We left the underground cavern with a purposeful urgency. While my newfound allies were nevertheless filling their heads with means to track Aram, I had to ruminate over my next step. I now have unexpected allies, but the alliance would not last long. Not when they piece the truth together. When that moment arrives, I either need to be far away from them or maybe send them to meet their beloved dark gods.

At least, I no longer have to wear my rags. The woman gave me a pair of riding trousers. It was a bit old but the tailoring and stitches indicated quality work. One of the men offered me a linen shirt. I would have appreciated some boots. I am still barefooted and the blisters on my soles started to hurt.

Information is something that I needed. A direct question about our current whereabouts would reveal my lie. After all, I made it appear that I am here on purpose.

“He was heading towards Merranvale.” One of the men said.

One of the men, the younger one, had changed to a pair of travelling boots, and he no longer hid behind the dark shroud. A signet engraved with some thorny brambles in an intricate pattern was on his right ring finger. Some kind of minor local noble household.

“Perhaps call favours from your father?” The other man asked.

The younger man shook his head.

“I would rather not.”

Another thought to bear in mind, If I ever escape them and get back to civilised areas, I need to avoid the house with that particular signet. Most likely, his house would be seeking my blood.

A sudden scream shook me from my deep rumination. The older of the two was struggling in the ground with the shaft of an arrow poking out of his right eye socket. His writhing will soon stop, but I have to act fast. For my own safety.

Another arrow caught the woman in her throat and she fell without a sound.

The younger man screamed in my direction, accusing me before deciding to save his own skin. He turned around to flee, only to receive an arrow to his back. The force of the arrow knocked him face forward to the ground. Soon, another arrow followed and hit him in the nape of his neck.

I looked for someplace to cover. The closest one is still farther away. I do not think I can outrun the archer. The archer, whoever it is, to shoot an arrow to the eye must be extremely skilled. A second revelation dawned on me. The force from the arrow knocked them to the ground. Not a short bow. A longbow.

Anyone trained with a longbow will have built enough endurance to chase me. I dejectedly squatted to the ground and screamed.

“Help me. Please. Prisoner. Not with them.“ Repeatedly.

“From where I stand, it sure does not appear like that. “

The figure of a woman appeared before me. Neither tall nor petite. She moved with a confident familiarity with the woods. Her gait indicated that she is at home surrounded by wilderness.

“Please trust me, I have been taken prisoner and sold to these cultists. I am not with them.”

“Vile Dark Elf, now you have turned to corrupt weak-willed humans to your dark rituals. You and your debauched practises. First, you practised your perverse deeds in your underground cesspool, and now you have come to the surface to lure more.”

She continued without pause.

“I will not be fooled by your tricks. I know you, vile creature. I smell the profanity coming from you. “

“I am not one of them. I did not tempt them. I am a victim here”

“Do not try your foul tricks with me. I am not new to elven magic. Your words and deceptions will have no effect on me.”

She pronounced the word elven with a bit of contempt. She continued further.

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“Do not presume that the same tricks you used on men would work on me.” Again there was a strong intonation and disdain while stressing on men.

Contempt for elves and disdain for humans. I slowly lifted my head to examine her features. Her face was oval with piercing dark eyes and dark auburn hair. Slightly prominent cheekbones. But it was her ears that drew my attention. Small lobed but pointed ears. A Half-elf.

As she spoke, her voice was neither of a grown woman nor of a small girl. Her attitude was stubborn with an unwillingness to listen.

“How many sanctified ground do you have to defile? Did it please you to sacrifice innocent children?”

Where is this one getting her ideas from?

“I did no such thing.” I protested. “You accuse me of things that I have no knowledge of.”

This would be difficult. She is of a rebellious age.

“I rescued prisoners from slavers and bandits. “

“No wonder, to sacrifice them for your own nefarious deeds.”

Why do they all have to be so difficult?

“You are no different from those pretentious elven and human society. You force your own prejudiced opinions on others when given a chance.” I finally said it.

That got her rethinking for a moment. A strong gust of breeze passed between us as if propelled by an invisible force.

Seeing my advantage, I decided to push forward. “Some Aram took prisoners to be sold as slaves. I tried to rescue them and that is when I got captured. Instead of killing me, he decided to cut his losses and sold me to them.”

“Spinning your tales still. I have seen you walk in the company of those cultists. You were never their prisoner.” She had the smug look of an orator who finally cornered their opponent.

“I just resigned myself. I volunteered to not resist. It was the least I could do to die with dignity. That is until you came. You do not have to believe my words, but look for yourself and be your own judge. I do not even have shoes or footwear. If I am really an ally of these cultists, you think they would march me barefooted.”

Her eyes fell on my feet, and she noticed the blisters festering on them.

Her posture relaxed, but she still maintained her cautious gaze.

“I got knocked out while trying to rescue people. Maybe if we can go there, we might still be able to save some souls. I am not sure where I am but you seem to handle yourself well around here. Maybe we could go there together if you would be gracious to lead the way?”

“Agreed, but no nasty drow tricks, or else, you will meet the unnerving arrow of Arlene.” she said while gauging me.

Not only is she of a rebellious age, but she is also addressing herself in the third person. I silently cursed my luck under my breath. First a bunch of loose cannon goblins, then cultist and now a rebellious growing up girl with delusions of grandeur. Each one was worse than the other.

“I am Rylonvirah.” I made it short. I, no longer carry the long name of subrace and house. “Friends usually call me Rylon or Vera. “

After travelling in silence for a while, we heard the rustling of leaves and some movements around a boulder. A gentle breeze blew dried leaves and debris in the direction behind the boulder. Arlene motioned me to calm myself, and she strode towards the bolder with no hesitancy.

Arlene was greeted with the smiling face of a child. The child was clothed in rags and a dirty unwashed face. The child, though alarmed at my presence, quickly calmed down when she saw Arlene ignoring my presence. The child once again looked in my direction. Arlene leaned in while the child pointed in my direction and spoke. Nodding to the child, Arlene patted the child’s head.

“Little Esme says that you taught the meaning of the word humiliation to Aram and his cohorts. “

“You know this child?”

“I know this little varmint. Used to stop by her settlement occasionally to barter and exchange stories. “

“So she too was held a prisoner there?”

“They mostly raid travelling merchants but occasionally they get bold. Kidnap orphans from nearby villages or street rats from meranvale. Or as in the case of Little Esme, stealing from nomads and gypsies.”

Esme tugged at Arlene’s hands and gave her a pleading look.

Arlene cleared her throat and spoke with determination, “We need to separate drow. I will be taking little Esme to her people. You are free to do proceed ahead with whatever nefarious deeds you have planned. “

“ Wait, what about the other prisoners? Which direction is meranvale? Can you tell me something more about it? “

“I knew you were more interested in going after Aram than helping innocents. You drows can never change your nature. “ She chuckled.

Arlene knew how to get under my skin. I thought my years of raising my strong-willed daughter would have rendered me immune to the annoying attitudes of growing up children, but Arlene tested the limits.

“So, where is Meranvale?” I stressed my original question again.

“See the hills to the southeast. Aim for them and soon you will run into a forest trail. Follow the trail along, after 3 windings it would broaden into a path. Keep on to the path, and you should read Meranvale.”

I felt a strange presence pass through but only for a flicker of a moment and then the feeling vanished like the wind.

Thanking her, I was stopped in my track by Arlene’s words.

“Don’t expect the folks of Meranvale to be so generous and broad-minded in their views on outsiders. Not many folks are tolerant as me.”

If Arlene meant it to be ironic, her tone betrayed the irony.