REBORN AS A HIGH ELF SLAVE

The caravan rolled past the mansion gates, wheels crunching over the dirt path. Sunlight hit them full force now, no more high walls to block it. 

Almost at the same moment, the elves reached up and pulled their hoods over their heads. Fingers tugged fabric down low, hiding the sharp points of their ears as best they could. A few adjusted scarves or cloaks around their necks too. 

It was a small movement, but it happened together like they had practiced it.

Eon noticed Nora shift behind him, too. She pulled a simple gray hoodie from somewhere and yanked it over her dark hair, ears disappearing beneath the cloth. He hadn’t seen her grab it earlier. Probably Elsa’s doing, he guessed. The silver-haired girl thought of things like that.

“Smart, I thought I had to remind you about it. But it seemed you learned it well,” Eon said quietly, eyes on the road ahead.

Nora only grunted in reply, her arms still wrapped around his waist for balance.

----

They rode on for hours after that. The group moved slower than Eon liked. Carriages creaked and swayed on the rough path, kicking up dust that stuck to the skin and clothes of the riders behind. The sun climbed higher, turning the air hot and heavy. 

Inside the carriages, the injured elves had it worse, bouncing on hard benches with no real airflow. Eon could hear occasional groans when a wheel hit a deep rut.

By the time they left the last small villages of the Denares estate behind, the line of horses and wagons looked ready to stop. Eon raised his hand. “Stop…! I think we should rest here. Let's take some moments here. It will be enough to stretch and drink.”

Hearing his orders, all of the riders and carriages behind him pulled off to a flat spot beside the road, shaded by a few thin trees. Some servants that came with Alaric and some stronger elves helped the weaker ones down from the carriages. Some sat right on the grass, backs against carriage wheels, eyes closed against the bright light.

Eon reached down for the water skin at his waist. Before his fingers touched it, Nora shoved her own leather bag against his cheek.

“Here.” Her voice was flat, almost like she was annoyed that he didn’t ask her for water.

Eon took it without argument, uncorked the top, and drank. The water was warm from the heat but at least clean. The water from Edger County wasn’t that much clean, so he was grateful for this small thing at least. 

He wiped his mouth and handed it back. “Thanks.”

Nora took the skin. “You move too much when you ride. Jerking around like that makes the horse nervous.”

Eon gave a small smile and adjusted himself on the horse. “Yeah, well, I barely know how to ride. This saddle helps keep me steady, but it’s still hard. My legs get tired fast.”

Nora made a low sound in her throat and leaned sideways a little, looking down at his stirrups. Her red eyes studied the way his boots sat in them, the simple metal loops that he had designed himself. She didn’t say anything else, but she kept staring for a few seconds longer than necessary.

From a few paces away, Elora watched them from behind Elsa on the brown mare. Her arms were still around Elsa’s waist, but her gaze stayed locked on Eon and Nora. Her mouth pressed into a thin line.

Elsa noticed. A small smile tugged at her lips. She kept her voice low so only Elora could hear. “If you’re that jealous of him riding with her, why did you climb on my horse this morning?”

Elora huffed and looked away, cheeks a little pink. “It’s his punishment for last night. He sent me back to my room like I was a kid.”

Elsa chuckled softly. “You sure you’re punishing him? Because from where I’m sitting, he looks pretty okay sharing a horse with Nora.”

Elora glanced back at them again. Eon was saying something quiet to Nora, and the dark elf actually answered this time, her posture a bit less stiff. Elora’s fingers tightened on Elsa’s hoodie-cloak. “Yeah… I can see that.”

Eon caught the look Elora gave him across the clearing. He tilted his head, one eyebrow raised in silent question. She turned her face away quickly, trying to get off her horse to stretch herself a little.

While getting down himself, he shook his head, confused.

Seeing both of their innocence, Elsa just smiled to herself.

***

After the short break, they started moving again. The sun crossed the sky slowly as the caravan pushed forward. They didn’t stop a second time. Hours passed with only brief pauses to let the horses drink or switch riders who looked too tired. The wounded elves needed to reach a proper bed soon, so Eon kept the group going even when the road grew rougher.

It took them the whole day to reach only the Oakhaven village. By the time the first small houses came into view, the light had turned golden and soft. 

The elves inside the carriages pressed closer to the small windows, trying to catch glimpses of the bustling streets. After so many years locked in the dark under the mansion, even a normal village looked like something new and alive to them. Voices drifted out, merchants calling, children laughing, carts rolling over stone. They seemed to enjoy every detail of this.

Before they could poke their head out further, Verra rode closer to the carriages and spoke in a firm, quiet voice. “Keep your heads inside. No one sticks them out. You don’t have your hoods on right now. We can’t afford any rumors spreading, this closer to Edger County.”

The elves pulled back quickly, though a few still peeked carefully from the shadows.

When they reached the main market, the riders all swung down from their horses and started walking beside them, stretching their stiff legs. 

Eon walked next to his gray gelding, reins in one hand. Nora led the horse now, her steps steady and silent. Elora fell in beside Eon, their shoulders almost brushing as they moved through the village edge.

Elora glanced toward the Willow Inn, her eyes lingering on the familiar wooden sign and warm light spilling from the windows. She poked Eon in the side with her elbow.

Eon looked over, and seeing what she was pointing toward, he leaned closer and whispered, “You can’t be thinking about that again, right?”

Elora grumbled under her breath, her voice low enough that only he could hear. “What is wrong with having a little fun?”

Eon shook his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement, seeing how pouty Elora had gotten with his rejection. 

He kept walking, eyes scanning the street ahead while the caravan slowly made its way deeper into the village. 

And before he knew it, he had once again found himself, along with a smiling Elora, in front of the Willow Inn.

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