Lumenyárë Atta

 Lumenyárë Atta

Qaida sagged in the saddle. Weariness plagued her, caused by a long hard ride with no sleep, coupled with the poorly tended wounds. The constant jarring as the horse moved underneath her had seemingly given her a permanent headache. With the city of Thedan growing ever closer, her thoughts turned to finding a place to stay, food and someone to tend to her shoulder and hip. It wasn’t long before the enormous white stone wall loomed over her. She eyed the gates of the city as she slowly passed through them.

Bustling people filled her vision; a roar of noise assaulted her ears. The rogue pulled her horse to a slow halt, eyes taking in what lay before her. A large castle sat in the distance overlooking the city. Marble stone houses, shops and taverns took her breath. Where Alexon and Keydon had the smell of too much sweat and blood, Thedan’s air was clean.

There were all types of people around her, going about their business. Armed men and women, merchants, nobles, and peasants littered the streets. Shouts of the merchants trying to sell their wares filled the air. Metal scraping, armor grating and the clatter of hundreds of boots seemed a perpetual sound. Having only been in Alexon and Keydon, both dirty, dark and full of threats, what met her senses was completely the opposite. 

She pulled her cloak closer to her. Though the city looked friendly enough, she wasn’t about to let her guard down. Looks are deceiving. Throwing the hood up with her good hand, the rogue pushed the horse forward, steadily moving through the city avoiding the pedestrians.

“Aye there, milady!” A voice called. A man waving his arms caught her attention; he was looking straight at her. Frowning, her first thought was to ignore the man, but she thought better. Maneuvering the horse towards him, she noted the appealing building and a stable yard just around the corner. A sign hung over the door, The Red Diamond.

“Yes?”

“New to Thedan aren’t you? I can tell, been here all my life. Allow me to stable your beast. This is my inn, here. I’ll offer you a place to stay until you find one, or leave.”

Qaida frowned at him. The large man held a huge smile on his sweating face. It was her own fault really, having gawked at the city like an awe struck child. Turning her gaze to the sign that swung lazily on its rusty hinges, a red flag went off in the back of her mind. The large man seemed too generous. For a moment, thoughts of staying on the streets entered her mind.

“How much?” she asked tentatively, forgoing the streets.

“Fifty-five silver a night, milady.”

Well, what am I to expect? The city looks wealthy enough, she thought wincing inwardly at the hefty price. The rogue nodded to the inn keeper. Slowly she dismounted, careful to keep her injuries hidden. The innkeeper took the reins of the horse, leading it towards the stables.

Her hand moved to her lower back, fingers caressing the curve of her daggers handle. The weapons were concealed by the cloak she wore. A leather shirt that served as her armor was covered in little buckles –as well as blood –that tightened the clothing to her body. Her pants were tucked into tall boots also covered in buckles.

Looking into the crowd of people, her eyes searched cautiously. After a moment, she slowly moved towards the door of the inn. It took a moment to adjust her vision from the bright sunlight to the very dark room. Laughter from many of the tables filled the inn; chatter of the current situations in Thedan caressed the air. From the kitchen there was a strong smell of meat cooking, basting in herbs that caused her stomach to churn with hunger.

Making her way to the bar, the rogue was happy that no one seemed to notice her, or care to. The less people knew about her, the better. The last thing she needed was Faine to figure out where she’d gone. If leaving the guild wasn’t enough, he was sure to be pissed the moment he found his beloved Thyra lying in a pool of her own blood. A smile curved her lips at the thought.

She called the bartender, asking for simple cup of water and ordering something to eat. The bartender raised an eyebrow at her, but handed her the water anyway. Qaida gently maneuvered herself to look out into the midst of the crowded inn. Her hip was painful, but not as crippling as it had been, her shoulder was far worse.

She took a slow drink of her water, thinking of what she was going to do next while she waited for her meal. Listening in on many of the conversations wasn’t getting her anywhere. Most was pointless chatter, idle talk of nothing. There were a few patrons at the bar with her. One in particular stood out, however.

He was at the end of the bar, several feet from her. He was alone, but the way he was seated and his heavy dark blue gaze kept pulling at her attention. This was a man who had a purpose. The rogue was in the middle of picking at the steaming meat set before her, eyes carefully studying the man at the end of the bar when her view was blocked.

Slowly, she turned her gaze on the drunk who’d interrupted her thoughts. His brown eyes held the gleam of liquor, a sloppy smile plastered on his unshaven face. He leaned forwards, swaying slightly from his drink. The rogue could smell the ale. Behind her, someone moved ever so slightly. The drunk put his hand on her thigh, sliding upwards towards her hip.

In a single move she had drawn her dagger, pressing the blade against the drunk’s throat and maneuvered out of arms reach of the man who’d snuck up behind her. Her eyes narrowed at the two men. The drunk’s gaze moved stupidly towards the blade at his neck, confused as to what had happened. The other man glared at her. The noise in the tavern softened at the rising action. Behind the bar, the tender glared at them, his hand reaching towards a heavy looking piece of wood set out on the table behind him.

“Wasn’t expecting that were you?” her voice whispered dangerously.

Her hand tightened around the dagger she held, the curved weapon coolly pressed against her forearm. All thoughts were on the men in front of her, the bartender and the silence did not disturb the cold calm that had settled over every fiber in her body.

“Armed or not, you’re still one woman,” the one leaning against the bar replied, his glare replaced by a triumphant grin.

“Oye! Take yer fight elsewhere, eh!” It was the bartender, but his raging voice didn’t affect the growing conflict.

“You can try,” she coaxed.

A hand grasped the hood of her cloak, ripping it away from her face. Her hair came free, spilling across her shoulders. A strong arm wrapped around her chest, pulling her arm down away from the drunk and lifting her slightly. The rogue brought her arm back; the dagger plunged into their side, just above the hip. She was immediately dropped.

Qaida kicked at the drunk, knocking him to the floor where he lay stunned. As she turned to face the one who’d spoken to her, she found he was holding his hands up, a long, very large and shiny sword at his throat. Qaida’s eyes followed the length of the blade to the man who held it.

“It seems you and your friends chose the wrong woman to try to steal from.”

“And who are you? Her body guard?”

The man laughed, his voice smooth and deep, “Hardly. Consider this my doing you a favor. Leave before I change my mind.”

Gathering his small group, the thieves left the tavern, glaring daggers at them.  She turned to the man who’d saved her the trouble. It was the one who’d been the focus of her attention a moment before. And, he’s an elf, she realized. His black hair was straight, falling just past his shoulders. He slowly sheathed the sword on his back, dark blue eyes gazing at her.

“I’m Thalion, are you alright?”

“Fine,” Qaida replied shortly. She sheathed her dagger and took her seat once more, trying to ignore Thalion’s presence.

“If I were mistaken, I’d say the blood on your clothes is from the man you skewered. However, my eyes are much sharper than that,” Thalion whispered as he leaned over her shoulder. The elf’s hand wrapped around her waist, slowly trailing to the dagger wound.

She stiffened at his touch but didn’t move. After a moment her eyes narrowed, “If you were anyone else, you would not be standing.”

Thalion laughed lightly, his breath tickling Qaida’s neck, “Just hold still, envinyata.”

“Elven? What the hell did you do?”

Her breath sucked sharply between her teeth as she felt the deep gash close. The area around the wound felt strange, a strong tingle of energy flowing from his fingers to her side. She threw him a curious look, eyes narrowed.

“It’s not much, I don’t posses magic if that’s what you’re thinking. I heal much faster than a human and can grant that gift to others with a little concentration.”

Thalion moved to her other side, his hand leaving her waist to take hold of her shoulder. He spoke in the elven tongue once more and the wound closed. The feeling coursed through her arm and neck, lingering even after his hands left her.

“Why help me?”

She shrugged off his touch, trying to rid her skin of the strange energy that he’d used on her. Her eyes lifted to glare straight at him. He smiled in return, crossing one arm over his chest to rest the other on top and run a finger across his lower lip.

“I don’t idly sit by and watch the thugs around here do what they want, if that’s what you mean.”

“I could have handled them myself.”

“All five of them? With your hip wound and your other blade useless because your arm lacked the strength to wield it? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I don’t need both blades to fend off a couple of men,” the rogue rolled her eyes, turning away from the elf to face the bar, “It’ll take more than that.”

He took the seat next to her, “Just because this city looks pretty, doesn’t mean it is. Have you ever been in Thedan?”

Turning her eyes to him she met his piercing dark blue gaze. Several remarks came to mind, but none of them she voiced. He is going to be a problem, she decided. A sickening feeling worked its way into her stomach. This elf was going to be persistent, that was the last thing she needed. She turned away from him to eat her food, hoping that her silence would drive him away.

“I’ll take that as a no; well wherever you’re from, my friend, this place is worse.”

“I doubt that, and I’m not your friend.”

She threw down the meat in frustration and shoved off the bar to her feet. Thalion followed gracefully, a wry grin on his angular face.

“I never got your name.”

“You never will,” she shot back before turning and leaving him behind. She didn’t need company, nor did she want it. It’s best you don’t know me.

***

Thalion watched the beautiful human walk away from him and leave the inn. He leaned against the bar, deep in thought. He hadn’t looked at her when she’d first sat down, but he’d know she’d been studying him with intensity. The elf had business in Thedan, it was the only thing that kept him in the city otherwise, he’d have been long gone.

Funny what keeps a man in one spot. Turning to the bar, he waved at the tender and ordered a mug of ale. The woman was new to Thedan that was for sure. What she was doing in such a crime ridden city, however, was still to be known. She had peeked his curiosity no doubt, there was much to be said for that. Human’s rarely interested him. His thoughts lingered on her pale blue eyes, her long curly dark hair and lightly tanned skin. She was absolutely gorgeous, for a human.

Shrugging, he tossed back a large drink of the ale. His eyes studied the chips and breaks on the counter. The woman was sure to get herself into trouble. Though she looked capable enough, how much trouble could she actually handle alone? He had a feeling there was more to her than met the eye. Something that pulled at his very core, begging him to learn more about her. Thalion took another, slower drink.

“I see you didn’t wait for me to start drinking.”

Smiling as he set down the cup, the elf turned to look over his shoulder. The man who’d addressed him clapped him on his shoulder before taking the seat that the woman had occupied a few minutes before.

“Rissien, good to see you made it in one piece.”

“Surprised are you? Don’t think I could hold my own in this God-forsaken city?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Not in so many words of course. You called me here for something, what is it?”

This is why I like you, Rissien, straight to the point, “I’ve got a lead.”

Rissien had lifted his cup and taken a drink just as the elf had spoken. The young man choked on his drink. Thalion offered him a pat on his back. He waited for his companion to catch his breath.

“Shit Thalion, you can’t wait till I’ve finished? What did you find out?”

“One of our contacts spotting him coming into town yesterday. They said they saw him entering one of the older homes south side.”

Rissien’s gray eyes stared at his cup. He stroked his chin with two fingers as he thought. After a moment, the young man looked up to the elf, “I think our friend could use a warm welcoming, don’t you?”

Thalion smiled as he lifted his cup to his lips, “I like the way you think, my friend.”