Chapter Sixteen

 

Rau drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. He had grown tired of hearing report after report of nothing. Narooks, torlics, even his earagos had not been able to locate the girl elf and her traveling companions. He heard how some of the elves were beginning to gather, but he didn’t see this as an issue. What could they do? They were like harmless flies, pests that needed to be dealt with eventually, but not life threatening.

No, what was more disturbing to him was that not one of his creatures could find any trace of the three elves that caused him such worry to begin with. They’d found burn places on the mountain with Mira’s View, but no elf bodies. It didn’t make sense to him. His marks should have taken care of the elf girl easily. How they’d disposed of his torlics so easily was what was bothering him now. The other two elves couldn’t have been in any condition to handle that many of his assassins.

He knew there was no possible way the girl had lived. He no longer felt any connection there, like with all the elves who died before her. Her death wasn’t the problem; it was proving she was indeed dead to Haulua. The god had visited him every day for the last couple of weeks, growing more and more impatient with every visit. On the last occasion, he had grown so angry, it took Rau the remainder of the day to recover from his shouting. His head still ached and his hearing would forever be damaged.

He’d never, in all his existence, seen the god so agitated or afraid. This unnerved Rau more than anything else. Returning his focus to the rambling torlic, he waved a hand dismissively before issuing an order; he would hear no more reports that day. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, he growled. Anger began to replace the anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach. If he didn’t hear something good soon, he would have to take a more prominent role in the search for the worthless girl elf. He would send his shadows out to find her. Thinking about this his thoughts began to calm. Yes, that’s what he would do. He would allow his minions to search on their own for a couple more days and then he’d joined the search. He could send his shadows all throughout the land. Searching Tomiro more effectively than anyone he commanded. He leaned back, liking his new plan more and more with every passing moment. The sooner all of this was over, the better, for he really could not stand anymore visits from his creator and lord. He didn’t think his head or ears could stand Haulua’s fits of rage.