Free Night of the Storm: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Eura Chronicles Book 2) by K.N. Lee Page B

continue then, and both of the girls looked at each other. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. Ayoki’s ears perked up; it sounded as if he was counting to himself.
    “You are taking us home, right?”
    Hartwig glanced over his shoulder. “Home? No miss. We are heading to the Goblin City.”
    Mai skidded to a stop. “What?”
    Hartwig shook his head. “Why are you stopping? We have no time to waste. You speak of the other chosen. Vaugner knows of all of this. You will meet in the Goblin City.”
    Vaugner? Ayoki knew that name. He was the one to organize the rebellion against Wexcyn and Inora.
    “Well,” Mai said with disappointment. “I wanted to go home.”
    Hartwig nodded back the other way. “You know the way back.”
    Mai wrung her hands. “I’m not going back alone.”
    “It’s settled then. You’re coming with us to the Goblin City,” he clapped his hands. “Now, show me some of that speed you keep gloating about. Hustle!”

     
    THEY WALKED FOR MILES until Hartwig began to slow as the ceiling went from low to much higher above them.
    Gilly lit the way to a fork in the cavern. The walls were full of jewels and precious stones. One could travel three ways. Either they could go straight, to the left, which was too dark to navigate, or right, which looked like it dropped into another lower cavern.
    The young women waited for Hartwig to direct them.
    “Luc?”
    Ayoki felt the hairs stand on the back of her neck as they looked into the darkness. Their eyes had adjusted, but still she saw nothing. A man emerged from the mouth of the path that led to the left.
    “Aye,” Luc answered. He walked ahead, and the girls saw that he was a Shadow Elf like them. “This is the Seer?”
    Hartwig hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and stood straight like he always did. “Aye.”
    Luc’s bright blue eyes examined Ayoki from top to bottom. He looked as if he could be both of their fathers, with thin wrinkles set into his forehead like he worried too much. His hair was braided long and neat. He wore simple travel attire, leather pants, boots, and a belted green tunic.
    “Vaugner has patrols set up all along the path from the fallen barrier to the Goblin City.”
    “Goblin City?” Mai’s eyes widened. She glanced back at Ayoki. “I don’t know about this.”
    Ayoki took her hand and gave it a squeeze. She nodded, meeting Mai’s eyes.
    “You want to go to the Goblin City?”
    Ayoki smiled and nodded. Vaugner would know what’s best. If Pretica trusted him, then she would as well.
    Hartwig handed Luc a few of the jewels he had mined from the caverns. The Shadow Elf examined them, closed his fingers over them, and dropped them in his side purse. Luc finally looked satisfied.
    “Nothing to worry yourselves with. Just don’t be seen by the people native to Eura. The humans don’t like the other races, and they really don’t like Shadow Elves. But Luc will take care of you.”
    “But where are you going?” Mai asked, disappointed; they had already gotten used to him.
    “Going to see a man about a dog,” he replied with a straight face.
    Mai stared at him, her face twisted. “What?”
    “Most of what he says is nonsense.” Luc scowled. “Isn’t that right little Wig?”
    Hartwig chuckled to himself. “More people to save. Very little time. We will meet again, my friends.”
    Mai and Ayoki nodded. They’d just met him. He’d saved their lives and would now be leaving them with another stranger.
    “Do not worry. You are going to my home. The Goblin City is not a place to fear, I assure you. You just be ready. I will show you a real race,” he winked at Mai.
    “We are always ready,” Mai smiled, exchanging a grin with Ayoki.
     

 
    DARK THOUGHTS FILLED DRAGNOR’S mind.
    He had searched the human realm for eighteen years for The Flame. Each year the Lilae had alluded him. After finally catching her, she’d managed to slip through his fingers once again.
    In his pocket was a single strand of her