Narlissa Quickhands, half-elf and master thief, could not believe her pointed ears as Eavu and Taicoss talked solemnly to her. She was being thrown off the ship.
"We are sorry, Narlissa, but it has to be this way," Eavu said, his face downcast.
She stepped towards him. "Why does it have to be this way, Eavu? I hired you to do a job. We were going to make a great team."
"We have no choice, Narlissa," Taicoss said when it became clear that Eavu could not find an answer. "The captain has us with this. If we do not do what he says, then we will never work again."
"What are you talking about?"
Taicoss shrugged. "I cannot say."
"Fuck that!" Narlissa snapped, and Taicoss took a step back in fright. "You're screwing me over here; you can at least tell me why."
Taicoss took a deep breath, but Eavu reached out and placed his hand on his shoulder. Clearly, it was the blonde warrior's turn to speak again. They made a good double act.
"You know we owe a great debt, don't you? We informed you of this when you hired us. It is why we cannot work for the mercenary guild."
"I do," Narlissa nodded.
"Well, this captain works for the woman to whom we owe money. We thought he would give us passage since we were attempting to find treasure to pay back his master but he has instead decided to seize the treasure himself. I suppose he thinks if he can present the gold to her then she will elevate him higher within her criminal organisation."
"And you cannot stop him?"
Eavu shook his head sadly. "If we try, he will inform our master that we have betrayed her. We will be outcasts forever."
"But you will keep your honour!" she said, trying to grasp anything that might allow these mercenaries to stay on her side.
"I'm sorry," Taicoss said.
Just then the captain strode over, glowering. With a wave of his arm his deckhands rushed to lower the gangplank. At least they had moored the ship so she could get off - they were not going to simply kill her and throw her body overboard. She swore loudly as she was marched unceremoniously off the ship and as they pushed her out onto the riverbank she realised they were not going to give her horse back.
"My horse!" she cried as they started to raise the gangplank. "At least give me back my horse!"
The only reply she got was the captain laughing cruelly. Not content with stealing her treasure, he was clearly going to try and steal her horse as well.
But Narlissa was not going to allow that. Quick-witted as she was, she had a plan.
"I will curse that horse so that whoever steals it will fall ill and die!" she shouted up, and the captain stopped laughing. He peered over the edge at her suspiciously.
Narlissa knew he was wondering if she could do that so she had to press her advantage. "I'm an elf, remember? I can do these things!"
Of course she was only a half-elf but the captain didn't know that. Not that elves could curse things anyway but again the captain did not know that.
The captain took a step back then and Taicoss moved to place his hand on the man's shoulder. Although Narlissa was a long way away, her half-elven hearing meant that she could hear every word.
"She speaks the truth. Elves can put curses on animals and I don't think you want a cursed horse on the ship."
The captain violently shook his head and waved his hands and moments later Faeht was being led down the gangplank. Narlissa grasped her mount's reins from the deckhands and mounted it to make sure they could take the horse back, then glared as the ship as it set sail once more.
At the rear of the ship she saw Taicoss and Eavu watching her sadly. Part of her felt sorry for them, caught up in trouble as they were, but another part hated what they had done. At least they had helped her get Faeht back. But she was not going to give up on this treasure just yet.
Although the ship was out of sight within minutes because the river curved Narlissa set off after it nonetheless. For a good while she rode in silent thought until suddenly she emerged into a clearing.
She sighed. She needed a break. Climbing down from Faeht's back Narlissa slumped against the nearest tree and stared into space. Things were all going wrong and she needed a plan.
It was then that she heard the sound of hooves and she sat there motionless to await the arrival of the newcomer. She hoped it was someone who might know where the nearest town was because there she might be able to get passage on another ship.
A man in a flowing cloak rode into view, staring suspiciously at Faeht as he drew level. It was then that he noticed Narlissa and he smiled broadly, dismounting from his horse with a flourish.
"My lady, how strange to find such beauty resting alone in the wilderness," he said with a low bow.
Narlissa narrowed her eyes at him. "And how strange to find a juggler traipsing through the countryside."
The man laughed, the sound almost musical. "I am no juggler, my lady. I am a bard, journeying through the world. What brings you to these deserted woods?"
"Dishonesty and bad luck," she grumbled, glowering at the river. Just the thought of that ship heading towards the treasure made her angry.
"Such ill tidings often come together," the bard nodded sagely. "But we grow stronger for defeating them."
Narlissa snorted. "Overcoming this obstacle will take all of my skill, sir. I fear I may not succeed."
"Ah, my fair lady, but that is what such trials are for, no? To test the mettle and the resolve, but our beautiful heroine always wins through in the end."
Narlissa looked at the man quizzically. He was certainly very flowery. The way he dressed further highlighted that with his broad sleeves and bright red cloak. His brown hair was braided and fell to his shoulders and his brown eyes seemed to shimmer. The man was definitely a bard.
He was also definitely good-looking and despite her predicament Narlissa realised familiar thoughts were creeping into her mind. She smiled as she shook her head.
"A thought has occurred to you, my flame-haired beauty. I can see it in the mesmerising brown pools of your eyes."
A thought had indeed occurred to her but Narlissa pushed it away. She could not afford to waste time now when she had to somehow catch up with the thieves on the ship.
"Unfortunately, sir, I cannot afford to lose any more time. I must continue on my way."
The man stepped close to her, proffering a hand. "Then perhaps I may accompany you, fair lady? It seems we are both heading in the same direction and the roads can get very lonely when a traveller has no companions."
Narlissa considered a moment then took his hand, allowing the man to pull her to her feet. "I suppose that makes sense. Some company is always nice. What is your final destination?"
"Ah, my lady, I have no final destination. I am a bard, a teller of tales, a seeker of stories, a maker of myths. I will be forever travelling as long as there are songs and poems I have not yet heard."
Narlissa sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. Where are you going tonight then?"
"Ah, tonight? I am hoping to let the next village along revel in my presence. I am quite sure they will find me very entertaining."
Narlissa bit back a giggle. The man was infuriating but at least he seemed harmless. Compared to the impotency she had felt when being thrown off the boat this was a relaxing change.