“My name is Annabelle f’Allordan f’Gree f’Aw f’Pewn,” the Elf explained.

[url=https://i.imgur.com/xUI5Za7.png]Killian[/url] stared silently at her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He [i]wouldn't[/i] believe what he was hearing. Elves simply didn't come to the Republic of Yalla. Hell, they didn't come to [i]any[/i] place because they [i]weren't[/i] even supposed to exist anymore. ([url=https://i.imgur.com/jWcx2iJ.jpg]map[/url], lower right) 

The Elves had died out [i]long[/i] before Killian was born. Before his father or grandfather or great-grandfather had been born. At least that was what his father had raised him to believe. Oh, sure, when he'd been a boy, Killian had once seen the skeleton of an Elf. His father had paid a penny each for them to see it at the [i]Traveling Oddities[/i] show in the next town over from where they'd lived. 

The proprietor purported the skeleton to be that of an Elf who had only recently been captured, killed, and boiled down to its skeletal frame. But Killian's father had told him otherwise after studying it for a long moment. 

"It's just a deformed Human skull mixed with Human and animal bones," he'd reassured his son. "It's what makes it look different. Taller, stronger ... scarier. It's a farse, and I'm going to get our pennies back."

No one had seen an Elf one in more than three or four centuries to the best of Killian's knowledge. Hell, most people thought they'd never existed in the first place. 

When Killian didn't respond to her other than to simply stare in shock, the Elf emphasized “[I]Princess[/I] Annabelle f’Allordan f’Gree f’Aw f’Pewn … of the Royal House of Fenwater.”

"[i]Princess?[/i]" he responded, finally able to form a word. "How ... how ... how--"

He wasn't getting anywhere, obviously, so she continued, “I have been kidnapped and held in chains for three, maybe four moons … the purpose being to be sold to the Gorthin Family for reasons unknown to me.”

Annie had her own opinions as to the Gorthin's intentions: [I]Magic[/I] Killian laughed aloud and offered his own opinion. "Because they are powerful and wealthy and ruthless ... and anything valuable or interesting or [i]unique[/i] in this world upon which they can [i]possibly[/i] lay their hands--"

Killian's gaze lowered to her body as he finished, "--they will lay their hands, no matter the cost."

Killian finally let his eyes take in the Elf's form for the first time since approaching her. He would have thought her to be just another beautiful Human woman if he hadn't seen her ear. [i]Very beautiful Human woman[/i], he thought to himself. 

[url=https://i.imgur.com/HR1pkLB.jpg]She[/url] had incredibly wonderful curves in all the right places. Her clothes emphasized that point. They were still wet from her adventure in the box in the surf. The thin fabric was [i]pasted[/i] to those wonderful curves emphasizing her body. Her hourglass figure, her generous bosom, her large nipples which so conspicuously pressed forward for his viewing.

She lofted her shackled hands before her, asking, “Can you get me free of these, please?”

"No," Killian said without even thinking. Then, [i]actually[/i] thinking, he continued, "No, [i]no[/i], no, no, no. Uh-uh, no I can't."

Annie obviously didn't understand his answer and responded as she felt due. Killian explained, "No, you're ... you belong to the Gorthins. They'd [i]skin me alive[/i] if I let you go. No, sorry, but ... I have to take you to them. If I don't..."

He'd already explained that, of course, so he didn't repeat himself. Killian looked up and down the beach again. There was no one else alive there with them. He was [i]certain[/i] that at least [i]one[/i] crew member from the vessel would have survived and would be coming here to claim the Elf. But no. It was just the two of them.

"Listen, I'm sorry," he said, looking back to Annie. "I understand that this is not right. You know, you being chained and a prisoner and being sold. I mean, [i]no one[/i] should have that done to them. But ... well ... [i]I'm not a brave man![/i] I mean, I [i]am![/i] I [i]was[/i] in the Guard, and I [i]did[/i] fight in battle. 

"But that was just war," he continued. "There were [i]rules[/i] and there was [i]chivalry[/i]. The [i]Gorthins![/i] They know [i]nothing[/i] of these things."