Elf Son
Chapter 3
“Have you seen any keys lying around anywhere?” The old man asked the bartender of “The Sword and Flask”. “Or, have you noticed any pickpockets in the bar?”
“Well actually, no, I haven’t.” He answered. “However, you could always try asking Treadim. He’s always got control of everything that happens in here. However, he can be grumpy, and he’s probably especially fatigued today. Earlier on he had a bit of a-well, just a little-trouble with one of the other ones here...” He pointed towards a large, muscular man with brown, greasy hair, who Vasôac immediately recognized as the man who was punching the other’s teeth out. Vasôac gulped. “Yes, I think I’d wait until tomorrow.” He saw Treadim giving the same man a bruise on his cheek.
“But you’ve got to understand, we, well, we lost our keys. Either that, or they’ve been stolen.” Vasôac interrupted. “And he might be the only one who knows were they are. We need to talk to him.”
“I’m not stopping you.” The bartender quickly responded, while glancing over at Treadim. He winced, as Treadim stood up on the table, while hanging the man by the collar. “I think it would just be kind of crazy...”
“Thank you.” The old man thankfully replied, while slipping him three gold coins over the sleek, oak table. The man grabbed the money quickly, the coins’ rough edges making a scratching noise. This caused several men to glance over to the bar, hearing the sound of money. The bartender quickly pocketed the money, trying to avoid any confrontations or fights due to getting paid for tipping a few travelers off.
“No, thank you.” The bartender softly replied. “If there’s anything else I can do to help, just come up here and ask me. My name is Ben. Ben Penmet.”
Vasôac and the old man walked away from the bar, and towards Treadim. The man whispered into Vasôac’s ear, while approaching the large, towering figure.
“Whatever you do, Vasôac, don’t use magic. That’s the last thing we need to do, attracting any attention from these bunch of rouges. If he starts attacking you, just step, away, and let me talk to him.” The old man winked. He flashed a gold coin.
“Um, hello. Uh, Treadim. Nice to meet you.” Vasôac stammered, looking up at Treadim’s face.
“What do you want?” Treadim boomed in return. “I’m busy.” He glanced over at the man he was punching earlier, cowering in fear of being pounded on by the brute yet again.
“Well, um, I was just wondering if... if...” Vasôac took a deep breath and gathered up his voice. “If you had any idea whe... where my room keys are?”
“And why would I know that?” Treadim answered. “Even if I did know, why would I give them back to you?”
“So you do have them? Well give them back, then.”
“What if I do? What are you going to do about it, you scrawny little midget?” He and several other men around the bar snickered. Vasôac could see the bartender put his face in his hands. Soon, they had almost the entire bar’s attention.
“Come on, Treadim Punch his eyes out ” One voice hollered.
“Teach him a lesson ” Another yelled.
“Come on, Treadim, he’s only a kid. Don’t hurt him.” A feminine sounding voice called out. Treadim ignored this, and picked up Vasôac by the neck, and prepared to give him a blow...
“Leave him alone ” A hooded man bestowing a soldier’s armor called as he was just coming into the bar. “Pick on someone your own weight ”
The entire bar went silent. Everybody began looking at the stranger. Treadim dropped Vasôac, who scrambled to his feet and walked back away from him, and gazed at him.
“Oh, it looks like it wasn’t the boy who needed a lesson in respect after all.” Treadim boomed. He walked up to the stranger, and looked him in the eyes. The stranger returned the gaze.
“Listen, I don’t want any trouble.” He replied calmly. “I just...”
Treadim punched the stranger in directly in the nose. Blood came running out, staining his white cloak, and he was knocked off of his feet.
“Ahhh...” The stranger got up. “So you want to play dirty, eh? Well, fine. I don’t mind getting a little roughed up.”
Treadim came charging at the stranger, who, with excellent reflexes, evaded the attack, and kicked Treadim in the belly. Treadim seemed almost unaffected, brushed off the attack, and punched the stranger in the face again. This time, when he was knocked back, Treadim came rushing at him immediately. However, the stranger was back on his feet, moved to the side and, stuck his foot out. Treadim, unable to come to a stop, stumbled over his feet, and landed face first on the floor.
“Ughhhh.” Treadim growled, enraged at the strangers evasiveness, and got back up to his feet. “I’ll kill you for this...”
The stranger pulled a jeweled sword out of his sheath, and held it up to Treadim’s neck. “Step back.”
“Okay, I didn’t mean anything of it.” Treadim was sweating of nervousness now. “Just, be careful where you put that thing. It was just a bit of harmless wrestling, eh, pal?”
“Back away.” The stranger replied. “Now, or I’ll cut your throat.”
Treadim backed up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean ta’ get ya’ all riled up, just calm down and put that thing away.
“Apologize to the boy.”
Treadim turned to Vasôac. “Who are you, my mother?” The stranger pushed the sword closer to his neck. “Oh, fine. I’m sorry.”
Various giggles came from men at the bar, and a laughing fit broke out from the stranger. “Okay.” He said, trying to cease laughing. “I... Hahaha. Okay. Sorry.” His stern expression returned. “I believe you have something of his.”
“I ain’t got nothing of his. And I don’t know who does, neither.” Treadim sneered.
“Okay, then.” Vasôac interrupted. “We’ll just be on our way, then. He began walking back to the staircase, but the old man grabbed him, and yanked him towards Treadim.
“Oh, shut it, you coward.” He hissed into his ear. “Well, on second thought, let me do the speaking. The old man walked up to Treadim, and began talking to him.
“Treadim, please, give the key back to us.” He pleaded. “We are tired and cold, and would like to get some rest.”
“I told you, I don’t have your key ” Treadim screemed.
“Listen to me.” The old man walked over to Vasôac and got four gold coins. He showed them to Treadim. “I have something that will make your time worthwhile. If you tell us where our keys are, we can be very gracious. I will give this to you, if you give us our room key.”
Treadim sighed. “I really don’t have your keys. But I think I know the blasted crook who caused all of this commotion. Come over here, Adam ”
A tall, crooked man walked over in front of Treadim. Vasôac recognized him as the man who was being punched earlier by Treadim. The man was quivering from head to toe.
“I believe you have something of theirs.” Treadim seriously commented.
“Well, I...” Adam sighed. He took an iron colored key out of his pocket and handed it to Treadim, who quickly snatched it out of his hand.
“Now, hand over the money, and I’ll give you the key.” Treadim held out the key to Vasôac and the man.
“Wait.” The stranger interrupted. “Why should they give you money for their own room key? After all, it was theirs in the first place, before you thugs snatched it from him. In fact, you should be giving them money for stealing their keys.”
“What? ?” Treadim bellowed.
“No, a deal’s a deal.” The old man said. “I am giving it to him for helping him find my key.”
“After they stole it ” Vasôac retorted.
“Stay out of this, lad.” The old man hissed.
“No, he has a point.” The stranger argued. “If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have lost it in the first place.”
“Shut up, you fool ” Treadim growled. These are not your affairs Do you want me to really hurt you this time?”
“Come and fight me ” The stranger howled. He pulled his sword back out of its sheath.
“Please Calm down everybody ” The bartender, Ben, intervened. “Just give them the key, and get this fight over with. There’s no point in fighting over a little loose change ”
Treadim and the stranger exchanged angry glares, but eventually the stranger put his sword away yet again. Treadim handed the key over to Vasôac, who quickly pocketed it. Treadim stormed away, and went back to conversing with Adam and the other men at the bar. However, the stranger walked up to Vasôac.
“Hello.” He greeted him. “My name is Thomas Leafmin. I am on a quest, and have been sent by the king himself. It happens that I need to spend the night here. So, how is it that you got into this... ‘misunderstanding’ with that brute?”
“Well, we were going up to our room after we past by the bar, and then we noticed that we didn’t have our room key. Then, before we knew it, we were down here getting in a fight with Treadim. And, well, thanks for helping out. We owe you a favor.”
“I think it’s already time for me to ask for my favor.” Thomas asked. “I know that this would be hard for you, but is there any way you could harbor me in your room for the night. You see, on the way over here, well, I ran into a little mishap with a couple of highwaymen. And now, to put it plainly... I’m broke.”
“Yeah, I ran into a couple of those robbers on the way here.”
“And?”
“I managed to avoid them.”
“I wish I was so lucky. I was just walking down the path, and-can you believe it?-I saw them playing hopscotch You know, the little game that young little girls play with a rock, and some dirt? Anyway, I asked
“Excuse me, why are you playing hopscotch on the pathway?”. Then they looked at me funny, and threatened to cut off my tongue if I didn’t give them my money, and well, frankly, I kinda’ like my tongue. It’s absolutely amazing how much trouble one smart remark can get you into when you’re around these certain bunch of people...”
Vasôac let out a loud, hearty laugh. “I was almost caught because I laughed at them when they were playing hopscotch. Luckily, I was hiding behind the bushes when that happened. Those highwaymen aren’t’ exactly the brightest people there are, you know?”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about.” Thomas laughed. “I would spend the night outside tonight if it weren’t pouring out. Ahh... Why couldn’t I have been given just a little bit of more money?”
The old man walked up to Vasôac. “Stop socializing, Vasôac.” Someday, you and your big mouth are going to get us killed. Let’s go up to our room.” He hissed.
“But Thomas needs a room.” Vasôac pleaded.
“No ”
“Sorry, Thomas. There’s only enough room for the two of us.” Vasôac answered.
It’s fine. A little water never hurt anybody...” He walked out of the tavern’s back door, and out into the rain.
“He needed a place to stay.” Vasôac said, appalled that the old man could be so cruel. “It’s the least we could do, considering what he did for us.”
“Shhh I’ll tell you my later. But come, hurry It is not safe here ”
“What are you talking about?” As Vasôac said this, the old man grabbed him and began pulling to the staircase. Vasôac broke free of his grip, but still followed him. The two quickly jolted up the stairs, Vasôac stumbling numerous times. Eventually, the two reached their room.
“Well, let’s hope this is the right key.” Vasôac prayed. He put the key in the lock. To his disappointment the key did not work. “Ah That blasted crook Why I oughta...”
“Damn it He lied to us.” The old man screamed, cursing. “He gave us Adam’s key Now, we’re doomed.”
“What are you talking about?” Vasôac asked, looking at the man like he would a madman. Then, he heard what he thought was two pairs of footsteps walking up to him.
What the? Who the heck is that? Vasôac thought, distraught, as he saw not two, but the three cloaked highwaymen who he recognized as the ones who had stabbed the soldier to death. He barred his teeth, and seethed in anger.
“Well, well, well...” One of them taunted. “Look what we have here. I think these fella’s lost their keys. I think we should help them find them. What do you think?
“I think we should.” another of them chuckled. “Hey, do you need any help, fella’s?”
“Well, yes, actually, we need to find...” Vasôac began, but was slapped in the face by the third.
“Shut up, you fool ” The thief screamed at Vasôac. “I’ll slit your throat, smart mouth ”
Vasôac was taken aback. The three of the crooks unsheathed their daggers, still smothered in blood from the earlier.
“You will die, wizard. You and the tramp you are traveling with.” The first bandit sneered, as Vasôac’s mouth hung wide open in dismay, for it was unknown to him until of then of their intentions. He knew then that they were working for Vasdem, the evil wizard that held power in the northeastern-most region of 1Norace.
“You, you’re working for that dark wizard, aren’t you? Vasdem?” Vasôac stuttered. He noticed a black “V” shaped emblem branded onto each of their foreheads.
“Hahaha.” One chuckled. “I guess you could say that.” He took off his robe, only to reveal a dark, jeweled, robe, encrusted with withered gold, gilded on the silken edges of the fanciful leather. He was wearing the armor of Vasdem The other two did the same, and laughed mischievously.
“Drop your knifes, and we won’t hurt you.” Vasôac sneered. The three thieves burst into laughing.
“HA ” One of them screeched, his eyes watering. “That’s funny. But also kinda’ pathetic Heeeheeee ”
Vasôac was in fury. He unsheathed his knives, preparing to attack. He was in his battle stance now. However, he still looked similar to a weakling in comparison to the three fully armed soldiers.
“Looking for this?” One of them swung the key around, trying to provoke Vasôac into attacking. Vasôac’s eyes followed the key. Suddenly, he leaped forward, snatching the key from his hand. The dark soldier attacked him with a dagger when Vasôac was pulling his arm back. The blade cut his hand, spilling blood on the wooden floor.
“No matter.” The soldier said mockingly. We’ll just take it from
1. See appendix B, or the map in the front of the book for the location and history.
your dead body after we kill you.” He got into his battle stance, ready to lunge and stab Vasôac. As he raised his sword, an arrow pierced his armor, and sliced through his heart. He coughed up blood as he tumbled to the ground, dead. The blood was pooling out of his mouth, and as he fell, his killer was revealed. It was the stranger, Thomas.
“I thought these guys were looking for a fight. Now, it’s even.” Thomas laughed.
“Actually, now we outnumber them..” Vasôac corrected him, grinning.
The two remaining soldiers were shocked. However, they held their ground, and braced themselves for the attack. Both Thomas (with a sword), Vasôac (with two daggers), and the mysterious man (with his fists, and nothing else) all came charging at them. Thomas met one in battle, while Vasôac and the man were attacking the other. Thomas kicked the soldier in the stomach, and then gracefully knocked him back, with a hard blow with his sword. The other soldier was struggling to fight off both Vasôac and the old man. The old man was in the back, kicking and punching the soldier, who hardly flinched. Only his armor made a loud clang. While he was doing this, Vasôac’s daggers were clashing against the soldier’s knives.
“I’ll butcher you, tramp ” The soldier screamed, while turning around, and slicing the old man’s arm. The man hollered a scream of agony, and then fell back, wounded. Vasôac screamed in dismay, and stabbed the man in the back. The blades pierced the armor, instantly turning red. The soldier dropped back, dead. The other soldier saw this, and jolted away down the stairs. Thomas began chasing after him, but Thomas stopped him.
“No, don’t bother. We’ll deal with him at another time, in a different way.”
The two looked at the old man, still sprawled on the floor. Beginning to think he had died, they walked over to him slowly. Much to their surprise, he leapt up off of the ground, appearing almost untouched.
“Come in, Vasôac. We have things to discuss” The old man commanded. “You too, Thomas.”
Vasôac and Thomas exchanged glances, and then both nodded and entered the room.
