The crowd started to cheer and roar behind Kyle and Summer. The Green Men started to advance on the two with their weapons pointed right at them.
Summer shrieked and his her face in her hands.
Kyle looked around frantically. The figures had turned and were starting to retreat to the cave behind the stone platform.
“Wait please!” Kyle called out in hopes of salvation, “Please its not our fault! We followed the deer! We followed it!”
Suddenly the elf stopped and turned around. She strode up to the platform briskly and slammed her hand on the platform. She looked furious.
“What did you say?” She asked harshly through gritted teeth.
The Green Men stopped and tilted up their spears and turned their attention to the elf. Kyle looked at her with terrified eyes.
He stammered, “A deer….we followed a deer. Followed her here.”
The elf’s eyes widened in anger and she spun to face the dragon.
“My Lady, I know this creature they speak of.”
The dragon looked at her, then at the children. She looked at the elf again and stared at her with fire in her eyes.
“You will take these children to Khannah. Have her sharpen their memories rather than wipe them. Then you will bring them back here along with the creature. We will sort this mess out then.”
She turned to face Kyle and Summer.
“Boy. We will use your memories to our advantage, then we will send you home again without your memories,” she said in a very monotone voice. She turned back towards the elf.
She snarled at her, “Fix this mess!”
The elf nodded and turned away from the rest of the important figures. She began to walk towards the wall and along the path down towards the awaiting crowd. The Green Men parted for her and she stepped up to stand in front of Kyle. Summer still held her head in her hands but was occasionally peeking through her fingers.
The elf peered down at Kyle. She was taller than an average person. And although her face was beautiful, up close her eyes were tired and ancient, however their deep rose color caught the eerie blue light of the cave in a purple glow.
She leaned down, inches away from Kyle’s face. She spoke calmly in a low voice. “Follow me. We will enhance your mind with Khannah and you will tell us everything.”
Kyle nodded. He grabbed Summer’s hand and followed the elf as she started to walk. The crowd parted as they all made their way out of one cave and back into the sunlight of the strange world.
Summer sniffed and wiped her nose. She looked up at the elf.
“What’s your name?” She asked quietly.
The elf spoke without turning towards Summer, “I hardly think that is of importance to you human.”
Summer frowned slightly.
“But what do we call you if we have more questions?” She asked bluntly.
The elf snorted, “It is not my place to answer your questions, girl.”
Summer looked at the ground. The elf glanced over and sighed.
“My name is Didrika, child,” she sighed.
Summer looked up and smiled, “That’s a pretty name.”
Didrika nodded slowly, “It means ruler of the people, and I uphold that meaning to the best of my ability. Most of us here have names of our origin with relevant meaning. However there are few creatures here that still take from your kind in names and style and custom. If it is not dangerous, we allow it.”
Then she turned sharply to stare daggers at Summer.
“However, she hissed, “humans are never welcome here. Consider yourselves lucky the Grand Lady did not cast you into the cavern pit and kill you both.”
She turned back around and continued walking.
Summer looked more pale that usual and she shrank back down to once again hide behind Kyle. The three of them all neared a large lake with a large twisted tree emerging from the middle of the dark green water. Didrika stopped against the edge of the lake. She turned to face the two again.
“We’re here. Humans, this is Khannah.” She said, gesturing at the water.
Kyle gasped and Summer’s eyes widened.
“Woah,” she breathed.
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