A flag waved high in the air; Lily didn’t recognise it. She could see the soldiers even from here, their armour shining against the open sunlight.

  ‘I think we’re going to have to walk around that,’ she suggested to Thorne. He gripped the hilt of his sword in a way that worried her.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Thorne… it’s not worth the trouble…’ Lily protested, grabbing his arm as he walked forward. But he’d made up his mind and she doubted she could change it. She followed behind him, covering her ears with her hands. It was bad enough that a lone knight was travelling without his battalion, it’d be worse if they found out he was travelling with an elf.

  Every step Thorne took was meaningful. Like he was trying to be as loud as possible. Lily trailed behind him, trying to bring as little attention to herself.

  ‘We could still turn back Thorne…’

  Thorne stopped; Lily looked at him hopefully.

  ‘I’m a knight,’ he said, ‘I defend this land.’

  ‘They will let us pass.’

  Every second they got closer to the soldiers was a second Lily dreaded. She bit her tongue, taking her steps one by one.

  The soldiers looked up at Thorne as he got into their sights. They seemed relieved but still they clenched at their weapons in a way that terrified Lily. She wasn’t a fighter.

  ‘Halt. Border Patrol.’ The soldier at the front announced, ‘State your name and purpose’

  Lily held her hands to her ears and looked to the ground. She scrunched at her hair.

  ‘Thorne Carrow. Heading to Stonehold Keep.’

  The soldiers exchanged nervous glances at each other. Lily looked up carefully, taking in each face quickly but never lingering.

  ‘What business do you have there?’ The soldier asked.

  ‘My liege needs me.’

  ‘Who is your liege?’ the atmosphere had gotten distinctly tense. Lily held her breath.

  ‘King Hadrian, the Eternal.’

  Lily gasped quietly, choking a little. That had been the name of the king the first time she’d visited Stonehold, though his title hadn’t held up well after his unfortunate death.

  ‘Don’t joke with me.’ The soldier quivered, holding his spear tightly.

  ‘I do not.’ Thorne kept his voice firm, walking closer to the gates. The soldiers seemed to pressure them, they were closing in. Lily shook, they should’ve just taken the detour.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Just as Lily was sure a fight would break out, a voice called out,

  ‘It’s okay, let him through.’

  ‘But Captain…’ the soldier stammered, looking up to the man.

  He walked closer to Thorne, making his way through the thicket of polished shields and armour. Lily sneaked glances at him; he was dressed in a professional dark, a flowing cape of gold and red adorning his shoulders. A sharp scar ran down his forehead, ending at his chin.

  ‘Open the gates.’ He yelled to the soldiers; they scampered trying to follow his instructions quickly enough.

  He stood next to Thorne; he was scary to look at.

  ‘You’re a lost hero.’ he told Thorne, ‘Your efforts are better elsewhere.’

  ‘I decide that.’ Thorne answered, meeting the man’s gaze, ‘Not you.’

  ‘Alekto Vane, remember the name.’ Alekto said before gesturing to the open gates, ‘You’re free to go.’

  Thorne began to walk through the gates, Lily followed him quietly. They let Thorne go through but their spears blocked her path when she tried to follow. She froze.

  ‘Your friend, however, will have to undergo a more thorough questioning.’ Alekto snickered at Thorne.

  Lily’s blood felt ice cold. She held herself back from shaking and turning around to run.

  ‘She is my guide and she will be coming with me.’ Thorne clenched his sword’s hilt.

  ‘I don’t think we can make exceptions.’ Alekto said. Lily was getting more and more annoyed by him. This smug bastard.

  Thorne pushed the spears blocking her path away, motioning at her.

  Alekto didn’t make any motion to stop them, he just grinned.

  ‘My superiors will be hearing about this.’ he said to Thorne,

  ‘A knight and his pet elf travelling illegally into our territory.’

  Lily shuddered; she could feel Thorne’s attitude shift from violent to venomous. But regardless of how he felt, he didn’t act on it. He put an arm around her shoulder and, urgently pushed her forward.

  Lily lowered her hands from her ears, there was no point in trying to hide it anymore. She’d have to make a new cloak to replace her old one if she wanted to keep travelling with Thorne.

  She could feel the dozens of eyes trail against her back, watching her pointed ears with so much hate. And she could never explain fully what she’d done to deserve this hate.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Thorne said when the soldiers were dots in the distance, ‘I-I don’t have the time to waste.’

  ‘It’s okay.’ Lily’s voice was quiet and weak, she couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

  ‘It’s not.’

  ‘It’s not?’ She looked up at him and immediately regretted it. Her eyes were already tearing up, staring at him just let them flow.

  Thorne shook his head. He clenched his fist.

  ‘They’ll all suffer soon.’

  And Lily swore she saw a darkness cloud his eyes.

  But if it was her, she supposed she didn’t mind it as much. She leaned into his chest as they walked. Thorne wasn’t outpacing her anymore; he’d relaxed his stride a little. Maybe it was out of respect for her. She hoped it was.

  She snuck her fingers into his hand, holding onto it loosely. He didn’t try to stop her, so she held onto it a little tighter. His hands were so cold but his heart was so warm.

  Lily hadn’t thought about it much since they’d started traveling but Thorne was still a stranger to her; she had been too scared to ask enough questions or press him on any of the answers that he had given.

  But still, he had been kind to her. And that was enough for her to trust him, even in his silence. So, she held his hand for as long as she could.

  They went on like this for a while longer before Lily decided to perk up and ask,

  ‘Thorne Carrow? Where does that come from?’

  ‘I grew up in as the grandson in family of armoursmiths,’ he answered, his voice light-hearted, ‘Carrow is a type of mineral that we used to shape.’

  He paused, then asked,

  ‘And Lily Starbloom?’

  ‘It’s not as serious as yours,’ Lily giggled, ‘They say the stars bloom whenever one of us is born.’

  ‘And do they?’ there was a sense of humour in the way he asked it, so she played along.

  ‘They did when I was born.’

  Thorne laughed.

  And Lily laughed too.

  The sun hung low in a sky that shone just for them.

  She was guiding the kindest stranger to a centuries dead king, in a keep that had been destroyed for just as long. But it's not like the last elf in the world had a great many options.