few
blocks away. Most of the townspeople hardly took notice of her except for a few
small children that seemed to find the pointy-eared folk a highly fascinating curiosity.
The
elf frequented this area quite often when in the capital and had become
somewhat of a regular or a local celebrity when not out chasing bandits through
the forests. There were few in the district- in the city for that matter- that
had not heard a tale or two of Sari the elven ranger. She was a skilled tracker
and hunter whether her prey was man or beast and only her talents with a bow
exceeded her skill with a dagger or short blade.
When
Sari got in sight of The Broken Boar she saw someone who looked like a priest
wearing a green robe leaning against the wall of the inn by the entrance. As
one accustomed to moving without being seen Sari found Sane's disregard for
subtlety off-putting, but she could not doubt that the man got results when he had
a need to.
“ Good
evening, sorcerer,” she said with an excessively deep bow that was equal parts
sincere and teasing. If Sane had asked, Sari would have told him that of course
she was being sincere, but she knew the sorcerer well enough that she did not
fear teasing her old friend. “What brings you to such a seedy area?” She smiled
her most charming smile and lightly touched his arm causing him to blush a
little. “Looking for love in all the wrong places?”
To
Sane working with the elf was a double-edged sword that Sari knew he tried to
avoid wielding when he could. They were both in their late fifties and knew
each other for four decades, but while Sane was now an aging sorcerer showing
his years proudly Sari looked to be in her mid twenties and acted the part
well. Normally Sane was a very reserved gentleman, but when he got around the
elf he could become like a school boy with a crush, leaving him as often as not
feeling very foolish. Sari felt a little guilty for teasing him, but thought
that it was worth it if it made Sane feel like a young man again… or at least
that is how she would justify it if asked.
Sane
brushed off her advance showing an uncommon resolve not to fall for her trap
this time. “This morning Kellen was attacked by an ogre.”
“ A
common trait that ogres tend to exhibit,” interrupted Sari a little
disappointed that Sane managed to resist her charm.
“ Not
like this,” the sorcerer corrected her, “This one attacked him in the middle of
Colum.”
“ I
always said that city needed to erect an outer ring of walls,” Sari declared
nonchalantly. She began stretching her legs as if she were about to go for a
run. “How can I be of service?”
Sane
tried to ignore her stretching. “I am putting together a party to follow the
ogre's trail back to wherever it came from and find the person who set the
thing upon Colum.”
“ An
enchanter? It could be,” she conceded, “but that's not exactly high caliber
magic stuff. Enraging or pacifying simple-minded creatures is a beginner's
trick and begs the question: why do you need me?
“ Or
is it simply that you missed me?” Sari smiled slyly.
“ It
is not like that.” Sane stammered, “I... I have a feeling that there is more to
this than it seems.”
“ Very
well,” said Sari leaning in closely to the sorcerer. Her lips were inches away
from his ear. Sane could smell her naturally sweet scent... and ale on her
breath. “I will help you... for a kiss.”
“ A
kiss?”
“ Yes,
a kiss,” she said moving her own lips closer to his. “You have kissed a girl
before, old man. I know you have.”
Sane
seemed unsure of himself. He tried to say “no” knowing that the elf was playing
with him again but somehow, “Yes,” came out of his mouth.
The
vixen smiled as she slowly leaned ever closer until their lips were almost
touching. “Nah, I changed my mind,” she said pushing the sorcerer away.
“ Wait
here,” Sari told the sorcerer turning her back heading toward the inn, “Let me
grab my bow and
blocks away. Most of the townspeople hardly took notice of her except for a few
small children that seemed to find the pointy-eared folk a highly fascinating curiosity.
The
elf frequented this area quite often when in the capital and had become
somewhat of a regular or a local celebrity when not out chasing bandits through
the forests. There were few in the district- in the city for that matter- that
had not heard a tale or two of Sari the elven ranger. She was a skilled tracker
and hunter whether her prey was man or beast and only her talents with a bow
exceeded her skill with a dagger or short blade.
When
Sari got in sight of The Broken Boar she saw someone who looked like a priest
wearing a green robe leaning against the wall of the inn by the entrance. As
one accustomed to moving without being seen Sari found Sane's disregard for
subtlety off-putting, but she could not doubt that the man got results when he had
a need to.
“ Good
evening, sorcerer,” she said with an excessively deep bow that was equal parts
sincere and teasing. If Sane had asked, Sari would have told him that of course
she was being sincere, but she knew the sorcerer well enough that she did not
fear teasing her old friend. “What brings you to such a seedy area?” She smiled
her most charming smile and lightly touched his arm causing him to blush a
little. “Looking for love in all the wrong places?”
To
Sane working with the elf was a double-edged sword that Sari knew he tried to
avoid wielding when he could. They were both in their late fifties and knew
each other for four decades, but while Sane was now an aging sorcerer showing
his years proudly Sari looked to be in her mid twenties and acted the part
well. Normally Sane was a very reserved gentleman, but when he got around the
elf he could become like a school boy with a crush, leaving him as often as not
feeling very foolish. Sari felt a little guilty for teasing him, but thought
that it was worth it if it made Sane feel like a young man again… or at least
that is how she would justify it if asked.
Sane
brushed off her advance showing an uncommon resolve not to fall for her trap
this time. “This morning Kellen was attacked by an ogre.”
“ A
common trait that ogres tend to exhibit,” interrupted Sari a little
disappointed that Sane managed to resist her charm.
“ Not
like this,” the sorcerer corrected her, “This one attacked him in the middle of
Colum.”
“ I
always said that city needed to erect an outer ring of walls,” Sari declared
nonchalantly. She began stretching her legs as if she were about to go for a
run. “How can I be of service?”
Sane
tried to ignore her stretching. “I am putting together a party to follow the
ogre's trail back to wherever it came from and find the person who set the
thing upon Colum.”
“ An
enchanter? It could be,” she conceded, “but that's not exactly high caliber
magic stuff. Enraging or pacifying simple-minded creatures is a beginner's
trick and begs the question: why do you need me?
“ Or
is it simply that you missed me?” Sari smiled slyly.
“ It
is not like that.” Sane stammered, “I... I have a feeling that there is more to
this than it seems.”
“ Very
well,” said Sari leaning in closely to the sorcerer. Her lips were inches away
from his ear. Sane could smell her naturally sweet scent... and ale on her
breath. “I will help you... for a kiss.”
“ A
kiss?”
“ Yes,
a kiss,” she said moving her own lips closer to his. “You have kissed a girl
before, old man. I know you have.”
Sane
seemed unsure of himself. He tried to say “no” knowing that the elf was playing
with him again but somehow, “Yes,” came out of his mouth.
The
vixen smiled as she slowly leaned ever closer until their lips were almost
touching. “Nah, I changed my mind,” she said pushing the sorcerer away.
“ Wait
here,” Sari told the sorcerer turning her back heading toward the inn, “Let me
grab my bow and
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