Rawn paused, glancing between him and Cassiel before saying, “I was in Landcaster whilst I overheard you call her by name and speak of a map to Mount Ida.”
Cassiel and Zev leaped to their feet. The Prince whipped out his sword and fur rippled across Zev’s arms, his claws extending.
“Wait.” Dyna latched onto their forearms. “Let him speak. Anyone could have overheard us.”
“Is he the one you revealed our plans to?” Cassiel asked without looking away from Rawn.
“No, not him.”
“You have followed us since Landcaster?” Zev snarled the question, his canines flashing. “That means you’ve tracked us for two days. I should have heard you or caught your scent.”
Rawn held their hard gazes, his expression calm and impassive. “After leaving town, I witnessed you shapeshift into a wolf, Zev, and Prince Cassiel taking to the skies.”
Zev’s yellow eyes widened at the use of his name because he had not given it. Dyna was more surprised Rawn didn’t react to his ability to shapeshift at will.
“I was left to track you at a distance and did not reach your camp until today. Tracking you was without difficulty. I need but only spot Prince Cassiel in the sky at night.” Rawn glanced at him next. “I have not seen a Celestial with attributes such as yours.”
“The elves are bound by Rael’s Accords,” Cassiel said tersely.
“Yes, you need not be concerned.”
“How do you know of my title?”
“Like the werewolves, we elves also have keen hearing. I did not need to be within proximity to listen to your conversations. Forgive the impropriety. I desired to reveal my presence; however, I was uncertain how I could, short of eliciting distrust as I have done so now.”
“My trust is limited even with a proper introduction, Lord Norrlen. If that is indeed who you say you are.”
Dyna frowned. “You don’t believe him?”
“The Norrlen family is well known,” Cassiel told them. “They are famed soldiers that have served within the Vale of the Elves for several thousand years. But I’m not inclined to believe him to be of House Norrlen, let alone the Army General of King Leif, the ruler of Greenwood.”
“I understand your misgivings,” Rawn said. “I would have preferred to meet your acquaintance under more agreeable circumstances.”
Dyna studied Rawn. He didn’t appear much older than thirty years, but he carried himself with elegant conduct. His measured manner was of another time. “Lord Norrlen, may I ask your age?”
“I am two-hundred-and-seventy-three-summers old.”
Her mouth fell open. “Is that why your speech is odd?”
Zev nudged her for the brazen question.
Rawn smiled, not at all offended. “One could say so.”
“It’s hardly worth noting,” Cassiel said.
“Do Celestials live longer than elves?”
“Not anymore.” He lifted a hand, fingers a whisper away from brushing her lips, as though to stop her new series of questions brewing at the revelation. She wanted to know more, but his proximity momentarily stalled her thoughts. He peeled his eyes away from hers and said to Rawn, “The more important question is why are you here?”
“I suppose it begins with the contention in the Vale.”
“Do you elves never tire of war? There is always a word of the green elves fighting with the red elves.”
Dyna canted her head in confusion. Rawn didn’t look green.
“Referring to elves by color has come about to differentiate which kingdom we belong to,” Rawn informed her. “The Vale was once a single kingdom before it was established into two reigns during the year three-hundred-and-seven, at the end of the Alfheim Age. Greenwood established in the southeast and Red Highland in the southwest. Unfortunately, the Vale falls into warfare every few hundred years, and that time is upon us once again.” He paused, expression growing grim. “The Red Highland king seeks the Dragon’s Eye.”
“A dragon’s eye?” Dyna asked in intrigue. “Why would he want that?”
