The Elf, Drakent Arrow [top 100 books of all time checklist .txt] 📗

building took longer than I had

course, but finally discovered a possible entry. Some

vines climbing up the north wall of the school and came to a

outgoing to that with a little effort, could eventually climb. Not

would be difficult for him to climb from there to the nearest window.

The first part was easy. But when his fingers brushed the

stone of the building, something like a download shook his body and

became loose. Ankris react in time, again subject to the

vine for support. After several years of engagement with a

sorcery student, had learned enough to deduce

that the school was protected by a spell. Gritting his teeth,

shook his head. Nobody was going to block your Shi-Mae. Nobody.

She took a breath and jumped into the wall. He held on to the ledge with the

both hands and protection spell hit him again. Ankris is

overcame the pain and trying to ignore it, up to the next ledge

and continued the climb.

When he reached the window was sore all over, but,

other than that it was fine. She slipped inside the school, with

caution, and looked around. He was in a carpeted hallway

covered walls and rich fabrics. Before him was a series of

doors, but they were all closed. There seemed to be no one around.

Unsure of where to start looking, walked Ankris

down the hall cautiously.

He toured the building and, fortunately, no one came to see him. He still

possessing the skills they had drawn the attention of Captain

Sentinels as a child, and could be quiet as a shadow and

extremely fast if need be. He met with several apprentices and

even with some magician, wearing red robes, but in all those

Sometimes time managed to hide behind a wall or within an

empty room. Something told him to go to the heart of the school,

and therefore increasingly moved inwardly away from the

windows.

Finally, his boldness was rewarded. When going through a huge

and elegant living room, he heard a commotion further down and hid after a

Skin. Then entered the room two magicians who accompanied one

stretcher levitated several feet from the ground. On the table was a

elf girl seriously injured, which had various burns

on the face and hands. Ankris watched from hiding when

passed before him, and refrained from screaming.

She was Shi-Mae.

He was about to go to the party when someone else entered the

room. Ankris, devoured by impatience, went into hiding, just

time to prevent would discover the two wizards who had just

through the door.

- It's been a hard day, 'said one of them. I remain

convinced it was a good idea to let him submit to the test

early.

- Certainly, 'said a female voice. Fortunately, it is a young

very talented. I wonder, however, why he was so upset today.

Ankris frowned. The person who had spoken had a

voice soft and calm, but very strange accent, coarse and somewhat

unpleasant, compared with the melodious voice of the elves.

- So have you also noticed. I've been about to

suspend the test.

- That would not have been proper to you, Archmage. As much as

appreciate our learners, it is necessary that we treat all

equally. When one of them decides to have no Fire Test

no turning back.

- You are right, 'sighed the Archmage. 'll Go down and tell the Duke that

his daughter has passed the test of fire and he'll be fine as soon as he

we have applied the relevant healing spells. Do you wish

join me?

- I'd rather wait for you here, if you please. Today I feel a little

fatigued. Rejuvenating spells work only to a point.

- I forgot that you are no longer young, according to the canons of

your race. I'm afraid I've been too long without leaving this

School, and often tend to forget that decades pass not equal

to humans. Wait here, then. I will not be.

Ankris heard the rustle of a robe and held his breath away. It

was wondering if it was worth the risk of appearing, when,

suddenly, the tapestry that hid him disappeared without a trace, and he

met, face to face with a human woman dressed in a glittering

golden robe.

The two exchanged glances. As Ankris knew, was the golden robe

Archmages symbol, the most powerful wizards. Ankris not know

human who the woman was or why he was there, but what was

was clear that he had failed to deceive or hide from it.

- Excuse me, ma'am, 'he murmured. No. .. not intended to spy on. I know it

should be here, but ... was looking for someone and ...

- This school is protected by a powerful spell she said

gently. How'd you get in?

- Climbing up the wall.

Her eyes darkened slightly.

- You should be dead.

Ankris lowered his head. I was so tired and so scared he had not

forces to invent a convincing lie.

- I ... I'm not an elf as others.

- I know. Look at me.

Ankris obeyed. The Archmage was much shorter than he, but his

majestic presence as self-conscious to the point of making a child feel

small and helpless before her.

- You're not like the others, young elf, for two reasons. One I

you know, the other not. I can feel the beast that beats within you, but you

assure you that what helped you climb the wall of this

School.

- What do ... what you mean?

- You'll soon find out. But now, dear boy, you must

leave. Soon return the Archmage, and I doubt he is as

benevolent as me. Before leaving, however, I will say one thing:

if at some point in your life you have no place to go, come to the

Torre, in the Valley of the Wolves' He paused, and then added: Asked

by Aonia, Ms. de la Torre. I'll be waiting.

Ankris, surprised, opened his mouth to say something, but the Lady of the

Torre waved his hand and suddenly, everything began to spin ...

That evening the Duke went home to talk to Shi-Mae. Yet

still confused about it that morning. After his

foray into the Golden Wood School had awakened in the forest,

stunned, and he was not sure he had lived that experience

really. Since then, thought-Mae Shi ask if the Lady of the

Torre, the powerful Archmage, whom she admired, had been

present in its review, but that was not the main reason that

wanted to talk to her. Above what had happened in the

School Ankris wanted to know what had happened the night before, in the

forest, when the wolf within him had possessed him.

Contrary to what I expected, Shi-Mae agreed to talk to him without

demur. When he came in the room where the expected Ankris the

boy could not help shuddering, she was

completely refreshed from burns-no doubt that the

healers mages had done a good job, and wore the red tunic

identified as the sorceress. But in his eyes there was something like a

ice breath.

- Let the backyard, she said. You owe me an explanation.

And Ankris realized that although Shi-Mae was afraid of him, the

pride was stronger than fear.

When leaving the building were crossed with an elf that looked Ankris with some

antipathy, but this did not notice it. I was too conscious of

the vital conversation that would keep with Shi-Mae.

Moments later, they were sitting under a leafy tree,

next to each other. But Shi-Mae was careful not to brush to Ankris in

any time.

- Congratulations, 'he said. You have passed the test of fire. He knew that

'd do it.

But she did not answer. There was an awkward silence until Ankris

said:

- I thought to tell you.

- When? 'After the wedding?

Ankris suppressed a bitter smile, remembering the words of the sorcerer.

- No, before. But after the fire test. Do not want that

distract you.

Mae Shi said nothing. Sensing that it was best to be honest, you Ankris

recounted its history. He spoke of the killing of the first seven

nights, fearing that she looked horrified, but the eyes of Shi-Mae

were lost in the horizon and her face was showing a

impassive expression between absent.

She told him what had happened to the witch's brew. and how

just last night had failed to control the beast.

- But not me, Shi-Mae. You know I'm not like that. And I can

control the wolf, if only ... if I'm just more careful in the future.

Shi-Mae did not respond. Stared Ankris distressed.

- Please look at me, tell me, tell me something. I know you hate me now,

but ... He shivered. Shi-Mae, I need to know ... if last night ...

He could not finish. Finally, she turned to him.

- If you hurt me? He asked softly. No, but not because

no you tried. I tried to escape, but ... He sighed, the spell

Teleportation does not work if the mage does not have a calm mind. Me

defended with all attack spells he knew, but your body's

resisted all. I ran through the woods. Were chasing me, I threw several

spells to stop but only slow you down and delay got what was

inevitable when I would reach and would end up with me.

Then I remembered the petrification spell.

- I petrificaste? Ankris blurted, stunned.

The Mae Shi's eyes flashed.

- What would you do? Let you devour me? I returned to

dawn she went on, more calmly. I knew werewolves

recuperáis your original form under sunlight, so you

despetrifiqué and you transformed back into elf. I left there ...

It seemed to add something, but ultimately did not. Ankris

suddenly realized that something was irretrievably broken between

both.

- Oh, Shi-Mae, sorry, so sorry ...

She did not answer. Do not even look at him.

- I can control myself with the witch's brew, but still had

decided that I would leave the forest full moon nights. Never

'll come back to me in the form of the beast. We forget

all this and I promise you ... I swear I'll never hurt you.

Mae Shi said nothing.

- But he added Ankris with deep sadness, if you want to break our

commitment, would understand.

She held her breath.

- I then said Shi-Mae, and Ankris heart broke into

thousand pieces. Do not get me wrong, Ankris' she added, pronouncing

together the two syllables of his name. I still love you and always will.

But I will not marry you. Not anymore. You can not understand, but have

spent too many things in one day. I'm not the same person who

yesterday wanted to marry you. I changed, and ... and not just about what to

last night, but ...

- Fire Proof Ankris whispered. Was it as hard as

said?

- Do not wanna talk about it.

Ankris not insist, but stared imploringly. Mae Shi-he

account:

- This is my last word, Ankris. The best thing for them is not

we meet again.

Ankris welcomed those words with a pained silence.

- I understand, 'he said finally.

He'd been stupid. In happier days had come to believe that

Mae Shi accept it as it was, with all that that entailed. Do not

consisted of that love?

- I'll walk you to the door of your house, said, rising.

Then I'll leave and you'll never hear from me.

He expected her to change her mind, or at least say something like "what

feel ', but the face of Mae Shi-stone remained.

They parted at the door. Ankris swallowed.

- It's been ... the happiest time of my life, Shi-Mae.

She fixed him with her sapphire eyes.

- Do not look hurt and offended boy snapped with

harshly. You have no idea what it has meant to me to collect

all the pieces of my broken dreams. And never understand. If I

had killed last night, I would have done more damage than I already

've done.

And with these words, Shi-Mae entered the palace. Ankris sighed and

turned to leave.

She had not taken a dozen steps when someone shouted to his

back:

- It's him! Seize him!

When he turned around, half a dozen guards fell on him.

- Quedas accused of lycanthropy and murder of An-Kris Robles

Cried behind him the voice of the Duke River.

With a mixture of disbelief and deep pain in the face, Ankris

turned to the Duke, who was watching from the doorway, his expression

stone. But with him not discovered, as he had feared, Shi-Mae, but

robust elf smiled with deep satisfaction.

Toh-Ril was the son of Captain of the Sentinels.