.

“If you’re in love with him, then go.”

“I want to, I intend to ask my parents.”

Veronna sat up. “Why didn’t you say that! I’m going to ask mine too. It might take some convincing
but they might understand.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Well, we’ll just have to see. The caravan is having a farewell party tonight. We ask our parents now,
and tonight we tell each other their answers.” She got up and made for the window. “Good luck!” she said as
she slipped out.

I’m going to need it. Cilia thought.

Cilia’s father sat on the steps of their house gazing out at the neighbors with a long pipe hanging from
his mouth. “No,” he said with a puff of smoke.

“Father—” Cilia tried to get a word in.

“No,” he said again. “You’re too young, Cilia, you don’t know enough of the world yet.”

“How will I learn if you don’t let me go!”

 12

“In increments. You wouldn’t teach a child to swim by throwing them in the ocean, would you? We
live a different life here in the forest, Cilia. And the life they live outside of it isn’t something you’d imagine.”

“You keep saying that, but for the past few months, the humans from the caravan have been living
peacefully. They’re nothing like what you’ve been saying!”

“I’m sure that little crush of yours is the sweetest boy around. And the others of the caravan have been
good, most usually are. But many aren’t. The answer is no, Cilia. And that’s final. You can say your farewells
later tonight but I want you back in your room before morning. Am I clear?”

“Father—”

“Am I clear?”

“Yes, father.” Cilia stared at her feet.

Her father took another puff of the pipe. His cool indifference burned her like nothing else. She
stomped back into the house.

“Cilia,” her mother approached her in her room. “You’re father is telling you the right thing.”

“Of course you’d agree,” Cilia said as she fell on the bed. “But mother, I...I.”

“You’re in love. I understand that. I do. But...humans aren’t like us, Cilia. They don’t love as we do.
Their love, like their lives, is shorter. Much shorter. It’s not worth the risk you’d put yourself into.”

Cilia turned away from her.

“Do you understand?”

She didn’t answer.

“Cilia?”

“Yes, mother. I understand.” She knew her parents wouldn’t grant her permission. It was a vain hope.

“Good. And as your father said, you have permission to attend the farewell.”

“Thank you, mother.” She answered before her mother left. A farewell. She thought. She’d dance and
sing with Colton one last time and then never see him again. Or maybe she would, years from now, when her
parents finally decide that she can see the world, but by then would he even remember her?

She thought about him. About him leaving. She thought about the way he touched her above the
canopy. Regret. That’s what she was feeling. The ache of regret. She sat up. If he’s going to forget me, let it be
after I’ve done everything I can to be unforgettable.

#
 13

Humans and elves alike danced to the fast music of lutes in the flickering orange light of the bonfire.

Leaves crunched beneath Cilia’s feet as she weaved through the crowd looking for either Colton or
Veronna. She could find neither until Veronna found her.

“Cilia!” She grabbed behind and turned her around. Even in the dim light of the fire, she could see
that Veronna had been crying.

“I see you haven’t had much more luck than me.” She said.

“You’re parents denied you permission too? Tyrants, that’s what they are, clinging on to old ways.”

“Veronna…”

“The world’s changing. Entire groups of elves are leaving the forests. I think they’ve been taking our
obedience for granted.”

“It’s just so…” Cilia said. “The time will come when they let us leave.”

“Will they? Will we even want to then? What if they intend to keep us here until we grow too
apathetic to even exercise that freedom.”

Cilia had nothing to say to that.

Veronna sighed. “I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, Cilia, but I know what will happen
tonight!” She pulled a flagon of ale from the tray of a passer-by. “Now where’s Rodney. Ah. I’ll see you later.”
She ran in the direction of the giant man and jumped into his arms. Her words made Cilia blush as they made
her think about her plans for the night. She touched the ribbon around her neck.

“Cilia?”

She turned at the voice and smiled at Colton who handed her an apple.

“I’m glad you made it,” he said.

Her tongue knotted in her throat as her mind wandered.

“Cilia?”

“Hm, oh, yeah! Of course I made it.”

Colton smiled. She’d never see that smile after tonight. The thought made her eyes wet.

“Cilia? What’s wrong?” he stepped close.

“Nothing,” she wiped her eyes as the lute players stopped and switched slower tunes on harps. “Aren’t
you going to ask me to dance?”
 14

“Ah…Cilia.” He gave a slight bow. “Would you care to dance with me?”

“Why yes, I would.”

They weaved amongst the others. Cilia nestled her cheek in Colton’s neck. The night was dragging on
and her father’s instructions echoed in her head. “Back before morning.”

She pulled away and tugged at Colton’s sleeve.

“Cilia.”

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

She led him a slight distance from the party where she knew his carriage was. A modest thing.
Nowhere near the size of Sebastian’s, but decorated with painted flowers.

“Cilia? Why are we—” Colton started.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“Right.” He stepped up to the door and opened it. “Please,” he said as he gestured inside. Cilia
swallowed before climbing in. It was too dark to see anything before Colton lit a lamp.

The interior was cozy. Shelves with various knick-knacks lined the wall and cushions that made a bed
covered most of the floor. Her knees sunk into them as she crawled to the other end. She sat with her back to
the wall. Colton gaped at her.

“Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to do something?”

“Do something?” he audibly swallowed.

Cilia rocked forward, grabbed his shirt in a fist, and pulled him down. He was on his hands and knees
on top of her. The muscles of his arms were firm as he bore up his own weight. She clasped his cheeks as she
stared at his lips. She wanted to kiss them so badly, and so she did. Colton pulled away.

“Cilia...I don’t...didn’t you say…”

“I changed my mind. You’re leaving tomorrow, I might never see you again.” She wrapped her legs
around his waist and pulled him down. The pressure against her made the fire bloom. She touched his lip.
“Don’t you want me?”

“More than anything.”

She kissed him. “Then take me.” She held his shirt tight to hide how much her hands were shaking.
Fear, excitement, anxiety all slithered their tendrils around her. He stood on his knees and removed his shirt.
 15

The firelight danced on his skin and only hinted at the muscles of his body. But also something more. She
touched a pair of the scars on his chest that formed a pair of letters but was obscured by a third, slanted scar.
Still, she could almost make them out. A. P? “How?”

“I told you,” he said as he lifted her blouse overhead. “I’ve been to a lot of places. Not all of them
good.” He kissed her on her lips. Then her neck. Then her stomach. His breath on her as he got lower. He
pulled her underwear over her legs and brought his head forward. She threw her hands against his forehead,
holding him away.

“What’re you doing?” she asked with a squeaky voice.

He chuckled. “It’s a bit embarrassing to describe...but I was going to use my mouth.”

“your mouth! But...but...it’s not clean...it’s…”

He removed her hands from his face and stared at her with the warmest expression she’s ever seen.
“There’s no part of you that’s unclean.”

“I can think of a few places.” her breath caught when his hand slid down her inner thigh.

“Cilia. You’ve trusted with the most precious thing a man can ask for.” he parted her legs and brought
his face so close to her mound that she could feel the warmth of his breath. “Let me show you how much it
means to me.”

The fire exploded.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. She wasn’t sure about anything besides the fact she was
experiencing something that she never had before. And when it was over, she stared at Colton’s sleeping face.
A face she’d likely never see again. She kissed him goodbye and started home.

In her own bed, she cried, because when she woke the caravan would be gone. At least a part of me
will always be with him. She thought before sleep took her.

Cilia woke to Knocking on her room door. She wiped sleep from her eyes as she greeted her parents.
Her father walked into the room without so much of a word. “What’s wrong?” she asked as her father walked
along the walls and scrutinized the window.

“Did you know?” he turned on her.

“Did I know what?”

Her father stepped close and stared unblinking into her eyes. She swallowed.

“So you didn’t, alright then.” He stepped for the door.

 16

“What didn’t I know?”

“You must’ve guessed that some of the kids your age left with the caravan.”

“Yes…”

“Veronna was one of them.”

Cilia’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“Her parents stopped by this morning. They said she asked before going to the farewell. They told her
no but it seems she went along anyway. Needless to say, there's some commotion going on, it’s probably for
the best you stay inside.” With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Cilia fell back on her bed. She left. She remembered what Veronna had said to her last night. That she
didn’t know what the day would bring. She left without me! That wasn’t fair. There was nothing Cilia said
that would make Veronna think that she would be willing to leave. Good, little, obedient Cilia.

She sighed as she touched the ribbon around her neck. Veronna had gone. She will get to see Colton
every day. Then realization dawned on her. She’d likely never see Veronna again either if she had really left
with the caravan...at least not for years. She pinched the ribbon as she looked to the window. She had placed
Sebastian’s circlet on the sill. She approached it. I’ll never see them again...if I stay here that is.

That was it. Cilia refused to lose two people she loved in a single night, especially if she didn’t have to.
She ran to her room door and pressed her ear against it to listen if her parents were near. Then she grabbed a
leather knapsack and stuffed it with all the things she’d think she’d need. A change of underwear. Clothes. She
wouldn’t need many supplies. By the looks of it, she had slept past noon, and the caravan had left in the
morning. She should be able to reach them by nightfall if she left right then. Lastly, she threw on a hooded
cloak.

She made for the window and hesitated. Her parents were strict but she loved them regardless. She
found a piece of paper and a pencil and wrote a note. It spoke of her love, her appreciation, but also her need
to see the world. She knew she’d be breaking their hearts but it had to happen sooner or later.

The last thing she placed in the bag was Sebastian’s circlet, then she climbed through the window and
went on her way.

Her father was right about the commotion. All her neighbor’s scurried about, calling and shouting
names of the ones who had left. None took notice of Cilia who arrived at the forest’s edge sooner than she
had anticipated. It was scary, how the forest seemed to just...stop. Nothing but wide open fields and endless
blue sky lay in front of her. The caravan was nowhere to be seen. But it was there and she’d find it if she
followed the road long enough. And so, she stepped beyond the forest line.
 17

She looked back at the only home she’d ever known. She’d return one day. She and Veronna—and
they would have stories upon stories to share. She turned and started down the trail.

#
Cilia maintained a steady pace throughout the day. After an hour or two of walking, she stopped and
gazed back. The forest was out of sight. She had never been so far from home. She looked forward again and
still saw no sign of the caravan. Doubt raised in her. She could still turn back and no one would notice that
she was gone. No...she would go forward. She fixed the hood on her head, thankful for the protection it gave
from the sun and continued.

Eventually, the sun crept to the horizon and she saw the first stars twinkling in a dark-purple sky. Still,
she saw no sign of the caravan. Had she made a mistake? She was so certain that she would reach it before
sundown that she hadn’t packed any camping supplies.

Keep going. She thought as the sky grew ever darker. millions of stars twinkled overhead. Somewhere
in the darkness, she heard a wolf’s howl. Her feet ached from walking and she shivered from the cold. She had
made a mistake, there was no questioning…

She paused.

She saw a faint orange glow flickering on the horizon. Fire. Fire from the caravan. It had to be. They
set up camp. New life sprung in her as she sped towards the glow. But something was off. The glow got
brighter and brighter. Too bright for a simple bonfire. Then she heard the loud crackling of burning wood.
Too much crackling. She ran, and then she froze.

The heat from the towers of fire stung her face as she gaped. What? She ran towards the burning
caravan. She paid no attention to where she was stepping and tripped over something soft. She looked at the
dead elf with dirt in her hair, blood draining from her lips. Cilia screamed and scrambled to getaway.

The smoke choked her as tears streamed down her face. What’s happening? This has to be a different
caravan...it has to be! She shielded her face from the heat as she ran amongst the destruction. Then she saw it.
A large round carriage ablaze. The one that belonged to Sebastian. It didn’t take that much more looking to
find him face down in the dirt riddled with arrows. “Sebastian!” Cilia shrieked. She ran to the man and tried
to turn him over but he was too heavy. No, no, no. Please no. She looked around helpless. “Veronna!” She
yelled. “Colton!”

She ran, repeating the names. “Veronna—” she stopped at the body with its back against a boulder.
The face was smashed beyond recognition but the muscles made it clear. Rodney. But if Rodney was
dead...then. Her stomach crunched and forced up vomit. She fell to her hands and knees as she heaved into
the dirt.
 18

Snot and tears drained from her face. “Colton!” she yelled between sobs. “Veronna!” The carriage
painted with flowers. She had to find the carriage painted with flowers. It was difficult. The dancing shadows
of the fire played tricks on her sight, but she found it. “Colton!” she ran for the door. The carriage was empty.
She stumbled out and looked around. Then she noticed a pair of legs from under the carriage. Her breath
caught in her throat as she gripped the ankles and hauled the body from under.

She fell by Colton’s side. The dirt from her fingers smudged his face as she wiped blood from his lips.
“Colton, please no,” she sobbed. “Wake up...Colton!” His eyelids twitched. Cilia froze. She pressed her ear
against his chest and heard the steady beat. It was stable. Relief washed over her as she hugged him tightly. She
sobbed softly as she cradled him through the night.
 19

Chapter 3: Crow Feed

The last streams of smoke were almost invisible in the light of the morning as they curled from black,
charred wood. Colton sat with his back against the wheel of his carriage. He nodded his thanks when Cilia
found him some water to drink. He drank it violently and threw the skin aside when he was finished.

His eyes were bloodshot, and a dark expression she had never seen on him before veiled them as he
stared at the caravan. At the bodies of humans and elves alike.

“W...what happened?” She stared at the ground, unable to look up. Unable to close her eyes. Every
time she did she saw Sebastian. Or the dead elf. Or Rodney’s shattered face.

“We were attacked.” His voice trembled. “They fell on us like a sudden storm. They didn’t even get
off their horses...they just rode through and...I managed to get two of them but I was hit and must’ve fallen
beneath the carriage...otherwise I’d be dead like the rest of them.

There was so much there that she wanted to unpack, but one bit, in particular, pulled her attention.
“You...got two of them?”

Colton looked at her. His red eyes weighed down by the dark bags beneath them. “I...killed two of
them. One should be in front of the carriage.”

Cilia’s nose flared as she took sharp, shallow breaths. The world spun as stars filled her vision. Killed.
He killed. But killing...Colton wouldn’t.

“Cilia, Cilia! Breathe!”

She hardly heard him. And when he pulled her into a tight embrace, she shuddered as she sobbed.

“I know. I know.” He pet her head.

She wasn’t sure how long she was like that before she finally calmed down enough for Colton to hold
her away. “Veronna,” she said. “They k...killed Rodney. Does that mean—”

“Not necessarily.” He grunted as he struggled to his feet. He held his side as he limped through the
wreckage. Cilia pressed her face into his back so that she wouldn’t have to see the glass eyes of the dead staring
at her. “There aren’t enough elven corpses,” he said. “More of them had come along. And there should be
more women.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means they were taken, not killed.”

“Taken...why?”

“Cilia...I will look for Veronna. So turn around and walk back to the forest.”
 20

“What? Why? What do you mean taken? Colton?”

He sighed. “Elves are...rare outside of the forests. And so they’re...sought after in certain...markets. As
are women in general.”

“What markets?”

He sighed again. “The slave trade, Cilia. They’ve likely been taken to be sold off in the slave trade.”

Her body tingled with numbness. “B...but. We’re weaker than humans! What sort of labor would
they use slaves for?”

Colton looked at her with a frown and pained gaze. “Cilia...there are certain labors where the only
requirement is that you have a body.”

“Certain...” she gaped. “No...Colton, that can’t.”

“I’m sorry Cilia. I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to get her back, I just need you to go back
to the forest.” He turned back for his carriage and knelt over a body in front of it. Cilia didn’t recognize the
face. It must be the one that Colton... she couldn’t even think the word. The corpse’s chest was drenched in
blood as though the throat was torn out. Colton did that?

She looked in the direction of the forest. In the direction of home. A part of her felt like if she were to
return to her bed and sleep, the world would right itself by morning. It’d be like a dream. A very bad dream.
And then she thought of Colton facing whatever he was to face alone. Doing more...killings for her and
Veronna. “No.” She said.

Colton turned on her. “What?”

“I’m not going back...I can’t just sit down in bed while you...I can’t Colton.”

He stared at her then sighed. “I know there’s no talking to you when you get like this. Alright, Cilia.
We’ll travel together. Before I was...hit...I freed Bucks from the carriage.”

Bucks was the name of the horse that pulled Colton’s carriage.

“Hopefully he got far enough away to avoid the notice of the attackers, but not so far that we can’t
find him in daylight. We can travel on him. It’s good that you’re wearing a hood...never pull it down unless
we’re alone.” He looked around. “You gather supplies. Sleeping rolls, food, water, whatever we might need.
I’ll look for Bucks.” He stopped but his mind worked on his face.

“What’s the matter?”

 21

“It’s just. It might be easy enough to find her...but freeing her is a different thing altogether. Maybe if
we can find something valuable we can use it to buy her but...I doubt those marauders left anything, and if
they did it was probably because it was on fire.” He sighed. “It’s all right. I’ll find something.”

“How about this?” she dipped into her knapsack and pulled out the circlet. Colton shot up and took
it from her hands.

“Yes...this just might do it,” he said softly before he smiled. “Look at that, you’re already helping.” he
kissed her on the forehead. “Go look for the supplies.”

“Colton.” She said. “What are we to do with the bodies?”

“They’re crow feed now.”

Cilia gasped.

“No...I mean. There’s not much to be done. We need to move fast. If Veronna gets sold to a foreign
merchant or noble then it’s over, you understand? Time, Cilia, time is the enemy here...and we can’t take it
for granted.”

“Okay.” Cilia turned and stared at the carnage. She steeled herself for the search. “Okay.” We’re
coming Veronna...I promise.
 22

Chapter 4: Elf In the City

Cilia was finally where she always wanted to be, and just as her father warned, it was nothing like she
ever imagined.

She was in a tiny room that took all of five steps to walk from wall to wall. She approached the
window and saw more people than he had ever seen in one place in her entire life, all stomping through mud
and muck. The floorboards creaked as she paced, and she did everything to shield her nose from the putrid
scent of waste and excrements.

Colton had found the room for cheap. The less money they used the better, they would need as much
as they could get their hands on if—when they found Veronna. She heard stomping and the lock on the door
clacked before it opened. Colton stepped in and removed the hood from his head. His eyes were red, heavy,
and perpetually dark. His hair hung wildly, and the beginnings of his fuzz had returned above his lips and on
his chin.

A blade was also strapped to his waist, about the length of his forearm. She wasn’t sure how she felt
about how comfortable he seemed with it by his side. His expression lightened when he saw her. He stepped
close and planted a kiss on her cheek. He didn’t smell the best at the moment, but she doubted she did either.

“I might have made some headway,” he said. “I’m going to meet up with someone soon who can give
us some information on where they sell the slaves in this city.”

Cilia’s nostrils flared at the word, as always. The whole concept of slavery went against everything
she’d been taught, everything she’d ever believe.

“You have the circlet?”

She nodded and pulled the knapsack from beneath the bed. Colton took it from her and pulled the
circlet out.

“Alright.” he stepped for the door.

“Colton,” Cilia said and he turned. “I’m coming with you.”

“Cilia, we spoke about this...the city isn’t safe. You should stay here—”

“Is it? Before you came back I heard some shouting outside. I looked when it was over and I saw a
man face down in the mud. I think he’s still there now. What if someone decides to break in? What if—”

“Alright.” Colton sighed. “Alright, I understand. Tie up your hair. Even though there are humans
with blonde hair, hair that light will still draw attention. And keep your hood up, always. Understand?”
 23

Cilia nodded and did as told.

Colton held her arm so tight as they walked it hurt. She didn’t complain though, not when he also
held her so close. Her shoes plopped through the stinky mud and she squealed when someone threw a bucket
of nose-turning filth right beside her.

“Easy,” Colton said. “You’re sticking out.”

“Sorry.” She glanced up once or twice but the look of the men that made eye contact only made her
look down again and step closer to Colton. They took a turn into a dark alley and stopped.

“This is the place,” he said.

Cilia looked up and down the alley. “There’s no one here.”

“He’s coming...he better.”

Cilia noticed his hand grasp his blade at that last part. They waited for a few minutes.

“There.” Colton looked to the end of the alley where a short hooded figure in a tattered cloak
approached.

“A child!” Cilia gasped.

“No...A goblin.” contempt dripped from the word.

The little creature stood before them and removed its hood. With green skin, large ears, yellow eyes,
and a terribly large nose, this was certainly no child. But what Cilia found particularly curious was the collar
around its neck.

“Alright goblin, where’s the market?” Colton asked harshly.

“Jibbs is my name, master,” the goblin said with a scratchy voice.

Master?

Colton gave him a stone gaze.

Jibbs rubbed his hands together and glanced about. “Alright, I’ll take you there.” He held up his
palms.

“You’ll get your pay when we get there,” Colton said.

“Will master really pay?”

“Are you questioning me!” Colton snapped and stomped at the goblin that squealed as he fell to the
dirt.
 24

“Colton!” Cilia went for Jibbs so quickly her hood fell off. “What’s gotten into!” She helped Jibbs up.

“It’s okay miss elf, this is the life of a goblin.”

Colton jeered as he threw her hood back over her head. “There is no miss elf here, you understand?”

Jibbs nodded. “I will trust master with the payment. Come now, I need to do this fast before my
owner knows I am missing.”

They followed Jibbs through the street. “What was that?” Cilia asked Colton.

“What was what?”

“Why’d you treat him like that?”

“Like what...oh...Cilia, he’s a goblin.” He said as though that answered everything.

She paused for a second. “What if he’s a goblin, he’s a sentient creature!”

Colton huffed. “Barely.”

Cilia slapped him on his shoulder. “You don’t treat sentient beings like that!

“Cilia...but. Alright, if it means that much to you, then fine. I’ll treat him better.”

“Good. And after we get Veronna we’re going to have a talk.”

“Alright.” he sighed. “Oi, goblin...er...Jibbs. How much further?”

“Not much further master...Just around this bend.”

Cilia stepped closer to Colton. This street, more than the others, frightened her. It was quiet, and the
only ones present other than them seemed to be the sort of people who justified Colton’s blade. They stopped
in front of a dilapidated store. The window was mostly boarded up and the wood was black and rotten in
some places.

Jibbs held up his palms.

“Not yet, Jibbs.” He stepped through the door and Cilia followed. The floor creaked beneath her feet
and she heard the scratchings of rats.

“You there!” A fat man dressed in a bright, colorful robe bellowed as he entered from a back room.
Cilia gaped at the out of place man. “The name’s Jericho Alabaster!” He offered a fat hand with sausage
fingers decorated in rings to Colton.

Colton didn’t shake. “I hear your products are sought after,” he said.
 25

“Ah! My products are the best in the city.” Jericho shuffled behind the counter and Cilia heard the
clinks of glasses. He pulled out a bottle of a dark blue liquid. “You take a sip of this and you’ll please your
woman no doubt, just make sure you have your weekend free.”

Heat bloomed in Cilia’s cheeks.

“We’re not here for you snake oil.”

Are we sure about that?

“We’re here for...your other goods.”

Jericho looked to Jibbs who stepped behind Cilia.

“Ah...I see. Then you’re in luck. My selection in that department is also the best in the city. We even
had a new batch recently.”

Cilia looked to Colton. It’s her

Jericho led them to a back room. Whereas the rest of the store seemed to be fragile wood, the door to
the backroom was made from iron. It clanked as Jericho unlocked it and it creaked as he pushed it open. It
stunk inside the room. Jericho lit a torch and illuminated the cells. Cilia gasped at some of the emaciated
people. Some humans, some goblins, none were elves.

Jibbs tugged at Colton and held up a palm. Colton dipped into his pocket and pulled out a pouch of
coin and dropped a few in Jibbs’ hand. He continued forward. Cilia smiled at Jibbs who only stared at her
with wide, yellow eyes.

“As you can see I have a wide selection,” Jericho said.

“You said you had a recent shipment?” Colton asked.

“Yes, a few nights ago...elves.”

Cilia stiffened but tried to hide it.

He led them deeper. To the back, where he said he was keeping the elves. Cilia suppressed the gasp
when she saw a group huddled in the corner of a cell. She knew them. She grabbed Colton’s sleeve. Colton
glanced. His face was hard and his gaze cold.

“Forget them,” he whispered.

Her heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean, forget them?” she said in his ear.

“We came for Veronna.”

“But—”
 26

“But nothing. What were you expecting? That we’d come in here and liberate all the slaves? We can’t
free them, we can’t buy them. We only have enough for Veronna.”

Cilia stepped back. She knew that he made sense, but how could he say it so easily?

Colton sighed. “Cilia,” he touched her cheek. “Out here. Outside of the forest, sometimes we need to
make hard choices. Make dark decisions. It’s just the way of things. Jericho!” He called. “Is this all?”

“No sir. Right, this way.”

He turned back to Cilia. “Steel yourself,” he said. Cage by cage they examined. It took all of Cilia’s
will to not break down in tears right there. A few times she had to pull the hood further down when a few
faces she recognized stepped for a closer look.

Finally, they examined the last cell. “She’s not here.” the words felt hollow. “Colton, she’s not here!”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.” He turned to Jericho. “Is this all?”

“Yes sir.”

“Are you certain? Is there no other?”

“There was another. An Elf girl, but she was so feisty that she sold quickly.” Jericho held his gut as he
laughed.

“Who.” Colton’s voice was low.

“Hm? A big name around here from the House of Nobles. Aberrama Finch.”

Colton staggered back and squeezed Cilia’s hand.

She glanced at him and saw how pale his skin was. “Colton?” she whispered. “Who’s that?”

“I-I see,” Colton said as he let go of her hand. “Alright.”

“What’s the matter?” Jericho asked.

“I got word of a particularly feisty elf, myself. Now that you tell me she’s gone...I suppose there’s no
point anymore.” Colton answered.

“Ah! Now hang on. I’m sure I can find a match for you!”

“No need, Jericho. I’ll return when it suits me.” He grabbed Cilia and pulled her out of the store.

“Colton!” She said. “We can go back and get someone else!”

“That circlet is still the best chance we have at bargaining. Not that there’s much, to begin with...” he
hesitated. “Aberrama Finch...It just had to be him.”
 27

“Who’s that?”

“A very rich man, that’s who he is. And a sick one. We need to think of something, Cilia, his slaves
don’t last long.”

Colton stormed into their small room and immediately made for the window. Then he stepped back
to the door and double-checked the locks.

“What’s gotten into you?” Cilia asked him.

“What are you talking about?” he said as he paced for the bed.

“You’ve been acting differently ever since we got to the city. The way you treated Jibbs, the way you
made me leave my people, the way you reacted when Jericho...who’s Aberrama Finch?”

He cringed when she said the name. “A bad person.” He sat on the bed and stared at the ground. Cilia
sat beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Who is he to you?”

He looked at her. The weight in his eyes broke her heart. He got up with a sniff and stepped for a
drawer. He pulled out a knife and handed it to her.

“Colton?”

“I need you to keep this, and use it if necessary.”

“What!” she dropped the weapon as though it bit into her skin.

Colton reached for it. “Cilia, I understand, believe me, I do, but this is a different world from what
you’re used to. And if we’re going to get Veronna from Finch, well, you need to be ready for the worst. To do
the worst.”

“Colton, I don’t think...”

“Cilia, please.” He pressed it into her palm. “For me.”

She nodded.

He sighed with a relieved expression and stepped for the window. “Sometimes I forget that there’s no
fresh air here.”

Cilia laughed as approached from behind. “Yeah. I don’t think I like cities all that much.”

“You’re just in the wrong part, that’s all.”

 28

“Maybe,” she looked through the murky glass and noticed a short figure staring up at their room.

“Do you hear something?” Colton asked as he looked to the door.

“Hm...no, I...Is that Jibbs?”

“What?” He swung back around and stared into the street. “Shit! Fucking goblin!”

“What is it?” Cilia said in a panicked tone.

“Grab the knife—”

The door to the room burst from its hinges. Cilia screamed as large, evil-faced men rushed into the
room. “Get back!” Colton roared to Cilia. He drew the blade at his waist too slowly. One of the men sent his
club into the side of his head and he fell lifeless at her feet.

“Colton!” She glanced up at the men and jumped for the knife on the bed but was yanked back by her
hood and thrown to the ground.

“The goblin was right, It is a fucking elf,” One man grated as another pressed his knee into her back,
pressing all air from her lungs.

“Aberrama’s going to be happy.” Another said as she struggled.

Goblin? Jibbs?

“Oi, not bad.” The one on her back said.

“Thank you.” She recognized the scratchy voice.

“Jibbs!” she said. “Jibbs! Why is this happening?” She sobbed.

“You’re nice, miss elf,” Jibbs said. “But this is just the way things are outside of the forests.”

Tears welled at the words. She stared at Colton and saw the blood draining from the side of his head.
You were right, she sobbed. You were right.
 29

Chapter 5: The Worst of Things

Cilia woke in a dark, dank cell. The slow plops of dripping water echoed from the darkness. She
coughed at the scratch in her throat. The men had placed a rag over her nose and mouth. The scent tore at
then she fell unconscious.

She sat up and pressed her back against the wall. “Colton.” the name touched her lips as soon as it
flashed across her mind. Then she remembered Colton on the floor beside her with blood draining from the
side of his head. She remembered the sound of the club when it slammed into him. A crack.

She touched the ribbon around her throat. It choked her. She pulled her knees up to her chin and
shuddered as she sobbed. The memories of her father rose.

“You wouldn’t teach a child to swim by throwing her into the ocean.”

That’s what he had said. She should have listened. She was a child who’d never seen water deeper, or
wider than a stream and thought she could swim across the ocean. And now she was drowning. And soon
she’d be dead. That’s what Colton said, wasn’t it? The slaves of Aberrama didn’t last long. What did he do to
them? Cilia gripped her hair as she imagined the darkest things.

The clank of a metal door opening made her freeze. She pressed herself into the corner of the cell as a
shadow cast by sconces approached with the sound of heavy boots on the stone floor. The man was tall and
dressed in a black uniform trimmed with gold. He knelt and pushed a platter through a small hole in the cell
door. His eyes met hers and she cringed away.

“Where does he keep finding things like you?” he chuckled nastily. “Oh what a thing to be rich. Oi elf,
how about making a working man’s life just a little easier?” he thrust his crotch into the bars. Disgust twisted
her face.

The man snorted and spat on her food. “Pity,” he said. “Was gonna be gentle with ya. That would’ve
been the last time you experienced that!” he laughed as he walked away.

The last time being gentle. Colton was always gentle. Even more so the few times since they started on
this quest. And now he was likely dead, and the thought of another man—especially a man like that guard
and what she imagined Finch was like—made her skin crawl. She’d prefer death over that.

She stared at the food. She’d die before eating. That’s what she wanted. She wanted to die. But then, if
she died, she’d never see Veronna again. If Veronna was even alive that is. But what if she was? Cilia wanted to
die...but she needed to see Veronna. How could she die peacefully, if she didn’t do everything in her power to
live?
 30

But how? How would she escape? And if she did, what would she do then? She knew nothing of this
place. She’d just be lost, wandering until some guard found her and threw her back in a cell again. But did that
matter? So long as she tried? She decided. She’d find a way out. That was first. All other problems came
second. But how?

She searched her mind for answers, all that came was Colton. “You need to be ready to do the worst,”
was what he said. What was the worst? She had an idea. The very thought made her shudder. Which meant it
was likely right. Tears welled again at the thought of it but she sniffed them away. She needed to steel herself.
She crawled to the platter of food—some grey slop—and emptied it into a bucket in the corner of the room.
She replaced it, crawled back to the wall, and waited.

She could almost count the hours by the pounding of her heart. And when she finally heard the clank
of the door, anxiety chilled her blood. She swallowed with a dry throat as the shadow approached. The stray
thought that it was a different guard crossed her mind. She threw it aside. It had to be the same guard. It
simply had to be. It was.

“Ate it all?” he asked. “Had a change of heart, have you?” Cilia opened her mouth, but her lips
trembled too much for her to form words. The man stooped, pulled the tray out, and stood to leave.

It was now or never.

“W-wait!” she called to him.

The man turned.

“Y-you said it was the last time I’d experience gentleness, what did you mean?”

“What did I mean?” he guffawed. “Well the man you’ll be served up to...well...you wouldn’t be the
first branded corpse I threw aside with blood inside their thighs.”

Cilia pressed her legs together at the image.

“Why? Considering my offer?” the guard asked

Cilia didn’t answer, she just looked up at him.

“Well in that case...” he pressed his crotch against the cell again. “Have at it.”

She did nothing. Through the cell? No, that wouldn’t work, it wouldn’t work if she couldn’t get her
hands on him. “How gentle can you be with a cell between us?”

“You’d be surprised. What? You want me to get in there? And then you can cut me with a broken
rock you found? No thank you.” He stepped away.
 31

Panic rose in her. She had to find some way. Then she thought back to the night she thought was the
last time she’d ever see Colton. What did he say? “...the most precious thing you can give a man...”

Just how precious was it?

“W-wait!”

“That’s the second time elf. There won’t be a third.”

“I-it’s just. I-I’ve never been with a man.”

He stepped forward.

“I’ve only ever...”

“Only ever what?”

She remembered something Veronna showed her once. “I’ve only ever used...polished wood.”

The man burst out laughing. “polished wood! About what I’d expect from you tree-lovers!” he
laughed himself out. Then he watched her. She felt his eyes scan her from top to bottom and she wanted to
skin herself. But she had his attention, and she wouldn’t waste it.

She pulled her blouse from over her shoulder, hesitated as it reached her breast, pressed her eyes shut,
and thrust it down. She opened them and the man was frozen in place. She wanted to vomit. “Please.” She
held her hands up. “I have nothing.”

“Elf...are you sure about this?”

She nodded.

The guard took a sharp breath in. “Fuck it.” The keys jingled as he fumbled with the lock and the cell
door grated as he pushed it open. Cilia fought the urge to bolt for the door. The man stepped close, breathing
heavily through his mouth. He fell to his knees. She looked away from his face. If she stared at him she knew
that she’d scream.

He pulled her blouse over her head and panties over her knees. “Would you look at that?” He said.
“The fucking nobles get all the good stuff.”

I don’t want to hear that from you.

His palms were rough, and slimy with sweat. He put one hand behind her head, and the other at the
small of her back, and pulled her up against him. He brought his face to hers. She screamed internally, but let
him kiss her. His spit was sour.
 32

His fingers reached down, and she wanted to bite his ear off. But that was too soon. A moan escaped
because of his touch, and she wanted to tear her traitorous throat out. She could feel him through his pants.
The worst of things. She reached. He felt bigger than Colton, grotesquely so.

“Ah fuck,” he put her on her back and unbuckled his pants. She wanted to cry at the sight of him but
she bit back the tears. He lay on top of her, his second head touched her mound.

Now! Every part of her screamed. Do it now! She couldn’t. She’d have one chance and one chance
only.

The worst of things.

She gasped as he entered. She pulled his head down and hid her sobs in her moans. He had said he’d
be gentle. Liar. Only one phrase was on her mind. I’m sorry. with every thrust. I’m sorry. The guard panted
and slobbered in her ear. She wanted to end it. She wanted to end it right then. She couldn’t. She had to be
certain he was at his weakest.

His thrusting grew faster. His groans grew louder. It was close. So close. Then he pulled out. No! She
wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him back in. He shuddered as he burst inside her. Now! She
threw her face into his neck and sunk her teeth into his throat. He wailed as she wrung her head, as the iron
taste of blood exploded in her mouth. The man pushed himself off but Cilia jumped back on him and sunk
her teeth in again. She bit and pulled and tore until the guard stopped moving altogether. She stumbled as she
rose. She looked at the man and spat on his face before putting on her clothes and leaving.

She ran through the dark halls. Just as she thought, she had no idea which direction to go. But she had
to keep moving. She turned corner, after corner, eventually coming up on a dead end. Shit! She turned but
froze when she heard steps approaching. She threw herself against the wall.

The steps only got louder. Such a short time of freedom. But she wouldn’t be taken. She’d fight until
they killed her. She waited, and when they were just around the bend she leaped. Black and gold-filled her
vision as she clawed at the uniform.

Hands gripped and she struggled against them.

“Cilia!”

She froze at the voice. She looked at the man that held her. “Colton?”

He gave a pained smile. “You look terrifying.”

“Colton!” She threw herself on him. He held her as tightly as she held him. Like he never wanted to
let go. “How?”
 33

“They wanted me alive.”

“Why?”

He didn’t answer. “Come on, we need to get out of here.”

“Wait, Veronna.”

He turned. “I know. Come on. I have a plan. I know where to find some water and you need to get
cleaned up.”

Colton’s grip was tight on Cilia’s arm as he walked her through the halls of Aberrama Finch’s Manor.
He did know where the water was. And he seemed to know the layout of the Manor so well that he walked it
with enough confidence to not be questioned. And when he was the answer came immediately. “Another one
for Finch.” And the guard that asked would nod knowingly.

She gazed at him. She saw the muscles of his jaw tense beneath the skin. She saw the fire in his eyes.
But why? And how did he...then it struck her. The scars on his chest. The letters weren’t A. P. They were A.
F. Aberrama Finch.

Now it made sense. Why he seemed to know the layout so well. His reaction when the slave trader
mentioned the name. He belonged to Finch. Now she wasn’t sure if he was doing this for her and Veronna, or
if he was doing it for himself. And she didn’t care. She’d never hated anyone before. But now, she wanted a
man she had never even met dead.

They approached large, wooden doors decorated with gold engravings. “This is it,” Colton said. “I
can’t promise you what we’ll find on the other side. I can’t promise you that we’ll find Veronna in one piece.”

She could tell he wasn’t being hyperbolic.

“He uses...knives and hooks.” His grip tightened on her again.

“No matter what we find, Finch dies.”

“We might die soon after.”

She touched his cheek. “Dying with you doesn’t sound so bad.”

He smiled, then, he pushed open the door. And Cilia paled.

The first thing that reached her was the scent. The smell of excrement drilled her nose and made her
gag. Colton staggered back, his feet plopping in the blood. He hunched over and vomited on the floor.

Cilia stared. She stared at the meaty, purple tubes that snaked all across the floor. Intestines.
 34

“C-Cilia.” Colton vomited again. “Get out of here, you shouldn’t have to see this.”

She didn’t listen. “No...Colton...look.” She pointed at the trail of guts and where it led. To a fat naked
man, clutching his torn open gut, and with a red blotch where his penis should have been.

“What...that’s...Finch.” He stopped by the bed and a shriek pierced Cilia’s ears.

“Colton!” She yelled as a naked, blood-covered woman leaped on his back and planted a hook in his
chest. “No!”

Colton roared and threw her on the ground. He fell on top of her, pinning her hands on the ground.

Cilia stared at the madwoman drenched in blood, sobbing as much she was hissing. It couldn’t be.
“Veronna?” Cilia said and the woman froze. Colton looked up from her to Cilia and then back to her.

“It is.” He said.

“Veronna!” Cilia fell by her side and sobbed into her ear as she stroked her hair. “Veronna!” she
sobbed her name. Veronna stared at her with blank and confused eyes. “Veronna, it’s me, Cilia. And that’s
Colton. She looked between them both. Her eyes welled as she drew in ragged breaths. She lifted her arm and
pointed with a trembling hand at Finch’s corpse.

“I-I-I—”

“I know, Cilia said as she hugged her. “I know. You had to do the worst of things.”

Veronna cried into her neck. Cilia held her as she shuddered. And Colton held them both.

In time, Veronna died down, and Colton stepped away. He walked over to a trolley and Cilia heard
the clank of metal as pulled out drawers. He turned and threw a razor at her knees. Then he pulled out a
cleaver and swung it a few times.

“I know how you feel about holding a weapon,” he said. “But if we have even a slight chance of
getting out of here...there’s killing to be done.”

Cilia looked to Veronna who stared blankly at the ground and reached for the razor. A fire burned in
her. “Even if there’s no chance of getting out of here alive...there’s killing to be done.”
 35

Epilogue
“Well...there it is,” Colton said as he stared at the forest on the horizon. “Home.”

The cool dusk air flowed made Cilia’s hair sway as she sat beside Colton on the carriage. “Is it?” She
looked up at him. The man she fell in love with, the man she wanted to live her life with wasn’t there
anymore. He was dead. He had to be, after everything she’d seen him do to get her and Veronna out of Finch’s
Manor and the city. She hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. No, this wasn’t man the wanted
to live her life with. This was the man she wanted to die with. And after the things he saw her do with the
razor—that she still kept in the waist of her underwea— she had no right to complain. “I don’t belong there
anymore.”

Colton nodded. “And how about you?” He turned to Veronna who sat on some cushions in the
carriage. “Do you want to go home?”

Veronna stared blankly at the wooden floor. She hadn’t said a single word since they found her. But
Colton always spoke to her. “it’s a matter of time.” he said when Cilia asked him why.

“No.”

Cilia stared at Veronna, but she said nothing else.

“Alright then,” he said with a sigh, “Where too then?”

Cilia looked to the first stars of the night. “Remember when you told me about a waterfall that always
had a rainbow, day and night?”

“I do.”

“Let’s go there first.”

He kissed her on her forehead. “Not a bad choice. Not a bad choice at all.”