"Dark Elves - 01 - Taken" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mykles Jet)

УDiana, please,Ф Gala interrupted when Diana opened her mouth to refuse. УWe canТt
go very far on an empty stomach.Ф

УYou see?Ф said the female, staring into her bowl. УYour friend speaks sense.Ф

УNone of this makes sense,Ф Diana growled. However, she released Gala and followed
her to the table. Most of the food was recognizable, both by sight and smell. Rich venison
roasted with small red potatoes and mushrooms dominated, but there was also a hearty stew
that smelled like rabbit, as well as vegetables. That didnТt negate the possibility of poison, but
Diana had to concede that they were already captured. Poison didnТt seem to make much
sense.

Diana and Gala both made plates and took them to the pillows the female indicated on
the floor before her couch. Diana wanted to protest. The positions made them seem
supplicants to the lady, but for all she knew, this was the queen of these people and therefore
due the respect.

Once sheТd seen that theyТd actually begun to eat, the female spoke up. УFirst, let me
introduce myself. My name is Iana.Ф

When Diana made no motion to respond, Gala supplied their names. Iana noted
DianaТs reaction with a wry grin, but said nothing. She addressed herself to Gala. УI donТt
expect youТve ever heard of raedjour, have you?Ф

Silence indicated that neither girl had. Iana nodded. УNo, you wouldnТt have. But thatТs
where you are, in the underground kingdom of the raedjour. ItТs quite an extensive city,
actually, and goes on for miles underneath the forest and mountains.Ф

УThe raedjour are the mystery of the Dark Forest?Ф Gala asked.

УThey are. As well as the dark terrors of the Rhaen Mountains. Fitting, donТt you think,
given the skin color?Ф she asked, holding out her arm to display her obsidian skin.

УThe raedjour have been killing people in the Dark Forest for centuries?Ф


УYes. But not everyone was killed. Males, usually yes. But no female has ever been slain
intentionally by a raedjour man. Their goddess wouldnТt abide it. Instead, they capture
them.Ф

Gala supplied the question Iana wanted. УWhy?Ф

УQuite simple, actually. You see, the raedjour were created by their goddess -- Rhae --
as sexual consorts before the gods left the earth. SheТd never expected to leave, you see, so
she didnТt think ahead. She only created males. When she left, she had to do something to
ensure their survival. So she told them to steal human women. They already oozed sex, so
there was no doubt the women would be attracted. The goddess gave them a spell to convert
human women to raedjour so that the women could have the raedjoursТ babies.Ф