Inferno

Chapter 3

P.O.V- Taryia

She arose from her dreamless sleep around midday. She could her the market in full swing as well as the shrill cries of happy children. Quickly she gathered her belongings and put them in her pack. She grabbed the key off the couch, then opened her door and locked it behind her. She put her cloak on and pulled the hood up then went downstairs. When she got downstairs Debbie was at the counter.

As she made her way over to the counter, Debbie asked her a question "Are ya coming back?"

"No ma'am, here's my key," Taryia replied giving her the key.

"Well keep safe, ok," she said.

"Yes ma'am," Taryia said. Taryia left the inn and set off for the next town. On her way out of town she had to go through the busy market. Vendors shouted their wares trying to draw her in, but she paid no attention to them. Small children ran around her feet as she attempted to shove her way to the edge of town. She was almost free when a small child in front of her tripped onto her and grabbed her cloak which fell to the ground. She heard several gasps, then a yell. She quickly spun around to see an angry mob chasing her. She turned around and sprinted as fast as she could towards the woods at the edge of town. She was faster and more graceful than any human, but none of that mattered when there was an angry mob chasing behind you. She all too soon had run out of the nicely paved streets and onto the uneven dirt path leading into the forest. She searched with frantic eyes for a good spot to climb into a tree and run on the branches. She was less than 50 yards from the forest and she still hadn't found a good tree. Her pack was chaffing her shoulders and slowing her down the mob behind her was gaining. She finally entered the forest and had run only a few yards when a cloaked figure grabbed her on his horse and rode off. She was about to scream when he hit her and knocked her unconscious.

She awoke to horse spit being dropped in her face.

"Ew!" She screamed pushing away the horse nose that was in her face.

"So you're awake?" A deep voice asked. A boy about her age entered her vision. He looked vaguely familiar. She suddenly remembered where she had seen him, he was the stranger from the bar.

"What do you want from me?" She questioned with apprehension in her voice. She slowly snuck her hand to find her backpack, but it was gone.

"I was just trying to save a damsel in distress," he said in a regal way.

"Um hm," she skeptically. "Then why is my backpack gone?" She questioned fiercely.

"Because I didn't want you to hurt me with this," he said holding her prized sword.

"Give me my sword," she said through gritted teeth.

"Not until I can trust you not to kill me, sweetheart," he said. "Oh and on that note, what is your name?"

"Taryia," she said.

"Mines Cole, if you were wondering," he said.

"I wasn't," Taryia mumbled under her breath. He obvious didn't hear her because he put her sword into a side bag on his horse. He turned around and flashed a smile at her and offered her a hand to help her get up off the ground. On his sleeve a gold eagle was sewn onto the fabric, it was the mark of the noble Valitor family. She gasped and dropped his hand.

"Your. . . a Valitor?" she questioned.

"Yes and what's it to you?"he fired back.

"You don't act like a noble, and your human," she replied

"You're not?" He questioned bewildered completely ignoring her earlier comment.

"Obviously you don't pay enough attention because I am an elf!" She almost yelled at him during the last part.

"Oh," was his only reply. The atmosphere changed around them, the friendliness was gone and replaced by a cold, heartless one. He walked away the smile wiped off his face. "Here's your pack and sword," he said as the bag and sword landed in front her kicking up some dirt. She stood up, picked up her pack, and brushed the dirt off. She was reaching for her sword when a dart whizzed by her head. She immediately crouched shoving her backpack in front of her. Cole was struck by a second dart, and fell down asleep or unconscious she didn't care. His horse was spooked and reared up and almost crushed Cole's head.

The camp was mostly packed up already, so she grabbed what was left and shoved it into the saddlebags. Taryia picked up an unconscious Cole and threw him onto his horse. Another dart almost hit her, but she deflected it with her sword. She jumped on the horse behind Cole, cut the rope holding the horse, and kicked the horse away from their attackers. They were galloping at full speed with beaches cutting at her face.

"Well isn't this ironic. First I'm unconscious and now he is," she sighed speaking to herself.

Several hours later, she finally called the horse to a stop next to a brook, and decided to set up camp for the night. She rummaged through the saddlebags to find a rope for the horse. She found one and tied up the horse then laid Cole on the ground. She was almost finished preparing the camp when Cole began to stir.

"Where am I?" He mumbled.

"Go back to bed," she said firmly.

"Ok... goodnight," he managed to say before falling asleep again. She walked towards the forest, surrounding the temporary camp, to gather firewood. She gathered some small kindling and a few larger logs, so that the fire would last all night long. As she made her way back to the camp she heard a soft snoring.

When she finally could see the camp she spied Cole fast asleep on the ground right where she was going to Julie the fire.

"Well this is just great," she mumbled under her breath. She dropped the wood next to him, and lightly kicked him. He only groaned and rolled over. She was tired and frustrated, so she shoved him out of the way. After he was moved, she built and lit the fire.

The fire was warm and was lulling her to sleep,so she stumbled over the horse. Then she searched the saddlebags for the only bedroll, found it, and unrolled it. She curled up in it, and instantly fell into a deep slumber.