Serev's Story

Chapter 11

Serev was getting frustrated. She had been hoping to find a sign of the creature quickly, and every passing day increased her anxiety about what the creature could be up to. The more time he spent becoming a person, the more seamless his impersonation would be. Today she had spent the morning in the common room of a small in called the Dancing Rainbow chatting up the proprietor, but there was nothing odd about him or the inn. She really wished that she could find out the inspiration for that name, though the sign outside was just an adorable dancing turtle with a rainbow shell. Back home it would have no doubt been trampling a troop of horsemen.

Outside, she saw a surprising sight, Princess Ravinia talking to a group of citizens rather animatedly. Normally she was a good-natured woman, but Serev could tell she was frustrated right now. She moved closer to listen.

"I understand what you've heard, you have made that abundantly clear. But let me be clear as well. I am a Priest of Enlil, and a member of the royal family. If there was a plot to remove all the shrines and temples from the city, I would never allow it. The rumor just is not true," Ravinia was explaining.

Serev's heart went cold. That is just the sort of rumor that the creature would start!

The people in the crowd were muttering to themselves, though most seemed confused. They trusted and believed Ravinia and being told something in person was more powerful than a rumor. But the rumor was quite persistent. That meant that there were a lot of people talking about it, and that meant it was being deliberately spread.

Once the crowd dispersed, Serev moved over to the princess, who was breathing deeply, and obviously still upset.

"Princess Ravinia, can I speak to you a moment?" she asked softly.

"Oh, Serev! How are you? Is everything alright? I haven't seen you in quite some time," Ravinia said, forcing some brightness into her voice.

"Actually, I was listening to your speech, and I think we're after the same thing at this point. Can we sit and talk?" Serev asked, pointing with her thumb beck to the Dancing Rainbow.

Ravinia looked a bit confused. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning, but I could use some refreshment so lead the way," she smiled.

Heading back into the inn, Serev sat right back at the corner table that she had just vacating, surprising the serving girl who was just cleaning it. "Sorry, I changed my mind, and brought a friend. Could you bring us some wine please?"

"Yes ma'am!" the girl yelped, and rushed off to the kitchen.

"Isn't it a bit early for wine?" Ravinia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Believe me, you'll want the wine after what I have to tell you," Serev stated flatly.

Another day, another trip through the streets with Ravinia. Serev wished she could find the damned creature, but at least this way she was helping to undo whatever rumors that the creature was spreading. Well, more likely Ravinia was, but she was trying to lend support, and add protection in case whoever the creature was impersonating made an appearance to attack the princess. Today they had ventured to the southeast side of the city, to a small market that was frequented by many of the gnomes and dwarves in the city. Serev was amazed at some of the blades in the stalls and vowed to come back when she had more time to look at them. She hadn't been able to get a sword that truly matched her style since she had been a slave, merely looted the ones she had been using from body after body.