Davak and Sasha huddled closely together, the road dark and wet. Their travels had been hard so far, a dozen leagues or more. They'd stuck to side roads, hiding when they heard traffic. It added more time but neither cared, time was on their side. It was distance that brought them trouble.
But the rain had started this morning and not let up. By nightfall both were freezing and silent. The inn was little more than a shack with rooms attached, but there was fire inside and that was enough to entice them both, despite Davak being a night elf and therefore unwelcome topside.
Before entering Sasha tied Davaks hands in front of him. She held the length of rope that sprouted from the knots. She looked up into his eyes, apologizing. He lifted his tied hands and ran a finger down her face.
"Don't. I know I am free with you."
"Its not fair," She said, eyes full of malice.
"Which is why we travel. Tonight I will be your spoil." His eyes glittered and Sasha thought maybe he was finding humor in the grim situation. Which was funny in its own right, Davak was not a man of humor.
She pursed her lips and tugged on the rope. "Spoil indeed. What can I get for a night elf who constantly disobeys me?"
His lips twitched and she thought he was smiling now. The night was just getting weirder.
"Come on then, I'm freezing", she said with resignation.
It had been only a few years since the great war between top and bottom dwellers stopped with a flimsy peace offering. It had been long and nasty. Both sides fought with a ferocity not seen in the lands in a long time. No one could remember how it started, they'd been fighting so long. But a truce came into being. Both realms would stay in their respective places - any straying would be dealt with swift justice. So far Sasha and Davake gotten through the still torn land okay, staying on side roads and only the most disreputable of inns.
Sasha led Davak into the tavern, hoods over their heads, and muddy boots breaking into the conversation that had been at a low volume when they opened the door. Several sets of eyes went to them. Sasha first felt them on her, a woman, especially a beautiful one even if she didn't try at it, was rare. A night elf though was unheard of, at least in this part of the continent. They were from more temperate climates and the ice and snow would be upon this area in as little as two months.
There wasn't a voice, aloud or whisper to be heard, but the eyes followed their every step. Sasha stood upright though, giving a tug on the rope though Davak was only a few steps behind her.
The barman was a short man, though wide and muscular. He held a rag in his hand and drummed his fingers on the wood in an accelerating tempo.
"I require a room," she said, not asking.
An eyebrow went up and trailed over her shoulder, into the face of the night elf. "Just the one?"
"Do you have one?"
"Aye, I do. Not for him though."
It was Sashas turn to lift a brow. "He will not make a mess, I assure you."
The barman shook his head. "I let a night elf stay and I'll be known for being a traitor."
Sasha shook her head. She took four coins from her pouch. "This is more than the room is worth I'm assuming. Now you're just greedy and not a traitor at all." The coins made a loud clatter on the shiny wooden bartop.
The man looked down at them, then chuckled, he jowls shaking.
"Fine, have a seat by the fire. I will bring you stew."
Sasha sat at her table in the Windy Noon, her clothes soaked to the bone and freezing. Despite a seat by the fire and a blanket slung across her shoulders she was shaking uncontrollably. Davak nodded his head to her bowl.
"Eat," he said simply, his accent from the underdark still prevalent even after a century topside.
"I'm too cold to eat."
"It will warm you." He sat lightly, pulling back his hood. His green eyes belied his mixed heritage though he looked like a typical dark elf. They were drawing looks that he ignored.
Sasha wiped her face, then picked up the spoon. "Can't we just go to our room?"
"In time, now eat." He chewed his stew, his eyes boring into hers, urging her on.
"Fine." She took a bite, discovered it was actually tasty, then took another. They enjoyed their bowls until a set of footsteps interrupted the peaceful moment. They looked up in tandem, a set of brown eyes and a set of green eyes making their way up to the source of the feet.
A huge giant of a man stood too close, his hands on his hips. He wore the red band of the Marauders, a group known for drunken fights and low thievery. The smell coming off of him was that of grain alcohol. Sasha cast a side glance at Davak and saw his nostrils flare. She looked back quickly, sizing the man up.
"We're not here to offend anyone."
"His kind killed my kin. I'll not see one of them housed under the same roof."
Sasha felt her face warm. "He did not kill your kin, and I've paid my coin for a room, not a fight."
The mans eyes bore into her face, then he smiled. It was not friendly. "I don't need to hear anything from a whore." Then he turned to Davak. "Stand up elf, and fight me like a man."
Sasha stood up instead, Davak having not moved even an eyebrow.
"He's my bounty, and I have orders to deliver him unspoiled. Go back to your seat before I lose my sense of patience."
He chuckled and then grabbed her arms in a hard grip. Her eyes went black instead of their usual light brown and he lost his laugh prematurely. He recovered quickly, running his thumbs across her skin.
"Or maybe you can convince me to let him off easy?"
"Maybe you can sit your ugly ass down before you get hurt."
The man flicked his eyes to Davak. "Let him fight me, I'll even give him the first punch."
Sasha had had enough. She was cold and only had half a bowl before this idiot interrupted them. She lifted her arms easily, then quickly grabbed at his wrists, twisting them upwards at the same time as she kicked out his left knee. He fell to the floor, his hands up as if in prayer.