The itchy potato sack draped over Luna’s head had her feeling like bugs were crawling all over her face. Who knows? Maybe there really are little bugs crawling all over me. Not like I can see a damned thing with this dirty rag over my face. I suppose cutting eye holes would’ve been too thoughtful for these brainless bums. Bloody stars, why does it seem like misfortune follows me like a hungry wolf hunting for its next meal? Her sore feet were throbbing. Luna considered the unspeakable things she might do for a breath of fresh air and to itch her face. This rough material rubbing on my face is horrible for my skin. Of course they wouldn’t consider all of the effort a lady takes to keep her skin healthy.
A stiff shove from behind sent Luna tumbling hard to the ground. Luna cursed and tried to get back to her feet but with her hands and ankles bound by thick rope she was mostly just rolling around on the cold hard cobblestone. A raucous chorus of laughter erupted all around her—apparently her captors found immense humor in her increasingly bleak situation. For a split second Luna’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment, but the emotion passed and was quickly replaced by a seething anger.
Rough hands pulled her back to her feet. She heard the gruff and obnoxious voice of Captain Cutler, “Hurry up ye’ lazy bilge-rats! Don’t want ta’ be late to our big payday, now do we?”
A firm yank on the rope tied around her wrists saw Luna return to shambling blindly forward towards disaster. Someone had taken her shoes from her and the underside of her feet burned more intensely with each step. The coarse and borderline jagged cobblestone was definitely not doing her any favors. Without any reasonable alternative, Luna marched onwards. She stepped through a dense cloud of smelly tobacco smoke and that combined with the claustrophobic bag triggered a coughing fit. Luna began dry heaving and was suddenly thankful they hadn’t given her anything to eat since tying her up. If I throw up inside of this bag maybe I’ll drown on my own vomit. Hmm, would that be a better way to go out then whatever these idiots have planned? Hard to make an assumption, but I’d imagine it couldn’t be much worse.
Luna had no idea precisely how long she had been trotting through the streets with her captors, she only knew that she had taken two thousand and thirty three torturous steps since getting off the ship. Her ears perked up at the sound of a wooden door creaking open. A less than gentle tug on her restraints pulled her stumbling into the building. It was still pitch black, but Luna knew they had moved inside from the feeling of uneven wooden planking beneath her feet. Getting off of the broken cobblestone was a feeling somewhat like a hot cup of coffee on a freezing night. Relief washed over Luna as her raw and bloodied feet finally got a break from being perpetually sliced up.
Footsteps moved all around her. The sounds of voices whispering and boots shuffling against the wood informed her that there were many people gathered here. Based on the way the voices echoed, she guessed they were inside of a sizable structure like a church or theater. For a second she thought she got a faint whiff of cinnamon, then it was gone. I guess I must be losing my mind. Seems pretty unlikely that my captors decided to drag me here to bake me some pastries. She staggered down a slight incline before being dragged up a short flight of stairs. The door slammed closed in the distance and somehow she could feel a palpable tension filling the air. The room smelled damp and moldy, but Luna couldn’t be sure that wasn’t just the smell of the potato sack.
Weary floorboards moaned beneath the weight of heavy approaching footsteps. Luna could hear the sound of chainmail rustling and creaking plate armor getting closer. A woman’s shrill voice spoke up nearby, “We haven’t got all day. Show us you nabbed the right girl. The stench of you salty dogs is beginning to linger in my nostrils.” Half the room began laughing amongst themselves, though she still couldn’t see a thing, she knew which half found the insult amusing.
A clumsy and meaty hand ripped the burlap sack off her head, yanking free a bit of her hair in the process. Luna winced, muttering a curse before looking wide eyed around the room. They were standing on the stage in a dilapidated theater. This particular venue might have been an upscale establishment once, but that time had long since passed. A thick grime coated everything. Vulgar slang had been painted all over the walls and rat droppings littered the floor. It was dark in the venue. A few Enthamerean soldiers carried torches that painted the scene in a stark and dramatic light, shadows dancing ominously.
On one side of the stage stood Cutler and his ragtag crew, across from them stood ten or so soldiers wearing tabards embroidered with the crest of Enthamere. The well-equipped soldiers tapped their toes impatiently. Luna cursed under her breath. As they say, out of the frying pan…
Her nervous thought was interrupted by the calm but clearly irritated voice of captain Cutler, “Aye, you’ve got quite the sharp tongue on ya’ lieutenant. Perhaps in another life this salty dog might’ve gotten more familiar with it.” The sailors chuckled and licked their lips, egging on their captain.
The soldiers behind the lieutenant scowled and their hands shot to their weapons. The stoic lieutenant’s open hand shot out at her side. “Stand down, soldiers. This soggy vagrant knows not when to hold his tongue, but I am feeling generous today. I’ll allow him to leave here in one piece.” Her thin lips curled into a sly smirk. “After all, he’s delivered a prize fit for a king. His majesty will reward us mightily for bringing him this murderous wretch.” The Enthamerean soldiers glanced around at each other before casting hateful looks at Luna. Noted…the Enthamerean military are not the biggest fans of mine.
Captain Cutler took a drag from his pipe and exhaled a plume of smoke that shifted into the form of a struggling woman being hanged. Luna rolled her eyes at the unnecessary and obnoxious gesture. “Us lowborn dogs did our part. Now show us the reward before we decide ta’ scram and sell her ta’ the next highest bidder.” Cutler said as he scratched his bulging belly.
A soldier looked to his officer for approval. “Lieutenant Megna, should I grab the reward?”
“Aye,” Lieutenant Megna said with a subtle nod. “Let’s get this over with.”
The soldier disappeared behind a stained red curtain before appearing again. He dragged a heavy wooden chest to center stage. Cutler and the crew’s eyes lit up in awe as the soldier opened the chest. It was full to the brim with gold bars. Luna’s jaw dropped, she had never seen that many gold bars before in her life. All of this, just for little old me. It almost makes a girl feel flattered. Well…at least I might if I hadn’t been framed for the murder of the queen I suppose.
Luna’s palms were sweating. Being a bound captive caught between two well armed parties was a whole new level of helplessness. If only my gang was here and I had my rapier or vials. The desperation was spreading through her veins like a deeproot potion. Her eyes scanned the theater for anything that might help her out of this predicament. Luna sighed through her nose when she didn’t see a single thing that might prove helpful. I don’t know what I expected. I guess a miracle is too much to ask for?
One of Luna’s eyebrows raised and she sniffed the air around her once, then thrice more to be sure. What in the world? Without a doubt, I absolutely smell cinnamon. But how is that at all relevant? Did I hit my head harder than I thought on th—.
Without warning, two big explosions went off on both sides of the dimly lit stage launching surprised men and women screaming through the air. Luna was close enough to the center of the stage that the explosion knocked her to the ground but she was otherwise unharmed. That’s more than could be said for most of the sailors and the soldiers who had been standing on the edges of the stage. They screamed in agony, some engulfed in flames and others clawed at the chunks of splintered shrapnel protruding brutally from them.
Luna watched in shock from the ground as warriors with bandit masks and large hooded cloaks flooded in from every direction. They wielded hand crossbows and elegant curved blades. Without hesitation they began killing the soldiers and sailors with vicious efficiency. Swords danced and bolts flew through the air. Luna knew that even if they hadn’t been disoriented by the unexpected explosions, the crew and Enthamerean soldiers wouldn’t have stood much of a chance against these newcomers. She also knew that it was probably in her best interest to escape while the confusion was at its peak.
The battle raged all around her as the new warriors fought mercilessly. Battle cries and screams of anguish filled the theater like one last show for an audience of ghosts all too happy to welcome new souls to the afterlife. Luna was still bound but she used the chaos to make a break for it. If you’ve never seen a tied up woman wriggling across the floor like a worm, that’s likely for the best. It was an awkward movement, but Luna did her best to crawl towards the stairs that led off the stage.
When she got to the edge of the stage she couldn’t help but notice that Cutler and Megna were back to back fighting off hooded warriors at center stage. They were showcasing a commendable effort and cloaked bodies fell all around them. Captain Cutler was swinging two silver spiked morningstars like an absolute madman, and each hard impact sent the cloaked fighters crumpling to the ground.
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Luna had to admit, Cutler fought better then she would have guessed and funny enough he still had his pipe between his lips. Lieutenant Megna’s long red hair bounced wildly as she rapidly switched stances. The constant shift in fighting style was causing her assailants a great deal of confusion and she capitalized on it by cutting them down efficiently with her bulky two handed bastard sword.
Time seemed to slow down as a slender cloaked man that towered over everyone else in the theater stepped out from behind the curtain with an elegant thin sword in his hand. The hood covering his face dropped, revealing long blonde braids. His sharp, graceful features were a perfect match for his weapon.
Luna gasped aloud. An elf! The man had pale blue skin and small horns protruding from above his temples. He looked like something plucked straight from one of the old children’s books she read growing up.
I guess it’s no time to watch how this plays out. She wanted nothing more than to observe the elves, but she knew she couldn’t. As the chaotic battle raged all around her, Luna took the opportunity to flee. She scanned the theater and her eyes lit up as an option presented itself.
Luna crawled across the stage as bodies fell and the sounds of steel clashing filled the air. A bloody dagger laying on the stage called out to her and she grabbed the weapon. It was a struggle to move with thick ropes around her wrists and ankles, but at least no one seemed to be paying attention to her at the moment. Reaching the edge of the stage, she rolled under a tattered and dusty red curtain without hesitation.
Fortunately the backstage area was empty. The sounds of battle raged from the other side of the curtain reminding Luna she needed to keep moving. She gripped the dagger between her legs and managed to cut the ropes around her wrists loose. It didn’t take her long to get the ropes around her ankles off. Luna took a deep breath and felt a wave of relief wash over her, it felt nice to not be tied up like a roasted pig. I’m not free yet. I can celebrate when I’m back in Cloudreach with my family.
A door called out to her from the far end of the room. She wanted nothing more than to crash through that door and run away to freedom. A single word repeated in her mind that stopped her dead in her tracks. amethite. If I don’t grab the amethite then all of this was for nothing. The faces of her gang, her brother, and all of the citizens of the Undercity echoed in her head. That’s just not a scenario I can live with.
Gripping the dagger tightly in her left hand she peeked under the curtain. The melee continued in the theater. The screams of wounded participants droned unnervingly behind the clash of weapons. Cutler’s head had been separated from his body and now sat on the stage like a jack-o-lantern. A smirk formed on Luna’s face when she noticed his beloved pipe remained wedged between his sluglike lips. Not even death itself could separate that man from his bloody pipe.
Luna’s eyes lit up like a torch in the darkest tunnel. The big bag filled with amethite was on the edge of the stage, no one dared pay attention to it with the threat of imminent death lingering close at hand. She brushed her hair out of her face and took a deep breath before sprinting towards the amethite. As she approached she slid gracefully, dipping under the blades of an Enthamerean soldier fighting two hooded assailants. With her free hand she scooped up the bag, holding it close to her heart like a baby, before planting her foot and diving back behind the torn curtain.
With a nervous sigh, Luna bit her lip and checked the bag's contents. Bag full of amethite. Check. She tucked the dagger into her belt and patted herself down. No new holes poked in my body. Check. Without thinking about it Luna grinned from ear to ear and began laughing out loud. I’m still alive, and everything isn’t hopeless. Remind me to pour one out for the ancient cosmic deities that must be looking out for me.
The sounds of battle were winding down behind the curtain and Luna knew that she was running out of time to escape. Deep inside her was a desire to take one last look at the sailors who had betrayed her. To see with her own eyes they got what they deserved. She took a step towards the curtain. It would be so easy for her to look.
With a deep breath Luna grunted and turned around to walk towards the door. She stepped out into an alleyway and the midday sun was blinding. Instinctively Luna put her hand over her eyes like a visor to fight off the disorienting effect of the day light. Luna’s eyes dilated trying hard to adjust to the light. The smell of cinnamon wafted into her nostrils and her eyebrow raised.
The world around Luna came into focus and her hand shot to the hilt of the dagger. Blocking both ends of the alley were the hooded and masked warriors. The gang drew their weapons and pointed them at Luna, she knew in her heart that if they wanted her dead, there was nothing she could do to stop them. Still, Luna held the dagger out in front of her and flashed her teeth at the cloaked fighters in a weak attempt to look strong.
Quite possibly the tallest man Luna had ever seen stepped forward with an ethereal calm and pulled his hood down. With a slow gesture of his hands the warriors all at once sheathed their weapons. Luna’s eyes darted left to right in a panic. It wasn’t the first time in her life she felt like a caged animal, to be honest it was a feeling that had worn out its welcome. The towering man from inside looked down at her before tilting his head slightly and removing the mask concealing the lower half of his face.
Luna’s jaw dropped so suddenly that it nearly hit the alley floor. Standing before her was one of the most infamous men alive, Tyriel Tannathel watched her with unreadable blue eyes. As he sized her up Luna struggled to find the right words to say. Her mind felt like a library that had all of the books on the wrong shelf.
Tyriel yawned, stretched his arms high over his head, then ran his long fingers through his blonde braids. Without a thought Luna tightened her grip on the bag of amethite. “Well, I guess you’ll be taking this bag and killing me now?” Luna said with a nervous look around at the gang of elves covered in blood.
Luna began sweating as seconds passed without any response. Without warning Tyriel’s blank expression transformed into a vibrant smile and he began laughing.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment and Luna threw her hands on her hips. Before she knew what she was doing she found herself yelling at the towering elf, “And just what do you find so funny, mister? Are you so cruel and dead inside that the thought of my death brings you such joy?”
Tyriel’s face slowly returned to its normal expressionless position. After a dramatic pause, he spoke in a warm and melodic voice, his heavy accent made it moderately difficult to understand, “Stars, why would we kill you, Luna Stone?” Tyriel held his hands out towards his warriors and turned slowly. “My troops just killed a theater full of smelly humans to rescue you. If I wanted you dead, I would have just stayed in my forest.”
Luna’s face twisted with confusion as she tried to process the situation. “Err…but…why not just kill me and take the amethite?” She asked.
Her blunt question had Tyriel laughing once again. The leader of the elves had a way of talking slowly, pausing between certain words as if each word was a gift, “You humans are truly, hilarious creatures. Sure, I could kill you and take the amethite, but I gave you my word that if you brought it to me, that I would pay you a fortune. If I broke my promise, I would be dishonoring my relatives and kin. That is something I could never stomach, though I understand it might be hard to comprehend for a human.”
Luna’s heart was beating so loudly in her chest that she thought it might explode. The gravity of the situation finally struck her. “So…I’m safe? And you’re going to honor our deal?” She spoke the words as if the only way for her to truly believe them was to say them aloud.
Tyriel tilted his head and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “That is precisely correct, young one.” His thin fingers flashed a few signs to his gang and they cohesively turned and walked down the alley.
Luna stood there jaw agape, trying to come to terms with the situation.
Tyriel looked back over his shoulder towards her, not so much as slowing his long graceful strides. “You coming, Luna? It’s a day's ride back to Ithilien.”
Luna narrowed her eyes and looked down at the bag of amethite then towards the gang of elves walking away. She made a sound of consideration before sweeping her hair out of her face and taking off after them.