Part Three ~ Strangers

The music was fighting to be heard over the din of the tavern. The Red Unicorn was crowded with soldiers from the ever growing army of the ambitous young king of the humans. The large group of men was moving through the small city of Shay`lin on their way to meet with the larger army massing in the north.

The humans were planning an attack on the Taroks, a race of creatures who appeared to be bred from human and canine stock. They were fierce warriors who spent their lives training in the arts of battle and strategy. Merikhi, the king, believed that they were becoming too hostile toward his city, Persyrvir. The elves had declined to help since they were maintaining their status of peace with what they deemed as the intelligent races of the world. Dark elves were not included in this category.

Elrion sighed and carefully adjusted her back in her chair. The pain had mostly stopped, but she had to be cautious on how she acted around the soldiers. Though the humans seemed to have no immediate quarrel with her kind, she was sure that any moment their seeming neutrality toward her would change. Looking down, she checked to make sure her sword was clear in her scabbard, in case she had a need to draw it.

Crystine had been staring at her all night, checking up to see if her friend was still doing okay. She was wary of having Elrion work this night since a lot was on the line, but couldn't see how she could talk her out of coming. The patrons of her inn knew that Elrion was the security, so even if she merely showed up, they would assume that she was working. Crystine frowned at a man who had been trying to get her into his bed for the last ten minutes. She served him his drink and blew him off, hoping that would deter him.

She rubbed her eyes slowly, angry that she would be getting tired this early in the night when she noticed someone sitting in the back of the room, with the hood pulled up. There was no drink on the table and she began working her way through the maze of people to speak with the stranger.

"Hi there. Is there anything I may get you?"

The hood fell back a bit as he looked up at her. Deep, stormy blue eyes peered at her as the man smiled, a smile that never reached his eyes. "No, my good lady, I am quite fine. I believe that if I want a drink I would be able to go up and get one at the bar, no?"

He chuckled and she laughed nervously with him. "Um, yes, I do suppose that is true. I apologize for bothering you."

He waved his hand to dismiss her apology. "There is no need for that. Now, I do suppose there is something you can do for me."

He pointed vaguely over to where Elrion was sitting, his hands covered in some sort of tattoos. "Is that a dark elf?"

Crystine frowned while she thought for a moment. "Yes, Lady Elrion is one of the Teor`ne."

The man chuckled again. "Ah, so you are one of the few who remember their true name. Well, the truest one we have at this time. Why do you allow her in your beautiful inn?"

She ran her hand through her hair, a nervous habit she had yet to get rid of. "She is my friend, m'lord. Do you have business with her? If so, I believe that you would need to speak to her and not edge around your curiousities so, all due respect."

He pulled back his black hood and let the light fall on his black hair. His ears were very pointed, more so than any elf Crystine had ever seen. Though his face was clear of tattoos, he did have them all over his neck and as far down as she could see into his cloak. He smiled at her again, this time it appeared genuine. "I appreciate your bluntness, Lady. Would you be so kind as to ask her over here, for you are correct, I do have business with her."

Crystine nodded slowly before making her way over to Elrion, unsure of what she would do. Elrion looked up at her and immediately noticed that something was wrong. "What is it? Someone I have to take care of, Crys?"

She shook her head. "The man in the corner over there wants to speak with you. He says he has business with you."

Her purple eyes narrowed as she looked over at him. "Did he call me by name, Crystine?"

"No. He just asked if you were a dark elf, and I told him yes. That's all I said."

Elrion nodded and stood up, growling softly as she fought her way through the crowd to get to his table. His hood was up again, covering his face. She sat down across from him. "What do you want?"

Soft laughter came from his hood. "Well, straight to the point, are we, Elrion?"

"I'm not in the habit of dancing around the subject when it is so much easier to merely have you tell me what you want from me."

He shrugged a little and pulled back his hood again. She raised an eyebrow as she looked at his tattoos. They reminded her of something, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Do you remember me?"

She looked at him once again and shook her head. "Am I supposed to?"

He chuckled softly and lightly ran his fingertip along the table. "Yes and no. I didn't think that you would, otherwise you would have noticed me immediately. It seems that there are many things that you don't remember, Elrion. Many parts of your life that you can't recall?"

The last was phrased as a question. It seemed more like a challenge to Elrion as she tried to think about what he could be talking about. He leaned closer to her and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "Do you have any idea how long you were in those dungeons, m'lady?"

She glared at him. "That's enough of this. I don't know how you know about that, but I don't tolerate it. Get out now, otherwise you will find the wrong end of my sword at your throat."

He laughed again and grinned at her. "Oh, my dear, there are so many things that you don't know. Such as, I do know why you winced when that man over there bumped into you. I know about the scars on your back, but they weren't scars a few hours ago, were they?"

She stood up and began to draw her sword, the other patrons didn't seem to notice either of them. "Draw all you want, girl. But do not mistake me for some ignorant human. I know all your tricks, Elrion al`Denzera. All of them."

His eyes stayed locked on hers, daring her to make a move.

From The Darkness Index