Lumenyárë Neldë

Lumenyárë Neldë

Qaida looked down at her leather shirt. The tears where Thyra had sunk her daggers into her skin were small, but they would need to be repaired all the same.  Finding someone to repair the leather shouldn’t be too hard in such a city. However, Qaida was finding it overwhelmingly difficult to do so.

She was quickly learning that every merchant standing outside their shops or near their wares was only trying to get her attention so that they could get her coin. Had she realized that sooner, she could have saved herself from the inn keepers grasp when she first entered Thedan. What’s done is done, Qaida thought with an inward sigh.

Qaida wandered through the main street for a while longer. The merchants all clamored to get her attention, or anyone that would be foolish enough to stand still long enough to hear them. The shops ranged from weapon smiths to armor smiths. Though the armor smiths that she stopped at either wanted too much coin for her repair or wouldn’t deal with her at all.

Qaida finally gave up. She had her fill of overwhelming noise and the constant clamor of too many people in one area. Alexon and Keydon were never like this, she thought as she pulled her cloak tighter about her. Taking the hood up over her face, Qaida turned into an alley and made her way away from the busy market area. She’d carefully kept track of her direction so that she could make it back to the Red Diamond. The alley she’d gone down slowly headed towards the southern part of the city.

The noise of the market began to diminish, the stuffy air began to clear and Qaida breathed deeper. The hair on the back of her neck stood, the feeling of someone watching her took her senses. Qaida didn’t look behind her, nor did she slow her pace or change anything about her demeanor. She knew someone was behind her, but she wouldn’t alert them of that knowledge.

Qaida turned to her right, making her way into a smaller alleyway. She knew she was several paces ahead of her tracker. Once in the alley, Qaida sidestepped, hugging the wall. With a soft forward motion of her hand, the shadows seemed to congregate towards her. In a matter of moments, Qaida was wreathed in darkness. She used the cover to slink towards a pile of long forgotten crates where she knelt down and waited her hand on one of her daggers.

A figure came into the opening of the alley; she held a staff in one hand. Her dress was a dark green color, lacing up her body. The cloth was cut in a low ‘V’ shape, the shoulders nearly bare. Long blonde hair fell over one shoulder in a single curled lock. Qaida’s eyes narrowed as she watched the woman. Slowly the blonde woman reached underneath her belt with her free hand. She withdrew her hand and opened it allowing a light dust to fall to the ground. With her staff, the blonde woman tapped the weapon harshly on the ground.

The sound of the staff cracking against the stone echoed in the alley. A moment after and the air seemed to move. It rushed down the alley at Qaida, the air shimmering with the dust that the woman had dropped. Qaida’s heart lurched, she drew her dagger. The moment the wave passed over her, she felt the shadows wrenched away. Qaida moved fast. She shoved off the wall, making her way towards the woman to land a killing blow before the woman had a chance to make a move.

Qaida felt her dagger pulled from her fingers. The weapon slammed into the rock of the building on her right with impossible force, lodging the blade a good two inches into the stone. Qaida’s eyes widened as she looked sharply to the right at her weapon. In the next moment she felt the blonde woman’s magic encase her. Her body went stiff, her right hand extended as she’d been in the middle of her slash, her left reaching for her other dagger.

“Talented, for a woman,” the blonde said softly. Qaida was close enough to see the woman had a youthful face, soft yellow eyes and an earring in her left ear.

Qaida tried to respond, but only made a short gasping sound. Her body tensed as she tried to move.

“Oh, my apologies, allow me to release you. I’m of no harm to you, just curious,” the woman tapped her staff lightly and Qaida stumbled forward a few steps.

“What do you want?” Qaida asked harshly.

“Curiosity,” the woman replied, her tone of voice sent a shiver down Qaida’s spine. Qaida slowly let go of her second blade. She eyed the sorceress carefully.

“You shouldn’t let curiosity rule you,” Qaida whispered as she turned to retrieve her dagger from the stone wall.

“Life would be no fun if I did that.”

“You’ll live longer.”

“You may call me Elaine. You’re not from Thedan. Why would someone like you come to a city like this?” Elaine mused tapping a slender finger on her full lips. Her yellow eyes gazed at Qaida, their intensity caused Qaida to feel the chills down her back once more.

“That is none of your business.”

“Not yet,” Elaine replied, her voice softening, her head tilted downwards, her lashes fanning over her yellow eyes.

Qaida wrenched her dagger free from the stone finally having tugged and wiggled it about to loosen it. Sheathing the weapon that was sure to need a sharpening again, Qaida turned her gaze to Elaine, eyes narrowed.

“I don’t want your help, nor do I need it. You would do best to stay away from me.”

Elaine smiled at Qaida, flashing white straight teeth. Elaine slowly stepped aside to let Qaida pass. Qaida watched the sorceress as she passed. Once she was free from Elaine, Qaida moved quickly down the street putting as much distance as she could between herself and Elaine. Damnit, what is with this city? Qaida thought angrily.

***

Thalion and Rissien stood outside a dark looking house in the dirtier part of Thedan. Thalion gazed at the door, deep in thought. Rissien held his hand on his sword hilt as he too eyed the door.

“It looks empty,” Rissien said softly, breaking the silence between the two men. Thalion gave a short huff in response. His eyes lifted to look up at a single window over the door.

“Course it does, Rissien. He doesn’t want anyone to know he’s here.”

“You’re not even thinking about that are you?”

“Sorry, what?”

“You’re mind is on something else completely isn’t it, elf?”

Thalion smiled as he looked back at the door, “Not completely. Come, let’s see whose home,” Thalion took a few steps forward and took hold of the handle. The handle didn’t budge. Rissien gave a soft sigh before he put his hand on Thalion’s shoulder and gently pushed Thalion off to the side.

“Allow me,” Rissien drew his weapon. In a single swift motion, he slammed the weapons pommel into the door handle. There was a loud snap and the handle seemed to hang loosely in its place.

“You were always more of a brute than a gentleman.”

“Gets the job done,” Rissien smiled.

Thalion shrugged as he gently pushed the broken door opened. His hand reached back for his heavy sword, drawing it as he and Rissien entered the dark home. Thalion moved slowly into the first room. A giant staircase in the center of the parlor met them. On either side of the stairs were doors, they were both opened.

“What do you think, Thalion?”

“I think we should tread carefully,” Thalion replied just as softly. Rissien nodded, he too had drawn his sword. Thalion moved off to the left to look into the room beyond the doorway. It was empty, looking as if no one had been inside for months. Thalion looked to Rissien who had done to the same to the other doorway.

“Nothing,” Rissien said, his gray eyes turning to Thalion. Thalion nodded his head. He looked up to the top of the staircase. Thalion moved slowly up the steps, carefully stepping to keep his approach silent. As Thalion was about to make the landing, Rissien’s hand took hold of his arm.

“Don’t take another step, Thalion.”

“Shit,” Thalion whispered, looking down at the floor.

“Looks like he was expecting company,” Rissien replied as he sheathed his weapon carefully and knelt down to examine the floor. The glow of magic was barely visible. Light green runes of a sorcerers spell illuminated the stone tiles right next to Thalion’s boot.

“Can you do something about it?”

“Since when was I a sorcerer?” Rissien retorted softly.

“Maybe I should look at it?” Thalion looked over his shoulder the same time Rissien did. Thalion smiled at the woman leaning against the stairwell below them.

“Elaine, so nice of you to show up,” Rissien said.

“She has perfect timing.”

“Unless of course you men have it all under control,” Elaine said softly as she slowly turned to leave the home.

“Elaine,” Rissien called, partially in desperation. Elaine turned slowly to face them, her yellow eyes gleaming with mirth.

“Oh, so you do need me. So glad I could help,” Elaine made her way up the steps slowly, pulling the hem of her rich green dress upwards. Her staff she held up off the floor slightly as she took the steps. Elaine tapped Rissien gently to make him move and he did so. The sorceress put herself next to Thalion as she gazed down at the slowly dimming runes.

“Oh my, that’s some nasty magic you almost triggered,” Elaine said softly, yellow eyes shifting to gaze up at Thalion. Thalion suppressed his sigh as she grinned at him. If only I knew a different sorcerer… Thalion thought as Elaine raised her hand over the runes of the trap.

Thalion watched as her fingers lit up as she called her magic forward. The light stretched forth and touched the runes on the floor. The magic sparked across the entire area, igniting the runes in blue flames for a moment before disappearing all together.

“There. It’s safe now,” Elaine said than put her arm out across Thalion’s chest as he moved to stand on the landing, “But I’ll go first. Who knows what you two might accidentally trigger in here.”

Thalion sighed, lowering his sword he swept his arm forward, “Ladies first.”

Elaine smiled as she stepped up onto the landing. With Elaine leading, Thalion and Rissien followed her towards the back of the house. The hall was dark; a door at the very end was the only other room they could advance to. Thalion followed Elaine closely, his large sword held down and off to the side. A quick look over his shoulder told Thalion that Rissien was doing the same with his weapon.

Elaine stopped at the door. She raised her hand, spreading her fingers as she moved her arm in a large circle. After a moment, she looked back at Thalion. A short nod let him know that the door was free of any spells. Thalion moved past Elaine and opened the door, his sword at the ready.

Thalion let the door swing completely opened. A bright light at the other end of the room alerted Thalion. Grabbing Elaine he flung himself off to the side.

“Rissien!” Thalion shouted as he slammed into the wall with Elaine crushed beneath him.

The powerful spell shot off down the hall, exploding against the wall above the door and window.  Thalion pulled away from Elaine who looked a bit startled.

“Thalion! I’ll have your head on a silver platter, you damn elf,” a deep voice roared from the dark room.

“Adan,” Thalion hissed in reply.

“Friend of yours?” Elaine asked softly, an evil smile on her lips. Thalion pushed away from Elaine, a soft growl of frustration emanating from his throat. He turned to look into the room where Adan was. Rissien leaned against the wall on the other side of the doorway; he too barely peeked into the room.

“It’s the other way around, Adan. We will have your head on a silver platter,” Rissien said, his voice thick with anger.

“You’ll regret this dearly, Thalion,” Adan growled from the dark room. Thalion’s eyes widened as he realized what Adan was going to do. He motioned for Rissien to move quickly with him.

Both men whirled into the room, swords raised. A blast of magic threw them backwards. Rissien went tumbling out into the hall. Thalion slammed into the frame of the door. His shoulder popped and felt as if it were on fire. Recovering from the blast, Thalion looked about the room.

“Damn,” he muttered. Leaning on his sword, Thalion waited for his shoulder to heal before attempting sheathing his heavy weapon.

“The little rat bastard is gone isn’t he?” Rissien’s voice called from the hall.

“We’ll find him.”

“Before or after he starts killing again?”

Thalion shoved off his sword and moved into the hall where he looked down at Rissien who was sprawled across the hallway floor. Rissien’s eyes were closed, one hand up over his eyes. Thalion looked to Elaine who had an eyebrow raised in curiosity, her yellow eyes shining with interest.

“Come, let’s get a head start on this mess,” Thalion said offering his hand to Rissien.