The quiet rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds greeted the three travellers upon entry to the Ahyeld forest. Sunlight flitted through the bright green leaves, casting shadowy patterns upon the mossy forest floor. A pale glimmer of light suffused the entire forest, illuminating the emerald leaves and vines, giving it an airy feeling. Had they not been in such a hurry, the trio might have stopped to appreciate the view.

They travelled north and the nearest town was Doxford—three days’ ride from the Throeyns territory. The Ahyeld forest wrapped around the north and north-western sides of Sanobar, protecting the inner kingdom. Travelling through it was the only way to make it to the northern mountains—and beyond those, the coastline bordering the Great Sea, which stretched between Sanobar and Silvardor, the home of the elves.

Having searched the saddle bags the first evening into their travels, they discovered only enough food packed for one person for one day. Divided in three rations, it lasted one meal. Though the forest was teeming with life in the warm spring weather, none of them knew how to hunt—a practice forbidden to anyone but the lord of the lands, and they had been unable to secure any food. Thankfully the lush forest had no shortage of streams and the trio found themselves not lacking water.

“Our only solution,” Leus said, “Is to ride as fast as we can to Doxford. We can go for a few days without food—we have plenty of water, after all. It's not going to be comfortable, but no one ever said being a fugitive would be fun.”

Lirya and Jason nodded and they picked up the pace.

<--<< >>-->

As the sun set on the third day of travel, the three weary fugitives rode into Doxford. A mid-sized town, it had a stone wall surrounding the entirety of the town and a large wooden gate that could be closed, allowing some protection in the case of an attack. The wall was crumbling in disrepair, for it had been built in the early days and remained as more a symbolic relic than a true protective gate.

A little way into the town and a haze of smoke clouded the air, livestock wandered freely and people moved about. As the town nearest the northern mountains, it was a bustling centre of commerce. Since the treaty of peace was negotiated between humans and elves, an uneasy and fragile friendship had built up between the two races—and elves often frequented the coastal towns of Sanobar. At the market in the centre of the town, elven vendors sold their wares next to human ones and although most areas of Sanobar harboured prejudices against elves, the northern towns had relaxed those old traditions.

Leus guided Lirya and Jason through the crowd and led them to a corner of the town, where a row of taverns and inns and other houses of ill-repute stood. Tucked in between a brothel and a tavern was a dingy little inn. A wooden sign with cracked paint and a vague visage of a pig with wings dubbed the place ‘The Flying Pig’.

“I’m sorry I have to bring you to this place, Lirya,” Leus apologised, “But I’m afraid our funds don’t stretch much farther than that until we sell the horses.”

She shrugged, “I’m so tired now that I couldn’t care less if I was sleeping on the dirt floor as long as it's warm and safe.”

Jason nodded, “I feel the same. This place seems safe enough… How much money do we have?”

Leus opened a small pouch by his waist and drew out a small quantity of coins minted in bronze, silver and gold. He counted ten bronze coins, four silver and a single gold coin.

Leus sighed, “We only have one gold gylin and not a single iron damaii to our name. It won’t take us far...”

“Not far?!” Jason exclaimed, “Most people never have more than bronze brynus and silver seguns in their entire lives! At most, a decent inn might charge two silver for a night per person, but a gylin is worth fifteen seguns!”

Leus grinned sheepishly, “That’s true… I think I may be too used to having more money than I know what to do with. Anyways, I know that this inn, however shabby it looks, is actually a very serviceable lodging with a trustworthy innkeeper. Shall we go in?”

The interior of the inn was, as Leus had promised, warm and inviting despite the decidedly unwelcoming exterior. The room was small and comfortably furnished. Round tables dotted the room, hewn from the sturdy giant trees in the elven forests and a fireplace at the end of the room emitted a warm orange glow, suffusing the room with light. A staircase leading upstairs sat at the corner of the room and behind a long bar table sat a woman. She was tall and lithe, with an unlined face and a wealth of auburn hair. Her face had a dusting of freckles over her nose and the corner of a pointed ear showed through her thick hair.

“Eilana,” Leus greeted her with a smile, “We’ll need rooms for the night. How much do you charge?”

Her face lit up in a bright smile when Leus entered, and she replied, “Lord Leus! For you, half price! We normally charge two silver for a room and dinner on the house. For you and your companions, we’ll offer the price of fifteen brynus each—No, one silver and four brynus for all of you!”

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“Eilana! That’s more than half off! I- thank you so much,” Leus exclaimed, “I swear I’ll send you some patronage when I get home! Everyone in the Ravenstorm territory will know where to go if they come to this town!”

She smiled knowingly, “You’ve often blessed us with an excellent tip—and it seems you’ve fallen on hard times?”

She brushed her thick hair back over her ear and Jason frowned. Lirya wobbled on her feet, rapidly blinking sleep out of her eyes.

Leus replied, “You could say that… but not a word to anyone, okay? We’re just looking to leave Thronesgar territory safely.”

“Alright,” She winked, “Your secret is safe with me. Say, what trouble did you land yourself in this time? If it was anything like that remarkable fire you started when you were five-”

Leus cut her off, “No, this is different,” He handed her the coins, “Can we have the rooms now? My companions and I are all very tired.”

She nodded and rummaged beneath the counter, producing three keys. Each was a rusted silver attached to a leather cord with a number plate.

“How innovative,” Leus remarked, “You’ve numbered the rooms?”

Eilana beamed, her face filled with pride, “One of my younger hires suggested it! She’s really bright, for a little girl—Dey’s really the joy around here. She helps out in the kitchen,” She explained.

“Well,” Leus finished, waving the keys, “Thanks for these. We’ll head up and get settled. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m going to get some rest. Oh, Eilana, could you get someone to wake us in time for lastmeal?”

“No dinner?” She asked.

He shook his head, then she said, “Well, rooms are upstairs. Have a nice rest!”

Leus headed towards the stairs, gesturing for Jason and Lirya to follow. Lirya had begun to doze off where she stood, her eyes rapidly blinking sleep out of her eyes.

<--<< >>-->

None of them quite knew what happened until they found their blissful rest interrupted by knocking on the doors of each of their rooms in succession. Blearily, Jason was first to open the door to his room.

He looked out and saw nothing, when he directed his gaze downwards, his eyes met those of a small girl of about seven years. She had raven hair and piercing green eyes that glared at him. Then she ran off to the room next door, and repeated her knocks until Lirya’s face appeared. Leus stepped out and peered at the girl.

“It’s time for lastmeal!” She said, then disappeared down the stairs.

“Oh… I guess it is,” Jason mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He peered at his clothing, frowning at the dirt and mud that caked the tunic and pants. He quickly undid the lace fastening the tunic and slid it off, adjusting the silken shirt underneath.

“You think I can get this washed?” He asked, waving the offending garment around.

Leus nodded, “Go find Eilana. I’ll head down for lastmeal with Lirya—we’ll save you a seat,” He added with a small sparkle in his eye.

<--<< >>-->

Lastmeal served at ‘The Flying Pig’ consisted of elven pears and a rich rabbit stew, with a thick slice of nutty bread to go with it. Eilana bustled over to their table with her arms laden with plates. She placed a wooden bowl with a generous serving of stew in front of each of them, then set down a plate with a couple of slices of pear and a large slab of bread.

She informed Jason that his tunic would be ready for use by tomorrow and left to serve the few other patrons—few went out of their way to wake up at midnight for lastmeal.

At the far end of the inn, bathed in eerily dancing shadows that flickered in the orange torchlight, sat a strange group. Two black haired, black bearded and gruff human soldiers, dressed in the livery of the army of Sanobar, shared the table with a being wholly different. With shining white hair that glistened even in the dark, streaked with blue, the high elf sat with a regal air. A thin golden chain-circlet graced its brow and the elf’s pale face had a number of strange blue markings. Though he carried no weapons, save a small dagger tucked in a sheath at his side, no one came to pick any fights. The elf, although sporting a very delicate and feminine face, was male. His seatmates, the two empire soldiers, discussed in hushed tones.

“Aye, ‘s a right bad business, al’ight…” One of the soldiers muttered, “They be shippin’ us off to war Pelos knows where and then we’s the ones who ‘ave ter be tellin’ ‘em wives and kids that their pop’s not comin’ home.”

The other soldier nodded, “A right bad business indeed, Arias… there ain't no dragons and them druids and dwarfs just be hidin’ in their homes. Abyss, we ain't even fightin’ them elves no more—we’s got one right ‘ere!”

Leus, Lirya and Jason listened intently as the conversation continued.

“Well… I rather be choppin’ up a hundred of them nasties, than ‘ave ter be tellin’ the families that there ain’t no need for an extra seat at the table no more,” Arias replied, “An ya’ knows what is worse? Them wives already know—theys always go all quiet then cry, ‘I knew it… I just knew it’—it's the worst! ‘S like I’m just confirmin’ her fears! Ever’ time I live another day, I thank Pelos tha’ my Marie won’t have ter hear that. We’s expectin’, ya know. A little one,” He said, his grizzled face breaking into a smile.

His companion congratulated him and their conversation switched topics.

“Did you hear that?” Jason hissed, his voice kept low enough not to be overheard.

Leus frowned, “Impossible. There’s not been a war since the dwarven uprising twenty six years ago—and nothing involving humans since the demon war nearly fifty years ago.”

Lirya, who had been silently finishing up her stew, mopping up the dregs with her bread, swallowed the last of her meal, then said, “Maybe they’re confused? It's peaceful in Sanobar… I think it would be hard for the nobles to hide a war under our noses.”

Jason opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by the sound of the door. It was slammed loudly into the wall and soldiers marched into the building yelling, “We are under orders to search the premises! We are searching for escaped fugitives from Thronesgar castle! All who aid us will receive a reward of eight brynus.”

The three looked at each other and Leus thought, We’re doomed…