Hungry and tired, the travelers trek to Serakh well into the next day. Without the energy to hunt, all hopes are resting on trading labor for food. A wave of relief washes over Varci as the walls of what have to be Serakh come into view, after climbing over one of many relentlessly steep hills, but the walls and towers of Serakh are not the only sights being caught by elf eyes.
While trying to slip into Serakh via a drainage ditch to avoid the inevitable false fines imposed by the gate watchmen, Borren, a happy little elf from the great forest of the east, spots a radiant elf girl far along the western trail with his amazingly keen elf eyes.
The soft and symmetrical features of the tall blue wonder on which his eyes now rest freezes him in his tracks. Her body is a specimen of health, and she looks stronger than most elf men. Her face houses full lips that were almost the same glowing shade of violet that made the shine of her her purple tinged wild locks, large eyes whose dark centers engulf almost the entire slits save a small ring of light burgundy, and long pointed ears that lay back and hold her hair. Ears are a symbol of beauty to elves, and Borren feels that these are strong enough to hear his heartbeat from where she stands. This is like a girl from Borrens dreams and though he knows his heart is an easy spoil, he feels he must at least try to make this girl his own.
Luckily for Borren the dark elfs eyes are not strong enough to make out his gawking gaze and gaping jaw and he snaps out of his enthrallment. The cunning little elf hatches a plan to meet the goddess that he has been watching. He will wait by the big elm tree at the fork in the road, just outside of the view of the guards, and pretend to rest. When I warn her of the perils ahead, my generosity will be what wins her heart, if not that then my wealth will captivate her, if that isnt enough, I will depend on my merit. Something will work. Something has to work.
With her new found energy stemming from Serakh being in sight outweighing hunger, Varci marches on the trail with excitement. She hopes the band of guards that she encountered the night before would be nowhere in sight, but leaves the majority of hopes in finding food. A nervous elf by the name of Borren with skin like Vahx, but a height matching that of Xolante approaches her cautiously, and nervously explains that the guards would not let Mekh in the gate, and probably kill Xolante on sight, as well as fine her for entry and would not spare her harassing remarks. She almost laughs when he says the guards would kill the War-chief, they might try, but she is sure that the other perils are very real; if the gate guards are anything like the others they know no honor and are therefore unpredictable.
With this Varci is left with a choice, she can either face he guards or follow the suspicious man into a side trail, and almost certainly a trap. In her broken and hungry state, viciousness is a formidable weapon, and she chooses to follow him with the idea that if he does attack her, she will gladly slay him and his companions, and maybe receive a reward for the heads of wanted criminals. Why turn down a win-win situation?
Following Borren along an unbeaten, dark and tree hidden side-path, the inevitability of an ambush becomes more apparent. Varci imagines pulling Borrens head from his shoulders, and his friends running in terror. She imagines presenting his still bleeding head to this King Coipus of Serakh, and him asking her to name a reward for her noble deed and personal service. A coop of fat hens? Three large hogs roasted over an open flame and doused in lemon and spices? Left Mouthwatering, Varci stares forward, eyes fixed on nothing. It takes her sometime to realize that the group has come to a stop, and looking down she sees Borren kneeling before a drainage gate.
Youre actually helping us? Varci says with confusion. Once again as the words leave her lips, she feels bad. Surely what she said offends him, and only moments ago she was ready to brutally murder him for food, and he actually is helping her. The suspicious little bandit is actually just a kind little man in the woods.
