Starlight (Book 1)

Chapter Thirty

Arik walked down a long hallway that led to the room where the Frostfall Halflings were waiting for him. After Ro had been branded, Arik tracked down Haren to watch over her while he met with the visitors. Haren had told him that there were ten soldiers from the Court of ice and snow with Moryn at the head. Moryn was not the Commander of their troops, but he was one of their best combatants. He was only sent on assignments pertaining to war. When Arik saw him approaching on horseback he feared the worse.

Arik walked through the double doors of one of the great halls. The soldiers stood in a typical stance, feet shoulder width apart with their hands clasped together behind their backs. Moryn stood a ways in front of them with his large arms folded across his chest. Arik approached him and held out a hand. The two Halfling gripped each other's forearms in a greeting.

"Moryn." Arik stated.

"Arik."

The Halfling broke apart and Moryn folded his arms across his chest again. Arik nodded towards the other soldiers from the Frostfall Court and to his soldiers that lined walls. The Frostfall Halflings were surrounded and if they choose to become a threat their tactics would not last any length of time. Arik motioned for Moryn to follow him out of the room and the Frostfall Halfling nodded to his comrades to keep their guard up.

Arik didn't speak until the doors closed behind them, "Why have you come?" His question was simple, and he was sure that the answer was as well.

"We have come for the woman whom was wrongfully given as an reimbursement for your services."

Arik shrugged his shoulders, "I am sorry to say that your journey was made in vain. The woman has already been branded."

Moryn smiled a cocky smile, "What are burns, but marks on the flesh."

Arik narrowed his eyes at the Frostfall Halfling, "You know the law as well as I."

"A human cannot be offered without the consent of the King." Moryn's words were thick with malice. "The Commander of the Black Capes acted on his own accord and will be greatly disciplined for his actions." Moryn motioned his head towards the door, "My soldiers and I have come to take back the woman in a peaceful manner."

"Explain to me the worth of this woman to your King? She was a stable girl when she was given to me." Arik was the one to motion his head towards the doors now, "Why is it that a King would send such a company of soldiers and Boggarts to our borders for a woman who merely shoveled animal waste?"

"We have come on behalf of our Second in Command." Moryn was getting aggravated, "I care not what the woman means to him. I just know that he wants her and I shall bring her back."

"The woman has been declared an official guest of King Niall and will not be removed from this Court."

Moryn raised his eyebrows, "What does this woman mean to your King? Has he bed her?"

Moryn's words struck a chord in Arik and before he could think he shoved the Frostfall Halfling against the stone wall and held his hand over his throat, "You tread in my Court. My territory. What this woman is to my King is none of your concern. She has been marked and made a permanent member of the Tempest Court. She will never again leave her footprints in the snow of your mountains or see the silver-haired Fairies of your land." Arik released the Halfling with a final shove, "I think it best you and your soldiers take your leave."

Arik turned his back to leave when Moryn cackled, "Such strong words coming from a male with such ties to my Court."

Arik swallowed. His back was stiff and his legs felt heavy.