Iorrjaer

Epilogue

Nellnis arrived at a camp that was full of grungy looking humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, and orcs. They all regarded her with hesitation as she strolled in and through to the main tent where a mirage of three women sat. It was dark out and a fire raged inside the tent that they were waiting within. The three mirages were centered around one woman that sat eloquently on a rough looking lounge bench. Either it was a hand-me-down or it had been salvaged from a disposal site. As Nellnis got closer to the woman, there was a slight foul aroma coming from the bench that convinced her that it was definitely from the latter.

The three mirages were identical versions of the same tall, red haired, dark eyed and strikingly ugly woman. She wore a crude covering of fox pelts that were wrapped around her breasts and waist. Leaving her stretched stomach that pouched over the pelt and thick thighs that led down to fat feet. Her red hair contrasted with her dark eyes and full moon face.

There were two prostrated men, kowtowing before one of the ugly woman's clones and it was looking rather displeased. The other two twins were behind her, watching their mirror sister with devilish smirks. The men looked scared and shook as the clone lifted up a heavy leg and placed it on one of their shoulders.

"I am disappointed." The central woman said. Her voice was as rough as her appearance. "You let easy prey escape!"

"Sorry, my lady." The rightman spoke. He kept his head down. The other tried to lift his head slightly but a heavy foot pushed it back into the dirt.

"We didn't expect there to be an escort." The leftmost man said, keeping his head down

"Escort? What escort? I sent you fools after old farmer Cid's daughter."

"Aye and she was accompanied by escorts." The rightmost man said. He braved standing and met her eyes and suddenly convulsed. His eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped over. The other remained still and kept his head down.

"Explain." She said to the remaining man. He knew that she was speaking to him, as he could see her feet.

He swallowed hard and it felt as if he had a frog in his throat. "We got to the break in the road and attacked the wagon. The girl you wanted was among them. She was wearing armour, she was. Bright, brilliant armour. Armour of a Knight or better..."

"Armour? Why would a farmer's daughter be wearing armour?"

"Not the farmer's daughter, my lady. The leader of the escorting team. Her team beat us without breaking a sweat. There was a large orc there too. He did nothing, but watch. Had a charred halfling on his shoulder, he did. There was a white elf there. And, a normal elf, too. Both were strong. Another girl too. Think she was a monk."

"You dolts attacked the wrong people." The central woman said in disgust.

"The girl in armour matched your description. Young..."

"Are you telling me that you attacked a party of adventurers?"

"No, ma'am! I, we, I, we, did as you asked. We went to the place you said and they were there... there was a girl there that was the same age and looked as you described to us."

"But she was wearing armour, she was. That didn't tip you off that she might have been a different girl?"

"If I may?" Nellnis offered.

"Ah, yes, please." The central woman said with renewed enthusiasm.

"Your men stumbled upon an adventuring party,"

"Useless fools. Take them away." Several other grungy looking humans, elves and dwarves, stepped forward, gathered up the two men, now barely conscious, and carried them away. The central woman adjusted herself grossly and then met Nellnis and smiled. "Continue."