Episode 15: Eisenburg

Hex was keen for the downfall of Jericho and Malakai. The two made their way deeper into the Pale after crashing onto the continent. Night fell on the frozen continent. The two made their way into Eisenburg, a small trading community south of the Pale where travelers docked from into the continent. Eisenburg was known for its fair community for a farming village that welcomed adventurers to a safe harbor for a night or two.

Malakai and Jericho wore hoods to cover their dark charcoal eyes from the locals to not scare them off. Diborn are still seen as monsters like the demonic creatures they hunt down. The streets were lively, which proved to be a greater challenge. It wouldn’t be long before the two were found out. After just reuniting the only thing these two could think of was simple. A cozy loft for the night, followed by some bread and ale.

Both Diborn opened a wooden shack door with the blistering cold not interrupting the parade in the streets. The winter frost entered right behind them with a woman screaming out toward them.

“Welcome to Hackleshack! Be with you lot in a moment, after you close that door lovies.” An elderly dwarf woman chanted from a tavern, serving a couple of other travelers.

“So many folks here. Eisenburg has changed.” Jericho muttered.

A grunt middle-aged dwarf with long luscious hair turned to the hooded Jericho. “Everything changes. So long as it is for the better. Our people certainly weren’t keen on turning down business for the village to prosper from. So long as you adventurers don’t stick around long.”

“Cry for us, Valeria. But don’t you plead. Cause by tomorrow we all shall be freeeee!” A pair of dark elf brothers were playing a pair of lutes together singing a harmonic tune. The way they strung their voices and lutes together was soothing to the mind. Putting people in the tavern at ease to relax to their ale and beautiful spoken lyrics.

Jericho and Malakai made their way to an unoccupied table in the corner of the shack tavern. “You came here once, Jericho?”

Jericho scuffled as the two covered their faces towards the table across the room. Lizardmen, dwarves, and the humans failed to even notice they were there. The lutes played louder than their conversation.

“Once before, yes. Worked at the Pale during my years with the Royal Navy.” Jericho responded.

“Ah, good ole Rokia. How I miss that accursed possessed city. What did they want in the Pale?”

Jericho and Malakai made their seats. They kept their heads down, with Jericho relaxing his hands on the table. Malakai relaxed back in his seat for a moment. The corner could suppress their Diborn charcoal eyes for a while.

“Doesn’t matter. Politics is all. I am never any good with those sorts of things anyhow.”

“Hmph.” Malakai nodded.

The crowd inside the tavern cheered for the bowing dark elf brothers. The two were commended for their songs. A lizardman handed the two a bottle of ale each. Both brothers sat at the table with the group of blue lizardmen enjoying a soberless night. Jericho and Malakai were caught off guard by the praises. Dark elves are usually hunted down by any sort of creature on any other continent. They are worldly dangers.

“If only the world was like that. We wouldn’t be in-between a second world war.” Malakai muttered.

Jericho raised his eyebrow agreeing. “If only is correct. Man is too stubborn and arrogant for that sort of thing.”

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Tell me something I don’t know. Find it a coincidence after all these years we find each other, under the same circumstances. Soulless by the same taker?”

Heels continued to tap on the floor, approaching both the Diborn. Amid their conversation, they continued to keep their heads lowered to the table. A woman smelling of flushed berries and vanilla sap came over and brushed her hand over the right shoulder of Jericho. A bit of a flirt if one were to add. The waitress looked at the two mysterious men.

“Later then…” Jericho mentioned.

“My favorite.” She sniffed the side of Jericho’s face. The woman was human, so any sort of dwarf senses were invalid.

The waitress rubbed her hands together and created an obsidian petal gifting it to Jericho. Malakai and Jericho tried to play it cool with the woman, who then got closer to the table. They were on guard and felt unsafe.

“Diborn you are safe here.” She commended them, taking both their hands.

Malakai and Jericho looked at each other. They accepted things throwing up their hands and revealing their hoods. The rest of the drunken adventurers and travelers all noticed the Diborn one by one. The two dark elf brothers looked at each other in joy, when they saw Jericho and Malakai. The lizardmen and dwarves nodded.

“Oi. Are you the Diborn who killed the Doppelganger of Creche Forest?” One of the dark elf brothers asked. He had long black hair that covered one of his eyes. His face flushed when he saw the Diborn.

Jericho looked completely lost to what he mentioned. Malakai raised his hand up excessively. “Hmph.”

“Wait that was you.” The other bald dark elf brother chanted. Both made their way to the table. Both men took out their hands for Malakai offering their thanks. “We owe you, our thanks. That Doppelganger took out half our caravan before you know.”

Malakai observed the hands and simply waved at the two men. “No need for friends. Just a job.”

“A job my arse. You cleared the road to Eisenburg for many of the folk here, mate.” The bald brother explained, putting his elbow on the table. “Many of these people might not have made it today if it weren’t for those heroics.”

“Here! Here!” The crowd agreed holding up their glasses in the air.

The long-haired elf smiled. “Vanik Voss and this is my slightly dimwitted counterpart, Vulin Voss. Were the Voss brothers working on spreading the good word during these hard times in the realm?”

“Tis my honor. Malakai of Der Prismona. My friend, Jericho of Brightfall. Diborn.” Malakai introduced them to the elves.

The over-energetic elves shook the hand of Jericho, who was more keen on introductions than Malakai. The two elves waited over the table of the Diborn, while everyone continued back to the night of drinking.

“Elves play something!” The elderly tavernkeeper ordered.

“Ma’am!” The elves chanted. Vulin hurried to his lute to figure out a song.

Vanik stayed around the Diborn table with the waitress a bit longer. The two were night and day. Vanik a freer spirit, who says what’s on his mind. His brother Vulin is more keen on following orders and doing what’s asked.

“Better not keep the good madam waiting. She can be a real hag that one.” Vanik spoke. “Before I go though. My brother and I are heading back to Gamba harbor at dawn to sail for Yemen. If you ever want to find us, follow the lute. I think the Diborn Saviors would do us both some good as a new hit.”

“Maybe, one day friend.” Malakai saluted the elf. “We have pressing matters at the moment.”

“I understand. One day. Until then, stay safe you two. Slay a monster for me.” Vanik said, leaving the two to the waitress who waited very patiently.

Jericho took the lead. He appeared grateful to have a hood off finally and felt welcomed for a change. “Two bottles of ale, with a dozen biscuits if you have them.”

The waitress bowed. “As you wish.”

The tavern became an epicenter for relaxation once more. The two elves began singing another song about a mighty dwarven king who stood between the kingdom and a dragon before. More people came into the tavern, more so where the two Diborn blended into the crowd at that point. No one came to bother the mighty demon hunters anymore. They were treated like any other sort of person in the tavern.

Curiosity still lingered. From across the tavern, a pair of eyes locked onto the two Diborn as they continued their conversation. “Hmph.”

“So… what now?”