M.R6

The Elf started to walk with me. I had never listened so intently to anyone in my life. His voice was rough and raspy like he smoked heavily and had for many years.

“Many years ago. Roughly three thousand to be closer to the point. That is what I should say. Humans and all other beings lived alongside one another. For a long time, we managed to keep peace. That is until a king took over the Humans. He preached that humans were the master race. That they had great numbers and better weapons. That they should not have to breathe the same air as none humans. That we were nothing more than animals that should be used in such a way. Slowly other humans began to start thinking like him. The way he did it was incredible. The way the story goes he rallied an army. An army so big no race could defeat them. They marched and rode across the country attacking any village they came to. No mercy was given. They gave no warning of their attacks. Before any of us knew what was happening it was too late.”

This was a disgrace. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could all other races not have heard what going on until this point? I had to interrupt and ask.

“Why didn’t we fight back? How could we let things go so far and do nothing?”

“Humm what? Oh yes. Well we were all peaceful beings. We didn’t want wars and couldn’t believe humans would do anything. We thought it was just the ramblings of a mad man. They had no reason to fight us. So we thought it would just blow over. Well that’s how the story goes. The mad king was called Edgar and he had an advisor. A female called Flora. She stood by his side. What he didn’t know was she loved every living creature with all her heart. She couldn’t stand on her own to stop him but she could persuade him. She talked to him in private. Slowly working on him to stop killing. She convinced him somehow that we could be used as slaves.”

Slaves the word cut me deeper than any knife ever could. I couldn’t help but blurt out the word in an echo.

“Slaves!”

“Yes. So this idea came to Edgar. He began promising freedom to those of us who would help him. What he was saying was a life of servitude. If any of the turn coats didn’t do as he wished he killed them. By the time they had seen the error of there ways it was too late. They had built these magical prisons all over the world.”

His story was moving too fast and I needed more information.

“Magical prisons? All over the world?”

“Yes didn’t I say it clearly?”

“No. I mean yes but magical prisons?”

“Yes magical prisons. They hold us here where they block our magic. None of us can use any of our magical powers while here. The rock moves us all around without any mechanical parts. We are no better than a human in this place. When our ancestors worked out what was happening many of us went into hiding. They fought any human that came near out of fear. Just to survive. Flora saw that she had done too little too late. One night she went to king Edgar and took him a drink. Knowing that he was paranoid she made two drinks. Both with a deadly poison in. She held both goblets in her hands and gave him one. He instantly swapped with her and he made her drink first. She did. He was satisfied that she wouldn’t poison herself so took it back and drank with her. They both died that night.”

“She killed herself and him?”

“Yes boy don’t your ears work properly or something. You see she couldn’t cope with her guilt at not stopping Edgar. The only way she could think to stop him and ease her own blight was death to them both. The problem was hate was all around now for all. The humans didn’t stop. They kept rounding us up until this day. Our numbers are small now. We will all be gone from this earth soon I fear.”

A siren sounded and guards gathered around us from all directions. Forcing us into a tight circle. I thought that this must have looked like those groups of penguins I had seen on nature programs from before. One by one the guards picked out one being at a time and took then away. I tried to count how many there was of us. I couldn’t but at a rough estimate I would guess anywhere between one hundred and fifty to two hundred. From what I had seen of the guards we outnumbered them five to one. The problem was we had no weapons and these guys were armed with an impressive amount of things. Most of which I had never seen before.

Behind me, I heard an Almighty raw. This was followed by a burst of heat and shouting. Then not far away another raw. The dragon was protesting. Or was it calling to another dragon somewhere close by? Could that be what the other raw was?

The crowd was dispersing in an orderly fashion. Each inmate marched off surrounded by guards. My turn came and I was pushed forward. The guards seemed seriously pissed off. It was like they didn’t like this part of the job.

“Stand there hands behind your back.”

I did as I was told. For now in going to be the model inmate. The guards are going to start to get lax with me at some point and when that day comes we will be ready. I will bring the others together and we will take our freedom back. Humans will regret ever caging us up like this.

Once back in my cell I waited until I knew Susan was back in her cell. The second I was sure she was back I called to her in a hushed voice. I wasn’t sure if the guards would still be in the hall or not.

“Sue you back?”

“Yeah. Now shut up guards are still around.”

Instead of answering I just shut up as she said. I wasn’t going to get caught breaking the rules.

One by one the other cell doors opened and closed and then the place fell silent. I guessed the others could see the guards and there would be a sign when they were gone. Then it came.

“All clear!”

A loud clear shout came from the far end. The voice sounded like it was used to being heard. I wonder what he is. Susan was quick to start speaking to me but not what I thought she would.

“Well done you didn’t ask any questions when I told you to shut up.”

“Thanks but that would have been dumb. If I had started asking why then the guards could have heard and come.”

“Yes but don’t underestimate how dumb some of the guys in here are so what did you want?”

“I just wanted to talk and ask some questions about this place and it’s guests. Like how often does going outside happen and was that a fucking dragon?”

“I don’t know how often we go out but I think it is every other day. You know we don’t have clocks or a way to track time here. The answer to your other question is yes. That is Terrance he’s a nice fella when you get to know him. His bite is worse than his raw. Of he could just roast you with his breath.”

“Sound lovely, I can’t wait to get to know him. So what is it like to work with each other? Can we all make a team?”

I was trying to be subtle but fear I was being about as subtle as a brick through a window. When Susan’s question came back to me.

“What are you thinking?”

It looks like I’m right. Always had the touch of an elephant. Susan knew I was thinking and planning.

“Nothing yet. Just thinking.” I said.

My head blocked out all the noise and I consumed my self with thoughts of escape.