The Dark Elf

Next Chapter (Lymerra meeting Lysander)

Lymerra wondered nervously if she had properly secured her horse. The was nothing at all stopping any human on the street from untying Honey from her post and riding off into the night. It was what she would have done. But she couldn't very well seize a barn in a town of this size without causing some sort of snowball effect. She had no choice but to sit atop Honey's back from the shadow of a pine tree near the dock, and watch what the other human bar patrons did.

After a few moments of studious observation with her owl-like eyes, Lymerra had concluded, much to her confusion, that they just tied them up outside. There was even a young human child looking after them, brushing off their coats, and refilling a water trough. She suspected they were pandering for a piece.

The Drow rode her exhausted mare to the end of the fence and ensured she could reach the water source. Lymerra dismounted and hesitated a moment, running her hands through the short fur on Honey's face.

She could make no more progress hiding like a spider in the dark. The way to find a city mage was to talk to the people of the city. She had tried listening and spying for so long and hadn't hear even a word of what she was looking for.

This was when she was going to have to start making important decisions about her new identity. The human bandits she had gutted in the woods mistook her for a demon. Or a partial demon at least. It seemed that would be the best way to explain the way she looked. She chastised herself for not taking more time to think of a detailed backstory.

In the training hall, she would have been caned for such poor planning in battle. It was too late to plan, but she could still weave tales with her sword. The fallback comforted her.

'Sir? Sir...may aye wifh da horse?"

Lymerra turned to see one of the young humans prepared to give Honey a handful of feed. He thinks she's a man. Good, for now.

Lymerra nodded, and without a word she reached into the pack slung over her shoulders and pulled out a single Drowian ruby. The boy's eyes went wide and then he staggered back in terror.

"No fank you sir, not supposed ta take money like that no more."

The boy was suspicious of such a reward. A good instinct, so she tossed the ruby into the dirt. If the boy wanted, he could take it. If he didn't, let it help another one of these belly-crawling humans. She pitied them.

Lymerra slid into the tavern and settled in the inconspicuous table she could find. Or so she thought.

She sat for a moment and realized some of the patrons were beginning to notice her. Apparently, fully cloaked individuals were not seen often in this town. "Dulch" as the humans had called it. Most, if not all, of the patrons were inebriated, and all continued to nurse mugs of ale.

"A drink isn't a bad idea. It will help me speak to others. And it well help me blend in," Lymerra thought.

As she stood to approach the bar, she noticed a human – no – an Elf, leaning against a cedar beam. The Elf was studying her, without a doubt. But this Elf, it too had red eyes. In her readings, Lymerra never saw referenced an Elf with red eyes. This male was a creature to be noted.

Her eyes flitted from the Elf to the barmaid as she softly said, "Any ale."

The barmaid was pretty and very young. Her hair was long, and curly, and brown and unlike any hair Lymerra had seen before. She looked confused at first, caught of guard that the voice of a woman emanated from the assassin-like figure.

Something about that both comforted and unsettled her. She brought back a pint immediately and Lymerra laid two pieces of cold on the table. The barmaid's eyes went wide, and before she could become to suspicious about the money, Lymerra turned to go back to her corner. She scorned herself again for still failing to gauge the human economic system.