Dave

Dark Elf Village

55th of Cycle 2, 1015

Matilda pulled me through the alleyways in a daze, and before I knew it, we were in the back room of the tavern. “What are we doing here? Shouldn’t we be going after Jason?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t understand. You didn’t fight that monster,” Her voice was shaking. “We don't have a chance against them.”

“Who were those people?”

“High elves from Jason’s village.”

“Then why did they attack us on sight?” I asked, confused.

“The document Jason was trading for your training contained enchantment diagrams known only to his village. He’s a traitor in their eyes, and if they take him back home, the courts will sentence him to life in jail or execution,” She said solemnly.

I gulped, “So how are we going to get him back?”

“We’re not.”

“So you’re just going to let him rot in a cell for the rest of his life?”

“If you have any bright ideas, I’m all ears.”

I thought deeply for a few seconds. They mentioned that they were planning on stopping somewhere to heal Jason before leaving. How could I exploit that?

I grinned as I looked over at Matilda. “I have a plan.”

“You do?” She sounded genuinely relieved.

“Yeah, but first I need to know if we can even find them.”

“I can deal with that part. What’s your plan?”

I got up close to her and whispered my plan into her ear.

She looked surprised when I stepped back. “That's so stupid it might actually work.”

"Are you in or not?”

“Yeah, I’m in. I’ll go call in some favors to find our targets. Is there anything you need to do before you’re ready?”

“I could use my bow..., but it’s at Elrund’s smith,” I said.

Matilda handed me a few gold coins. “Ask him if you can borrow one for tonight, and sweeten the deal with those coins. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes,” She said as she left.

I took a deep breath, “Wait for us, Jason.”

Rea

Dark Elf Village

55th of Cycle 2, 1015

“Lola, he’s not going to last much longer,” Jack said. “I can’t heal him if he dies.”

“Fine, let’s head to that abandoned building.” Lola pointed at a two-story building in the distance. When we got a closer look at it, the building was missing pieces of its walls, revealing worn-out and moldy wooden support beams.

I noticed a drunken vagrant sitting in the corner of the first floor as we walked in. “Who the fu-”

Lola’s arrow had pierced into his skull before he could finish his sentence.

“Just when I started thinking that you were becoming merciful, you pull something like that,” Rory shook his head.

“We’re taking enough risks as it is. I don’t see a reason to add some homeless dark elf to that list,” Lola said coldly. “Set Jason down on that table. I’ll check our surroundings.” She left the building.

Rory laid Jason’s lifeless body onto a rotting wooden table, and Jack got to work healing him. His hands glowed bright green as the life in Jason’s eyes started coming back, and his skin reverted to its natural color. Then, he stopped and looked over at Rory and me. “One of you come here and pull this arrow out of his chest,” He said.

Rory walked over without a word and yanked the arrow out, causing the wound to reopen and spray blood everywhere. Jack’s eyes went wide as he started chanting something in ancient elvish. When he finished, a red light enveloped Jason’s body, and his wound closed.

Jack fell to his hands and knees, panting, “I wasn’t ready, you fucking dolt.”

Rory shrugged, “It worked out anyway, right? What’s the big deal?”

Jack opened his mouth to respond but just shook his head.

Dave

Elrund’s Smith

55th of Cycle 2, 1015

“Anyone home?” I asked as I walked into the dead silent smith. I didn’t get an answer, so I yelled, “Elrund! Get your ass up to the counter!”

“What’re you fucking yelling for? I’m trying to sleep!” I heard a crash from the back room, and a few seconds later, the door swung open. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Hey, Elrund, I’m in kind of a pinch right now. Can I borrow a bow for the night?”

He disappeared into the back without a word and emerged again with my bow and quiver. “I know that I told you it wouldn’t be ready till tomorrow, but I got too caught up in the high elf craftsmanship and ended up using all my time on it. I would’ve liked to look at it a bit longer, but it seems like you need it.” He added a few extra arrows into my quiver and handed it to me with the bow.

When I tried to take the bow from his hands, he didn't let go and pulled me down to his face. "Just what are you planning to do in my village, Dave?" His voice was intimidating.

"I need to save my friend. Now let go, or I'll make you let go," I shot back.

The tension rose to a boiling point before he finally let go. "It's not in my place to tell you what your business is, but rumor has it that you killed someone today, Dave."

“Rumors are unreliable." I put the other half of the payment we had agreed upon onto the counter. "Thanks for your help, Elrund."

“If you want to thank me, then don't cause any more trouble.” He swept up the coins with his arm.

“I'll try not to,” I said as I left.

Matilda was waiting for me outside. “Let’s start this plan of yours, Dave."