Conspiracy by Kate Gordon

a circular path to intercept Alisha’s route. I followed behind her quietly as she headed deeper into the trees. The darkness was almost complete now, especially with the overhang of branches in all directions. Suddenly, she came to a stop, and I could see her standing still, looking around as if she was waiting for someone. I quickly hid behind a thick oak tree, glad of its concealing trunk. After about a minute, I could hear two people quietly talking and I strained to see who the second person might be. It was almost impossible to make out, but the voice was a man’s, and Alisha’s whispered voice trickled through the leaves faintly. The only man it could be was Gregor, and I really didn’t want to get caught spying. Carefully, I backed away and headed back for the house, moving more cautiously as the night deepened.
    It was stupid to feel anything other than relief. Gregor was a complication I didn’t need. I had been wondering what to do about having two great men in my life, and now I knew that only one was really worth my time.
    As I arrived on the outskirts of our yard, I paused, collecting myself before returning to the others. A tear slipped down my cheek and I brushed it away. Don’t be ridiculous, Heather! He’s totally not worth it.
    Eimile was still in the rocking chair, and it was about time for dinner. I thought I’d go wake her, but as I moved closer, I saw a figure emerge from the shadowed wall and move toward her. At first, I thought it was one of Gregor’s men, but as the light from the porch flickered on, the Olc ’s form stood out in harsh relief against the light. Eimile still slept peacefully, unaware of the extreme danger. My hand clenched against the weapon in my pocket and I pulled it out, triggering the small button that extended the mechanism. I knew I couldn’t make it there in time, but she only had seconds. With all my desire, I wanted to be on that porch, shoving this blade into the Olc that was threatening Eimile.
    In the next instant, I looked down at my fist and at the weapon that was buried deep in the body of the Olc . His eyes locked on mine in surprise and I gave a little scream as I pulled my hand back, stepping away. Eimile woke and looked up in horror as the Olc ’s body fell across her lap and then to the floor with a thud. I gasped and dropped the weapon on the porch and stumbled down the stairs to the grass where I threw up. Eimile took it all in within seconds and came after me, pulling me to my feet.
    Through the fog in my head, I heard my name shouted, and then realized that Gregor was standing next to me. He looked around, taking in the body of the dead Olc and the blood on my hands. He gathered me in his arms and I heard Eimile say, “Hurry, we must warn the others. If he was here, there will be more.”
    Gregor nodded. “Heather, stay right with me. We need to check on the king and queen.” He picked up my weapon from the porch, handed it to me, and we went through the back door. The three of us stayed in a tight cluster as we first entered the kitchen. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to think that I had just killed a man. An Olc . A feeling of nausea swept through my body again and I gagged.
    Suddenly, there was a scream from the king and queen’s room, and we ran toward the sound. As we entered, I saw Mallorie cowering in a corner with an Olc advancing toward her. The king lay in a pool of blood on the bed. Gregor quickly went to the Olc andslammed his hands on his chest. The dark elf seemed to freeze on the spot. In the hesitation, Gregor swung his weapon down in an arc and pierced him through the chest. The Olc fell, still frozen in some sort of rigor mortis, and bounced on the floor.
    Gregor lunged toward the bed and checked the king. “Damn, damn, damn!” he shouted as he picked the king up. Aegir was no small man, but Gregor lifted him with ease, yelling to us, “Come closer to me and I’ll sift us to a healer.”
    We all stood by