Sometimes, to change a world and save lives, you only have to LOOK scary. The rest does everything else on its own. -- BKF
The Xenophobia Wars rarely raged. They ebbed and flowed like the tides, if tides could wash randomly through polities at their own whims. The Elves fought the Dragons, D'varuv, Harukh'ai, Drakkonbred, and Dragonkindred alike. They fought the Gobellin, Gnomes, and when there were Humans, they fought the Humans too.
And when the Elves weren't fighting them, they were fighting with each other. Each had their own advantages, except the Humans. The downtrodden underdogs to whimper against the threat of all other downtrodden underdogs.
So the Humans figured out how to cheat, and appeal to higher powers. Or, more accurately, lower ones. That's how Hellkin came to be a part of the society, yet always forced outside of it. Tolerated only when they were useful. Like Palisade, who lived in the city wall and kept the Fair Folk away.
They wouldn't let him live anywhere closer.
His days were good when they were a monotony. Walking the top of the wall for which he was named, wary for any sign of a threat to his homeland. Training to be certain that he was able and capable with his weapons. Then sleeping in the middle of the day in the tiny enclosure where his bed was. He took his breakfast in the afternoon so he could watch over the town at night.
If anything was stupid enough to be moving around outside the walls at dawn or dusk, they got everything they deserved.
Days when no threats appeared were easy. Routine. Calming, almost. It was the other days that were life and death. When a distant figure approached by the road, they were more likely to be an ally. It was the ones in the cleared ground away from the road who were always an issue.
Nevertheless, Palisade made himself known to them all.
One at a time, or in a bunch, like this cluster of four Elves who thought they were sneaking up on a Human settlement. Palisade knew every hollow and rise surrounding his home, and stood atop a hidden stone to greet them. Sword and shield already ready.
He only knew one word in Elven, "Begone!" It was more than enough.
The Elves startled. Looking up and up into the glowing eyes of a demon, tail lashing and shadows forming shapes around him.
One froze. Three fled to the shadows from whence they came.
Palisade raised his sword, and the last of them ran at last.
Good.
Even though he was a weapon to protect his home, Palisade hated to have to kill. He sheathed his sword, returning to his post. If the Humans knew, they might berate him for leaving an Elf alive. The way he saw it, those survivors would warn the others to stay away.
They have one devil, he could imagine them saying. Who knows how many others there might be?
Maybe they'd say all the things his own people said about him. It wouldn't be too surprising.
[Photo by Pix Tresa on Unsplash]
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