No one challenged or tried to stop us as we left the city, but as we reached the outskirts, Prince Khithran came running. "Ythi, wait!" he said urgently. Ashton looked anguished at the use of the name he'd given up when he'd left his home all those years ago, but he turned anyway. "Brother," he greeted, as the panting prince caught up to us. "What brings you here?"
Khithran took a deep breath. "I don't know what you're planning," he said, "but I want to come with you."
Ashton frowned. "Why?" he asked. "You're Mother's favourite son; her golden child, some might say. Why would you give that up to join me in exile?"
"I've been talking to some of the younger elves," Khithran said. "They all agree; our current way of life is going to get us all killed one day. They're willing to join me in leaving Chaingad for good."
I raised an eyebrow, but this time, I kept my mouth shut as Ashton shot me a warning look. "I appreciate the help," he told his brother, "but you can't just up and renounce yourself like that."
Khithran glared at him. "I'm not a baby anymore," he said coldly. "I can make my own decisions as I choose. And I'm choosing to give up a way of life that's stagnating. We're easy pickings for the outside world, and if we don't stop, there won't be a dark elf left alive within ten years."
Ashton looked shaken. "I had no idea," he said.
"It's not common knowledge," Khithran said. "But anyone who's got half a brain in their head knows full well we're killing ourselves from the inside. I don't fancy turning my brains to mush, and if I have to exile myself the way you did fifteen years ago, then so be it. Though there isn't much of our family left to kill," he added with a rueful smile.
"I can't condone this," Ashton warned the prince. "I agree that things are certainly decaying around here. It was one of the reasons why I left. But if half the population leaves, they're going to get themselves slaughtered outright, if not taken captive and used as hostages."
"I'd rather that than listen to Mother bang on about the good old days," Khithran said sourly.
Ashton stared hard at him for a moment, before nodding. "Very well," he said. "But I don't want you all leaving en masse. Schedule it and make it look gradual. And don't tell a damned soul. The Nightlily is already smarting over the fact we got in virtually under their nose, and we don't want to rile them up any more."
"I'm not stupid," Khithran said dryly. "We've been planning this for weeks. Most of them are going to seek refuge with the night elves, who don't like us very much, by the way. Thanks ever so much for that stunt ten years ago, you moron"
"That was not my fault," Ashton said defensively. "Their queen started it; I just took advantage of their slipshod handling, and the rest fell into place very neatly."
"She threatened to geld the next dark elf who ventured into her kingdom," Khithran said sourly. "I had to do some very slick talking to get her to stand down."
Ashton sighed and conceded the point. "You want to come with us, don't you?"
"I do," Khithran said. "I feel I can be of more use to you that way. Lanlanor won't like it, though. Is he still smarting over those remarks I made about him and Princess Teriani?"
"Yes," Ashton said flatly. "He's promised to geld you the next time he sees you, by the way. I hope you don't want to be a father in the future; Lanlanor can hold a grudge like no one I've ever seen, and your remarks about him and the princess weren't very nice."
"All I said was, she could better than some rank half-breed," Khithran said defensively, and Ashton sighed. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDSmzLGYQW
"You said more than that," he corrected, "but we haven't time to debate semantics. If you're that set on coming with us, we need to move. The Nightlily is already giving me a look that suggests they're happy to make up for their earlier failure, so cut the crap and let's get going."
His tone suggested he was about at the end of his patience, and Khithran wisely shut his mouth. Ashton set him as rearguard alongside Paradox, who gave him the flattest, most unfriendliest look I'd ever seen him give anyone, and I silently thanked the gods he counted me as a friend, even knowing who I truly was. I settled for walking at Peyton's head, using my grip on his bridle to keep myself steady. Tonight had not gone as I'd expected, but at least some dark elves would be saved.
For I still hadn't given up on my plan to turn my weapon on myself. I knew the others would convince me not to, but I wasn't so sure I was that easily redeemable.
"Yes you are," Peyton said softly, for my ears alone, and I realised I'd spoken aloud. "You can kid yourself all day, friend, but let's face it. You joined us because you were looking for a reason to dismantle that weapon of yours, and you've found it in spades."
I smiled sadly. "I wish I had your confidence, you impertinent pack-pony," I derided, "but I'm not so sure."
Peyton huffed, ears flicking in annoyance. "Fionn, give it up," he chided. "You're much more good at heart than you let on, and I'll wager when the time comes to do The Thing, you'll realise you've got something to live for; friendship, companionship, love, and so on."
"I already know all that," I said. "And I want to believe it. But I've less faith in myself than you all seem to think. I can do the world a great service by doing The Thing."
"Says who?" Peyton challenged. His dark eyes seemed to hold a great deal of knowledge for a cart horse who had inadvertently gained the ability to speak, and I found myself with nothing left to say to his final question. So I settled for guiding him through the dark forest, which was pitch black to everyone's eyes except Ashton and Khithran, who used their night-sight to guide us past all the pitfalls that surfaced when night fell on the forest. It was certainly a welcome distraction from the new, not-entirely-unwelcome thoughts buzzing around in my brain.
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