HAIR OF MUD
The alabaster castle was indeed crafted of stone, though I wondered if the rock had grown from the ground in great arches or if it had weathered through millennia to create the tall looming curves and geometric shapes that stretched up to the prismatic sky. It was a masterful glittering jewel of a castle, the spindles of the spires as delicate as clean rabbit bones, but stronger than the brittle spindles I’d picked through to make stew.
The golden trees were taller here than in the human lands. Their trunks and roots were woven into the stone, the work of hundreds of years of cultivating. A spectrum of auburn golds and fiery reds burst along the edges of the palace.
I swallowed down the part of me that wanted to marvel. This had not been my choice.
But I couldn’t help myself. This palace was like something out of a fairytale, and not a frightening one. This was one where the princess falls in love with the wolf who magically transforms into a prince.
This palace was certainly not made by human hands. I’d always believed the elves took masters of the human craft because they were too high and mighty to be bothered to create anything. Clearly, I had been wrong.
A thought speared into me, bringing a sense of true foreboding. Why go through all the trouble of bringing humans to a land that seemed to be thriving all the better without them?
What did the elves want of us?
Our carriage rolled to a gentle stop before a smooth alabaster dais set before the gilded front doors of the castle. The pressing crowd parted as the Elf King made his way through to the front. Celebratory music floated along the crisp autumn air as elves waved ribbons cheerily. Then the Elf King raised a hand, his face effervescent. Within a couple heartbeats the crowd and music quieted to a perfect silence. The only sounds were the rustling of the king’s cloak and the hooves of his great elk.
“My people, I present unto you all the masters of craft and maiden from the mortal realms.” The Elf King’s voice boomed throughout the crowded platform as he signaled to our carriage.
All curious eyes that were not on us humans then turned their full attention to us within the walnut carriage. A servant opened the door and offered a hand to Lila. She pinched her cheeks, rubbed her lips together, and raised her head. “Let’s show them that we mortals are not to be intimidated.”
Lila reached for the hand of the servant and stepped onto the smooth white stone in an elegant motion. The Elf King nodded to her, his silky white hair gleaming, skin as white as the stone Castle behind him. But those eyes did not pierce through her with any intensity. No, he seemed almost bored with the entire exchange. He waited on the rest of us with a face of marble. Jacob and I swapped nervous glances, but before we knew it, the three of us stood blinking in the saturated daylight at the foot of the awe-inspiring castle before hundreds of bright elves.
“I present Jacob, master of wood craft.” The Elf King indicated the humble woodworker who paled beside me. Cheers erupted at the words. “Noelle, master of baking.” More cheers. “And Lila, the maiden. May their days be long and full of joy.”
With that, the music began anew. Wind instruments gleamed gold and silver along with drums that played a jaunty melody. The Elf King dismounted his elk, petted him on his large mane, then passed him off to an attendant. He was followed quickly by his servant, the severe looking female with the blonde hair and sword at her side. The same female the king had pretended to be only just this morning. She followed behind with narrowed eyes that seemed to take any slight detail into account. A bodyguard of some kind.
The servant standing beside Lila gestured for us to follow. We strode through the massive white front doors carved with woodland scenes of trees, deer, squirrels, and mushrooms, then through several arched hallways lined with lit gemstones leading into an enormous throne room. About fifty important-looking elves stood on either side as we passed through the large audience chamber. Once the King stood before the throne with the armed elf female at his side, the large doors to the chamber shut, cutting off any lingering sounds of the celebration outside.
Jacob cleared his throat, which echoed throughout the chamber like a bellowing bear, to his ever-living shame. I hid a smile even as I felt him wilt beside me. Lila stood perfectly prim, like she’d been preparing for this her whole life, which could very much be the case.
“Carpenter,” the Elf King stood before his throne, gesturing to Jacob.
“Yes sir.” Jacob bowed in a very stiff manner, hat twisting in his hands, clearly not used to any type of decorum.
“You shall work with my royal craftsman. There are many duties that must be accomplished. Your new apprentice will fill you in on the particulars.”
“Apprentice?” Jacob spun his hat uncomfortably. “Beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but I’m accustomed to working alone.”
He spoke truth. Jacob was always alone. He pushed those closest to him, even his family, away.
“You will teach your apprentice all you know. From the art I witnessed in the village, my people will gladly learn all they can from you.” The Elf King as good as dismissed him with a nod toward a tall and very eager looking elf.
Jacob grumbled quietly and nodded to the male elf who practically bounced on his lanky legs, holding a clipboard. I smiled to myself. This would be fun to watch, if I indeed had the chance.
“Maiden?” The Elf King called Lila up next.
Lila cooed and curtsied. “Yes, my lord?”
“You are free to live in my castle and travel these lands as you please. Dahlia will see to your every comfort.” The Elf King waved a hand toward a finely featured female with blueish black curls cascading down her back. “I pray these lands will give you the peace and belonging that you desire.”
“Oh.” Lila flushed, “But I thought?—”
“I felt you were desperate to leave your small village behind.” The Elf King offered kindly. “Now you are free to do as you please. Take this time to discover things that you enjoy. Perhaps you will find you are a master of some art or another, like your counterparts. It could be that you never had the chance to find out for yourself.”
The words were spoken compassionately, but there was a bitterness behind them.
Lila stuttered and stumbled. I expect as a beautiful, curvy woman, she was not used to being denied. “But, Your Majesty?—”
