[Tavern] Dalharail d'oloth (private)

[Laroa Linalantava]

Spring, Era XIV Post Fractum

It had been a while since the pale woman had been in a tavern, in any tavern at all, and she found the experience to be interesting. In Ethgan’tor she had not been able to afford herself that little bit of freedom. The danger had been too great. There had been people who had not liked her, her family, the fact that she had come literally out of nowhere and replaced her brother as the heir of the throne. She had not been able to go anywhere without half a dozen bodyguards at her side. The other Houses had always been there, waiting for a moment of weakness.

Those that had decided not to trust her, had been right. She had never cared about Ioannes, about their petty little rules. She had never been the faithful, friendly woman she had chosen to portray in public, but that was beyond the point now.

She had left them again, left them to their own advices. While she was away, what they thought of her didn’t matter.

She had chosen a table next to the interior balcony on the first floor so that she could gaze at the people below without them noticing it. It was strange how many people, how many different races were there, gathered in seemingly peaceful coexistence, laughing, joking with each other. None of the places she had been to in the previous patterns had been like that. In Vortex they would have killed a lightborn. In Ethgan’tor she had been forced to pretend that her lightborn lover was a slave so that they would let him in. The fact that she would be queen one day would have mattered very little if they had found out that she shared her bed with one of those creatures.

She almost admired the people of that foreign city. Despite the fact that they had given herself to the two faced god and his whore they possessed some admirable qualities.

Ethgan’tor had been suffocating. She had been unable to pursue her goals there, to do what she wanted, and she was not entirely sure if the throne was adequate compensation for that. She’d decided that she needed time to think.

Here she felt almost free …

She wore a simple grey travelling gown rather than the silks she preferred, a plain, modest garment, but she stood out a little nevertheless. Not as much as in Vortex where she had been the only Esh’lahier among a mass of black faces, but there were few of her race here. The pale elves tended to stick to themselves. She’d put a veil on her white hair, not to hide what she was, not because she was a woman in mourning (although she had lost both husband and child), but to protect her eyes.

The man who had bound her, who had taken her magic away, had also blinded her, and although she had been healed, her eyes were rather sensitive. They had also changed colour, were the color of wine rather than violet.

In front of her stood a glass of red wine. She had also ordered a few sweets, cake, a few fresh fruit. She had never been one to enjoy meat. It seemed so … barbaric. Strange that those people felt no remorse when they killed an animal, but hesitated to murder one of their own when in the end they were all the same … made of flesh and blood … children of Telath …

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Another day in the Crown, another tankard of good ale! Life was good and the ale was good to. With a smiled on his face Eyvind left some coins in the counter and turned to see the crowd gathered inside the tavern. Some Legionnaires in a corner greeted him by raising their tankards. With a kind nod and a smile Eyvind raised his tankard too. Some more familiar faces in a table nearby, a merchant he had met when guarding the Southern Gate. An indeed nice man with noble intentions. He wanted to create a wandering library to supply small villages in the Province. An interesting idea, at least to the red haired Vagaran.

He looked around in search for someone of interest. The Senior Legionnaire, now on his civilian clothes, was looking for people to follow him in an expedition he was organizing. He already had the armed men, now he needed something more. Since it was a long journey maybe a cook or someone with knowledge of the wilderness. Above all, he needed a guide. From what his eyes could see there was no one who looked interesting in the main room. Taking hims tankard with him Eyvind decided to go upstairs.

Upon reaching the interior balcony he saw a Dorin carrying some climbing gear. Maybe he had finally found his guide!

"I am heading to the Cathedral to repair part of the roof, the Winter rains damaged it in the western side." the Vagaran listened the Dorin saying to another man. Maybe he hadn't find his guide.

While wondering where he could find someone capable to taking him to the mountains Eyvind's eyes came across a beautiful and at the same time strange person. The Vagaran wasn't exactly a conqueror but he enjoyed talking with women. And this one seemed quite exotic, at least to him a hardened man from the Hinterlands. Oh she seemed so lonely, certainly a little bit of company wouldn't hurt.

Approaching Eyvind greeted her: "Serale. I've seen you sitting here alone and thought: why is someone alone in a Spring day such as this one? The name is Eyvind." he winked "Would you mind sharing your table?"

[Laroa Linalantava]

„She is alone because she is a stranger to these parts.“ She pulled her gaze away from the people below and turned to face the man that had just approached. He had red hair, red hair like the half elf Iseril Al’lende who had come to her one brightening, murdered her only child and left her blind and broken in the wilderness. But that was the only similarity. While the half elf had been slender and handsome, this man looked as if he were half giant, with long, wild hair and a cold, rigid face. A strange man. Not one of those you’d expected to see here, in the center of the civilized world.

She wondered whether she should be annoyed that he had come to her table and interrupted her thoughts or play the part of the noblewoman that had come from far away to see the wonders of the Aelyrian Empire. In the end she decided to wait and see. A barbarian in the best known tavern of Aelyria Prime might provide some entertainment to a woman who had gone into self-imposed exile.

“Please sit down, Master Eyvind.” She spoke with a slight, exotic accent – on purpose. Her Common was just as perfect as the Regent’s, but this time it fit the role. She didn’t hide the fact that she had come from far away, but emphasized it.

“I do not mind sharing the table at all.” She gave him a smile. “If you want some of the fruit or sweets, feel free and help yourself. There is no need for you to order such foods. That waitress has brought so much that one woman can’t eat it all.” She laughed a little. “Now tell me, Master Eyvind, what are you doing here? You look like you are no more a native of this city than I am.”

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Vagaran sat in the chair in front of the elf woman and rested his right arm holding the tankard on the table with the other crossed over it. "Please, don't call me master because of master I have nothing." he forced a smile "And thank you for your offering but I think it wouldn't be good to mix sweets with beer. My stomach is a little sensitive." It was a good excuse for not eating. Eyvind didn't use to mistrust someone but a strange woman with looks of being foreign offering him food a few moments after meeting him could be considered odd. And he wasn't that hungry after a good meal in the Legion Barracks.

"In fact I am not a native from Prime. I come from the Hinterlands, in the far North. My village is the closest one to the Trident Isles. Of those in the main continent of course. I have moved South to join the military, the Legion to be exact. And so I have done. Currently I am serving in the Jade Legion as Senior Legionnaire, maybe in the future I can be something more, who know?" he paused for a moment. He had given some information about him to a complete stranger, it was payback time "What about you m'lady, what brings you to Aelyria Prime?"

[Laroa Linalantava]

„I’m sorry if I offended you, Eyvind.” There was a hint of regret in her voice. “I merely wanted to be polite when I called you ‘master’. As for your sensitive stomach, I’m likewise sorry. I will keep my sweets then.” She showed him a little smile, a sign that she wasn’t mad at him at all for refusing the food. She took a piece of cake, savouring the rich taste. It was delicious, but she could understand how it wouldn’t go particularly well with beer. A barbaric beverage everything considered, but sometimes she enjoyed a tankard or two herself.

“Some of my people have settled down in the far North”, she told him as he spoke of his home. Many of them prefer cold and solitude. Myself, I spent most of my life in a city in Lauryll. I need the company of other people every once in a while.”

That city, her home city was Ethgan’tor, the mother city of her race, kept secret from the outside world. It was quite likely that most of those that were in charge of the Aelyrian Empire did not even know it existed, that there was an independent kingdom right in their middle, let alone know its exact location. While the Esh’lahier were as diverse as any other race, they all seemed to agree on one thing: betraying Ethgan’tor’s existence to the humans would be one of the worst crimes imagineable.

“I am certain that you will make it far if you work hard enough, Eyvind”, she told him as he spoke about his work. “As for what brings my to Aelyria Prime … I have experienced a few bad things. I needed to get away from home for a while, to do something else, an adventure. They say that a change of scenery makes it easier to forget.”

[Eyvind Redbeard]

"I am not offended at all m'lady!" he promptly said. His little mind trick had worked, now he know what kind of woman the elf was. Unless she was lying extremely well, which could be the case, Eyvind recognized her as a good person. Someone who worried about someone else's feelings and physical well being. That was good for a start.

The Vagaran nodded as he listened to the elf's history. She too came from the North. Eyvind liked people from the North, most were like him, hardened by the cold, the snow and the ice. Not to tell the storms and blizzards that used to hit the Northern Shores of the Carmelyan Province. The Hinterlands and its magical beauty still made Eyvind smile.

"I do understand the need of company. Some wolves live alone while others stick together and form a pack. It is absolutely understandable. the Vagaran paused to thank the elf "Thank you for the trust." he winked "What about that adventure, what do you seek from it? Treasures? Fame? Personal fulfillment?" another pause "And what is your name? Maybe I have missed it." his blue eyes fell on her watching carefully

[Laroa Linalantava]

„Not offended?“ She arched an eyebrow questioningly, and then she smiled. “Then everything’s fine.” She relaxed a little in her chair and studied the red haired human from out of wine colored eyes. He wasn’t as barbaric as he had seemed at first. Even if he was a little peculiar, he seemed to have decent enough manners.

The fact that he came from the North – much like her people – made her appreciate his company for the time being, even though she could not help but wonder why he had approached her. Was it really because she had seemed lonely? Did he think her attractive and had her approached because of that? She found the notion almost laughable.

“And you, Eyvind?” she asked as he spoke about the need for company. “What kind of wolf are you? One of those that need a pack?” Since one of those that had been closest to her had betrayed her trust she had been alone. A pack, friends, companions were good, but it was better not to trust anybody with your life. Sometimes others were a necessity, but it was better never to let ones guard down.

“I don’t know”, she whispered, but then her voice grew firmer again. “I don’t know what I seek from it. Personal fullfillment maybe. I have to admit treasures have their merit, but I’ve had both fame and money in my time, and nothing’s left now …” She shrugged her shoulders. “Why did you ask, Eyvind?”

“My name is Laroa”, she said a little later. She saw no reason to use another name. No human had ever entered Ethgan’tor – unless it had been as a slave. She doubted that anybody here knew who she was or had been or that she’d once prayed to the dark gods. Avanthar, Iseril, all those that had known here before were long gone, had moved on to the world beyond.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Vagaran nodded, everything was fine.

"I like to think my myself as a lone wolf." he answered "Although having a pack can help one during his hunts. I have some trusted friends and companions in arms and I know they wouldn't let me down ever. But to prevent any surprises I try to prepare myself to face the future alone." he paused and his eyes seemed to be covered by a shadow "Only my heart...seems to be eager to form a pack...unfortunately I don't know if this pack will ever be brought together..." he stopped and looked straight into Laroa's eyes "It is better for me to stop talking about my fortunes or misfortunes of love, I hope you understand."

"About your adventure...if from your fame and money nothing is left now maybe it would be a good idea to start looking for something to replace them. You can't simply live from thin air. I asked you that because I am an adventurer myself and maybe embarking in an adventure could be interesting." he smiled a bit

[Laroa Linalantava]

„Then we have something in common“, she decided. “We are both lone wolves. We may have friends and companions now, but who knows if this will last?” She could certainly understand him. She knew what it was like to yearn for something, for a family or a close circle of friends and wonder at the same time whether that would ever come to pass. She noticed that a shadow covered his eyes as he talked about it. For that reason she did not ask more, but only said, “I understand.”

“And what do you think could replace fame and money, Eyvind?” she asked gently. “You speak about an adventure you are about to embark on. What kind of adventure would that be? What are you looking for? What interests you?”

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Eyvind grinned, so she got his point. His dubious sentence could mean he would gladly join her in an adventure or it could mean he was going in an adventure himself. The Vagaran didn't really knew this woman but he was starting to become interested by her.

"What could replace fame and money?" he kept grinning "Knowledge I'd say." he straighted his backs and crossed his arms "Knowledge of what is to come, of the choices we will be given in the future and guidance to do those choices wisely." he paused "Have you ever heard about an Oracle?"

[Laroa Linalantava]

„Knowledge, indeed“, the pale woman agreed. “Fame and money may come and go, but nobody can take your knowledge, your experiences and the memories of them away.”

She still had the memories of growing up in Ethgan’tor, of reaching the highest rank, still had the memories of all the spells she had cast, all the things she had done. Was that a reason to be grateful? Wasn’t it a good thing that they had not managed to take that from her?

She looked at him ever so curiously as he mentioned an Oracle, stopped thinking about the loss of power and the memories of it that still remained. “An Oracle?” she asked slowly. “I’ve heard of many Oracles, some that are real and some that merely want your money and your trust and tell you little stories. Some say that one of the priestesses in Vortex …”

She did not mentioned where in Vortex or which deity this woman served as most didn’t understand or appreciate the worship of Haya.

“… some say that she can see the future on occasion. Why did you ask about oracles, Eyvind? Do you want to find one and talk to it? What is it that you expect from it?”

[Eyvind Redbeard]

"Ah! Now I completely got her attention." the Vagaran thought. He wasn't sure if he should tell everything about the Oracle, many feared Jorel's servants and called them heretics and the elf woman could think him one of such servants and call the authorities. Eyvind decided to take a safer path.

After a moment of silence he spoke.

"I know where one of such Oracles can be found, m'lady. She lives in a hidden Temple located in the mountains. And indeed I want to find and talk to her, for this Oracle is a priestess. I want to find what my future will look like, I want knowledge to make my choices wisely, m'lady. If you are indeed interested in aquiring knowledge I would advise you to come with me. I am leading an expedition to the mountains soon. We will meet outside the Gates in 26th Ponutis. I think that someone from the frozen North can handle well the cold of the Khardran Mountains." he grinned

[Laroa Linalantava]

„You know?“ she asked, and she felt a little excited. “Do you know if she speaks the truth, Eyvind?” A priestess that lived in the mountains. Was she like the Hayan oracle she had once met? Was she a real oracle or merely a woman who took drugs and thought that her hallucinations showed her the future? If she went there, if she came with this human, would she find out what her destiny would be? Would this woman be able to tell her whether it was better to return to Ethgan’tor and serve Ioannes or continue on the dark path? Would she know whether she’d ever find something that filled her as completely as being a teacher in Vortex and a mother had?

“I’m more than interested in coming with you”, she said. Doubts, doubts remained. She likely wouldn’t be sure whether this woman was what she claimed she was until she was there, but wasn’t it worth it? A glimpse of the future? Wasn’t knowing your destiny worth everything on Telath? “I will be there at the 26th of Ponutis. And I can indeed handle myself well in the mountains. I will bring everything that I need with me. If you find that Oracle, I could likely be of some help. I have some experience with that kind of things, however small it may be …”

“Thank you, Eyvind”, she finally said. She felt like it was the right thing to say. She owed him something, at least a bit of honesty and politeness, if he took her, a stranger, with him on such an expedition. He did not know that she was more than capable of taking care of herself, that she’d done things that had been more dangerous – and survived. For all he knew she could be nothing more than another pampered noblewoman … she had to be grateful that he was willing to take that risk.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Eyvind nodded to Laroa.

"Yes, m'lady I know where one of such Oracles can be found and I really hope she speaks the truth otherwise neither me nor my people will be glad for going there through the harshest of colds to receive lies as payment." he paused "And I am sure you can take care of yourself. Anyway I have requested a packmule and supplies to help us in the journey."

He smiled to the elf woman. He didn't know what he needed her for in this journey but she was a mysterious woman and certainly would prove herself useful when the time comes. And if she could take care of herself that way she wouldn't become a burden. If it wasn't for her usefulness she would always be a good company as she seemed to be a person with culture and capability of having inteligent arguments.

"You don't need to thank me, m'lady. Your company will be enough payment." he winked and offered his hand to a handshack "Welcome aboard."