The walk back was uneventful, at least as far as not encountering anything that wanted to kill us, eat us, or both. Misty roved ahead, often disappearing only to emerge again from an unexpected direction, sometimes even launching a mock attack by leaping onto our shoulders from a branch as we passed under. She was a minx and having fun, so when she did this, we would wrestle with her and give her a tickle before letting her leap away. I had a feeling that playful times might be hard to find, so it was good to let her enjoy these moments when she could.

Elara and I talked about our meeting with Vita. We now had a name for the man I found slaughtered in the woods, and that made his death all the more real and tragic. It was a sobering thought, reinforcing how fragile life was in this world I had to negotiate my way through.

"And what about the history with the elves?" I asked her. "Do you know any more about that?"

"I know it was long ago. I have heard my grandparents discussing stories dating back to their childhood and beyond." She shrugs. "But the tales they told were from a different perspective. To them, the humans were the aggressors when elven folk first started to meet them and interact. Eventually, conflict led to temporary truces, then trade, then eventually, as now, elves and humans generally co-exist without issues." She indicates the village appearing ahead. "At least, I thought they did. Stonebridge seems to still have a problem, and I can’t think why."

"All we can do," I say, "is keep our heads down and see what comes to light. It may be more than a simple long-past history."

Stonebridge, when we entered, was much as we had left it earlier. Laughing and yelling children played tag in the streets, while older youths appeared busy working at the various minor tasks upon which any settlement rests. Some adults still gave wary glances our way, but most just got on with working or gossiping together.

"I want to go see Merl," I told Elara, and we headed towards the village smithy. As we got closer, the rhythmic ringing of hammer on metal sounded from inside. I rapped loudly on the wood of the doorpost, and he looked up and beckoned us inside. The smithy was neat and tidy. Tools lined one wall, and finished items another. Most were domestic or farming items—everything from hoes and shovels to door handles and a well-crafted iron gate. A few weapons were also hanging up; a sword and a few curved daggers stood out among the more common cooking knives on display. The floor was made of brick, as were the walls, and at the back a furnace burned hotly. Its coals glow an angry red as Merl pumps a bellows with one hand, while placing the item he was working on back in the fire.

"The kids told me you headed out the south gate," he said, tipping his head to indicate a group of young children playing nearby. I hazarded a guess that they were the same ones we had seen when we first arrived at Stonebridge.

"Yes, we went to see Vita, as you suggested," I replied. "She is a good woman."

"That she is," Merl nodded in agreement. "Could she help you with that trinket you showed me?"

"Yes," I answered somewhat solemnly. "You were right to send us her way. It belonged to Lucas, her apprentice."

Merl put down his hammer, glanced at the heating metal, and took the cloth from his belt to wipe the sweaty drops from his face.

"I thought it might be," he agreed. "That symbol on it is the one they use in their trade. It wasn’t hers, so unless it was a complete stranger, it had to belong to Lucas."

He sighed, pulled the bar from the forge, gave it a couple of disheartened taps, then plunged it into a water trough. Pulling out the cooled metal, he tossed it onto a small pile of scrap iron.

"Let me wash up, then we can grab a beer at Jake’s place. I need one," he stated grimly.

Merl went to the large water-filled barrel outside, shrugged off his leather apron and shirt, and ducked his head fully under the water, emerging in a spray. Grabbing a cloth hanging on a nail beside it, he gave his face, hands, and chest a good scrub before rinsing off and shaking away the excess water. He disappeared into a door to the side of the building and came out a minute or two later in fresh clothes.

"Okay, let's go drink one for Lucas," he stated, marching off towards the centre of town and the Cock and Ball. The inn was not particularly busy, but on seeing the three of us enter, heads turned in curiosity. Jake stepped up, a questioning look in his eye.

"Bit early to close the forge, Merl. Are you alright?" he asked with concern, giving Elara and me a brief nod as he went to his friend.

"Bring me a pitcher of your strongest, Jake, and serve up to the others here as well." Still looking puzzled, with now a hint of concern, the innkeeper quickly obliged.

Once he had a tankard in his hand, Merl raised it, all eyes in the place now firmly on him.

"I learned today that one of ours met his end up in the high woods at the hands of some bandit group. Lucas, Vita’s apprentice, was slain by some thugs while out and about." He paused and indicated us. "These two travellers came across the scene and, while they couldn’t save poor Lucas, they ended his attackers and brought word back to Vita."

He raised his mug higher. "To Lucas's memory, drink and spread word." And took a deep swig of his ale, followed by everyone else in the place amid murmured repetitions of "To Lucas."

As the place settled down to quiet but animated conversation, Merl indicated a table, and we all sat down. Jake joined us, placing a full jug of the rich brown ale on the table. After a minute of quiet introspection, Merl looked at us.

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"The lad deserved better than what he got."

We all nodded. "What are your plans now, Del?" Jake asked. "You are welcome to stay, but things are a little tense around here just now." He looked to Elara. "And not just the old elf history thing."

"Though that doesn’t help," Merl adds.

"The tension we’ve both noticed," I agree. "What is it with that prejudice as well? That stuff happened centuries ago, from what I understand."

Merl sighed and looked to Jake, who nodded.

"A few months back," Jake began, "people started to disappear—no word, no evidence of struggle. Rumours started, and one of them harked back to the old stories of elven slaver raids."

Merl continued, "We here in Stonebridge are sitting at one of the closest points to the old routes those raids took. I don’t know who started the elf rumours, but with the history of the area, it’s kind of picked up."

"With what we saw with Lucas, could it be bandit activity in the hills?" I asked.

They both shrugged and looked at each other. "Possible," Jake agreed, "but a couple of the missing were working very close to Stonebridge; we should have heard something."

"Also," Merl added, "Breeda is said to have disappeared from her very bed at night. That wouldn’t be bandits."

"How many have gone?" Elara asked.

"Four, maybe five in the past month or two. Paolo could give you more details as he’s running the search parties," Jake answers.

"Six if you include poor Lucas," said Merl.

"Well, we plan on seeing Paolo anyway; Vita suggested we see him as well." I took another sip. "We’ll go look him up tomorrow. If he hasn’t heard by then, we’ll let him know about Lucas."

The conversation shifted to more general subjects, with Merl telling us more about life in Stonebridge. He had arrived here as a journeyman smith and enjoyed the pace of life after the more rushed city where he trained, and the rigours of the road. At the time he had arrived, the place had been without a smith for over a year since the old master had passed, so the town elder of the day, Paolo’s father, had invited him to set up in the old disused forge. He had been here ever since.

"Been here almost 20 years now," he stated. "Steady work with little fuss and stress, just the way I like it."

Elara told stories of growing up in her Hometree and of her decision to travel to find a master to train under, which led into a dramatic retelling of her capture by goblins and rescue by me.

Jake, who had gone back to serving customers at the bar, was obviously still listening in, as he let out a low whistle at that.

"Those green vermin are a plague on civilised folk," he said with ire. "Normally don’t find them so far down from the mountain passes though."

"It was just a small group though," I say. "Maybe just a hunting party that travelled further than normal?"

"Still not good though," Merl commented. "We’ll need to send word up the river to the lumber camp so the boys know to keep an eye out."

My eyes flicked to Elara; this was not a subject we wanted to dwell on.

At another question from Merl, I told my own story of coming from my island home on Starnd. I explained that I knew very little of life on the mainland, with our island being so insular and self-contained.

"I think I am the first one of my small community to travel to Gondowa in a long time," I tell him. "It’s been very educational so far," I add with a smile.

A homely woman appeared through the door to the back. She was comfortably built, with rosy cheeks and dark red hair tied up in a tight bun. She wore a neatly tied apron and carried a large ladle in her hand.

Merl nodded her way. "Looks like Donna has finished dinner."

As soon as he saw her come in, Jake hurried over and gave her a peck on the cheek, before going out back and quickly returning laden with platters steaming with hearty meat stew and bread.

Placing bowls before the three of us, we started to tuck into the food.

‘The stories we heard are true then,’ I think as I savour the rich, delicious meat and vegetables. I feel a rubbing at my legs and the mental nudge of Misty. ‘I guess you want yours too then?’ I ask her. Getting a happy mental assent, I call Jake over.

"Can I get a small bowl for my little terror, please, Jake?" I indicate the purring ball of fluff by my legs. Jake laughs and reaches down to give her a little pet.

"Of course we can do that. And where did you come from?" he asks her with an ear scratch. "We didn’t see you earlier."

"She always manages to magically appear when it’s food time," I laugh.

Jake heads off and quickly reappears with two bowls, one with a heaping pile of meat from the stew and the other with water. Misty gives an appreciative mew and tucks into her repast.

After dinner, and with a satisfied belch, Merl stands and heads off back to his place, while Elara and I go to offer thanks to Jake before heading up to our room.

The room is pleasantly warm with a cosy feel. A chest of drawers stands against one wall, with a large copper bath on the other and a chamber pot beside it. The large bed is made up with fresh sheets and looks comfortable enough, but it’s only one.

I cough. "Perhaps I should get another room," I say, looking at the bed.

"What?" Elara asks, puzzled. "We have shared the same sleep space since you rescued me—how is this different?" She shrugs off her clothes and climbs into the bed. "Besides, this is warmer and more comfortable than a leaf pile in a damp cave."

I shrug. ‘Can’t argue with logic,’ I think and strip down to my boxers, climbing in beside her.

‘Just go to sleep, Del,’ I admonish myself. ‘What does it matter if there is a beautiful naked woman sharing the bed with you?’

"Del," she says quietly. "Thank you for rescuing me." She snuggles down deeper under the covers, and I soon hear her gentle snores. With a thump, a weight lands on the bed beside me, and after kneading my side for a minute or two, Misty snuggles in on my other side.

With a contented sigh, I settle in for the first decent night’s sleep since this whole drama began.