Fen

  Grumbling under her breath, she followed Lost out of the inn. ‘Why is he so insistent on bringing that dumb elf with us?’

  Fen had been woken up by Lost and he told her that they were going to go get Ren. She had wondered what had happened to him when he was controlling that illusion. For her, he had been standing in the middle of the room, keeping his hands together in what looked like praying. His eye’s had been closed and after a few minutes he was sweating profusely.

  They walked through the streets, Lost mumbling and looking at street signs. Fen was fuming at the prospect of being in that elf’s presence. He was just too kind for an elf. She didn't like it, he had to be up to something. No elf would just try and save a beastwoman out of the kindness of their heart, however idiotic they were.

  But wasn't it the same with humans? Fen had also heard of the cruelty that beastmen faced with humans, not so much with the dwarves. So, why did Lost save her? Why would a human do that?

  Then again, was he even human? Those eye’s seemed to see everything. They glowed, she had never heard of anyone’s eyes glowing. Other than beastmen. A few types had night vision, but their eyes only glowed in the night. His glowed in the light, it was faint, but if you knew what you were looking for, you could see it.

  Then there was the weird statement he had said back in the border forests. He had said he didn't know what he was, or that it didn't feel like his body. What was that supposed to mean?

  She had been puzzling over that for a while. Then the big question came, who exactly was he?

  He somehow knew about magic, and enough to teach it. Though from her lessons, it was obvious he had little to no patience for sitting there complementing or correcting her. In fact, he would just tell her to practice, then do something else.

  Fen was snapped out of her thoughts when an elf bumped into Lost.

  “Hey. I’m sorry,” The elf said, patting Lost on the shoulders. He was a thin elf with greasy black hair and sharp features.

  Lost didn't look amused. His expression was blank, betraying no emotion. “Don't try it again.” He said in a calm, but chilling voice.

  He held up a carving knife, and his money pouch, plus another. The thin elf wore an expression of surprise and shock, his mouth hanging open. His hand instinctively went to his belt under the brown cloak.

  Fen, too, was surprised. The elf was a thief, and somehow Lost had stolen his stuff back.

  “I’m a much better thief than you. Pick your targets better next time,” said Lost, handing the thief back his pouch and knife. The elf just stood there with surprise, not knowing what to do.

  Lost then walked off, ignoring the thief. Fen quickly scurried after him. After pushing through the crowd for a bit more, Fen grabbed Lost’s sleeve and tugged.

  He looked back and down at her. “What?”

  “How’d you know he was trying to steal your money?” Fen asked, her green eye’s wide.

  Lost snorted, “That trick only works once. Or at least for me. Plus, I could see him purposely coming our way, then purposely bumping into me.”

  Fen contemplated that, following Lost through the crowds. Just another mystery added to the big question of who he really was. A thief maybe? He did that trick very well, but a thief wouldn't carry a sword. He said he was a swordsman, but what swordsman would also have the skills of a thief? Then added onto his skills in magic, it just didn't make sense.

  “Shoot,” Lost said under his breath, holding his hand out and stopping Fen. She looked up at him. “This just isn’t my day.”

  He grabbed Fen by the arm roughly, but it was a loose grip. She finally saw what had made him stop, a guard patrol. The worst part, the guards had noticed them. The guards started shouting and pushing through the throngs of people.

  Pulling, Lost quickly led Fen into a nearby alley between a barber shop and jewelry store.

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  “What are we going to do?” Fen asked, her heart pounding. She had her brown hood up, but her ears could still pick up the sounds of the guards from behind. The pounding of their boots.

  “I don't know,” Lost said, picking up to a run. Fen caught up a second later. They turned the corner into a trash littered alley. “I’m such an idiot! I should have taken off this headband before leaving!”

  Fen franticly looked around for a place to hide, but there was none. She shifted her ears under the hood, listening.

  Her eye’s went wide. That's it!

  She abruptly stopped. Lost ran for a few more steps, then stopped and turned around to look at her. “Whats wrong? We have to go, now!”

  “Put this on. The guards aren't going to be looking for a wolf beast girl.” Fen took off the cloak and stuck her hand out at Lost.

  Lost’s eye’s went wide with understanding. He quickly grabbed the cloak and slung it over his arm. “Take my sword, they saw me with it.”

  He quickly unclasped the belt on his chest, holding the scarab. Then he grabbed his rolled up black cloak from the back pouch on his belt. Wrapping it up, he handed it to her. She grunted at the weight, it was like 40 pounds! How could he walk all day with this thing on his back?

  Then he slung the brown cloak over himself. It only reached to his waist, but it covered him enough. If you didn't look close, then you would hardly notice him.

  “I’m gonna run out of disguises at this rate,” Lost mumbled. “Start walking.” He motioned back to the way they had come.

  Fen turned around, cradling the bundled sword in her arms. She slowly plodded along, trying to calm her pumping heart.

  The guards rounded the corner at that moment. They kept pounding towards them down the cobbled alleyway. Fen fought with the urge to turn around and bolt at that moment.

  There were four guards. Could Lost handle that many? Maybe, but he hadn't absorbed any magic recently. And it was obvious that he hadn't fully recovered from his prolonged magic use, though he tried to hide it from Fen. She knew could tell, he had been acting very sluggish when she woke up, and it was still there.

  The four guards were now on them, no turning back now. Two of them ran by without even looking in Lost and Fen’s direction. Then the other two stopped. Fen could feel her heart jump into her mouth.

  One was skinny, and he had a suspicious look in his eye. The other, a much older elf with muscles that could be seen under his chain mail vest.

  Both had animosity in their eye’s when they looked at Fen. She tried to stop her shaking, but couldn't. Was this it?

  “Take off the hood, sir,” said the muscled guard, looking at Lost. That was it, they were caught. Fen glanced behind them, the other two guards had stopped now.

  Lost didn't take down his hood, but the thin elf guard was impatient. He reached his long arm out to lift Lost’s hood. That's when it happened, Lost, so quick it was a blur, reached up and grabbed the thin elf’s arm.

  He swiftly tightened his grip and swung his other hand up. It hit the elf in the elbow, a sickening crunch resounded. The elf screamed in agony, falling to the ground. His arm bent backwards, the bloody bone sticking out of his arm.

  Fen didn't even have time to register what just happened, Lost bolted towards the muscled elven guard. Lost brought his fist back and punched the elf in the nose, that too, gave a crunching sound.

  Tears burst from the elven guard’s eyes and he crumpled to the ground, screaming and clutching at his nose. Blood streaming from it.

  Reaching to her belt, Fen pulled the dagger out. She knew a little bit on how to use it, from Lost, but he hadn't had a chance to show her much of anything. Holding it out in front of her, it was a plain straight blade, but it was meant to be held upside down, like Fen was doing now.

  Lost turned back to the other two guards, who were advancing on them. He took a step forward, then stumbling on the next step. He swayed back and forth, losing his balance. His breathing was heavy and labored, he crumpled to the ground.

  What was wrong with him?

  “Dammit!” He said, pushing himself back up, but failing to stand.

  “Mr. Lost, are you okay?” Fen said, she ran up to him, pulling his hood back. His face was coated in sweat, his skin flushed a deep crimson.

  Lost looked at her, his amber eyes filled with desperation. Was it her, or did it look like the glow in his eyes was fainter? “Fen… You have to go.”

  Terror griped her heart, “No...”

  “You… have to!” Lost went into a fit of coughing. He pushed her back, the guards nearly upon them.

  Fen looked back at the elven guards, only a few feet away now. They had stone studded wood clubs out. Then more guards poured out of the other end of the alley way. Why were there so many!? How had they gotten here so fast?

  Lost pushed Fen to the other end of the alley, “Run! Now! I will be fine!”

  Fen’s mind locked up into fear, slowly consuming her.

  Then Lost’s desperate scream sliced through the thick fog, “RUN!”

  She didn't even think, Fen bolted. Keeping the sword clutched to her chest. Her feet beat down on the cobbles in time with her heart. Thump, thump, thump.

Running out of the alley and into the crowds, Fen heard screams and shouts echoing from the alley. There was  flash of light, then silence. She couldn't stop, Lost’s one word driving her forward. Compelling her.

  Run.

  She didn't know how long she ran, but it was far. Down streets filled with elves, past shops and parks. Through a market and down alleys.

  Eventually, she ran out of breath, her side hurting. Fen fell down in a grimy alleyway, out of sight from the road. She curled up in a little ball, tears streaming down her face.

  Her mind devolved into sadness and fear. Shame. She clutched the bundled sword to her breast, sobs forcing their way through her mouth.