Page 40 of Triplets for the Dark Elf
Standing with my back against it, I take in deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. I’ve never locked their door before but I cannot risk Almu getting to them. I’ll fight until my dying breath before he touches a hair on a single one of their heads.
The children are crying and screaming and yelling but I’d rather they be angry with me than dead at the hands of the crazed stalker-psychopath Almu.
How did he even find us again? I’ve been so careful! I moved all the way to the low-lands just to get away from all this.
I rush back to the door, listening from the other side.
“There is an order to things!” Almu shrieks. “An order! And you’ve disrupted it! You willpayfor trying to show up someone of a higher caste!”
I cannot believe that Almu is still on this. It’s been fouryearssince Miothro outbid him on me. Four years! How pathetic can you be to not let go of a stupid grudge? But then again, dark elves are highly prideful so I shouldn’t bethatsurprised.
Really, Almu is a typical chivdouyu. They aren’t as important as the khuzuth nobility, nor as praised and respected as the miou warriors. They’re the lowest of the high castes so they feel like they’re constantly having to prove themselves. And the k’sheng merchant caste are high contributors to society and there is often grumbling that they should be higher than the artist caste, who contribute much less in comparison.
It’s all taura-shit to me but I understand why Almu might be bitter years after the incident. Especially if he has cronies in his ear, whispering about how he let a lower caste k’sheng best him.
“Give the human to me!” Almu yells. “I will leave you alone once you surrender your stolen goods to me.”
“I beat you fair and square once before,” Miothro says, a growl in his voice. I peek out the window next to the door so I can see what’s happening. Miothro has his arms crossed over his chest and Almu is facing him, a scowl on his own face.
“You cheated!” Almu protests. “I know you cheated me out of what I was rightfully owed!”
“I paid for her with more money because Imakemore money than you, you pathetic flower pot,” Miothro says with a sneer. “I won fair and square that night.”
“Ha!” Almu jabs a finger into Miothro’s chest. “You never should have been allowed to go against me.”
“And yet, I did,” Miothro says, voice unnaturally calm. “I did go against you and outbid you fair and square. You think you’re so much better than me because you’re a higher caste butwho had more money?” he points out.
Almu growls at Miothro, actually growls at him. “I’m a higher caste than you. You should show me some respect. I have connections!”
“Some connections,” Miothro says, a chuckle escaping him. “It took you over three years to track her down over this stupid, petty feud,” he points out. “And yet, somehow, you still don’t own her.”
“Enough!” Almu says, getting into Miothro’s space. I’m on the edge of my seat, scared as glacies for Miothro and for my children. What do I do if he beats Miothro or does something to him? What if he uses magic against him? Can Miothro fight him off?
“You’re right, this is stupid,” Miothro agrees. “Leave. In fact, I highly suggest you leave before I best you in a real fight,” Miothro’s jaw is clenched so tightly that a tic in his vein is the only thing that gives away just how dangerously angry he is.
Almu just throws his head back and laughs. “You wouldn’t know how to fight, little k’sheng,” he taunts. “You’re soft, only living a cushy lifestyle on the backs of the art that the chivdouyu produce!”
Miothro doesn’t rise to the bait though, merely raises an eyebrow. He’s waiting for Almu to calm himself, I can tell by the way his posture is relaxing. Some part of Miothro must think he can take down the dangerously psychotic dark elf.
“Are you done?” Miothro asks. Almu narrows his gaze.
“I’m never going to be done. Not until you’ve been shown yourplace,” Almu says. “Dark elves and humans don’t belong together. Not like this. You’re disgusting and you ought to be dealt with properly, so that you and that little slut of a human you’ve got over there know how society works!”
“There’s clearly only one way to end this,” Miothro says. “I can tell that you’re not about to be reasoned with, nor can I simply threaten you. So I’ll make you a deal,” he offers.
A deal? What the glacies? What kind of deal? What is this? I don’t like what I’m hearing. My stomach drops and I feel sick.
“You can have Annalise...if you can take her from me,” Miothro says. His eyes never leave Almu except for a brief flicker towards the door. Does he know I can hear him?
Because I can, and I’m seething inside. I never wanted to be a bargaining chip! I’m not some doll that can be passed around, nor am I possession to barter with!
“And if I lose?” Almu asks, cocking his head to the side with a look so smug that I wonder if his inflated head isn’t about to lift him right off the ground. He seems certain that losing isn’t even a possibility.
“Then you have to leave the city. Never return. Never bother me or Annalise ever again. Don’t ever darken our doorways. Leave the city forever.”
“Hah!” Almu grins broadly. “So if I win, you’ll give the human over to me, freely?”
“A deal’s a deal,” Miothro says. My heart squeezes in my chest. It feels like my throat is constricting. I can’t breathe.