True enough, while he appears stable, he seems to be insane indeed. Subtle hints in his demeanor tell me so. I wonder how Aaron is able to converse with him so lightly, knowing that he could snap at any moment. Perhaps having met an old friend clouded his judgment. Yes, could be...
Be that as it may, given the rumors surrounding Daniel Keehmor, I now understand why the tavern is empty, and why the bartender is so nervous.
After over an hour of conversing, the blond man arises from the table.
`Well, I really have to go, old friend. Perhaps we'll meet again soon!'
`You should come to Ess'yer more often, Daniel! Then we'd meet more often.'
`You should come to Draconia, Aaron. You'd like it there!' he says with a smile that seems more wicked than warm.
`Me, in Draconia? That's crazy...'
`You say that as if madness was a bad thing.'
`Huh?'
`Contrary to common belief, madness... is a good thing. It makes you do things you wouldn't do otherwise. Therefore, it extends the boundaries of your freedom. Anything that extends the boundaries of your freedom, is a good thing.' he says, like a teacher explains something to a student.
`Did Zack tell you that bullshit?' asks Aaron with his eyebrows narrowed.
`As a matter of fact, yes. When he told me, I also thought it was bullshit. But it was a very long time ago, and times have changed since then. Changed enormously...'
He takes the book and steps to the center of the tavern. He waves me goodbye with his right hand.
`Farewell, Nameless One! I hope we'll meet again soon!' he says to me. I nod my head in goodbye, and then he rubs his chin and a thinking expression occupies his face. After a while, recognition glows in his eyes. He waves his hands and utters a few magic words. Then he disappears. He teleported away.
`I gotta tell you, boy, I ain't seen old Daniel in about two hundred years!' Aaron exclaims. `That's a lot of time between friends, you know. But such things happen. I can understand that he left for Draconia. He was always an adventurer at heart, and he always wanted to explore the deepest secrets of Draconia. In the old days, he spent quite some time running around the Planes with his old buddy, a guy called Zack Sands. In fact, I believe they've spent the better part of a century adventuring together, here and there. Hell, they've even been to...'
Before Aaron could finish, I hear the sound of a bowstring from towards the door. I turn to face the door and catch a flying arrow with my left hand in mid air, just a few inches from my face.
I thought it was one of the guards, but no. It is her... She is standing in the door, with her bow. Wearing the same emerald green armor that I've seen on her two years ago. She smiles as she speaks, but her eyes and the tone of her voice betray her anger towards me.
`I see you haven't lost your touch over the years!' she tells me.
`Hello, Flora!'
I hear Aaron laughing by my side.
`Hey, boy, for a minute there I thought she was trying to kill you, heh!'
`I was...' she tells him.
`Ahem, I see... Well, maybe I should leave the two of you alone for a while then. I'll go check on the shipment!'
With that, he quickly walks out of the tavern.
`Who's that?' she asks. `A new client?'
`He just gave me a ride here.' I reply.
`A ride, huh?'
`Yes. A shaky ride.'
She looks at me expectantly. The bartender seems to have left for the kitchen, and I get the feeling that it will begin soon.
Why are you here, Flora? Why now? You are in danger here. I must make you leave... Fast...
`Look, Flora... You're in danger here. You should leave.'
`I'm not going anywhere! I want an explanation! I want an explanation about what happened two years ago. I want to know why I woke up alone that morning, and I want to know right now! Do you hear me?'
She is so stubborn. But how could she not demand an explanation after what happened?
`It's not easy to explain, Flora... It was not as I wanted it to be. I didn't want us to part like that.'
`You didn't want it? That's nice... You left, remember? Remember!?'
I sigh.
`Yes. I remember. I remember well...'
When dreams fall apart
I remember how I met her perfectly clearly. It was one of the few assignments I had that I regret accepting. At the time it was very appealing, and rightfully so. Participating in an act of vengeance, especially one that promises to be nearly a suicide mission, is always rewarding, in every possible way. Every way...
Somewhere in Endarryn, two years ago (4 years, 4 months, and 7 days before Twilightfall)
I was in the northern part of Endarryn at the time, having spent about three months in the forests of the elves. I had less than half a dozen assignments during this time. Barely even worth the effort. Then again, it's no wonder. Wood elves very rarely resort to shadowy tactics such as assassination, and night elves, if they even bother to leave Envorryn, don't have much trust for races other than their own, hence if they want someone killed they usually do it themselves or seek a night elf assassin. In essence, the time spent there was almost a waste of time. Almost, for I did have some business there. Once that had been dealt with however, I slowly made up my mind to move on to more rewarding lands. Then, just the day before I would depart, a man approached me.
He was a very skinny-looking wood elf. Even more skinny than most of his kind. He was dressed in delicately adorned expensive clothes and he was unarmed. He came alone to the tavern where he found me, no bodyguards to aid him. Endarryn is a more-less peaceful land, especially compared to Delamar, but it was still unusual to see someone like him without guards to accompany him.
`Are you Doorn?' he asked me. I nodded slightly. He sat down next to me, and introduced himself.
`My name is Shayeld E'Lyn. I am in need of your services.'
Shayeld E'Lyn... I had heard his name before. A wealthy merchant. Supposedly a man of honor. Why, I wondered, would such a man come to hire me? Perhaps he is not so honorable as they say he is. Wealth can hide many dark secrets...
`You have no doubt heard my name before,' he said, like he was reading my mind. `and you must wonder why I'm here. I shall clear it up for you shortly. The task I have for you is one that may be more suited to a mercenary, but I do not trust their kind. This is why I came to you, instead.'
Interesting logic he has, I thought to myself.
`If you don't trust mercenaries, what makes you trust me?'
`I have heard many tales of your exploits. They say you have never failed in a task before. That you never backed away from a challenge, that you always found your way to victory. I have also heard, that you've fought against overwhelming odds more than once, and that you prevailed. You are dedicated to your... profession... and you always fulfill your task. Although your profession is anything but honorable, you yourself are however, in a sense, a man of honor. You are committed to the assignments you accept. You can be relied upon. That is what I need. A reliable man to... represent me.'
`Represent you? I am no diplomat...'
`Of course. I meant a different kind of representation. You see, I am terribly shamed by my inability to fight in battle, and I need someone who will fight for me.'
`As long as the pay is adequate, I can do this.'
`Yes, we shall discuss your payment, but first, let me tell you what I need.'
With that, he began to tell me his tale.
`There are three of us siblings in the family. Or rather, there used to be. My brother Engnal was the finest of warriors. Not long ago however, he was murdered. He and a few companions were passing time in a tavern in Endithu, a town to the north of here, close to the border. There was a group of humans there from Delamar, they were just passing through. They were an aggressive group, and their behavior only got worse over the course of the night. By midnight, they were severely drunk, and started to pick on everyone. Eventually, they started
talking about raping one of the maids. When they grabbed her, my brother and his friends thought to intervene, before they could harm her.
A fight broke out, and those cursed drunkards fought like wild animals. They were highly skilled warriors who managed to put up a fight even in an intoxicated state. My brother and his friends were soon hard pressed in the fight and several of them were eventually wounded. The rage of those human drunkards was only further fueled by the sight of blood, and as the battle progressed, they sought more and more to not just hold their ground, but also, to kill...
It was my brother who fell victim to their rage. Surprisingly however, their leader ordered them to leave after Engnal fell. It was almost as if his death had turned him sober, as if he had realized that they'd gone too far. By his order, the humans left with great haste. One of Engnal's friends chased after them, taking care not to be noticed. They fled back to Delamar, and as you most certainly know, this meant they escaped justice.
The members of the Supreme Council have long agreed to keep to their own territory. Supreme Councilor Jenathar is not the sort that would take the time to pursue a group of murderers just to serve justice for the death of a single elven warrior, nor would he allow us to take justice in his territory. Likewise, Supreme Councilor Worriil would never bother to request for Supreme Councilor Jenathar's assistance in bringing these bastards to justice, it is a far too meaningless matter for him to have to owe Jenathar a favor. Especially since we are wood elves, while Worriil is a night elf.
Yet Engnal's friends are determined to avenge his death, one way or another. I admit, so am I...
The Supreme Council is strict about such matters. Had those bastards been caught in elven territory, they could be punished. As long as they're in human lands, they escape retribution. If we chase after them and attempt to kill them, we risk being executed for murder, if caught. Therefore we must act in the greatest of secrecy. We know where they are, we know how to approach them unseen. We will attempt to serve justice for my brother! We will not let the unspoken laws of the Council let those bastards escape justice! We will serve justice even if we will be branded outlaws. My family honor demands that I avenge my brother's death.
My sister Flora is likewise determined to avenge the death of our brother. She is a hunter of great skill, while I am only a merchant. I cannot fight, and it is my shame that I cannot take part in serving justice for my fallen brother. This is why I have come to you. I cannot fight, but I should. By all rights, I should take part in this! But I can't... I would only hinder them rather than help them. All I can do, is ask someone to fight for me, to represent me in the fight. It is you I have chosen to represent me.'
`Why a complete stranger like me? Why not someone who was a friend of your brother?'
He nervously rubbed his hands together before he replied.
`I will be honest with you. This is a suicide mission. I could ask anyone I know, but not a single one of them has the fighting skills to live through this endeavor. Engnal was the greatest of our warriors, and he could not best them. Flora is a highly skilled elven hunter, but even her skill in battle does not compare to Engnal's. My sister and our friends are walking into their death. Unless I can find a way to even the odds.
That's why I want you to be the one to represent me. From what I have heard of you, your martial prowess is unmatched. You are possibly the best choice for me. If I am to hope that my sister and at least some of my friends make it back alive, I need someone like you. '
`Make no mistake about it, I am no bodyguard. I am an assassin. I am a killer, not a defender.'
`Offense is the best defense! As long as you can do your job well, as long as you can deal death to those scum swiftly, my friends have a better chance to survive. I am not asking you to be their guardian. I'm asking you to be their black hand of death! To be there to kill as many of their enemies as you can, as swiftly as you can.
But if you can... please keep an eye out for my sister. She can take good care of herself, but I worry for her.'
`She will have to take care of herself. I am no bodyguard. I'm a killer. No more, no less.'
He sighed deeply, and rubbed his face for a while. He seemed to have expected this reply, but he also seemed to have hoped for a different response.
`Very well, assassin. I will have to accept these terms. Will you accept the task?'
`Yes. As long as the price is right.'
We shortly discussed my payment, and then he told me where to meet his sister and her friends. He gave me a signet medallion that I was to show to them to identify myself. Then he promptly left. I was very satisfied at the time. I was certain that this would be one of the most rewarding assignments of my life. In a way, it was. Yet, I regret having taken it.
*
I arrived in Endithu after a day's travel. It was a nice little elven town, just as one might expect in Endarryn. Elven settlements have always radiated a sense of peace and harmony. Wood elves typically build wooden houses into large clearings in the middle of the forest of Endarryn, but for houses built of wood their buildings are surprisingly well decorated. Elven artists tend to spend much of their time carving elven designs into the walls of their houses, and the elves take good care of their buildings. It is a strange dichotomy, that houses built by such simple means out of such simple materials end up adorned in a most complex and magnificent way. Even I have to admit that such marvelous architecture is soothing to behold. Endithu was no different. Each house was adorned by intricate carvings on every wall that radiated a sense of tranquility. But I didn't admire the place long. I rushed to the local tavern to find Shayeld's sister and get to work. I found the tavern quickly, and there she was sitting by one of the tables. She had a quiver of arrows in front of her on the table, and she was examining each arrow one by one. I recognized her immediately after Shayeld's descriptions. Her skin was tanned like that of most wood elves, she had shoulder length red hair, and she wore an emerald green set of armor. It was the armor that made me recognize her straight away. Shayeld had told me that she got this one of a kind armor from a great magician in her hometown as a reward for something. He said it was magical and very powerful. It was also a beautiful piece of armor. Something that matched Flora's beauty perfectly well.
As I approached her, I couldn't help but notice the tattoo on the back of her left hand. It was a stylized tattoo of an attacking panther. I had never seen that tattoo before, but I knew of it. It is the symbol of the Order of the Black Panther, an elven guild of hunters. Only the most skilled, elite hunters are admitted as members of that order. Their members are trained not only how to hunt ordinary game, but how to face far more dangerous creatures as well. They are even taught how to survive against magical beasts, such as dragons. I heard that a small group of such hunters once killed a dragon without the aid of magicians. One of their primary duties is to defend Endarryn from the vicious beasts of the Envorryn desert that occasionally enter the elves' forest, a most difficult and dangerous task that takes great fighting skill to handle. The fact that she had this tattoo told me that her brother had been modest about her skills when she called her a highly skilled elven hunter. What he said merely implied that she was extremely good at her trade, but she was obviously much better than that. Much, much better...
`Flora E'Lyn?' I asked her as I got to her table. She looked up at me with curiosity.
`Yes. What can I do for you?'
I pulled out the medallion and gave it to her.
`Your brother sent me. I am to... represent him.'
She took the medallion and examined it briefly. Then she looked up again.
`So, you are Doorn. I hope you are as good and as reliable as they say you are.'
`I will not disappoint you.'
`You'd better not.' she said, as she stood up and walked towards the stairs. Her voice was full of tension. I barely met her but I could already feel how much she disliked my trade. `Come along! I will introduce you to my friends.'
As I w
alked upstairs after her, I could examine her armor even better. It seemed like it was sewn together from leaves, which is absurd. Then again, a magical set of elven armor might as well be forged from leaves... It fit to her so well, and made a beautiful contrast with her long red locks.
She turned into the first room on the left where four elven men were waiting. They had the appearance of average wood elves. Tanned skin, pointy ears, and a rather skinny, fragile build. They were all dressed in the usual kind of leather armor that most elves prefer to wear, and were all armed with a longsword and a bow. Only then did I notice that Flora had no sword, only her bow.
`Assassin, meet my friends! You, me, and the four of them will be the ones to exact justice for my fallen brother. They are Lornydel, Tiaves, Oldran, and Emrayeld.'
I nodded towards each of them as she introduced them. Then I asked a question that sparked quite some unease in them.
`Just what numbers are we going up against?'
`The ones we are to kill count at about a dozen, but they will have many others with them. Altogether around thirty humans. At least that is what we expect.'
`We're going in to take them out, just the six of us? Based on what Shayeld said, I would have thought your brother had much more friends.'
Unease started to spread across all their faces. Seemed like I had touched a delicate subject.
`Look, assassin...' she said, speaking the name of my profession with audible disgust. `We are taking a great risk here. A large group heading into Delamar armed to the teeth would draw too much attention. So, we chose to reduce the group to six people. I would go no matter what, it's about my brother after all. The others drew sticks to decide who would stay behind.'
`In that case, it is best if I go alone. I can kill them without your help, and this way you will all assuredly survive.'
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