Chapter 3

Now that I've posted all I have written, the rest will be uploaded daily (hopefully)

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Chapter 3

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The night was dark and deep, frightening to those lost in it. But for the inhabitants of large village’s only tavern, the night signified business and the busy bustle of life. The interior was littered with people, some sprawled where they finally landed, having already drank their night’s fill of the establishment’s finest offerings. These were the locals who claimed the tavern as their home as much as they ever did a room and bed. Others, mostly travelers, clustered around tables in their own parties, letting the alcohol sooth their journey weary bones before they made their way to the local inn.

The double doors swung open frequently as people entered and exited the building, and every time it opened the sounds of laughter, music, and merriment spilled out into the street. This was ignored by the single cloaked figure that crouched near the edge of the building. Beneath her large velvet hood she stared with a fixed gaze at the ground though nothing of any importance lay in her field of vision. Still, she sat there for many long moments, watching the rocks that littered the ground at the foundation. The door opened, and in that moment the light of the interior spilled over them and illuminated the rocks in front of her with fiery reds and yellows. She lit up with wonder and laughed before scooping the rocks up in her hands and bringing them close to her. Then the door closed and the light was gone.

She sighed and put them back down on the ground and waited for the light to return.

Most of the villagers and travelers ignored this girl as she sat by the tavern. They assumed her a beggar or whore and so many kept their distance. But a pair of dark eyes watched her hungrily, taking in her form, which seemed lithe and graceful even with the long cloak obscuring most of her curves. His moment came when the door closed and the lane in front of the tavern was empty. The sounds were muted, but still loud enough that a single woman’s screams would be all but swallowed into the din of noise. He walked swiftly behind her and with one strong arm grabbed her roughly around her waist and dragged her into the alley beside the tavern. She never struggled, never made a sound, but in his harsh movements the hood fell back revealing long blond hair intricately braided away from her ivory face and long elfin ears. Her blue eyes watched him curiously but without fear. “Hello.”

He leered down at her as he pinned her against the wall. “Hello doll.” When she blinked back at him his sneer grew. So she was simpleton. He’d never taken one of those. As he leaned forward towards her, he wondered if she would ever scream.

“Alexeika.”

The brute jerked away from the woman as if struck and wheeled around, facing the voice which materialized out of nowhere. A young man stood directly behind him, cloaked in the same dark cloth as the woman, though his own was marked with red symbols and runes. He held a simple wooden staff of black wood. A single red stone adorned the crest of the staff, and it shown even in the darkness of the alley. Green eyes flicked toward him before dismissing him and returning their gaze to the girl. “What have I told you about strangers?”

“I think he wanted sex.” The young elf stated simply, clasping her hands behind her innocently. When the green eyes continued to hold her in their gaze she began to fidget. “I know Van, you told me not to talk to them.”

The other man, her would be attacker, stared at this strange exchange before drawing up to his full height. He was several times the young man’s equal in size and strength and now that he had recovered from his initial surprise at being interrupted, the sneer returned to twist his lips. “You her brother?”

Van’s eyes left the elf and turned to appraise the other dispassionately. “I don’t speak to dead men.” He said, taking a step forward, brushing by him to stand by the elf.

“You little bastard,” The large man said through clenched teeth. He reached out to grab the other’s shoulder when his hand stopped as if something caught it. His eyes opened wide with surprise, and he tried to force his hand to move against the unknown grip that held it. His hand shuddered but did not stir regardless of how he struggled. Van never looked at him, but with a flick of his long fingers the other man’s arm jerked back and he struck himself full in the face. His nose broke with a loud crack and blood poured from it. The force was enough to knock him unconscious, but for a moment he wavered before toppling backwards to the ground. Only then did Van face him, walking to stand beside him and setting the tip of the staff against the other’s chest. This crack was louder, wetter, and more devastating as something within the large man’s body gave under an unknown and unseen force. The form shuddered and jerked only a moment before the empty eyes rolled back and it lay still.

The elf looked up at him before her eyes went to the still figure and then back to the young man at her side. At her questioning gaze Van sighed. “He’s dead Alex. Do you remember what I told you about death? It’s a natural part of life.”

“A natural part of life,” Alex repeated, as she mulled it over in her mind. “Natural…”

“Yes,” Van said, his voice for once softening. He reached and pulled her around, averting her gaze from the broken, bleeding corpse. “It’s a natural part of life. You shouldn’t be afraid of it.”

“I’m not afraid of anything Van,” Alex said with a smile, “I have you to protect me.”

Van’s eyes softened slightly, before hardening once more, “Stay away from strangers Alex. I don’t want to keep bailing you out of trouble at every village.”

“Are we leaving here?” the elf perked up with interest, the grisly sight behind her completely out of her mind. “Where are we going now? A new village?”

“We’re going to find someone.” Van stated as he began walking, confident she’d follow.

“Who?” The voice behind him inquired, picking up its pace to catch up to him.

“Cade Albion.”

“Cade Albion…” Alex repeated the name, testing it like she did every new word she learned. “Albion.”

“We’ll travel tonight and stay tomorrow at the next village,” Van said, flicking a small drop of blood off the edge of his staff. He walked a few more steps before he stopped and turned, aware that he was no longer being followed.

Alex stood still in the middle of the road, her eyes staring at nothing, her head tilted slightly. “Albion…” She repeated slowly.

Van’s eyes narrowed and immediately he returned to her and cupped her face in his hands, “Alex look at me. Open your eyes,” He said as he saw her clench her eyes shut against him. Slowly they opened and blue eyes met green. “Look at me Alex,” he repeated until finally he had her total attention on him.

For a long moment the two stood there, gazes locked in the middle of the night. When Alex's eyes drifted closed this time, he let them, and swiftly he reached into the folds of his robes and withdrew a red pendant hanging from a length of soft leather rope. He put this around the girl's neck, making sure it was secure before he broke his locked gaze. The elf shuddered and shook her head as if coming out of a dream. She closed her eyes once more before opening them and grinning happily up at her companion. “Van!” She said brightly. “Look at the stones I found! They sparkled in the light like fire!”

Van looked down at her upturned hands and saw the dirty rocks she possessed. He sighed and took her hand in his own, taking the rocks and tossing them on the ground. “Your hands are filthy Alex.” He said without conviction as he took the hem of his robe and wiped the girl’s dusty hands. He then took hold of her hood, bringing it up to cover her head once more. “Come on, we need to go.”

“Where are we going?” Alex asked, taking her place at his side as he turned and began walking once more.

“We’re going to find someone.” Van answered, lifting his eyes to stare at the wide expanse of stars of above them.

“Who?”

“No one you need to worry about.”

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to be continued