They had just crossed over into the land of earth, Radestikestan, when they had the breaking dawn, Eltharan covering her face with her hands, groaning lightly. “I do not like the light. Normally vampires like myself would burn, but seeing as I’ve got the ‘virtue’ of being an elf, I’m merely annoyed by it. Strange but I don’t really question this boon.” She muttered, her eyeholes glancing at him, Rendal’s gaze directed at the road ahead, his eyes looking up and down the road, hearing the sound of something moving ahead, a loud bellowing sound, along with indeterminate curses, as an ox appeared from a side road, a familiar form seated upon the cart.
“Ello there fella. Found that inn, ya?” The farmer mumbled, his reed smacking upon the ox’s buttock. “Guess ye got yer info, right?” Rendal nodded. “There was an inn where you said, farmer.” The man nodded, his hat, new apparently, shrouding his features. “Thas goo. Keep the good work up. If yer looking to go to Radestikestan, get pass at the other road.” A gnarly hand rose and pointed to the other fork in the road, the farmer’s eyes looking rather penetrating. “That no be a good way ta travel if ya wanna hear me words, fella. The big guy up that piece o land ain’t a guy ya want ta mess with. He makes the ground cry.” The cart lurched a little, the garmer cursing softly and smacking the reed upon the Ox’s behind once more. “But ya can take me advis or leave it. Go with the blessin of the gods. “ The cart pulled away, Eltharan staring at the cart as it slinked away, seemingly surprised and yet silent. “Guess we’d best follow his advice, eh?” Rendal muttered, watching as Altharan raised her hand. “That might be true what that man said, but still, something is off about him. There’s no sort of human that would just volunteer that much information about the enemy that we face… No-one is that well-traveled.”
Rendal shrugged, his eyes glancing at the woman as she began to walk towards the road nevertheless, her steps careful and measured. “But the advice was solid. It has been some time since I last made an escape into the eastern lands after all.” Her voice turned husky, as she rubbed her mailed fingers over the hilts of her rapiers. Rendal watched her and caught up, his armor reflecting light upon the ground, almost like a mirror, polished up. “By the trees, that shine hurts my eyes. Did you polish your breastplate or something?” Her voice seemed to be more irritated than before, her hand casting a shade in front of her visor, her gaze diverted.
“I didn’t do anything.” He said, voice sounding almost like a whisper, the trees rustling with the wind, Eltharan giving a snort. “I don’t trust you. You humans are so vainglorious that you would do anything to get in the good graces of your own kind.” There was a slightly bitter tone in that statement, her voice seemingly twisting into a growl, her head turning to the side slightly, looking at their surroundings seemingly, holding up a hand. “Hold on, I don’t trust thi-“ before she could finish her sentence an arrow thunked, straight through her shoulder, spinning her around, Rendal cursing, the vampire-elf catching herself, the wooden shaft sticking out of her shoulder, pulled from it as she straightened herself. “We’ll be relieving you of all your money and goods, brave sir and ma’am.” A young brash voice spoke out, confident. Rendal looked at the man who stood within the clearing, unshaven and callow, like any young bandit who had the skill to lead and be respected.
“Oh really?” Eltharan’s voice said, her body rising, some black smoke coming from the hole within her armor, her helmet pulled off, revealing her snarling visage, twisted with fury. “Guess I’ll have to renege on that deal, human boy!” She leaned forward a little and kicked off, Rendal looking at her as she seemed to shimmer, the area around her blank for a brief moment, before a green blur could be seen swinging from the tree, the leader, or well, the speaker of the bandits getting hit with something, the dark shape of Eltharan’s armor still moving towards him, as the man struggled with a vine which had suddenly grown from a tree and was trying to strangle him.
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Forged
FantasyA warlord tore the realm apart. Six wizards, wise and just, brought him down. Now, they rule their domains and their rule goes unchallenged, a pact made by the six when they went up against the warlord, to share their power. Ten years of tenuous pea...
