Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Nine: Reunion
I followed Ena down the main street of the market, with Avanna and another guard at my heels. I could tell Avanna wasn't happy that I was following a random elf -- a thief -- to Maker-knew-where. I gestured at Avanna and she jogged up beside me; I slowed a little to leave some space between us and Ena.
"I don't think it is, but it's always possible this is a trap." I sighed as Avanna gripped the pommel of her sword. "She knows who I am."
The guardswoman paled. "Then don't follow her, my Lady. Let's just leave!" she hissed.
"Except, I don't think it's a trap. I think she knows where Arathea is and she's just afraid we will hurt her or try to take her by force."
"Then let me go alone. There's no reason for you to be there."
I considered. "Maybe. We will see where she's planning to take us. If it is some sort of ambush or kidnapping attempt, just...well, be ready. I've got weapons and armour; I'll be fine."
She grumbled, but fell back when Ena looked over her shoulder. I picked up my pace and pulled up next to the elf. "Where are you taking us?"
She looked at me, expression inscrutable. "Never fear, your Highness. We will stay outside where everyone can see what's happening, and we can escape if you make it necessary."
"I've promised not to harm you or Arathea, but I notice you haven't offered the same assurances to us."
"I didn't think you'd need assurances from a mere elf." I scowled at her, and she flushed slightly. "I promise that I mean you no harm. I just want to ensure our safety, that's all."
I nodded. "Thank you."
We passed beyond the clean, open streets of the more prosperous area of the city and into a darker, dirtier, more crowded neighbourhood. It wasn't a slum, not like the Alienage, but the houses were close together, the alleys full of refuse, and the air smelled of sewage and fish. I kept my face neutral, even as I wanted to wrinkle my nose in disgust. The roads were a bit of a maze, but I did my best to memorize the route we'd taken -- just in case.
I knew Avanna didn't, but for some reason I trusted Ena. The words 'honest thief' might have been an oxymoron, but they still seemed to apply. The few times she'd tried to lie -- in the market, when denying she'd pickpocketed me -- she was terrible at it.
I just have to hope I'm not wrong.
We finally came to a clearing between several streets, which originally must have been meant as a token green space in the closely packed urban area. It hadn't been maintained well, however, so the only green visible was some scraggly grass and the occasional weed. Several streets headed off in every direction, and I had to admit I'd gotten completely lost; I'd have to hope Avanna knew how to get back to our inn. Despite the dismal view, some enterprising soul had set up a stall selling cups of cheap wine, and there were a handful of tables to sit at, all currently empty.
Ena motioned to a table closest to the edge, and I sat down with my two guards at a table directly behind me. They were close enough to help me if something happened, but too far to grab at someone across the table if she ran, something that would hopefully make Ena -- and Arathea -- less afraid. The set up clearly didn't improve Avanna's worry any, and I saw her fingering her scabbard anxiously. I double-checked my two daggers without thinking, and then forced myself to stop and relax.
Ena sat down across from me, and I paid for wine for all of us, and an extra cup which I left sitting beside Ena. We waited silently, and I sipped at the wine, trying not to grimace -- I wasn't a fan of wine in general, and this wine in particular was awful. I wasn't enough of a connoisseur to know if it had somehow gone off, or if it was just that terrible. I was glad it only cost a few coppers a glass -- any more would have been highway robbery.
Ena watched me impassively, ignoring her cup altogether. I wondered what we were waiting for
; if it's going to be an ambush, surely it wouldn't take this long?
Patience wasn't my strong suit, but it occurred to me that asking questions and demanding they hurry probably wasn't going to help my case any. I sighed and settled in to wait as long as necessary.
A few people eventually walked up and took tables, sitting down and drinking wine while chatting amongst themselves; they didn't seem to have a problem with the wine, so I decided I was probably just a wine snob. I took another hesitant sip and watched them idly, noting at least one elf at one of the tables. I was somewhat surprised that the wine seller didn't so much as blink at Ena or the other elf; I wondered if he just didn't care who he took coin from, or if the racism wasn't as bad as I'd assumed.
People-watching distracted me from the wait, and I almost missed the slim, brown-haired elf that wended her way across the street and slipped into a chair beside Ena. She was beautiful, older than I expected -- probably older than me by a handful of years -- but looked completely terrified. She looked from me to my guards, glancing fearfully at the other patrons before dropping her gaze to the table in front of her, but never made eye contact with anyone. I supposed, disgustedly, that it was a habit from her days as a slave. I felt myself stiffen and had to consciously force myself to relax.
"Hello." It sounded stupid, but it escaped before I could take it back.
"My Lady," she replied, bobbing her head nervously like a little bird.
"My name is Sierra, and you are both welcome to use it. Please, help yourself." I gestured to the cup of wine, and she wrapped one tiny hand around it but didn't take a sip. I sighed. "What's your name?"
She glanced at me quickly, startled, and I could see that her eyes were a brilliant blue, a colour I'd never seen on anyone before. I didn't get much of a chance to look before she turned her gaze quickly to Ena -- who nodded reassuringly -- and then looked back down at the table.
"Arathea, mis-, er, my Lady."
I winced at the half-voiced honorific; I'd never be anyone's mistress. "I just want to make sure that you're the right person I'm looking for. If you are, I have some questions, and then I can help you, if you wish. I won't hurt you, okay? No matter what."
She nodded almost miserably.
"Can you tell me where you're from and how you got to Wycome?"
She gulped. "I lived in Minrathous with my master and his family. His son and I fell in love. He would not have been permitted to have a relationship with me, so we left in the middle of the night, took a carriage down the Imperial Highway until we reached the river, and then a riverboat to Ansburg. The captain of the boat, he, he...he took all of Larus' coin with threats of alerting the Circle, and then abandoned us on the docks. We were trying to come to Wycome, but we had to walk, and then I lost him in that horrible town and he was captured by templars, and—"
She was nearly hyperventilating as she told the story, and looked about to pass out. I shared an alarmed look with Ena, who put a hand on her shoulder, and I reached out to touch her hand, but the reconsidered and just held my hands out. "Okay, okay. Steady, take a deep breath." I probably sounded condescending as hell, but fortunately the elf listened and seemed to calm a little. "So...Larus. Can you tell me about him?"
It was the right question to ask; she smiled almost dreamily, and the tension bled out of her as she answered. "He's wonderful," she sighed. "We met when he healed my arm after I was cut by a broken dish I'd dropped." She looked at me, making eye contact for almost the first time. "Imagine, an altus making the time to heal me, even after I dumped his dinner all over the floor."
What on earth is an altus?
