Elarion Silverleaf

Prologue: The Peace of Thorns

For more than a century, the kingdoms of men and elves waged an endless war.

Humans accused the elves of jealously guarding the most fertile lands and ancient magic. The elves, for their part, saw humans as greedy conquerors, ready to cut down ancient forests to build their stone cities.

Villages had burned. Families had disappeared. Entire generations had been born into hatred of the other people.

However, no army had managed to achieve victory.

So, when famine began to affect the human kingdoms and the sacred forests of the elves were struck by a mysterious disease, both sides realized they could not survive alone.

A treaty was signed.

Fragile.

Precarious.

Dangerous.

Among its many clauses, one caused a real scandal among the elven people: a human representative was to be welcomed for a whole year in the sylvan kingdom of Elun'dor in order to promote cooperation between the two nations.

This mission was entrusted to Elarion Silverleaf.

When the Council of Elders told him the news, the elf remained silent.

He knew humans.

Or at least, he thought he knew them.

Arrogant soldiers, greedy lords, impatient merchants.

Everything he hated.

"You refuse?" asked one of the elders.

Elarion raised his silver eyes towards the stained-glass windows covered in ivy.

— No. If a single life can prevent another war, then that task is mine.

Three days later, he was waiting at the entrance to the kingdom.

The giant trees formed a natural canopy above him while the wind gently stirred his long pale hair.

A human figure was walking along the white stone path.

When she got within a few meters, a heavy silence settled between them.