Faelis Gindien looked around the barroom and sighed. There wasn't a seat open in the whole joint. He swore quietly and left the tavern, it was dark and he was looking for a place to get a drink, though his usual haunt was bursting at the seams with drinkers. He walked down the street and realized he as getting into a better part of the city. Blech. All the same, he saw a tavern and walked inside. It was a nicer place than the last bar he'd been in, and he was going to leave until he saw the young woman.
She was dancing on the low stage for entertainment, and as soon as he saw her Faelis knew he was going to stay for at least one drink. He went to the bar and ordered a drink, then he got a seat with a good view. Gods, she was good at what she did, Faelis hadn't seen someone this beautiful since that weird thing that happened in Essyrn three years ago that was kind of strange and he didn't really want to think about it. . . He directed his attention back to the young woman and was lost in her movements. He sat, watching her dance and drinking his brew until the musicians stopped playing and they took a break.
Faelis was sitting at a table right in front of the low stage, and the elf called to the woman. "Excuse me? Would you like a drink? It's on me!"
The thief smirked as he heard the grumbles of the other men around him, as they were about to ask the young woman the same question. Every single person in the tavern who thought the young woman attractive, and, boy, was she attractive! probably wanted to talk with her.
''If you insist'' Leyla said with a chuckle, realising the same considering the man about her. She could use a drink before the next act would begin.
She knew most of men at taverns and a lot were uncapable of keeping their hands at bay and was used to flattering of those drunk and unhappy by either having or not having a wife.
Some wondered why she kept performing in taverns and inns in the first place. The answer was simple. She could not live of performing at parties alone if she wanted to save any money at all. But she was picky at which inns she'd dance. Inns in these parts of the city tended to attract people of higher standards.
And while most men already seemed on the edge between tipsy and drunk, this man had come in not to long ago. What helped a lot too was that this man was elven.
''Leyla Armitage. Pleasure to make your acquaintance''
Faelis smiled as she came over to him and introduced herself. She she came over, Faelis stood and bowed slightly. "Faelis, Faelis Gindien, and the pleasure is all mine, Leyla."
He sat back down and and motioned for the young woman to do so as well. "You're a wonderful dancer," he said to her as the barkeep came over. "What would you like to drink?" Faelis asked Leyla as the barkeep waited.
''Thank you. I am glad that people like what I do despire some things are considered weird.'' she refered to her contortion but she had not really shown it to its full potentional yet tonight. She would though after the break was over.
''A mead would be lovely'' she said with a bright smile.
Faelis passed the first test, which was not immediatly pulling her on his lap for the sheer hope of a lap dance whilest touching her in indecent places.
The barkeep nodded and walked off to get Leyla her drink. Faelis looked back to the young woman. "Your dancing is different from most others I've seen, but it's very beautiful, it takes considerable skill, mentally and physically, to do something like that." Faelis leaned his elbows on the table. "It take discipline to achieve what you have."
Faelis could tell this woman wasn't a mindless fool who would completely fall for him no matter what he did, no, this woman was different than some, and this matter had to be dealt with with great care, though, the truth was, Faelis really meant what he was saying. Dancing was a profession that did not waltz into your hands, you had to work for it.
''Discipline and broken bones.'' she jestered. True it had taken Leyla a lot of dedication, tries and failures to be able to do what she could. Hanging in the air by strands of silk. How often had things gone wrong?
''Thank you. Nobody actually says those things. Usually they say that my flexibility would be of better use in a brothel, where I could be the main star and earn so much gold in one go I could not hold it in both my hands.'' The thought always disgusted her. She did not look down on whores but their lifestyle was not meant for her.
She could feel the jealous gazes of the men in her back but ignored them. Usually she actually refused offers to drinks and would withdraw at the back of the inn, drinking water or juice but being able to sit semi quietly with someone who did know how to start and hold a conversation was a refreshing change.
''The reason I can dance the way I do is due to a condition named Contortion. A lot of my joints can bend differently then that of regular people. I can put myself in a box if I want too.''
Faelis's face took on a disgusted look when Leyla mentioned a brothel. "That, I assure you, was the farthest thing from my mind." It truly had been. A moment later the barkeep came over with Leyla's drink and set it down in front of her.
When Leylas mentioned Contortion Ferlis nodded thoughtfully. "That's interesting," he said. "And a box? I could fit a box too, but I'm sure my box would have to be bigger than yours!" He chuckled. "Sorry, that was bad."
Leyla giggled. ''Not as bad as you might think. I know brothel was not in your mind. Usually when men think about that they get this weird smile and expression in their eyes'' she assured and raised her glass a little. ''A toast to life?'' she asked. ''Or something else. Also, make sure you stay till the end of the performance alright?'' Some place had been made and from the balcony level long silken strands had been tightly knot. It was the first time Leyla would actually do that in a closed building but this tavern, soon to be inn, had a possibility for it which she simply wanted to try.
"I'm staying, all right," Faelis said, smiling, but the smile was wiped from his face as he saw a man behind Leyla rise.
The man walked up to their table and glared at Faelis. The man was big and the elf sighed. The man looked dangerously at Faelis and then to Leyla. "I think you'd better, sram, elf," the man said, smiling a broken-toothed grin.
Faelis snorted, leaning back in his chair, tipping it onto the back legs and crossing his arms. "And who's going to make me?"
The man grunted and grinned wider. "I'm going to, punk. This little lady and I have some meeting to do."
"Punk, punk?" Faelis grinned. "I like that."
And in a flash the elf was on his feet and he was grabbing the lapel of the big man's shirt. A small dagger was in his hand, but only the man and Leyla could see it, it was hidden from the views of the other people in the tavern.
As it happened, Faelis recognised the big man, even if the other didn't recognise him. The big man was a thief and mercenary, and Faelis knew him from his own jobs, which included thievery. Thoguh unlike the elf, the mercenary was a violent and brutal man.
"Your little dagger doesn't scare me, elf!" the man said, and a slightly sadistic smile twisted itself onto Faelis's face, giving the before normal elf a somewhat insane and dark look.
"Oh really?" he said in a soft voice. "How about the name Selkin?"
Selkin was the name of a thieflord who Faelis sometimes worked for, the man was powerful and very rich but his name wasn't known by most people, he was mostly known as just a very powerful thieflord. Hearing the name, the big man's eyes widened and Faelis let go of him, letting him step back and then turn and quickly rush away. The knife disappeared from Faelis's hand an the elf sat back down at the table.
"I am sorry about that," he said, frowning. "I sort of lost it, in my own kind of way. I hope I didn't alarm you too badly."
''You call that lost it?'' she asked suprised. Normally it would have ended up in a huge fight with broken bottles and gashed open faces.
''I am used to worse. But I admit I was perhaps... scared for a minute. But not as scared as the other guy was. Famous?'' she asked. It had been a while ago but it made her remember when she had been cuffed. At the least it did not come to that now.
''You are fast on your feet though. You could be a good dancer yourself. Unfortunatly my weakness to iron is to great or I would have picked up sword dancing. It gives me burns before I even touch it.''
Leyla drank some of her mead and after another minute one of the musicians showed up telling her they would start again. She nodded and finished the drink with a smile.
''I should go to the stage again.'' she said before getting on her feet. ''Stick around afterwards if you'd like. Maybe another drink? Something small to eat? On me then.''
She winked before returning to the stage where she was given a tambourine.
Instead of iron though the zils were made of silver so she could use it safely.
The music started. First slowly before going into a more fit rhythm.
Leyla danced with passion that was for sure. Bending her body in near impossible positions. Using either her hands or feet to hold the tambourine with.
Until at some point she threw the tambourine towards one of the musicians who caught it and laid down before moving her body upwards and let her feet land softly in front of her head.
Most people cheered and clapped as whilest keeping her head in place, the rest of her body made a full circle. Walking around her own head before pushing her body up with a backflip. Moving to the sheets of silk that were actually out of place in a tavern like this.
She climbed and wrapped herself in the sheets. Performing several poses and positions before allowing herself to roll the whole way down ending up barely an inch above the wooden floor.
The falling though scared most of the men even for just a brief moment. The risk was always there that she had done even one move wrong which would cause her to land on the floor, hard. But all had went well and after skillfully releasing herself from the silken bounds, she bowed deeply and her performance of that night had ended. It had been a good final of 45 minutes.
The people seemed happy, which was good. Happy people usually meant they ordered more food, or drinks and a part of todays earnings the inn made would be hers to keep.
Faelis smiled at her compliment at him being fast on his feet, and when she left to continue her show he was thinking deeply about what she had said.
But soon the elf's thoughts turned back To Leyla. Faelis watched as the young woman preformed her amazing show, and the elf applauded loudly when she was finished.
"You must be tired," he called to her. "Another Round? On me?"
''I thought I said it would be on me. We could toss about it. Rock paper scizzors best of three?'' she said although she was joking. ''I will pay for this round. I cant have letting you pay for my dinner.
Again she felt the gazes of the other men and she turned around. ''Maybe you have your chance next time guys.'' she said before joining Faelis at the table again.
Despite it was already quite late, Leyla had not eaten yet. Dancing like she did on a full stomach was never a succes. She was still panting slightly from the exitement her performance brought her. Adrenaline still rushing a little through her body. Normally the sheets were attached to something she knew was really secure. The balcony railings of an inn or tavern, could not always be trusted and briefly she had felt the sheet slide at the knot.
''Anything you would like to eat?'' she asked.
"I know you said you would pay." Faelis smiled. "But that was forty-five minutes ago, I'd hoped you'd forgotten."
When she asked if he wanted anything to eat he shook his head. "No thank you, though I'll have another ale!"
Faelis had seen a performance similar to Leyla's before, but it hardly could be compared to the one he had just witnessed. The other one had been okay, but the woman preforming hadn't been nearly as seamless and flowing in her actions as Leyla had been, and she hadn't been half as flexible. "The show was wonderful," Falis said. "I've never seen anyone do what you did there."
''I take that as a huge compliment'' Leyla said.
One of the tavernwenches asked for their order and Leyla ordered an ale for Faelis, another mead for herself and something small to eat without meat.
''Although it may be a while until I will dare doing the sheets act indoors... I am not as lightweighted as I thought. For a moment I thought one of the sheets would get loose.'' she admitted. ''But it went well.'' she was in very high spirits.
''So. You know I am a dancer, but what are you.'' she asked.
"Me?" Faelis said. "I'm a freelancer, not really sticking in one place. I do multiple jobs around the city and sometimes even around the world."
He wasn't going to tell her was a thief, not yet, at least. And saying he was a freelancer wasn't a lie at all, he wasn't even bending the truth, he did do many different jobs, legal and illegal. Though if there was one thing Faelis was not, it was a killer. The elf avoided this at nearly all costs, except when his own life was in grave danger. He only had ever killed in self defense, and he would never, never, kill a child.
"I sometimes will work on a shop, then I'll run errands, then I'll be keeping an eye out for a noble who had hired me." Faelis smiled. "I do a lot of different things."
Leyla's eyes sparkled when he mentioned he had been outside the world.
''Sounds wonderful'' she said with a smile. ''The world huh? How... how is it like?'' she asked. Kato surely did not tell her much before he left.
''Hopefully when I have made enough money to hire someone I would love to move elsewhere. I do not mind Arca but... seeing the world is actually a secretly long dream of mine. I do not know much about the world outside of Arca but I know enough that it is not a place for a girl who can barely fend for herself.''
''So I like to hear everything there is to be told. Books excluded.''
"It can be a brutal place," Faelis said, clasping his hands together on the table. "I've come across many different kinds of people, from violent mercenaries to benevolent mages to bakers and blacksmiths. People, of all races, are unpredictable. A thief may become good friends with an innocent, honest woman, or a good country farmer could side with a villainous mage. You can't always rely on people, but sometimes you have to take a chance and trust them, believe in them. Sometimes they will betray you, and then you have a problem on your hands, but if you chose wisely in your friends, then the trust you put in them will repay any betrayals in your past."
Faelis stopped talking abruptly. What the hell? He was getting all mushy and poetic now? He wasn't really that kind of guy, but maybe somewhere, inside, he was an honest man. Still a thief, but, if possible, an honest one. Though the elf knew his cocky side wasn't a show, that was real as well.
Faelis shook his head. "Wow, I can't believe I just said all that, I'm usually not that, well, deep."
''It is not bad being deep from time to time if you usually aren't. It is always amusing to suprise yourself.'' Leyla replied.
She thought a moment about trust. ''Trust wise though... I've kind of... been there already. Never trust a childhood friend who suddenly leaves without a word, after he had an arguement with his father, does not give a single reply to letters sent once a month for four years... appears again saying he would never leave again and leaves anyway.'' she muttered a rather innocent swearing word. Well. Innocent for as far as those kind of words could go.
She sighed briefly before looking at Faelis again. ''Are you traveling alone?'' As she asked, the servingwench placed a pint of ale, a glass of meat and a plate of stirfried food down on the table before excusing herself again.
Faelis nodded asshe described the one who had betrayed her. "I know how you feel, my parents betrayed me, though in a different way. I'm a prince, actually, but I wasn't the heir to the throne, my older brother was, so while he was treated almost like a king, my parents never paid any attention to me. I ran away when I was fifteen."
When she asked if he traveled alone he nodded again. "I do, though sometimes I travel with another, though only for short periods of time, then one of us has to go. It's sometimes lonely, but I kind of like it, though company is nice every once in a while." He held up his glass and toasted Leyla. "And if I ever met anyone who was the right person, staying with them would be fine, I just haven't met that person yet." He smiled softly, and took another drink of his ale.
"You said you would like to travel, what kind of traveling? Just going out to see the world? Or would you have some sort of quest? And you say you don't know mush about the world, would you travel alone?"
''I would love to see the world. Learn new types of dances, see culture and have some nice adventures, challenges and perhaps a bit risky things along the way. Eat weird stuff that are local delecacies. A quest sounds like fun.''
''Sorry to hear about what your parents did. I am an only child so I can not relate but I am sure it must have been horrible.''
The cutlery she had received was made of smooth wood and she took it in her hands. ''If iron gets near my skin it gives me first degree burns. Traveling alone kind of scares me. I can not fight. At all. If I get robbed, mugged... taken... anything, there is nothing I can do about it. One pair of iron cuffs and I'm a ragdoll...'' despite all that she did smile. ''Which is... why I can not go on my own.'' she took a bite from her meal which tasted really good from her point of view. Then again. Almost everything tasted well on an empty stomach.
Faelis nodded. "Are you looking to travel sometimes soon? Are you going to wait awhile or are you ready but just don't have enough resources to set out?" Faelis took another drink from his ale. "I had virtually nothing when I set out, except for my daggers and the clothes on my back, though I'd like to say I've fared pretty good, I'm not dead and I'm not broke! I can fight well, both with my daggers and freestyling, which I prefer if it comes to a fight, though if my enemy has weapons I'll be forced to use mine. I don't like hurting people badly. I'd rather have to punch someone in the face than cut them with my knife."
The thief didn't mention that, though he really did hate hurting people with his weapons, a good fistfight was something he would often enjoy.
In theory I can go whenever I wish. I have some savings from working. I have clothes that are practical for traveling... I only need to say goodbye to my mother. She already knows I had plans to leave and said she would take care of the stuff I can't bring with.'' she explained.
''As for hurting people I do not think I have that in me. I forgave my childhood friend for what he did after I saw his face. I know that if I'd see him again, it will not be any different.
She thought about saying goodbye to Denzel as well but he most likely was to busy with his new wife and family matters. Her mother could perhaps drop by a letter.
''Before I get misplaced hopes and the wrong idea. Are you suggesting I could come with you?''
A smile spread on Faelis's face. "Exactly what I was saying!" He said, now grinning. "Though only if you want to, of course. I'm ready to go whenever you are. Literally." he reached down under his chair and pulled out a small leather pack. "In here is all that I own. I could leave this second if I wanted to."
He set the bag back under his chair and leaned forward, looking into Leyla's eyes. "If you want to come with me, are you sure about this? Traveling will change your life. It changed mine for the better, I know that, but perhaps think about it a little before you make your final decision."
Leyla listened to Faelis' words carefully. She knew her mother loved her but also supported her. Her father, most likely would hear out Faelis and make sure the man had no weird intentions. Leyla was not sure if it was wise to trust him either. She barely knew the man and yet, leaving the city with him sounded exiting even though far in her mind she knew the risk.
But truth be told. She had been wanting to leave. A change in her life. Discover new things about herself.
''I know I am taking a risk... but I... do not feel at home here anymore.'' despite her loving parents, Denzel and some other friends, she had always dreamt of leaving Arca. And her recent events with Kato had only made that feeling stronger. The thought he could stand at her doorstep actually made her heart ache.
Thinking more about it. Was this not running away? It certainly sounded like it.
''I just hope I will not be in your way..'' she said as she looked in his eyes. ''Just let me grab what I need and see my parents so they know I am off and not abducted.''
"You wouldn't be in the way in the least," Faelis said. "And take as long as you like in talking to your parents." He thought for a moment. "When you're ready, I'll be staying in Room 4 in the Hail Inn. We can meet there when you're packed and everything."
Faelis was actually excited about traveling with this young woman. It would be a interesting experience, something new. She might find out he's a thief, but if she did, he'd deal with that when it came to it, for the time being he was just going to live in the moment as much as possible.
Leyla nodded. ''Understood.'' she said and drank her mead after finishing her food. She felt exited. Even more alive. And nervous. If Denzel knew this he'd scold her for sure. Her mother and father too.
''I could perhaps introduce you to my mother and father tomorrow, when they are awake. It might make them worry less.'' she giggled. ''Before I get the speech of 'I thought we raised you better'.''
She did not drink her current glass as fast as her first one though since now she had the time to enjoy it more. ''Other then clothes, something to sleep on, blanket and keramic knives. Anything you'd recommend I bring along?'' she figured she'd ask from someone who was used to traveling in case she'd forget something obvious.
"I'd like to meet your parents," Faelis said it would lower the suspicion rate by a lot. Rather than "Mother, Father, I'm running off with a young elf man' it'd be, 'Mother, Father, I'd like you to meet Faelis Gindien, we've decided to travel together'. Okay, not too much better, but still.
"You could bring some food," Faelis answered to her question, brushing his long black hair from his face, the small bones and beads quietly clinking together. "Unspoilable things, bread, apples, maybe. Jerky, if you eat meat, you know, those kinds of things. And I always bring some strong rope and string, you never know when rope will come in handy. You said clothes, but one of the most important things is a pair of sturdy, road-appropriate shoes. I prefer boots, they support your ankle more."
''I have a pair of good boots. String.. I can pack the silk string I use for sowing.'' She had a few spools.
Provisions she could buy with some of the money she owned, along with rope.
''I will make sure I will bring everything we could need. In practical amounts.'' The inn became emptier and emptier and at some point the owner aproached, giving Leyla a small pouch of coins and complimented her on her good work. Also reminding her to bring the silken sheets with her before bad her a good night.
''Will you be alright heading back on your own at this hour?'' He asked
''You ask me every time. I will be fine.'' Leyla assured.
'' normally you do not make most of my customers jealous.'' He joked before heading to the back
Faelis nodded when she said she had good boots and string. The inn was nearly empty now and the innkeeper came up and asked Leyla if she was fine going home that late. Faelis stood. "I'll meet you at the Hail Inn and then I can meet your parents."
He was about to take his leave when he saw the big mercenary lurking near the door in the shadows. The innkeeper walked away and Faelis quickly sat back down and leaned forward so Leyla could heard his whisper.
"That creep is waiting by the door, for you or me, I don't know, but I think we should leave out the back, and he still might follow you. I know you said you'd be fine getting home, and I believe that, on a normal night. But with that guy there. . ." Faelis trailed off, waiting for Leyla to decide what she wanted to do.
Leyla nodded. ''That creep... refering to the same guy as earlier?'' she asked. Not sure if it was the same one or a new one. She got on her feet actually quite calm. ''Do you not think it is suspicious if we both head to the back? But I suppose it is better then getting out of the front now''
She wondered if she'd just had to go through the front door like she always had. Happily murmering and humming notes and words. She was not the type either that could pretend being drunk since she had never been that.
Also her home, it was not in this part pf the city. She could not really call it the 'poor' district but it was basicly thel ower commons. A walk of 15 minutes at the least.
''I will gather the sheets'' Her empty plate and their empty drink containers had been taken away already a little while back. Leyla got on her feet. Her steps were certain but made not a single noise on the wood. She knew how to step silently; when dancing on a wooden floor people did not like it if it sounded as if an elephant marched there.
She gestrued Faelis to follow her. ''I do suppose that is the risk of your occupation is it not? Being followed, threatened or attacked by others?''
"Same guy as before," Faelis said, getting up and following her, also walking silently across the floor. Being a thief, you could not clomp around.
"It is a hazard, I come across a lot of different people," he said, and it was truer than Leyla knew, being a thief, one picked up a lot of enemies.
Faelis looked back to the man waiting at the door. "If we go out the front he'll see us, and possibly try to hurt me, or you. I could take him, but I'm not really in the mood," the elf thief said.
''I in theory... could find him in silk. It is string stuff you can not pull apart. He does not seem like the really quick time. Or smart for that matter.'' she picked up the sheets of silk and put them in her bag. ''See you around Magmus. Thank you for today.'' she said to the innkeeper who gave both of them a wave as he was counting the bottles of alcohol he had left after such a busy night.
After having exited through the back, the two were greeted by the cool night air. It made her shiver for a moment. She had not brought a cloak with her today since it had gotten pretty warm in the afternoon but she got accustomed to it quickly.
''The hail inn first? Would he be after me I could shake him off in the back alleys..''
"I think by the time he realized we've left you'll be long gone," Faelis said. "And the Hail Inn whenever you're ready. See you later, Leyla," Faelis half bowed to her and walked off. In reality, he was going to distract the large man while Leyla got away. He walked into the alleys and then backtracked to the inn, where he walked to the front where the big man still was.
"Hello," he said. "I see youre still here, why, drunk? Wallowing in your sorrows about not getting to meet with Leyla?"
"Shut up!" the big man yelled, launching himself at Faelis. The elf stepped aside easily, sending the big man falling into the dust in the road. Faelis chuckled, this would definitely give Leyla enough time to get away. The big man started to get to his feet but Faelis didn't let him. he pushed him back down before he even got to his knees.
"You little creep!" the big man yelled, again leaping at Faelis. Faelis again stepped aside, but this time the big man fell right into the side of the building. He hit his head, hard, and fell to the street, unconscious.
Faelis looked at him for a few moments his eyebrows raised and his head cocked to one side, then shrugged and walked away, towards the Hail Inn.
After Faelis was out of sight, Leyla ran as fast as she could towards home. Denzel's house was closer. That of her parents as well. But a weird feeling was in her stomach.
She let herself think about happy things. Traveling. She was going to travel. With someone she only knew for a couple of hours. She had not even known she had it in her, something like that.
It was good though she was fast on her feet. She had not heard anything about the little 'brawl'
---
When at home, she lit some lamps. There was no Kato. Fortunatly. She started by packing her bags, and prepared clothes that were more practical to travel with. Only out of habit she still stored her coins safely and would put them in a proper belt pouch tomorrow.
As final she changed into sleeping wear but found herself to exited. ''I can't believe I did that!'' she said and giggled. After several imagenairy scenes of how traveling with this Faelis could be she finally fell asleep but woke up before dawn, as always.
Changing into a pair of green durable pants, white shirt and leather jacket. As final the boots.
After making sure she had everything she could possibly need from here, the sun had started to rise. Left her home and locked the door. Taking a final look at her own little place before getting the food she said she would get before heading to the Hail Inn.
Faelis had went straight to the Hail Inn the night before after he had knocked out the man, and on the way he had actually thought about breaking into a house he passed but decided against it, he didn't want someone sounding the alarm the next morning and then Leya might suspect him, so he had passed by the house without breaking in or stealing anything, not even a flower from the garden.
So the next morning he got up early and was now leaning on the doorframe in the open doorway if the Hail Inn, drinking some ale. Yes, he knew it was morning, but he knew he could handle the alcohol, it wasn't as if he hadn't done it a hundred times before.
When he saw Leyla approaching he stepped forwards and waved to her. "Good morning!" he called. "It's going to be a perfect day for traveling, I can tell already. Not to hot, not too warm."
As she neared he smiled at her. "What about your parents?"
''Good morning to you too'' Leyla said as she waved at him from where she stood before getting closer.
''They are expecting us. Never heard my mother ask so many questions about me knowing a guy before. In an enthausiastic manner'' a giggle escaped her lips.
''My father was not sure what to think but they made brunch... but both are delighted to meet you.''
She offered her hand, not sure wether he'd take it or not but she just felt very cheerful.
He did take her hand and bowed over it, kissing the back of it in greeting. He straightened and smiled again at her.
He quickly finished off the ale and set the glass inside the inn on a table near the door. He stepped back out of the building and leaned against the door frame again.
"So, what's the plan? We go to your parent's house?" He asked, picking up his pack from the ground. "I'm ready to go when you are."
Leyla nodded. ''It is not so far from here. Oh. Almost forget ehm. Do not make very sudden movements towards my mother. She was... mugged once, really violently and was attacked with iron. It did more then physically wound her.''
As they walked, Leyla greeted almost everyone. It was something she actually usually did as well but those who knew her, certainly noticed today was different.
It took no longer then 10 minutes to reach the home of her parents. It was a normal sized home built from both wood and stone like the rest of the block, with a small wellkept garden at the front that had rozes, jasmin and lavender. All in full bloom spreading a rich aroma.
Before Leyla could knock though the door already opened. Revealing an elven man. He was rather muscular, chestnut brown hair worn in a neat but small ponytail and simple clothing. But he seemed to be used to hard working. A few vague scars present on his bronze tanned arms.
''Hello again sweetheart, and welcome. You must be Faelis. Come in.'' he said as he looked at the man. His voice was warm and friendly and he stepped aside so they could enter.
''After you'' Leyla said to Faelis
Faelis followed Leyla to her house, and he was somewhat impressed, actually, by the garden, the elf wasn't really one to get into gardening. He doubted he ever even though of doing bit. When the elven man opened the door, Faelis wondered who he was.
When the other elf greeted him, Faelis half-bowed half-nodded to the man. "I am Faelis," he said, taking Leyla's invitation and stepping into the house. "I am very exited to be traveling with Leyla."
Faelis knew he had to handle this whole matter with care. He was a pretty cocky guy in most situations, and also sarcastic and disrespectful. He would have to keep that side of himself down for the time and become a 'nice guy'. Not too nice, that would be suspicious, but just the right amount of friendliness, humor, and become someone Leyla's parents would approve of her traveling with.
''I hope it is not for disrespectful reasons though.'' the man said.
''Dad, please..'' Leyla said
''I know I know. Just messing.'' the man replied. Leyla closed the door and allowed her father to lead them through the hallway towards the living room that had an open kitchen attached to it where a woman, most likely Leyla's mother was working on preparing various kinds of food for the brunch Leyla mentioned. Just like her daughter, the woman had lavender purple hair and a fair skin aside for some scars.
''Good morning.'' the woman said before looking up. ''My my aren't you a handsome fellow.'' she said. Quickly washing her hands before aproaching them. There was a nasty looking scar on her cheek and a few on her arms. Something that had most likely been done when she had been mugged.
''My name is Shaiya. Leyla's mother. Pleasure to meet you.''
Faelis followed Leyla and her father into the kitchen, where Leyla's mother was preparing food. When the woman introduced herself, Faelis bowed to her in greeting. "I am very pleased to meet you, Shaiya," the elf said. "Your daughter is a very remarkable woman, and I say that in the best possible meaning of the word."
''I am glad to hear that. Means that me and my husband Drakkar raised her well.'' Shaiya replied. She did seem more openminded about her daughter going then her husband. But maybe he was just worried.
''Leyla has been honest and told us you two met while she was performing. Also that you scared away a rather big man. At least that does mean you can protect her while she can not.'' Drakkar said. But forgive me for being cautious. I after all wish my daughter to be safe and she can act on straight impulse sometimes rather then wit. We just want to make sure you do not mean her any harm which is hard to decide after such a short time. You can even know someone for a really long time and in the end, end up hurt.''
Leyla did not have to guess he refered to Kato but she did not say anything on that matter.
"It does," Faelis said when Shaiya said about raising Leyla well, and when Leyla's father expressed his concern for his daughter, Faelis nodded. "I completely understand," the elf said. "It is only natural for you to want to protect her."
Faelis internally cringed when Leyla's father mentioned knowing someone for a long time, and then being hurt. Faelis knew the feeling, at least to some degree. Betrayal, by his own parents, not caring for him while his brother was treated like the prince he was. But Faelis didn't let his thoughts about his family show and cleared the thoughts from his mind.
''I admit I do not know wether I should and can entrust my daughters safety to you. So hopefully with the brunch, you can make sure I will not reget allowing her to do this. She has been wanting to leave Arca for already a long time.''
''Brunch will be done in a about an hour. I will need to stay in the kitchen but take a seat in the garden. Anything you would like to drink?'' Shaiya asked.
"No thank you," Faelis said. "And about your garden, I truly admire it." It was true. "I have never been one for gardening, but seeing yours I was impressed."
He waited for Leyla or her father to lead the way into the garden, as it would be impolite to walk out of the house in the lead.
Shaiya chuckled. ''That was just the small front yard. We have a bigger one at the back.'' she giggled before returning into the kitchen.
Drakkar opened the door from the livingroom to the back garden which was about three by three meters in size. Indeed relativly big. There was a pebble path, a nice patch of grass to sit on and various herbs, edible flowers and two small fruitbearing trees. The rest were plants such as raspberry, strawberry, tomatoes, and various kinds of vegetables.
Drakkar sat down and gestured for Leyla and Faelis to do the same. ''So Faelis. How old are you.''
''Oh gods..'' Leyla whispered very softly hoping it would not end up like an interrogation or anything.
The back garden indeed was more impressive, and Faelis sat down when Drakkar motioned for him to. When the question came Faelis was expecting it, and, to him, a complete interrogation wouldn't be that bad.
"I'm twenty-two," Faelis answered. "Though I'm an elf that only lives a little longer than a human, I am by no means immortal!" Faelis chuckled.
''Immortal... nobody is really immortal. There is arrows and illness. Swords do the trick rather well too.'' Drakkar replied. ''But, one year older then Leyla, thats not so bad.'' He smiled. ''And your experiences outside of this city? Where did you come from?''
Leyla was not sure where her father was going with this but she sincerely hoped he would not be difficult about anything. Truth be told, she would not mind if Faelis would lie here about his heritage. She had noticed he did not like to speak of it.
"I'm from Southern Le'raana," Faelis said. "An elven kingdom there. I left when I was fifteen, my parents did not really care for me like I believe they should have. They were not mean to me, but they ignored me, giving my older brother most of their attention. I was unhappy and left, choosing to travel." Faelis smiled. "And as for my experiences outside of the city? Well, I do many different jobs, sometimes I'll work in a shop, sometimes I'll guard a caravan that is moving from one city to another."
''So legimate work.'' Drakkar asked. ''Sorry to hear about your family though. I hope this is not uncomfortable for you.'' he paused for a moment.
''Would danger occur what would you usually do?''
"That really depends on the situation," Faelis said. "First and foremost, I would try to avoid danger to start with, but if we were being attacked, I would, first try to get us out of harms way," Faelis frowned. "But if we were cornered, I would try to talk my way out, it works more often than people would think, but if it finally came down to it, I would fight for our lives. Though I try to avoid fights, like I said, talking the way out would be getting away would be ideal."
A Lie. That was a lie. Though Faelis spun it extremely well. He was not one to avoid danger, in fact, he was often the one to provoke it. Many times it went like this, he would insult someone enough so they would get extremely mad at him and attack, then he would briefly fight, then run, often with his enemy's money pouch.
But Faelis told none of this to Leyla or her father, of course, and showed no signs he was lying. As a thief you picked up how to lie without letting anyone know you are lying.
And Faelis was a master.
Drakker gave an approving nod. ''It may be wise to teach Leyla some tricks. Dancing her way out only does so much. Alas steel and iron are not friendly to either her or my wife. Silver weapons are not practical and way to expensive so either a bow with flint tips or a whip should perhaps suffice for her. What do you think.'' he asked.
"As you, of course, know, you are very physically fit, Leyla," Faelis said. "And I know, in a fight, that that would be very handy. If I do get into a fight, I often don't even use weapons, I am very capable with just my body, and while I think that Leyla's best weapon would be her body." Faelis smiled. "Though a bow and whip could be very helpful, do you have any such weapons?"
''I have a bow but not the proper arrows for Leyla to use. Also the bow is to large for her.'' Drakkar spoke.
''I have... some of my funds left. I should be able to purchase one weapon.'' Leyla said.
Her father however protested. '' it is best not to use up all of your funds. You can get the weapons from me. We will purchase them after the brunch. See if as a parting and birthday gift. That was coming up soon as well wasn't it?'' he said with a kind smile. But then turned to Faelis.
''I do expect you teach her how to use it.
"Of course!" Faelis said. "I would love to teach her. I don't carry a bow as one of my weapons, but I know how to use one, and, I think, fairly well!" He looked to Leyla. "And you birthday? Well, happy birthday!"
''Three months from now.'' Leyla said with a chuckle.
''For me that is legitly close enough to give you a present.'' Drakkar spoke. ''I do hope she does not have to use them that often though.''
''One thing does go without saying. I know it will not always be able, but send a runner with a letter from time to time. Also. If I find out Leyla ended up in a really bad place, I will personally hunt you down and get you. The previous ones who I gave that same treatment, are now broken shells of what they once were. Do not let me do that again.''
''So you will allow me to come with him?'' Leyla asked.
Drakkar gave her a nod. ''I should not hold you back. You are not that safe here either, with your line of work. Visitors seem to get bolder and bolder with you. Last night someone watched this place as well who looked like a drunk bar patron. But do not tell my wife. She has been through enough.''
'Whoa, brother' Faelis thought at Drakkar's threats, but he wasn't really surprised.
"Don't worry, sir," Faelis said, nodding respectfully at the man, "you have nothing to worry about. And Leyla, I hope, will not have to use her weapons much, or, at best, not at all."
Faelis frowned when Drakkar mentioned people watching the house for Leyla, but he said nothing, he hoped on their travels than no one else gave her any trouble. "Not a word," Faelis said when he said not to mention it to Shaiya.
Leyla was not happy with her father's threats. But understood them as well ; he had never forgiven those thieves for what they had done. Her mother despite still loving and kind has never been the same since.
''I will check on your mother for a bit.''
''Does she need help with anything?'' Leyla asked.
''Dont worry sugar. Relax.'' Drakkar replied giving her a quick rub through her hair before getting up and went indoors.
''Sorry... I did not think he would be like this..'' Leyla said to Faelis.
"It's okay," Faelis said to Leyla when her father left. "I understand his concerns. There are bad people out there, and he just wants to make sure your not going to be going off with one of them."
''It is a relief, you are not someone who intends to inflict me harm. My father is a rather good judge of character. As long as you have no intention of harming me, it is fine by him.''
she pondered. ''If you teach me how to handle a bow and whip... perhaps I should teach you to dance. Or is that not your thing.''
Faelis smiled and laughed. "That would be quite fun, I think," he said. "I'm up for it!"
''Splendid'' Leyla said enthausiastic. ''It is fun. Also dancing around someone who has bad intentions making it look like game is really amusing.'' Especially with drunks who already barely could keep their footing and would tumble over.
Faelis laughed at the thought, then his face took on a thoughtful expression. "I know this is off-topic, and I don't really want to spoil to mood, but I really admire you and your family, and how protective your parents are. They really are wonderful people, and they raised a wonderful young woman."
Leyla did not know why but her cheeks became red. ''Thank you.'' She said. ''I'm sure mother and father would both blush and stumble on the words. And appreciate it.'' She wished she could say the same but Faelis basicly raised himself. ''Since we are confessing anyway... I admire you as well. Many pople would have turned out a lot differently then you did. And I hope, with most likely a few small arguements aside...'' no matter who or where, arguements were unavoidable. ''you and I will get along very well.''
"Thank you," Faelis said. "I hope we get along well too, and I think we will."
Just talking to Leyla made the elven thief feel a bit guilty about misleading this young woman, but not guilty enough to tell her the truth, not yet.
''Alright youngsters, brunch is done'' Shaiya said cheerfully. Drakkar was helping to put everything on the table.
When inside, Leyla complimented her mother. She had made this all in a matter of hours.
There was soup, fresh warm bread, cheese, thin sliced meats, scrambled eggs, fresh marmelade and some bowls with various fruits and vegetables from their own garden.
''Dig in, dont be shy.'' she assured. There was indeed more then enough for the four of them.
Leyla sat down and gestured Faelis to take the seat beside her.
Faelis followed Leyla into the house and took a seat beside her when she motioned him to do so.
"This is beautiful!" the elf said, looking over the array of food. "Cooking is an art, and one I've never been proficient in!" he laughed. "And though I can cook some pretty good stew, that's about all!"
Faelis waited for the others to be seated and for them to serve themselves first, he was, after all, the guest and should be polite.
''I am not a really good cook but there are a few things I can do other then stew if you like variation.'' Leyla assured. Taking a piece of bread and put some butter on it.
''Do you like baked potatoes with cheese?'' she asked
"I like anything, really," Faelis said. "I'm not to picky when it comes to food, eating stew all the time doesn't really bother me. Oh, and I can cook and prepare meat, but nothing special, just a rabbit or deer over a fire. Mostly if I'm in the woods I eat plants, there are quite a lot of edible plants out in the forests, you just have to know where to look."
Seeing Leyla starting to get her food,the elf did as well.
''Well you are still alive which means you are knowledgeable with plants right? Leyla has some knowledge considering medicinal herbs. But it would be wise to make sure she does not pick up any weird plants, roots, flowers or mushrooms.'' Shaiya said with a smile.
--
The brunch was mainly jokes, short funny stories (including some embarasing ones considering Leyla's childhood) and laughter.
When brunch was over, Drakkar placed a kiss on his wife's cheek and lips. ''You did a great job love.'' he said and looked at Faelis and Leyla. ''If you put down everything in the kitchen I will do the dishes when I am back. Leyla needs a weapon to at the least defend herself with. Since she has none of her own.''
''Fair point..'' Shaiya said calmly. She did not look fond about her hear daughter having to wield a weapon. It removed some innoscence. But she knew Drakkar was right. ''Alright. Will you return alone or bring Faelis and Leyla back. Depending on that I say goodbye now or when they're back.''
The brunch was pleasant, even to Faelis, since brunches weren't really his 'thing'.
"The food was wonderful, Shaiya," he said truthfully, it had been good. He cleared his plate and walked over to Leyla. "What's the plan?" he asked, seeing the discomfort on Shaiya's face at the thought of her daughter wielding a weapon. "We are going to get the weapons now?"
''We can come back after getting the whip or bow. Or both. Then I can say goodbye to them together.'' A knot started to form in her stomach. True she knew she was going to have to say goodbye. Only the gods knew when she would come back home. But she loved her mother and father deeply. Saying goodbye would be difficult.
''Alright.'' Shaiya replied. ''I will clear the table in the meantime.''
Drakkar looked at Faelis and Leyla. ''Come lets go.'' he headed upstairs for a moment to retrieve enough coin to pay for the weapons before he took the two to one of the weapon shops. Despite a bit more pricey, he did know that anything that came from here was durable and well crafted.
''Drakkar! Long time no see'' a man said. Rather broad and balding, with a thick mustache. ''How's the blade? Nothing wrong with it is there? And is that Leyla? My what has she grown. Last time I took a proper look at her she was in her mid teens.'' he chuckled.
''The blade is fine.'' Drakkar replied. ''I'm here to get weapons for my daughter. She is going to travel with this fellow here.'' he said.
''Travel? She always spoke of that didn't she.'' he said with a chuckle.
''What can I get for her.''
Faelis saw Leyla was a bit uncomfortable with leaving, but he didn't mention it. Whe he had left home the first time he had been scared too, hadn't he? Come to think of it, he hadn't been afraid at all, he had been exited. He may also have been drunk. . . ah, whatever, this wasn't about him.
They left the house and made their way to the blacksmith's shop. When they got there there was the customary, 'how you've grown' and then down to business. The man asked what Leyla needed and Faelis looked to the young woman's father. Would he get a bow or a whip? Or both?
''A bow with flint tip arrows, and a whip. Preferably both.'' The weaponsmith pondered and eyed Leyla's posture. She was not muscular built. Well. At the least not for combat. ''I recommend one of my Basterd bows... since you are not that long and strong. I have whips but so called combat whips are long. It takes a while to get used to them but when wielded properly, you can disarm any man.'' He went to the back for a moment and came back with various whips with their own belts.
''You can hold it is you like. But since you are not experienced I'd have to ask to refrain of using them.'' he said as he picked up various bows from the back as well. It was clear why they were named Basterd bows; they were to large for a shortbow or flatbow. Not the proper form of a recurve and certainly not as long as a longbow.
''You are not that strong in your arms so this may be the best option for you until you become stronger.'' he pointed at a sturdy ashwood bow. ''A bit less then average range though. But it is study.''
Faelis reached for the ashwwod bow, but then he stopped and looked up at the shop owner. "May I?"
The man nodded and Faelis picked up the bow. He took and arrow and in a fraction of a second the elf had knocked the arrow and drawn the bow.
He slowly let it out, not firing the arrow, and laid the bow and arrow on the table. "It is sturdy," he said to Leyla and her father. "It's a good bow, and not hard to draw back, though you, Leyla, have got muscle from your dancing."
Leyla although a little hesitant at first picked the bow and mimicked what Faelis did. ''True I have some muscles in there but using them differently... is something I'll need to get used too.'' She used her arms to keep her own weight up after all. Not for pulling a string which actually sounded a lot easier in this case then it was. But her pull was good enough.
''If you like further range, you will be heading more towards a flatbow but the pull is harder. For a beginner, it is best to have that as a followup.''
Leyla nodded and placed the bow back. ''I trust your judgement.'' she said and looked at the whips. Disarming a person sounded more appealing then piercing someone with an arrow. Although sometimes you just had to.
The whips had been made of sturdy, braided leather and they were in various lengths. Two meters till four and a half.
Faelis watched as Leyla pulled back on the bowstring. She had good form, but, of course, aim was a completely different matter, they would have to see how good she was. When she set the bow down and looked at the whips, Faelis picked one up feeling it's handle and the leather of the actual whip part, it was strong but flexible and soft, like it should be.
"What length do you think would be good for Leyla?" Faelis asked the shopkeeper and the young woman's father. "I've used a whip before, I know how to use one fairly well, but I'm not an expert."
''As long as I do not hit you with it right?'' Leyla jestered but gave the whips a carefull look. ''It may sound long but... the one of four meters perhaps. It will give me range and somehow it sounds that the shorter the whip... the more difficult it is to use?'' she asked.
Drakkar had not much knowledge about whips.
''Well... both the bow, with a set of 25 arrows and quiver, and the whip is an aprox of 200 gold.'' the shopkeeper admitted.
200? It was a lot. Leyla could not let her father pay for both. She just couldn't. And she had to learn how to work with one weapon first right? She knew how much her father and mother earned, what their savings were. Also that they could miss 200 gold without having to give up things. But it was just to much.
''Sorry father... I can not take both. If I have to choose... I'd choose the bow.'' she said with a smile.
Faelis didn't want to seem arrogant, but he bit his lip and reached for his money pouch. "I'll pay for the whip," he said to Drakkar. "And before you can protest, accept it as payment for the wonderful food and for agreeing to let Leyla travel with me."
He set the proper amount of money on the table for the shopkeeper to take.
''But... its to much... what if I am not good at it...'' Leyla protested. Drakkar who knew there was no use going against Faelis' suggestion, placed down the rest of the money.
''Leyla..'' he said eventually as the shopkeeper packed the weapons.''You can not pay for a life, or restore one once. Faelis knows this too and sometimes you need to invest in someones safety. If i either see you or Faelis alone, I mist likely need to conclude one had to bury the other. Also, if needed you need to protect him too. Only a bow, wont be enough..''
''.. yes father i understand.'' She said. Howver. she would pay every penny back. For sure.
Faelis smiled and handed the weapons the shopkeeper handed him to Leyla. "You'll be good at both of these weapons," he assured the young woman. "Your build and flexibility will greatly help if you ever need to defend yourself."
He put his money pouch back onto his belt and turned to Drakkar to lead them back to Leyla's home.
''Thank you..'' her voice was actually quite timid right now and she gave both Faelis and her father a hug.
''Good luck on your trip Leyla.'' the shopkeeper said with a wave and put the other weapons back
Drakkar thanked the shopkeeper as well before leading the young adults back to his home where Leyla would pick up her bag she had left there and say her goodbyes
When they got to the house Faelis stopped outside the door. "I'll wait out here," he said. "I don't want to get in the way, and then you can say your goodbye's in private."
Leyla nodded quietly and followed her father inside.
After a good fifteen minutes the three of them came outside. Tears had been shed that was for sure, and it was Shaiya who aproached Faelis first. Embracing him warmly without a warning. ''Please look after my daughter properly. And if you need a home, these doors are open for you.'' she said before letting him go and Drakkar came up holding out his hand. ''I hope my daughter will have a pleasant time with you. That she can learn a lot from the world that is outside of Arca. And I pray your journey will be pleasant.''
Faelis waited fro them patiently outside, and when the door opened and they stepped back outside, Faelis wasn't surprised when Shaiya hugged him. The elf patted the woman on the back and when she stepped back and Drakkar held out his hand, Faelis shook it firmly.
"Don't worry, sir, ma'am," he said, nodding to them both respectively. "Leyla will be safe, and when we see you again, she will defiantly have had the time of her life. And I give you my word that she will return safely."
Of course, this was the truth, Faelis didn't want to harm Leyla, but the travel was probably going to turn out differently than Leyla or her parents were expecting.
Faelis turned to look at Leyla, and he smiled, though in an understanding way, he knew what she was feeling. "Are you ready?"
Leyla nodded. ''Lets go.'' she said and waved one more time at her parents before turning to the paved road. She had to prevent herself from looking back. If she would, all the courage she gathered would seep away right through her feet. Boots or not. So with one step after another after re-adjusting her backpack a little, she left her home, and eventually Arca behind her.
Faelis nodded once more to Leyla's parents, and then followed the young woman away. He knew that this was hard for her, so he didn't say anything until they had been walking for a few minutes.
"Do you even know where we are going? Because I don't." He smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood. "Anywhere you want to go? A place you've always wanted to see? Because now, you can go anywhere. Anywhere you like. Just pick a place, and that's where we'll go."
''A place where I have always wanted to go...'' Leyla had never left Arca. She had seen maps and would always wonder how it would be there. Anywhere but Connlaoth though with the war going on. ''Anywhere but Connlath is fine by me. Maybe Adela? There are dragons where right? But there are so many places in Serendipity I have never even seen.''
Leyla had always wanted to see a dragon. But it would be nice too to see more of her homeland too.
Faelis smiled. "There are the most dragons in Adela, but there are dragons all over the world. And Serendipity? There's a lot here too, I've been all over the place, but not all the places." Faelis thought for a moment. "The place you pick doesn't have to be the only place we go, were not on a schedule!"
Wherever they went Faelis would be fine with it, though he would rather not go to Connlaoth, because of the war, but Leyla didn't want to travel there either, so he wouldn't be forced to go.
''Then maybe some nice places in Serendipity first.'' she said. ''The Ocean sounds appealing. Coastal Serendipity maybe? Yes... I heard it is occasionally besieged by pirates..but it should be safe enough right?''
She often heard merchants speaking of having visited there. Brining with them many exotic things that they on their turn sold.
"The Coast it is!" Faelis said. "And about the pirates, I'm sure we'll be fine. I've gone there several times before, and I'm not dead yet!"
He wasn't dead, but he had been attacked all the times he had been there, though not necessarily by pirates. Well, they had been pirates some of the times, but they had only targeted him because he had stolen from them. So, all in all, Faelis had no proof that they would be fine, and he assumed that they would be attacked one time or another, but the elf was confident he would be able to defend both of them.
"It will take us about a week and three or four days to get there, going at a slower pace, walking," Faelis said to Leyla. "So not to long, and on the way, I can teach you how to use your weapons, though hopefully you won't need to use them."
Yes, hopefully, but with Fealis as traveling company, the elf knew that Leyla would probably have to fight one way or another, and if she didn't fight, Fealis knew that he would have to at least onece, probably many more times than that, though. The fights would probably come from Faelis's choice of profession. As a traveling thief, you gathered many enemies in all of the countries over the years.
''Alright!'' Leyla said exitedly. Perhaps there was even place for her to perform. and earn some coin. ''And as you teach me fighting, I will teach you some things considdering dance.'' she said with a giggle.
She had to resist looking back at Arca that laid behind them and to prevent she would, she looked at Faelis. ''Which way?'' she asked. Perhaps she would learn directions a lot better as well in the meantime.
"Well, currently we're heading north, but the port of Cerenis is north-east," Faelis said as they walked. "We will leave the city within an hour, and then we'll be out in the wilderness. And yes, dancing lessons, I'm looking forward to them."
As they walked Faelis thought about his last theft. It had been nearly three days ago, and it had been from a rich lord, the elf had gotten some pretty good money off of him, and now that money was in Faelis's pouch. Before they left the city, he would use that coin to buy some more provisions.
''Alright.'' Leyla replied.
She had used quite some of her savings for some rations; dried meats, fruits and vegetables, but also a few fresh things. Fresh meat excluded since it would be a waste if it rotted. Also if they wanted fresh meats perhaps she could use the bow for that. If she could aim it properly anyway.
It did felt a little strange. Next time she would come here, her home was empty. And most likely already sold with new people living in it. But she did not regret anything. She had wanted this to badly. ''Is it selfish of me? To leave my parents like this... '' she asked out of the blue
Faelis shook his head. "I do not think so," he said. "They wouldn't want for you to be stuck in one place your whole life, they would want you to have fun, do what you want rather than what they would want, which would be what you wanted if that's what you wanted." The elf laughed as his wording. "Anyway, I think that they are glad for you, if not nervous."
As they walked Faelis turned onto a side street, towards a general store where he would buy some more foodstuffs.
Whilest Faelis got some extra things, Leyla looked around in the shop a bit. Something then cought her eye but not from the store; outside. Briefly she thought she saw the same man whom Faelis had scared off in the inn the night before, had most likely awaited them then outside, and could perhaps be the same one who her father had mentioned.
But the figure was gone in the blink of an eye as if he had never been there. Not sure why either but her hand had gently rested on the whip she had attached to her belt until she was sure the person was not there.
'Must be the nerves..' she thought to herself.
Faelis bought the provisions he had picked and then walked over to Leyla, he saw her discomfort immediately, and then her hand on the handle of her whip, and frowned.
"What is it?" he asked, the dagger in the sleeve of his leather jacket slipping down so it could be drawn and ready for use in a moments notice. "What did you see?"
''I thought I saw the man from last night...'' she said softly. ''But I'm not sure... truth be told I've been looking out for it when we went to the weapons shop since father mentioned someone watching him and mom.'' she allowed her hand to leave the whip.
Wether it was the same man, if there had been one at all, and why following them she did not know. She was a contortionist. A Dancer. Not some whore from a brothel. So what could the man posibly want.
Faelis frowned deeper, he did not doubt Leyla, and even if she wasn't sure, Faelis was pretty confident that there had been someone out there.
It could have been the man from the night before, looking for Leyla or Faelis, or both. Faelis knew that the man would have wanted revenge after he beat him on the street, and though the elf knew he could once again win a fight and wouldn't mind if one came while he was by himself, he didn't want Leyla to be harmed.
He pushed his knife back up into his sleeve and turned to Leyla. "If the man from last night is following us," he said, "then it is probably in revenge for how we treated him. And if it is someone else, I don't know why they would want to come after us. . ."
That was a lie. A big fat one, he knew very well why anyone would want to follow him, he was a thief! Getting people mad was what he did. Of course, many of the people he stole from didn't ever find out who it was who took their stuff, but if the elf was caught every once in a while, and add all the bar fights he intentionally started, leaving most of the patrons with empty pockets at the end of the fight, Faelis had a pretty long list of enemies.
''Men bothering me is not nessesarily something new but those who are from here know that if they as much hurt a hair on my head they have Denzel on their necks. Not that it scared everyone though. Also. Revenge? For what exactly. Can't he handle being turned down by a girl? Truth be told that is actually quite pethatic if that were the case.''
''Anything else I can assist you two with?'' the shopkeeper asked
"Ah, no thank you," Faelis said to the shopkeeper, then he took the provisions he bought, put them in his bag and then walked over to Leyla.
"Quite pathetic," Faelis said to Leyla's words. "And who's Denzel?" he asked curiously, then he started for the door. "Let's go, I don't need anything else from here."
''Denzel is a childhood friend. We attended the same school until he got homeschooled. He held nice parties on occasion where he hired me so I could make some extra money.'' she said.
''But if anybody bothered me he was certain they never would again.
She went towards the door and opened it, holding it open for Faelis as well.
Faelis nodded and then thanked Leyla as she held open the door for him. He stepped out onto the street. He waited for Leyla and then he started to walk down the road.
"We should be out of the city by this evening," the elf said, looking up at the sun. "On the way to the port we'll mostly be traveling through sparse forests, and a few grasslands. Tonight we'll camp in the forest before nightfall, then I can show you some of how to use your weapons, and," he looked over at Leyla and smiled, "you can show me some of how to dance. I've danced some before, mostly partner dancing, and some more just for fun."
In fact the times he had partner danced were mostly when he was at a party of some noble he was going to steal from. He would sneak inside the party, start talking to a lady, most of the time getting her to completely fall for him, get her to offhandedly tell him about the nobles jewels or money, then go and steal it. Though he didn't tell any of this to Leyla, for obvious reasons.
''Partner dancing is fun. Although there were not a lot of people I ever did that with. Dancing I can teach you could be of good use when you are in combat. It is amusing to dance someone into submission. Denzel tought me although I do not use it combined with a rapier.''
Which was for obvious reasons.
She looked forward to using the weapons. If they indeed were followed perhaps she even got to target practise. She hated being stalked and if it was the same who kept an eye on her parents, the person would pay.
Faelis nodded. "I'm sure your incredible skills in dancing will help you if you ever need to defend yourself," he said as they continued down the street.
Just as Leyla was looking forward to learning to use her weapons, Faelis was looking forward to teaching her. He was quite a shot with a bow, even though it wasn't his prefered weapon, and he knew how to use a whip as well. He had learnt how to when he had been in a life-and-death situation. Man, that was a drinking game to remember.
Faelis smiled at the thought of it, then looked to Leyla. "How long have you been dancing?" he asked. "I started my career when I was fifteen, when did you start yours?"
''I started taking dancing lessons when I was four but before that I basicly danced everywhere I could. Outside, at the store when I was brought along. My bones and joints are more flexible due to a bone illness and a lot of schoolmates wanted to see what I could do. Which was basicly creepy stuff like this.'' she said with a chuckle and took a hold of one hand with the other bending it completely backwards till it reached her arm. ''Hence I can put myself into a box. Not that long though, since it does block my ability to breathe..'' she let go of her hand so it would return to its more natural position.
''I made money with dancing since I was about 12. Simple dances though on the street. Nothing really special''
Faelis nodded. "When I ran away, I didn't know what I was doing, really, I just wanted to get away from my parents and brother. I probably should have been a little more cautious, but I think I coped pretty well. Though there were a few incredibly stupid things I did. With the little money I had brought with me," he had stolen it, but no need for Leyla to know, "I stayed a night at an inn. I was sitting in the common room, at a table, and a big guy with a pretty large knife on his belt pushed past me, pretty roughly. I insulted his knife." Faelis chuckled. "Yep. I insulted the huge, killer dagger on his belt. If I had done that now, I would have been able to take him, but I was fifteen. A fifteen-year old elf prince and, though I still could fight fairly well, I was no match for this guy. He attacked, and my speed was the only thing that saved me. I managed to get out of there with only a bloody lip, but I hadn't even thrown a punch myself."
Faelis smiled again at the memory. "I'd like to think I've wizened up now."
What that really meant was that when he insulted a guy, he knew he could fight him, as his fighting skills were much better than when he was fifteen, but that didn't mean his tongue was any less sharp.
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(OOC: Maybe a time jump to the evening? When they set up camp? Unless Leyla has something to say.)
((Sure we can forward to evening))
The city lay behind them somewhere, and after having found a proper place to calm, Leya placed her bags down. Still hesitant and maybe a bit fearfull to look back. They not had been followed since they had left the city and that was a good thing.
On their way out though several men whom had regulary seen her perform were not happy about her going. Some were happy for her though while others could not believe she was setting out with someone she barely knew and they would make a more proper traveling companion.
Leyla told them they were going to head towards Adela. She did not felt like telling them the truth and said that perhaps when she had made it 'big' they could see her perform again.
''I do not think I have lied so much in a day as now..'' she said with a chuckle and gathered firewood from their surroundings. ''Should have done that a lot sooner..''
Faelis smiled, thinking of the irony. How many times had he lied today? Not as many as it seemed. Sure, he was keeping a lot, and I mean a lot, from Leyla and her family, but rather than lying, he had just not told the whole truth, but when he thought about it, that was nearly as bad. For instance, he had said he did a lot of different jobs, and he did, thief, spy, sometimes-mercenary.
Faelis set his bag against a tree and waked over to a less grassy part of the clearing in the very sparse forest they were in. The elf took some of the wood Leyla had gathered and started to stack it to make a fire. He didn't light it yet, it was still fairly light outside.
''..Did you look back when you left your home?'' Leyla asked. Slowly the fear vanished of when she would look back at Arca, she would maybe change her mind.
Her feet were not yet sore and truth be told, she could most likely still walk a few hours more. But crossing the forest while it was night was not the brightest of ideas; you would not know when there would be another proper place to camp and anything could be encountered in the night. She for now had to rely on Faelis and learn from everything he did and said concerning traveling.
"I actually wish I could say I did," Faelis said truthfully. "But I was so eager to get away, I needed to. But if I had looked back, that would've meant that I wanted to stay, at least a little, and that would have meant I loved my family more than I did. I didn't look back, and though I wish my childhood would have been better, I am very content with the life I live now, very content."
He looked through the trees at the sin, they would have a good fourty-five minutes before it was dark.
"You want to practice with that bow? Or the whip?" the elf asked. "We have a while before it's too dark to see, or aim."
''Let's try the bow first.'' Leyla said. She had fae blood. She would not be as good as an elf but shooting things down would be usefull right?
She picked her weapon up after puting the quiver on her back in a way she could easily draw her arrows.
She placed one arrow on the bow and gently pulled the string to get the feel of it again. making sure the arrow was not aimed at Faelis in case she would accidently loose the grip of the string.
''Alright... a target...'' she said after she softly let the string return to its normal resting state, but did kept the arrow on.
"There," Faelis pointed to a tree about fifteen yards away with a fairly wide trunk. There a large knot in the bark. "Aim at the knot," Faelis said. "Don't shoot yet, just get into position and hold it, so I can see where you need help."
Never having shot an arrow before, something like what Faelis asked sounded like quite a feat. She took the pose she had seen many times before and focussed on the knot of the tree but did held it until Faelis would give her the cue she could fire. Or... until the string slipped from her fingers.
Just hold there," Faelis said, looking at her form. He knew very well that for a beginner, just holding the stance could be hard. "You need to strengthen the muscles that you are using right now," the elf said. "Lift the hand pulling back higher, bring your hand back to your ear. Spread your feet apart a little more." For a beginner, Leyla's stance was very good. "Aim the best you can and fire when you are ready."
''Right.'' Leyla said and took a deep calm breath, following Faelis' orders. It took her a moment until she had the stance right and by that time her arm that held the string was trembling a bit. Surely she would get faster and more certain about this but she knew that she most likely had a long way to go.
After she was certain, she released the arrow. It did not hit the knot despite its size; it went just over it. Leyla swore under her breath. She would have to count how many arrows would not hit the target so she was certain she had them all back after gathering them.
In an almost fluent movement she placed another arrow on the bow, pulled the string and tried again.
Faelis raised his eyebrows in approval. "Wow, that was great!" he said, and it was, she had almost hit the knot! And when she had restrung her bow it had been a quick and almost seamless move. "You probably won't be able to draw back more that a handful of times," Faelis said. "Though how you are doing, it could be more times, you're good at this!"
As she drew back again he quickly corrected a few things in her stance and then stepped back, motioning her for her to shoot again.
The second time Leyla released the arrow it hit the knot with a thud. But barely as it was on the top. ''One point for us?'' she said with a giggle. Still. Aiming was something she'd had to do faster and eventually perhaps the arrows faster in a row as well. At some points moving targets or her moving. But the fact she actually hit something had made her happy.
She placed down another arrow on the bow. ''Alas I am someone who keeps going if I still can.'' she said before releasing the third that settled in the wood next to the second arrow. Quickly she placed another, pulled the string, aimed and fired but thisone went just passed the tree like the first one had.
''No such luck yet. To bad.'' it would have been fun if it had actually hit.
"I don't think you realize how good you are!" Faelis said. "When I first picked up a bow, I couldn't have shot that knot after ten tries! Let alone two!"
He watched as she shot the other arrows. "Your aim is wonderful, though of course you still need to work on it, but the main thing now, for you, is the strength, which will come if you practice everyday."
''Does not sound like a bad idea... my arm is trembling.'' Leyla said with a smile and stretched her fingers slightly. ''Being able to hit things well wether they move or I move is not something I can learn in day one is it.'' she asked.
''As for being good, I have a good teacher.'' she winked at him. She put her bow down for a moment and quickly and silently headed to the tree to collect her arrows. Also those whom had missed their targed.
''Uhm...'' she started eventually and held up a dead hare. ''I shot us dinner...'' the arrow had hit the animal's head having killed it instantly.
Faelis clapped his hands together and laughed when she held up the hare. "You're a better shot than you thought you were!" he joked. "You are such a great shot you got that through the brush!"
He chuckled and walked over to the stacked wood, which he lit with his steel and flint. "I'll skin it," he said. "I'm not the best woodsman, but I know a few things!"
''I will watch how you do it then... would for some reason you be unable to do these things while we travel together, then at the least I can.'' she found her last few arrows and brought the hare over.'
Cleaning the arrow that had hit the hare so she could use it again.
''We could see if we can dry the fur and perhaps sell it or is that not something we can do.''
It took time to prepare a skin to be used and was not something easy. She'd understand if they couldn't.
"We could dry it," Faelis said. "It wouldn't take much time, and, though it won't be cured, people would buy it."
He took the hare downwind of their camp and pulled out a knife, but this was not one of his fighting daggers, it was a simple hunters knife.
"For rabbits and hares, the skin is very easy to get off, though if not a bit disturbing," Faelis said, and, holding the hare up in one hand, slit the skin around its throat, tail, and legs. "Here's the kind of weird part." He took the skin around the neck and slowly just peeled it off the animal. It came off in one big piece, though it was inside out. Faelis turned it right side out and laid it on the ground next to him. As he continued to prepare the hare, he showed Leyla how to do it, and when he was done he took the meat and pit it on a spit over the fire. He took the remains of the hare that couldn't be used and started for the edge of the clearing.
"I'm going to put these somewhere pretty far away from the camp," he said. "I don't want any predatory animals to smell them and then come near us, and I need to get some water. I won't be long, but you can just slowly turn the spit so the hare cooks evenly."
He walked into the woods and deposited the remains far away from their camp. He found a stream and, after washing the blood from his hands completely, he filled their water skins upstream of where he had washed his hands.
He made his way back to camp.
Leyla slowly turned the spit round and round whilest humming a simple song. True, sawing the skin pulled off like that made her stomach turn a little but it was a sight she would most likely behold a few more times at the least. Next time perhaps she'd just ask if she could do it with him assisting her.
''So you think you can just take her with you like that? Not really fair now is it.'' The voice came from a broad blackclothed man. ''She was supposed to sit and drink with us. But she accepted something from you?''
More men showed, most of them not looking so bright
''We do not like strangers taking away our entertainment.'' a second spoke. They were with a total of three
Faelis was on his way back to the clearing when he heard a twig snap. He looked around to find the three.
He smiled brightly when he saw them, though there really was nothing bright about the situation. "Ah, hello gentlemen!" he said. "I do not see how I am being unfair, I did not kidnap her, she chose to sit with me, is it a crime for someone to do something out of their own freewill?"
He turned to look at them all. "I would offer you a drink," he held up his waterskin, "but I just filled it up and I really don't want to waste any on you."
His dagger in his sleeve had slipped down, it was out of sight for the moment, but if any of the men made a move the elf deemed threatening, the knife would be in his hand in fraction of a second.
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(OOC: Is the man from the night before here?)
''A choice she is going to regret. There is no Denzel here. We will teach her she should have sat with us instead. And if she wants to travel so bad we might as well teach her what the risks are if a woman travels. She had been attacked once before, we know a little bit of iron is enough to bring her into submission and turn her into a ragdoll. Now the big question, do we let you watch or take you down in front of her so she learns what happens if she makes new friends.''
''I'm actually sure he took her too. Someone who dances like her... surely she must have had a lot of guys.'' one spoke taking out a warhammer.
"Now now, lads," Faelis said. "Don't you be threatening Leyla, if any of you so much lay a hand on her, you'll be feeling the sharp end of my blade."
Faelis was much smaller than the men, but to anyone who knew anything about fighting, they would see his catlike stance, the way he was completely assessing the situation and figuring out the best way to fight.
Though he was standing ready to fight, he still looked pretty relaxed and casual. "So, if you leave now, I'll let you go without a scratch on you, I won't hurt you, but if you stay and continue to threaten Leyla and I, then I will be forced to hurt you, and hopefully very badly."
He put his hands behind his back and looked at the men, waiting to her their response.
"That's my deal, take it or leave it."
''We do not fear a winey brat like you!'' the one with the hammer spoke and charged smashing the thing in Faelis' direction. ''Besides, who says we are with three'' the man from last night spoke and licked his lips before charging at Faelis as well with a broadsword. The hird showing a most partly toothless grin had daggers throwing the first two at Faelis with a wicked smile before setting in the assault too.
Faelis knew they were going to attack seconds before it happened. As the first man came in, swinging his hammer, the elf ducked under it and rolled aside of the second man's broadsword. he rolled to his feet, a dagger had appeared in his hand, and deflected the two daggers the third man had thrown. This had all happened in a matter of a second or two, and the elf spun with the grace of a dancer and kicked out at the first man's face, his heel aimed straight for his jaw.
''Actually...'' the man with the hammer said with a smirk. ''I think the others are having their way with her no..'' He felt the kick in his face and some blood came out of the mans mouth. But he was firmly built and somehow despite it must have hurt regardless still smirked. He swung twowards Faelis while the man who had thrown the daggers reached Faelis as well swinging a pair of wicked looking longdaggers his way. This one was the fastest of the three and had a weird look in his eyes.
Faelis ducked away from the men and ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the camp. If there were others there and Leyla couldn't defend herself she was in danger.
The clearing wasn't too far away, and when he burst into it he looked around. There were two more men here, and Faelis threw a dagger at the leg of the one closest to Leyla.
The man yelped as the dagger hit the leg. Despite not being able to fight properly though, Leyla was quick and agile. When there was enough distance she drew the whip. It did not even crossed her mind that she never had practise with them. It at the least kept them on a distance.
She lashed with the weapon out but not to one near her. It was towards the agile man that had snuck up really close to Faelis. The whip wrapped itself around the mans neck making him automaticly release his weapons to get the thing off but instead Leyla pulled the whip before the leather would get loose to let the man end up on the ground.
''And this, is exactly, why I never joined you guys. I am not a person who screws around with those who compliment me.'' she let her whip return to her and quickly moved away to prevent her being grabbed. Well. It seemed more like a dance move she had made the night before. Staying close to the man till she was behind him. Before he could turn around however she rolled between the opening of his legs and when beneath him, kicked him as hard as she could in his loins.
The man with the dagger in his leg was down, but now the other three had gotten to the clearing, so there were four to contend with. One man went down with a cry as Leyla kicked him, so now it just left the three.
Faelis spun to face them. He thought about giving them a chance to get away, but he knew if he did, they would be back. He threw two daggers in the time of less than half of a second at one man's leg, and he drew one of his two longer ones to fight the man now running at him, weapon raised.,
''Seems there is fight in her after all'' the man with the hammer said with a laugh. ''Good.''
Fortunatly he was slow but he was strong. The hammer hit the ground merely an inch away from Faelis.
With the ones closest to her out of comission she hurried to Faelis but the man with the dagger in his leg grabbed her foot causing her to fall over.
''Let go of me!'' she called attempting to kick him with her other leg which eventually ended succesfull as she hit his eye.
She got on her feet again and hit the big one with the hammer on his abdomen with the whip before quickly withdrawing and hit him again.
The slender one recovered from Leyla's whip that had been around his neck and attempted getting up again, not being out of comission yet. But was soon punished as he wanted to grab for his weapons when the whip lashed and cut open his face.
She had actually aimed for the hand, but maybe, she thought, this was better. The man with the hammer and greatsword were still left. She had actually not seen the latter until it was to late and felt two strong arms grab her.
''I have her.'' he said with a dumb smirk on his face and placed his hand on his neck. ''Drop your weapons elf... or I will twist her little neck in a circle.
Faelis had actually managed to kill one of the men. It had been an accident, but the elf wasn't really bothered. He had just knocked out one of the other men when he heard a voice behind him, the threat.
Ht slowly turned around. He cursed when he saw Leyla and the man holding her. He thought he would be able to kill the man with a dagger before he harmed Leyla, but the elf didn't want to take that chance.
He dropped his daggers and stood with his hands above his head.
The man with the greatsword, was basicly the last one standing. ''Good.'' the man said as he licked his lips.
''Do not worry I will play with her for a little while and then she is yours. Women bore me after one time.'' he said before sniffing her hair. ''Are you wearing perfume love?''
''I'm not, your love'' Leyla replied still attempting to struggle as the grip changed to one arm just above her chest but below her throat. ''This is what you get. Traveling as a woman. It happens to them all at some point.'' he said.
The grip was still tight as the other hand traced her abdomen, slowly downward. ''I am used to you wearing a dress... this makes things harder..'' he complained but yelped as he felt Leyla's teeth deep in his skin and flesh. He threw her hard on the ground.
''You damn bitch I'll teach you!..'' he called as he stepped towards her but stopped.
Leyla had pulled out the dagger from the one who got hit in his leg and it had hit the man in the throat. From angry, he looked fearfull. Removing the dagger surely would cause him to bleed out.
Faelis glared at the man as he spoke to Leyla, then a slow smile came upon the elf's face as Leyla bit him and then used the dagger she had taken to it's fullest potential.
The man fell to his knees, even without pulling the dagger out, he was bleeding profusely, even if Faelis wanted to, there was nothing he could do.
He walked forward towards Leyla and the man. He held out a hand to help Leyla to her feet.
(OOC: Sorry the reply took so long! :P)
((OoC: No worries ))
Leyla trembled. As both adrenaline and fear still rushed through her veins and she had started to realise what had just occured. Her hands hurt a little from the iron dagger.
Remarkably the rabbit had not been charred or burned but Leyla had not even noticed that. She was simply frozen for a bit until she saw Faelis' hand and took it to get on her feet. She did turn away from the dying man. Not wanting to see his final moments. She did that. She had not intended to hit him fatally like this.
Blood came from the man's mouth and it were long painfull moments until he succumbed to his wounds. Drowing in his blood was the actual thing that had killed him. Two from the 5 men were now dead.
''You just should've stayed you slut...'' the slim man spoke painfully. His face covered in blood from the lash mark Leyla had given him with the whip.
Faelis put his hand on Leyla's shoulder as she turned away, but he watched the man as he fell, dead, and then turned his gaze to the others.
"I suggest that those of you who are still alive leave," he said as the other men got to their feet. The took their dead and left. Faelis turned to Leyla.
"I'm sorry they came after you," he said comfortingly. "That is not something I would have liked to see on my first trip away from home."
Leyla heard the other men quickly run off. Mentioning it would not be the last of them.
''Wether I'd stayed or went... it would have occured anyway... if it was one it would not cross my mind but... they planned this.'' Leyla said softly before taking a deep breath.
''I will not let this stop me from going... but maybe... we can set up camp a bit further ahead where the soil has no blood on it...'' she asked.
Truth be told she felt sick to her stomach. But if she went back now she'd be afraid the rest of her life for sure.
Faelis nodded and started to gather up their things. He snuffed out the fire and picked up the hare on the spit. He smiled in what he hoped was a comforting manner to Leyla. "When I was getting water I saw another clearing just north of here, we can camp there."
He waited for Leyla and then started into the forest.
Leyla nodded and gathered her things. Using a piece of cloth to pick up the daggers the thin man had left behind and put them away safely where the metal would not harm her.''Did they wound you?..'' she asked as she followed him.''you do not seem all that new to that form of combat either... I hope I can be as good as you...''
"Ah, I'm fine," Faelis said when she asked if he had been wounded, and he chuckled when she commented that he wasn't knew to combat, then he quickly stopped smiling, two men had just died, and he didn't really want Leyla to think him a creep. "No, I've fought my fair share of times. Both with weapons and without."
They soon came to the clearing and Fealis started to set up camp again. He started to make a fire, for warmth now, rather that for cooking the hare, which had finished cooking on the other fire.
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(OOC: Name change? I like it. :)))
((OoC: It is the name of the demigodess from my moonelf race :) ))
''That is a relief'' Leyla said and managed to smile even though she actually still felt frightened and still remembered those strong arms around her. Keeping her there. And with one of her hands she traced her neck and throat. It somehow still felt as if they were still there. Not just that. Despite it had not been her intention she killed a person.
The water was closer by and after thinking for a bit she decided to heat some of the water they had to make some tea. Something that would keep her mind off what happened before and could calm her down more later.
Faelis finished preparing and lighting the fire and sat down on his bedroll. He pulled out his knife to start to cut up the hare.
He put the pieced down on a small metal plate he had in his pack. "Would you like a piece?" he asked Leyla.
''I do not really feel hungry right now...'' she admitted. The earlier events had gotten to her well. However, she did know she would have to eat at some point.
She allowed the water to heat up and sat down beside Faelis. ''Would... it occur again some basterd threatens to break my neck... is it selfish if I ask of you not to drop your weapons?... I'd rather die then being taken and... r..'' she could not get the word over her lips. But she figured Faelis knew what she meant. Strangely enough she did smile and finally the first two tears escaped from her eyes which she quickly wiped away.
Faelis's face grew serious. "I won't let anything like this happen again. I was careless. If we are attacked again, I won't let it go as far as it did. And anyway, I'm really sorry you had to do it, but I was about to kill him myself. The only daggers I own were not the ones in my hands. I dropped those, but another was already hidden in my hand when I did so. I would have been able to kill him with a flick of my wrist. I was waiting for you to move aside, and you did, a fraction of a second before you bit him. I was going to attack then, but you got to him first."
''Hidden?'' Leyla asked. She did accept his apolagy but in her head, it somehow made her think it was her own fault. They were after her. They simply had come today since she was about to leave.
''I was not sure what came over me actually. I saw the dagger, did not even hesitate. Just pulled it out and threw it. Even though it was made of iron. I never touch iron...'' she took a deep breath. ''Where did you have the hidden dagger?'' she asked out of curiosity.
"You did it instinctively," Faelis said. "When you saw the dagger you saw an opportunity and acted upon it, almost unconsciously. Those are the kind of actions that are going to keep you alive, and it seems you have the skills."
The elf thief laughed when she asked where he kept his dagger. "Hidden daggers, plural. I have more than one. I have about. . . hmm, twenty? Hidden all around my body, give or take a few. The one I was going to use was in my sleeve. Most of the daggers are small throwing weapons, but I have a few larger and a few smaller."
''Show me. All of them'' Leyla said. There was a bit of enthausiasm in her voice again. ''If I get good with daggers it maybe would be an idea with me too. Just... keramic knives though.'' she jestered. Her gaze went to the roasted hare.
''I feel alright enough again to eat something.'' she added.
Faelis laughed. "I can't show you all of them," he said. "I don't even know where some of them are, and others I would have to wreck my clothes to get at, but I'll show you most."
He started to pull daggers and knives from all over his person, from his boots, his sleeves, his pockets, and many other places. He laid them out in the line on the ground in front of him. "They're all made of silver. The metal is enchanted so it can never break, because, normally, silver isn't the best dagger-making metal."
''So I can touch yours without my strength draining or skin burning.'' Leyla said. Not that she hoped it would ever happen. ''Why silver though. Are you sensitive for Iron too?'' she eyed each dagger and where he had taken them from. ''Silver daggers or knives would be way to expensive for me with my wage. I resorted to keramic. Fragile, and you may certainly not drop them on a hard surface but they are very sharp.'' she reached out to one of the daggers displayed. ''may I?..'' she asked.
"Silver? I'm not sensitive to it," Faelis said. "I, well, aquired them during one of the jobs I was doing. I completed the job, and my employer gave them to me in payment."
This was a straight-out lie. Faelis had stolen the daggers, a complete set, from a rich lord in Thanatos. The daggers were of great monetary worth, but Faelis, despite his thieving nature, did not want them to sell for money, he wanted them to use, and he did so.
When Leyla asked if she could pick one up, Faelis nodded.
Leyla gently took one and studied it. ''I wish my payments were this grand.'' she said as her finger gently went over the blade. She knew how to handle knives without harming her. ''Was it a dangerous job?...''
There was not much to tell about her own life but hopefully she wasgoing to find out more about Faelis' way of living.
Faelis smiled. "It was fairly challenging," he said. In truth, the job had been extremely difficult. The lord had had some of the best security in the city. That was the main reason Faelis had broken in, just to see if he could.
"The job had been guarding a caravan going from Essyrn to Ketra," Faelis started to spin his tale. The truth was, he did guard caravans and wagons going from cityto city, and he did to random odd jobs for people, but the main occupation of the elf was thievery, and he knew if, or when, Leyla found out, she would be greatly angered, and saddened. But maybe he could get her to see that, even though he stole, he wasn't actually a bad person, which he wasn't, he was just, sort of, shady. Faelis continued. "It was a long journey, and we came across many monsters and other people trying to steal what the caravan was carrying. I didn't even find out what it was exactly, but I did know it was a very magical and powerful artifact."
''If you get a job again can I join? It sounds like fun despite the danger. But with enough training I am sure I can be useful with the bow and whip.'' She ripped a piece of meat from the hare and ate it. It was not tasting well but she had never complained foodwise. This missed seasoning.
'' what is the most exiting job you ever did?'' She asked
Faelis thought, he really couldn't place the most exiting job, there had been so many. That time in Essyrn with that weird winged camel, there was a that high-security prison he had escaped from on an island in the ocean, and that valuable sword he had stolen from a king.
"It's really had to said," the elf responded. "I've had a lot of amazing adventures,but the caravan I guarded to get these daggers was pretty exiting. We were attacked my a mage, and a band of orcs, and a few gargoyles, among other things. I have no magic I know of, so fighting the mage was very exiting." He actually was thinking about a time he had fought a mage without any magic of his own. It had been very exiting, but most people wouldn't have described the event as 'exiting', most would have said, 'terrifying' or at least, 'nerve wracking'. But Faelis had enjoyed it immensely.
He took a bite of the hare and looked over to Leyla. "Do you have any magic? I know some Serenians do. . ."
''I do not have magic that I know off. If I would have had any though, dont you think it should've had shown itself at some point?'' she asked with a smile. ''I am fine without it though. And would it ever turn up then I will need to learn how to use it too.''
''I do not think I could ever take on a mage though. Or gargoyles. Or... orcs...'' rather nothing that was actually threatning unless she had to fight things off. ''Considering things that use magic... what is the best way to take them down?'' she asked as she took another small piece of hare.
Faelis shrugged. "It really depends on the situation. The kind of magic that is being used against you, the weapons you have, your surroundings, and the power of the mage you are fighting. During one fight with a mage I managed to get around her and attack her from behind. We were in a town and there were crates and buildings around. She was casting very complicated spell, and she was concentrating very hard, hence I was able to get around her and knock her out from behind. Another mage I was fighting just used blasts of power as his weapon. I used my daggers to deflect the bursts. Most daggers would probably break or melt, but since mine are enchanted, they did not."
The elf thought for a moment. "I think the best way for you to defend, or fight, against a mage, I think, once you learn to use a bow, would be to get to a safe distance and fire at them from afar, if they have a shield, then I'm not really sure." Faelis smiled. "And sometimes you just have to run from a fight. I've done that my fair share of times, against mages and not."
''I think from a fight I'd rather talk it out or stay out of it if I can.'' she looked at the whip that rested on a holder on her belt. ''But in case things do happen I do not want to be a defenseless woman and let you do all the work.'' despite being so afraid before, her way of getting over it was actually jestering about it.
''After walking tomorrow perhaps some more practising with the bow? Maybe today I was just lucky. And my muscles are actually not used to the movement yet.'' not to mention her target had been rather closeby. She needed to hit targets from further distances as well.
Faelis smiled. "I actually really enjoy talking my way out of a fight, or into one. I have a certain knack to completely outrage my enemies. I can usually get them so mad that when they do attack, it is reckless and uneffective. Then I take my time to run. But often I can talk them out of a fight completely."
'Sometimes, but not always, by bribing or blackmailing them,' Faelis added in his head.
"And I know you'll become very proficient with a bow, Leyla," the elf continued outloud. "And I'm sure you won't need me to protect you soon. You did very well against those men, without any previous fighting lessons or knowledge. Your flexibility and dancing abilities helped you greatly. And about your bow shooting capabilities," Faelis smiled. "I think luck had nothing to do with it. And even though the target was near and not moving, I believe you have skill."
''Talking yourself into a fight?'' Leyla asked. Suprisingly she smiled. ''I do not think it would be my own cup of tea. I kind of dislike brawls. They ruin to much. Inn and tavern keepers work hard to earn their keep. And a brawl often ends up in their stuff broken. People who are not even involved end up hurt.'' she took another small piece of hare and that would be the last she would eat for tonight.
''Considdering dancing. What would you like to learn?''
Faelis chuckled when Leyla said she disliked brawls, if only she knew how much he loved them! And about damaged property, well, that costs money, and the elf's job was, basically, to deprive people of their money! When she asked about dancing he raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I really don't know much about dancing, so I'll let you chose. Whatever you would like to teach me, I'd like to learn."
''Alright. I think I know of something. I will wait until you've finished your meal though.'' she got on her feet and did a few of slow back flips and a few movements anybody else could basicly not even dream of doing themselves.
She figured simple folk dances would make a nice start. Those dances usually were alluring. But for battle a person was tempted to hit what seemed to be an exposed place. Only to know afterwards it was not an opening at all.
"I'm done now," Faelis said, getting to his feet. He walked over to a clear spot and turned to Leyla, and smiled, holding out his hands at his sides helplessly. "Okay, now what? I really have no idea what to do. All I know are ball dances."
''I will start with a simple folk dance first. Since they are usually danced in pairs. We are not supposed to touch one another but tempt one another to do so with certain places. Some of these dances are alluring as well. In combat it is usefull since your oponement things you have openings. In truth though those places are not open at all. And your oponement makes openings for you by attempting to hit you. At the least that was what a blade dancer told me once.'' she said.
''I never lead a dance before. After all. Girls usually follow.'' she offered her hand to Faelis. ''So forgive me if I do some things wrong.'' not to mention it was easier with music too.
Faelis nodded and took her offered hand. he smiled when she said she may make a few mistakes. "I wouldn't know the difference!" he laughed. "You could make all the mistakes you wanted and I wouldn't be able to tell! All I know is that I have a knack for a beat and am pretty graceful, compared to some other men I've seen!"
''Alright then. Just. Go with the flow.'' She took a gentle hold of his hands in hers and brought their bodies close. They were barely an inch from one another. Gently she made him turn half a circle so his back was against her, the hands on the abdomen. ''Normally now the girl pulls away the hands, takes a step forward and turns half a circle. The way you are now though could be used to gain the upperhand by taking the wrist, twisting it and forcing the person on the knees. From my position... I could easily stab you if you were an unwanted person. Do I make sense?''
Faelis followed along with her movements and nodded when she explained to him. "Perfect sense," he said, and then he let go of her left hand and, still holding her right, spun slowly around in a circle so he was facing her. He looked pointedly down at his left hand, where he was holding a dagger to her side.
"I drew it as I turned, effectively putting me into a good position to decapitate a foe." He put away the dagger in one of the many hiding places on his person and smiled at her.
"Dancing is indeed a very effective way to fight."
''A girl I once saw, used rhytm to fight. Especially trained warriors are used often to use their skills in a specific speed or order. It looked really easy breaking it apart.''
She looked at the dagger with a smile. ''Not bad. She took one step backwards making it flow over into a twirl while still holding Faelis' other hand. Used another twirl to bring them both together again with her back against his chest but the next time she turned her fingers were dangerously close to his eyes. ''Not that I will ever have the courage to poke a person's eye out... I don't have daggers.'' She then realised she had automaticly taken the followers role. ''Sorry..'' she said with a chuckle.
Faelis smiled when she apologized. "Don't worry about it."
Then he turned, spinning her around and then stepping back, ending in a position so that they were still holding hands but were at arms length from each other. Then he spun back in, putting his arm around her waist and dipped her down. He smiled at her. "I think this is going rather smoothly, actually."
Then he pulled her gently back up and straightened.
''It is not difficult. But folk dancing is often done so quickly in large groups that if you are a spectator it can be a little bit overwhelming.'' she said. ''Especially those where you switch partners every two 5 seconds. It is really hard reaching the person you really wish to dance with with that.''
She took hold of both her hands before putting a bit of pressure on it. She was not heavy but with this she indicated she would put pressure on it which she did when she felt he was ready. She forced her body into a handstand on Faelis' hands before bending her body a bit further placing her hands on his shoulders and landed behind him with a soft thud on the ground. Quickly spunning around and placed her hands against his back. ''This way works for me too.''
Faelis quickly adapted to Leyla's movements and spun to face her. "You're a very talented young woman, you know," he said. Then he looked around, as an elf, he could see better in the dark than most humans, but he couldn't see in the complete dark, or even as well as a cat.
"It's getting dark, and late," he said. "And if we're to walk again all day tomorrow, we should get some rest."
''I suppose you are right.'' Leyla said. It had been an eventfull day. She gave Faelis a smile and went to her bag from which she took a woven willowbranch and reed bedroll which she rolled out on the ground.
She then started to disrobe. It would be unwise to sleep in this clothes since if she would, they would get filthy sooner and she'd be cold in the morning that followed this night. She had not been an idiot though; under her travelers clothes she had some decent tight cotten shorts and a shortsleeved cotton shirt. It did not hide her curves but it was better then being in just underwear.
She put on some sleeping clothes and sat down on the bedroll. For the first time she actually dared to look in the direction her home was. She was not frightful. This world. She wanted to see more of it.
Faelis didn't undress as Leyla had, but he took off his short long-sleeved leather jacket, revealing a simple white shirt with lace-up sleeves and collar. He took off the multiple belts that crossed his chest and his boots and rolled out his own bedroll.
He sat down on at and saw Leyla looking in the direction of her home. "Do you miss it?" he asked.
''I do not feel a knot in my stomach anymore so... I do not think so. It perhaps is due to already living on my own. I leave behind my parents and some friends and surely I will miss them at some point. But I can make new memories and friends too along the way.''
from where she sat she took the blanket and laid down. Through the flames she still could see Faelis.
Faelis smiled at her optimism. He really didn't know exactly what she was feeling, but he could guess. When he had left his home he had felt no sadness and had never really missed his family. He was happy with his life as it was.
"I'll be keeping watch tonight," he said. "I don't want those men to come back, though they wouldn't be able to sneak up on us without me hearing. Still, wild animals and any other sinister foe may come along, and I want to be awake. I don't need the sleep, I got a good rest last night and I can go for a few days without any sleep and still be alert."
''Hmmm from tomorrow on we could perhaps share the watch. Wether you can do long without or not. I should not take more or longer naps then you that would be cruel.'' she smiled and closed her eyes. ''Normally I'd say sweet dreams but I suppose now, see you tomorrow.''
It did not take long until Leya fell asleep. But it had not been a fully good one for somewhere in the night, nightmares about the attack plagued her. She did move and toss around in her sleep a little and weak noises left her mouth but she did not scream.
Faelis sat, thinking, but still ready for danger, by the fire. Despite removing his belts, jacket, and boots, the elf still had several weapons on his person.
He frowned when Leyla started to stir. Bad dreams. Probably from the men who attacked earlier. He didn't really know how to comfort a person having nightmares, but, all the same, he got up and walked over to her. He crouched down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine," he whispered quietly. "Everything's fine now."
Wether it was because of Faelis or not, she did calm down after a while and woke when the first colors of dawn appeared in the sky. She did feel she had slept well and had not recalled any dream she had.
''Morning'' she whispered. She tended to always get up early. Usually for chores, gonig to the baker and other grocery shopping. ''How was your night?''
"It was fine," he said to Leyla when she awoke the next morning. "Uneventful, which is a good thing."
The elf put on his belts, boots, and jacket and walked over to the edge of the clearing. He crouched among the plants, muttering under his breath. "My brother was always better at this that I am," He said over his shoulder, still looking at the plants. Then after a moment he picked one and straightened, walking back over to Leyla. "Plant identification, but I know for a fact this is edible."
He held up the plant he had picked. It kind of like a kohlrabi, but larger and a mottled bluish-gray. He pulled out a knife and started to peel the vegetable. He cut it in half after it was peeled and handed half of it Leyla and took a bite of his piece. "It's basically a kohlrabi, but it tastes more like a turnip and it's actually very nutritious and filling."
''We did buy rations you know.'' Leyla said with a chuckle and took the vegetable. ''I also brought some things I still had laying around at home. I have a book in my bag that has illustrations of herbs and edible root vegetables. So would you find something and not be sure wether it is edible or not you can still consort that.'' she took a bite with a smile.
"I'm sure of this," Faelis said. "And if there are edible plants to eat, we may as well use them, rather than use up our rations."
As he ate his half of the vegetable, he started to strike camp. He rolled up and packed away his bedroll and put out the fire.
"I'm ready to go when you are," he said.
After finishing breakfast Leyla packed her belongings too. ''Sure makes sense. But some things I took from my place will eventually spoil. Best to eat it before that happens. Do you like cheese?'' she asked and put her backpack on her back. She was ready to walk.
"Sure," Faelis answered her question as he shouldered his pack. He waited for Leyla then he started into the forest.
"So, have you even ever left Arca before?" he asked, and he wondered what it would be like to stay in one place for so long, when he was a child, he only hadn't left the elven kingdom because he couldn't, so he had left as soon as he was able.
''I never left Arca before.'' Leyla admitted. ''I did try a few times to look for a friend of mine but... my legs never carried me further until the city borders.'' she said as she walked beside Faelis. ''I suppose I was just to frightened. Also my friend was in a dangerous area... would be unwise to have went there in the first place.''
Faelis nodded. "Who was your friend?" he asked. "And where did they go that was to dangerous to follow?"
Faelis knew that anywhere could be dangerous, really, but he hadn't heard of a place near Arca that was too dangerous to go to, unless the friend had traveled farther away. In all his years, Faelis had never come across a place he wouldn't enter because of danger. But then again, he was very reckless, at least when he was by himself, and just because a crazy reckless elf would enter a dangerous place doesn't mean anyone should.
''His name is Kato. He is my childhood friend. Left without a word after an arguement with his father to the Draconi Woods where he was a ranger of sorts. I sent him letters but never did he give the messenger one back. And then all of a sudden, he was back. Making me believe for a short while he was going to stay but no...'' Leyla sighed deeply. ''Thinking about him makes me want to punch him into the very ground and shove an arrow right up his...'' she stopped and coughed for a moment.
''Sorry... some hidden frustration got to me..'' she said.
Faelis half smiled, he knew about frustration, though, despite his profession, the elf felt it very little. He tended to be able to skate over most cases of anger, simply because that was his personality. The elf stepped over a fallen log and turned his head to look at Leyla. "Where is he now? Or don't you know?"
''Don't know...'' Leyla said as she stepped over the same log. ''And don't care. What kind of friend leaves without a word. Twice.'' she pouted. She then sighed deeply. ''I do not think I want to see him again. Ever. No matter the reason.''
Faelis nodded. "I'm sorry about that."
He didn't know the whole story, so he wasn't going to make any more comments. "We're about a two day walk from the nearest town," he said. "It's pretty small, but many travelers from Arca to the sea pass through. Once through the town there'll be a well-traveled road. It did lead right to Arca, but I was worried if we took it those men would attack us, apparently, my plan failed! Once we're through the town we'll take the road, unless something arises."
(OOC: Do you want to post and then jump ahead or no? Whatever you want.)
Leyla nodded and rose her hand in the air. ''Let's do this!'' she said with a giggle. Despite last night, she actually felt ready for the world.
The other nights were uneventfull and actually fun. Shooting the bow went well although regarding shooting and moving at the same time she mostly caught herself standing still again.
Leyla was glad though that she was a rather fast learner and last night insisted on skinning the animal they cought. For extra flavour though she did make a compte of what had remained of the fresh fruits she had brought along which could be eaten along with the meat.
Whilest skinning the animal though and taking out what was not edible for them she for a moment thought she was going to hurl but suprised herself when she didn't.
Her eyes sparkled with delight when they reached the other town. Yes it was small. But she had never seen another with her own eyes.
Faelis, like Leyla, also enjoyed the next few nights. The young woman was greatly improving with the bow, and they had also started to practice with the whip. But while it was all very good and well, Faelis was beginning to feel a small nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach, though he did not know what it was.
Wen they reached the town Faelis could see the obvious look of happiness on Leyla's face. "There's a business here that sells horses," he said as they walked into the town. "If you wanted, we could ride part of the way to the cost. At the next town, or the next, we could sell them again. There are almost always people willing to buy horses in the towns around here."
''I do not think a horse is a good idea in my case... I do not mind the leather on the reigns and straps but the iron...'' she had a blush on her face. She had always actually been embarresed and ashamed about her sensitivity to iron.
''Not just that I could even if it would be just a few days get to attached to the creature and would not want to part from it.'' she paused.
''But of course if you think it is best to have one along we could. You are a far more experienced traveler then I am.''
Faelis smiled. "No need then, I was just wondering." He looked around. "I think it would be best to restock on supplies. The city of Karric is not far from here, a day's walk, but I'm almost out of provisions, so I think it would be good to go to the general store here."
Faelis waited for Leyla and then started for the store.
(OOC: Once they get to the coast city, Cerenis, I have an idea, so if you think we should jump in a few posts, that fine, unless you have an idea or just don't want to.)
((Yea we could jump no worries ^^))
Still looking around and almost falling over one of the stones from the pavement, Leyla followed Faelis. She remembered her own promise; tasting something from every town she would visit. But she knew too the money they had was not limitless. She simply would have to come back here at some point when she was more used to this way of life and she did not want to be a spoiled brat either.
Faelis got supplies from a general store and they continued on the next morning. They traveled, and made good time, but one night, while sitting and gazing into the fire, two weeks after they had left, and with one week left to go until they got to the coast, Faelis figured out what the feeling in the pit of his stomach was.
He was sitting by the fire, it was his watch, and thinking when he realized it. It was an emotion he had never felt before in all his years.
It was guilt. The feeling had been growing stronger, and Faelis now knew why.
It was Leyla. She was a perfectly innocent young woman, and she thought that he was a good, honest, person who was traveling with her. When in fact he was a thief who had been lying to her the whole time. He knew she would find out eventually what he really was, but Faelis knew that each day she didn't find out what he was, their friendship grew, and that when the day finally came that she did find out, she would be hurt more than ever. Faelis tried to shake these thoughts throughout the next week, but he could not, no matter how he tried. Though he enjoyed their traveling time, there was nearly always that nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Then the last week of traveling was done, and they'd were in the seaside town of Cerenis. It was a large trading port now, more of a city than a town. The two travelers entered near the docks. Faelis smiled at Leyla as they gazed down at bustle of activity in the port, the guilt in his stomach forgotten for the moment.
The elf spread his arms. "Welcome to Cerenis, Leyla."
Both the days and the nights had been fun. She managed to teach Faelis several dance moves and full dances as well for both folk dancing as well as dancing in a more higher ranked setting. Although for the latter it was more him teaching her.
After Faelis spoke she dashed forward but did not go to far. She clapped her hands together and cheered like a little girl. For a while she could smell the ocean but now, for the first time in her life she actually could see it. The ships, tradesmen, fishmerchants selling their fresh caught goods. This was going to be fun. But one thing she did know, and had not forgotten. Making a few coins would certainly not be a bad thing. Maybe she could perform somewhere.
''This place is amazing..'' Leyla said and looked at Faelis. Walking towards him and embraced him shortly. ''I never would've made it without you. Thanks'' she said happily.
Faelis laughed and hugged her back, then he stepped back and looked over the port. "So, what do you want to do?" he asked. "There's a lot of stuff to see, through the port and the market are, in my opinion, the most exiting."
He loved the hustle and bustle of the sailors rushing around, climbing the rigging of their ships, merchant vessels being loaded and unloaded with all manner of goods, and the fishermen taking their catches from their boats to the fish market.
"There's a huge market just around the corner, in a large square," Faelis told Leyla. "It's also very busy, like the dockside here, and there are people from all over the world buying and selling their wares."
''We could check the port and market I think. I doubt we can see everything in one day.'' Leyla said with a huge smile.
''What is the status of our funds? If the rules here allow it I could perhaps perform a bit to earn some extra.''
He waited for Leyla and then started towards the docks, looking over his shoulder at the young woman. "You're right, well never get to everything in one day, but we can start!"
There were people everywhere, and while Faelis walked through the crowds, he was very tempted to pick some pockets, people had their purses just in their pockets, just asking to be taken, but he fought the urge and did not. He had enough money for now, as he had told Leyla.
As they were walking and looking the sights of the port, Faelis saw someone he wished he had never seen again. he ducked aside, but the large man had seen him. Faelis's heart filled with panic, not for his safety, but Leyla's, and if this man confronted him, Leyla would find out his true identity.
"Leyla," he said, taking her shoulders and looking straight at her. "I've got to go-!"
He was cut off as a dagger flew right past him. It lodged itself in a wooden crate behind him. Faelis looked up to see the man approaching quickly, and he had six others with him.
"We've got to go!" Faelis said, and he turned away, starting to push his way through the crowds and away from the men.
''What?...'' Leyla was not sure why he suddenly had to go. She saw the dagger that had just missed them. Attackers. Again? Leyla was not bad with going in against a crowd but she realised after looking back once, she had lost Faelis. She did not spot him and it was to noisy and crowded to call his name. Instead, she snuck in an alley, away from the crowd and to catch her breath.
Faelis skidded to a stop when he realized Leyla was not following him. He was about to turn back to find her when he wondered if maybe it was better they were separated, then the men would chase him and not Leyla.
He was about to start running again, but saw that three of the men had circled around in front of him. He ran the other way, but they cut him off there as well. He took the only option left open to him.
And it was the alleyway Leyla was in. It was short, and a dead end. Faelis looked around for a way out, but then the six men entered blocking the only exit.
"Hello, Faelis," the large man in front said, drawing a long and wickedly curved dagger. "It's been too long. Too long indeed."
"Wait!" Faelis held up his hands. "Can't we talk about this, that was a long time ago, nearly six years ago, and it wasn't that big of a deal-!"
"Wasn't that big of a deal?!" the man said angrily. "You lied to us and left us for the guards. We only got out of prison a year ago."
"It wasn't my fault-!"
"Ha!" the man scoffed. "We were on a job together."
Faelis cringed, he knew this was it, the moment Leyla found out that he was a thief. He was right, and the big man continued.
"We teamed up to steal from that lord, to steal that valuable sword of his, and you used us," the man spat. "You never had any intention of 'sharing the wealth' as you said, you stole it and ran, leaving us behind."
Faelis swallowed and looked sideways over at Leyla, dreading her reaction now that she knew.
''W-what is this...'' she asked. She was frightened but showed it less then when they were attacked on their first night. Her hand did rest on her whip which was easier to use in a place like this not to mention less dangerous.
''Job?... Stealing?'' she was rather unknowing about the world but not stupid. ''It's a lie right?...'' she asked Faelis. Even if it wasn't, had Faelis perhaps changed before they met? People could change after all. And things he did so long ago and no longer did. She shook her head and looked at the six men. ''What happened six years ago does not nessesarily has to apply now. People make mistakes in their lives. Faelis no longer steals...'' the words left her mouth before she knew it and her gaze went to Faelis again. ''R-right?..''
Faelis felt like screaming. He felt a mixture of strong emotions, guilt, sadness, anger. Anger at the men, for revealing his identity, but mostly at himself, for for leading Leyla in a lie, for keeping the truth from her. He couldn't do it any longer.
He turned to Leyla, and the confident, reckless, cheerful elf from before completely evaporated, leaving Faelis seeming twice as small as he was.
"Leyla. . ." he said, sighing and looking down, then he lifted his head and looked straight into her eyes. She was scared,and he felt like melting away into the street, but he spoke. "They are not lying. I was a thief, and I still am."
He held his breath for her response.
Leyla was not sure what to feel. Anger? Pain?
''I should've known things were to good to be true...'' she said and bit her lip. ''Why did you not...'' frustration ran through her like poison and with her hand she hit the nearest wall. She saw Faelis' expression. His fear. And still she was not sure what to think of it.
She could not run either. The only entrance to this alleyway got blocked. Would she need to fight her way through? Alone. She wanted to be alone right now. The burning pain in her hand was something she actually did not feel as she moved away from it and stood between Faelis and the 6 men. ''I will scream and scream hard. Leave that way or I will make you leave another'' she hissed she said to each of them. Her eyes were poison. It did not take a bright person to see she was angry beyond measure.
"Leyla, I-," but he kew there was nothing he could say. His breathing became ragged as Leyla spoke. The man who had confronted him laughed.
"So you didn't tell her what you really are," he chuckled. "You may go, missy, we have no quarrel with you, ut Faelis here is staying with us."
The man stepped aside and motioned the others to do so as well. They did, just enough for Leyla to pass, but not Faelis.
Faelis sighed, it was deep and shuddering, his heart filled with a pain he had never known before. How could he have done this? How could he have. . ?
The men stepped forward and the first took Faelis by the collar and shoved him back against the wall, hard. Faelis's breath was knocked out of him, but he didn't care at the moment.
The man lifted him up against the wall and Faelis struggled for breath. He grabbed at the man's arms in an attempt to lift himself from the strangling hold.
"I've been waiting to do this for a long time, Gindien." The man leered. "And five years in prison just thinking about all the ways to kill you hasn't helped your case, or your life!"
''I never said I would let you do that wartface..'' Leyla spoke and used the whip quickly on both of the mans hands before letting the leather grab tight around the neck.
''Nobody is killing or hurting anybody. He may have lied but this is not something I can allow either.'' she withdrew the whip and slashed the man once in the neck. If not a nerve shock it would certainly hurt like hell. She knew there were five more but at the least she gave Faelis an opening to help himself a little.
''Any volunteers?'' she asked the other five.
Faelis dropped to the ground and his daggers were in his hands before he had landed. The man who had been holding him yelped as Leyla's whip hit his skin. Faelis threw one of the daggers, and it imbedded itself into one of the men's arms. An intentional miss, a warning shot.
"There may be more of you, but you're no match for us," Faelis said. "I don't want either of us to have to hurt you, and beleive me we can. Two of you could be down with a dagger in your neck before you even knew it."
Faelis was not feeling the confidence that filled his words. Despite them he still felt awful and was filled with pain.
The man narrowed his eyes at Faelis, but he backed away. "We'll go now, Gindien," he said. "But you haven't seen the last of us."
Then he turned away, and, motioning for his men to follow, walked away down the alley and around the corner. Faelis sheathed his daggers and swallowed.
"Thank you," Faelis said in a soft, almost timid, voice to Leyla. "And I know this probably means nothing now, but, I'm sorry."
''I suppose it answers why the guy in Arca was so damn persistent in the inn.'' Leyla said. It was the first time since their first night she actually did not smile. She was clearly upset and she herself was not sure which kind. But it was not upset enough to let him be taken down by those six.
''But I guess this is what I get for trusting yet another man... if all men are such liars then truth be told I'm done with them. You could've told me!'' the hand she had slammed against the wall earlier slowly started to color blue from bruises and at least one finger was either dislocated or broken.
''Then again...'' her voice softened. For the most part anyway. ''I am sure it is not the easiest thing to bring up to someone who basicly loathes people that take things that mean alot to someone else, having often worked hard for it? Or did you only steal from those who were sitting on their lazy asses, making money over the backs of others.''
Faelis cringed as she spoke, as if her words were a physical blow, and he flinched when he saw the condition of her hand. When she asked about who he stole from he looked up at her face.
"I would not steal from a poor person," Faelis said, and it was the truth. "I mostly steal from the extremely rich and those who have more than they need.". Faelis bit his lip. "And I lied to you about what I did for a living because I like you, I really do, and if I had told you what I really did you would have never even said another word to me."
''I am talking to you now aren't I?...'' Leyla asked. She sighed deeply. ''I suppose I can forgive you half, if what you say is true regarding who you steal from. I do not approve of it... but... nobody is perfect. My grandmother always said, the first to apolagise is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest. It will not apply to me right away but... I do not hate you... but never. EVER, lie to me again. So if there are any other things you need to get off your shoulders now is the time to do that.''
She placed the whip on the holder on her hip after rolling it up. It was not easy though, the adrenaline had basicly left her body and the discolouring in her hand was certainly not unnoticed. ''I need a drink... and a heavy one at that...'' mainly because puting her fingers back how they belonged would not be a painless thing.
Faelis's eyes widened in amazement when she said he would forgive him, well, half forgive him, but it was still more than he ever could have hoped for. He nodded when she said to never lie to her again.
"I won't," he said. "I won't lie to you again."
"Nearly everything I told you was the truth," he continued humbly. "Where I came from when I ran away, and that. The only thing I lied about was my job, and sometimes I really do do odd jobs, such as guarding caravans or taking messages from place to place." When she mentioned a drink he nodded. "But you'll have to get your hand looked at, did you break it?"
''I think I broke one, and dislocated two...'' Leyla admitted. ''I often had my shoulders and ellbow dislocated but I will need your help a bit to place these three back. I've never put them quite back myself''
At least it was her left hand.
''I sincerely hope it is the truth. I give you the benefit of the doubt here.'' Surely some damage was done that would need more time to heal and be thought over and a part of her scolded herself for doing this but it was simply who she was. Kato had been given a second chance. Faelis she supposed, earned one too.
Faelis stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I can just pop back the dislocated two, it won't take long and you'll only feel pain for a very short moment." He smiled faintly. "But it will take a little alcohal to quell the pain of setting the broken one."
Frankly, Faelis was amazed that she was giving him a second chance. He was a thief, and a criminal, and he was used to dealing with thieves and criminals. Those people did not often give any second chances, and Faelis was grateful that not all people were like those he had associated with in the past.
"Thank you again," he said. "I am truly grateful."
Leyla knew it would be quick with her other two fingers despite the bruising. That would make things a bit harder. But she endured worse pain then this. She waited a moment before placing her hand in his. ''Let's... just get it done ok?'' she asked.
For now she needed something to talk about. ''Those men will be back. what kind of thieves are they?''
Faelis gently took her hand in his, but frowned when she asked about the men.
"They'll be back, but I think," he positioned his fingers to pop hers back into place, "that it won't be for at least a few days." He quickly snapped one finger, adn then the next, into place. "And they're just regular thieves, I guess. They often do their own thing, but sometimes hire themselves out to steal. Often gang leaders, thieves guilds, and shady lords will hire us." Faelis winced. "Ah, well, I do that kind of work as well."
'Great, perfect time to bring that up again,' he told himself angrily.
Leyla squeezed her eyes shut and almost pulled her hand back. The second though made her lose the strength in her knees briefly causing her to land on the ground on her knees and free hand.
''Glad to know...'' Leyla replied. At the least she knew that much now. ''I will not stop you from thieving but... I just do not agree with it. Shady lords? Sound like spoiled little brats who can not handle not having something they want and then whine about it. Taking it from someone else. Things can have emotional value you know?'' she opened the bottem button of her top and after reaching in she revealed a pendant. It was made of silver. Flowers made of pink sapphire, and some fairies dancing around it made of silver. Parts of their wings were laid in with purple and blue sapphire as well.The craftmanship and detail was amazing to say the least and it surely could be sold for a really good penny. ''I would be at a total loss if I lost this.''
She tucked it back in and got on her feet. Moving her fingers except for the one broken.
Faelis took her arm as she fell to her knees, but his eyes widened when she pulled out the pendant.
"It's beautiful," he said, and he also had a very strong urge to steal it. You just really didn't come across something like that every day, but he pushed back the urge as Leyla got to her feet. He felt guilty at wanting to steal it, but he smiled at Leyla. "The lords are much like that, actually, they're never really contented, and stealing from them is quite satisfying. Now, let's get that drink, shall we?"
''The pendant belonged to a good friend mine. Truth be told I did not even know I packed it.'' she said. There was a lonely smile on her face. ''What will be best. Getting ourselves a room, bring a bottle and get it over with?'' they needed a place to stay anyway and she did not feel like doing this where people were eating.
She did not understand what could be so satisfying about stealing. Mainly because she knew what emotional value was. Something even insignificant and of little value could mean the world to a person.
"I agree, a room would be better," he smiled. "I probably wouldn't want someone setting someone else's finger in the middle of the common room."
He waited for Leyla and then started down the alley. "I've got some bandages in my bag, and actually a small splint," he said. " And I know a place we can ago, and it's a good place, respectable."
'Not like many of the other places I've frequented in this city,' he added in his head.
''Lead the way.'' Leyla said as she followed him and rubbed the moist from her eyes that had formed when the other two fingers had been snapped in their right position. ''One thing. Would you be contacted to steal something. Do not hide that from me. I'd rather know then having to hear it from someone else or find out on my own. A part of me can't even believe I give you a second chance as it is.''
She wondered where those six men were. Surely Faelis said they would most likely not show their faces anymore today, she did not feel at ease knowing they would come back. Not to mention she used her whip on one of them. Certainly that did not gave them a reason to be friendly.
Faelis pursed his lips when she said abotu giving him a second chance, but he was very glad she had, not to mention surprised.
"I have been contacted before," he answered her question. "By many people, but I mostly do it on my own, under no ones orders. That's one of the reasons I do what I do, you're not confined by anyone or anything, you're free, unless you get caught, of course." He thought of the few nights in jail. "And it's an amazing life, something new around every corner, some things good, some things bad. I know life is an adventure, really no matter what you do, but my job adds so much more. It's an adventure."
''I do not think it is an adventure I'd like to be doing. I do not mind exploring new places. Or try out some occupations but... being a thief? Not my kind of thing.''
After they reached the inn and got a room with seperate beds and a bottle of something strong, she and Faelis went to what would be their place to sleep and rest for an unknown amount of time. She first put down her bags before taking a seat on the bed with the bottle of whiskey and took a decent swig. ''Amusing though how I could hit the wall hard enough to actually break and dislocate some of my fingers..'' she jestered.
They got to the inn and up to the rooms and when Leyla sat down, Faelis sat next to her. He set his bag on the bed beside him and started to rummage through it. After a few moments he pulled out a roll of bandages and a small wooden splint.
"You were pretty angry," Faelis said. "Apparently enough to hurt yourself pretty badly. You should drink a little more before I do this, just to be sure."
''Forgive me if I say weird things. Me and alcohol... well. I do not drink it often and it makes me act like a very docile cat for whatever reason...'' Leyla said with half a smile and took two more good swigs. ''My friends though always called me hilarious when I did drink..''
Faelis smiled. W"ell, then, I think that I'll be able to set your finger now, if what you say about you and alcohol is true."
He carefully took her hand and readied the bandages and the splint, and then. . . Pop! He snapped the bone back and quickly bound the splint to it tightly with the bandages. He looked up at Leyla. "How does it feel?"
''I'm- I'm good...'' Leyla said although the sound of her voice did not really back that up. It had hurt although most likely not so much as when she had not taken the liquid courage. ''Want to re-do our initial plan of coming here?...'' she asked. Having recovered from the shot of pain she actually sounded a bit sluggish and the blush on her cheeks surely revealed she might have had a sip to much.
Faelis bit his lip at her pain, maybe she should have drank a bit more, but then he frowned at her question. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Do you mean just do what we were originally going to do when we came here? Before those men attacked us? That we should just look around?"
Leyla nodded. ''Exactly that. I think just like me you want to have some fun too right?'' she asked. ''I tend not to linger at bad events that had happened for to long. Life is way to short for that.'' she smiled a little sheepishly. ''Because if I do... I would just be some scared little girl..''
Normally she would not have spoken the last scentence though. But the alcohol she had taken was strong. Her stomach had been as good as empty, and being sensitive for alcohol did not really work in her favor either.
Faelis smiled, he could tell she had been affected by the drink, it was strong stuff, but good quality. "Do you want to go down to the common room and get something to eat?" he asked. He was hungry, and a drink wouldn't be bad. "Then we can walk around a bit before it gets dark."
It was about two hours till dark, and Cerenis's market went all day, and even into the night, it was much like a festival. "It'll be getting dark when we go out, if you want to go out, that is, but there'll still be many vendors and people out."
''Sounds like a -hic- plan'' Leyla agreed with a smile. She got on her feet but only to fall over right onto Faelis. It caused her to pout briefly before releasing a giggle and snuggled a bit in Faelis' chest making a soft purring sound. ''you smell nice...'' she said softly before getting up again and playfully skipped towards the door. ''Lets go!'' she smiled broadly as if nothing had happened before at all.
Faelis held back a laugh as she fell into him, and then he followed her to the door. Perhaps they wouldn't be able to walk around the city tonight, Leyla was more drunk that he had previously thought. They went down to the common room and Faelis sat at an empty table. After a few moments a barmaid came over and asked them what they wanted.
"I'll have an ale and some of your potatoes and beans," he said, then he looked to Leyla. "Do you know what you want?"
He wasn't sure if she would be able to answer as she was very intoxicated.
''Ehm..'' she pondered for a moment. ''I'm good with stew or whatever he picked minus the ale'' she said with a smile. The maid looked at Leyla briefly before nodding.
''What did she do. Drink the whole bottle?'' the barmaid asked. Normally people here were used to some good drinks so seeing one who was not was a rather new thing for her. She wrote down the order and left the table.
Well, Leyla had been sober enough to order, and when the barmaid left, Faelis looked to Leyla. It wasn't really as if one could have a complete and good conversation with a drunk person, but there really was no harm in trying, if only to say something.
"Did you ever go to bars or taverns near your home?" he asked. "To hang out with friends?"
''I did a few times... after the first two I actually only started to order one drink and water from that point onward. Even though according to my friends, a drunk me was rather hilarious. I tend to get cuddly and dance although dancing is nothing new. But when the alcohol really hits I tend to make weird requests...'' she admitted.
Faelis nodded. "I can hold my alcohal pretty well," he said. "Though getting drunk is not out of the question, especially if I'm having a lot of fun."
The barmaid came back a few moment later with their food and Faelis's drink. When she left Faelis took a drink of his ale and smiled as he did. "This is good stuff."
''It is? I'd almost regret not ordering one for myself.'' Leyla said with a giggle.
''Although I am more a lover of sweet wines.'' they did still have the bottle of whiskey in their room. It had only been three sips after all.
''Ever participated in truth or dare with shots of alcohol or drinking games in general?''
"I have," Faelis said. "and I enjoy them when I do. I'd like to say I'm pretty good, even against a few dwarves, though I've never beat one. I don't think anyone has ever beaten a dwarf in a drinking game!"
Faelis took a bit of his food and another drink of his ale. "Have you ever done one? And what kind of other things do you do in your spare time, when you're not dancing?"
''Yea you can say I have done it twice. Truth or dare with a drink. You pick either truth or dare, a person asks a question and proposes an action. If you do not answer or do it you take a shot of whiskey or whatever else is available. But I kind of tend to be out of the game quickly.'' Leyla replied.
''As for other things... I can not say I really had time for many other things. I did some small jobs like gardening or helping to clean up other peoples homes but that was basicly it.''
Faelis nodded, and internally shuddered. He couldn't imagine staying one place for so long, only doing a handful of things!
"I mostly do my job, and just, well, live," Faelis said. "Many different things pop up when you live a life like mine-!"
He was cut off as some one hit the back of his head with their elbow, intentionally. Faelis leaped to his feet and spun around to face the man. "Watch it," the elf said angrily, the other man raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.
"It's not my fault your head was there," the man said smugly, a smirk twitching in his lips.
"Oh really?" Faelis said, his tone laced heavily in sarcasm. "Then I suppose it's not my fault if I do this!"
The elf lashed out, punching the man swiftly in the jaw and then quickly pulling back his fist. "It's really not my fault your face was in the way," he said.
Many a time Faelis would get into a barfight with a smile on his face. Not this time. The elf struck out again, and in seconds the two young men were rolling across the floor, trading punches.
At one point or another, they got to their feet again, and when they did, those around could she a strange light in Faelis's eyes, and now he was smiling. But it wasn't the smile of a man in a good 'ol barfight, no, it was the sadistic smile of a killer.
Faelis could not stop himself. Every once in a while, a strange and dangerous mood took over him, almost as if a second person had taken the place of the elf who had been inside. Normally, Faelis was a good-hearted elf underneath all of his flaws, needless to say, large flaws, but sometimes he becomes insane, and violent. A dark side surfaces, he becomes sadistic and sometimes ruthless.
The elf grabbed the other man by the lapel of his shirt and smashed him against a wall. He punched him in the face,then again. The man cried out for Faelis to stop, but Faelis would not, could not, stop.
A large group of other men in the tavern rushed over and pulled Faelis away, seeing that the elf was hurting the other man badly. The elf struggled, but there were too many. They dragged him to the door, but Faelis was fighting them the whole way, and they had no choice but to forcibly subdue him.
When the elf landed in the dirt outside of the inn he was bruised and bloodied, but himself. The strange glinting light had fled from his eyes, and he lay in the street, still.
The men went back inside and a few walked over to Leyla while the others went to the man Faelis had been fighting. "You'd better go to your friend," one of them said gruffly to Leyla. "He's in a bad way."
The man didn't sound as if he cared, and then he brushed roughly past Leyla and walked over to the injured man.
''Perfect...'' Leyla muttered with sarcasm as she got on her feet. What the hell did she got herself into.
Not to gently, since he maybe deserved it a little she got him up the stairs to the room they shared placing him in the chair before going back downstairs where she apolagised and asked if she could get a small bucket of warm water so she could clean her 'idiot friend' up.
At the least she got it and brought the food with her as well.
Back in the room she started to clean the wounds. Maybe a bit rougher then she could but she was a little angry at him as well not understanding what the hell got into him.
She patched him up where needed before sitting on the bed with a deep sigh. Her eyes spotted the bottle of alcohol and gave in to the temptation of just finishing it to fall asleep. She took some good swigs before undressing most partly and allowed herself to collapse on the bed. She just wanted to forget today instead.
Faelis was vaguely aware of eyla helping into the inn and upstairs, and he felt the pain when she cleaned his wounds, and he lay in silence as she did so.
He heard her lay down, and felt another stab of guilt. He would have to tell her what had happened to him, he should have told her before, but he had been afraid she would not want to travel with him. He knew she was probably disgusted at him and his actions, he had been a complete jerk, lying to her about his job, and now add this? He just needed to explain.
He tried to sit up, but didn't get even six inches from the bed before he fell back, His whole body was sore, and he decided to wait until the morning, when he could at least, hopefully, open his mouth without a white-hot pain shooting through his head.
Due to her frustration Leyla had left her food untouched. Giving the alcohol in her blood free range. It was 3 in the morning when she got out of bed. The wood cracked and the floorboards did too.
She felt hot making her discard her top and threw it in a random direction not caring it was indecend or not. Leyla went to the small window and looked outside. She could still hear the market. That's right. Faelis said it went on day and night.
At the least the alcohol made her less pissed off. Quite the opposite really. ''Idiot... lying to a girl like that...'' she muttered. ''I told you to never lie to me again...'' her voice was soft and strangely heated by frustration or something else.
Faelis's sensitive ears heard when Leyla awoke, and, despite his deep sleep, he woke as well. He lay there with his eyes closed, listening to her mutterings, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He cracked open his eyes, staring up at the ceiling, and then in one motion, for he knew he had to do it quick or he'd never be able to, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.
"Leyla-!" He looked her way, but very quickly looked back up at the ceiling. She wasn't wearing a shirt! "What are you doing?" He asked, slightly alarmed. "I want to explain what happened to you, so could you at least get a sheet?"
He didn't want to offend her, but he wanted to talk to her face, not the ceiling, and he didn't feel comfortable talking to her while she stood there with no shirt on.
''I don wanto... it's hot...'' Leyla muttered softly.
She placed her hand on the cool window which almost immediatly made a mark. ''Iz lively outside... waz jus looking.'' There were no lightsourches burning in their room anyway so nobody from outside could see her like this. She smiled and walked back to the bed after looking outside a little longer.
Instead of a sheet though, she overed her breasts by crossing her arms over them instead which actually only expressed their shape even more. At the least though her nipples were covered. She did not nessesarily look amused though.
Faelis bit his lip, still looking at the ceiling. He could hear her movement, and knew she had not put on anything.
"Okay, I'll explain like this," he said. "I didn't lie to you about that. I just didn't say anything about it. It happens every once in a while. I can't help it, it just happens, and keeps going until it's done, and when it ends I just have to hope nobody was killed. I don't know why it happens, but it does mostly in fights or when I'm angry or have another really strong emotion. Sometimes, very, very, rarely, it happens randomly. But that's only happened once or twice in my lifetime. I'm sorry, I should have told you about it."
He stopped talking and waited for her response.
''Indeed you should've.'' Leyla replied. It sounded a bit cold and she pouted but with her physical characteristics it actually looked a little cute. ''Youz can... look at me dough.'' she muttered followed by a hiccup. She got on her feet and walked towards Faelis. Picking up a shirt which she put on as she made her way to him.
''For every lie, or piece of information I think you should have told me you will be punished by me. Clear?'' She said and tapped his nose a few times. ''What shall I let your first one be...'' a sigh left her lips and she thought for a moment. Well. Attempted to anyway.
She then knelt down and remained looking at Faelis. Her hands both supporting her as well. ''Pet me...'' she said eventually
Faelis looked at her as she dressed and came over to him. She frowned at her words. "Leyla," he said, placing his hand under her chin and running his fingers up her cheek. "I'm sorry, I know I should have told you."
He placed his other hand on her shoulder and let is slide down her arm to her elbow, he let his other hand gently run down her face and neck to her shoulder, then he drew back, putting both of his hands on his lap, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "There, I did what you asked," he said. "Now we both should get some sleep. It's three in the morning, you're drunk, and I'm injured." His head really was starting to spin, he could barely stay sitting up, he was so dizzy. His head must have been hit hard in the fight. "I know what I did was wrong, but I really need some sleep, or I'm really going to pass out."
''You sleep yea. I will need to wake you every hour to make sure you do not have a serious concussion.'' Leyla said and exhaled calmly before getting on her feet. Her features had softened. But instead of going to bed, she got dressed. ''I will get you some ice. There is bound to be something around this place I can use to perhaps cool your bruises with.'' Lastly she equipped herself with her whip but left her bow; it was not practical in this busy place.
She helped Faelis lay down. Her actions and touches actually seemed tenderly. ''I will not be gone long. Tomorrow if you feel better and otherwise the day after... lets redo today alright?''
Faelis was surprised at her sudden change of mood, and he let her help him back down onto the bed. He nodded when she said she was going to get some ice.
He sighed and closed his eyes, but opened them and faintly smiled at Leyla when she said of redoing the day. "That would be nice," he said. "Thank you, Leyla. I've never known anyone as nice as you are," he knew it sounded cliche, but he didn't care. "All the people I know are as bad as I am, or worse."
He smiled again, faintly, and then closed his eyes. Slipping into sleep.
Finding ice or something similar was not easy but she did keep her promise. Leyla was back in an hour with cool stones. Truth be told she had been dancing and made plenty. The stones though cost her plenty as well.
She woke Faelis gently after putting some of the stones in fabric which she placed on his bruises after applying a soft but sweet smelling green salve.
Faelis woke and looked over at Leyla. "Thank you again," he said. "I actually feel better already," he did, the stones felt good, and his head wasn't pounding as it had been the night before. He was stiff, but his cuts didn't hurt as much anymore.
"What is the green stuff?" he added, seeing the salve. "I assume it's good?" He smiled at her. "Unless you're trying to poison me, after what a jerk I've been?"
''I did not dance for 45 minutes to get poison...'' she remembered the first night when she had left with Faelis where she had killed her very first. ''The salve will remove the swelling. Other then your cuts you should be back to normal by tomorrow morning.''
She applied it on his bruises and swelling. ''If I would be pissed off, I would not kill you. I would make sure to make you suffer so much that you wish I was the poisoning type.'' she smiled afterwards. ''Just kidding. You most likely know by now how easy it is to just trample of me over and over.''
She closed the pot of salve and added a few minor bandages to make sure it would not rub off in his sleep.
''See you in an hour.'' she said as she sat down on the stool.
Faelis smiled slightly when she spoke about poisoning him, and lay still so she could apply the bandages. He was going to say thank you, but he was asleep again before he could speak.
An hour later he woke up and carefully sat up. He was stiff and sore, but not unbearably so. He sat on the edge of the bed, getting his bearings.
''How's your head.'' Leyla asked. She had lit a candle and had grabbed a book to read to pass the time. She did look a little tired.
She placed the open book up side down on the table and walked to Faelis. ''Let me take a look at you..''
"Much better," Faelis answered her question. He could see how tired she was, and as she stepped towards him he shook his head. "I'm fine, I just need some water. You should get some sleep."
He reached for his pack, witch lay next to his bed. He opened it and pulled out his waterskin. He took a long drink and replaced it back into his bag. "I'll be fine," he assured Leyla again. "If you need to sleep or get something to eat, don't mind me, I feel much better."
''You may feel well but that does not mean you are. I will still wake you every hour.'' she said although did yawn. ''I pulled all nighters before, I can do this. If the roles were revered you would've done the same.'' at least, she wanted to believe he would.
''It is simple. Travel companions... no. Friends. They look out for one another. It is simple as that. And I'd like to think of you as a friend. Just... take it easy alright? Your dinner is still on the table if you're hungry.''
Faelis smiled at her. "Thanks," he said, and his eyes widened slightly when she referred to them as friends. He hadn't though she would be even willing to think that after the way he had treated her. But apparently Leyla was a very good woman.
"You should get some sleep," he said, but he knew she wouldn't listen. He took his plate of food and quickly ate it before lying down again. He folded his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes.
Leyla did not sleep. Finding waking him every hour more important. When it was morning though and he had fallen asleep for the last time he had to be awoken, she crashed down on the bed. Maybe normally she would've made it but everything that had happened the day before exhaused her.
Faelis woke a while later and turned his head to see Leyla asleep on the other bed. He smiled, he was glad she was finally getting some rest. He sat up and carefully stood. To his surprise, he felt almost completely healthy, besides a bit sore. He stepped from the room and walked downstairs. He hurried, as he wanted to be back before Leyla awoke. If she got up to find him gone, she might worry. Once in the common room he ordered a plate of food and then went back up the stairs. He set the food on the bedside table and then sat back down on his bed, pulled a book out of his bag, and started to read.
Leyla woke up with a soft grunt and reached for her head.''Crap...'' she muttered. The effects of the alcohol had all worn off with the not to pleasant hangover.
She smiled when she saw Faelis awake though. ''You look a lot better'' she said softly.
"Thanks," he said, looking up from his book and smiling at her. "Though you look like kind of like you're ill." He set down his book and pulled out a second waterskin from his bag. He got up and walked over to Leyla, sitting on the edge of her bed and holding out the waterskin. "Do you want some water? You look like you don't feel that well."
''I just drank to much. My own fault.'' Leyla said. She did accepted the water and finished the thing in one go. ''Not used that much to alcohol remember? I think I finished that whole thing so this was sort of bound to happen.'' at the least she managed to smile.
''If I drink enough and eat something not greasy with a little sugar and salt or drink slightly salted and sugared water I should be good.''
"Well, you stay here and I'll be right back," Faelis said. He stood and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a small jug of water.
"There's sugar and salt in here," he said, handing it to Leyla. "I've never heard of the sugar and water thing before, though it must work."
''A hangover is basicly a form of dehydration. Just fluids though are not enough. You need minerals too.''
She gratefully accepted the cup. ''Thanks. You're the best.'' she said softly and took a deep breath before drinking it in one go as well with a face that revealed that it certainly tasted horrible.
Faelis nodded as she explained, it made sense, and he cast his eyes down, almost embarrassed, when she complimented him. But he couldn't help but laugh at the face she made when she drank the liquid.
"Sorry!" he said. "I know it must taste terrible."
''If you ever get a hangover or sick you will get this from me even if I have to force it down your throat.'' Leyla grunted after finishing it and shivered.
She then got on her feet and made the gesture for Faelis to turn around because she was going to get dressed.'
''Ehm... question... I did not do anything weird last night right?...'' she asked. Her cheeks were flushed. She always did crazy stuff when drunk and never remembered.
Faelis turned around and absent-mindedly pulled out a dagger and started to turn it in his hands, just for something to do.
When Leyla questioned him about the night before, his golden-tinged skin flushed and he bent his head down so his long black hair would fall in front of his face, even though he had his back to Leyla.
"Welllll. . . You kind of took of your shirt," he said slowly, biting his lip. "And you were acting pretty drunk. . ." He was surprised at how uncomfortable he felt, if this had ever happened with another woman, he would not feel embarrassed at all. Because, the truth was, he respected nobody. Or nobody until now. And with a shock he realized he respected Leyla.
After he had lied to her and kept his secret from her, he had come to now respect her. And he knew, or at least hoped, that he would never have to lie to her again.
''Oh Gods...'' Leyla said and covered her near tomatored face with her hands. ''I'm... I'm so sorry...'' she got herself dressed properly. ''Was I... coming on to you?... Please tell me I did not do anything... disgraceful...'' she had finished getting dressed.
Damnit. She knew she had danced to get money for medicine and she sincerly hoped dancing was all she did to actually getting the funds for it. ''No more alcohol for me. Ever...''
Her face was still flushed.
"Ummm. . . Kind of," Faelis said, flushing even further, his light gold skin now a much darker shade. "Not to much though, you put your shirt back on though."
He laughed uncomfortably. "Other than that, I don't know if you did anything else. I was asleep."
Maybe it was a good thing Faelis did not tell Leyla she requested to be patted.
''Gods...'' Leyla sat down on the bed and burried her head in her hands. Disappearing for a little while sounded VERY appealing. ''I'm... sorry...'' she muttered softly. ''I did not... mean to do that...'' she covered her chest with her arms regardless of being fully dressed now. Her head wondering if Faelis had liked seeing them. A thought she brushed off as quickly as they arrived. They were friends, nothing more.
''Shall we get something to eat?'' she asked softly.
Faelis turned around once he was sure she was fully dressed. His skin was still flushed. "Well, you couldn't really help yourself, people do really strange things under the influence."
He was still feeling rather awkward. He just couldn't wrap his head around how uncomfortable he had been when Leyla had been shirtless, there was no hopeful feeling when it had happened.
When she asked about food he nodded. "Right, umm, let's go."
Leyla exited the room first but was the one to lock the door.
Downstairs she picked a more laid back table and easily ignored the weird and negative gazes thrown at her. She had been talked to the night before she did not seem the type to hang out with a brawler to which she simply replied it was none of their business.
At the least though the maid was friendly enough and told both breakfast would be brought soon after pouring coffee for both.
Another one though complimented Leyla on her dance performace near the market last night and with no big talk of her doing more then dancing actually relieved the girl.
Faelis followed Leyla from the room, closing the door behind him, and down into the common room. He got more than a few angry glares from some of the patrons who had seen him attack the night before, but the elf ignored them, what else could he do?
At least the barmaid was nice.
When they got their food a few minutes later Faelis started to eat. He took a sip of coffee and made a face. "I've never really liked coffee," he said. "Unless I load a ton of honey and milk into it."
He looked up at Leyla. "Anyway, we're going to look around the city today, right?"
''That's the plan. Would we encounter those trollfaced goons of yesterday though which I hope not lets... refrain from fighting if we can. Maye I can talk their way out of it. '' the last was perhaps impossible though.
She moved a small can of milk and another small can with honey forward with a cheeky smile. ''I'm no fan of coffee in general but right now... I could use the caffeine.'' she said with a chuckle.
Faelis nodded. "I wouldn't like a fight now either," he said, he was still somewhat sore. "And I'm sure we'll be able to get out of it some way or another."
He took the honey and milk and put liberal amounts of both in his coffee. He stirred and then drank. "It's better," he said. "I don't really tell many people this, because, well, I'm sure you can guess how it would go down with a bunch of other thieves, but I like tea much better than coffee. Sometimes I'll actually take it over ale."
''If you love tea then when we would head to Adela I'd like to make a little detour for you. The road towards it though is a little tricky but I heard rumors about a village in the woods which is a residence for Moonelves. Although they do take in those who need a home. I saw them a few times in Arca trading. Despite not calling themselves masters, brewing tea is actually an artform there.'' Leyla replied.
''Denzel spoke to me about them a few times when he was trading with them but he never got to take me there.''
Breakfast as nice as it looked, the scrambled eggs were rather greasy and so were the sausages so she stuck to some bread with a bit of butter and marmelade instead.
Faelis's eyes widened. "Really?" he said. "That's very interesting, I bet they have all kinds of teas."
He started to eat his breakfast as he thought more about the elves. Then his thoughts switched to the men who had attacked them a few days ago. He hoped they didn't run into them again, but they weren't likely to give up looking for him. After all, he had put them in jail for several years.
''Their coconut tea was lovely.'' Leyla said with a smile still thinking back. ''They were all so pretty too.'' she chuckled and finished her food, waiting for Faelis to do the same.
''You'll see when we get there.''
Faelis finished his food and was about to stand when he remembered something. "Ah, yes, I nearly forgot."
He reached into a pouch on his belt and started to rummage around. "You know, I havn't done it at all since I've met you, but I think I want to again. Ah, here it is!"
From his pouch he pulled a black pencil. He smiled at Leyla. "I know I'm a guy, but I like how it looks." He pulled the cap off of the pen and started to apply the black kohl around his eyes. "I've learned to do it without a mirror," he said as he expertly drew the black make-up around his eyes. When he was finished under a minute later, he capped the pencil and put it back into his pouch. He stood. "Let's get our things."
''No judgement here.'' Leyla assured. ''Getting our things huh. Not staying another night or do you mean getting everything we need out there today.'' she said with a smile.
Faelis shrugged. "I don't know, whatever you want. I mean, I've been here before, it's up to you to decide what we do."
He stacked their empty plates so when the barmaid came she wouldn't have to, while he waited for Leyla's response.
Leyla pondered. ''Well they had not thrown you out yet so I recommend to stay at the least another night. Besides. Walking a day without our stuff would not be a bad thing.'' she gave him an exited wink although it was not easy to see she was still a little tired.
Regardless she grabbed Faelis by his arm with enthousiasm and dragged him with her outside. The light first hurt her eyes but she was soon accustomed. It was just as lively outside as it was last night which somehow amazed Leyla a lot.
Faelis laughed as she pulled him along, and he blinked in the bright sunlight. "So, do you just want to walk around?" he asked.
People were everywhere, merchants and shop owners hawking their wares to the people walking the streets. They sold anything from pots and pans to mage supplies and dragon hatchlings. A few riders on horseback were in the crowds, but it was nearly impossible to make any headway on a horse in the packed streets.
Children ran here and there, mothers running after the younger ones. "Watch your purse," Faelis said to Leyla under his breath. "I'm not the only thief here."
Even as he said this, he saw a teenage boy picking the stuffed pocket of a nearby woman, and he heard the shout of a guard as another thief farther away from them was seen and chased. There were all kinds of people at the market. Farmers and herders, wizards and sorcerers, beggars and thieves, nobility, peasants, gamblers, humans and other different kinds of beings. Faelis even saw a dragon only a foot long zip past, a large pastry in its claws.
''Then it is good my purse is not in my pocket or any place a person would just simply shove his or her hands in.'' Leyla said with a smile. As a matter of fact she always had little notes in her pockets with kind words written on them for pickpockets to find instead. Her necklace was safe too as she had tired a bit of her hair around the chain.
She squeeled at the sight of the dragon hatchlings. And seemed that her world crushed when she saw what it cost. The thought then struck her though that these eggs were most likely poached anyway from their mothers. Still she patted one before moving along.
There were a lot of amazing things she had never seen before. Miniature versions of creatures. Cats with wings, jewelery, even magic artifacts that could change the color of a person's hair and clothes. Or a key that when holding it against any door, would grant the user the ability to open it. Maybe though, there was to much magic in the world. She thought to herself.
She felt a hand sneak into her pocket smoothly and quick and secretly knowing the thief would be disappointed not to find money in it made her smirk.
As they walked through the crowds, looking at wares of the sellers, Faelis let his mind wander. Not to say he was not still alert, he was aware of everything going on around him, but at the same time in his head.
That was a skill Faelis had, he could be thinking about something very deeply, and if there was a twang of a bowstring, he would still be alert enough to duck out of the way of the arrow that would come a fraction of a second later.
As he saw two young boys fighting over who got to eat the last caramelized berry, he was reminded of two other little boys that always argued like that.
Faelis had never gotten along with his brother. Just thinking of him put a scowl on the elf's face. He swore under his breath, much to displeasure of the older woman walking past him.
''Time to turn that frown, up side down. I got you something.'' Leyla said as she held out a warm waffle with powdered sugar. Despite just having had breakfast, hers was done already half way.
''I am going to keep stuffing you if you look so sad.'' she said kindly. ''Or tickle you right here, right now if I have to.''
Faelis laughed. "Sorry, just thinking about some one I don't really like. Oh, thanks," he said, taking the waffle.
Then he smiled wider. "And don't tickle me, I'm extremely susceptible to that sort of thing!"
''If I notice I start to think of things I do not like, I think of the starry sky.'' Leyla said calmly. ''But I think I will replace that with this memory now. The smell and sound of the sea... and all the busy people here, you laughing like you just did.'' she offered him an innocent smile.
''As for the tickling, good to know.'' there was a hint of mischief in her eyes though.
Faelis felt something inside of him when she said she would think of his laugh, it was a sort of fuzzy feeling, and a slow smiled spread across his face.
He laughed again when she mentioned the tickling. "I never should have told you!" he joked. "Now you have something powerful against me!" He looked over at her, his smile becoming mischievous. "Are you ticklish?"
''Why don't you find out yourself.'' Leyla said with a tease and finished her waffle. There was some powdered sugar on her lips and cheek and it did not stop her from tapping his shoulder once. ''Tag. You're it.'' and just like that she moved between the people towards the beach.
Faelis shoved the little that was left of his waffle into his mouth and hurried after Leyla. "I'll bet you are very ticklish!" he called to her, dodging aside a cluster of people and stepping onto the sand of the beach. He looked around for Leyla and spotted her not far off, he stepped aside another few people, coming up behind Leyla.
He grabbed her waist and spun her around, laughing as he tickling her sides.
''Nononononono stop!'' Leyla laughed. As a matter of fact she was VERY ticklish but she managed to pull herself together enough to tickle him back. His sides, back, stomach... basicly anywhere she could reach until she lost her footing anyway. Tears of laughter had moistened her cheeks and when she felt the sand beneath her hands she pleaded him to stop.
Faelis cried out in laughter as she started to tickle him back. He fell to the sand with her and lay there, breathing heavily, still laughing.
"I guess we're both very ticklish then!" he said as he lay on his back on the sand. "Though I must admit, I'd never imagined myself doing this!"
He turned his head to look at her and smiled. "But it's a good thing. A really good thing. I like it."
After inhaling and exhaling deeply Leyla giggled. ''We should do those kind of things more often.'' she said with a smile as she looked at him too. For some reason he looked different.
''I enjoyed it a lot too.'' him being off guard though made her launch another tickleattack
Faelis yelped when Leyla once again started tickling him. He managed to reach over and tickle her as well, but he was still laughing so hard he could barely contain himself.
He tried to roll away, but another tickle from Leyla caused him to roll in the other direction, so he bumped right into Leyla.
A soft 'oef' came from Leyla as he bumped into her but still she could laugh about it. And of course she laughed from being tickled herself as well. She stopped though. ''I think I tortured you enough for a day.'' she said with a smile.
Both were covered in sand and for whatever reason Leyla loved this feeling. She had never felt sand before and it had not been since she was a kid, she had this kind of fun.
"I think so to!" he said, smiling. He lay on the sand, and looked over at Leyla. "I've always thought, that if I ever was captured, and the bad guys needed information from me, all they would have to do to get it would be to tickle me! I'd crack after ten seconds!"
Faelis hadn't had this kind of fun since. . . since as long as he could remember. He'd had fun, but not like this. This was different, better.
Leyla giggled and half a sandangel before laying out long with a long sound that seemed to be a purr. ''Ahh this is the best!'' she said as she giggled again. There was no indication what so ever she was still angry at him or whatever happened last night was still on her head.
She then rolled on her side so she could look at him. ''shall we hit the market again?'' she asked. ''Then again being like this is not bad either.''
He shrugged. "Wherever," he said, turning on his side as well, so he was facing her. "It's up to you, I'm happy with either."
He really didn't mind, as long as they weren't being attacked or something crazy, he was fine.
''I have an idea..'' she said eventually and sat up. Her hair and clothes covered with sand. She took off her boots and rolled up her pants before she went to the water. She hesitated a little at first though but it was a wave that eventually touched her feet giving her a brilliant smile.
Faelis got to his feet and pulled off his own boots. He rolled up his pants and discarded his jacket and belts, so he was just wearing his white undershirt and his pants. He quickly put his things in a hollow near a rock so they wouldn't be seen and stolen, then he followed Leyla to the water's edge.
He stepped into the water farther that Leyla had, and looked over at her. "Isn't it brilliant?" he asked her, looking over the water. "The sea, it seems to go on forever, doesn't it?"
Leyla nodded. ''Not something wise to do with a rowboat I think'' she said as she looked at the horizon. ''It is beautiful.'' she said softly. Another wave hit their feet and it grew another smile on her face. ''The paintings and images never did it justice.''
''It feels so strange though. The tides in this way. I never felt so connected to the world...''
''Are there things like mermaids in the seas here? I've heard plenty of pretty tales but scary ones too''
"There are mermaids," Faelis said. "I've even met one, but there are also sea dragons, and krakens, and water nymphs and elves. All sorts of creatures make their homes in the sea."
He looked down into the water to see a tiny seahorse swimming by his feet. He reached down, and quickly picked up the tiny horse. It neighed and kicked it's tiny hooves, but he stroked it's back and it calmed, allowing him to hold it out to Leyla. "A seahorse," he said, and the blue-green colored creature looked up at Leyla, it's long fish tail swishing in Faelis's hand.
''It is adorable'' Leyla said after looking at it from up close by bending forward a little. She wondered if she could pet it but it was so tiny she figured already it was a horrible idea. ''You should maybe put it back the water though.'' she stood up straight again. Wondering briefly if seahorses had riders too but the question remained unspoken. She saw something in the seasand though and picked it up. A pretty double shell. It was light though so she figured whomever once occupied it was either eaten or had moved to a new shell. Or just died.
Faelis gently put the seahorse back into the water, where it swam once in a circle, and then disappeared into deeper water.
Faelis looked over at the shell Leyla held. "I've never seen a shell like that before," he said. "Though it's not as if I'm an expert about sea life. I really don't know that much."
''I've only seen shells on marketstands but never really bought one. I think I will keep this though. Then again if I keep saving things from all the places I visit I may need a bigger bag.'' she dried the shell off and opened it. Indeed there was nothing inside but a strange colourful glow and some kind of small weird marble embedded in it.
She was about to ask what it was when a larger wave hit them. Not expecting it's force though she almost fell over. ''Shall we head back to the market? I do not think the innkeeper would like us coming in dripping wet and filled with sand.'' she giggled.
Faelis laughed despite himself when the wave came, and he grabbed Leyla's arm to steady her. He stepped out of the water to retrieve his things, and he put his belts and boots back on, but tied his jacket around his waist.
He waited for Leyla and then walked back to the street and market.
After getting both water and sand off her feet Leyla followed him back to the street and market. ''I was wondering... is there anything in life you always wanted? For yourself?'' she asked him.
He thought for a moment about her question, then shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "I'm actually pretty content as I am. I'm free, I've got adventure, I'm happy. Of course, when I lived in the elven kingdom with my parents I wanted freedom and adventure, but now I have it.
"What about you?" he asked. "Is there anything you want?"
''Other then silly thoughts regarding a traveling dance or performers group together, and eating every kind of sweet food around the world, not really.'' Leyla admitted.
''I am not the type for settling down at some place in a city and then be homebound with a bunch of kids. Not now anyway.''
Faelis nodded. "Me neither," he said. "Like you said, I have had small wants, such as a certain artifact to acquire and other small stuff like that, but nothing really big, no real 'life mission'.
"Ah, look!" the elf pointed to a vendor that wa selling various weapons. "I have bought a dagger or two from there before," he said. "They are of great make, some of the best in Serendipity."
''I bet there is iron over there too... if so, in that case ot would be better if I stayed away from it...'' Leyla admitted. She had not really shown it either through all the fun but those who had iron on them and passed Leyla as they walked... it always gave her a small wave of sickness or weakness.
"Ah, yes," Faelis said. "I'm sorry, I forgot."
He looked over to see someone he hadn't seen in a long time, and he had no wish to see again. "Oh, Leyla," he said. "There's a guy over there who I've worked for before, and he'll probably want to talk to me if he see's me, let's just step behind this stall."
He waited for Leyla and then stepped behind the canvas stall of a vendor selling jewelry.
"That guy's really annoying," Faelis said quietly to Leyla. "Have you ever known someone like that? Their always want to talk to you, and they go on and on and on and on about random stuff. You make a ton of hints that you need to go, but they just don't get it.
''Never really had it. Instead of hints I was just blunt enough to say I did not feel like talking to them at that moment. If you just keep giving hints and not be straight forward they will always hang in that cloud of hope. Maybe the person does not have a lot of friends or is just socially awkward.'' she said with a shrug. ''You can not avoid him all of your days.''
"It's still a pain to have to deal with him," Faelis said. "And whenever he would give me jobs I would always be underpaid and often cheated. So I'm not eager to go to him again."
The man passed and Faelis stepped back out into the street. He looked at Leyla. "I'm surprised, and envious, that you can just tell someone that you don't really want to talk to them. Most people, me included, can't do that."
''With my occupation you need to be able to tell people to buzz off. And not with hints. You need to tell it straight in their face or you will appear uncertain. And well. As long as you are uncertain about it they will keep bothering you.'' she was still afraid however if a person eyed very strong.
''But if he comes with a job again. Can't you refuse?''
"You're right," Faelis said, thinking again of what Leyla did for a living. She would have to tell guys to get away or things could get tricky. She shrugged at Leyla's question.
"I could, but he's still a pain, and," he paused, then continued somewhat hesitantly, "and he does have a few things against me, so blackmail would not be out of the question for him."
''How would he blackmail you. I do not think there is anything left to suprise me with. And would he resort to threats it would only mean he is a shortminded person and I will treat him the same as the man from yesterday.'' she spoke so calmly perhaps it was even scary.
''Well what you will do is up to you but you can not avoid him forever.'' her eyes then cought a stand that sold many kinds of shaped glass and rainbow crystal.
"Well, I was doing a job for another man, stealing something from a very rich lord," Faelis said. "I finished the job and gave the item I stole to the man who hired me. He paid me and we both went on our ways. But that night the man I just avoided now, his name is Perry, intercepted me with a bunch of his thugs. He sad he saw me steal the item from the lord. We both knew very well that if the lord, a very powerful man named Seerch, found out who exactly stole his things, he would probably send people out to kill me, and since he's such an influential lord in Serendipity, it would be hard for me to get other big jobs from lords and such, as well as having to run from his men every time I'm in Serendipity or near it. So Perry has that against me. If he can find me, he can probably get me to work for him, because If I didn't agree, he would tell Seerch that I was the one who stole from him."
Faelis chuckled darkly. "It's kind of complicated, but that's how it happened."
''Asuming people believe what he says.'' Leyla said with a calm smile. ''Does he like entertainment?'' there was some mischief in Leyla's eyes. ''Surely I still do not approve of stealing but... blackmailing is just low. Other then dancing there are more things I am good at.''
She then closed in so she could whisper in his ear. ''and that, is getting information.'' she then chuckled. ''More often then not semi drunk men told me a lot of secrets. I know of the name Perry. His main general gives good tips. If I recall... Perry has quite sticky hands regarding taxes and people who are to poor to pay them since he asks ten fold on occasion to increase his own wealth. Now that is information that he would most likely not want to get out.'' Leyla said with a giggle.
''Maids. Butlers. Pleasuregirls. Whores. Dancers, beggars. They are the ones who know most even by barely hearing. Two friends of mine. Twins who other then dancing give... private sessions would most likely know more details. To bad they are not here. It would be fun. Regarding dancing and whoring those twins are quite good and can strip a person from every penny a man has on him. They owe me a favor so if you wish... I could perhaps... if you ask me kindly under the pleasure of a good outside dinner on the beach... Call them here.''
Faelis smiled deviously as Leyla spoke, her whispered words tickling his pointed ear. "If they really are as good as you say, then perhaps it would be worth calling them." He thought for a moment. "What kind of information would they be gathering, exactly?" he said. "Information about him to get him off of my back?"
''Information that would ruin his entire reputation, even his job, status and wealth. If the initial things I heard are true. I'd discover it myself but I do not like ending up in bed with someone I do not love. If the information is indeed true then yes, we can use that to get him of your back.'' Leyla said calmly. ''You do already have seemed to forget the conditions I told you where you can ask me.'' she stuck out her tongue teasingly before looking at the various products the glass and rainbowcrystal stand had. Surely they would not be practical to buy or bring along but at the least she could look.
"Oh, I have not forgotten," Faelis said, smiling. "And don't worry about that, you'll have it." He frowned. "And I agree with you, despite what one may think, I don't think I would really ever go to bed with someone I did not love. And I mean real love, not lust."
It was true, though Faelis flirted and even kissed many girls, he had never gone to that next step. His face brightened again, though, as he, as well, looked at the glass on display on the stand. The beauty of the items never ceased to amaze him, which was perhaps, one of the reasons he stole.
There were beautiful small sculptures such as swans, bears, hearts and bunnies. But also small pendants. Leyla had a little bit of money left from last night's performance and wondered briefly wether she could afford buying something small and easy to carry. But decided not too simply because she had learned to never spend everything that she had and always keep something aside.
Not to mention there were so many other things here.
She did however complimented the man's work as he was sculpting another small pendant of rainbow crystal. He gave her a smile although Leyla could see he would've prefered her buying something.
He then tended to other customers after putting his work aside as they did were able to buy one of his crafts.
Faelis also admired the items. If he had had a home, he would have bought one, but since it would be very impractical to carry a small item made out of glass on his travels he didn't.
"Do you want one?" he asked Leyla, after all, she had a home to return to. "They're not extremely expensive, I'll buy one, if you want, that is."
''Well sculptures would easily break so... it's alright. It would be a waste to find it in pieces if I ever get home.'' Leyla assured him.
Surely she could've picked a pendant but she still felt guilty for the fact he paid for one of her weapons. When she was at another stand that told various magic infused weapons and parts, the shopkeeper looked at Faelis.
''I coul forge a cust'm made pendan' if theh lass thin's bring'g a sculpture along your journey is nej practical. Only one of itz kin' if you like suprisi'n your wife.'' he suggested after he sold the other customers a nice but one of his larger sculptures. ''Jus' tell meh what kin of shape you like it to be and I'll make it for yah''
"Oh!" Faelis laughed, embarrassed, his face reddening, even though Leyla wasn't here. "She's not my wife, but, but if you could forge a pendant, I would appreciate it." He glanced over at Leyla, then back at the shopkeeper. "Any shape is fine, just make it look good."
''Righ' away.'' He did finish the other work first which he then set on a plank to cool. ''I make em wi'h care lad. Pedants are moar difficult then scultures. You can check back in a few hours.'' he assured
''Watch tha lassy thou' lad. Lesser men prey on girlies liek her.''
It was no lie. A man with a long ponytail and neat clothes had aproached her and spoke something about inviting her to his cabin on the ship. And Leyla telling him to piss off was not enough by the looks of it either.
Before the man could do anything else though Leyla had her keramic dagger in her hands which she was not afraid of to point at the man's crotch, with the words that if he would not back off now he'd live with one arm less. A warning he did listen too and walked off.
''Looks like the rose has thorns.'' the scultur said with a grin and after selecting some rainbow crystal he started to melt it in his little oven for the pendant.
"Thank you," Faelis said to the man, then he looked over to Leyla. He stepped forward as the man approached her, but she could, as the shopkeeper had said, take care of herself. Faelis smiled despite of himself, she was indeed capable. He thanked the glassmaker again and walked over to Leyla.
"I trust that man won't be coming back?" he said as he neared her.
''Not if he wants to keep his crownjewels.'' Leyla said calmly. ''Although...'' she made sure he was gone. ''I do not think I have it in me to actually do such an act.'' she admitted.
She then grabbed his hand before the shopkeeper at the current stand would think they were going to buy one of his enchanted weapons, pulling him over towards another which was the place Leyla had bought the waffles from earlier. Other then waffles they also had pancakes by the looks of it, and some kind of fried dough with a cinnamon and sugar topping. It smelled really good although already having eaten before Leyla was not exactly hungry. She just liked to stroll around and look at everything that was available here.
"An empty threat is just as powerful as a real one," Faelis said. "As long as the one being threatened believes it."
He followed Leyla over to the stand, but his head snapped to the side as his elvin ears caught a noise, to far away for a human to hear. "Leyla," he said hesitantly. "I think someone is in danger."
He started towards the noise, it had been a shout, motioning for Leyla to follow. The sound hadn't come from too far away, but far enough so that they whole scene had been covered up by all of the people around and the noise they were making. Faelis emerged at the edge of a clearing in the crowd. His fist immediately clenched and a muscle jumped in his jaw. In the clearing there was a group of people, all dressed in dirty rags, chained together.
Slaves.
Faelis's breath came quicker, and rage blazed in his eyes.
The sight made Leyla freeze. Slaves. They sold them here?
All of a sudden Leyla did not really feel like staying any longer and mainly hid behind Faelis. She felt useless now. There was no way she could help these people. She squeezed his hand rather tightly although far from enough to hurt him.
''Will they be sold here?...'' she asked. Noticing many more people had disgusted faces although there were a few who seemed exited and looked at the ones chained as if ready to buy them. Mainly they were young women, a few elves as well. Even a child.
''Nobody should have the right to sell another person...'' she said silently as anger built up within her. And her head started to wonder if doing something insanely stupid could perhaps save these people.
Faelis's anger was almost bursting out of him. He was breathing heavily, and he could feel another rage coming upon him, one he could not control. He could not let that heppen, not here, in the middle of the market.
There were only twelve people being sold as slaves, and Faelis turned around, looking away from the slaves, still trying to push back his oncoming rage. "Leyla," he said. "I have a little work to do."
And he slipped away into the crowd, but he returned not two minutes later, his pockets much heavier than they were before.
"All of those rich people are now all the poorer," he said quietly when he returned. "I know of a ship, a pirate ship, but it's not connected to the large pirate kingdom, that I know is in port today. They will be able to help."
And with that he stepped forward, raising a hand above his head, and his voice joined the other calling out prices to buy the slaves for.
"All of them!" he shouted out. "For four thousand coin!"
Silence fell upon all of the people near. Four thousand coins? That was more than all of these slaves were worth, or so the people thought. The slaver finally got his voice back.
"Going for four thousand, going once. . ." he waited, but no one stepped forward. "Going twice. . ." Still no other offers. "Gone! Twelve slaves to the gentleman in black!"
Faelis knew that his decision had been a brash one, but he didn't care. The slaver brought the chained people over to Faelis, and Faelis had to stop himself from punching the man in the jaw. But he hand over the money, the money he had stolen moments before.
"You sure you don't want some guards to help you with these?" the man asked, and Faelis shook his head. The man handed him the key to the chains and Faelis led the slaves over to Leyla.
"The pirates will be able to take them to safety," he told Leyla. "Now let's get to a place where it's quiet and I can explain to them where they're going."
''Pirates and safety now that is a combination I truth be told never heard before...'' Leyla admitted.
Some people actually clapped for Faelis' action but many including the slaves wondered what was going to happen.
A man walked forward as well. His eyes covered by a long piece of cloth that was wrapped around his head. He was clean and for a human remarkably handsome. A large staff in his hands.
''Nice display. You beat me to it. As good as your intentions are though it will only make him sell more slaves. Hopefully you realise that.''
''If you would've bought them then would he also just not come back with more?'' Leyla asked.
''I would not have bought them. I would have teleported his sorry ass on a raft in the sea.'' he walked further and stopped when he had reached Faelis. ''People will realise their money is missing. They will take it out on her so be careful. Leave as soon as you can if you do not want her to suffer for your actions'' he whispered before continueing to walk.
''Weird guy...'' Leyla said silently and looked at the slaves. They all seemed hurt and hungry.
''Find a secluded place on the beach... I will buy them something to eat.'' she suggested.
Faelis looked suspiciously a the man who approached, he seemed different to Faelis but he half smiled at the man when he spoke.
"I know very well what the slaver will do," he said. "And I understand that, but these people's lives are just as important as Leyla's, or yours, and I aim to do what I can for the moment. I do not have magic, as you seem to, but if I would have tried to kill the slaver, right there, I wouldn't have been able to make it before his guards shot me down. And, believe me, sir," Faelis said, the 'sir' said in a slightly sarcastic way. "I have killed worse people than that slaver. Oh, yes, and I already got rid of the money, I used it to buy these slaves."
When the man left, Faelis nodded at Leyla's suggestion and started for the beach.
Leyla wondered what Faelis and the man were talking about. Maybe old friends, she thought. While Faelis lead the slaves to the beach, Leyla went to a breadstand where she got some of the cheapest but largest breads so everyone would have something to eat, and it still being enough.
She had barely anything left by the time she had also purchased milk for them to drink but she'd just perform again tonight again to earn what she had spent. It had went well the night before and she was in a rush. If people were just as giving as last night she would make enough in no time at all.
But she could not ignore the words of the people saying their wallets were gone or their pockets empty. She regocnised some though as people who seemed to rejoice by a fresh supply of slaves and she knew damn well Faelis had pickpocket them. But in this case... she did not think she would mind. As she walked back though to head to the beach she could not help but feeling she was being watched. Wether it were those who lost their todays coins, or the mean men from the day before she did not know but it made her feel uneasy.
When reaching Faelis though she equally devided the food and drink to the slaves kindly and patiently. Most seemed afraid of accepting it however due to the abuse they had faced.
When Faelis and the slaves got to the beach and to a secluded area, he started to explain to them. He hadn't finished when Leyla came with the food, and seeing their fearful expressions, he motioned for them to eat.
"We're not going to hurt you," he said. "I promise. Now please, eat."
As they ate he finished explaining the plan, their faces lit up upon realizing that they were going to to be free.
"Thank you so much," one woman said. "I was born a slave, you see, and I've always dreamed of freedom, though it was always out of reach." She pulled a little girl closer to her. "And I am surely blessed that I have not yet been separated from my daughter or husband."
The woman's husband smiled at Faelis, and the elf couldn't help but smile back. "Okay," Faelis said. "Now we need to get you to that ship!"
''Need to get them to the ship makes it sound harder then it is for some reason...'' Leyla said calmly. Since they were put on a pirate ship though, Leyla wondered if those pirates could be trusted. All the stories regarding pirates with their peg leg, rough looks were rather often told and she was not sure what was real. But she certainly had seen some piraty looking people about here.
Not that she was suprised but she never heard about them being friendly. Still. She wanted to believe in Faelis.
"Follow me," Faelis said, and he motioned for the people to follow him. They stepped back onto the street, the slaves still chained together to keep their cover. They made their way to the docks, no one giving them a second glance.
"it may take a few minutes to find the ship," Faelis said. "But it's called The Red Sun, oh, I was wrong. There it is."
The elf pointed to a large brig ship docked not very far from them. It was a large three masted vessel, and it was swarming with people. Indeed, they did not dress as navy people, with uniforms, they wore whatever they pleased, it seemed. One man was wearing simple boots, a tunic, and pants, but another was dressed in an embroidered waistcoat, and yet another wore a black sash around his waist. While none had peg-legs or eyepatches, they were obviously not navy people.
"I'm sure the captain will help you," Faelis said to the people. "He's an independant pirate, and and old friend of mine."
Faelis approached the ship, and as he did, many of the crewmembers, men and women, called out and greeted him by name. He answered them, also using their first names, and he waved.
"I actually served on this ship for a while," Faelis said as they walked up the gangplank and onto the deck of the ship.
"Faelis!" they heard a voice call out, and the elf turned to see a young man walking towards him. The man was tall and only in his mid-twenties. He was handsome, with a thin but muscular physique, long brown hair, pulled back, and sparkling blue eyes. He wore a white loose shirt with a blue and gold waistcoat over. Hanging on his belt there was a curved rapier and a dagger, and his shiny black boots clicked on the deck as he neared them. "It's been a while!" the man said, bowing to Faelis and sweeping off his large hat.
"It has indeed!" Faelis said, smiling, as the captain of the vessel straightened. They briefly embraced, and when Faelis stepped back he motioned to Leyla.
"This is my friend," Faelis said, not telling her name unless she didn't want it disclosed, then he looked to her. "And this is Captain Jackal Fear, no, Fear is not his last name, but I can't get him to tell me what it is!"
"It is Fear," Jackal said, winking at Leyla, and then he smirked at Faelis. "And she's your friend? Only that?"
Faelis didn't answer. "These people were slaves, and I need you to take them someplace safe. What do you charge?"
"Charge?" Jackal laughed. "I don't charge anything for freeing slaves, if I did, though, I'd be a very rich man! No one deserves to be a slave, so I always do it for free."
Faelis smiled and then unlocked the chains from the former slaves. After thanking Leyla and Faelis, and Jackal, one of the crewmembers led them away to get them proper clothes and something to eat and drink.
Jackal turned to Leyla with a grin. "And what is your name, my dear lady?"
''Leyla Armitage is my name. Pleasure meeting you Captain Jackal Fear.'' Leyla said with a bow. And no pun intended when saying his name either as she spoke casually.
''And correct, Faelis and I are friends. We are traveling together.'' she said. ''Thank you for helping with getting these former slaves to a place where they are safe.''
"Just friends. . ?" Jackal muttered, smiling, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Leyla. And it is always a pleasure to help people out of living their lives in slavery. Many people believe pirates are all bloodthirsty brutes, and while I must admit, there are many pirates like that, not all are bad. Take me and my crew, for example, we're thieves, but all around good guys. Like Faelis here, he's a thief and awfully good in a fistfight, but he's not evil, not like some of the lords and dukes ruling around here. They're more corrupt and brutal than most thieves."
Jackal smiled, winking again at Leyla. "Though that's not to say my crew and I aren't afraid to get our hands dirty, we don't kill unless we have to." The captain turned to look around at his ship, then he looked back to Leyla. "Have you ever sailed before?"
''Before I met Faelis I never even left Arca before.'' Leyla admitted.
True, Jackal had a point. Many lords, dukes and landowners were actually the corrupt ones. Claiming taxes, kidnapping women, the list went on and on.
''Since I have not left Arca ever before or got exposed to the outside world I kind of still have a lot to learn though.'' she admitted. ''But with Faelis around I'm sure I will learn things well and safely. Already he tought me how to use a bow and whip in case people are bothering us.''
"I've been sailing my whole life," Jackal said. "And I love it."
Faelis smiled. "It is fun, but I prefer running through alleys and backstreets to up and down a mast, though I would sail again, for sure."
"You're always welcome to sail with me again, Faelis, and Leyla too," Jackal said. "There's always room for you."
''It sounds like a fun adventure. Thank you.'' Leyla said with a smile.
''I however will not really make a good pirate. I will not be able to steal anything from anybody even if my life depended on it.''
She looked at Faelis with a smile. At the least she was somewhat in good terms with him being a thief. ''As for the mast though... does not really sound that hard. Truth be told this place looks like a pretty safe climb paradise for me.'' she giggled.
"No stealing?" Jackal laughed. "And you run with Faelis? I'm surprised, usually his friends don't have such high morals as yours."
He nodded when she mentioned the masts. "For many people learning to climb the masts and rigging is a hard thing, though if you think you can, I have no doubts." Jackal smiled and leaned in, lowering his voice. "Faelis can do it very well, but that's only because he's an elf."
"You know that's not true," Faelis said, crossing his arms. "Did you see that elf lord who we stole from that one time? He could't climb the rigging if his life depended on it!"
"You know I'm just kidding you," Jackal said laughing, then he ran to the mast and grabbed onto a rope, pulling himself up a few feet. "Care to join me, Leyla? I bet Faelis won't be able to catch either of us!"
''Normally I'd say I would race you but... you have an advantage regarding knowing your ship.'' Leyla said. Still she could not resist climbing the majestic vessel and picked a rope as well. But rather then climbing like a normal person would she climbed upside down, upwards.
''Come on Faelis. Show me your acrobetic skills.'' she said with a smile.
"Oh great," the elf said, but he was laughing. He wasn't very surprised by Leyla's skill, he had seen it before, but Jackal whistled out loud. "Damn, you know your stuff!" The pirate exclaimed, climbing up the rope like he had been doing it his whole life, which he had been. Faelis raced to the foremast, not the one that Leyla and Jackel were on, and grabbed a rope. He pulled himself up with ease and he climbed the rope with catlike movements.
He climbed all the way to the top and stood on the tip of the mast, and held out his arms to Jackal.
"I'm not as bad as you think I am, Jackal!" He said, and then he climbed down to the highest spar. he walked to the edge and from there grabbed another rope and stepped off of the wood. For a moment he dropped through the air, before the rope pulled taunt and he swung down, and across to the mainmast, grabbing onto the catlines next to Jackal.
"You're not bad, you're just not as good as me," Jackal said.
"I never said I was," Faelis said. "But I'm sure Leyla will be able to climb these lines she's been doing it forever."
''Not quite.'' Leyla admitted. Although when she moved upwards, occasionally climbing like a normal person did rather then upside down, she did seem to be able to make it quite her little acrobatic practise. Her movements were fluid, graceful and almost flawless.
It was not her goal in the first place to reach the highest place as soon as she could. She never had been on a ship before. Heck. Before yesterday she never even had seen ships like these. Only in pictures. And so basicly she turned it into a while parkour. The ropes, masts, and it was almost as if she had done this her whole life, if not for a few missteps that when done by a normal person would most likely mean a full drop down.
It was eventually though she was at the top of the main topmast and cheered. ''This is awesome!'' she called out loud
"Isn't it?" Jackal grinned. "That's why I do it for a living!"
Faelis climbed up to the second spar and then slid down a rope to the deck, where he promptly started back up again. His movements were not as quick as Jackal's, but he still was very adept at climbing the lines. He was a thief after all, and had a knack for this sort of thing.
"I've never seen anyone like you, Leyla," Jackal said, climbing from the catlines to a spar. "And I say that as a compliment, you're amazing!"
''I'm a contortionist dancer. Never thought it was useful for this though.'' Leyla replied with a chuckle. Her gaze went to the harbor and town. Everything seemed a lot smaller. But the world seemed bigger at the same time too.
She hoped indeed she was no bother for Faelis to travel with her and protect her from things she could not fight against. She was not sure if it was wise to travel with a ship now with so many things on the land left to see. Not to mention she promised Faelis to show him the Moonelves. If she was able to find them that is. She had heard some strange rumors regarding the forest their home resided in.
After a few more minutes of climbing and swinging around, Faelis landed on the deck, making almost no noise at he hit the deck, and look ted up at Leyla.
"What do you want to do?" he called up to her. "Stay here? Or go on? Personally, I don't care, whatever you want to do is great with me!"
''Give me a minute to come down!'' Leyla called and with the same grace only a bit faster, daring even to make several jumps, she made her way down.
''We could go on, I have not even seen half of the market yet.'' She pouted. ''I did kind of spent most of my money so I think another performance tonight will not do any harm?'' she asked.
"So the market, then," Faelis said when Leyla was down on the deck. "And you really don't have to perform tonight, if you don't want to. I've still got some money left over from those people who were going to buy the slaves, so unless you want to dance, you don't have to."
Jackal swung down and landed next to Faelis and Leyla. "So, you going?" Faelis nodded. "Well, this may not be the last you've seen of me." The pirate captain said, smiling. "But I do have to be going now. It was a pleasure to meet you, Leyla," he bowed to her, then clapped Faelis on the shoulder, still smiling brightly. "I'll see you soon, thief."
"When you see me next, pirate, I may be picking your pockets!" Faelis said, winking at the other man. Jackal laughed and then walked away towards the stern cabin.
''It was nice meeting you Jackal!'' Leyla called and giggled.
Her gaze then went to Faelis however. ''I do not mind to dance.'' she assured him. ''It is a nice place to make enough to keep us going for a while. You never know what we will encounter in the future after all. What if one of us gets sick and will need medicine. Those are expensive.'' she winked and took a hold of his hand. Waving to Jackal and his crew with the other, wishing them a good day and looking forward to another meeting and perhaps sailing with them.
Faelis nodded at her reasoning, medicine was expensive, he hadn't thought of that. Well, he had, but he would have just stolen some money to buy some, Leyla wouldn't want that. Faelis wouldn't directly steal medicine, not even from a store, but he would steal money to buy it.
Jackal turned around and walked backwards to wave at Leyla before a crewman came up to talk to his captain, and Jackal was distracted.
Faelis felt a sort of electric charge when Leyla took hold of his hand then, and he looked sideways at her, then quickly away, trying not to let her see his emotions.
Back at the market, many people praised Faelis for his actions and some even got him small gifts mainly in the form of food, offerings regarding to repair any gear he had, or drinks. Somehow it seemed as if there was some celebration and unknown figures seemed to have beaten up the slaver at some point.
Not everyone seemed happy though, several of the persons Faelis had stolen from seemed far from amused and gave him dirty glances. But with all the people around him, did not dare to get close to him either to confront him.
Many people were outside and when music was played, Leyla could not resist to dance on its rythm. It had become dusk by the time then as well.
The glass blower sculptur and jewelery maker, while Leyla was busy dancing, aproached Faelis and when Leyla was not looking he opened it. Revealing a hollow tear drop necklace with two layers inside of it. The botton one had sand, and the other layer had some of the clear sea water. Seperated by a thin sheet of glass to prevent the two mixing. ''Best work thus far, one of a kind.'' he said with a proud smile.
Faelis accepted the gifts with all modesty, and he managed to fit them into his pack. He caught the glares of the people he had stolen from, and he couldn't help but smirk at them, causing them only to glare more fiercely. Then he turned and ignored them as Leyla started to dance. She was indeed very skilled, and soon a crowd had gathered around. Faelis was about to go back to the glass-blower's stand when the man came to him.
He showed the elf the pendant and Faelis's eyes widened, it was indeed beautiful, and he told the glass-blower. "How much do I owe you?" Faelis asked the man. Considering the wonder of the small item, Faelis was sure it would not be cheap, but he had plenty of coin with him.
''Originally I'd say 20 gold but I'm happy with half. Your actions inspired quite some people. And inspiration can not be bought.'' he said with a smirk. Revealing an old near faded slave brand on his arm. ''ten gold is fine. I like making what I make and as long as I can support my family I'm good.'' he assured.
"Thank you," Faelis said, reaching into a pouch. "But I'll not settle with just half."
He put fifteen gold into the man's open hand and took the pendant. "Don't try to give that back,"Faelis said, and then he went very to where Leyla was still dancing. He watched her, waiting for her to finish, the pendant hidden in his hand. The people around clapped when she made an extraordinary move, and Faelis smiled faintly. She was indeed a wonder, in more that just her physical attributes.
Leyla enjoyed every minute of it and when the song ended, she stopped briefly to catch her breath. The Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fwAqk3ink8) had been a fast one and she already had been at it for a while. And she had been right; plenty of people were willing to pay despite dancing with her.
Whilest catching her breath though Leyla briefly thought she saw the weird blind man from earlier in the crowd. But it was just briefly and she dismissed it as seeing things that were not there and after thanking people for their offerings, she made her way to Faelis.
OOC: I didn't get the song, the link didn't work, just so you know :P
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IC:
Faelis clapped along with all the other people when the song finished and LEyla stopped dancing. She walked over to him, breathing heavily, and Faelis smiled.
"You were great, as you always are," he said, as she approached. "And I have something for you," he smiled playfully. "But you have to close your eyes and hold out your hands."
((OoC: Fixed ^^'))
''Something for me?..'' Leyla asked. Smiling when she saw his smile. Not sure what it was but somehow, he looked different.
A quick thought in her mind wondering if he had stolen it but her conscious knew he hadn't. Not in a milion years could she accept a gift that was stolen from someone else. ''I wonder what makes me deserve a gift to be honest.''
She closed her eyes like he told her and held out her hands.
"You? You deserve a gift more than anyone I've ever met," Faelis said as she closed her eyes and held out her hands. He set the pendant in her hands. "You can look now," he said.
"I bought it from the glass-blower we met before. When you stepped away for a moment, he offered to make it." Faelis smiled. "Of course I agreed, there was no way I couldn't."
Leyla opened her eyes and looked at the pendant. It was beautul and somehow it did not feel like normal glass. The sand and clear seawater, surely came from here. Leyla received gifts in her life before but this was the second that actually made tears form in her eyes.
''Thank you Faelis. I love it.'' She smiled warmly and removed her necklace she already had from her neck. Carefully puting the glass pendant next to the other before puting it back on holding both pendanrs in her hands softly before hugging Faelis.
''Thank you. I will cherish this for sure." She said softly
Faelis shifted uncomfortably as her eyes dampened. And when she hugged him he froze. After a second he regained himself and hugged her back. He hadn't thought she would get emotional, but when she had, Faelis had as well, though his eyes didn't tear up. He'd gotten gifts for girls before, but none of them, none of them, had come even close to being as important as this one was.
When he stepped back from the hug he smiled at her again. "I hoped you would like it, I didn't know what you'd like, so he just made it like that."
''It is given by you. How could I not like it'' Leyla said softly and placed her hand to where underneath her clothing both pendants were. The glass from the one she had just reveived, and the silver from the one she had felt cool on her skin and yet there was a kind of warmth in them both as well.
Other people still danced and music was still ongoing. Somehow it had turned into a sort of party.
''Shall we get something to drink? Either at one of the stands or at the inn?'' she suggested.
Faelis was still feeling the strange warm feeling in his chest when he nodded at Leyla's question. He pushed aside all of the strange thoughts in his head and looked around for a stand.
"How, how about at a stand?" he suggested. "I'm sure there's one that sells drinks around here somewhere."
Though the sun was setting it was still fairly bright, and the lively atmosphere in the market was comfortable and Faelis was enjoying it.
''Should be, practically they sell everything.'' she took his hand and simply guided Faelis along with her.
True there were stands that sold alcohol although the bottles and how they were sold were more destined for souvenirs. Still, that did not mean they could not buy a bottle or two and enjoy it on the beach right?
Faelis followed Leyla to a stand. "What would you like?" he asked her. "You can chose, I've had practically every alcohol they sell on this earth!"
He reached onto a pouch on his belt and pulled out a few coins. The bottles were not exactly cheap. but they were not as overpriced as some other stands around here, and the drink was fairly good quality.
''Really?''Leyla asked amazed. ''Would it not be better if you puck something then?'' She looked at the various kunds of alcohol and their bottles.''maybe something strong? I do need to keep in mind not to overdo it though... do you like /iquor?''
"Sure," Faelis said, and he looked at the titles on the bottles. After a moment he picked two. One was a liquor, and the other an elvish wine. "This wine was made in the kingdom where I was born," he said, handing the stand keeper the correct amount of money.
He stepped away from the stand. "Where do you want to go?" he asked Leyla.
''We could go to the beach again and find a nice spot. Or are there other pretty places here my eyes had missed.'' she looked at the sky briefly to look at all the colors the sunset provided.
Her gaze then went back to Faelis.
"In the city, the beach is about the prettiest part," Faelis said. "And I know of a place that will be very beautiful about now. Follow me."
He stepped away from the stand and led Leyla off of the street and onto the sand. He walked down the beach until the rocks near the edge of the beach got higher and the city was hidden from view, so all there was to see was nature. There still were soft sounds coming from the direction of the city, but they were muffled. Pieces of driftwood and shells lay on the sand, and the sun setting cast a golden glow over the water.
''Wow it is beautiful here.'' Leyla said awestruck. Somehow after all that had happened it seemed like forever they were alone. After so long just having one anothers presence, being in this busy place was almost strange.
She picked up another shell she liked, puting it in her pouch with the other before sitting down.''I wonder how you found this place.''
"For once, it wasn't tied to a theft" Faelis said, sitting down next to Leyla. "I had just gotten to Cerenis. I had only left my parents kingdom about seven weeks ago, and I desperately needed a calm place to rest. I found the beach and then I got to here."
He picked up a shell in the sand and absentmindedly turned it over in his fingers. The beach was a special place for him, one of the few. It was the first haven he had found in his travels.
''It is a really lovely place. I'm glad you shared it with me.'' Leyla said calmly.
She watched the sunset for a moment again. The never knew the colors on the water and she would make sure to know every moment of it before it was gone.
''Where shall we start with. Your homeland wine or the liquor.'' She wondered if she could keep in mind not to end up as drunk as the night before though
"I'd like to start with the wine," Faelis said. "I haven't had it in so long, I'm actually looking forward to something that has to do with my people."
He opened the bottle and handed it first to Leyla. "I hope you like it, it's not too dark, but not light, and not really dry either. It's almost a mix of a bunch of different wines."
''It does smell nice.'' Leyla said. To bad they did not have glasses but then again. Right from the bottle was not a bad thing it seemed and she took a sip.
''It is really good'' she said with a smile and handed the bottle back to him. It was not to heavy either so maybe she could handle more then just a few good sips. Then again, wine was way less strong then the stuff she had drank last night.
Faelis took the bottle and took a drink. "I don't even really know what it's made of," he said, looking at the label. "Whether it's grapes or something else, I wouldn't know. It may actually be a mix."
He shrugged and held the bottle out to Leyla. "It's going to be a almost-full-moon tonight," he said. "It'll be full tomorrow."
Leyla took the bottle. ''Maybe I can taste what has been used...'' she said and took the bottle from his hands, taking another sip.
''I think... red grapes... with a hint of apple, forest fruit and herbs. But what do I know. I'm no wine expert.'' She jestered
''As for the moon... it are the best nights to travel correct?'' she asked.
"You can actually taste what's in it?" Faelis chuckled. "I couldn't do that."
The sun was almost completely down by now, and the moon was starting to rise. "Yeah," he answered Leyla's question. "I always liked moonlight. Light, but lots of shadows." He smiled at her. "Perfect for sneaking around in places you're not supposed to be."
''I will take your word on that.'' Leyla said calmly. Taking another sip before passing the bottle back. Feeling a very light buzz in her head, she laid down with a smile.
''It's strange... I feel as if I've never been happier. Does that make me weird?''
"Not at all," Faelis said, taking a drink before setting the bottle between them and lying back as well. "I feel the same way, this a completely new experience for me, a different kind of happiness. When I'm not with you, I'm a completely different person."
He turned his head to look at her and smiled. "You've completely changed me, I don't even recognize myself."
''I hope you do not mind the change... but do not change to much would you. Despite the stealing, you are perfect the way you are. It is your way of living. It is not my way but... I suppose it does not have to be a bad thing... and who am I to tell you how to live your life.'' she looked at him and smiled as well.
''No idea why but... I find it not bothering me so much you are a thief. Most of my friends after all had flaws I could see past. Like those twins... they basicly rob people too. Till even their clothes. I think... it was more what happened to my mother... and the suprise that got me yesterday... so... I'm... sorry if I hurt you with anything I did or said.'' her cheeks were a bit flushed and she took another good sip of the wine. ''It really is good stuff.'' she said with a smile before putting the bottle back.
'The wine too by the way' was added in her head. Only making her cheeks redder. 'Where the heck did that come from...' she thought to herself and shook the thought off.
Faelis felt the warm feeling in his heart, that had been lingering ever since he had given her the pendant, brighten and flutter at her words.
'But she's just being nice,' Faelis's pessimistic side scoffed. 'She doesn't really think I'm I'm perfect. Oh Gods, she thinks I'm perfect,' his optimistic side surfaced. 'Wow. But I'm nowhere near as perfect as she is. . .'
"Thank you," Faelis said. "I know this sounds like something someone would say in a story, but no one's ever treated me like you have. Never, never. . ." He trailed off. 'Never gotten this close to me,' he finished in his head.
''Really? I do admit most men do not treat me respectful either seeing my line of work. Many already called me a whore without having ever seen me perform'' Leyla admitted. ''You were the first stranger who did not invite me for a drink because you wanted to flatter me enough to share the bed, naked and intimate. It does mean you are respectful for not having aimed for that.'' Leyla said calmly.
She rubbed her eyes a little. Why had she gotten so emotional, again. Was it the alcohol? Something else?
''Faelis... I'm looking forward to spend many more moments like these with you. Traveling together. Thus far I really enjoyed it and I am certain I will continue doing so as long as I can keep sharing those experiences that are new to me with you.''
"I'm looking forward to it as well," he said. "It's a whole new experience traveling with you. I've traveled with people before, but with you, it make me see everything differently, making me able to see everything in a different light."
Faelis had felt nervous before, admittedly only a few times, and now he was feeling something that could only compare to being nervous, but it wasn't that. It was a much deeper feeling, and warmer, and a different kind of fluttery. He couldn't wrap his head around it, he'd never felt it before, so what could it be?
He turned his head to look up at the darkening sky. Stars were starting to appear, even though the sunlight had not completely disappeared.
Leyla handed him the bottle of wine.''Thisone is certainly a wine I want to try again. But if I take more now I think I will end up like last night after my first drink to dull the pain.'' She jestered. Not to mention they still had the liquor too.
''Maybe another time we should attempt a truth or dare drinking game.''
"That could get interesting," Faelis smiled and took the bottle. Sitting up, he took a long drink of the wine before setting the bottle in the sand and laying back again.
"Would you like to keep the liquor for tomorrow, or later?" he asked.
''A little later. We do not need to leave on a short term. The moon may not be full but will prevent plenty of light for us to see right?'' she asked.
''I will just let the wine sink in for a bit. And yes. The drinking game is fun. If the person does not perform the action or tell the truth about the asked question, he or she takes a shot. The game goes on till the alcohol runs out though.''
"Or until someone passes out!" Faelis said, chuckling. "I've had that happen before, actually. . . Though I wasn't the one to pass out! To tell the truth, I only know this because my companions told me the next day. I had been so drunk I didn't remember. But I won the game, at least, and the bet."
He looked at the horizon, where the moon was starting to rise. It could almost pass for full, except for the slightly flat bit on the left side, it would grant them enough light to see by.
''I basicly have no choice but to do what is asked and say the truths. Or I go down to quickly. I save the shorts for disrespectful things but... I know I will not get those questions or tasks from you. My friends usually only asked those knowing I'd drink anyway.'' she did not seem to mind.
''I suppose I have some weird friends...''
Denzel was the rich one who was out of place but liked joining the commoner or poorer folk because there he did not have to keep the act of nobility up. The very hot twins who used their looks, dances and what was between their legs to rob unfortunate people dry. A few who really liked to mess around and prank. Leyla was always the serious one and needed encouragement to let herself go. But truth be told ever since her mother got attacked, she had been a little on edge. And maybe a little fearful. All of those worries though seemed to have been pushed away the past while. Thinking about it less and less.
Faelis nodded. "Don't worry," he joked. "I'll only ask really personal questions!"
He smiled. "I've got some pretty weird friends too, and some of the people I've met, ha! There was that guy in Essyrn, with the snake, and the tattoo of the snake, and the completely snakeskin clothes, and he spoke snake, the list goes on!"
Now that he thought about it, he had interacted with so many different and unique people over the years, but people still managed to surprise him. . .
''I wonder what things I should ask. Or let you do... the questions are usually the hard part.'' She raised her hand and reached to the moon and stars. Made a grabbing movement with her hand and sighed calmly.
''I think you will like visiting the moonelves. In good time anyway. I dont even know when we will leave here. Can not say I am in a rush though.'' She rolled on her side so she could keep looking at Faelis. Still smiling.''Jup. You are perfect the way you are. And this moment I have with you. With a place you shared with me. I will cherish it all.''
"I'm not in a rush," Fealis said. "Despite the crooks around nearly every corner, Cerenis is quite a wonderful place."
The elf was horrified to find he was blushing at her next words, but he smiled at her genuinely. "I'll cherish it too," he said. "I'll cherish it more than anything else."
He looked back up at the sky. It was indeed beautiful, the stars sprinkled over a deep blue canvas,the moon a beacon of light.
She sat up again and simply moved herself a little closer to him. ''See those stars?'' She took his hand and guided his finger to several stars. ''Does that not look like a roaring lion?'' she chuckled.
Leyla did this more often. Although this was the first time she actually just took his hand and pointed them out.
"I does," Faelis said, looking up at the stars. Then he moved their hands to point at anther group of stars.
"That looks like a moose, or an elk," he said, then he pointed to another. "And that one is a feline. I'm actually named after it, the constellation is called Faelis in old elvish, or 'cat thief' in the common tongue. Ironic, really. I didn't even know the meaning of my name until five years ago, and I had already been a thief by then for years."
''I do not know what my name means.'' Leyla admitted. ''But yours is amusingly accurate.'' she then giggled.
''Look. Those stars...'' it looked like a flock of birds. She did not realise it though but somehow they almost had a heart formation.
Faelis noticed the heart as well, but he didn't say anything. "I think somehow, somewhere, my parents knew I would always run away," he said. "They were always strict with me, but not because they wanted to make me into a prince, more like because they really had no need for me and just didn't want me in the way."
He smiled at Leyla. "You're lucky you've got such wonderful and caring parents. Mine never would have been as concerned for my safety as yours are for yours."
''I still can not understand how a parent can not love his or her child... if I ever become a mother, I will treat my child or children with care. If I have more then one it will be equally divided.''
She took the bottle of liquor and looked at it briefly. ''Want to open this? Or do you prefer to finish the wine first if you hadn't already.'' she teased. She felt a little less fuzzy which was good.
"Yeah," Faelis shook his head. "I don't know what was up with them, I don't think they really loved me, but at least they didn't hate me. But I'm sure you'd be a great mother."
He smiled at her as she took the bottle. "Whatever you want," he said, in answer to her question, taking another sip of the wine. "I'm good with it either way."
''Well in that case.'' Leyla opened the bottle with a mischievous smile. ''Yea... maybe in the next town we could do a truth or dare drinking contest. It's a good thing though, it means I trust you around a drunk me. Normally... a man would've taken advantage of my state like last night since you said I appearantly was coming onto you.''
A blush was on her cheeks and maybe she was glad she did not actually remembered any of it.
She took a sip from the liquor and smiled. ''Ahhh Gods this tastes so good. You surely know what tastes nice.'' Leyla said with a soft purr.
Faelis shook his head and frowned as she mentioned what other men may have done. "I simply cannot imagine how someone could do that," he said darkly, but then a smile spread across his face as Leyla opened the bottle and tried the liquor.
"Thank you," he said, winking at her. "I've had a lot of different experiences with a lot of different alcohol. There's a lot of drinks I haven't tasted, but even more that I have!"
''Usually the places where I went to with my friends did not get anything new so I always stuck with the same.'' Leyla replied. She did not take another swig though, instead she held out the bottle towards Faelis. But just out of reach. ''Let's do a test run.'' she said with a smirk. ''Truth or dare.''
Faelis smiled again as Leyla held out the bottle to him. "Truth," he said, taking it. He couldn't really think of many questions that he wouldn't want to answer, but a challenge wouldn't be bad.
''what is the most embarresing thing, yet also looking back to it fun thing you ever did.'' Leyla asked looking at him with a smile and actually interested expression.
"Oooh. . ." Fealis narrowed his eyes, thinking. "That's a hard one. Let's see. . . Well, this is the one I can think of, but I'm sure there's more I can't remember! But I was in Serendipity, no, it was Connlaoth, a small town in Connlaoth, and I was in a bar, drinking, of course, and there was a band playing. I'm sure everyone there assumed I should be in an insane asylum! Man, I was dancing and swearing and just spazzing out in general!" Faelis shook his head, smiling. "I got up on the bar, and I was dancing with this dwarf guy, who was just as drunk as I was. After that, everything got hazy, and I woke up under a table. I'm surprised I even remember that. Come to think of it, that has happened more than once, but the other times weren't quite as crazy."
Faelis handed the bottle back to Leyla. "So, truth or dare?"
She chuckled at his story though. ''Just as drunk as a dwarf huh? Almost wish I'd seen that.''
Leyla pondered for a moment. ''I'm going to say dare.'' she said eventually. Wondering what kind of potentional sane or insane thing Faelis was going to ask
Faelis thought for a moment. "Hmmm. I am truly terrible at this part. Okay, some people wouldn't want to do this, but I'm not sure if you'll care, so, I lamely dare you to try and burp as loudly as you can."
''You will regret that more then I will.'' Leyla said and sat up straight for a moment. Allowing to let air flow into her stomach to built up a little pressure. A mischievous smile on her face. Very briefly it seemed as if she was going to hurl but instead she released one very loud burp which took almost three seconds until it ended.
Faelis laughed out loud and clapped. "That was a good one!" he exclaimed. "I usually can't burp at will, though sometimes I get lucky! Most of the time I have to have drank something, even water will do." He chuckled again. "Do you practice?" he half-joked. "If I had that talent I certainly would!"
''They sound better with milk.'' Leyla admitted and took a sip of alcoho. The aftertaste of such a burp was horrible to say the least.
''I did not practise. I just know how to get the air directly to mu stomach, build up pressure and then release it.''
"I guess I'll have to practice," Faelis smiled. "I'm sure some dwarves would even be impressed with your burp, they're the experts."
He picked up a small stone from the sand and turned it over in his hands absentmindedly.
''I'm sure they are.'' Leyla said with a chuckle
''Truth or dare.'' Leyla said softly. Setting down the bottle between them in case Faelis wanted a sip too. Not that she would drink it all but she did not want to be greedy.
She laid back on the sand and looked at the stars again.
"Hmm," Faelis took a drink from the bottle as he thought. Then he set the bottle down between them and laid down on his side, facing Leyla and propping his head up with his hand.
"I'm going to say truth again."
Leyla pondered.''What is... your biggest fear.'' She too laid on her side and looked at Faelis with a warm smile. She wondered if her friend would answer it or not.
"My biggest fear?" Fealis asked. "I don't really know, I'm not afraid of much. I don't want to die anytime soon, but that's not really a fear of mine. . . I've never had any people who were close to me, heh, besides you, now." Faelis hesitated, and reminded himself that he didn't have to answer, but he continued anyway. "My biggest fears are hurting people when I fall into my violent mode, and accidentally hurting you or you getting hurt in any other way."
Faelis turned over to lay on his back and look up at the sky. "Truth or dare?" He asked softly.
''Truth.'' Leyla replied softly and took a small third swig of the liquor. Sure at the real game, having a drink was basicly only permitted if something was refused. But then again this was a simple test run still.
"What is your biggest dream, the thing you most want, even if it's far out of reach?" Faelis asked, taking a drink of the wine, which there was still some left of.
''Right now... I think having my own small traveling act or circus sounds nice. Preferably with a person I can share many days of my life with. Maybe eventually having some kids with it.'' Leyla replied.
''I love performing. But combined with traveling it is even more fun. You get ideas which you can put in an act or even whole show which many people can enjoy. And they evolve as you travel from place to place. It just sounds like something very enjoyable and fun.'' Leyla replied calmly.
(OOC: So sorry for the long wait!)
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IC:
"That sounds fun!" Faelis said. "And it combines the things you like. It would be hard to have to throw away one thing you love to do another thing you love just as much. There are a lot of traveling circuses and acts all around Le'raana, some comprised of only a few people with a wagon, others with hundreds of performers with tents and wagons to carry them all."
(OoC: No worries ^^ )
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''Sounds amazing for sure. If I start my own I do not think I will make it large in size though. Sure it is cozy. Like a traveling village but... I would like to explore the talents those whom I am with have and have them been shown. Even small talents are fine to me. It are often those small ones that remain undiscoverd.''
''Another truth or dare or shall we keep the questions for another night.'' Leyla asked as she got on her feet and took off her shoes once more to step in the water.
"I don't have a preference," Faelis said to her question. "I'll happily do whatever you want to do." then he laughed. "Well, almost anything!"
As she stood he sat up and crossed his legs in front of him.
''Hmmm truth or dare it is then.'' Leyla said with a giggle. ''Which one do you pick?'' she did not wait for an answer though. Instead, she cupped her hands and filled them with water so she could splash Faelis with it.
Not a lot of water hit him though. Only some drops on his clothes
Fealis jumped up all the same, laughing. "Dare!" he said
Then he kicked off his boots and rolled up his pants. He waded into the water, and cupped water in his own hands, splashing it at Leyla.
Leyla pondered briefly shielding her face a bit from the water that got splashed at her. She merely returned the favor with a mischievous smile on her face.
''Alright. I dare you to dance with me and show me what you've learned.'' she said calmly before splashing him again.
"Oohh," Faelis laughed. "Okay, let's see if I can do this."
He stepped out of the water and onto the sand, where he then turned to Leyla, and held out a hand.
Leyla made a polite bow before she walked towards him. Almost in a noble way and placed her hand in his. Her hair dripped a little from the seawater and her clothes had not been spared either but she did seem to enjoy herself.
He took her hand, and then, fluently, with little pause, performed the first move she had shown him. From there he twirled her around and dipped.
He pulled her up and they danced across the sand, no music, but it wasn't needed. Fealis stayed on beat, and though he made a few mistakes, he covered them gracefully.
((Sorry for being late I have been a bit busy lately xD))
Layla followed Faelis' lead. The twirls, moving apart and pulled close. She smiled calmly and enjoyed it to the fullest. Inside she admired him for being able to be almost perfect rhythm wise and if they would be dancing in a ballroom they certainly would fit in. At the least, with their dancing they would.
As their dance progressed though, soon enough Leyla not only smiled, but laughed from enjoyment
Faelis started laughing when Leyla did, and he twirled them even faster. He tripped over a rock, and at the speed he was moving, tumbled to the ground, pulling Leyla with him.
They landed softly on the sand, Faelis still laughing aloud.
''Good. Very good.'' Leyla said once she stopped laughing. She was not certain however wether it was her or the alcohol in her system causing her to do what she did next.
''That deserves a reward.'' she whispered before placing her lips on his.
Faelis's eyes widened as their lips met, then, after a moment of surprise, the elf closed his eyes and leaned into her kiss.
He sat up and put a hand on her upper back, kissing her back in full. Her lips were soft and Faelis leaned even deeper into their kiss.
The elf didn't realize it at the moment, he would later, but this was the first kiss that he had ever shared that was real, the first kiss that was not a flirt, the first kiss that he had ever truly meant.
Eventually Leyla broke the kiss. There was a healthy blush on her cheeks and she smiled warmly before allowing her head to rest against that of Faelis. ''..That was a first for me...'' she whispered..
Faelis smiled faintly. "That was a first for me too," he said. "But not a first kiss. . ."
Then he realized what he hadn't before, that that had been his first real kiss. "I have kissed, and been kissed, before, but. . . but not like that. That was better."
''I see that as something good.'' Leyla said with a chuckle and gave him another although it was shorter. It had become quite cold and she shivered. ''Unless we're going to build a fire it might be an idea to head back to the inn though. It is getting quite cold.''
Despite the fact that her next kiss was quite short, Faelis savored it. When she pulled back the elf man started to get to his feet.
"I agree," he said to her words. "And it won't take us too long to get back to the inn." He reached out a hand to help her to her feet. When they were both standing, he went and got his boots on. Both he and Leyla were wet from seawater, but the latter was more so, and he removed his leather jacket.
"Would you like to wear this until we get back?" he asked her, holding out the garment for her to take.
''I'll gladly accept that offer although it is not that far.'' Leyla replied as she took the jacket. Will you be alright though?'' she asked. ''Maybe a hot bath for the both of us is not a bad idea or we will be stiff with salt and sore muscles tomorrow morning. Our clothes could use a wash too.'' she giggled and finished puting on her boots.
"I'll be fine." Faelis smiled. "The shirt I'm wearing now isn't that wet, and it is long-sleeved."
He nodded when she mentioned a bath. "That does sound nice," he said, bending down to pick up the two bottles. He held them up, the remaining alcohol swishing around. "We'll have to finish these some other time," he said, smiling, then, after waiting for Leyla to get her boots on, started back for the city.
"Do you want to continue exploring the city tomorrow?" Faelis asked Leyla, walking beside her.
''I do not mind finishing them up in our room but I think another night would be best. My tolerance is not so high and I think... I've had reached the limit of where I still know what I'm doing.'' she walked closely beside Faelis.
As expected though the port town was still bursting with life. ''Sure. We could look around more tomorrow. I do not know how much more there is to see so I will rely on you.'' she teased before she pondered. ''How are our current fundings? If you want I could make a little extra.'' she would have to at some point anyway. When Autumn and Winter would be upon them she would not have proper clothing.
"I agree," Faelis said when she said about perhaps finishing the drinks another night. "We'd enjoy them more then." He put the corks back onto the bottles so the drink would not go stale.
"I think we've got enough coin for now," the elf said. "I still have pretty much left."
As they started into the crowd Faelis almost unconsciously let his hand slip down towards his waist, not to reach for a dagger, they were accessible from almost any position, but rather to guard his purse. As a thief, he knew full well how to guard against them.
When they passed a rich lady who was laughing and drinking with friends, his hand shot out towards her near-overflowing purse, but he quickly drew it back, glancing guiltily at Leyla.
''You may have...'' she had basicly spent most of what she had on the medicine for Faelis the night before and the bread and milk for the slaves.
As they passed the lady though, Leyla smiled. ''I will not stop you you know. Actually truth be told she's basicly asking for it. If you won't do it someone else will.'' she said calmly.
She was certain those words would not have left her mouth before she went traveling with him but if she managed to like him enough to kiss him she at the least would have to accept the stealing despite not liking it. Well. As long as he kept it by rich folk she could give it a blind eye.
Faelis's eyes widened as Leyla nearly invited him to steal the lady's purse.
"Well, if you don't mind. . ." He glanced around, and his hand shot out again. It deftly untied the purse and within seconds the money was gone from the woman's belt and in Faelis's pocket. he smiled at Leyla as they continued to walk.
"Well, now we have enough money." Then he frowned. "Are you sure you're okay with that? Stealing?"
''I think it depends on the person you steal from. The lady from before well... she basicly had a sign above her head. Not all rich folks are dishonest scumbags after all. Just... try to spare those who work hard for it and are not looking down on other people. Is that an idea?'' she asked.
Faelis nodded. "I usually do not steal from working-class people," he said. "And never from poor and homeless people. Besides being just wrong, what's the fun?" he smiled. "Rich people are my prime targets, and their houses are always so interesting to get into. Gods, you wouldn't believe some of the security measures people have, there were lions once," Faelis laughed at the memory. "Though they were just for show, as soon as I approached then they started to purr, apparently the lord thought that once a thief even saw the lions from a distance they'd leave. Ha, not me!"
Leyla chuckled. ''Just be careful would you?'' She said with a calm smile. ''The tigers at Denzel's home actually do attack strangers at sight. First they pounce and make sure they do not go anywhere but if they resist or are armed well... they will have a meal less to worry about and the maids have a heck of a job cleaning the floor.
In the inn though her heart skipped a beat. She not only noticed the blind man enjoying a drink but also the angry people whom Faelis stole from to free the slaves. Although they seemed to enjoy their food and drinks to the fullest she could not help but to feel a little bit frightened. At least they seemed to busy to notice her and Faelis
Faelis, too, noticed the people, and as they entered the inn he dipped his head down to whisper to Leyla. "We'd better go straight up to our room, we don't want to take any chances with them." he partially smiled. "I'm sure we'd be able to get away if they decided to take rash action, but let's not ruin our visit."
When they were almost to the stairs, Faelis stopped. "Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked. "We can bring it up to our room."
Leyla shook her head. ''I'm good.'' she assured.
She indeed was not exactly hungry although a small snack would not be a miss. Still. She'd rather be in their room before the goons would see them. She did not want Faelis to end up in a fight either like last night.
Faelis nodded and continued towards the stairs and up them. When they got to their room Faelis went to the window and looked out. it was well into the night now, and the moon was still high, though starting to go down a bit.
Fealis turned around back into the room and went to light one of the lanterns on the dresser table and set the bottles down. "I'm going to get changed," he said, walking back towards the door, his pack in hand. "I can change in one of the empty rooms, you can change here, though."
''Don't mind if I do.'' Leyla replied. She was looking in her bag for another set of dry clothes. She wondered where the baths were but figured she'd find out soon enough.
Once he was out of the room Leyla started to take off her wet clothes, starting with her boots.
As Faelis stepped from the room, he realized that Leyla would probably want to wash off, as would he, so instead of going to another room, he went downstairs. He rented another room, so he could bathe, and told the barkeeper that he needed a tub of hot water in the room Leyla was in and the room that Faelis had just rented for himself to take a bath in. As it happened, they already had one tub of water heated, and Faelis helped one of the workers carry it up to their room.
They set it down outside and Faelis knocked. "Leyla," he called. "We've got a tub of water here if you would like to clean off."
He would get his own water once Leyla had hers.
''Thank you. I'll make good use of it.'' Leyla replied. She had put on something simple to be decend and not cold.
After the tub had been placed inside she checked it for any iron. It was unavoidable though but she'd just have to make sure not to touch it.
Soon she was alone again. Maybe a public bath with Faelis could be fun. That was what she thought for a moment anyway.
She added some scented oil to the water, feeling like pampering herself for once. Thus far her during the travels, her baths had been in lakes, ponds and streams. And it was useless to add it to the water then. The soft scent of lavender and jasmin soon filled the room after she had added the scent to the water and had entered it.
Once Faelis and the inn worker had put the tub in Leyla's room, they went downstairs again. There, Faelis waited for a second tub to be heated, and when it was, he and another man brought it to the second room.
Faelis sighed when he sank into the hot water, he hadn't had a warm bath in ages. He pulled his soap bar out of his pack and, after thoroughly scrubbing himself clean, he got out of the cooling water and redressed. His second pair of clothes were only a pair of pants, nearly identical to his dirty pair, and a loose white linen shirt. He only had one pair of boots, but he pulled a pair of simple leather shoes from his pack and put them on.
Then he gathered his wet clothes and went down into the common room, where he told the innkeeper that he was finished with the second room and bath. Then, using a wash tub in the back, he washed his salty clothing.
When they were clean, he wrung them out and went back to their room. He was not wearing any of his many belts or his jacket, which was wet, but, though no one would be able to tell, he had hidden several daggers all over his person, he went nowhere without them.
He knocked on the door to their room, to make sure Leyla was done bathing and dressed.
Leyla had been ready already and had just washed her clothes having used the tub she bathed in before. ''It's alright. I'm decent.'' she had tied a rope between two beams and used it to hang her clothes over it, leaving enough space for Faelis.
Faelis stepped into the room once Leyla called out. "Nice bath?" he asked her. "I know I enjoyed mine, It's been a while!"
He saw the line she had strung up, and he hung his clothes over the rope to dry. He set his pack on the floor next to his bed and laid his belts and pouches next to it.
"Shall we got to bed?" he asked, looking out the window at the setting moon. "It's pretty late."
''It felt amazing. Sorry for the lavender and jasmin but I just wanted to treat myself a little.'' the scent was in the room but not sickening fortunatly.
One of the staff removed the tub from the room and Leyla thanked him, wishing the man a good night. ''I think some rest sounds good. Having fun can tire out the body.''
She already was in some kind of decend sleepingwear. The silver chain with both pendants on her neck visable and she held them in her hand one more time before she sat down on the edge of the bed. ''Once again... thank you. I will cherish it.'' she said refering to the pendant she received from him.
"I don't mind," Faelis said, about the lavender and jasmine scents. He smiled crookedly when she thanked him again.
"You're welcome," he said, somewhat bashfully, a trait one would not normally associate with Faelis. "I hoped you would like it." Then the elf pulled back the covers of his bed and sat on the edge of it. He slipped off his leather shoes and laid down. He was in reach of the lantern, but he would wait until Leyla was ready to put it out.
Leyla thought for a moment before getting on her feet and walked to Faelis. Giving him one more soft kiss on his lips. ''Goodnight.'' she whispered before heading to her own bed and laid down.
"Goodnight," Faelis said quietly after she had kissed him. When she was in bed he put out the lantern and turned over onto his back, his hands folded over his chest, and his lips still tingling from Leyla's soft touch.
Faelis fell asleep smiling.
Leyla had fallen asleep rather quickly. Both pendants held in her hands.
She woke up around dawn and rather then lingering she got out of bed. Her clothes were still a bit damp but dry enough to wear so she quickly changed.
When Faelis awoke the next day Leyla was already up and dressed.
"Good morning," the elf yawned, sitting up. He felt his clothes, they were mostly dry, except for his leather jacket, which was still very damp, and his boots. All the same, he went into another room and changed, though he kept on the dry pair of pants, as they were identical to the damp pair. When he came back to the room he put on all his assorted belts again, and his boots. He didn't put on his leather jacket, though, he left it hanging on the line.
He put all of his piercings back in, as he had taken them out the night before.
"So," he said, sitting on his bed and redrawing on his eyeliner, he had learned to do it without a mirror, "what do you want to do today? Continue around the city? There are a few pretty amazing temples here."
''The temples sound like something nice to visit.'' Leyla said with a nod. She hoped not to many other people would be there. This town was so busy and it was a bit strange to her after spending so much time traveling alone with Faelis. Not that she minded crowds, she was used performing for them. But there was not a lot of 'alone' time either which she always balanced out.
"Sounds good to me," Faelis said. "Do you want to get something to eat here at the inn or get something at a vender?"
Faelis finished with his khol and put it away in his pack. He set the pack next to his bed, he wouldn't need to bring it, his pouches held everything he would need. In fact, he could probably survive for weeks on just what was in his pouches, provided he could hunt and gather food naturally, that is.
"There's a temple not far from here, where we can start. It was built in honor of a sun goddess, by the name of Shikaree."
''We can eat indoors or get something at a vendor. I do not mind either. As long as those men from yesterday do not bother us.'' she giggled. Although in truth she really hoped to not encounter them again.
"A vendor then," Faelis decided, standing up and taking his jacket from the line. He tied it around his waist, he was very fond of the jacket, and had no intentions of losing it if they, for some reason or another, would not be able to come back to the inn. Faelis was well used to having to leave places early, in his line of work, one had to be ready for anything.
Faelis headed for the door, waiting for Leyla to follow before leaving.
When Leyla had everything she needed, Leyla followed Faelis out. Downstairs there were not a lot of people. and outside it was quite chilly. A bit of morning mist on the sea. It gave Leyla a bit of an eerie feeling but it was still beautiful.
There was no sign of angry rich people or Faelis' old 'friends' which relieved her.The weird blind man seemed to be gone too. Hopefully today would be a quiet and peaceful one.
Faelis, too, noticed the absence of the rich people, and was glad of it. As they walked out onto the street, and it, too, was emptier than it had been the night before.
It was very early, and though there were still many people about, it was nothing compared to the virtual festival the night before.
"These hours of the morning are when the late-night partiers finally go in, but all of the shoppers and shopkeepers have not all come out yet," the elf said.
Faelis caught sight of a man walking down the street, a sack of grain over one shoulder. He was obviously very poor, and by the look of him, it seemed that there was more weight on his shoulders than just the sack of grain. His clothes were ripped and dirty, but he held his head high, and as the man passed them, Faelis bumped into him gently, slipping a few coins into the man's pocket.
When the man had passed, Faleis smiled at Leyla. "All that money I steal, I can't use all of it, you know, not with the life I lead. And that man seemed as if he needed it, and by how high he held his head, despite the sack of grain, I suspect he would not have accepted charity."
''Many people don't accept it. Many who do accept it often use it on the wrong things.'' Leyla replied. There were times she also had to skip meals because she simply had no money. And she did not let her parents or friends know either. But those times were hopefully behind her now.
''There was a story once about an elven shadowmage who stole money from kings during the day. Litterly, in broad daylight. And at night she would enter people's homes and give them the stolen money.''
Faelis nodded. "I have heard stories of her. There are also tales of a halfling thief who does the same thing. There are a lot of stories about beings like that. Many of them are true, or derived from the truth, but some are also just tales."
Faelis started down the street.
The pair reached a foodstall and Leyla paid for breakfast, giving Faelis some kind of meatfilled bun to Faelis. It was a rather large meal which could keep them going for a while. Already from the first bite though Leyla praised the meal to the heavens. The flavour was rich of flavour.
It was then though the two headed towards the ancient buildings. ''So the pirate life. What was it like?'' Leyla asked.
Faelis took the meat-filled bun and took a bite before answering Leyla.
"It was very thrilling," he said after he had swallowed. "You never knew when another merchant ship was going to show up. Though there was a time when we got lost, and were out of food for two weeks and out of water for nearly two days. We managed to get to port before we died of thirst, but it wasn't a very pleasant experience. Though, besides that, it was quite fun, but I like land better. It could be just preference, but Corrian Elves are more attuned to land than sea, so that could be part of it as well."
He took another bite of his food, when he swallowed, he looked to Leyla. "Would you ever consider sailing? I can't recall if you said so."
''I would love to. I can climb the ropes quick but I would need to learn where everything goes in case a storm breaks out. Not to mention all the different terms. Yesterday was my first some on a ship and it felt amazing.'' she said with a nearly beaming expression.
''But.'' she said after swallowing another mouthfull. ''Moonelves first. I'm sure you will love it there.''
He nodded, smiling. "It took me a while to get the hang of everything. All the lines, the knots!" he nodded again when she mentioned the Moonelves.
"I don't know too much about Moonelves," he said. "Do you?"
''I only know a little about the group living in Serendipity close to Adela... they do not kill, make the amazing tea I spoke off before, and are rather spiritual folk. But the forest is going to be tricky. They wove very powerfull protective illusion magic in there. Those with bad intentions will never find the village. Those with good intentions will be lead towards it. Illusions are formed for each individual person.''
"I've had a few bad experiences with illusions," Faelis said. "Once I was trying to get into the tomb of an evil sorcerer, and there were tons of illusions, trying to mislead me, to get me to walk into traps. Luckily, I had a mage with me, and he got us through. But if you say that the moonelves only mislead those with evil intentions, then I think we should be fine, I have to intentions to steal from the moonelves." Faelis chuckled. "Especially if their tea is as good as you say!"
''Good.'' Leyla said with a chuckle.
She finished her food and hooked one of her arms around Faelis'. She still was not sure why she did that. Neither the kisses of last night. She did it because she felt like it but was it because she had intimate feelings for him?
They reached the first temple and Leyla clasped her hands together from exitement. It was an old building but still well preserved. She knew little about history however regarding architecture and languages but she knew a historic dance or two.
The temple was very old, and the golden marble sparkled in the sunlight. The temple wa covered in carvings, from figures of animals and people to symbols of a language that was most likely not used anymore.
"I don't really know much about this temple," Faelis said, perfectly aware of how Leyla had took his arm. "Or the goddess herself. Inside is very beautiful, do you want to go in? We can, as long as we stay quiet."
Leyla nodded. ''I'd love to. Do not worry though I can be quiet.'' she assured him. ''Also not to worry I am not exactly knowledgeable about history either.'' she chuckled.
So Faelis started for the temple. There were two people dressed in golden robes standing outside the doors. "May the Goddess be with you," they murmured as Faelis and Leyla passed. Faelis nodded to them.
"And may she be with you as well," he murmured back.
They stepped into the temple and immediately a wave of quiet and cool air swept over them. The inside of the temple was very large. There was only one room, and across from the entrance there was a large statue of a woman dressed in long robes. The sculptor had managed to convey kindness in her eyes, and power in her form. There were several people in the temple, some praying, other just quietly walking around as Leyla and Faelis were.
Leyla offered a similar greeting as they entered and she found herself awestruck by the statue. Despite it's age it was beautiful. She saw someone familiar praying; the blind man from the day before. Praying, and seemed to be giving a kind of offer existing out of a wreath of flowers she had never seen before. She still got a strange feeling when she saw him but decided to put that aside. She wanted to enjoy today with hopefully no bad events.
Other then the statue the architecture was beautiful and well preserved and she soon forgot all the negative things. She felt calm and serene for some reason.
Faelis, too, noticed the man from before, but, though he would stay alert, he ignored the man. The temple did have a certain calming effect, and as they looked around Faelis noticed braziers in the corners of the room. There was incense burning, and though Faleis could smell the scents, they were not overwhelming.
The walls of the temple inside were also covered in carving similar to the ones on the outside, and Faelis studied them.
The inscense made Leyla feel a little lightheaded but it was not unpleasant. With interest she started to observe the carvings. She was not able to decipher the languages but there were many figures as well. Of people doing things and some paintings that were on display were lovely despite time did had it's grasp on them a little by now.
Briefly she seperated herself from Faelis and took the opportunity to light a candle and pray for a moment. Her lips moved but other then that her prayer was in silence.
Faelis looked at the paintings and carvings while Leyla prayed. He was never one to really pray, every once in a while he might, but not usually.
There was one painting that reminded Faelis of the place where he was born. The painting was of a forest much like a forest near where his parents kingdom was.
Leyla did not pray often either. But she found it respectfull to do at the moment, being in the temple. She was most likely going to do the same at the other temples if they could enter.
She returned to Faelis and looked at him with a smile still not saying a word. She moved her lips instead though, but not certain if he could make out what she meant when she wanted to ask if he was alright.
Faelis properly interpreted her lips moving, and nodded, smiling faintly. "Shall we go?" he asked, his voice so quiet that no one other than Leyla would be able to hear. "Or would you like to stay a bit longer?"
'We can go' Leyla let her lips move but again no sound. Not wanting to risk to be found out. A few more people entered as well and she did not think it was appropiate to let this place become to busy not to mention there were plenty of other temples and places left to visit.
It would be a place she'd love to see again however at some point in her life.
Faelis nodded and headed for the entrance. As soon as they stepped out onto the street all the noises and smells of the city hit them again. Compared to the quiet inside of the temple, the sound outside was nearly deafening.
The street was now starting to fill with more and more people. Mothers out buying bread and milk, farmers at the blacksmith, nobles at the jewelry stands, little children rushing around, kicking a ball, or trying to evade their calling mothers.
Leyla blocked her eyes from the light briefly. ''This was a lovely place.'' Leyla said with a smile. There was joy in her eyes. Still though something told her it was best to leave when they were done with this or maybe the next morning.
''Which place next?'' she asked
"There is another temple not too far from here," Faelis said. "It is very different from this one. The priests there worship a snake god named Anguis. That temple is mostly underground."
Faelis walked down the steps of the temple and into the street. The snake god is not evil, just a little more malevolent than the sun goddess Shikaree."
Hearing the word snake already made Leyla shiver. She was not exactly fond of creatures such as spiders or snakes but she did wanted to see this temple as well.
''What does the snake God Anguis stand for?'' she asked.
"I'm not exactly sure," Faelis said, noticing that Leyla shivered and putting a hand on her shoulder. "But I don't think there are many real snakes in the temple, maybe a few, but mostly just a lot of statues. I think I heard once that the god was a god of cunning and manipulation, but I can't be sure. If you don't want to go in, that's fine."
''I'm good, I'm good.'' Leyla said with a chuckle. ''As long as I do not have to hold them I am alright. Basicly some of my friends back home thought it was nice to have a snake at the performance because the one who hired us wanted too. I was not a great fan of that snake and the feeling was appearantly mutual.'' she jestered.
"Okay," Faelis nodded, smiling. After a few minutes of walking they came to the temple of Anguis. The temple was much smaller on the outside that the other, and it was constructed of dark red and black marble. Like the last temple, there were two people standing outside, but instead of gold, these priests were wearing black robes with a dark red sash. Despite the bright day, there was a torch on either side of the entrance. The entrance was shrouded in shadow, and one couldn't see inside from the street.
"Not very inviting, hm?" Faelis said quietly to Leyla.
''It has an eerie but also mysterious feeling to it.'' Leyla said. She was both feeling exited and a little scared and she hoped the latter would soon fade.
She forced herself to forget her encounter with snakes. At the least it was not a spider. After a deep breath she started to approach the temple and greeted the priests in a polite manner
Faelis followed Leyla, and the priests nodded silently and Leyla and him as they entered the temple. There was a small dimly lit room with a few torches on the wall, and then there was a staircase leading down underground, to the main part of the temple. The staircase was mostly dark, lit only be a few flickering torches. The orange light flickered off of the dark red walls in a strange and creepy way.
"Not very inviting at all," Faelis commented, waiting for Leyla to move to go down first, in case she had changed her mind about going.
''It is not that bad...'' Leyla whispered and started to go down the stairs. Her curiosity won it over her feeling of being somewhat scared. Still. There were no scary corpses or staring skulls. It could have been far more worse.
She was carefull with her steps though.
Faelis followed right behind her. The staircase was long and twisting, and there were several closed, and, Faelis found, locked doors along the stairway. After a few moments the staircase opened into a large room. The walls were the same red marble, and the whole room was filled with a reddish-orange light. There was a large fireplace across the room, and a fire was roaring. Besides the fire, the only other light sources were a few torches and sconces. Tall pillars held up the ceiling, and there was a metal statue of a huge snake curled above the fireplace. There were a few snakes on the ground, but they were all very small, and slithered away when the two came near.
All in all, the effect of the whole place was rather creepy.
Leyla almost shrieked at the sight of the snakes. ''Alright Leyla... they are more afraid of you then you are of them.'' she whispered to herself. The room had both a mysterious and creepy feeling to it but Leyla did respected the deity and it's followers so gathered her courage and offered a prayer here as well at the shrine.
Faelis put a hand on Leyla's arm briefly when she saw the snakes, but he said nothing, and also offered a quick prayer to the god, after all it was the god of cunning, something with Faelis used often. He was a thief.
When he finished his prayer he looked to Leyla, trying to gauge if she wanted to leave, after all, she was not fond of the snakes.
After her prayer was done Leyla did manage to keep herself together. Finding it rude to do the prayer rushed and leave immediatly after it. She lit one of the candles and looked around once more. Not realising one of the snakes had found her feet and another shriek left her lips but she was soon to supress it.
But it also took her everything to not trample the creature out of reflex. If this was the doing of the God certainly it's sense of humor was not something she found amusing herself.
''Alright... let's go.'' she said as calmly as she could.
As she shrieked briefly, Faelis jumped, but then gently shooed the snake away and took Leyla's hand.
He started for the stairs, and when they had reached them and were climbing up, he whispered. "We didn't need to come here if you hadn't wanted to," he said. "I didn't know that there would be as many snakes down there as there were."
''It is alright really. First time I did not scream my lungs out with snakes and besides. For a deity's animal being a snake should not give me a reason to be disrespectful right? I tried and it actually went quite alright.'' she said with a giggle.
Faelis smiled. "Many people dislike snakes, I think that Anguis would understand."
They walked up the remainder of the stairs and out of the temple. Like the last temple they had visited, when Faelis stepped out, it took a second for his eyes and ears to adjust to the bright light and noises of the crowd.
"Where to next?" Faelis mused, trying to think of a place that would be interesting to Leyla. "Are there any places you've read about here that you'd like to see?"
''Well... where once was a mention of a Godess of entertainment I heard about when I was a little girl. The Godess' name was Sapphire but I do not know if she is real or if she would have a shrine here. Also there was Elijah, God of feasts. Still the same question wether just like Sapphire he was real or even from this region.''
Leyla replied after her eyes had adjusted to the light and wished the desciples a pleasant day.
''Other then that I had not really read a lot about this place. Or heard. Only the obvious things such as the ships being docked and that a lot of trade was done. Oh. Before I forget. Still want me to send a letter to those twins I spoke off?''
"Oh, I've heard of Sapphire," Faelis said, chuckling. "She's one of the Goddesses I actually know somewhat about. As for Elijah, I'm not sure, but it does sound vaguely familiar, though perhaps I'm just imagining things!"
"About the twins," Faelis nodded. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would appreciate if you would write the letter. I've been avoiding Perry for a while now, but sooner or later he'll catch up with me."
''Considder it done then. We can get a carrierpidgeon on our way back. Does Sapphire have a shrine here? If so I'd like to visit it.'' Just with Faelis' reason to have assosiations with cunning, so did she with entertainment.
''As for Elijah, other then God of Feasts was also sometimes refered in some regions as God of Wine.''
"Thanks," Faelis said to Leyla, then he nodded when she said God of Wine. "Ah, yes, I've heard about him," Faelis smiled. "And though I don't know if he has a shrine, I know where Sapphire's is. It's probably a fifteen minute walk from here."
''I would like to see it. For well.. obvious reasons.'' Leyla said with a giggle. She was certain there were many more other shrines but most likely visiting them all in one day was impossible not to mention she did not want to bore Faelis either.
"Let's go then!" Faleis said, and started off through the crowds. The streets were still packed, and Faelis loved it.
He was a thief, and worked in all kinds of environments, but he loved being around people, even if he didn't interact with them. The marketplace atmosphere gave him a good feeling, not to mention many full purses around.
"Do you know much about Sapphire?" Faelis asked Leyla as they walked.
''Ehhh...'' Leyla spoke pondering. It had been ages since she last read the tale. ''She was born from a Goddes' tear. The one from Elegance if I recall properly. A minor Goddess with not so much power. As Sapphire grew up she spread joy everywhere she went by making music and dancing from early morning till the late night if she could and in honor of her creator also with elegance. Her skills were legendary even after she had been cast down from the heavens for she at first had not been recognised as a true Goddess. Then a winter came which froze every mortal's heart. Using her power she danced and sang and it unded the powers of that dark winter. Not only that, she sealed the Fallen God responsible for that very same Winter as well due to magic of song. Sapphire was known to be able to use magic through songs as well. But the dance and songs with which she undid the winter should actually be recorded in a wallpainting. But this far there has not been a single person capable of repeating it.''
OOC: Sorry for the wait! :P
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OC: Faelis nodded. "That much I know as well," he said. "I also heard that the Fallen God she trapped was formerly the God of Ice, not surprise there."
Faelis looked around them, keeping a watchful eye out for the men from the day before, he had no interest of running into them again, though they undoubtedly wanted to find him.
((Sorry it took me so long. Some things well. Happpened.))
''Relax.'' Leyla spoke placing one of her fingers on his brow. ''You might get wrinkles.''
She allowed Faelis to guide the way to Sapphire's temple where two female desciples bowed politely to the two and with an elegant movement of their hands invited them in. It was spacious inside with a few people, whom actually were all disciples. Inside, a few women attempted a blind drum dance but were in eachothers way. It was not a bad performance and mistakes were easily concealed for those who did not know how this game worked. Which were many small round pebbles being thrown against drums that were against the room. The dancer or dancers had to hit each drum the pebbles had hit in the proper order. Leyla noticed that it were mainly disciples practising it.
A wall painting explained the legend of the Goddess Sapphire which Leyla had just told and in a seperate room, the supposed dance was engraved in the blue marble.
The disciples mainly danced. Some wearing more revealing clothes then the other depending on the type of dances they performed.
After entering the temple Faelis walked almost straight over to the engraving in the wall of the other room after watching the dancers for a few moments.
He rarely came to the temple, but when he did, he always looked at the carving. Despite that it was said that no carving could be made equal to the real thing, Faelis always found the carving beautiful. The goddess looked almost real, and it seemed that if one would touch her robes, they would feel soft cloth and not hard marble.
If one were to think that Faelis would be one to appreciate art, seeing as he often stole it, they would be dead wrong. The elven thief greatly appreciated art, and often understood its meanings. Sometimes, while stealing from some rich lord or another, Faelis would stop to admire the paintings on the wall that he couldn't steal, or were too big for his bag.
Leyla was intrigued by basicly everything she saw. From the carvings, the paintings, decorations and the dancers. She watched the drum dance which got performed once more by the apprentices before joinging Faelis at the carving which displayed the dance Sapphire had done to undo the the magic Winter and sealing the God responsible.
''Seems that the temple was built on top of the sealed God...'' Leyla whispered softly after observing the carvings
Faelis nodded. "Yep, and he's still under here, if all the stories are to be believed." The elven thief continued to look at the carving, taking in every detail with his sharp golden eyes.
"I've always loved this carving," he said, almost to himself, then he looked to Leyla, as if he just thought of something. "Have you ever tried the dance?"
''It is the first time I've seen it. At least the one on the carving. Though I would like to take my chances with the beads and drums. You are in the middle blindfolded and two long weightened fabrics are bound on the wrist. If you want it a degree harder also the ankles. Beads are thrown against the drums and the dancer may not move until it is silent. Then, in order of every drum that got hit, you lash the fabric against ot in a dance. This dance is never the same because of that. I do not mind taking my chances with the carving. Nobody thus far has been able to do it. Surely the one capable would receive some kind of honor. But since it is a dance of legend... and magic who knows what will happen if someone does it right. I would not want honor for being able to do this if there is even the slightest chance of doing something you can not turn back.''
''Wise words.'' an Acolyte spoke whom added water to a small fountain. ''Not a lot of people say it. Since after al, they do not consider the consequences. As for the drum dance, did you mean that> Wanting to try it? Many of our apprentices find it hard to perform.''
''You mean I will be actually allowed to do it?'' Leyla asked.
''Of course. People need only to ask. What do you say. Do you accept the challenge?'' the Acolyte asked. But it was already clear Leyla would not let a chance such as this pass by so already gestured to the room.
''Don't mind if I do.'' Leyla said with a giggle and looked at Fealis. Surely you'd want to watch right?'' she teased.
Faelis listed as Leyla explained the dance. He had seen it several times, but had never completely understood the mechanics of it.
Then elf nodded when she said of what might happen if the dance was ever done right.
"Nobody will ever know if they don't try it," Faelis said to the Acolyte when they spoke. "Though it would be wise to do a little more research on the matter before jumping right in. Though hopefully those who would have the devotion and skill to preform the dance, would also have the smarts to look into it a bit more before making a possibly rash decision."
Faelis laughed when Leyla agreed to try the drum dance. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" he said, only half joking.
Leyla pulled Faelis along with him until they reached the circle since the thief was supposed to stay out of it.
''Just the hands or also the feet.''
The acolyte asked as she approached Leyla with the weightened bags on the long strands of fabric.
Leyla pondered. ''I have confidence. Maybe a bit overconfidence but I am going for both.'' Leyla said with a smile.
''I like your spirit.'' the acolyte replied and bound the fabric on Leyla's wrists and ankles. Final, was the blindfold and another acolyte arrived with a shallow basked filled with round wooden beads in a variety of color.
The acolyte made sure Leyla indeed could not see anything and retreated to stand behind the circle of drums.
''Alright then. Let the dance begin.'' a priestess spoke who took two hands full of beads throwing all at the same time at the drums. The beads when hitting the skin from the drums made the music. Boucing sometimes to other drums and eventually would lay still on the ground. But Leyla would have to wait until all the sounds were gone.
Faelis followed Leyla to the edge of the circle and watched as they tied the weights to Leyla's wrists and ankles.
Faelis listened silently as the beads hit the drums, making a strange but beautiful music. The elven thief had confidence that Leyla would be able to complete the dance with few, or no, mistakes. After all, he had seen her dance, and knew to some degree the expertise of her dancing.
The beads one by one came to a stop on the ground. The tricky part for Leyla though was not to trip while she danced. And she was calm as well. She would make as little mistakes as she could but would allow herself to make them as well.
With small movements of her arms and legs she tested the weight and started the dance. Hitting one drum after the other. It was fast. not as fast as the beads though obviously and a few times Leyla had stepped on the beads on the floor. Gods that hurt! Still she figured out how to use the extra weight on her feet to move them aside for the most part. One drum after another and sometimes a few at the same time she hit the drums. Forming the dance and the music. It was actually a lot harder then she thought but the experience itself was good. Adrenaline rushing through her body and a thin sheet of sweat formed on her skin. She had however counted about half a dozin of mistakes. Compared to the amount of drums she hit though it was not high.
Out of breath when the dance was over she stood still at the centre where she started.
''Well done well done.'' the priestess spoke approaching Leyla and took off the blindfold. Leyla simply grinned.
Faelis clapped quietly, so not to disturb the other in the temple. "That was wonderful!" he exclaimed. He had counted four mistakes, all rather minor, thgoiugh there could have been more he had missed. "And you said you've never done a this before? I find they quite hard to believe!
"I knew that you would do well, but this!" He smiled widely. "That was truly amazing, Leyla."
''Sapphire has clearly blessed you. Especially if your claim is true'' The priestess said after both the blindfold and weighted fabric.
''I have often seen this dance but never actually performed it until now. I want to thank you and your disciples for giving me this chance.'' Leyla said with a polite bow. She was still out of breath and the priestess used the blindfold to wipe the sweat of Leyla's face.
''We thank you for your interest in Sapphire. And pray for her guidence to light and warm your path. Feel free to visit more often. I would ask you to stay and become a disciple but you are clearly a traveler. Would your travels bring you near, share with us the dances you have learned. We would appreciate it.''
''I shall.'' Leyla replied calmly. The disciples were already gathering the beads and Leyla approached Faelis. ''That was... intense.'' she admitted. But smiled regardless.
Faelis smiled again at Leyla as she approached.
"That was amazing," he said again. "It looks like it was quite tiring!"
As the disciples finished gathering up the beads, another few people came up to try the dance. They did quite well, but nothing compared to Leyla's dance.
"You made it look easy," Fealis said to her as the next dancer started to dance.
''It surely wasn't but am glad I tried it. Shall we walk around a little more? Outside in the sun? Maybe a patch of forest or the town a bit more.''
"Sure," Faelis said, still quite in awe of Leyla's abilities. When they left the temple back into the sunlight and loud noises of the street, Faelis looked around immediately to scan the street for any sign of anyone who looked hostile. It was a natural reaction, especially since they had been in the temple for a while, anyone could have caught up with them to wait outside, and though it was unlikely that they would be attacked directly in the street, they could be chased into an alleyway. . . like the last time.
"Where do you want to go now?" Faelis asked Leyla once he was mostly sure there was no one hostile-looking heading towards them.
Leyla pondered for a moment. It was afternoon now and remarkably warm. ''How about grabbing something to eat and find a good place a little secluded.'' she suggested. There were a lot of people walking around and after all the temples she could use a little moment with less people.
Faeli nodded, agreeing. "What do you want to eat?" he asked as they started walking. "Almost any food you can think of is probably sold somewhere in Cerenis."
Faelis stepped out of the way of a passing merchant as the man walked past, carrying a tray of strange-looking items in front of him. "And do you want to go beach to the beach?" faelis asked as they continued on. "Or somewhere else? After all, this is your adventure!"
And though Faelis had been to Cerenis many times before, now he seemed to see it all differently, with Leyla traveling with him.
''Tut tut that is where you are wrong. Our adventure. Not just mine.'' Leyla replied with a smile. ''As for food...'' she looked around. It was hard to decide. ''Maybe something like a stuffed bun? Or something easy to carry. Or we can eat at the inn. Most people are outside so it is a bit secluded but it is most likely cooler inside then outside. The dance was quite intense so a cool place sounds nice.''
"Hmm. . ." Faelis thought for a moment, then smiled. "Aha! There's an inn not far from here that serves the best stuffed pita bread, there won't be many people in there now."
Faelis then thought about what Leyla had said.
"Our adventure. . .'
''Then let's do that.'' Leyla said enthousiasticly and hooked her arm in his. ''Ready for you to lead the way.''
They started down the street again, and within a few minutes they were standing outside a rather large and well-kept establishment. There was a carved wooden sign hanging over the door that read, 'The Copper Inn' in large letters.
Faelis opened the door for Leyla before stepping inside himself. The inn was quite nice and well lit, though at this time, the place was mostly empty, save for a few small groups of people sitting and eating and a few at the long bar.
They went to a table and Faelis sat down, picking up a small menu from the wooden table. It was not usual for a regular inn to have a menu, but the Copper Inn, while not expensive at all, was on a main road and more respectable than some other inns around.
''Nice place.'' Leyla said with a smile. Sitting down as she looked around. Due to it not being so busy a servingwench quickly had come up to them.
''What can I get you two?'' she asked
Faelis smiled politely at the barmaid as she approached. "I'll have the stuffed pita, please," he said. "And an ale. Leyla?"
The server turned to the young woman, smiling.
''For me water please and also a stuffed pita.'' Leyla replied.
The woman nodded and left their table. Leyla took a deep breath. ''Ahh I needed this. Sitting for a moment and a good meal with pleasant company.'' she said with a smile as she looked at Faelis.
Faelis chuckled. "'Pleasant company' you call me? Hardly!" Then his smile softened. "Though I am quite glad that you are traveling with me, albeit the only reason you're here is because I tricked you. . ."
He looked down at his hands, then back up. "But, on a better note, that dance was great! The disciples there had been doing for years and you did better than most of them on your first try!"
''Well... depending on the point of view you were the opportunity for me to leave the city and actually do something I've always wanted to do. If being tricked was something needed then I do not regret it. Besides. It is not like you are a petty thief taking from everyone. It is not my type of lifestyle but that does not mean I should scold. Everyone always takes things away from other people. It are just not always things you can hold.'' she spoke calmly and not to loud so that other patrons would not hear.
Faelis found himself holding back a blush. Gosh, he was nearly blushing! Instead, he covered with a smile. " I'm glad you see it that way," he said as the server returned with two plates of food and two glasses. She was eyeing Faelis and Leyla somewhat suspiciously. After all, the regular customers of the in pen were merchants, and it was the middle of the day. As she walked away, Faelis turned to Leyla again.
"So, in your hometown you were a dancer," he stated. "Didn't anyone traveling through ever want to hire you for some sort of traveling act?"
''There have been a fe but they were not hiring. not to mention most of those traveling circusses, you are requested to give up most of your earnings. I am not into that kind of thing. Since frankly put. It isa ripoff. Not to mention if they are tired of you you can basicly be lleft behind. I can handle a bow and whip now because of you. That though, does not make me a warrior. I am certain that if I would be left behind now I would be in serious trouble.'' she jestered
"Hey, that's an idea" Faelis said, a thought suddenly popping into his head. "You know how to fight, but what if I died?" he stopped, realizing how that sounded. "I mean, I don't plan on dying, but what if we were attacked, I died, but you got away? What would you do? We should probably figure out what you should do, or I could teach you what you could do. . ."
He trailed off as he thought, taking a bite of his meal as he did.
''Not that I want to even think of you being dead or killed... it indeed is something we should consider to be a possibility. I do not have a clue what I need to do if it happens. Maybe after we leave tomorrow and are ready to set camp again?''Leyla asked.
She finished her drink before resuming eating her pita.''you know, this food is good.'' She said with a smile
"Hmm, how did I cope when I ran away?" Faelis hummed as he tried to recall. "I had already been kind of living on my own, people mostly ignored me, but when I actually got out into the world. . . I learned the hard way. Through many mistakes!"
Then a smile grew on his face and he barked a laugh. "Oh, there was this one time! I know you wouldn't do something like this, but I was such a fool! had just left, and was in a small town, looking for a place to sleep. I had some money with me," he lowered his voice. "Some I actually had not stolen, for once!" he continued to speak in a normal volume. "And I went to an inn. It was quite shabby, but I had no idea about anything, so I just sauntered in there, hardly any fighting ability, and acting like I owned the place. So I went to the bar, and the bartender didn't like how I was acting, especially when he said that they were full, they clearly weren't, and I started to complain. . ." Faelis chuckled. "Let's just say I got roughed up a bit."
He took another bite of his food, and hen he had swallowed he leaned back in his chair. "It's not to hard to deal with the world," Faelis said, smiling. "Once you know the basic, at least."
''There is a huge difference between how men are treated and how women are treated. At the least, I've heard the fair share of stories which also made me a bit frightened to travel.'' she recalled the night the men had shown and it was something she could also not easy forget. Then again perhaps it would've happened sooner or later regardless of wether she left or not.
''I suppose though, I feel small when I am alone. Would it happen though, like if we for some reason lose one another or if well. You would die. I do not know what I should do... maybe get better with the whip or daggers perhaps...''
Faelis nodded at her words.
"I think that the best thing to do is just watch yourself and use common sense, which I know you'd do. If you were ever to find yourself alone, just don't draw attention to yourself. Going to one of the temples of a benevolent god could be helpful, they'd be able to show you the way to a respectable guidepost. From there, if you had money, you'd be able to get back home." Faelis frowned. "You make money by dancing, so if you needed money, I'd suggest asking the clerics at a temple to show you to a respectable inn to look for work, rather than dancing on the street." Faelis shook his head. "You never know what people will do."
''Well dancing in public is not nessesarily a risk. It depends on where you go. You will never find me dancing in a back alley. Those are... other types of dances. I've worked in Arca long enough to know where it is safe and where not. Always in sight of an inn, or guards'' she finished her drink and pita bread. ''That hit the spot..'' she said with a contend sigh.
Faelis nodded. "Of course," he said, finishing up the last bites of his food and leaning his chair back on two legs. "I've always liked this place," he said, taking the last sip of his drink.
''I will make sure to remember it too.'' Leyla replied. Inhaling deeply and exhaling calmly.
''Alright. Lets pay for our food and send out a bird for those twins I mentioned. You may need to want to write some details as well. I do not know wether we meet them in person, or if they focus on the job and find your friend rahter right away.''
Faelis pulled a small handful of coins from a pouch on his belt and counted out the correct amount, plus a few extra for a tip, while he waited for the server to come back. He nodded thoughtfully at Layla's words.
"I don't think that it's necessary for us to meet," he said. "Like you said, I'll just write the details and we can send it. Then when they're finished, they can send a bird back. How much money should we send along?"
Faelis wasn't sure what kind of expenses the twins would have to cover, plus their personal wages.
''They collect only after they are done. So we will meet them regardless. Once or twice depends on wether we meet them before they fullfill the task as well as after.'' Leyla replied as she got on her feet.
After the wench collected the money and wished them a good day, they walked towards a place where posting birds were all sitting calmly in their cages. Leyla immediatly noticed there were various kinds. From simple pidgeons to even falcons and hawks. The small business was ran by a druid which kind of surprised Leyla. After all she thought druids only kept to themselves in the woods.
After talking to the man he explained that for short distances he used pidgeons but for larger distances he used birds of prey instead to reduce the risk of the pidgeons being killed. The letter having to be sent to Arca, he recommended the falcon which Leyla accepted and paid for. It was Faelis though who had to write the letter since he would know the details. She spoke with the druid regarding the location in Arca the letter had to be sent to.
Faelis followed Leyla out after paying and they went to the post center.
As Leyla spoke to the man, Faelis wrote out the letter, describing the details and everything the twins would need to know.
"You'd better say something too," he said to Leyla. "So they know it's from you."
As he handed her the paper and feather-less quill, he bit his lip. "I understand that this is their job," he said. "But I don't want to pressure anyone into doing their kind of, work. So they don't have to do this if they don't want to."
Faelis may have been a thief, but he was not an avid supporter of the twins work.
''Lets just say their hobby together is sleeping with men and women, get information to use against those they lay with, rip them off or rob them depending on their mood. I am not fond of the word whores but basicly that is what they are. They really enjoy doing these kind of things. If this would force them I'd never let them consider to even sell their own bodies this way.'' Leyla replied as she wrote a little message on the paper. Instead of signing the letter with her own name though she wrote down Lilac.
''And done.'' she replied. Waiting for the ink to dry before folding it into a neat package of paper. The letter got sealed shut by the druid who then bound it to the falcon which in the meantime got food and water.
''With the bird fed, it should reach Arca in no more then three days.'' the druid assured
''Thank you sir.'' Leyla replied with a polite bow. Her gaze then went to Faelis wondering what they should do next. There were still a few hours before dusk. ''What will we do. Stay one more night or grab our things and go today, camping when darkness falls.'' she walked towards him like always. ''I kind of have the feeling someone is watching us... but I can not see who or where.'' she whispered very softly.
"Whatever you want to do," Faelis said, then lowered his voice as she stepped nearer. "If we are being watched, we shouldn't stay in the same inn as last night, just in case."
The elf wondered if it had been the man from a few days ago again, coming back to get their revenge on him.
Despite this, he was glad, or, rather, assured, to find that the twins were very willing to do this kind of work. He had known that they already did it, but he didn't know how often or how comfortable they were with it.
Leyla nodded. ''Let's go back to our room, collect our things and pay.'' she suggested. Who or whatever was watching them it made her feel really uncomfortable. Hopefully switching inns for the night would solve it.
Faelis thanked the post man before turning in the direction of the inn they had stayed at.
"We could leave today," he said. "If you wanted to, I don't have a preference."
He hoped that whoever was watching them wouldn't make any moves, but Faelis wasn't very hopeful. If it was the same men from before, if they didn't attack tonight, it would be tomorrow. But perhaps staying in the city for tonight would be a good idea, rather than going out alone into the woods at night.
''Staying in a crowded area might increase our own chances. We were seperated from the larger crowd the other time too so they do not seem to want to involve others.'' Leyla replied as she pondered. Her thoughts too went to the men who had attacked them first and then her mind wondered to the men Faelis stole from to buy the slaves their freedom.
As long as they did not know who was tailing them going to authorities would matter little. Not to mention if it was the second group, she doubted help would've been given due to the fact Faelis had stolen from them.
She relaxed after entering the inn with Fealis where they were staying thus far although that did not mean she was not on her guard.
Faelis nodded his agreement. "It's probably the men who cornered us in that alley," Faelis said softly as they made their way to their room to gather the rest of their things. "At least if it's them they won't have any personal guards, unlike the people I stole from."
He didn't need to mention that the men who had cornered them didn't need and guards. They both knew that.
Faelis opened the door to their room and stepped inside.
The room seemed to be fine and everything was the way it had been left behind by them when they left this morning. ''Those men... what are they specialised in anyway.'' Leyla asked as she put a belt arond her waist that could hold the whip. The quiver was slung over her shoulder followed by her bag and bow.
"Similar to my profession," Faelis said, grabbing the few things he had left behind in the room. "Thieves, though of a more brutal nature." He pulled a face. "There's not much they wouldn't do. That's part of the reason I turned them in."
''To bad they were released...'' Leyla muttered. She wondered if it was not common for known thieves for one of their hands to be removed but it was a thought that quickly left her mind.
''I have all of my posessions. You too?'' Leyla was not sure why she felt so on edge. It could not have been just because she felt like being watched right? There was not exactly proof that they indeed were.
"I completely agree," Faelis said darkly, then nodded. "I've got all my stuff. Let's go."
He made his way down into the common area, but looked over his shoulder at Leyla. "Why Lilac?" he asked. Perhaps it was the name the twins knew her by, or a nickname.
''I am good at getting in trouble. I may never have been rich myself but I knew plenty who were. It does not take a person long to find out I am an easy target. So if I ever had to write someone whilest being threatened I can sign it with my true name and they'd know I am in trouble since everyone knows me as Leyla. If things are good, I sign it with my nickname. Lilac is a name they gave me. Color of my hair and slightly sounds like my real name.'' Leyla replied with a smile.
The inn was not full. Only a few patrons including the one Faelis had a brawl with not to long ago.
''Judging by the fact you both took your gear I guess you two are going? Keys please.'' The innkeeper said with a smile. Although he smiled at Fealis a little less. Sure. Leyla had compensated for the broken table and chair but he did not exactly like brawlers. Not that he could avoid them often...
Leyla handed him the keys and paid for the rooms. ''Thank you for the hospitality sir. '' Leyal said to the man who nodded.
''Thank you both for your stay and safe travels.'' he replied.
"Smart," Faelis smiled as they walked over to the innkeeper.
The men that Faelis had fought with shot him a few dirty glares, but the thief ignored them, there was no need to start another fight.
Faelis thanked the innkeeper and the two walked out of the inn. "There's an inn ten minutes away from here we can stay at," he said. "I just hope that nothing happens. . ."
''I hope so as well...'' Leyla replied and took his hand in hers when they left.
It seemed busier then before for some reason. She could hear music not to far away from the inn and people gathered around it like flies. If she did not feel so watched then surely normally she would have given it a listen.
As they moved through the crowd Leyla realised she held Faelis' hand tightly not wanting to lose him. Still it was easier said then done and a few times people had bumped into her making it difficult to keep a hold of his hand.
Faelis appreciated her taking his hand much more than he let on.
As they passed the music, the crowds got thicker, and Faelis had trouble staying with Leyla.
He slipped aside as a woman pushed past, and he felt Leyla's hand slip from his own. The thief spun around, but the crowd had pressed around him, and Leyla was no where in sight.
For am moment panic welled in his chest, but he took a breath. It was fine. Even if they were being followed and watched, nothing could happen in this crowd, right? All the same, as the elf pushed though the crowd, looking and calling for her, he couldn't help but feel like something was about to go terribly wrong. ..
''Faelis?...'' Leyla called out several times but was no use. She should've asked where that inn was that in case this happened they could meet one another there.
With a lot of effort she managed to get to the less thicker part of the crowd and quickly checked wether she still had all of her posessions. Nothing seemed to be stolen and she sighed. Now what?
Perhaps going to that special spot at the beach? Not many people knew about that place and it was a spot Faelis liked a lot so it would've made sense right? Or the pirate ship? Since it was less secluded and they knew her and Faelis.
She stayed as close to the houses and shops as she could but it was only a few minutes later when she saw someone. One of the men whom threatened Faelis before. She was not sure if he had seen her though so went another way. She saw another of them but thisone looked right at her and actually approached her. She had to get out of here and fast.
Back to the inn seemed the best option for now but as she passed an alleyway she felt something strong taking hold of her arm and before she could scream a hand over her mouth.
Faelis could now feel every muscle in his body was tense as he called out for Leyla. He went to the edge of the crowd and looked around. Okay, where would Leyla go? Back to the inn? He would try there first.
He started back for the inn they had just been at. He stepped through the door but Leyla was not in sight. He ran up to the bar, and the innkeeper looked up at him from where he was polishing a glass, his eyebrows raised.
"Something I can do for you?" he asked.
"Did the young woman I was with come in here?" he asked, and the innkeeper shook his head. "Can I check the room?" Faelis asked, and the innkeeper paused for a second.
"I assure you, she didn't come in here."
"Please," Faelis said, and the innkeeper nodded. He took the key and led Faelis up to the room. He opened the door. The room was empty.
"See? No one there," he said, and he and Faelis went back downstairs.
"Hope you find her," the innkeeper said and Faelis rushed out the door.
Where could she be?"
Despite the grip around her body was strong Leyla did struggle and soon got the opportunity to bite in the mans hand hard causing him to let her go but before she got away something or someone strong pulled her hair so hard she let out a scream.
''The bitch bit me...'' the big man said. Appearantly blood was drawn after all.
''Faeli..'' she could not even finish saying his name before someone slapped her hard in the face.
''What is it little girl? Lost your boyfriend?'' the man asked who kept the tight grip on her hair. Not a grip he held long, feeling her fingernails over his cheek as she slapped and scratched him.
''Oh we got a fighter here...'' he said with a grin. ''We fortunatly know what to do with fighters such as you...'' he backed off to dodge the whip. Walking backwards attempting to leave the alley they had dragged her to.
''Take her out Rufus...'' the man Leyla had scratched said with a grin. She realised to late someone was behind her who picked her up and threw her on the ground. ''If you do as we say we promise not to hurt you. It is Faelis we want but you happen to be a simple good tool to get him.'' he said and soon all the men closed in on her.
Her wrist and arm on which she landed hurt and despite her chances were small she still attempted to get up. ''You are Fae folk. How sensitive are you I wonder.'' the man Leyla had scratched said before taking a dart.
The sight alone made Leyla pale. ''P-please... dont...'' she started but released a loud scream as the dart got thrown and pierced her leg. It did not take long for her until pain was not all she felt. She started to feel drowsy and the world started to spin.
''Let's get out of this alley. Fealis is elven he surely would've heard it. No matter the music. If he realised he had lost her then he is focussed on finding her.'' the big man said as he slung Leyla's limb body over his shoulder.
Faelis's head snapped around as he heard the scream.
"Leyla," he gasped, and tore off in the direction of the sound. The crowds were thick, but he slipped through, pushing through when he had to.
His head wasn't clear, but one thought pushed through. Revenge. If it was the men from before, they would have taken Leyla for revenge against him.
They might kill her.
He burst through the other side of the crowd and ran for the backstreets, where the sound had come from. He rushed into an alley but his elven senses picked up something and he skidded to a halt. There were three drops of blood on the cobblestones, and in the dirt there was the signs of a struggle.
Blood. Was she okay?
There wasn't much, and it may not even be her blood, Faelis tried to assure himself. He took off again, going slower now, looking out for more clues.
Continuesly slipping in and out of consciousness, Leyla had no idea how much time had passed. But it was somewhere dark and moist. Lamps were lit and it smelled like mould.
''Where am I...'' Leyla asked. She tried to move but her body would not listen. At the least the dart was finally gone.
''Welcome in the den of thieves kiddo.'' the big man grinned and took a pair of iron cuffs As the warm orange light spread through the room.
''Please... I will do anything you say but please... no iron I am begging you...'' she felt the metal burn her skin however when they were put on. It stung like a thousand needles and she could not help but to scream. Her shoes were removed and some of her clothes but enough to keep her barely decent.
''Nice nacklace.'' before Leyla could protest she could feel the chain being ripped off her neck. Also he took a lock of her hair. ''Rufus. Bring this to Faelis as a motivator would you?''
''Of course.'' Rufus replied as he took the pendants.
''Why are you doing this...'' Leyla asked.
''He has a dept to pay to us. If he does what we want we will not have to torture you.'' another replied as he wiped away Leyla's tears from her cheek. It only resulted in her spitting in his face.
''You want to play? Fine.'' the man said with a grin. ''Let's see how well you dance after we are done with you then.'' he grinned.
--
Rufus had made his way back to the town and by the time he found Faelis it was dusk. ''Hello old friend. Missed me?'' he asked from a safe distance. ''I think you are looking for this aren't you.'' He let the chain and pendants hand from one of his hands. ''Or do you prefer the owner.'' he released the lock of Leyla's hair in the wind
Faelis followed their trail, but it was slow going, there was not much to go by.
It was dusk when he heard the voice ahead of him and looked up from here he was examining a mark on the pavement.
In half a second Faelis was on his feet and a dagger was out, but he stayed his hand. His fear for Leyla was replaced by a burning rage in his chest.
"Where is she?" he growled. His heart skipped a beat as he saw what the man held, and the only thing that kept him from losing control was the thought that if he did, he wouldn't be able to help Leyla. "You know me, Rufus," Faelis said quietly, dangerously. "You know what happens when I get angry. So just tell me where she is and I'll try not to hurt you."
''To bad Faelis it works the other way around thistime.'' Rufus replied and tossed the necklace into the dirt for Faelis to pick up. ''If you hurt me or follow me to where she is, we will kill her nice, and slowly. Do what we want and she is all yours. I do wonder how long she can face the effects of iron. I can not exclude she will go into shock.'' Rufus grinned wickedly.
''Retaliation old friend, at it's finest. We have a job for you. You, have to pay up for what you've done. And I am not talking about a sack of gold. You, are going to steal something. Bring that to us and we exchange the stolen goods for Leyla. Does that sound like a good deal for you? I do recommend not to wait to long. It would be a shame to take her apart piece by piece. The hair was a warning. Next time it will be her fingernails.''
Faelis's breath caught in his throat, and he grit his teeth. Never before had he encountered a situation such as this. Never before had he not been able to center himself in the face of danger.
"What do you want me to steal?" he asked through his teeth. He would steal for them, if that's all they wanted, but he knew these people. He knew they wouldn't just let him go once he gave them what they wanted, but there was nothing else he could do. Not with Leyla in such danger. For he didn't think for a second that the men wouldn't carry out their threats if he didn't do as they said.
''You spoke of your heritage once. A prince. Surely your family has some good priced items. Something... priceless. A magic artifact perhaps or some one of a kind special jewelery. Something we can sell. Steal something good from your family and I promise on my soul, you can close the little fae girl back in your arms. You will find the hiding place I have no doubt although I will wait for a message at the inn you left today every seven days or so. If we do not hear from you we will send your bonny lass piece, by piece. Sounds like a good deal to me to be honest. Then again. You are a petty thief. Thsoe two pendants are worth something too right? So if you do not want to bother it is fine and we will take the little ragdoll for ourselves.''
Faelis wanted more than anything to attack this man, but he held himself back, he needed to do what was best for Leyla.
"I'll steal for you," he said his burning rage and fear barely controlled. "Even if it is from my family, but they live more than a four week journey from here, one way."
He didn't want to leave Leyla for that long, he couldn't bear it. She could have died from the iron by then.
''Then I suggest you hurry mate.'' Rufus said with a grin. ''Unless they have a secondary home closer by in total it would be two months at least for sure. ''Normally I would've allowed you to see her in her current state but the others did not agree on that. Do not forget to write. Keeping us updated is the only thing that will prevent us from doing things that can not be repaired. Tic, tac. Oh I recommend a horse. It will be faster.'' he winked and waved.
''Good luck oh... do not get caught. Just a tip.''
Faelis could barely think. He couldn't leave Leyla for that long. There must be another way. He would have argued with Rufus, but he knew nothing would come of it, so he spun an his heel and walked away.
He would waste no time, he would leave right now.
He knew that he probably would be able to find where they were keeping Leyla, but he could never fight all the men alone. He ran into the main street and looked around for a horse or stable anywhere. he saw one and made for it, then stopped.
Rufus had mentioned a secondary home.
In the whirlwind that was his mind Faelis hadn't processed that. Maybe his parents did have a secondary home here! He spun around and ran to the nearest vendor, who was a metalwork salesman.
"Do you know if there are any Gindien's living in Cerenis?" he snapped, unable to keep the tension from his voice. The dwarf looked at him angrily.
"Who are you talking to like that?" he said gruffly.
"Please, just tell me!" Faelis pleaded, and the dwarf sighed, seeing Faelis was in obvious distress.
"Yes, the royals from some elven kingdom, they have a mansion here. I don't know if they're there now, but it's on Drigell Street."
Not even thinking to thank the dwarf Faelis took off. He knew where that street was, he had been there before.
He hoped his family wasn't there, not that they would be able to stop them, but he didn't want them to slow him down in any way.
The dwarf mumbled something regarding a thanks would not be amiss but resumed his work.
''You are in a hurry.'' A familiar voice sounded. It came from the blind man whom had warned Faelis before. Despite being a seer though futures depended on the choices people made. Therefor there were numerous futures and it was always impossible to see what actually would happen.
(OOC: I like the introduction of this guy again! What was his name?)
___________________________________________________________________________
Faelis looked up when he heard the voice. He thought he recognized the man, and if he had taken a moment he would have remembered what from, but he didn't have time to think.
"If you know I'm in a hurry," Faelis snapped, "then why don't you leave me to do what I need to do and go away."
((OoC: His name is Kayden Galwyn ;) ))
-----------
''If you do not think clearly right now you will run right into the hands of guards and she will end up dead or at the slave market always wondering what happened with you. These men have nothing to lose and it is a game of opportunity. They allerted guards regarding the place you are going. I warned you did I not. That if you both stayed it was her whom would pay the price for it.'' Kayden got on his feet.
''You, need allies. Got friends you trust?''
The man's words seemed to have an impact on Faelis.
He stopped walking and in one breath he let all of his anger disappear. He leaned back against a wall of a building and put his face in his hands.
He had traveled to a residential street, and there was hardly anyone around. He took a few deep breaths. The man was right, he couldn't just barge in like this, he could be killed, or he could accidentally kill someone.
He didn't have any allies, it would be wise to acquire some. But who could he trust?
"Who are you?" Faelis asked, looking up at the man.
''Kayden Galwyn. A traveling Seer.'' he held out his hand. ''I know a trick or two but I am better as a last resort. Do you have anything that belongs to her? Or a location where she had been taken? I could try and see where at the least they are holding her. One guy raises less suspicion then a group.''
Faelis wasn't sure if he should trust this man at all, but he sighed and spoke.
"I don't have anything of hers," Faelis said. "But I left off following her and the men halfway down the alleyway that branches of off Elm Street," he then realized he had let her pendant there. Fool. "There's probably two pendants there on the ground. They're hers. I can't fight all the men alone, not in my state, so I thought I'd be better off stealing something for them. There's seven men, all considerable fighters, and there may be more by now. People they've hired."
He narrowed his eyes. "What do you plan on doing?"
''I may be blind but that does not make me less of a fighter. I can use magic circles but I need to draw them before they work so that is not exactly useful unless we can lure them in a trap. If you have allies I recommend asking assistence. Does the girl not have any friends or allies?''
Kayden placed his hand on Faelis' shoulder and frowned. ''I am not fond of any of these given futures. So let's change that shall we? To her and your favor. I will get the pendants. Depending when they were taken from her I can read the memory of sound of them and see where they are holding her. Try to uncloud your thoughts in the meantime and think of who could perhaps help you alright?''
"I don't think she knows anyone around here," Faelis said. "And there's no one around here who would help me without pay, and I don't think I could find anyone within a reasonable amount of time."
The thought didn't even cross the thief's mind to ask his parents for help, at least not yet.
"I'll try to find someone who will help," Faelis said, stepping away from the wall. "And if the pendants aren't still there, you might be able to track them to their hiding spot, or I could."
Faelis still didn't know if he should be accepting this man's help, but there wasn't much else he could do. he could steal from his parents and give the men whatever he stole, but it was very unlikely they'd let him and Leyla go, just like that.
''I will take care of the pendants, and meet you at your special safe spot in about half an hour.'' Kayden replied.
''As for the girl. They will not mutilate her or injure her permanently as long as you remain in contact with them. She may not be in the best shape right now but if you rush this it will get worse. Do not limit yourself to just this place. Does she have a home? Family? Friends? Anything. Give yourself the time to think.'' with those words spoken he left, heading towards the spot Faelis mentioned.
--
He kept his word, he showed up at the place on the beach with both pendants on the chain. The chain however was broken but now away from prying eyes he could use his skills. The memory of sound. Not his favourite thing to use and when done he felt truely groggy as after effect from how Leyla felt.
Faelis frowned at the man, he knew of the beach. . . Must be connected to the 'seer' part of the man.
Of course Leyla's family would want to help, if they knew of this, but they were weeks away, did the seer have some way of bringing them here?
'I need to get us some help,' Faelis thought, but all the people he could think of were either not in Cerenis at the time, or would be completely unwilling to help.
It was only then that Faelis thought of his family.
He pushed the thought aside. They wouldn't help him. . . would they?
He ran all the way to the street his parent's house was on. This whole neighborhood was of mansions, and he knew which one was theirs right away by the crest that sat above the grand door.
It was large and made of dark wood with green highlights. The family crest was stationed above the wooden entrance and several elven guards stood outside.
He walked up to the gate, and was, of course stopped by the guards.
"I need to see the Gindien's," He stated flatly, and the guards looked at each other. "Just tell them that it's very important."
One guard rushed off, and a few minutes later Faelis was being escorted up to mansion and into the entrance room.
Two elves were standing there. They were both tall and handsome, the man wearing his long black hair back, showing his dark gold skin, and the woman wearing a fine gown. Both of them nearly staggered as their eyes fell upon Faelis.
"Faelis!" his mother cried, and rushed forward, but stopped after a few steps, a deep frown on her face. "Where have you been?"
"Mother, father," Faelis said, his voice urgent. "I know I've been gone for years, never once contacting you, but I need your help-!"
"Our help?" his father said loudly. "Why do you deserve our help? You've ignored us for years, and now, when you need something, you expect us to come rushing to your rescue?"
Faelis scoffed, and couldn't help but snap back. "I've ignored you? My whole childhood I was ignored by you! My whole childhood you didn't pay any attention to me!"
"Faelis-!" His father started sternly, but Faelis cut him off.
"If not for me, help for the young woman who is, right now, being held captive," Faelis said loudly. "She could die!"
His parents frowned, and quietly conversed. They turned back to him. "We don't know you Faelis," his mother said. "And we cannot trust you, no matter how much we want to." Faelis opened his mouth, but his mother held up hand and continued. "But, we will let you take three guards to help your friend. Wait, she's not your girlfriend, is she?"
Mothers, just couldn't help it, could they?
"Thank you," Faelis sighed, ignoring the last question. In truth, he had barely heard it. "But we have to go now."
His father made a motion, and three confused-looking guards stepped forward. "You will take orders from my son until the girl is saved. Do not do anything I would not order you to." The men nodded, and Faelis's father continued. "Faelis, please come back to talk to us. We have a lot to straighten out."
Faelis nodded, but barely heard his father as he and the three guards rushed from the mansion.
__
They arrived on the beach not long after and Faelis walked up to the seer. "Well?" he asked. "What have you found?"
(OOC: Sorry for the super long post!)
''Unless they moved her she is being held in something called the Den of Thieves. A cavesystem of old mines lowlife most likely use to take shelter in. It are not just those seven you speak off. It is well guarded for as far as her blurry vision showed me.'' Kayden replied and held out the silver chain and pendants for Faelis to take.
''If we rush to much, she is done for. It is good we have extra man power but if they see guards then they are surely alarmed. The only advantage we have, is that they most likely did not know your family's home was here. Something about a few weeks travel? Also... those twins the letter was sent to could be of help but they are to far away it seems.''
Kayden could teleport and pick them up but teleportation was not without risks and he had to keep a low profile.
''When I touched your shoulder earlier, wether you give those who have the girl something to satisfy their greed or not they will still come after you. No matter the type of future I was looking for. The only difference I could find was that your actions are going to decide wether she survives or not so lets make sure you all make it out alive.''
Faelis nodded as the seer explained what he had discovered, he had expected there to be more than the original seven men, but his heart quickened when the seer said what he had seen in his future.
"I won't let her die," Faelis said, his voice strong. "No matter what."
He glanced around. "We can't exactly barge in there. . ." he said, then looked back to the seer. "What is the layout of the hideout?"
If he knew the layout, perhaps he could sneak inside and let the others in. After all, he was a thief. Sneaking was his specialty.
''I know only the route Leyla took. It are large mines and the moment they notice we are in without something they asked you to steal, they are not happy. If we would barge in now with an item and you saying that your family had a residence here, I doubt they believe that either. It would be to convenient.''
Kayden pondered. Wishing Faelis had taken his warning more serious.
''We could get the guards first, kill them as clean as possible or knock them out and steal their gear. No offense to the guards, extra hadns are always good but they will draw to much attention. Easier would be for them and me to conceal ourselves as thieves and bring in you with an artifact or two. As painfull as it is we can not get her tonight, or even this week due to the suspicion. They expect you to travel for a week at the least by horse to reach your parents' home.''
Kayden's face went towards the guards. ''You all look like a clever bunch, think with me here. I may be a Seer but I can only know futures from my surroundings or the people in those surroundings.''
Faelis nodded.
"It would be plausible for me to have gathered some people to help me," he said. "But we're not even supposed to know where the hideout is, so even if we did get something to give them, they would be suspicious. Rufus, the man who had the pendants, told me to meet him in an inn."
Faelis looked at the pendants he had taken from the seer. The three guards looked kind of dumbstruck when the seer asked for their opinion. One blinked, the shook his head, he had never been asked for his advice before!
"Well, you're not supposed to know where the hideout is, but perhaps I, or one of my colleagues, could pose as thieves who already know the place. So, you would have hired us to help you steal, and when you have an item to hand in, we could show you to the hideout so we could get in?"
''that could work.'' Kayden replied. ''I would not mind to pose as a thief. With my current clothes I will most likely fit right in. He had a point there, he could be mistaken for a kindhearted pirate.
''But nobody believes a blind guy to be a thief. It is probably dangerous in there. If they realise who you are there will be a problem. Either resulting in being killed or being taken captive. If we get someone in there perhaps he would be able to at the least calm the girl down.''
"One of you could go there, pretending to be a thief," Faelis began, "And pretend to be completely unconnected to me. Then we'd have an inside man. You could go in within a day or two."
The elf didn't like the idea of having to wait for nearly three weeks to save Leyla, but there wasn't really any way else they could do it.
"But that still leaves us the problem of how exactly we're going to get her out," Faelis said.
''True. They expect you to come with a few highly prized items. And this plan is all assuming they are not going to move location. It is something I can not forsee.'' Kayden thought about things some more. Thousands of years of experience. If he was not hunted himself he could have helped a lot better.
''If we decide on an exchange, it might be an idea for someone to impersonate you. Or something. There is magic called Stardrop Doppelganger. It is something you can only cast once but for the cost of a memory you can create a non living being looking exactly like you. It will have the same weaknesses as a person but when it dies it will fade away taking the memory with it. If it lives, you can get the memory back. But it is quite a heavy price to pay.''
Faelis bit his lip, thinking. He didn't want to relinquish any of his memories, but if he wanted to get Leyla back. . .
"Okay," he said. "I would do it, but we still need a complete plan. What kind of memory must be given to make this doppleganger?"
''Any is fine. But the stronger the memory is, the more durable the doppelganger is. But you are right about one thing. We will need a solid plan first. Your family is here right? An idea could be to consult with them. One way or another we need something to present to those who have the girl if we want the least amount of trouble. Maybe I could find this Rufus guy. You are supposed to meet him at an inn once done. It will most likely not be the type of inn good people go to, or one you are familiar with as additional hostages.''
"My parents might want to help," Faelis said. "But they probably wouldn't give us something valuable, at least not without some sort of proof that Leyla really is captured. Today was the first time they've seen my in seven years.
"And the inn is actually not a bad place, it was the place Leyla and I had stayed at. So once we get something valuable to give to the men who have Leyla, we can hopefully get inside and get her out. They won't just let her go once I give them the valuable thing, they're not that easy to please. We could have the doppleganger of me give them the item and distract them while the rest of us, myself disguised, get Leyla."
''Possible.'' Kayden replied. Making a star drop doppelganger of Leyla would be a possibility too but when they would reach her she most likely would not be able to do much.
''Try to get some rest. I will see if I can manage to get some more information about the Den of Thieves. Did you not have some pirate friends? The memory echo was a little blurry due to the amount of time passed.''
Faelis frowned when he mentioned the pirates. They had been in port, but they had been ready to pull out. . . Perhaps they had been delayed.
"I'll go and see if they're still in port," Faelis said, he didn't think he could sleep anyway. He started away, and the guards started after him, but he stopped them. "I don't know if the captain would like it if you came aboard his ship. Get some rest."
The guards hesitated, then nodded, and Faelis started off again.
''the upcoming time is not going to be easy on him...'' Kayden replied as he saw Faelis go.''You all may need a change of gear. If they would see him with guards I doubt things will end pleasantly for the girl.''
"We'll get changed," the guard who seemed to be the leader, said. "We'll all meet here tomorrow afternoon."
He and the other guards nodded to the seer and walked off.
____________
Faelis nearly ran to the docks, barely able to contain his emotions.
"Gods, get it together, Faelis!" he scolded himself. "You've got to be in complete control if you want to get Leyla back alive!"
The elf's heart sung when he saw the familiar ship waiting in the docks.
Despite the late hour, pirates were going to and fro from the ship, many drunk. The sentry at the gangplank didn't even notice as Faelis walked aboard, he was too drunk. he crept across the deck and knocked on the door of the captain's cabin.
"Who is it?" a voice answered.
"It's me, Faelis," the elf said, and a moment later the door was opened by Jackal. The pirate looked quite surprised, then he frowned upon seeing Faelis's obvious discomfort. "What's up?" he asked, and Faelis explained to his friend everything that had happened.
"Why are you still in port?" he finished.
Jackal, who had been listening quite raptly, sighed. "The crew, drunk as hell. We couldn't sail straight with them on the ship."
"Can you help?" Faelis asked, and Jackal nodded.
"As many men as I can get you without the city guard getting suspicious. They already are not sure about me, seeing all my men leave would give them reason to take some action."
Faelis sighed, and felt as if he had been holding his breath ever since he had started for jackal's ship.
"Thank you," he said, and Jackal clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we'll get her back."
Faelis looked up. "what about the slaves?" he asked. "They won't be in danger if you stay in port for a while longer, will they?"
Jackal shook his head. "They'll be fine. I've got sober pirates making sure no one attempts to recapture them."
"Good," Faelis said, stepping away from the cabin door. "Thank you again Jackal, I'll come back in a few weeks, when we're ready."
And with that he turned and left the ship.
''Please... let me go... you have hard feelings against Faelis I get that... but this is no way to solve it.'' Leyla said softly. She was as pale as white paper and shivered all over. To prevent her from cutting the skin open where the iron cuffs were, her hands were completely bound.
''Then how would you solve it princess.'' Rufus asked as he sat down in front of her. ''Talking? A... dinner like friends with lots of drinking and pretty girls? Oh no we are way past that. You know...'' he tapped the side of his cheek with one of his fingers as if pondering. ''He might just use you too. Steal something big and let you take the fall for it. Think about it. You did not know he was a thief until the truth was forcefully revealed. He deceived you. Us, well. You know what we are. We are just like Faelis only honest. He took the bindings off her hands and removed the cuffs, applying medicine after that to soothe the burns and sctrach marks. ''You know, we saw your skills. With some training you would be a nice addition. What do you say.'' He wanted to caress Leyla's cheek but withdrew his hand when she started to laugh.
''You? Being just like Faelis? Please. He is a million times better then you will ever be in your miserable life. He, does not have to withdraw in a cave like a rat. At the least he has morals. You do not have me here for leverage, you merely have me as bait. I am not a person to you but an object like basicly everything else you take. You steal and steal but mark my words you are never, going to be satisfied. Never will it be enough for you and when it is far, far to late you are going to realise you are just one pethatic empty person who is, and never be able to be anything.'' she spat and panted. Sweat dropping over her brow and before Rufus realised she gave him a headbutt and a push.
'' A feisty one despite the pain, wiping the spit from his cheek. He looked far from amused. ''No food it is then for you the upcoming 24 hours. Enjoy your sollitude, little princess. And the cuffs. They are not coming off anymore until then.'' He put them back on and dragged her from the more public area into a holding cell. Still trembling she waited. They had forced her to drink water before and the longer the time lasted the more she started to realise that it had been spiked up with iron dust. ''Faelis...'' she whispered softly as she got on her feet. One of her hands grabbing the iron bars. It burned her fingers and it was followed by a loud scream. Not nessesarily pain, but frustration. She had to wait just a little longer.
Minutes felt like hours and the urge to scratch was still there. A lot less like the pain due to the medicine though but still. When the sound of snoring increased, she finally opened the other hand. Keys. She had snatched them from Rufus' pocket when pushing him. The cuffs first. But swore softly when having to conclude that the key was not there. Meaning the man had another set of keys. The cage she was in now had not been locked by a key. It locked itself when it was closed. With a feeling as if her beat beated in her throat Leyla tried all keys.
----
Kayden nodded. He did not exactly have anywhere else to go other then a tavern but decided to wait for Faelis in case he would come back and still expect him at the water.
Faelis went back to the beach, and his feeling of relief at Jackal agreeing to help had faded, not all he could think of was how he could not let Leyla stay wherever they were keeping her for three weeks.
"We have to get her out sooner," the elf said upon approaching the seer on the beach. "We'll tell them that my parents have a home here. They'll be able to get conformation that our information is correct. From there, my doppelganger will distract the men while we sneak away to get Leyla. A little while later the pirates can cause another distraction, perhaps catch a few of the thieves outside and start a fight. We'll get Leyla out and the pirates will be able to get away safely on their ship."
They couldn't wait for weeks. They just couldn't.
''Their time to verify could indeed reduce the time from three weeks to one at the most. We need to find one of them first though.'' Kayden pondered. He knew the way but he prefered not to have any pointy end of a weapon in his body today.
He grabbed his staff and started to draw a perfect circle in the sand around him. Marks and symbols at specific locations. ''You do not happen to have anything that belonged to the fellow do you... or a bloodvow like some thief guilds do'' he asked. Not that he needed it but it would just make it easier. The memory of sound had been blurry but he was certain he could identify some. But he only was certain from Rufus that he belonged to the group.
With a dagger he made a cut in his hand and dropped it on the circle. He hated bloodmagic. It was usefull, yes. But the aftereffects just sucked. Instead of being taken in by the sand the blood followed the symbols quickly.
"I don't have anything," Faelis said, watching as the seer started to make the marks in the sand. He wanted to ask what he was doing, but decided against it, he'd find out.
"Could I meet Rufus at the inn and tell him about my parent's house so he can confirm it?" Faelis said instead.
''You will need the right inn now don't you.'' Kayden replied. "alone would be best. I will see of I can het close to this so called Den of Thieves.'' he took a deep breath and removed the cloth from his eyes. They were like opal gems. Pale and the moonlight revealed a hint of other colors. The blood stopped coming from his hand and what had hit the floor started to bubble.
His breathing got irregular and sweat formed on his brow. After getting wobbly on his feet he broke the circle by destroying it with his food. " Dead crow inn... He is at dead crow inn. Not alone either. It is a shady place. In an even more shady neighbourhood. Caution is... recommended." He wobbled a bit more before excusing himself and walked a few meters before throwing up. "ugh... I hate blood magic..." He muttered.
OOC: I'm so sorry I haven't posted! It's almost been a month! :'(
_____________________________________________________________________________
IC:
"I know where that is," Faelis said, thinking of the shady inn. "I'll go, and pretend it was a coincidence that I met him there, say I just needed a drink."
He started back to the street. Dead Crow inn was in one of the shadier parts of Cerenis, and some ways away from here, but Faelis knew many shortcuts. Within twenty minutes he was standing outside of the rundown place.
Rats crawled the streets, through the garbage and muck. The inn's windows were dirty and one pane was even broken, letting loud raucous laughter spill out onto the street. Faelis stepped through the door into the dimply lit establishment. The elf didn't have a weapon in his hand, but one could be there in a fraction of a second.
Usually, even when he was ready for a fight, Faelis appeared relaxed, but not now. Now, a charged energy seemed to radiate from him, tense and seemly ready to explode.
Faelis walked up to the bar. He had seen Rufus and his friends, but pretended not to notice them. They would notice him, he knew. This had to seem like a change meeting.
((OoC: No worries ^^))
Indeed, Rufus noticed Faelis eventually. Not long after speaking about a female fey prisoner, and speaking about that she was willing to do anything to het free. And by that, he said anything before adding how much of a gentleman he was by obeying het demands since het rescuer would not be able to. Rufus was clearly drunk and laughed when he noticed Faelis at the bar.
''Speak of the devil.'' he laughed. ''looks like this Leyla is not worth anything to you. I had imagined you being on the road by now. Time is of the essence don't you think? Those iron cuffs are surely burning through her lovely soft porcelain skin. Her fault for attacking me. The irondust spiked water took goof effect as well to keep her quiet. And yet here you are. Drinking.''
---
Trying all the keys twice paid off and with a soft cracking noise the iron door opened. Her surroundings were spinning and every breath, heartbeat and movement hurt. Still. Tho was her chance and she had to take it. Most of the thieves here were snoring. Others were busy playing games and gambling or to drunk to notice Leyla at all. Something she would use to her advantage right now. Still. Progress was slow and she did not know the way at all.
Faelis tried very had to keep his dagger from flying at Rufus's neck as the other man spoke, but he knew that he needed to stay calm in order to succeed with this.
Then Rufus noticed him. Obviously drunk, he started to speak with Faelis.
"Getting my plan together," Faelis said at Rufus's accusations, ignoring the man's previous words. Despite all he was thinking and feeling, Faelis managed to keep his voice calm. "And it's lucky I met you here. You probably won't believe me, but you can get proof easily. My parents have a mansion here in Cerenis." He told Rufus the address, and that he planned to steal from that house. "So it won't take me long at all to get an item and get it to you."
It was torture for Faelis, sitting here and talking with a man who had helped in kidnapping Leyla, talking civilly with him, and unable to do anything.
First, Rufus did not respond but he later burst into laughter. ''Oh by the Gods I knew it! You are actually bailing out? It is to much of a coincidence that your parents have a home here.." He laughed again after he finished speaking.
He looked at a few of the others who all shrugged. "Check the place out." Rufus ordered. The two men finished their drinks before leaving.
"Since it is so close by though. Make it... Three items of very good sell value. If you lie well. Then I suppose the poor little doll is mine. Thus far I have been quite generous to her. She repaid my hospitality with scratching biting and screaming. With her flexibility though, think of the opportunities. After she has calmed down a little of course. But for now, lets have a drink you and me for old times sake. I will not allow you to leave until your words are verified. My treat. Choose your poison. And tell me a bit more about how you have spent your days of freedom while me and the others were in prison. Also I would like to know more about the girls... heritage. Armitage. It sounds luxurious don't you think?"
---
The tunnels were long, deep and only lit by weak oil lamps. It was hard to see and it was inevitable for her to eventually walk into someone. "Hey are you not Rufus ' prisoners? You should not be he.. Uhmpf" before he finished his words he received a blow in his gut. Despite feeling Groggy, feverish and in pain, she was not going back without a fight. Her opponent was not large or fast and she worked him against the ground one knee on his throat and her trembling fingers close to his eyes. She could feel his eyelashes against her fingertips. ''I... Wi-wil-w-will not go b-b-back in tha-that cage or be s-someone-s-s pris-s-sonner...'' Leyla trembled and under these new circumstances she felt her body weakening more. Sweat dripping over her brow and she panted heavily. "If y-you want to keep your eyes I suggest you take me back to the city..."
Faelis had expected something like this, to have to wait until his word was verified. But he barely heard Rufus mention he now had to steal three things as his mind started to become clouded by rage at Rufus's words. How could he say such a think about Leyla? How could he. . ? It took all Faelis had to stop himself from attacking Rufus right there, and the elf could feel his uncontrollable side pressing to get out, to attack.
But instead he took a breath and smiled when Rufus offered him a drink. It was a cold smile, but Faelis managed to make it appear calm. How could he have ever worked with this man? How could he have cooperated willingly with him? Even though his plan had been to turn them in all along.
He didn't think he would be able to stomach a drink, but he knew that the more he cooperated, the easier this would be.
"I'll just have an ale," he said, and then something happened. His burning rage dissipated, to be replaced by a cold flame of hate. Faelis knew that the other side of him had partially broken through, but now his head was clear, his other side had compensated. Rather than causing Faelis to attack, it had given him something far more deadly, a clear head. He smiled, and this time it was laden with warning. "The past few years have been wonderful, really. It really is nice to have absolutely no boundaries, no rules. To be able to do whatever you want to do."
He blatantly ignored the question about Leyla.
''Indeed. That is why I am settling old scores in the lowest way possible. To make up for the freedom you stole. Ironicly the lass said something strange. I suppose she is not as perceptive as I thought though. Told me that you were a million times better then I was.''
Faelis' ale got placed on the counter and Rufus got another whiskey which he drank in one go. Said that you had morals. That I steal and steal and never will feel satisfied. Yada... yada... yada. She was convinced you are a saint. That you would not abandon her. And then she spat in my face resulting her not getting food or water for a day but that aside. I was hoping she was smarter then that. You used us Faelis. I told her that there was a possibility you are using her too. Some people never change. At the least we do not differ that much. I too value that I have no bounderies anymore. No rules other then loyalty to our little brotherhood, and we can do whatever we like. To bad you were such a backstabber. You and your skills are missed.''
---
The man was started by Leyla's retaliation but quickly laughed. She was in no condition to be fighting. She trembled terribly and was not far from losing consciousness. Still. Her knee on his throat, and nails so close to his eyes were not pleasant. If he would move his arms, she would feel it and most likely act like a snake. Sure her situation was dire but never should one underestimate a trapped prey.
''Spare me and my eyes and I will guide you.'' he replied calmly. Leyla did not yet move though. Her breathing pattern changed and it did not take her long until she threw up. Fortunatly for the man not on him but he did take the chance to turn the tables and get her off him.
''Rufus got you good. Look I am not on his side but I am kind of a wanted man. If I show my face in the city I'm a dead man.''
''Then you should've taken a more respectable profession.'' Leyla commented back.
''You walk the death path and you still talk back. I like you. You are not really in a position to make threats but it would be a waste for someone so spirited. Maybe there is some medicine for you. Let's go. I will not tell anyone you escaped for your own good. Rufus was always a cruel man. And his gang too but Rufus, kind of snapped in jail.'' He offered her water from his flask which Leyla took. She was thirsty and honestly could now not care less if it was spiked with iron or not. She wanted to rinse her mouth. She was then picked up by the the man. He was stronger then he looked. Maybe it was not all fat on his bones.
''Please not the cage...'' Leyla muttered like a soft plead.
''How about we take off those iron cuffs. I will need to replace them with rope though and hope Rufus sees some logic in it. I suppose it works if I tell him you'd otherwise be dead.''
''Your name?'' Leyla asked.
''Sparrowhawk.'' The man replied.
''Real name.'' Leyla replied.
''Sparrowhawk. Seriously that is how my mother named me.'' he replied as he started to walk.
''What kind of name is Sparrowhawk...'' Leyla giggled although coughed soon after. Sparrowhawk let her drink again. ''Alright. What is your name.'' he asked.
''Leyla Armitage...'' Leyla replied.
''What kind of name is Leyla Armitage. It sounds like you are a frikkin royal.'' he jestered.
''It is still better then Sparrowhawk.'' Leyla replied before she finally passed out. The man first checked her pulse. It was slow and her temperature was not much better. Still. Rufus may had lost it a few years ago, if he used iron on someone with Fey heritage there should be medicine near too.
Let them think what they would, Faelis just narrowed his eyes at Rufus's words, but his lip curled slightly when he said Leyla had not gotten food or water for a day, but he said nothing. However, he smiled when Rufus finished.
"Perhaps you're right," he said, after all, arguing wouldn't get him anywhere with Rufus, "but since I was never with you, I wasn't a traitor, and I while I don't regret my decision to betray you, I do regret that Leyla had to get pulled into all of this."
''I hope then that it is a lesson for you old friend.'' Rufus said finishing another shot of whiskey. ''Actions *hic* have repercussions.'' he laughed before wrapping his arm around Faelis' shoulder.
''And do not say you were not with me or the others. We're collegues. We stick up for eachother. Do not turn one another in. That, old friend is the unwritten code for those like us. After this the little butterfly will be fine. As long as she listens to me like you do right now. Why not teach her a few tricks though. That innocent look, she is fast, agile, can easily climb her way into houses and out again. I see the good picture, just jiggling her bossem is a waste of talent.'' he finished yet another shot and was about to slam even another one in his throat when the goons he sent out earlier came back.
''That *hic* was fast...'' Rufus said as he looked at them.
''We asked around sir, to our information broker. He ain't lying.''
Rufus got a sly smile on his lips. ''Good. I'd say, get to work. Old friend.'' he patted Faelis' shoulder. ''After all...'' he took his arm back and went to his pocket. ''I hold the keys to your bonny lass' freed... huh?'' he felt around in his pocket. The keys to her cell were not here. Neither were the keys to her cuffs. Had he dropped them? No. He had not put them on the table, he wanted to tease Faelis with it by showing them in front of his face. And the pockets were deep. They could not just have fallen out. Salve. He could feel it. The stuff he used to numb Leyla's pain for iron. ''That clever bitch...'' he said. Almost instantly sobering up from all the alcohol he had. He got off his barstool and paid. ''Three well prices valueables Faelis. I recommend bringing them before I loose my patience with her.'' there was something in his eyes. A glinstering kind of evil which could not bode a lot of good.
Faelis stiffened as Rufus threw his arm around the elf's shoulders, and he repressed the urge to punch the other man in the face.
"That may be some unwritten rule," Faelis said. "But only in your book. In my book, people like you deserve to be betrayed."
The elf grit his teeth at what Rufus said about Leyla, and he was about to respond when Rufus's men returned.
After they had reported, Faleis looked over to Rufus. "Why would I lie about that anyway?" he asked. "It wouldn't help me in any way."
Faelis concealed his emotions as Rufus looked for the keys on his belt, and found they were gone. Could Leyla have. . ?
Faelis was broken from his thoughts as Rufus realized too what had happened. Faelis stood quickly with Rufus, worry in his eyes, what if Leyla hadn't escaped yet? Or what if she had been recaptured? Faelis wanted to believe she had escaped, but he couldn't get his hopes up, what if she hadn't escaped and Rufus would hurt her even more now that she had stolen the keys?
The elf considered following Rufus and his men to the hideout and getting Leyla right away, but he stopped himself. If he was caught, that would be the end of it. He had to stick to the plan.
"Then I'd best get going," he said to Rufus, and he rushed from the tavern, his drink untouched.
''Run, little fox.'' Rufus said with a grin. Finished the drink he had ordered for Faelis since the elf did not seem interested into drinking it himself.
One of the other men snorted. ''How sweet. He fears for her''
''If she indeed had stolen the keys then there will not be a lot of her left to take. Let's go.'' He left a sack of coins for the bartender and left with his crew.
---
When arriving at the den of thieves though, he found Leyla sleeping in a haybale. Still pale, shivering, but her breathing was more steady. Hands and feet tied with rope and still feverish. Sparrowhawk was sitting not to far away from her.
''Welcome back Rufus. Be glad you accidently left the keys to her bindings behind. If she were exposed to iron much longer she would be dead.'' he pointed at the table where he had left the keys and bindings for Rufus.
''You have been looking through my things.''
''She was dying. She is not worth anything dead now is she. If you want to punish me for getting her antidote, I will accept the consequences. Although understand that if you do I will not ensure the safety of your stolen property again.''
The man knew the risk. If Rufus did not believe him Leyla would not be the only one in trouble. Instead Rufus only snarled and walked to where Leyla lay. He had the urge to hit or kick her but resisted. What was in front of him was nothing but a shadow of the person that seemed so alive hours before. ''It does not matter. Faelis will come for her and when he does, she will walk out without him. He will not be leaving this den alive.'' He lifted Leyla's chin up a bit with the tip of his boot when realising he was indeed way to tired to play and headed to his cabin. ''If she attempts to escape, kill her.'' he muttered as he left.
Faelis headed straight for his parent's mansion.
It took him a half-hour to get there, and when he finally arrived he he stopped for a moment to catch his breath after running the whole way.
He didn't know if he was going to ask them for the three items or steal them. It didn't seem like they would just give him three very valuable items, even though he was their son.
They hadn't known him, not really, since he was fifteen, and if he asked them, and they declined, they might suspect that he would try to steal something, and heighten their security.
Stealing it was.
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OOC: Sorry for lack of content for you to work off of! :P
((No worries ^^ I will skip to the following morning though if you do not mind.))
Kayden had recovered from his little setback regarding the bloodmagic and when coming to the hidden location at the beach. He was not alone though, two hooded robed figures were with him. What was visable of their legs and arms indicated that they were female. If not that, one of them spoke.
''If that basterd hurt Leyley I will personally hang him to a pole alive for the guards to take.'' she hissed.
''Easy Kila... save your anger for later.'' the other muttered whilest waving a hand in front of Kayden's blindfold. For a blind guy he was certainly aware of his surroundings. A few times she had attempted to make him trip of weary saying that there were bandits nearby.
---
''Wake up.'' Rufus spoke with a gnarl and threw a bucket of water over her which immediatly woke Leyla up. The water stinged. If she could get her hands on him she would not be done with him soon that was for sure.
''What is it with that poisonous look. A change of plans. With luck your boyfriend will pick you up today and together you can run off into the sunset.''
That news actually made Leyla hopeful. Today? She would not have to stay here for weeks? Still. The way Rufus looked was something that worried her.
''I was planning for you being my playtoy for a longer while but I suppose I need to put that all in a few hours.''
Rufus snapped his fingers and one of the larger men showed up who picked up Leyla by her wrists. Using the rope to hang her on a hook without causing injury.
''Please... just... let me be. I am hungry and thirsty...'' Leyla begged. She did not even wanted to know what Rufus would do to her. Sparrowhawk seemed to be gone too. Had he ratted her out? Did he tell Rufus she had stolen the keys?
''No food and water. I told you that yesterday right?'' Rufus asked.''Hmmm maybe I was a bit to firm on you. I could give you water...'' he said as he walked around her.
If Faelis hadn't been so invested in the importance of his mission, he would have been disgusted by his parent's security, or, rather, lack of it. He easily got past the guard at the wall, and scaling the building to the third story window was hardly a challenge.
However, it had taken nearly an hour to find where his parents kept their valuables, and nearly five more minutes to knock out the guards and pick the lock. Once inside, he used his trained eye to snag three of the most valuable things there, plus one extra, just in case.
After he got the things he got out quickly, for the guards would be coming to soon, and he didn't want to be there when that happened.
But the house was still quiet as he stole out and down the street back towards the beach.
When he got there it was to see Kayden, the guards, and two robed figures who appeared to be women.
He looked to Kayden questioningly, hoping that the women were with them, he didn't want to have to deal with fighting them if they turned out to be enemies.
''I picked these two up from Arca. In the memory I had seen with Leyla's pendant there was something about twins. Figuring we could use all the help we can get I got them here.'' Kayden replied.
Both girls looked at Faelis before lowering their hoods. They were nearly identical. Full long hair, red lips and seductivly curvy built. But with muscles beneath their skin that indicated they worked in the same field as Leyla did. Well. Kindof. Their dances were not exactly the same. They were two inches shorter then Faelis was. Both had stunning yet piercing turquiose eyes.
''My name is Kila.'' One of them spoke eventually. This is my sister Nier. Tell us what to do and we will.''
''In good time, lady Kila.'' Kayden said and looked at Faelis. Have you picked a memory to use for the Stardrop magic?''
Faelis barely noticed the beauty of the twins, only noticing a bit because of his natural inclination to observe every detail. He nodded quickly when they introduced themselves.
"Faelis," he said, giving only his first name. As a thief, it was best to keep your cards close to your chest when meeting people.
"Damn," he swore when Kayden mentioned the memory, he had barely thought about it. "What kind of memory?" he asked, unsure if it mattered.
''It does not nessesarily have to be a good one but certainly a powerful one. The stronger the memory sacrifised, the stronger the stardrop doppelganger will be. In one way or another it has to mean a lot to you in order for the doppelganger to manifest.'' Kayden replied.
Faelis nodded, trying to think of a memory that was powerful, one that would be strong enough.
One came to mind. "I have one," he said, looking at Kayden. "What do I do now?"
Kayden tapped in a pull of seawater which had gotten seperated from the actual sea as the tides did their work. It was still. A small crab on the bottem and seaweed but the surface was like a mirror.
''What is this doppelganger and stardrop you speak off?'' Nier asked.
''You will see.'' Kayden replied as the circles he had made in the water slowly faded. ''Stand in front of it so you can see your reflection in it. Then, have eyecontact with your reflection and say the following words. ''Namare arosa mei, delian da dition.'' Then kneel. Place your hands just on the surface of the water. Focus on the memory and imagine that flowing from your head to your hands. And from your hands, to the reflection. You will eventually feel the water trembling and you will feel hands against your own. When doing so you grab into the water and pull the doppelganger out.''
Faelis nodded. Usually he would have asked exactly what the words meant, and been more hesitant to trust the seer, but now he walked to the pool and looked down into it.
It was almost a shock to see his reflection in the clear water. His face was pale, and there were shadows under his kohl-lined eyes. He looked into his eyes and saw the desperation reflected there that he felt inside of himself.
"Namare arosa mei, delian da dition," he recited, and he kneeled next to the pool, just at the seer had instructed. Then he placed his hands on the surface of the water and focused as hard as he could on the memory. It was not a good one, but it was powerful. He tried to recall everything he could about that night. The night he had been tortured, one of the few times he had been captured while on a job. They had wanted to know who he was and who had hired him, how he had known the password into their fortress. He had been there for days, not giving in, knowing that if he did, they would kill him. It had been four days by the time he had escaped, his body broken and bruised, but his mind intact. It had been the second time he had been captured and tortured, but it hadn't been the last, two times since the same had happened.
Despite the horror of the experience, it was not a memory Faelis wanted to lose, like all of his other experiences, good or bad, it made up a piece of him, and losing it would be losing a piece of himself. Hopefully the doppleganger wouldn't be killed, and he would be able to regain the memory.
Then the elf felt hands against his. He grasped onto them and pulled, lifting the doppleganger, the doppleganger of him from the water.
''Very good.'' Kayden said. The rest looked really puzzled, cinfused yet amazed but for niw dis did not ask. ''We are ready I think. Were the pirate friends in? Regarding manpower they could help. The doppelganger will go to the inn and offer the items. We stalk them and enter the place. Those we find in our way will have to be dealt with quietly''
''I disagree.'' Nier replied. ''If the pirates are in we draw to much attention to ourselves if we stick together. If we capture key locations of the hideout we can work more efficiently. If we are suddenly cornered those who stayed behind can give back up.''
"Possibly," Faelis said, glancing over at Neir. "But we don't know the full layout of the hideout, we only know the location and a few vague details that were obtained from Leyla's perception, when he," the elf nodded at the seer, "used his power."
''Surely the... residents know the way better. What if they took Leyla somewhere else in the cave. If mister here can perform that trick again and find out the layout we will discover the layout that way. If things turn sideways they expect us to not know the way at all. It are cavesystems right? There are always multiple hallways in case another would give in. If we know the layout, we have multiple escape routes. Something they will not expect. Yes we have this... doppelganger which I by the way really would love to learn. But that is in theory our only trump card along with our hopefull element of surprise we only keep as long as nobody raises the alarm. Capturing key points and keeping them will prevent us getting stabbed in the back.''
Kila pondered.''Well we need the pirates for that judging by our current numbers. But we do need to at the least enter in groups. If this place had been found before or attempted to have been raided the authorities would've closed it up by now for sure.''
She walked towards the double and circled around it in interest. That until it raised an eyebrow and asked her to stop. Both catching her off guard since thus far it had been quiet.
If the situation wasn't so dire, Faelis would have chuckled at the way the doppleganger told Kila to stop. It had the same arrogant tone that he usually had around strangers, or people he didn't know too well, it had the same expression, the same voice. Well, it was him.
"Getting in may be easier that one might expect," Faelis said. "The authorities, even if they could close it down, may want to leave it open so they can continue to gather info from it about more dangerous criminals." He looked to the seer. "Can you find out what the inside of the hideout looks like?"
''I know the entrace they used. There could be more since it is an old mine. If those who built the mine were smart enough then there are multiple entraces in case of a cave in. Tunnels are about four metres wide, two and a half till three meters high. The entrace they took Leyla through is in a large hill in the woods. Through the door which on the outside had two I suppose to be called, guards. Inside after a few meters there were three. But uncertain wether they were extra guards or just people sitting there.'' Kayden replied.
''You are a Seer right?You spoke in past sense. Why not geeze into the future.'' Nier asked. It sounded so simple. Gaze forward adn go with that if it was succesfull.
''I could. But for every descision made, there will be another outcome. One responding to a sound or not changes all of it. On a few things, yes we can rely on my Seer abilities but not for everything. Even now it is uncertain in what room Leyla is because one could've decided to take her elsewhere in the mines.'' Kayden replied.
''So if we relied on your forsight we could end up going the wrong way. Wow. Does not appear to be as usefull as I thought. Still we use what we have right? Let's head to the pirates. See how many of them are in and then form the rest of the plan. Also what to do if certain things go wrong. Those who have Leyla do certainly have planned it out till a certain degree themself.'' Kila said. To this Kayden nodded. ''One Faelis has to disguise himself though. It would be a bit weird if one of those men saw him twice.''
''And he could not have been summoned later?'' Nier asked. But saw Kayden shaking his head slowly. ''It takes a good hour for a doppelganger to adjust and take over all traits of it's creator. It's responds will still be really simple. See if as advanced growing up.'' he said as he took a hooded travelers cloak and offered it to the doppelganger.
The doppleganger took the cloak and put it on, pulling up the hood to cover it's face.
"Many of the pirates will help," Faelis said. "I know most of them, and some of them owe me."
He looked ovaer at where light was beginning to prick over the horizon. "We should go," he said. "We'll talk to the pirates and then formulate the rest of the plan, like you said," he nodded at Neir.
The girls and Kayden nodded. ''I'd say, lead the way.'' Kayden said to Faelis. The girls despite the situation did seem exited. Something about when it was the last time they had set foot on a ship.
''So... Kayden was it?'' Nier asked as they walked, placing her hand on his shoulder. The man nodded. ''I know what you are going to ask. Yes. It can work for the scouts of the cave as long as the rest of us are out of sight.''
Nier withdrew her hand. Yes a Seer was nice and all but in the end she decided to label him as creepy too. To change the subject she joined Faelis' side. ''Kayden also gave me and my sister an intercepted letter directed to us. You and Leyla wrote it. When this is over, we'd like to discuss it with you.''
Faelis started back towards the street, listening to Neir as they walked. He glanced over at her when she stepped next to him and spoke of the letter they had sent.
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter now," he said, but then he nodded. "Yes, we'll talk when this is over and Leyla's safe."
It wasn't long before they got to the docks, and Faelis could see the pirate's ship docked right where it had been earlier. He stepped to the front of their group as they reached the gangplank.
"They're friends, Jerry," the elf said to the man on watch, who was looking suspiciously at the people behind Faelis. The man nodded and let them pass. Jackal was on deck, and he looked up when Faelis approached.
"Ready already?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, and Faelis nodded.
"We need to talk," he said, and Jackal led the way into his cabin, and though he eyed Faelis's companions somewhat suspiciously, he said nothing. When the cabin door was closed behind them, he stepped behind his desk and looked over them all.
"So, what's the plan?"
''A bit earlier Faelis here made something called a stardrop doppelganger. The doppelganger will pretend to be him and make it seem Faelis is willing to trade things for Leyla. When that happens, roughly said we go in, take Leyla, see if it is possible to get the doppelganger with us unharmed and leave. We need to prepare for the fact she will, need a physician. Getting all of us in however is perhaps a challenging thing.''
''To throw in the first idea. First thing would be the guards outside. Me and Nier could take care of those the old fashion way. Seduction, quick elimination so the alarm is not raised. We can then go in and check for any guards inside. If there are, we knock them out. If or when clear, we can give a signal of clearance. This very weird person here...'' Kira tapped Kayden's shoulder as she said those last few words. ''... can use magic to see where we need to be. We capture room by room. Maybe it is usefull that two take the clothes from the scouts, or the first persons we encounter inside the mines. As long as we hide the evidence of any struggle. Anyone who just as much gives a hint of raising an alarm are dealt with.''
''In other words you basicly want to make a huge pile of corpses.'' Kayden noted.
''If it gets Leyla and all of us out in one piece I generally do not care how many necks I need to snap. Leyla is like a sister to us. Sure. Or brands of work vary along with our ways of thinking. Leyla would never willingly kill a person. But trust me. I'd die for her. I would kill for her if that would save her. Even if it would make her hate me.'' Kila replied. ''although additions to my just spoken words could be useful.''
Jackal took all this in quietly, and nodded when they were finished. "Me men are also very adept and knocking people out," he said, "so killing isn't the only option."
"They are probably planning on killing me," Faelis said. "They're not the kind to just take the items and let Leyla and I go free, unharmed, so we have to be quick, because it probably won't be long after they take the items that they'll try to kill me, or rather, the doppleganger."
He looked at the others in the room. "Is there anything else that needs to be covered that I'm forgetting?" in his state of mind, he couldn't trust himself not to have looked over an important detail.
''Nothing I can currently see. I do agree on something said before we got here; we can not enter the place at the same time. If there is no medic amongst us either, we either need to find a phycisian or take her to your family home Faelis. I will stay by your side. I may be blind but that is how I am underestimated most of the time anyway. It is likely Leyla is used as bait. So yes. Swiftness is good to have with us. Swift and stealth. Making sure we can not get attacked from the back. If things would turn grim I have a spell ready but it is a strong thing to use. It is our last resort.'' Kayden said and the grip around his staff tightened.
''What spell. Anything we need to know about it?'' Nier asked.
''Only that after I cast it, I need to leave right away. Just like the doppelganger magic, I tend to use ancient magic that has been long forgotten and certainly forbidden. It will be traced back to me if someone puts up that effort so if I leave none of you are involved in that.'' that was all Kayden seemed to say on it. ''Alright.'' he looked at Faelis. ''Time to order your doppelganger.''
"Jerry, the ship's doctor, will help," Jackal said, and Faelis nodded as Jackal continued. "I'll go and gather up the crewmembers who are willing to help," he nodded at Faelis. "Most will."
As the captain left the room, Faelis turned to look at the doppleganger. "Do I simply instruct it what to do, exactly?" he asked.
Kayden nodded. ''I think at this stage it knows everything you know. It is formed from your memory and there is a kind of connection between the both of you. You will not feel pain if the doppelganger does but it could make you feel slightly uncomfortable if he's hurt. But it will still need some instructions. All it should need to know is to go. And to stall inside the mines as long as it is safe to do so. We will not be that far behind. I had not been able to train you but if I could I could've learned you how to track it. We just did not have time for that.''
Faelis nodded and relayed what Kayden had said to the doppleganger, which nodded. IT was quite strange to be talking to yourself, and Faelis would have dwelled on it more if the situation would have been different. He did take a small moment, however, to think of what it possibly could have been that he had forgotten. It didn't seem like anything was missing, but he supposed that that's what anyone who had lost a memory would feel.
"It should go slightly ahead of us," Faelis stated, and at that moment Jackal came in, and he was smiling.
"We've got almost the whole crew," he said. "Are seventy-five pirates too much?"
Kayden chuckled. ''At the least we are capable to capture key points then. And also keep them. I leave it up to those who come to either spare or kill those we have to face. Not everyone there are friends of Rufus. We are all set. Kila, Nier, I recommend the both of you to stick closest since you two are up first. Still. Are you both truely fine with seduction to get in?''
''You have your line of work, we have ours. Seduction is what me and Kila do. We got this. Unless the scouts are gay. I hope though that the ship will be fine of so many of the crew join us.''
"Don't worry," Jackal said, smirking. "The few staying behind are perfectly capable of taking care of the ship."
"Let's go then," Faelis said, looking around at the others. Jackal nodded and stepped out of the room first, followed closely by Faelis.
"Ready, men?" Jackal called out. Most of the crewmembers who were coming were already gathered on the deck. And though Jackal had said 'men', many of the crew were women. The captain looked over at Kayden. "It would be suspicious if we all went tromping through the streets together," he said. "Tell us the way to the hideout, we can split into smaller groups and meet up there."
It was a bit difficult to explain where the entrance exactly was. All Kayden knew was that it was an old mine, and he only got that from traces of rails, and how the support beams had been put. ''As close as I can get regarding discribing, the forest eventually leads up a hill, towards one of the higher cliffs. At the foot of that hill, there should be an entrace. I wish I could say I had old maps, but I do not have them. Not of the mines. What good are maps to a blind guy right?'' he said.
''So you are not almighty.'' Kila noted although looked at the crew. ''Amazing though how all of you are willing to help.'' she sounded grateful.
"I know where that is," one of the crewmembers spoke up. It was a tall woman who stepped forward as she spoke. "It's just outside the city."
Faelis nodded, and Jackal chuckled at the twin's comment. "We may be pirates, but we're not bad people, not all the way through! We don't kill if we don't have to, and most of are pretty good people, we're happy to help. Well, that and the fact that Faelis is a good friend, and most of us owe him our lives, sometimes more than once. He saved this ship from a battle we were sure to have lost."
''Stories we'd love to hear.'' Nier said with a smile.
Kayden looked at Faelis. ''Alright. Give your double the artifacts. It is time to move. I recommend the ship physician, to have medicine that help Fae against iron poisoning.''
The thought of iron poisoning alone made a shiver run across Nier and Kila's spine. ''We will get into position too. When it is safe to enter we will let you know.''
Faelis nodded and gave the doppleganger the items, while the ship's doctor, who was in the assembled crowd of volunteers, stepped forward. "I've already got my things," he said, raising a leather bag no doubt filled with medical supplies.
The woman who knew the way told the others and the first group left the ship, followed shortly after by the next, so no suspicion would be aroused.
((So sorry for the delay))
After everyone was in position, Kila and Nier made their first move. Getting the scouts was easy and revealed that the girls were used to this work just as much as being dancers and pleasure girls. After breaking their necks, all were hidden under bushes and covered with leaves.
When they entered the mine however it was when tension rose. Five minutes passed. Five minutes seemed to turn into ten but just before Kayden started to wonder if he had not mis-seen the future one of the two came outside, beckoning the others although with extra notion to be quiet.
The question why it took the twins a little longer became clear as the others entered. Half a dozin men were there, all taken care off by the two ladies.
(OOC: Sorry for my delay! :P)
When they entered the hideout, Faelis's thoughts, for a moment, shifted to his doppelganger, who was now hopefully already inside with Leyla. And for a moment Faelis wasn't sure how the doppelganger would do, but then he remembered that it, he?, was an exact replica of him. The doppelganger would do what he would do.
______________________________________________________
And he had.
The doppelganger had went to the tavern and met Rufus, as planned. The two had went to the hideout ahead of the others and were now walking down a long hallway, presumably on the way to where Leyla was being kept.
''You did certainly act fast Faelis. Did the little girl mean so much to you?'' Rufus asked calmly. ''Forgive me though for the fact she had to endure a... little bit of punishment. You see, the silly girl attempted to escape. And I was bored. Nothing irreversable of course. I did not cut off any limbs like I did with others.''
Rufus lead the doppelganger further into the mines. Passing various rooms most having their own groups of thugs while other rooms had chests filled with stolen loot. In a few other rooms there were people working in the mine. Making extra escape routes and getting precious minerals.
Eventually they reached a larger hall where many others from Rufus' group waited. By either playing games or sharpening their weapons. In a less well lit part of the room though on a strawcovered ground was Leyla. What they had left of her anyway. She seemed to be unconscious but still breathed. Some of her veins colored black, torn lip and various bruises all over her body. Her fingers clearly had been pushed out of place but not broken.
---
Every time a room was silently claimed, a few of the pirates stayed behind to make sure it remained claimed and Kayden despite blind seemed to be able to stand his ground during a fight too preventing Nier from being hit hard by an enemy.
The doppelganger followed Rufus through the mines, and when they came to the large room and approached Leyla, the real Faelis felt something.
It was a pull on his mind, and an image flashed before his eyes, causing him to stop in his tracks. It was of Leyla, and the elf gasped at the sight of her, bruised and battered. But before he could see anymore the image was gone.
They had been walking down a hall on their way to the next room they were going to take, and Faelis turned to Kayden.
"I saw her," he said. "Through the eyes of the doppelganger." He clenched his teeth. "She's unconscious." At least that's what the elf hoped. "Rufus, the bloody bastard. When I find him. . ."
''Not just you.'' Nier said calmly. But the anger was clearly to hear in her voice.
''Patience. If we storm in now it was for nothing.'' Kayden said. ''It should not be far now. There are still halls after the room we are headed towards. We will not be able to take down whoever is in there before taking down Rufus. Rufus' men are in the very room too''
''oi... OI!'' it was a hard whisper that came from a cage where a slightly chubby beaten man was in. ''I hope you are friends of Leyla Armitage because she seriously could use some help right now... hey...'' his gaze met that of Faelis. ''Did you not pass in here not to long ago? Unless you have an identical twin.''
---
''Go ahead. Go towards her if you like.'' Rufus said to the doppelganger
Faelis nodded stiffly, Kayden was right.
A dagger was in his hand the second the man called out, but he lowered it upon seeing him.
"Twin." He said bluntly. "You talked to Leyla?"
__________________________________________________
The doppelganger didn't move right away at Rufus's offer, it could very well be a trick. He glanced between the man and Leyla, then back at Rufus.
"Just let her go."
Rufus chuckled. ''Sure, if she can walk out. Because I have been thinking old friend. Those years in prison. A few artifacts are not going to cut it.''
''F-Faelis?...'' Leyla's voice sounded soft and broken.
---
''She attempted to escape. To prevent more punishment happening to her I had to bring her back and gave her antidote for her near lethal iron poisoning. Rufus repaid me with putting me here though after a beating. Either he hates you or your twin, or both. But believe me. He does not want you to leave alive. Truth be told I doubt he will allow Leyla to leave alive either.''
Kila pondered for a moment before sighing and picked the prison lock. ''Name?''
''Sperwerhawk.'' he replied simply. Just before Kila wanted to snort he stopped her. ''Save it. Leyla beat you to it. Sure you want to let me out?''
''I've met with enough men to know when they lie. You are sincere enough.''
The doppelganger, a copy of Faelis as it was, did not act surprised at all that Rufus had more planned than just to get the artifacts.
"I'm here," he said to Leyla's call, and he looked over at Rufus. "Can I go to her without either of us being hurt by you or your men?"
_________________________
"You know this place then," Faelis said once the man, Sparrowhawk, was released. "Then you can help us, so that everyone gets out alive."
''But of course.'' Rufus said calmly. ''I am not cruel enough to deny either of you that moment.'' he said. His voice sounded sincere enough and he stepped away from the entrace to walk to one of his compagnions. ''I am somewhat surprised though that you acted so soon. For a moment I did think you were going to leave her behind.''
---
''Fair enough. I can guide you all out but I leaving this place I can not. I have an appointment with the gallows. It is one I'd rather miss.'' he admitted and exited the cage.
''What did you do?'' Nier asked. ''My cart broke and a young man was helping me. But the weight of the cart shifted resulting in the young man being in a coma when he got under it. His family called it attempted murder. That I was going to rob him but it got out of hand. Nobles.'' he spoke the last word with a hint of despise. ''So I've been hiding ever since and stealing from travelers to get by. I send most of it to my two children though.'' he observed the group. ''Is this all of you?''
''We kind of have been taking and occupying rooms to make our way back easier.'' Kila replied. To that sparrowhawk nodded. ''Not bad.'' he commented before gesturing further into the mines. ''Let's go. It would be a shame if your twin dies. Leyla probably too if she does not get medicine quick. There is a doctor amonst you?''
The doppelganger hesitated, Rufus very well could be lying, but he slowly approached Leyla.
He crouched next to her, gently touching her arm.
"I would never leave you behind," he whispered to her. "I don't think they're going to let me out of here alive, but you have to leave. You have to get out of here as fast as you can."
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The ship's doctor stepped forward.
"I'll do my best."
"Let's go then," Faelis said, glancing around. "Who knows how long Leyla has."
''I can not leave you... I do not want to leave you. I will never forgive myself and besides, even if wanted. If I work up my body any more the iron poisoning gets worse. I will not make it past the next hall.'' She smiled at his touch but it was clear she was frightened.
She attempted to lift her head so she could whisper in his ear. ''I could try to pin down Rufus. His men would most likely first try to get me off him. Use that time to run and run fast. Can you do that for me? That way maybe you have a chance.'' She was still smiling though but it were her tears that gave her away. ''Faelis, I had fun. Thank you.''
''Done talking yet?'' Rufus asked. ''I think, without medication she will last another half an hour if she does not do anything crazy so in the meantime let's talk Faelis. If you cooperate she will receive this.'' he showed a glass flask with a few drops of liquid in it. ''If I give her this, all of the pain will go away.''
"Oh, no," the doppelganger shook his head at Leyla's request. "There is no way I am leaving you here. This is my fault, and I'm not letting you pay for anything I've done."
As Rufus's words, the doppelganger stood to face him, and when he spoke his voice was hard, nothing like it had been moments before. "Takes away the pain?" he scoffed venomously. "And I suppose, in this case, that mean you'll 'put her out of her misery?'."
''No actually. It will get all of the iron poisoning out of her body. With her sensitivity though I think a side effect or two are unavoidable.'' he said with a shrug. ''But the question is now, what to do with you. Years in prison Faelis. Turning you in would not cut it for me so when I saw the chance to be creative I did.'' his smirk left his face though since Leyla laughed briefly.
''You praise yourself to much Rufus. Truth be told I don't think you are more than a common bully who looks down on everyone. You took an easy target with easy resources and expect to be feared and listened to. Even after everything that you did to me I still am not afraid of you. I have met to many people for that.''
---
''Alright. The next room. How are we going in?'' Sperwerhawk asked.
Kayden touched the man's shoulder. ''Hmm. Slit the throats or break the necks of those just outside the door. Who volunteers?"
The doppleganger frowned as Rufus explained what the contents of the bottle would do, still not quite trusting the man. However, when Leyla spoke, he couldn't help but let a small smirk flit across his face, though he hid it from Rufus. Usually, anything to make his enimies fuming, but now, it wasn't just his life on the line.
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"I will," Faelis offered. Usually, killing was not his thing, but this was an exception. "How many are there guarding the door? And how many inside?" he asked Kayden. "Do you know?"
''You may not fear me little fairy. But you are still dying. And the way is blocked. I gave you an offer. Your skills are useful after all. If you accept the offer I will cure you regardless of what Faelis does and perhaps keep him alive.'' Rufus said as he tossed the bottle up frequently before catching it.
''I am still, not going to steal for you. Forget it.'' Leyla replied. Her body however no longer supported her weight and she collapsed back on the floor again.
''Shame. I suppose she no longer needs these then.'' he saif afterobserving the liquid inside it and tossed them on the floor.
---
''Including Rufus and those two goons at the entrace, six. One is hiding in the hay bale and the other is using cloaking magic to appear invisable. Let me take care of that one. In the room after that though are about two dozin men. It is possible they will assist Rufus.'' Kayden replied.
A muscle in the doppelganger's jaw twitched as Rufus threw the bottle to the ground, where it smashed, the liquid spilled everywhere and absorbing into the dirt floor. But if Rufus wanted a reaction, he wasn't going to get it.
He looked over to Leyla, then back at Rufus. He just needed to stall a little longer, the pirates had to be getting her soon. . .
________________________________________________________
Faelis nodded, they could take them. "Let's go then." He glanced at the others around him before starting forward, a dagger in each hand.
''Also. Leyla will probably need immediate treatment. The ship's doctor will need to be shielded.'' Kayden said as he tightened the grip on his staff.
''Me and my sister can take care of that.'' Nier assured to which Kayden nodded. He then motioned for everyone to be silent. In the opening to the next room where two men just like he said, but to occupied to see what was going on in the room. They were for Faelis to take.
From this point on though, things could get nasty. Kayden knew. Well to a certain degree anyway. But he did count for the worst. he could see Leyla's frame and that of the doppelganger slightly between the two men.
--
''Well at the least you two can simply die together.'' Rufus said as he drew his weapon, and stepped towards Leyla and the doppelganger. ''Although who I am going to take first now seems a lot harder... eeny...'' he pointed his dagger at Faelis first. ''The one who betrayed me...'' his gaze then went to Leyla just like the tip of his sword. ''Meeny...'' the onee who simply befriended the wrong person.'' he laughed wickedly. ''Miny... again you Faelis. The sore place in my memory.'' he licked his lips and slowly pointed the tip at Leyla once more. ''Moe... looks like fate hates you. Not to worry dear. It is iron. You should die painfully I might add within a minute. I will make sure to send Faelis in after.'' he then swiftly threw his dagger aiming at her abdomen.
The doppelganger may not have been a true elf, or even a real being. But it was Faelis. And id did exactly what the original would have done in that same situation.
As the dagger flew, he leaped forward in the path of the weapon, blocking Leyla. The dagger lodged into his side, and he fell to the ground with a shout.
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The two men were down before they even had a chance to call out, their throats slit with a deadly efficiency.
He stepped into the room, the pirates that were with them following, blood dripping from his daggers as he faced the room.
Leyla shouted Fealis' name out loud. She could hear Rufus laugh. The sound echoing deep inside her head and saw the man taking another weapon. She covered the doppelgangers body with her own and noticed something. The color of blood and... Another Fealis? That couldn't be right? She did not have a lot of time to think about it though as her body felt more painful yet numb at the same time. Her vision darkened and soon she became limb.
Rufus had not expected it and seemed confused as well. That is interesting. Two of you. Looks like you are to late though. She is dead in a few minutes. At the least I can focus on you.''
He realized that he was severely outnumbered and brought his fingers to his mouth. ''We have been discovered men. Draw your weapons and fight!'' he called
Faelis ignored the man's words, and as Rufus's reinforcements came rushing into the room, the elf's daggers flew.
The pirates behind him ran at Rufus's men, and while Faelis fought, his goal was Leyla. She seemed to be unconscious, but alive.
Faelis cut down one man and there was a clear path to Rufus. The elf threw his dagger at the man, the weapon knifing through the air with deadly speed and precision. Faelis didn't often miss, and if Rufus was going to live now, it wouldn't be because Faelis's aim was off. He would either have to block the weapon or dodge it.
Not waiting to see if the dagger hit it's mark, Faelis pushed through the last of the men and rushed to Leyla's side. He pressed a finger to her throat, and felt her heartbeat, but it seemed to be weak. The elf was forced to stand as one of Rufus's bandits attacked, but he cut the man down and didn't leave Leyla's side.
Seeing Leyal so close to dying also seemed to very upset the twins. Fueled by anger they struck down any of Rufus' men who dared to get within range. Together with Sparrowhawk they guided the medic towards Leyla. ''We will shield you. Treat her before she dies.'' Nier pleaded to the medic.
Kayden in the meantime knocked down people who charged at him with his staff. The solid wooden weapon surely hurt those he hit with it but he was focussing on getting the man who used the cloaking magic. ''There you are...'' he whispered to himself and hit the staff aiming for thin air. If only an ouch had not been audible right after that and a blurry vision of a person was there for a moment before it attempted to go into hiding again just to be struck by Kayden again but harder and resulted the thug to fall on the ground. ''What the hell! Can you see me?'' he asked as he attempted to get a weapon but soon felt the staff on his throat. ''A blind man? Who can see? Something like that.'' Kayden replied. He waited a moment and then shook his head. ''Not going to happen.'' swiftly he hit the side of the man's head with his staff and then behind him quick enough to intersept another attack on him.
Rufus snarled and blocked the knife with his arm causing the clothes to tear and reveal a metal brace. ''I can do that too Faelis you know that.'' Rufus replied as he picked the weapon up and along with another of his own daggers threw it back, stepping closer and closer towards him. It did not went fast though but he did hit the pirates who came at him. It was to crowded for a sword though so daggers were the only thing he could use.
Faelis saw the ship's doctor kneel next to Leyla, but he didn't have time to think as Rufus blocked his dagger and threw his own daggers.
He cut down pirates, and Faelis pushed through the tangle of bodies towards the man. He hated to leave Leyla, but the twins were guarding her, and Faelis assumed that if their leader as brought down, the bandits would give up, or at least be disheartened.
He cut down the last bandit between him and Rufus and brought his dagger up in a swift slashing motion, aiming to cut the man across the throat.
The familiar cling from metal to metal faded in the other sounds of battle. Under his lose clothing Rufus seemed to have metal braces on most people. But one thing was clear, his amount of men went down faster then the pirates. Rufus carefully made his steps between the pirates that lay wounded on the ground. There were some ways out of the mine and some of his men started to head to there slowly, fighting when doing so. ''Enough of this!'' He said after deflecting another of Faelis' blows. The attacks were fast. To fast for Rufus to both block and attack. One of the braces hung only by a few strings, the rest having been cut through. ''Arcanum Nox!'' He called out.
After the words left his lips the lamps in the room died one by one making it dark. Voices became silent and a few people dropped on the ground after they were hit with a weapon that was still in motion.
A whisper though broke the silence. ''Et Erit Lux Divus.'' Rufus froze. The voice was right next to his ear and hands came on his shoulder. The lights softly started to hum again. It was warm both for the eyes and body and wounds on the pirates seemed to even slowly heal. ''You've born a thousand years to early mate.'' Kayden spoke in that same soft tone. Rufus then noticed something. He was alone. In that brief amount of darkness, whatever happened had caused his men to lay on the ground.
And then it was dark.
Faelis immediately dropped to the ground to avoid any of the weapons that were swinging around him. He could see well in the dark, but with such a sudden change of light, it would take a few moments to adjust.
He blinked a few times, and he could almost see, but before he could do anything else, a voice whispered an incantation, and the lights slowly returned.
And Faelis saw that their enemies were down, and the wounds of the pirates seemed to be healing, but he had no time to think about that. He rushed to Leyla, who was still out cold.
"Will she be okay?" he asked the ships doctor, crouching next to Leyla.
_____________________________________________________________________________
(OOC: It can be up to you about Leyla)
''Time will tell. If she survives the next couple of hours, she should make it. She is weak though. If she survives she will have to stay in bed for at least a week.''
''She will make it.'' Nier said softly. Caressing Leyla's face. ''What to do with these thugs. Especially him.'' she looked at Rufus with an expression of that she prefered skinning him alive here and now or at the least torture him. Inflicting the same pain he had on Leyla.
''We could hand over the nest of thugs to the authorities and let them deal with the nasty business. If so though do forgive me for then leaving. I'm nothing but a petty thief myself but I am still a wanted man.'' Sparrowhawk said. He looked at Leyla with a bit of a guilty look on his face.
''Is the stardrop still alive? Or was the attack lethal.'' Kayden said calmly. Still making sure Rufus was not going anywhere.
A sigh slipped from Faelis's lips as the doctor spoke, it wasn't bad news, at least.
He didn't particularly care what happened to the thugs, at least not now, he could let the others or the pirates deal with them. However, he did look up when the doppelganger was mentioned.
"I'll go check on it," the ship's doctor started to rise, but Faelis held out a hand.
"Wait," he said sharply. "Don't leave Leyla, my memory doesn't matter compared to her."
The doctor nodded, and Faelis stood, walking over to the doppelganger. The second he saw it he knew that even if the doctor had come, it would have been too late.
A dagger was lodged right above the heart, and Faelis knelt next to the magical thing, and it was a strange feeling, watching yourself die. Faelis wasn't sure if the doppelganger was really alive or not, but he nodded to it as the light faded from its eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered, and then he felt a tugging at his mind, and the memory of one of the times he had been tortured started to fade. Instinctively, his mind tried to hold on to the thoughts, but soon it was gone.
Faelis blinked, shaking his head, it was as if there was a hole in his mind, he could remember right up to the point, and just beyond it, but nothing in between.
It must have been worth getting rid of if it's gone,' Faelis thought of the memory. 'Any memory would have been worth it.'
He glanced back at where the doppelganger had lain moments before, but nothing was there, it was gone.
''W-what the hell was that...'' Rufus said enraged and frustrated.
''Who knows.'' Kayden said simply. ''Faelis. It is up to you what to do with Rufus. He will never let it go whatever it is between the both of you. We either bind him and give him to the city guards, or end it here. If you dont though, the twins probably will.''
''Probably?...'' Nier asked. The look on her face when she directed her gaze to Rufus was nothing more but despise.
''Seer magic is never flawless. I told you that.''
Faelis could feel his skin crawling as his rage boiled anew. He looked over at Rufus and stalked towards him, a knife appearing in his hand as he neared the other man.
He brought his knife roughly to Rufus's throat, the sharp blade just scratching the man's skin. Faelis's eyes blazed, and he almost did it. Almost.
But he was in control, he had no slipped into his sadistic side, and he knew he was not a killer, at least not like this. If the twins didn't finish Rufus off, then they would have to find another way to make sure he never hurt anyone anymore.
He pulled back his knife, but he smashed the pommel into Rufus's jaw as he stepped back.
"You're safe from me," he snarled at the man. "But you're never going to hurt Leyla ever again."
A crack was heard when Faelis hit Rufus' jaw and it looked dislocated. Even then Rufus started to laugh and spat some blood on the ground. ''Never thought Faelis would've found someone to love. What about all those poor lasses you kissed eh?''
''I suppose you were never loved or loved a person.'' Nier drew her dagger and with a swift movement sliced the mans throat. Kayden let the man go who dropped on the ground, still alive, slowly drowning in his own blood. ''Let's go. We can take the rest of his men to the city guards. You though Sparrowhawk might want to take the forest route.''
The man pondered. ''You know, I've been an honest trader for many years. If there is a spot left on the ships crew I'd like to join. Either that or turn me in. That way I can maybe attone for the crimes I've comitted.'' he said. ''I just would like to know when the girl is up on her feet.''
Faelis ignored Rufus's words, and turned away to go to Leyla as Neir finished the job.
Thew pirate captain looked over Sparrowhawk appraisingly. "I wouldn't mind another hand," he said. "But we're what you'd call honorable pirates, kill only when absolutely necessary, no slaves, and no torture." Jackal shrugged. "But it seems like you've already made your turn for the light."
He turned to his pirates and spoke a few orders before they all went about rounding up Rufus's men.
The doctor glanced around the room before her eyes fell upon a rack of spears in one corner.
"Get two of those," she ordered anyone who was listening. "We're going to need to make a stretcher if we're getting Leyla out of here."
Faelis went to get the spears, and several pirates donated a scarf or sash. They tied the ends of the cloth between the two lengths of wood, creating a makeshift stretcher. Very, very carefully, Faelis and the doctor eased Leyla onto the stretcher and picked it up. By not Jackal had gotten all the bandits rounded up.
"Let's get a move on," he said loudly, and everyone started to filter out of the room, the bandits closely watched by the pirates.
''I am against slavery and torture.'' Sparrowhawk assured. He was no stranger to killing but truth be told, prefered not to. He stole because he wanted to live and nobody would hire him for honest work. The few times he killed was because of either an accident or fear for getting caught.
Leyla made some sounds of discomfort when she was put on the makeshift stretcher but it was not until they were in the tunnels she opened her eyes slightly. ''Hey Leyley.'' Kila whispered, holding Leyla's hand. ''F-Faelis...'' her voice trembled. ''I saw him die... where is he...''
''Easy there. Faelis is fine and so will you.'' Nier whispered.
One of the bandits scoffed. ''Fine?'' he chuckled. ''She has yet to make it to dawn.''
''One more word and you find yourself a prisoner without a tongue.'' Nier barked back. It was enough to make the bandit stop talking, not forgetton how she so swiftly finished Rufus off without a hint of remorse.
Kila's gaze went to Faelis though. ''I think she wants you nearby.''
Faelis carefully handed off the stretcher to a pirate and stepped next to it, gently placing his hand on Leyla's shoulder.
"I'm here, and I'm fine," he said softly, a tremor in his voice at first. "You're going to be fine too, just rest. You're going to be fine."
They slowly made their way down the halls and out of the hideout. Several bandits that had been knocked out in the halls were starting to come round, and they were rounded up as well. The only ones leaf behind were the dead.
"We'll take these pieces of scum into town," Jackal said. "Leave a nice little gift for the City Guard. You get back to the ship, Leyla can be further treated there."
Leyla could only nod, smile and cry. ''I'm so glad you're ok.'' her voice was soft and broken, almost unable to be heard.
''Will the cityguard not be looking for you as well Sparrow?'' Nier asked the man who nodded. ''Yes they will although it is not recomended to go through the busy streets to begin with. There are some alleyways where shops and inns transport their supplies to from the harbor. We could take those roads.'' the man replied.
Another thing concerned him though. All the captured criminals from the Den of Thieves would be brought to the city guard but surely he would be ratted out himself too soon enough by one of them that he could be found on Jackdal's ship. Still, him being captured was the least of his concerns.
"Lead the way," Jackal said, and as they started away, the rest turned for the ship.
It didn't take them long to get to the docks. There were still plenty of people around, but the group managed to get Leyla to the ship with few people noticing. The ones that did gave them a curious glance as they went past, but said nothing.
"Let's get her to a bed," the doctor said, and they carried the cot into the doctor's room, where a small bed lay against the wall. They carefully moved Leyla onto it, the doctor rummaging in her cabinets and pulling out clean bandages and a few bottles. She had tended some of the worse wounds in the hideout, but had done so hastily, and now she was able to do a more thorough tending.
''We will get some water and clean rags.''The twins spoke. All bandits with exception of zsparrowhawk were brought to the cities' authorities to be dealt with. Kayden had joined them to make sure nobody would attempt to take off.
After getting water and clean sheets Kila looked at Leyla laying on the bed. Do you need more antidote against iton poisoning? If so I can get some from the apothecary. ''
Nier on her turn looked at Faelis. ''How are you holding up?''
"That would be good," the doctor said in response to Kila's question.
Faelis looked up when Neir questioned him. "I'll be fine," he said, looking back to Leyla. "As long as she is."
A small part of him jumped to the thought of what would happen if Leyla weren't to make it, and the piercing fear leapt again to his heart, but he pushed the thought down. Now that Leyla was here, she would be safe. He trusted Jackal, and he knew the pirate wouldn't leave Leyla in the hands of someone he didn't completely trust.
For a moment Faelis was silent, before he looked up at Neir, finally calm enough to speak again. "This must be very hard fro you, too. How long have you known Leyla?"
''Then I'll get some.'' Kila placed her hand on Faelis' shoulder before leaving.
At Faelis' question, Nier looked at him. ''We've known Leyla since she was two years old or so. We treated her as if she were our little sister. Kila and I were already teenagers though. We played a lot although at first we did not share our brand of work with her. Afrai that she would not understand or come to hate us. But she didn't. Just like us she choose to have dancing as a profession but Kila and I lways protected her from unpleasant customers. Violence is not exactly something she participates in often. We were shocked though, that she had suddenly left with you. Perhaps even a bit jealous but she needed someone to see the world with so for that, thank you.''
''You thank him despite Rufus' actions?'' Sparrowhawk asked to which Kila nodded.
''I agree that what happened with her is horrible. But know as well that she would not want to have missed this fun adventure either. There are scumbags everywhere. Surely Rufus' problem with Faelis was personal but if they weren't here, his actions would've made someone else a victim eventually. Oh. Before I forget.'' she got something from her bag. ''I think, someone would want these items back.'' she offered Faelis the items he had stolen from his parental house.
"Despite what you say, this is all my fault, and I won't be surprised if Leyla wanted to go home after this," Faelis said. "I should have known that it wouldn't be safe. I knew that I have enemies, that I'm always in some sort of danger, I just shouldn't have let Leyla be in that danger as well."
When Nier gave him back the items he nodded. "Thank you," he said, though, in all honesty, he had barely given a thought to the items until now. But his parents would appreciate them, and they were important to his family, even if he had no emotional connection to them.
''Let's not jump to conclusions to quickly. Leyla is a fighter. She probably never told you this but her occupation is not exactly a safe one either. One night, after a party. A group of men used her weakness of iron against her and dragged her into an alley. It is no secret what they did to her. Despite that she never stopped her dancing. It was about a year ago.'' Nier replied. My sister and I took care of those bastards but of course that was way to late. We could not prevent it. Leyla does not quiet if quitting ends up in her having to stop doing what she loves.'' Nier sat down on the edge of Leyla's cot and allowed her hands to run through her friends tresses.
''Faelis. What do you feel for her?'' she asked out of the blue.
Faelis felt bile rise in his throat at the thought of what Nier was saying happen to Leyla, but he knew that what the woman was saying was true, Leyla was by no means weak.
At the question, however, the elf was surprised. He thought for a moment.
"I care for her. . . I also feel a great amount of responsibility for her. . . and. . ." he paused before continuing. "I suppose. . . I suppose I have. . . feelings for her."
It was obviously hard for the elf to admit this, and even though he knew it was not a weakness, many would take as such, and emotional revelations were not something he was used to.
''If you do there is no need to be ashamed of them. Emotions are a beautiful thing. My sister and I often need to turn them off for our work though.'' Nier gently placed a kiss on Leyla's brow. ''You can tell your feelings to her, if you wan, but it might be a good thing to think of what sort of companionship you want from her assuming she stays. Knowing her she will. She always had wanted to leave Arca to go on a journey and see the world. But not alone. She is scared, being alone. If you need some rest I can remain watching over her.''
Faelis did not want to leave her side, but he was exhausted, and he knew he needed rest.
"Thank you," he said at the offer. "I'll be in the room right next to this one."
He may need rest, but he knew he couldn't go very far from Leyla's side. In the state she was in, he knew he needed to be near her.
Even though he knew she was in good hands, and just one door down, it took a lot for him to leave the room and enter the one he would be saying in. He sat down onto the bed with a sigh, putting his face in his hands. He was wholly unfamiliar with the emotions he was feeling now, and he didn't know how to deal with them. He laid back on the bed, wondering how he'd ever be able to fall asleep.
But the room was dark, his exhaustion couldn't be held at bay, and minutes later, he slipped into a deep sleep.
OOC: SilmeriaElemred, if you ever return to the site, just know that I would be happy to continue this thread, or start another with you, I really enjoyed writing with you, thank you! :)