6 Racism (2/2)
'He wasn't aiming at us? Then, what did he aim at?'
The Elders had the same thought in their heavy hearts as the arrow flew past them. Stunned, before they could turn their heads, a loud shout drifted into their ears, ”Insolence!”
At that moment, a whirlwind gust blew the seven Demiri arrows away. Also, four figures emerged out of nowhere. The same familiar faces who instructed Elhorn to guard Gamgult.
”High-Ones?! Pay respects to the High-Ones!” Lumvug said. Which caused the other six Elders to bow in response. Meanwhile, Hariel had four Demiri arrows nocked on his bow. His facial expression did not change upon sighting Deython and the others. Just like him, Oravera and Valolora had three arrows nocked on their bows, too. Meanwhile, Deython and Arilya had stern expressions on their face as they stared at Hariel and Elhorn. Because, they could not find any sign of Gamgult. Also, Hariel's sudden arrival puzzled them.
”How dare you remain standing in the presence of a High-one?!” Lumvug said.
'Insolent beast! This will teach you a lesson you'll never forget,' Lumvug mused as he awaited the response of the High-Elves.
Hariel's actions made him bitter, and he wanted to use the High-Elves to deal with him. Knowing the person Lumvug was, the other Elders knew his intentions from the look on his face. They too, could not wait to knock Hariel of his high horse.
Meanwhile, although Arilya and the others heard Lumvug's words, they remained silent. They only continued to stare at Hariel.
”Who are you? And, what have you done to Elhorn?” Arilya asked a few minutes later. Like before, Hariel remained silent. Which caused the faces of the High-Elves to distort, and it delighted the watching Elders.
”I'll ask one more time, who are you? And, what have you done to Elhorn?” Arilya said. Her hand rested on her daggers this time. Like before, Hariel remained silent.
'Is this brat insane? Has he forgotten about the High-Elves?' Lumvug mused as he watched the scene. He could not believe Hariel ignored a High-Elf.
”Bastard! A mere low-born dares ignore…” before Oravera could finish her statement, Deython pushed her to the side. A microsecond later, an arrow breezed past the spot she stood earlier.
”Call me a low-born one more time and see if I don't end you!” Hariel said. Observing his bow, only three arrows remained. Meanwhile, Oravera's body shuddered when she heard Hariel's declaration. It also stunned Valolora, Lumvug and the other Elders. Meanwhile, Deython and Arilya had a calm expression on their faces. But, the diamond-shaped marks on their forehead glowed red. Their eyes also changed in color, too.
”What? You can threaten me, but I can't do the same?” Hariel said while laughing. The reaction of the Elders and the High-Elves excited him.
”You know the punishment for your insolence, right? You better realize the situation you're in, before you dig yourself into an unescapable pit. Kneel!” Deython said, as he walked towards Hariel and Elhorn.
”Don't make me laugh. Do you guys think you're special because you're the direct descendants of the ancestor? You think all 'low-born' will remain ignorant like these old buffoons? Worshipping a defective barrier generator as a deity,” Hariel said while holding back the urge to laugh.
”High-Ones! Please forgive us. Our tribe produced this beast who dares to blaspheme the statue of our ancestor! But, we exiled him twenty years ago for the crimes he committed…” before Lumvug could finish his statement, Deython ordered him to shut up by raising his hand. Since Hariel's words infuriate Lumvug and the other Elders, they did not notice the High-Elves reactions when Hariel spoke about the statue.
”Before, I wanted to punish you for your insolence, but now, you will follow us to the capital. Surrender yourself for spreading falsehood, attempting to murder a High-Elf, and invading the great Kingdom of Mathras,” Deython said. He continued to approach Hariel in casual steps. Also, Arilya, Oravera and Valolora made their moves. Deython approached from the front, Arilya approached from the rear. While Oravera and Valolora approached from the left and right side.
”Retrieve and heal the one called Elhorn. Make sure nothing happens to him,” Deython said while staring at the Elders.
”Yes, High-Deython!” Lumvug said on behalf of the Elders.
After his declaration, Lumvug clapped his hands twice. While the sound echoed, Elhorn walked like a mindless zombie towards him. Hariel did not restrain him, too.
”Brother Elhorn, I'm sorry. Next time, I'll take you with me,” Hariel whispered as he stared at the dazed Elhorn. Tears gathered at the corner of his eyes, too.
”For a low-born, you're not so stupid… I thought you would have tried to escape with Elhorn,” Valolora said. The mark on her forehead glowed, too, like the other High-Elves. She did not care that Hariel hated being called a low-born. From her point of view, his feelings or beliefs did not matter. Also, he held dangerous beliefs which could topple the hierarchy of the High-Elves. She would never allow a–nobody like Hariel, to challenge the position of her tribe in the Elf race.
Meanwhile, Hariel laughed in response to Valolora's words.
”You think your tribe will remain number one forever? Idiots! A new era is upon us! From small kingdoms to Great Kingdoms and the Black Lands, a new wave is coming! You better get ready for it! For the safety of my brother, I'll retreat. But, next time? Let's see who is the low-born, then!” Hariel said.
After his declaration, the four High-Elves dashed towards him in unison. Ten meters away from where he stood, Hariel levitated into the air. At that same moment, a pitch-black rift space opened in midair. Seconds later, He vanished into the rift. The four High-Elves watched with stern expressions on their faces as his blue scarf fluttered while falling to the ground.
'Are my eyes deceiving me? Did I see that on his forehead?' Arilya mused as she stared at the blue skies.
While she questioned what she saw, Deython's voice drifted into her ears, ”Captain, what do we do. We have to report this incident to the Capital.”
”Yes. Let's not waste time here. Bring Elhorn, too. Also bring the leader of this tribe. We need to investigate the identity of that fellow,” Arilya said. Without waiting for Deython's response, she disappeared towards an unknown region of the surrounding forest.