Iron and Wood #Wattys2017

Epilogue

Four months later

To the north of the Empire, a handful of islands were scattered across the ice-cold waves like marbles on a table. Eluhin was one, with its strangely desolate tundras and craggy cliffs and hills. A tavern was nestled underneath the ledge of one such cliff, hours away from any village or town or even any farm. A dozen horses were tied outside.

The inside made up for the strange silence outdoors all on it's own. Men clashed mugs of ale together, the drink sloshing over the sides, and forks scraped merrily against plates. The raucous laughter was as loud as thunder, and a bard strummed a lyre in the corner, yelling the lyrics of his tune over the din.

A young woman entered, dressed in a ragged black cloak over armour.  She lowered her hood as she moved silently to an empty table and sat.

The maid behind the counter did not approach her about ordering food or drink. Shal waited, making eye contact with each one of the men around her in turn.

Two young men stood up, finally making their way over to the table.

"Are you the Vampire?"

Shal raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.

"The what?"

"The mercenary!" The young nobleman was more of a boy, weak-chinned with blonde hair flopping down over his eyes. "Who drinks the blood of those she slays!"

Shal leaned forward.

"What do you want?"

"There is a man hiding out somewhere in the eastern hills." The other man was older, more simply dressed. "He's wanted, dead or alive."

"Let me guess." Shal felt herself smile derisively. "You want me to find him so you can collect the reward money."

"We set the reward," the young man said, a little miffed. "Or I did. but the point is, no one can find him."

"How do you know he's not already dead? Lying with broken legs at the bottom of a cliff with crows picking out his eyes?"

"We don't," the older man said curtly. "But you've done this many times before, if what we hear is true. Will you take the job or not?"

Shal looked from one to the other.

"How much is the reward?"

"Sixty silvers."

Eluhin didn't deal in ducats. Shal ran the calculation in her head, finding the equivalent.

"Deal." She held out her hand.

The younger man took a pouch from the inside of his velvet cloak, dropping it into Shal's outstretched hand. She weighed it before pocketing it, and then got to her feet.

"You're going already?"

"Don't you want this task completed as soon as possible?" Shal tossed over her shoulder.

The older man came up beside her.

"Why do you do this?" he asked.

"Money," Shal snapped.

"A young woman selling her sword is uncommon in this country."

"It is commonplace in mine."

"A poor maiden would usually sell something very different."

"They say you do this to care for your ailing father," the young man stood up.

"That is so far from the truth even I find it funny." Shal shook her head, heading for the door. "I will meet you back here in a week with proof of completion."