found a rather large man in his later years with salt and pepper hair. She could see Ballard’s worried look over the man’s shoulder, but with everything going on lately she decided it was worth the risk to have a bit of fun. “That sounds like a great idea.” Eloen said giving the older gentleman a warm smile.
Eloen was taken out on the dance floor as the band started up their next song. It was a fast paced lively tune. She followed her partner’s moves trying her best to keep up. At first she was just concentrating on the movements but within a few beats she was simply moving with the music, thoroughly enjoying herself.
After a few dances Eloen begged off and slumped down in a chair next to Ballard. Looking over his shoulder at her, his face broke into a large grin. “Enjoying yourself?”
Ballard already had more than a few empty mugs of ale sitting in front of him, and his face had already taken on the rosy glow. “Now as much as you it seems. Have you at least learned anything?”
Ballard picked up one of the empty mugs and tried to take a drink, then looked at the wooden mug as if it had betrayed him when nothing filled his mouth. After checking each of the mugs in front of him for a drop of ale he let out a heavy sigh. “I learned a little. It seems a group of soldiers passed by a few days ago with a man trussed up in a cage. It wasn’t really hard to learn about the bar has been abuzz about it since the ale started flowing. They are speculating as to why the young man was being guarded like captured royalty.”
Eloen could barely hold her excitement in. they were still a few days behind but they had learned they were headed in the right direction. Balling her hands up in her dress she took a few deep breaths. “Did you learn where they were taking him?”
Giving a toothy grin Ballard leaned forward swaying slightly. “Everyone seems to believe their taking him to Treforge.” Then his face sobered and took on a serious tone, which looked oddly funny in his inebriated state. “Some of the men were talking about what would happen to him there. I believe we want to get to our little mage before that or there might not be much left of him.”
Eloen tried not to blanch at the news. She felt ill Ballard was never one for mincing words and if he thought that it might be bad then it was most likely going to be a lot worse. Her stomach turning she excused herself and went back up to her room. The lively music followed her up the stairs but did nothing for her sober mood.
She found her bed and fell into it. She knew that there was little she could do by worrying but that didn’t make the fears that bubbled inside her go away. What she would give for things to be back the way they were a short time before. All she had to worry about was a few bandits, and monsters roaming the night. There was never any worry about death for her or the others. It was simply doing their jobs and spending what time they could just enjoying the company of their friends. Now everything seemed more real, fragile as if her life was nothing more than a glass ball hanging over a cliff held in place from falling by a thin string.
Grabbing a handful of covers Eloen let out a feral yell that reverberated throughout the small room. As the last of the sound died down the tension building in her started to drift away. Once again she told herself there was nothing she could do by worrying and promised herself that she would continue to act as she had before and try to enjoy herself as much as she could. They were in enemy territory and while nothing had gone wrong yet there was always the chance they could find themselves in trouble at any time. If her time in the army had taught her one thing it was that you had to enjoy what you could even when faced with danger and death.
CHAPTER VII
In the morning Eloen had found Ballard and Darryl paying the late night dalliances. She had wanted to get an early start on the day but it didn’t
Eloen was taken out on the dance floor as the band started up their next song. It was a fast paced lively tune. She followed her partner’s moves trying her best to keep up. At first she was just concentrating on the movements but within a few beats she was simply moving with the music, thoroughly enjoying herself.
After a few dances Eloen begged off and slumped down in a chair next to Ballard. Looking over his shoulder at her, his face broke into a large grin. “Enjoying yourself?”
Ballard already had more than a few empty mugs of ale sitting in front of him, and his face had already taken on the rosy glow. “Now as much as you it seems. Have you at least learned anything?”
Ballard picked up one of the empty mugs and tried to take a drink, then looked at the wooden mug as if it had betrayed him when nothing filled his mouth. After checking each of the mugs in front of him for a drop of ale he let out a heavy sigh. “I learned a little. It seems a group of soldiers passed by a few days ago with a man trussed up in a cage. It wasn’t really hard to learn about the bar has been abuzz about it since the ale started flowing. They are speculating as to why the young man was being guarded like captured royalty.”
Eloen could barely hold her excitement in. they were still a few days behind but they had learned they were headed in the right direction. Balling her hands up in her dress she took a few deep breaths. “Did you learn where they were taking him?”
Giving a toothy grin Ballard leaned forward swaying slightly. “Everyone seems to believe their taking him to Treforge.” Then his face sobered and took on a serious tone, which looked oddly funny in his inebriated state. “Some of the men were talking about what would happen to him there. I believe we want to get to our little mage before that or there might not be much left of him.”
Eloen tried not to blanch at the news. She felt ill Ballard was never one for mincing words and if he thought that it might be bad then it was most likely going to be a lot worse. Her stomach turning she excused herself and went back up to her room. The lively music followed her up the stairs but did nothing for her sober mood.
She found her bed and fell into it. She knew that there was little she could do by worrying but that didn’t make the fears that bubbled inside her go away. What she would give for things to be back the way they were a short time before. All she had to worry about was a few bandits, and monsters roaming the night. There was never any worry about death for her or the others. It was simply doing their jobs and spending what time they could just enjoying the company of their friends. Now everything seemed more real, fragile as if her life was nothing more than a glass ball hanging over a cliff held in place from falling by a thin string.
Grabbing a handful of covers Eloen let out a feral yell that reverberated throughout the small room. As the last of the sound died down the tension building in her started to drift away. Once again she told herself there was nothing she could do by worrying and promised herself that she would continue to act as she had before and try to enjoy herself as much as she could. They were in enemy territory and while nothing had gone wrong yet there was always the chance they could find themselves in trouble at any time. If her time in the army had taught her one thing it was that you had to enjoy what you could even when faced with danger and death.
CHAPTER VII
In the morning Eloen had found Ballard and Darryl paying the late night dalliances. She had wanted to get an early start on the day but it didn’t
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