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Archives: A New Balance

Chapter 15: Novice

    The party arrived in the town of Novice late in the afternoon. For Thalia and Avion, it was almost disappointing to come right back to where they started, but they knew it was only a way point in a continuing journey this time. Lucied, Mia’s wolf companion, split away from the group before they reached the farms outside town. He didn’t exactly hold humans in high regard, and especially not while he was in their territory.

    Mia fell back to Aiyanna’s side as the group walked into town. “Maybe we should get a few more horses to make the journey swifter,” the elf suggested to her employer. Aiyanna was adamant about arriving in Roid quickly, and if they all were mounted, they could achieve that goal much faster.

    Nessa rolled his head to the side and allowed and audible pop from his neck. He then heard talk of buying horses like they were low on wine, an investment Nessa wasn’t quite prepared to make. The youth stuck a hand in his coin purse and rifled through the meager savings. He almost hoped that the coins would multiply like rabbits, but no such luck. He thought about asking for an advance on his wages, but doubted Aiyanna was going to pay him that much in the first place. Nessa told himself not to get discouraged, if the offer still stood he could ride with Veriss as Jonas had. And at worse he could just run along side... Falis, he hated running.

    Aiyanna couldn’t argue back to Mia on the suggestion. Her feet were aching from carrying her bag without magical help. She had to conserve her mana much as possible. “I suppose, I will check out for a decent horse trader. We should try to locate one through a local person.”

    She had plenty of money and she felt guilty for having so much. Most commoners will never even have the money she carried with her right now. But she wasn’t social like other mages back at the academy. “Then shall we find a horse trader first or find a place to put down our luggage first?” She looked around the town, many people were staring at the odd group of travelers.

    As usual, Veriss rode in silence. She stayed close to Aiyanna, who she was expected to protect. Her eyes constantly watched the crowd, suspicious of everyone and anyone.

    Thalia spoke up quickly before anyone else made a suggestion, “We can stay at the Marfa shrine. It could be hard to find a room at an inn, especially rooms for eight people. Would that be to everyone’s liking?”

    “That sounds good to me.” Aiyanna fidgeted with her backpack then pulled out her purse. Several layers of magic spells were unlocked before it opened. “I think we should go and buy our supplies first. Its been more then seven years since I set foot down on Novice, anyone willing to lead around?” Aiyanna looked around her group.

    “I don’t think I’d mind staying at the temple,” Mia replied to Thalia. She was craving a mug of ale, but maybe that wasn’t the best choice while on the job.

    “I don’t mind much either,” Dralock said.

    “It should be easy to find shops, Aiyanna, just about everything you need is on the main street,” Mia replied. She’d passed through Novice many times and had a good idea where most shops were.

    “Sounds good to me,” said Nessa, he remembered staying at a temple once when one of his brothers were sick. It was very large and beautiful yet eerie at night. Nessa was then thinking along the same lines as Mia, he wouldn’t have minded a drink. While a horse was little more than a dream to him, a pint of red Dwarven beer was well within his financial grasp. His spirits instantly lifted at having something to look forward to after the tasks at hand.

    Veriss simply nodded, though it didn’t seem like anyone was paying attention to the giantess. Rest didn’t feel too necessary for her, although she estimated that Greysoul needed some time to relax, eat, and sleep.

    “Alright, how about those of us who need horses and supplies come with Aiyanna and me, and those who don’t, go with Thalia to the temple,” Mia suggested. Their supplies weren’t too depleted after two days of traveling, and the only thing they really needed to get was horses. Veriss, Thalia and Avion were mounted, but for speed’s sake, they couldn’t load as many people as possible onto the animals. Greysoul and Axe were strong horses, but they had very heavy riders, and Nyn was such a delicate little thing, she could hold little more than Thalia, her meager supplies, and tack.

    “I hate this part,” Dralock murmured. “Not that I hate horses, just can’t ride ‘em.” The dwarf shrugged. It was a common problem when there was a dwarf in the party. With their short legs, it was hard to ride a normal-sized horse. The average human or elf could wrap their legs around the bulk of a horse’s barrel while dwarven legs can only reach half way around. And ponies were out of the question when traveling with larger horses, between their own small size and the weight of a dwarf, they can’t keep up. The best bet was usually to bring a cart, but failing that, a dwarf has to ride with someone so they could hold on.

    “I know,” Mia said sympathetically. She had traveled with many a dwarf to understand the problem. “I’ll get a horse strong enough to carry both of us. Will that work for ya?”

    “Yeah, that’ll do,” Dralock replied. It obviously wasn’t the most comfortable situation, but it was the best.

    “Let’s go then!” Mia announced and took the lead into town with the shoppers.

    As Mia walked off, Thalia looked to those who had horses. “Everyone else can follow me,” the priestess said with a smile.

    “You all have fun, I have business to take care of,” Azala said, giving a slight wave. It wasn’t like a Marfa temple would be hard to find, after all. {“Hey Mia, take care. Remember what happened the last time you entered a rustic town? You might not care, but being chased out by a mob of people chanting things along the lines of ‘servant of Falaris’ doesn’t exactly suit me in the least,”} he said the musical elven tongue. Well, he doubted the others would be particularly disturbed by it, but he didn’t want to take that chance.

    “Oh, it’s just Novice! I’ve been here a thousand times,” Mia replied to Azala, not bothering to reply in Elvish. At least he’d be away to avoid further conflicts, though she was concerned by the damage he could possibly do when surrounded by innocent Marfa priestesses—not all were as willful as Thalia.

* * *

    Mia led her companions deeper into the town. The elf tossed her hood over her ears, just enough to keep people from questioning her heritage. Unlike a full-blooded dark elf, she didn’t need to hide her entire face. She just looked like a woman with a good tan; and her blonde hair and green eyes didn’t raise any questions.

    Novice was a major stop on the road for merchants heading to and from Adan, so there were plenty of stores, inns and stands.

    As the entered the market place in the middle of the town, Mia paused. “So, what first, supplies or horses?”

    “I vote supplies.” replied Nessa, his logic being that the former was in his price range while the latter was not, and the more time he had to think of a solution the better.

    Nessa wouldn’t have been surprised if the others were willing to help him. Mia took physical risk looking out for a simple farm boy and Aiyanna gave him a sword worth more money than he had ever seen in his short lifetime. Perhaps it was no large sacrifice for well traveled adventurers, but to the boy it meant a world of difference. It gave him an opportunity he may have never otherwise seen, but it also meant he had yet to prove he could stand on his own. If he could do only one thing on his first job by himself it was getting his own horse by whatever means necessary. If Nessa was to be any kind of man, let alone any kind of warrior, he would have to pass this simple yet (for him) daunting task with no help.

    “Supplies are fine with me,” Aiyanna agreed.

    “Alright then, how about we split up and hit the shops to get what we need?” Mia suggested.

    “I am willing to pay any expenses, so perhaps we should stay together,” the sorceress said.

    “Well, you can stick with Nessa, but I’ve got enough gold to buy my own supplies,” Mia said. The elf began to walk away into the market.

    “I can afford my own gear too,” Dralock added. He turned to follow Mia.

    Aiyanna watched them walk off, then turned to Nessa. “Well, then let’s go. I will buy you anything you need, and consider it payment for your duties thus far,” the sorceress explained. Aiyanna walked around looking for odd things and gem stone sellers.

    “Nessa, lets hurry up and get your gear too, before we collapse from exhaustion,” Aiyanna said as she packed her supplies in to her bag.

    “Fair enough,” Nessa replied as he followed Aiyanna. “I won’t need much, I packed well before leaving home and I kept Jonas’ supplies.” Nessa didn’t feel bad about taking his friend’s possessions, he kept nothing of sentiment and the dead have no need for trivial things. Plus, commoners rarely have the luxury of burying anything that would be far more useful to the living. Were he to have died instead, Nessa would have expected no less.

    Aiyanna just nodded in reply and swooped through the market again. Aiyanna picked up several supplies for maintaining his leather gear and more food supplies. “I think that should do for now, but seriously, I would like to go back and rest. How about you Nessa?”

    Nessa’s attention was divided between Aiyanna and a gorgeous tapestry on display in one of the merchant’s tents. “You go ahead, I think I’ll look around a bit more and catch up.”

    Mia and Dralock made their rounds through the market and picked up a few items. Neither of them needed much, but Mia picked up a few horse care supplies.

    After finding what they needed, they circled back and found Nessa and Aiyanna. “Hey!” Mia called as they approached. “On to the horse market then?” she suggested.

    Aiyanna sighed. She forgot their main purpose, but she was too exhausted to continue shopping, so the sorceress picked out a few coins from her purse and gave them to Mia. “Please, pick out a horse for me. I will go rest at the shrine,” the sorceress said.

    “Alright,” Mia said. Aiyanna turned away and walked back to the Marfa Shrine. Mia glanced back to Nessa. “Well, let’s go get some horses,” she told the young fighter, then spun on her heal to continue toward the horse market.

    Novice’s horse market was on a street just off the market, but settled within the confines of the town. A maze of pens containing horses, donkeys, ponies, cows, and other livestock covered an entire block. Breeders, farmers, and merchants rented out a pen or two for their stock and waited for buyers.

    The spread of horses wasn’t too varied, it mostly contained either large work horses or smaller palfreys for riding. Mia paused at the entrance of the horse market and counted out the money Aiyanna gave her.

    She gave Nessa five Raidens and a few extra gold pieces. “You know what to look for in a horse, right?” Mia asked the young man.

    Nessa thought back to a few years before when his father brought him along to pick out a new horse after Thule died. Since Nessa’s father was in the Marmo cavalry he had no trouble spotting a good one and thankfully passed on some of that knowledge to his son.

    “I know enough to get a fair deal.” The boy said as he accepted to money.

    “Alright, then go find yourself a good one,” Mia replied, sending Nessa off with a playful pat on his butt.

    She turned back to the dwarf. “Let’s get going! We’ve got two horses to find,” the elf said, then walked into the maze of pens to browse.

    Nessa’s face turned a slight shade of red as he felt a light pat on his back side and mumbled that he’d be back soon. He then head down to the stable as he tried to recall what to look for and how much to haggle.

* * *

    Thalia took her followers to the local shrine. It was only the morning before when she and Avion had left this very shrine, and she could tell from Avion’s expression that he wasn’t excited to be back.

    The priestess led them to a stone front building that was the size of a small inn. “We will enter from the stable,” Thalia said and turned her horse to the side of the building. A wide alley next to the temple led into a small stable. Thalia paused beside a gate, then called for the stable boy. “Reyn!”

    A teenage boy eagerly appeared from a stall where he had been working. “Priestess Thalia! Welcome back,” the boy said, a common accent to his voice. He hurried to the gate and opened it up. As he stood back so she and her companions could ride in, he tried brushing the straw and manure from his clothes. “Will ye be stayin’ long?”

    “For the night,” Thalia said as she rode Nyn into the stable yard. The priestess dismounted and Reyn hurried over to take the reins of her horse. “Do you have room to stable three horses?” Thalia asked considerately.

    “Yeah, just barely,” Reyn replied, watching as Avion and Veriss rode their massive mounts in. The heavily armed knightess rose stoically into the stable, but ignored the stable boy. As a general rule, no one took care of her steed but her. Greysoul and she had a connection. While Veriss could feel nothing for anyone, let alone an animal, the beast of burden held a special place in her honor. Despite her apathy for the world, she respected Greysoul’s necessity for attention. Greysoul was less welcoming to others. For some reason, the oddity of Veriss’ nature pleased him.

    The woman left her mount, landing inches from the teen. She towered over him, her face battle-hardened and without any sign of actual humanity. She looked down at him for a moment, the petrified kid before her, before turning to move past him. Without holding the reigns, the horse followed, scoffing at the boy as he passed.

    Veriss walked, her armor moving with her, down the way to an empty stall and opened the heavy door with ease, something he found difficult. Veriss moved around the door and held the head of the loyal steed to her chest. She could feel the horse’s breath on her. She could feel nothing for the creature, but always knew it was needed—for both of them.

    They broke the embrace mutually. The great draft horse strolled into the stall after a quick removal of his equipment. The empty knight closed the door behind her steed and walked back down the way towards the stable boy. “He does not like you. Feed him, but no more. He knows how to kill.” There was no malice in her deep voice. Only the same monotone voice. Veriss began to move away from him, but stopped and turned back to him. She looked around for a moment. “Thank you.” It didn’t sound sincere, but Veriss couldn’t produce such intonation. It was the best she could do to sound friendly, but it wasn’t much to relax the stable boy, who still looked at her with a certain amount of fear in his eyes.

    Avion listened to the hollow knightess. While she lacked the compassion and gentle caring that Thalia’s voice had, that didn’t mean he didn’t admire Veriss. The neutral toneless voice was perversely refreshing, considering how often soldiers tended to treat stable hands and peasants with disgust.

    What her voice also lacked was the personification that farmers often voiced when working side by side. Avion’s thoughts returned to his father. Working in the stables and fields. His father always had a touch of endearment when speaking with anybody. Be it the neighbors, the mayor of Novice or distant travelers, Avion’s father was always warm and compassionate. He spoke on a friendlier level.

    Avion landed upon the soft soil and hay with a dull thump. The smells and sounds were familiar to him. He was after all a farm boy. The words mixed in his mind. A few days earlier, Thalia had called him just that. It sounded prettier, more charming when she said “farm boy.” But when Avion muttered the words to himself, they were simple, if not a little condemning. He shrugged off his thoughts and proceeded to help Reyn with Axe. A violent brute of a horse, Reyn could use a hand with Axe.

    “Easy there boy,” Avion soothed his restless mount as the stable boy brought feed to Veriss’s mount. Avion thought it best he should do his part. Using his inhuman strength to lift the feed box over to Axe. Reyn gave him an odd look, mixed with terror and awe. Avion had grown all too familiar with that expression and found it best to appear friendly.

    “Well, you were working so hard I thought I would spare you the trouble of carrying this big trough by yourself. You looked very busy anyways, so I just wanted to help out,” Avion awaited the boys reaction. He got a slow nod from Reyn and the boy proceeded to take a few steps back.

    “Of course, I mean if you would like to do this yourself I can put it back for you!” Avion paused at the ridiculous offer he just made, “Er, I mean, that is if you think it best that I should do that?” The stable boy shuffled towards the door. He gave Avion one more glance before hastily fleeing the stable house, leaving Avion alone with the horses.

    “I don’t blame the kid,” He turned to Axe before setting down the trough. Avion sighed heavily, “I don’t blame anybody. The only folks who don’t stare at me are Veriss and Thalia.” Avion patted his mount and made his way out of the stable.

    After Nyn was taken away, Thalia waited patiently for Veriss and Avion to tend to their mounts. Veriss walked up to Thalia in her usual demeanor. “I make the stable boy uncomfortable,” she said in a rather manly voice. Odd, considering she grew up as a noble. “I am sorry if I scare any of your congregation.” Veriss couldn’t actually feel sorry for anyone, but she would say so anyway to try and soften her appearance. She couldn’t feel for others, but she tried to remember what it was like and work off of it. Logic was a terrible substitute for emotion.

    Thalia touched Veriss’s arm in her usual, affectionate manner. “You are who you are, we will accept you for that,” Thalia assured the stoic woman. Veriss did intimidate her, but she tried to control that feeling. “If you will all follow me, please,” the priestess said to her three companions as she turned toward the rear entrance to the shrine.

    She led the way up a short set of steps and into the building. They entered into the kitchen, which was empty and quiet. Food to be prepared for the next meal was laid out, but there were no cooks tending to it. Thalia led them through the kitchen into a hallway, leading to the main room of the building.

    An short, elder woman in Marfa robes stepped into the hallway, having heard the footsteps of her visitors. She stared at Thalia in confusion for a moment, cocking her gray head to the side. “Sister Thalia, what are you doing back here so soon?”

    “I came across a group of travelers as I rode south,” Thalia began to explain. “They allowed me to join them, but they were heading north, so I’ve returned, but only for the night. Sister Cyrla, are they welcome to stay in your shrine?”

    “Just these two?” Cyrla asked. “We have only a few rooms to spare.”

    “Well...there are five more...” Thalia added apprehensively. Perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to bring them back. The shrine wasn’t ready to handle eight guests.

    “I’m afraid we don’t have enough rooms to spare, there are only five rooms available. They can make avail of any of the local inns. I can offer them blessings as compensation,” Cyrla replied. The older woman studied Thalia’s companions. Veriss caught her attention for a moment, but her eyes moved onto Avion. “Avion, it is good to see you again. Has the road treated you well for the short time it’s been since I’ve seen you?” the priestess asked, an amused smile on her thin lips.

    “I will sleep outside,” Veriss said in her usual tone, which turned out to sound more like an authoritative command than a suggestion. “Greysoul does not do well with... separation,” she added, trying to soften that again. It was so hard to not appear scary. She could only guess at the concern that the little old woman had for the large, fully armored woman who carried such a massive sword and a face that could probably cut down people on its own. The warrioress barely even looked at the priestess when she spoke.

    Avion smiled nervously at Cyrla, “Uh, well, yes!” Avion suddenly felt very clumsy again, “we met some new friends, so I guess the road’s been a good friend!” Avion paused at that. Frustrated that the words weren’t coming out quite how he wanted it. “I mean, um...” Avion scratched the back of his head, looking desperately to save face, “well, with friends around, so everything is Thalia...No! I mean...” Avion groaned in defeat. Bested by his own twisted tongue, there was little he could do now to save face. Avion stared at the ground, too embarrassed to look at anyone. “I... I mean, everything is s-so friendly with... with Thalia around...”

    Avion was very envious of Veriss. She was always so cool and straight to the point. And nobody ever put her in the spotlight. She always seemed to know exactly how to satisfy an answer. Avion could only stumble through a simple yes or no question.

    Cyrla smiled warmly at Avion, seeming very much like a kind grandmother. “Well, how about you all wait here for your other friends?” the elder priestess suggested to Thalia. “It’s quite early yet for bed, my dear warrior. How about you all take tea with me and I’ll bless that sword of yours?” Cyrla continued, addressing mainly Veriss, though her comment about tea was directed toward all three.

    “That sounds lovely, sister,” Thalia replied, with a smile. She then realized that she had yet to introduce Veriss. “Oh, this is Veriss Trelem, sister Cyrla.”

    “Ah, it’s nice to know just who it is I’m speaking too,” Cyrla smiled to Veriss, then darted a glance with a raised eyebrow to Thalia, chastising her for the error in propriety.

    Her name was not known to them. It was, in the long run, a benefit to her that they were unaware of her nobility. A warrior like her was not supposed to be doing this. “Your blessing is unnecessary,” the giantess said. It was more out of respect than anything else that she was not inclined to blessings. Priests should save their Gods’ strength for more important things than her. She didn’t need a blessing to make it out there. Lady Trelem bowed her head to the priest.

    Tea sounded very good at the moment. A hard travel laid behind Avion and the beds in the Temple of Marfa were obviously better than sleeping in the rough. Still, Avion couldn’t wait for everyone to show up. Best they do all the talking and demand all the attention. Avion stretched his muscles, they rippled and groaned. It had been too long since Avion had some time to relax. With all the excitement of traveling and meeting new friends, he would sleep well tonight. Avion couldn’t help but smile to himself. Simple pleasures for simple folk. Warm meal, roof over his head and a soft bed to climb into. Reminded him of home.

    “Very well,” Cyrla said and nodded to Veriss, seeming a bit disappointed. The warrior hadn’t taken her up on any of the hospitalities she had offered.

    Turning to Thalia and Avion, Cyrla continued her conversation with them. “You are welcome to wait in the shrine until the rest of your company arrives,” the priestess said, gesturing down the hall. “I will bring you your tea shortly.”

    “Thank you, Sister Cyrla,” Thalia said and bowed to her elder. Cyrla slipped between them to go to the kitchen and Thalia lead them into the main room of the building.

    The shrine was spartan and modest, not at all like the clean marble temple in Tarba, or the major cities. The room had a few rows of pews for worshipers, and an altar with candles and a statuette of the Goddess. A flight of stairs led to the second level, which was where the rooms were.

    Thalia sat on a pew near the altar. She was so poised, sitting straight, her delicate hands laid on top of each other on her knees. “Please, sit,” she offered to Avion and Veriss.

    Temples were not a place she liked to be. The faithful felt the presence of a god in their lives. She, too, felt a presence, but she knew well that it was no god. Only a creeping sense of hatred. The knightess sat straight, as if she was in a line at attention. She stared forward dully, not looking at anything in particular.

    “Oh, uh, thank you!” Avion smiled simply and sat upon the benches and stretched out. Anything felt better than being in the saddle, so Avion couldn’t complain about the hard wooden benches. His awkward build and bulky mass caused the benches to protest quietly.

    “It’s so peaceful in here,” Avion looked forward at the statue, trying to look relaxed. His muscles tensed sitting so close to the lithe Thalia, but at the same time it felt refreshing, even a little exciting. “Is this where you go to hear the spirits talk?”

    Thalia smiled slightly at Avion’s question. He didn’t know much about the priesthood. In fact, he barely knew anything. “No, we don’t speak to spirits, that’s what shamans do. We commune with Marfa, we don’t exactly speak to her, but she does grant us the use of her power when we pray to her,” Thalia replied. “It’s how I...re-charge my holy magic.”

    “Oh!?” Avion went wide-eyed like a child learning to ride a mount, “Kinda like... ” He paused trying to find something he could relate with, “like a tree!” Avion’s voice rose slightly with excitement, “You feed it water and sunlight and talk to the plant, and it grows larger! But trees don’t talk back.” His hands became alive as he drew pictures in the air, “then you cut down some branches, or pick some fruit. The after more watering and talking -” Avion paused to find the word Thalia used, “-commune uh, communing, then it grows the fruit and branches back!” Avion look at her face, hoping to get a nod of approval or perhaps a better explanation from Thalia. However, secretly, Avion just wanted to hear her voice.

    Thalia smiled at Avion’s analogy, she found it almost adorable. “I suppose that makes sense,” the priestess replied.

    Veriss, unlike the other two, stayed silent. There were two reasons that she chose silence over speech. The first was respect for anyone else who was trying to pray. The other was because she had nothing to say. So, while they discussed how being a priest worked, Veriss moved into a weak meditation, in order to make better use of her time. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She cleared her mind and emptied her thoughts in order to relax.

    Avion beamed with delight. It was not everyday that he did something worthy of praise. Especially when it came to intellectual matters. For a moment, Avion felt on top of the world.

    Thalia turned her attention back to the altar and fell silent for a moment. “I think I will stay in the shrine tonight. You may stay too, but the rest of the party should stay at one of the inns,” Thalia said to Avion. “I want to keep my distance from Azala. This shrine at least provides a little security.”

    Avion snapped out of his reprieve. “Oh! uh, sure Thalia!” Avion nodded with approval, still distrustful of the elf, Azala. He wanted to voice his disgust with Azala, but he simply bit his lip and sat down. No use in making a scene. Avion thought to himself, as he stared blankly into space. Perhaps, the shrine will have more security than usual for tonight.

* * *

    The common elf known as Azala found himself sulking a bit. His usual attitude had failed to seduce the priestess, which irritated him slightly. Well, it wasn’t as if it never failed before. So, instead of going with the others, he formulated a new plan of attack. This was done through one of Mia’s past times. Drinking. He didn’t drink nearly as much as she did, and most patrons avoided him. The long, pointed ears that identified him as an elf sometimes got ‘dark’ placed in front. Most people didn’t really know what Dark Elves actually looked like, he could tell those who did and didn’t just by the fear. While he found the dusky colored skin of a dark elf attractive, he was most definitely glad he didn’t get the full blood and repute. Well, maybe they didn’t think he was a dark elf. However, the haughtiness of his kind was also well known, and most just didn’t want to deal with that.

    When he felt some heat rise into his ears, he knew he had enough. To much, and whatever cool exterior he possessed would shatter down rather quickly. Paying the bar keep, he left. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a meal that would fit his pallet. Last time he had tried meat, he had nearly vomited. It wasn’t unpleasant tasting, but the shock to his system had been to much. He hid the resigned sigh, and left. No seduction tonight. Despite the fact that he could probably get a woman quite easily, the prospect of bedding one at the moment didn’t really strike him as fun that night. Besides, after that boy had challenged him to a fight, he would avoid their party as often as possible, although would continue to travel with them. After all, whatever they were searching for he might have to steal. He liked Mia as a sister, but whoever hired her he didn’t know at all. Letting someone get their hands on something to nasty was just inviting trouble.

    Whistling a little tune, he searched for his meal, never knowing that several groups of people were looking for him. Some wanted him for relatively benign reasons, while the rest wanted to see his blood. Lucied heard someone whistling in the forest. He was hunting for the night’s meal, but whoever was making the noise would scare away whatever meals were to be found in the area. Following the source of the sound, Lucied stalked through the woods. He was relieved to find that it was only Mia’s elf friend, and not a human. Lucied stepped out onto the path behind Azala, making an effort to be heard. The common elf’s ears twitched lightly, picking up the sound of noise from behind him. Turning, he saw Mia’s pet, Lucied. Well, he assumed it was her pet. He personally didn’t see why she would have a wolf, but, well, that was her business. He was a bit glad that it was this creature, however. He knew well enough from traveling that there were things that would eat the unwary, even close to town. “You hunting for food to?” He said, turning back to the path. “I somehow think that your tastes are a bit different from mine. Don’t think your kind knows to much about tasty vegetables and herbs.” Once Azala acknowledged him, Lucied trotted up alongside the elf. Azala spoke to him, and Lucied picked on the concept of what he was saying, and the familiar word of ‘food’. Elves and humans ate many sorts of food, that he knew, and he helped Feloru and Mia forage.

    Putting his nose to the ground, he sought out scents of the foods that he was familiar with. With it being spring, most plants were flowering instead of giving fruit. The wolf wandered away into the woods, sniffing at the ground.

    After ten minutes of searching, Lucied came trotting back to Azala with a healthy sized carrot hanging from his mouth by the green stem.

    “Show off.” He chuckled lightly, taking the carrot from the large wolf’s mouth. Unfortunately, his sense of smell didn’t really equate well for hunting. Although his eyes could pick up something smaller and further away than any human could. Although both their ears were likely on par with each other. Speaking of which, his ears twitched lightly. Looking up, he could see a small squirrel in the trees, now it was chewing on a nut. He hated to kill a small woodland animal, but the wolf had helped him out. “How about it boy, that little rodent up there look good to you?”

    Lucied followed Azala’s gaze to the squirrel. The elf wanted to kill the rodent for him. He was more than happy to help a friend find a meal, but he preferred to make his own kills. He could sense that the elf didn’t want to kill the squirrel anyway. The wolf made a deep whining noise in his throat of disapproval, and Azala would be able to sense the concept of “no thanks”.

    The wolf turned away and trotted off again. He’d find Azala more food, and maybe a nice rabbit for himself. No matter how hungry he was, he always kept his wild dignity. He hunted for his own meals, and didn’t take hand outs like a dog. Lucied was not a tame wolf; and though he had been raised by an elf, he always remained wild.

* * *

    Not but three days earlier, Sevrina had been hired by a rugged looking, yet effeminate blonde sorcerer. He gave no name, but a healthy sum of Raidens for her help in his interests. His request was to test a few mercenaries, though he gave her no identities at first. The next day, he reappeared and gave her the identities of her targets, and the day after that, informations on additions to the party. Her instructions were not to kill the mercenaries, unless they provided utterly incapable, but to test their strength. He left the means of testing up to her, but stressed that the best of their company be left alive. If captured, she was to say that she was after the same treasure and wanted to get rid of the competition. Sevrina was insulted that he insinuated that a few mercenaries could capture her.

    With the identities of eight targets, Sevrina decided to hire six extra assassins, plus her apprentice, Lorien. She quickly found the best six in the area, who were actually rather mediocre. Hakim and Nafisa were twins, brother and sister, of the Flame tribe of the desert. Terild and Dart were old friends who worked as assassins for the Marmo army and were left behind during the exodus. Emery was a displaced Kanonian who turned to a thief as a war orphan, then an assassin as a teenager. Radira was a feisty woman from Raiden’s Shadow Guild.

    With her underlings filled out, Sevrina traveled to Novice. As a dark elf, she couldn’t be seen, so she hid herself under a hood within the crowd of humans she hired. They went to one of the most popular inns in the town, Tobol’s Inn. It was all of three stories high and had twenty-four rooms for guest. Sevrina ordered them that no one would buy a room. If they took rooms for themselves, it would turn away their prey if they sought rooms in this inn. For now, they would wait in the common room and enjoy a meal.

    Of course, Sevrina took a table in the darkest corner of the room for privacy. It was just big enough for the eight assassins. Sevrina turned to her apprentice sitting beside her and spoke softly in elvish, {“You must speak for me. Treat me as if I am your mistress and too noble to speak for myself. I cannot draw attention to my race.”}

    Lorien gave his mentor the slightest of nods, and replied in a low voice in elvish responding to Sevrina’s statement, {“Understood.”}

    It was all he needed to say, they were already in a tavern, and taverns meant loose mouths and looser ears. Still, there was always that one person in such places who was watching, listening and seeing what new came to town...or who came to town. Lorien thought about setting himself in the frame of mind of a human who had a noble wife whose poise and demeanor meant she wouldn’t speak. He would have to be as eloquent and articulate as possible. There was nothing now but the waiting as he glanced around watching, waiting and listening.

    Sevrina bowed her head and folded her hands in her lap delicately. Her face was hidden in the shadow of her cloak, so even the grassrunners wouldn’t be able to see across the table.

    Soon, a grassrunner woman walked up to the table. She was dressed modestly and her blonde hair was bundled in a mature bun on top of her head. She could have passed

    for a child, save for her voice and bust. “What can I get you?” she asked. “We have roast beef, chicken, goose, and mutton to chose from, and a broad selection of ales, beers, spirits, and wines.”

    The assassins were silent, looking to Lorien and Sevrina to speak first. Lorien knew Sevrina always preferred red wine, but none at the table would be drinking more than a goblet or mug of any liquor tonight. They took their meal before entering town, to avoid being caught off guard at the table.

    Hakim sat down and said nothing as usual, the young assassin’s blue eyes darted from the young man and the hooded figure that sat next to him. Glancing over towards the other fellow and the girl, he took in all he could about them their mannerisms, faces and fine details.

    Dart sat back in his chair rather nonchalantly, he’d needed a job and the best thing about being a hired killer was the fact that you had no one to report to, at least in some respects. The thought took him back to his former job regarding a temple priest of some god or another that he’d killed. He was no fool and poisoning the man worked just fine, as he’d wanted nothing to do with magics. The others at the table seemed to be a sort, one girl was dressed rather showy and both of the two fellows were a curiosity as well. One was dressed in a reddish style of attire with a blue mouth piece that hid his features while the other fellow was in dark brown leather gear. Another sat next to the latter whose features were obscured by a hood. It mattered not, as long as he got paid.

    Radira paid the small fellow that sat next to her no mind, he’d glanced at her once or twice, the other was silent as was the hooded figure, she’d gathered that each person at the table was in someway in the same profession she was or they’d not be meeting obviously. The hazel eyed young man who spoke to the serving girl was handsome and she gave him the slightest of acknowledging nods. The sooner they got on with things for her the better as her purse was rather low.

    Lorien waited as each person had arrived, as soon as everyone was seated, he pulled an extra coin out for the serving girl and as soon as she’d finished speaking looked her in the eyes, smiled and spoke handing her both coins making sure to press the extra one into her palm with a light firmness to get his point across. “My companion will have red wine. I’ll have ale. Get the others whatever the order. And we’d like not to be disturbed, there’s another coin for you when we leave if you can manage that last part.”

    The grassrunner nodded, taking down orders in her mind. Once everyone at the table had placed an order, the slight woman scurried off to get the drinks.

    Nafisa radiated cold composure beside her twin brother. Both children of the Fire Tribe had an icy demeanor, as they had been trained together, and worked together their entire lives.

    Terild lounged in his seat beside his old friend, Dart. Emery, the plain looking Kanonian, uncomfortably eyed the two other men. Both Terild and Dart wore symbols of Marmo on their clothes or weapons. Emery was alone. While it was obvious Nafisa and Hakim were siblings, and Terild and Dart were old friends, he was hired solo. Because of that, he kept close to the other solo assassin, Radira. He thought she was beautiful, but she didn’t seem to notice him.

    “We will wait for our drink before we speak of our mission,” Sevrina said softly to the table, then sat silent. The entire group seemed to have a silent tension as they waited for their drinks, and the wait felt like an eternity.

    Finally, the grassrunner returned, along with a human woman, and the two barmaids began passing out the drinks. As per Lorien’s instructions, they hurried away to leave the group in peace.

    {“Sylph, spirit of the wind, seal this section from eavesdroppers,”} Sevrina spoke in elvish, and suddenly there was a shimmer around the group. Their words would not leave the table, no matter how loudly they spoke. They could still hear sounds from the common room, but the common room could not hear them.

    Sevrina produced eight squares of parchment from inside her cloak and laid them out in front of her. “Our mission is to slaughter a group of mercenaries here in Novice,” Sevrina began. Their mission was not actually to kill them, but to test them. Sevrina wouldn’t mention that. Only she and Lorien knew that, and she didn’t intend these six assassins to know.

    “Why a bunch of mercenaries?” Emery asked.

    Sevrina shot him an icy glare from beneath her hood that cut to his marrow. “Because you are an assassin. It is not your job to question the why, it’s your job to do the deed and get paid,” Sevrina snapped. Emery’s mouth shut at the reprimand. The dark elf continued, “Each of us will attack one mercenary, which I will assign to you. If they share a room, then you and whoever else assigned to their company will work together.”

    Sevrina’s eyes scanned the group and first fell on the twins of the desert. “Hakim, you will take the dwarf,” Sevrina stated and passed a card to Hakim with an in depth description of the dwarf. “His name is Dralock Holderhek.”

    “Nafisa,” Sevrina said, passing the woman another card. “Your target is Nessa.”

    Nafisa looked over the card and her eyebrows furrowed. She frowned as well, but it was hidden by her mask. “He will be far too easy,” she said in disappointment. Sevrina ignored her complaint.

    The dark elf’s attention turned to the two Marmo assassins. “Dart, your target is the Marfa priestess, Thalia Bodewhin.” Sevrina passed Dart the card, then moved to Terild. “You will take her guardian, Avion Ravenstorm—assumed to be part dwarf.”

    Dart kept his mouth shut and looked at the card he’d been passed, as long as he got paid it didn’t matter to him. The mercenary turned in Terild’s direction and spoke, “Well a job, some pay and a flagon of fine wine wouldn’t you say? The mug of ale after we’ve done the job though.”

    Moving on, Sevrina turned to Emery and Radira. “Emery, you will have the warrior Veriss Trelem, she is a large woman, and possibly a berserker. You must be fast and kill her without a fight if possible.” Veriss’s card was passed to Emery, then Sevrina tossed the next card to Radira. “You, darling, will take the elf Azala. I think you will enjoy hurting him,” the dark elf smirked.

    Two cards were left on the table, and she slid one to Lorien with no introduction. It belonged to the sorceress Aiyanna Irisis. The card resting in front of Sevrina belonged to an elf named Mia.

    Lorien watched, listened and waited silently. Taking a glance at the card he’d been passed, he began to already form a plan of action in his mind on how to deal with the mage he’d be dealing with. The young man smiled slightly as his mentor was giving him a challenge and he’d deal with it as expected. After everyone was passed their cards and had a bit of time to digest what their assignments were he finally took a sip from his ale. It was all about business.

    Dart looked over and saw the young man’s smile and spoke. “Hmph. So what’s got you all happy?”

    Lorien looked at the mercenary and spoke with an impassive expression, in a voice as calm and business like as one could imagine. “Amused is a better word and I’m merely considering my task at hand. You should do so as well.”

    Sevrina sipped her wine. Holding the Sylph shield was a strain on her energy, and the grassrunners were watching them suspiciously. They could sense the use of spirits, of course. “Speak no more of this assignment. I am dropping the silence shield,” Sevrina told the table. {“Sylph, disperse.”} With a shimmer, the spirits flew away and disappeared back into the plane of Air.

* * *

    A young grassrunner woman who actually looked like an elven child was sitting in the middle row on a pew perhaps was too high for her. Her name was, Hetle, and she was known in Novice as a prankster. Behind the grassrunner laid her polecat Shatu that always followed her everywhere. Hetle stayed unnoticed because of her short height and now was looking with interest at the newcomers. She listened to their conversation for some time but couldn’t restrain her curiosity.

    Hetle jumped off the pew and went to Thalia, who somehow won her favor. “Come here Shatu,” she murmured to her pet. Hetle sat gingerly near Thalia taking Shatu on her knees “Welcome to Novice holy priestess, I haven’t seen you here before. Oh, I’m Hetle”, Grassrunner smiled cheerfully.

    Thalia turned to Hetle, and was briefly confused. At first, she thought the small woman was an elven child, but she recognized her maturity. She had been well educated in Tarba, so she knew of grassrunners—even if she didn’t, she’d know after spending some time in Novice. “Oh, actually, I was here yesterday. Circumstances have returned me for the night,” the priestess replied. “I am Thalia Bodewhin, it’s nice to meet you, Hetle.”

    The door to the shrine opened and Aiyanna, the sorceress, entered. She seemed tired and drawn. “If you will excuse me,” Thalia said politely to Hetle, then stood and went to meet the mage. “Miss Aiyanna, where are the others?”

    “Please don’t call me miss, Thalia,” Aiyanna said tiredly. She had said that before, but Thalia was conditioned to using some sort of honorific when addressing people. “I am tired, the others are still shopping. Can we stay here?”

    Thalia shook her head. “There isn’t enough room, you will have to find an inn. Avion and I will be staying here, however. I want to avoid...well, you know,” the priestess added the last comment in a whisper.

    “I understand,” Aiyanna added with a weary smirk, then sighed. “Well, I suppose I will have to find an inn. Veriss, will you be staying at the inn as well?”

    Hetle watched Thalia and Aiyanna talking but suddenly felt shiver went up and down her spine. She turned her attention to knightess who was sitting motionless like a statue. There’s something strange about her… Hetle went to the Aiyanna “Sorry for interrupting but you shouldn’t worry about the inn. My father owes one and we have enough rooms and excellent service. How many people are with you?” Maybe it’s my chance to get out of Novice with them…

    “Oh! Thank you,” Aiyanna said to the grassrunner, smiling warmly. “Lets see...we have at least four,” Aiyanna did, doing a count of her scattered party. She didn’t want to count Azala, he seemed to have gone his own way, not that she wanted to put up with him anyway.

    “Veriss, you will be staying with us, right? Veriss?” Aiyanna realized that the knight was meditating. Afraid of awakening the Hyuri spirit, Aiyanna decided to let her be. “Well, we’ll see.”

    Veriss’s lack of response wasn’t exactly unexpected. Elven forms of meditation were commonly potent, compared to any other. Rarely would much of anything break that kind of soul seeking. The depths of her own mind were roadways to be traveled with this form, understanding the darkest of regions in herself.

    The knight’s lips twitched for a few seconds and her eyes whipped open. She sat very still at the pew, not even breathing. She stared at the wooden bench in front of her for about half a minute. Then, slowly, her features softened from something resembling alarm to her usual, stoic expression. She wasn’t sure what happened herself, but it struck some sort of cord. Hyuri was close that time. She practically had to wrestle with him. Rarely had the spirit of anger gotten that direct in her meditation sessions. Normally, his appearance was just observing. This time, he had directly confronted her. Was the spirit of anger frustrated by a lack of control? Or was he simply sick of letting the knight win?

    Finally, the knight looked up to the priestess and wizardess. “Did you speak to me?”

    Aiyanna turned back to Veriss to see the warrioress was conscious again. “Oh yes, will you be staying with myself and the others at an inn tonight?” she asked.

    “I have no money,” she responded instantly. It was true. The last of her coin went to treating Greysoul, her mount. Since that was so, she had little choice in the matter. “I will not.” The knightess stood up tall, adjusting her sword on its belt.

    “It’s alright, I can pay,” Aiyanna assured Veriss. v “Only four? That’s not a problem” Hetle winked to Aiyanna. “May I guide you to the inn then? I guess you want to rest after a long journey. Oh, and we have good red wine in the cellar.” Hetle added quickly. “I’m Hetle, since we are not acquainted yet,” young grassrunner bowed to the sorceress. “I do not know how I may repay you for such a favor,” the knight stated, turning to the priestess. As usual, she stood as any soldier might. Her back was tight, her head forward, her arms locked in place.

    Aiyanna waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. I did hire you to protect me, and you can’t protect me very well from another building.”

    “Very well, Milady,” Veriss said, holding her sword by the hilt.

    Thalia turned to the grassrunner. “I need to know which inn that is to tell the others when they come here. Would your father be Tobol then?”

    “You’ve guessed right lady,” Hetle nodded to Thalia. “I’m truly Tobol’s daughter. Is there anything else you need to know?”

    Thalia shook her head to the grassrunner. “Thats all.” The priestess looked to Aiyanna. “Avion and I will be staying here, so we will come and find you in the morning. I will tell Mia and the others to find you at Tobol’s Inn.”

    Aiyanna nodded to Thalia, then looked down to Hetle. “Well, I suppose we should go to your father’s inn,” the sorceress said, smiling to the grassrunner.

    “Follow me then, lady Aiyanna” Hetle went quickly towards shrine exit. “Shatu! Come here, we’re leaving,” she added and her little pet ran quickly after the master.

    Aiyanna waved goodbye to Thalia and Avion, then followed Hetle and her cat out the door. Hopefully she would get that rest she so desperately wanted soon.

    Thalia returned to the pew and sat down beside Avion. Moments later, Cyrla returned from the kitchen with another priestess following her. Thalia recognized the woman as Ialin; a short, slightly plump woman with short green hair, olive skin, and brown eyes. Ialin was in her late twenties and another caretaker of the shrine.

    “I’m sorry it took so long. Sister Ialin returned from a visit to one of the local farms,” Cyrla apologized as presented the tray with three teacups.

    “Hello, Sister Thalia,” Ialin greeted, smiling warmly.

    Thalia nodded to Ialin and returned her greeting, then took a cup and saucer off the tray. “It’s quite alright, Sister Cyrla. Lady Veriss has left, but Avion and myself will be staying the night.”

    “I heard the conversation from the kitchen,” Cyrla said. “You and Avion are just fine staying the night here.” The elder priestess smiled welcomely.

    Avion started at the tea given to him, “Oh! Just what I needed, thank you mistress Cyrla.” Avion smiled as he took his tea with both hands, it was hot to the touch, but his calloused hands were quite used to such rigors.

    Thalia sipped delicately at her tea, making sure it wasn’t too hot. Cyrla sat down beside Thalia on the pew and Ialin took a seat beside Avion, both women enjoying their own tea rather quietly.

    “So, tell me about these adventurers you found,” Cyrla encouraged Thalia.

    “Well, they’re mercenaries out of Alan, mostly. They are guarding Aiyanna, but they’re also hunting for treasure or something out near the Mirror Forest,” Thalia replied. “Then there is Azala,” the priestess added with a hint of frustration on her sweet voice. “He’s a beautiful elf, but he is constantly flirting with me! I have no interest in him, but he persists.”

    “You are a lovely girl,” Cyrla reasoned. “But I am pleased to know you’re putting your duties first. Marriage isn’t forbidden, but you chose to devote yourself to Marfa first.”

    Thalia nodded. She was very aware of this tenet, and she followed it strictly. She came to the temple to seek a higher purpose. If she wanted a husband, she could have settled for any number of men in her hometown. “Indeed. Even if I wanted to marry, I wouldn’t choose a man like him. Mia, the other elf, doesn’t seem to approve of him flirting with me. I’m certain she has good reasons, since she seems to know him well.”

* * *

    Hetle entered her father’s inn with Aiyanna, Veriss and Shatu, of course. The common room was not very crowded and the smell of incense from the first floor gave a feeling of comfort. “Please, wait here; I’ll go speak with my father about your apartments,” Hetle pointed at the oak table near the window, inviting them to take a seat. “Maybe you want to order something?” Hetle said to Aiyanna before leaving, young grassrunner tried to create a good impression upon the newcomers; it was a matter of business after all.

    Veriss looked around the room cautiously, her face similar to that of a statue’s. Of course, she let Aiyanna lead, as it was her purpose to defend her companions. With the spirits working inside her, she could be considered unstoppable. That was, of course, assuming that she needed them.

    Aiyanna took a seat at the table Hetle pointed to. She gave a sigh as she settled into the seat, glad to be off her aching feet. As the sorceress looked around the room, she noticed a large group circled around a set of tables in the far corner of the room, near the stairs. She eyed them warily, as they gave her bad feeling. They were dressed darkly. Perhaps criminals? She didn’t think they had anything to do with her, and she didn’t have the energy to cast a vision. Azala would chew her out again if she did and they turned out to have nothing to do with them—not that she cared what that haughty elf thought!

    She checked the orb of her staff though. The crystal ball was shinning with a silvery light. There was indeed something evil and malicious about that group.

* * *

    Sevrina’s ruby red eyes traveled to the door of the inn as she observed a grassrunner lead two of their targets into the inn. In the shadow of her hood, she smirked. Just as she anticipated. The sorceress and the berserker woman.

    “Do not look at them,” Sevrina spoke softly to her group.

* * *

    “So, if you won’t order anything…” Hetle turned around and went away to the stairs. After a few minutes she returned back to Aiyanna, still nervous about talking with Tobol. He didn’t like to be disturbed when countering money and Hetle left him in an unpleasant mood. “Please, follow me lady Aiyanna. Let me show you your rooms now,” Hetle took Shatu on her shoulder.

    “Room,” Veriss corrected rather forcefully to the grassrunner. “We will stay together.” Veriss knew it wasn’t her place, but, hopefully, Aiyanna would at least appreciate her concern for safety.

    Aiyanna didn’t want to take up space by putting everyone in their own rooms, nor did she want to fit everyone into one room. Giving Veriss an annoyed look, Aiyanna replied to the grassrunner, “We’ll take two rooms. One for the three women, one for the two men. I don’t exactly want to change clothes in front of Nessa and Dralock.”

    “Let it be so”, Hetle sighed. Didn’t she say before there were four of them? Well, that’s not my business… Hetle stopped for a moment, thinking where there might be free rooms of that kind and then led them to the carved wooden door nearly at the end of the corridor. “Come in please,” the grassrunner bowed opening the door. “Your second room is next to this one, enjoy your stay, ladies.” She gave a silver key to Aiyanna. “Should I give the second key to the rest of your party or you want to do it yourself?” Hetle asked the sorceress calmly.

    Aiyanna entered the room and dropped her bag on the nearest bed. She shook her head to Hetle. “I’ll be sleeping. Veriss, will you give the key to Dralock and Nessa when they get back?” Aiyanna asked the knightess.

    “Of course,” Veriss replied, taking the key. She didn’t want to sleep anyway.

    “I’ll see you later tonight, then,” Aiyanna said. She looked down at the grassrunner. “Thank you for your help, Hetle.” With that, the sorceress closed the door to her room and crawled in bed for her nap. As she was drifted off to sleep, her mind went back to the intimidating group downstairs. Surely, they had nothing to do with her. The orb on her staff, which she left leaning against the wall, had dimmed, but as long as she was in their vicinity, it would still have a light to it.

    Veriss let the priestess sleep, while she sat down by the door. With a rag she found, she began running it across the huge surface, rubbing away any impurities that she had missed before. The knight placed herself in a chair next to the door. Where were the others?

    “Never mind, lady Aiyanna,” Hetle bowed and left. Then she returned back to the common room and sat on the stairs observing guests and people there. She was a bit bored because nothing extraordinary ever happened at her father’s inn. Lirih, Hetle’s mother was cleaning the table, the evening was coming and everything was the same every day. But Hetle’s attention was caught by a group of darkly dressed people who were sitting in the corner. They are not our regular guests and should have already left… {“Just look at them, Shatu,”} Hetle said to her polecat in grassrunner language {“I have a bad feeling about them as well as about those knightess…We’ll keep an eye on them, right Shatu?”}

    “Bread and whiskey please.” A man dressed in white leaned against the bar with his right arm. There was something odd about him, and it wasn’t his foreign appearance. His left sleeve seemed flat and rested against his side. Jinn was simply passing through while on his journey. He had traveled far on foot that day and finally his body required him to rest.

    Hetle left her seat and went to the bar. Lirih stopped cleaning the table, {“Stop wondering around and go serve that foreigner,”} she noted in grassrunner with a sigh.

    {“I know mother…”} Hetle replied with irritation. A young grassrunner quickly went to the bar and climbed a high chair, she passed the whiskey and bread Jinn asked about. “Anything else sir?” Hetle asked in common politely.

    “Thank you miss.” Jinn accepted each one with his right hand, placing them both in front of him on the bar before reaching into his pockets for coin. “Here you go.”

* * *

    Only two of them. Perhaps the rest will come later, Sevrina thought. Once night fell and the town began to sleep, they would scout the city for the rest of the party. The dark elf, her appearance hidden by her dark hood, sipped her wine. “Order dinner, if you like,” Sevrina suggested to her party. Now that their targets were here, they could relax a bit.

    Taking Sevrina’s suggestion, the Flaim assassin, Nafisa, slipped gracefully from her seat. She noticed the handsome foreigner at the bar and felt the need to entertain herself until the dark elf needed her.

    Her entire red and black outfit was made to entice, from the lacing up the front that revealed cleavage and that it didn’t end in a skirt or pants, but a bikini cut suit and thigh high red stockings.

    She sat down at a barstool, one down from Jinn, and announced her presence with a rapping of her black lacquered nails on the bar. “Hello there,” she spoke to Jinn, her voice sultry.

* * *

    At Sevrina’s words Hakim nodded and ordered some bread and cheese. The assassin knew the value of eating a light meal, as he, more than likely, would need to be quick on his feet later. Only one thing was bothering him more than anything else; his sister Nafisa was off again.

    The assassin noticed Sevrina’s protégé, Lorien, seemed to be doing similar. The dark elf woman’s quiet apprentice said little and ordered a bit of bread and some fruit. An approving nod passed between both young men and Hakim let his blue eyes travel over the group as he did so.

    Dart however, decided to forgo a light meal and ordered meat, cheese, bread and more wine. The young man looked at Sevrina with a cocky attitude and smiled as he sat back and spoke. “Well, nothing to do now but enjoy a good meal and get ready for work.”

    Radira resisted the urge to shake her head, and ordered only more wine. She never ate before a job and wasn’t about start now. She’d eaten enough earlier anyway and it would suffice until their task was over. Looking at Lorien again she noted the young man’s silence, and the similar silence of Hakim. Both were so unlike Dart who was more gregarious and outgoing. This was going to be an interesting crew indeed. She wondered how they would fare when the job started. That would be the final determinate of their worth as assassins, and hers as well.

    Back at the table, Sevrina noticed Dart’s cocky smirk directed at her and shot him an icy stare. Dead fool. Don’t think that you compare to me, human, she wanted to retort, but with her intentions for him, she couldn’t speak her vicious thoughts.

    Terild caught the look Sevrina shot Dart. He had a glimpse of her face when she hired them, and she was the most beautiful woman, human or elf, that he had ever seen. He knew she was far out of his league and would probably sooner stab him in the back than bed him. However, the young man who was constantly at her side seemed to have a special place in her esteem. He was surprised that such a beautiful and proud dark elf would keep company with a human.

    Dart fairly shuddered at the cold, but beautiful, expression on Sevrina’s face. The assassin quickly decided that focusing on his meal was obviously the better choice rather than annoying her. Still, he gave a small glance or two her way once more before finally stopping altogether. Damn, one can dream can’t he? Aww well, guess she doesn’t care for humans too much. What’s that guy Lorien got that I don’t got? The assassin sighed, realizing there was no way in creation he’d ever get anywhere near becoming friendly, let alone intimate, with Sevrina. It was only in his dreams, and even those he wasn’t sure of.

    Sevrina turned her attention to Nafisa, her eyes narrowing suspiciously on the woman’s back. Her sensitive ears could pick up the words exchanged between the assassin and the white-haired man, making sure Nafisa didn’t spill any information. Keep your tongue in cheek, or I’ll remove your tongue through it and cut the voice from your pretty little throat, she silently warned in her mind, in all sincerity. While some people murmured violent threats to others, yet never acted upon them, Sevrina looked forward to getting the chance to dissect Nafisa’s ability to speak.

    Emery looked at Radira shyly. Such a confident and fiery young woman. “So...where are you from?” he asked her, sounding nervous. Despite having the blood of many on his hands, and seeing so much death in his life, Emery was still intimidated by pretty women. When he assassinated, he drew upon his past, but most of that was locked in another part of his mind, as if he were split in two. When out in the world, interacting with people, he was just an average person.

    Radira looked at Emery for a moment then spoke, short and to the point, “I’m from many places, no cause for you to be concerned.” She was all about getting the job done, socializing would merely distract her and she had no wish to do so at this point—not with any man, at least. Emery frowned in disappointment as Radira basically gave him the brush off.

* * *

    “Good evening.” Jinn titled his glass with his hand and took a sip while looking over the exotic newcomer. Even though to him much of Lodoss was exotic she stood out from the local folk.

    Nafisa smirked to Jinn, then gave him an appreciative look up and down. He had a nice build, but she noticed the empty sleeve at his side. Missing an arm? “Good evening to you as well,” Nafisa replied, then turned her attention to the grassrunner girl who was acting as a barmaid, despite the fact she wasn’t dressed for it. “I’ll have a whiskey as well,” she ordered, then turned her attention back to Jinn. “Are you a traveler?”

    “Good choice. The whiskey here is quite good.” Jinn took a second drink from his glass. “And yes, I am a traveler of sorts. Are you as well?”

    Hetle picked the whiskey bottle and filled one of the glasses on the bar for Nafisa. She turned away from the couple when she passed the drink to the woman from Flaim. I’d better leave them together. Meanwhile, Lirih sat behind her daughter hoping to rest a bit. {“Have you seen my brother?”} Hetle asked her in grassrunner, as they always spoke it between themselves.

    {“Maybe he is wondering the streets as usual, don’t worry, he will surely come back when he’ll get hungry,”}Lirih joked. Hetle sighed and looked at the door.

    Nafisa nodded to the grassrunner after she poured her drink, then took a sip from the glass. “I am,” Nafisa replied. “I work as a mercenary, but I am in between jobs a the moment, I just came from Adan with a merchant caravan,” the assassin lied, not knowing how Sevrina was relieved and disappointed at once.

    “Ah, that is always an interesting line of work. I do it myself from time to time when money becomes a necessity.” Jinn finished off what was left in his glass. “After all traveling isn’t cheap.”

* * *

    Mia and Dralock wandered the pens looking for a palfrey suited for Aiyanna and a stronger horse for them. The first one they came across was a strong warmblood, a combination of a lighter breed and heavy breed. A buckskin gelding with a solid build. Mia haggled the price and was able to get him for one Raiden, probably because the breeder had a number of other horses to sell.

    With her new horse, Mia continued the search for a good horse for Aiyanna. Finally, she found a pretty little bay Krisoon mare. The horse was middle-aged, but had an even temper from years of experience. She cost eight Raidens, but Aiyanna was loaded. They could afford it.

    Mia purchased the necessary tack, but gave Dralock the heavy saddles to carry. There was no need to saddle them tonight. The elf and dwarf with their two new horses headed out of the livestock market, then waited for Nessa to return.

    Nessa didn’t bother picking out a warhorse since he had no idea how to fight on horse back. He trusted his fighting ability more with his feet firmly planted on the ground, and figured he would dismount during any conflict.

    It didn’t take him long to pick one out, like his sword, the horse called to him as though he were the one being chosen.

    It took some haggling and a feigned walk away but Nessa eventually got a good price on the mount as well as an ugly but functional saddle. With nothing more to do Nessa rejoined Mia and Dralock outside the market area.

    Once Nessa returned, Mia was ready to move on. “Looks good,” she complimented on Nessa’s new horse, then turned. “To the shrine we go!”

* * *

    The door to the shrine opened again to admit Mia and Dralock, though Nessa had been left with the three horses. Veriss and Aiyanna were not in the room, but Thalia and Avion were there with two other priestesses. “Hey Thalia,” Mia greeted the priestess.

    Thalia rose and met Mia as she entered. “Welcome back, miss Mia,” Thalia greeted her right back. Mia winced at the title of “miss”. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay here. They don’t have the room. Aiyanna and Veriss have gone to Tobol’s Inn.”

    “Oh, alright then. What about you two?” Mia asked.

    “We will stay here for the night, and meet you in the morning,” Thalia explained.

    Mia nodded in acknowledgment. “Right, see you then, I suppose,” the elf responded, then turned about and walked right back out of the shrine. She was a little annoyed at making the trip for nothing, but now she could enjoy the hospitality of an inn—more specifically, its bar.

* * *

    The knightess, after completing the cleaning of her sword, replaced it in its sheath and moved to leave. As quietly as she could manage, which wasn’t very quiet, she made her way to the door and locked the door behind her. Veriss felt bad enough leaving Aiyanna so vulnerable and alone. Certainly, the door would have to be locked.

    If the others were coming, she would have to meet them and inform them of the arrangements. So, she made her way down the stairs. The group of people that touched a tactical nerve on her were still there. There were some others and at least some of that particular group were socializing with others. It might not be that bad. Without anything else to do, the warrioress stood next to the stairs, so her eye could be both on the path leading to Aiyanna and the entrance to the tavern. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had the money to buy anything to eat or drink. Sitting with no purpose seemed suspicious in its own right.

    Mia, Dralock, and Nessa went from the temple to the inn. Once their new horses were stabled, the trio entered, led by the elf. Mia tossed back her hood to reveal her long, scarred ears. She scanned the room for Veriss or Aiyanna, but didn’t find them. Tobol’s was the right inn, wasn’t it? Mia had spent the night here a few times in years passed, and was familiar with the grassrunner family, though she couldn’t remember the names of Tobol’s wife and children. Mia strode toward the bar and leaned up against it, near Jinn. “Hey there. Did you guys book a sorceress and tall, manly looking woman?” she asked the two grassrunner women behind the counter.

    Sevrina noticed the three people entering and smirked to herself. The elven woman was strong and confident, Sevrina could see it in her toned build and walk. She would be fun, and a powerful opponent. The dwarf and the boy were the targets of the Flaim twins, Nafisa and Hakim. It seemed the twins would have that pair to themselves in the room Aiyanna booked for the men. Sevrina, Lorien, and Emery would be together in the room with the three women.

    Veriss came down the stairs just in time to catch Mia’s eye as she asked to the inn mistress. Still fully armed and with one tightly clenched fist, she walked very officially over to Mia and held out her now open hand. “Your key,” she stated blankly.

    Mia felt a chill up her spine as Veriss approached. She could sense Hyuri, even in its distant state. She concealed any physical reaction and took the key from Veriss’s hand. “Just one room?” she asked, looking at the number on the key.

    Nafisa leaned forward to look behind Jinn at the threesome that entered. The large woman who Sevrina identified as one of the targets with the sorceress greeted them. She wasn’t sure if the elf was a target, but she knew her brother had been assigned the dwarf and the young man with them looked like her target had been described.

    The assassin leaned back onto her stool, acting as if she were only curious about the mercenaries. It was an elf and a dwarf after all.

    “That it isn’t,” Nafisa replied to Jinn. “What sent you out on the road though?”

    “To better myself and broaden my horizons. You can only learn so much while in one place. My master taught me ‘battle and books.’” Jinn raised his glass asking for a refill. “And what drink goes with the seasons.” Jinn peeked over his glass towards the group of new comers. They looked interesting to say the least.

* * *

    Aiyanna’s amber eyes fluttered open, a dream had woken her up. Most of her dream usually foretold something and this time it wasn’t a good one. She saw shadows chasing her, a looming figure cloaked in shadow over looked the chase. She leapt off the bed and got herself dressed, then relaxed against the wall. Her staff still had silvery light glowing lightly. Aiyanna’s senses went alert. She just had a bad feeling. Aiyanna stood up and cast a medium shielding spell. It would turn any equipment they used to heavy stone. She was hungry; with her exhaustion, she didn’t even think about food. Reluctantly, she got up and left the safety of her room. With her staff in hand, the silver light light starting glow brighter as she entered the common room.

    The dark group was still there. Her magical senses told her to watch her back, but she reserved her magical energy. She may need to fight at any moment, for who knew when Mellenroe may strike? He was hunting for the precious Starwind treasures, powerful artifacts in their own right. It would have to be the man himself, for anybody else to touch the treasures meant death. Her mind wandered around many topics as usual.

    “It is for the men. Miss Aiyanna rests in the room for-” Veriss was cut off by the entrance of the very same sorceress she referred to. “Our room is empty.”

    Lirih smiled to Mia “I’m glad that you’ve found your friends safe and sound. So will you order anything or there is something else I can do for you?”

    Hetle eyed all over the newcomers while filling Jinn’s glass with another portion of whiskey when suddenly Shatu, Hetle’s polecat, jumped off her shoulder on the floor and ran to Aiyanna playfully. “Shh, stop that Shatu!” grassrunner whispered crossly but her pet didn’t obey the warning.

    Aiyanna looked at the polecat, who seemed to be rather in playful mood. She gently pet the cat and a tired smile appeared across her lips. “What a cute cat you are!”Aiyanna said quietly. “Cats one of the most beloved animals of the moon. I swear I can hear her laughing at me right now,” Aiyanna added as she scratched the cat’s chin gently.

    Mia nodded to Veriss, noting Aiyanna’s entrance. “Right then,” she said and dropped the key in Dralock’s hand.

    “Hey Aiyanna, I got you a nice horse. She’s waiting in the stable for ya,” the elf said, and left it at that before looking down at Dralock again. She smirked as she asked, “How ‘bout a bottle of spirits?”

    Dralock gave an amused smile from under his mustache in reply. “How about a round, not a whole bottle,” he said with a wink. Mia was eager to drink, but he knew they couldn’t be drinking themselves into a stupor on a trip. Maybe if they had free time, he’d see how much this tough elf could drink, but it wouldn’t be tonight.

    Mia pouted a little. “Fine, yeah, just a couple shots. You in too Nessa?”

    “Sure,” Nessa replied. “Anything but Mossian dream wine. Too much of that stuff’ll take you to a place you don’t want to go. Beyond that I can hold my liquor. After you swipe the grain alcohol used to keep the forge hot, conventional booze in excess just aren’t so frightening.”

* * *

    Nafisa smiled, then tossed back the last of the whiskey in her glass. She overheard the conversations of the mercenaries. So they want to drink? That will make it much easier. “Ah, I’m afraid I never introduced myself. Nafisa, of the Flame Tribe,” she said. She could have used an alias, but she and her brother had no need to hide their identities. “And you?”

    Sevrina listened to the conversations, alternating between Nafisa’s and the mercenaries’. The elf wanted to drink? Foolish. Sevrina didn’t plan on killing the woman, but if she was drunk, Sevrina would take it from her flesh. Physically, Mia was strong, but she had mental weaknesses.

    “My name is Jinn of... nothing really.” Jinn smiled and tipped his glass back.

    “Hmm...A mystery then?” Nafisa said coyly, running her finger tip around the rim of her glass.

    Jinn chuckled softly, his left sleeve waving as he did. “I’m afraid I’m just simply boring.”

    Nafisa smirked, her attention drawn to the empty sleeve again. “Now you’re just being humble,” she said. “How did you lose your arm?”

    “Hm? This?” Jinn wiggled his left shoulder, waving the empty sleeve. “A few years ago in a fight. I was arrogant and it cost me my arm.”

    Nafisa wasn’t very disappointed by his vague answer. The mystery was more attractive than a cocky or shameful story. “Yet you are still a swordsman?” she asked. “How well have you coped with the loss?”

    “Well, that part took some time. I found a way to incorporate spinning into my style. By adjusting my center of gravity and moving in a circular motion I can make up for my loss of balance. And,” Jinn smiled. “It doesn’t hurt being underestimated for being handicapped.”

* * *

    Mia laughed, calling up memories. “Damn, I don’t think there’s a liquor I haven’t tried!” the elf chuckled. She’d had dream wine before, and even grain alcohol he was talking about. “I drank that on a dare once. I can’t say I remember much of that night afterwards...” The elf trailed off, remembering how she woke the morning after; a headache from Falaris himself, two women and one lucky mercenary in bed with her.

    “Anyway, three shots of dwarven spirits, if you please,” Mia ordered from Lirih.

    Veriss stepped away from Mia and the others. Not long after her affliction began, the knight tried getting drunk to reach emotion again. It didn’t work. It clouded her ability to hold her anger back. That was it. Mia no longer seemed interested in her, so she walked away and sat down with a good view of her companions.

    Lirih nodded, gave a sign to Hetle, and her nimble daughter quickly got to work. As the young grassrunner stopped filling the glasses she placed them carefully on the bar, trying not to spill the drink.

    “I seems that she likes you,” Hetle smiled to Aiyanna from the bar, watching her and Shatu. “You are the one of the traveling mages from Alan, aren’t you?”

    Aiyanna acknowledged Mia with a nod. She would check out the horse later. The sorceress stood from petting Shatu and looked down at Hetle. “Yes, that I am,” she replied to the grassrunner. “I take it you have spent your entire life on Lodoss?”

    “Well, yes,” Hetle lowered her eyes. “I’ve never left Alania, but I wish I could. I can’t complain about my life here in Novice, but still I want to see more places than just sit in my father’s inn,” she replied to Aiyanna with a note of hope in her voice.

    Aiyanna caught onto the vague suggestion and paused to consider it. Hetle was small, but she dressed as a ranger. She had no idea how old she was, but if grassrunners were anything like elves, she could be far older than she looked. “Well, my journey is a dangerous one,” Aiyanna started. “However, we did lose a mercenary yesterday, and I could possibly hire you to replace him...”

    Aiyanna suddenly realized how blasé she had been about Jonas’s death. Well, she was confronted with the threat of death from Mellenroe almost constantly. It was a shame they lost Jonas, especially after she bought those weapons for him. She never quite realized how it would turn out, despite being a seer.

    “So? As for me, I accept your offer no matter how dangerous this journey is. Maybe I look childish but I’m not like what I seem to be at first,” Hetle answered Aiyanna confidently. Parents will be surely against this but I’m not leaving them alone, Rari will be looking after mother…Nobody will miss me anyway… Hetle glanced at Lirih but she went to serve a customer across the room. Most of the visitors have already left and the room was almost empty.

    “Well then, I’ll hire you to guard me to Valis. After that, you can talk to Mia about the adventure they want to take beyond that,” Aiyanna replied. “But for tonight, would you be kind enough to get dinner for me? I’m famished!”

* * *

    “Thanks,” Mia said with a wink to Lirih. Taking her shot glass, she held it out to Nessa and Dralock. “A toast to adventure, eh?” she offered.

    “To adventure,” Dralock said with a small, amused smirk, then raised his glass to Mia’s.

    Nessa joined in the toast and raised his glass. He kicked back the liquid and noticed it had fire without too much burn, as good spirits should be. He then drank another for Jonas, but he would not drown in depression and booze tonight. Life was short for a commoner, like the edge of a curved dagger it could cut swift and true, but not deep. In the end, only luck determines whether one lives to be gray or not. Nessa had that luck, Jonas didn’t, that’s how it was. Dralock and Mia both threw back their shots, but Dralock insisted that Mia not drink more.

    “S’good.” Nessa said, already feeling the relaxing effects of the alcohol. “But red beer is better for a tavern like this.” The youth then raised his hand to call back the waitress for a pint of ale and whatever else the others wanted.

    “Son, let’s not drink more tonight. We can’t be getting drunk the job,” Dralock told Nessa. The dwarf leaned in to whisper to the young man. “Besides, I think she’s one to go overboard,” he murmured, in reference to Mia.

    I can take more than that, Nessa thought to himself as though he were being challenged, but decided not to argue. Especially after Dralock’s comment about Mia. The boy stifled a chuckle and admitted to himself that he didn’t always know when to stop either. “I guess so. But first swear that when the job is over we’ll test our mettle.”

    “What was that?” Mia questioned Dralock when he saw the dwarf whisper something to the boy. It was so soft, even her sensitive hearing didn’t pick it up.

    “Nothin’,” Dralock grinned back at her. The elf let the subject drop.

    Mia’s attention shifted to Nessa. “Definitely! I wanna see just how well you can stack up to me and a dwarf,” she replied to Nessa with a wink and a play-punch to the shoulder.

    The Alanian knightess glanced around, letting the seconds pass by without any real notice that she lost time of her own life. Nothing seemed real to a berserker. Hyuri would rather it not. Focusing on what you hate was more effective to his goals.

    While Mia and the others drank, she sat aside. No one had offered her a meal, and she had no money, so she did not complain or request anything. It would be rude to presume a free ride on anything. So, Veriss didn’t. Something about warrior’s honor. Sometimes, Veriss’ logic couldn’t make sense of it, but it was expected that she would follow. I don’t make these rules for a reason, she thought.

* * *

    Lorien was silent for the most part, still sipping his wine while he watched a well built elven woman, a dwarf, and a boy in the room that fit their targets’ descriptions. The young man’s only reaction was the slightest narrowing of his eyes as he looked in their direction, putting their faces and movements to memory.

    Sevrina turned to Lorien and murmured lowly in elven, {“We have to find the other targets. I need to be outside to cast a spell. Tell Radira, Terild, and Dart to join us,”} Sevrina instructed. If Lorien was to act as her retainer, he would have to lead the way out of the inn and speak to their underlings for her.

    Lorien gave the slightest of nods, preferring not to bother with any small talk that might give away his actions such as “At once” or “As you command” he knew his place and knew it well with his mentor. She was gracious to reward him in training and teaching, but to offend or disobey her was something he would not do, ever. The brown-haired young man looked at Dart and spoke, “We have something to do. No questions. Follow me.” Rising from the table he looked at Radira and Terild and spoke in the same business-like calm voice with no hint of emotion. “Radira, Terild you also join us. Come.”

    Without another word nor a glance back at Sevrina, which would’ve been foolish, he headed towards the door of the inn. The only person to raise a question was Dart, who spoke as he followed the young man, “Hey. I wasn’t done with my meal. Time for work eh?”

    That did it, Lorien had put up with the man’s foolish, cocky attitude for long enough, and as Sevrina’s retainer it fell to him to do the honors. As soon as they stepped outside of the inn, he turned and glared at Dart sharply, then spoke in a cold tone that was both seething and somewhat frightening, though he had the same calm, placid look on his face. “You say nothing when we’re about from now on. You talk too much and loose lips mean death. I told you no questions. This is the only warning you’ll get. Slip again and you won’t live to see another day.”

    Dart had been foolish. Any slip or unnecessary chatter would have reached the ears of the elf in their party of targets, or any others with sharp ears and sense enough to listen. Lorien wanted no chance of anything that might even remotely alert their quarry to their presence or the job.

    Dart’s eyes bulged at the young man’s abrupt words and he stepped aside silent, simmering as he thought to himself. When this is over you and I are going to settle up, just you wait, pretty boy.

    Radira stepped outside as well, as she’d followed Lorien without question, now all that was needed was for Terild to join them as Lorien had indicated that he join them as well.

    Sevrina smirked from the shadowed protection of her hood. She was proud of her apprentice’s coldness and calm control. He was coming along well. He would certainly get a reward for that.

    Terild followed the group out of the inn, casually striding along behind Radira. As they stepped into the street, he caught the sharp exchange between Lorien and Dart and shook his head. Dart could be so arrogant that he forgot his head. Usually Terild was the one to keep him in check. Clapping a hand on his old friend’s shoulder, he continued following their employers. “C’mon mate, let’s go.”

    Sevrina slipped her arm out from under her cloak, revealing the fine dress she wore beneath it that helped her role. She linked her arm with Lorien’s and began to lead the young man subtly. He didn’t know where they were going, but he had to act as if he did. It appeared as if Lorien was actually the one leading. She had to find a secluded place to cast her spell.

* * *

    Nafisa grinned. “That’s interesting,” she replied. “As a woman, I know that well. There are plenty of men who underestimate me because of my gender.” The assassin noticed that her dark elf employer, her apprentice, and three of the mercenaries were leaving. She glanced across the room at her brother with a questioning expression.

    “I could understand. But I think in this kind of world that is a great advantage.” Jinn finished his meal and pushed the plate forward along with a few coins. “If you’ll excuse me miss. I’m afraid I’m not fond of staying under a roof for more time than necessary.” Jinn smiled and hopped off his seat. “I’m afraid I’ve spent too many nights under the stars to stay cooped for long. I think I’ll go for a stroll then I best turn in for an early start.”

    Nafisa frowned a little as Jinn left. It wasn’t as if she had the time to pursue anything with him. The sultry assassin stepped down from her barstool and took her glass of whiskey back to the table. She slipped into her seat beside her brother with a sigh of boredom.

    Emery was quite bored himself, and disappointed that Radira would barely speak to him. Now his attention had drifted to Nafisa. After all, her tiny outfit was made for it and left little to the imagination. He admired her long, tanned legs, left exposed all the way up to her hip, and as she sat down, he found himself drawn into her cleavage.

    Nafisa noticed his stares and leaned forward. “Like what you see?” she asked with a dangerous smirk.

    Emery looked up to meet her dark eyes and blushed. “Sorry,” he said, looking away.

    “Watch it or my brother will cut your eyes out,” she threatened, still smirking.

    Emery nodded in acknowledgment. This was turning out to be a hard trip. He was traveling with three beautiful women who were leagues out of his reach. Not to mention he wasn’t sure if he could handle his target. He ignored Veriss by not looking at her, but he was very aware of her presence.

* * *

    Aiyanna’s train thought drifted into many things about her life whilst dinner was on its way. Mellenroe was a big problem at the moment, he didn’t know she was the person he was after for murder of his parents. He told her once that he would avenge them. She asked, ‘Then how come you haven’t been able to find whoever it is?’ He said that the stars refused reveal who it is, he believed they would reveal the murderer to him when the time came. That was when she was fifteen and he was seventeen.

    There was a story that stars told her once about her family, about the tragic love between newly married Duchess Anya Shaina Starwind and Duke Jarva Kris Terres. How grand was her life? Aiyanna just sighed and waited for her dinner.

* * *

    Sevrina and her assassins arrived at the shrine, just down the main road from the inn they left. However, the dark and her apprentice didn’t stop, they walked on by casually, leaving it to their followers to enter the small building. Meanwhile, they would pass by some of the shops, appearing as if they were browsing wares.

    Terild got the point and without question, turned aside from his employer and went straight into the shrine, leaving it to Radira and Dart to follow.

    Lorien stepped along with Sevrina, saying nothing and not missing a beat as their three companions entered the shrine.

    The assassin opened the door and stepped inside the tiny chapel of a room. On the right side of the room, there was a hearth, an altar, and several rows of pews. Occupying the front row was three priestesses and a rather broad, muscular young man. Terild instantly recognized the boy as his target.

    Radira followed behind Terild without question and glanced around slightly, noticing the decor and architecture of the shrine. Dart was a bit less enthusiastic in following the other two mercenaries, but the young man did as he was told and followed along.

    Priestess Cyrla heard the door open and turned to see the three young fighters enter. The elderly priestess stood to greet them. “Welcome to Novice’s Marfa shrine. Are you seeking blessings, healings or prayer?” she asked.

    Thalia and Ialin turned to look back at the three people. They looked like mercenaries to her. Two men and a red-headed woman.

    As the elderly priestess addressed them, Radira stepped forward and gave the woman a brief bow, “Prayers.” Radira thought the less she spoke and directly to the point the better. The whole time she focused on their host, she hoped her other two companions were taking advantage of this to notice their surroundings and any possible targets. Dart gave the old woman once over then let his eyes follow along into the shrine’s interior where he made study of obvious inner doors and any other obvious exits.

    Cyrla offered the three a seat in one of the pews, though it was obvious she wasn’t amused by Radira’s clipped remark.

    The common elf had spent some of the day giving a half-hearted look for the others—just in case they had chosen an inn—before ending his sight seeing trip. They said they were likely to stay at the shrine to Marfa anyway, so the search was moot. As he arrived, Azala thought he recognized the nobles and their party. Strange, at least to him, they split up. Three of her bodyguards headed into the temple. Giving a shrug, Azala entered into the shrine, standing a few feet behind the mercenaries now. Well, he could wait for whatever business they had to do. Strange to see pious mercenaries. Noticing Thalia, he gave a light wave, although he quickly lowered his arm back to his side, and waited.

    “You’ll have to excuse my companions, they aren’t as devout as I,” Terild said, smiling warmly to the priestess. He let Radira and Dart find their seats, then turned to them to chastise them. “You should respect the Goddess’s priestesses if you want your prayers to be answered,” he said, then took a seat beside them.

    Terild had seen enough of the people in front of him to recognize the broad young man as his target. He wasn’t entirely sure who Dart’s target it was, but one was supposed to be a priestess. It wasn’t the old woman, but it could have been the beautiful blonde, or the cute, plump dark haired one. Both were sitting next to the boy. Terild bowed his head to act like he was praying, but he was only finishing the act.

    Radira nodded and made an expression to show that she’d been admonished, in truth the young woman couldn’t have cared less about the priestess’s reaction but still they were undercover, so to speak, on a job. Terild did well to cover for her impertinence. She didn’t put much scope in something you couldn’t see, especially gods and the like, but just in case, it wouldn’t have done any good to have pissed off the priestess. The young woman moved to a seat and sat down quickly to search the shrine for her target. She was pleased to recognize the handsome elf who entered as her target. She only glanced at him for a moment, but that was enough.

    Dart, for the most part, remained quiet and glanced around noticing people that came in. He had a good score to settle with Lorien but that wouldn’t stop him from doing his job as was proper. He recognized the pretty blonde priestess in the front pew as his target.

    Thalia groaned as she saw Azala enter behind the mercenaries. She lost her composure and sank down into her seat, vainly hoping she wouldn’t have to deal with him.

    Once the mercenaries were seated, Cyrla went over to greet the elf who had entered behind him. She had a suspicion that he might be the Azala Thalia was complaining about.

    “How may I help you?” she asked Azala warmly.

    The elf’s ears picked up on the conversation, and he was a bit surprised at the those people. Coming into a Marfa shrine to disrespect the priestesses was a fool’s errand to say the least. Well, they were praying, so it wasn’t really any of his business at this point. “Yes, I suppose you could. My party came here a few hours before, seeking shelter for the night, I believe. One of which is, right over there...” Azala said, motioning to Avion and Thalia. “Are they still here, or have they left to find an inn to sleep in?”

    “Oh yes,” Cyrla replied to the elf. “They went to Tobol’s Inn, it’s just down the main street. You can’t miss it.” The elderly priestess explained. “Thalia and Avion will be staying here tonight, but we don’t have many rooms to spare,” she added. Thalia didn’t want him around, so Cyrla did her best to kindly make sure he left.

    “Yeah, I passed it on the way here,” Azala said, crossing his arms. Well, he hadn’t really wanted to stay in the shrine, anyway, and it did make sense that the priestess wanted to. Still, he wanted to attempt the seduction, he supposed it would just have to wait until later. “Thanks, I suppose we’ll come back later to pick up Avion and Thalia.” Giving a slight nod, his eyes lingered on those others who were there. Something about them seemed off to him. Exiting from the temple, he began his way back to Tolbol’s Inn. Hopefully Mia wasn’t too drunk.

    Terild raised his head after his feigned prayer to see that neither Dart or Radira had acted along with him. He gave a sigh at the pair, keeping up his act. “I suppose it was pointless to try and get you two to pray with me,” the assassin said, shaking his head. “Oh well, back to the inn for us.”

    He stood and slipped out of the pew, then bowed slightly to Cyrla. “Thank you for your hospitality, priestess,” Terild said warmly.

    Radira nodded, then spoke, “I suppose I should work on having more faith and respect. I’ll try to do so.” She looked at the priestess and lowered her gaze, trying for all her worth to sound sincere. It wouldn’t hurt to put a good show in. “My apologies holiness. I never had much to do with holy people. I’ll try to learn better.”

    Dart said nothing, deciding to keep his mouth shut still, and followed Terild out the door, soon followed by Radira. The assassin had looked over the shrine the best he could and felt he’d seen all he could see.

    Avion snorted, something about those three made him very uneasy. They looked like they knew what they were doing. And whatever it was that they were doing, they weren’t up to much good...

* * *

    Taking the ‘we don’t want you here’ hint from the elder priestess, plus his own distaste at the possibility of staying in a temple, Azala gave left the temple. Strange visitors though. They seemed a bit too rude to be the normal types. As he entered Tobol’s Inn, he noted there were grassrunners running the place, a strange creature to see to Lodoss to say the least. “Hey Mia, back form my business... anything new happen while I was gone?”

    Mia leaned back in her chair and looked up at Azala as the elf approached her. “We gained a new party member, I hear,” she replied. “The grassrunner girl who works here. You’re gonna have to get yerself a room of your own, we already bought ours.”

* * *

    Radira stepped into the inn, following Terild and Dart. The young woman glanced around casually seeking a place to sit as she knew they’d need to debrief Lorien and Sevrina on their assignment.

    The place was just the same as he’d left it and Dart wanted a bit of ale. He looked towards Terild and spoke, “Well let’s find a seat, all that prayer makes one thirsty...” He just wanted to sit for a minute and get the idea on what to do next, the sooner they got the mission done the faster he’d get paid.

    Once the three assassins had left the temple, they rejoined Sevrina and Lorien, who followed along behind them to return to the inn. Sevrina noticed that Azala reached the inn first. One more staying here then, she thought.

* * *

    “Aww, and here I was hoping you’d save me one,” Azala said in a playful tone. Looking back, he noted those people who had been at the temple were here as well. This was a bit to frequent to be a simple coincidence. “A grassrunner eh? We just seem to be picking up people right and left.”

    Leaning in, Azala brought his mouth to her ear. To others, it was obviously flirtation to a new degree, but he wasn’t flirting with her. “Like those people who just came in? Seems like they’re everywhere where we are today, strange, no?”

    Mia leaned back to look up at Azala. She had only seen them at the inn. “Really? Where else did you see them?” she replied, her voice hardly over a whisper.

    “I saw them walking around earlier,” he said, giving her a flirtatious look, although it was at least somewhat serious. “Then, low and behold, they managed to appear at the Marfa shrine. Not typical worshipers either, they seemed rather cynical to the priestesses, actually,” he said dryly, not at all amused. “And now they’re here. A little to much to be a coincidence, I think.”

    Mia shrugged. “I don’t know, it might just be coincidence. They were here when we arrived, and I didn’t see them anywhere else before that,” she explained. She did heed his warning though.

* * *

    The dark elf returned to the table, and as she entered the room, the orb on Aiyanna’s staff glowed again. It was becoming obvious that she was the source of evil in the inn, as opposed to her entire party. She had her party pay for rooms at the inn, mostly to keep up the act, but they would need privacy to prepare. She paid for a single room to share with Lorien. Nafisa and Radira took a room together, though the Flame tribe assassin was more used to sharing quarters with her twin brother. The four remaining men, Hakim, Emery, Dart, and Terild rented one of the few four-bed rooms that the inn offered. Sevrina gave them all the money they would need for the best of accommodations. It wasn’t as if money were an object to an assassin who’d been gainfully employed for nearly two hundred years.

    Radira’s reaction to receiving their pay was a slight smirk and the young woman put her payment in her purse. She noticed a vision of male beauty, the target whom she’d been assigned to kill, Azala. She caught her breath when she saw him, she’d never seen a man so…beautiful. She hated men, that was no secret, she’d sooner slit one’s throat that bed one, but he might be an exception. She had to admit she wouldn’t mind spending time with him, then slitting his throat afterwards. Radira smiled as it would mean she’d have two joys at once. It also gave her ideas on how to deal with him, the young woman gathered herself and headed to the room that head been purchased for her, to make plans to meet this beauty of an elf later.

    Dart had little to say and even less thoughts on anything, but his mood was much better as he had a bit of coin in his pocket. All he had to do now was the job. He felt better when he was about work. The assassin noticed Sevrina and that ass-hat, Lorien, retiring to a room they’d purchased. He was still peeved a bit at the young man’s earlier threat, as for the dark elf, he could live with her attitude, as he thought elves were all stuck noses anyway. All that mattered to him was getting payment, at that he’d have no problem, but if either she or Lorien tried to double cross him, then there’d be trouble.

    Lorien retired to the single room Sevrina had purchased for them both and once they were alone, the young man stretched and stepped over to the bed to sit down. He was silent, mulling over the events of the day and making mental plans for the rest of the assignment to come and his target as well. Glancing back towards Sevrina he gave her the calmest and most gracious of smiles, a bit of rest before the main job wouldn’t hurt.

* * *

    Veriss kept a close eye over the room, as she usually did. Her job was to body guard and it was all she knew to do. The others could enjoy themselves with drink, jokes, and the like, but one of them would never have such pleasures, nor ever remember a time when she could have. As much as she couldn’t be a part of their happiness, she could feel no sorrow or regret for losing them, so there was no pain involved with this fact.

    The giantess constantly caught the wandering eyes of several others at a particular table. She paid close attention to them and that attention was quite blatant. The knight wanted them to know she was watching them, so she made sure to face them and, while scanning the room, to focus on them. Unlike some of the magically gifted in her group, Veriss had no sense of evil. She had a sense of danger though and they looked like a cause if there was to be one...

    Nessa sat quietly as Mia and the elf talked business. He then noticed Veriss sitting alone scanning for threats as though they were sitting in the middle of a war zone.

    The youth dipped his hand in his money pouch and silently counted the modest assortment of coins by touch. With a little bargaining he managed to save some of the money Mia gave him to buy a horse.

    Nessa then excused himself and went to Veriss’ table. The boy still didn’t know much about the giant woman or why he had yet to see any expression beyond stoic indifference. But he did know that she was a strong fighter and that she needed to eat same as everyone else. Those were the only two facts he really needed at the time. “Yesterday you agreed to tutor me in swordplay. I don’t know what a lesson normally costs, but I’ll bet it’s at least worth a hot meal. That is, if the offer still stands.”

    “Cost is of no consequence. I charge nothing,” the statue of a woman replied harshly. Veriss could teach him what he wanted to know from her own formal training. The rest would have to come from experience in control and focus, since she had to practice many hours a day in focus to maintain it in the midst of battle. “If you wish, you may join me for meditation as well. A good warrior is focused and disciplined. We shall commence training as soon as you find time for your first lesson.”

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