In elvish he asked her the names of her parents. Loralil looked suspiciously at the Elf before her. Should she tell him. She had not spoken those names in all the years since her parents had died. "Why do you want to know?" she replied in the same language. Her accent was different from his but it was the same language.
"I have been searching for a very long time for the daughter of my sister and her husband. They were killed thirty years ago. This daughter is the heir to an estate. You look a bit like my sister. It has been a long search and I grow weary. I hope you are her."
She looked deeply into the eyes above her's and thought. Could it be true? She tried to remember if her mother had told her of any relatives. Loralil had thought that all her family lived in the little village she grew up in. She dimly remembered her mother telling her of a brother who lived far away. There was something else but the memories where still hard to find. She had spent too much time living in the present to think of the past. With tears in her eyes she spoke. "Their names where Silvershine and Stoneblade. They were a Harper and sword master." She closed her eyes. One tear slid down unnoticed. "They died at the hands of Samuel Elvenbane." The last came out like an oath. Mika could here the utter hatred in her voice. He now had the information he was looking for. This maiden was his niece. The search was over.
"Little Greyfox, I have finally found you." He reached out and enfolded her into his arms. She stiffened as she felt the arms go about her. He didn't care. He had found his lost family member. Now he would have to find a way to free her.
Loralil started to hear the name she had not heard since she was in her home village. She stood stiffly in his arms but she soon relaxed and gingerly placed her arms around the man who claimed to be her uncle. She was stunned. A family? Someone who remembered her parents? Was this the way to bring herself back to her elven heritage? She pushed herself out of his arms. Looking suspiciously at the elf before her, she asked. "You are my uncle?"
"Yes, little one. I've been looking for you for so long. Silvershine's spirit came to me after she died and asked me to find you."
"I'm glad to meet you and ashamed to meet you, here." She turned away and stepped toward the door. "I have not been able to leave this city in the many years I have lived here. You must know that I am no one to be proud of knowing." She looked out the door and then spun back and strode up to him. "I have spent years here killing every creature placed in the ring with me." Silvershaft opened his mouth to stop her but she continued.
"Before I came here," she closed her eyes, "I spent fifteen years being a whore for who ever could pay my price." She turned away again. "I only ended up here because I killed two clients. I have been in the depths of depravity for thirty years." She curled her hands into fists. "I am not worth saving." She looked down at her feet. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I do not remember how to be an elf. I am less than a human."
Silvershaft looked at his niece. He could see the damage that her time here had lain upon her soul. Her's was not the innocent soul of a elven maiden just reaching adulthood. He had known that she would be damaged but he had wanted to bring her home and ease her mind and spirit. Now he knew that he had to bring her home. She was hurt deeply. If she was to find peace she would need to go home. "Greyfox, I don't care about that. You are of the same blood as I. You must come home and let me heal you." He spoke with conviction and the look in his eyes made Loralil think maybe she was worth something other than an object to be used for money. "I will go to your owner and try to buy your contract, child. You must not stay here a moment longer. Soon, you will be a woman and you must spend time with a elf matron to learn how to be one."
He wrapped his arms around her again and sung a quiet song in elvish to her. She found that she was relaxing. She relaxed so much that Silvershaft lifted her up and placed her on the bed and tucked the blanket around her. Within moments she was fast asleep. Deep in what he hoped was a healing sleep. He left her and strode toward the office of the owner of the arena. He had quite a bit of gold on his person and knew where he could lay his hands on more. He would buy out her contract. No matter what it took, she could not be left here any longer. He walked into the office. Sitting behind a desk was a large being. Mika could not be quite sure what race this being or even what sex it was. "I would like to speak to the owner of the arena slaves." He spoke common in a harsh voice. The creature looked up and then it rose and walked into the next room. After a moment a very ugly Human male entered the room.
"Hello, I am Leander. I own the arena slaves. You wished to see me?"
"Yes, I would like to purchase one of your slaves."
At this the man got a cunning look on his face. He knew that Elves did not believe in slavery. This Elf could only be after one thing. Loralil. She was a good money maker but she would soon be free. She had only to kill three more opponents and he would have to free her without recompense. Here was a way to make more money on that little killer.
"I believe I know which one you are interested in. Loralil, the elf maiden."
"Yes." That was all Mika said. He didn't want this human to realize just how important this particular slave was to him.
"Well, she brings in a lot of money to me but her attraction is starting to pall. I just might be willing to sell her if the price is right."
"How much?"
"Well again," he paused with a sly look, "with all the money she has brought in I couldn't sell her for less than" another pause, "one hundred gold pieces." He expected this elf to start haggling. He knew that Elves always paid to get their brothers and sisters out of slavery. They just made sure not to pay too much. He was surprised. The elf didn't bargain. He just slung off his pack and took out a heavy bag. He tossed it onto the table next to the human.
"That should cover it. Please have her escorted here."
Leander looked down at the bag. It had landed on its side and three coins spilled out golden in the candlelight. He reached down and scooped them up. He bit into one to be sure they were real. They were. He signaled to his mountainous assistant to go get the elf maiden as he started counting the coins. It returned after a few minutes, Loralil at its heels.
"Girl, you have a new owner." He waved at the taller elf. Without looking up he said, "Go get your stuff together."
Loralil looked over to her uncle. He had done it. She was free. She turned and ran back to her room. She had little to pack. Just her armor and weapons and a few pieces of clothing. She was packed in ten minutes and on her way out of the city within thirty. With just one stop. They stopped at a blacksmith to have her collar removed.
As the collar fell from her neck Loralil lifted her neck in freedom for the first time in thirty years. There was a look of gratitude in her eyes. "You are free, niece. Now we can go home."
"Home?" Loralil liked the sound of that. Home was a place she hadn't had in a very long time. She savored the word. It felt right.
So ends the first of the tales of Loralil Greyfox.
Endings Page 11