Revenge of the Elven

Chapter 13

Arlan took a seat and was clearly glaring at the elf sitting at this table whilst Varrell placed some tea in front of her new guest. Taeril sipped his tea and then also looked to Arlan, his eyes holding equal malice.

“What is he doing here?” Arlan finally asked as he wrapped his hands around the mug of tea before him.

“I am allowed guests am I not?” Varrell replied as she resumed position in her own seat.

“So, you are friends with him now?” Arlan spat.

“I suppose so,” she replied.

“No,” Taeril said, “we do not know one another well enough to consider the other friend,” he said taking her by surprise.

“At least he knows his place,” Arlan grinned.

“My place?” Taeril spat, “what place is that exactly?”

“Someone like you could never be friends with someone like her! She is the symbol of peace and justice in our city, and you are the opposite!” Arlan hissed.

“Someone like me? As in elven? You are beyond ignorant; can’t you humans think for yourselves? Can’t you open your eyes for even one moment to see what is going on around you?”

“And what do you mean by that exactly?” Suddenly Varrell slammed her hand on the table silencing them both.

“That is enough!” she yelled. “Both of you bickering like children! I am quite aware I have an illegal elf in my home, and I am even more aware of your hatred for his kind as aware I am now that something more is going on when it comes to the oppression of the elven! I feel an injustice has certainly been done to his people,”

“Oh, you listen to his tales of woe if you must, Varrell, fall into those sad tortured eyes of the mistreated elf if you must! He is dangerous and there is nothing more to it!” Arlan yelled.

“Why must this always turn into a fight?” Varrell sighed. “Accept he is here, if you do anything against him, Arlan, I will never speak to you again,”

“Y-you choose him… over me?”

“No, Arlan it is not like that, I choose justice over you. I feel his people are in serious need of our… I have felt wrong about their treatment for years but… I am so conflicted with what I know of the dark entity incident,”

“An event you were not present for, either of you, an event that I saw with my own eyes,” Taeril said.

“Did you establish what his strange powers were all about?” Arlan asked ignoring the elf.

“Yes, it is fine, his powers are what helped him escape-“

“No more, Varrell, please, I do not trust this man,” Taeril interrupted her and she silenced.

“Varrell, is he worth risking your life for? This… so called justice; is it worth it?”

“Innocent people, Arlan, they are always worth it,” she muttered. “I would like you with me on this,”

“And what is this exactly?” he asked motioning between the two of them.

“A quest for the truth, a quest for justice,” she said and Arlan sighed as he looked across the table into her eyes.

“Fine, whatever this fabled truth is I will help you find it but if it turns up nothing as I expect then we turn him and all of the others in,” Arlan said.

“What do you intend to do? I never asked you to aid me in the rest of my mission,” Taeril asked ignoring the magic wielder.

“I know, but how far would you, an elf really get? I have connections and resources, we all do, my friends arms stretch far too,” she informed him.

“I would… be further indebted to you,” he replied bowing his head.

“You owe me nothing, Taeril,” she said smiling.

“I am grateful for your help, Varrell,” he replied.

“What was your father’s stance on the elves?” Arlan asked.

“I do not remember he ever spoke much of it,” she muttered.

“Right,” Arlan spared another glance to the elf who still glared at him. “What you did, what your people did was unforgivable,”

“My people did nothing.” Taeril stated leaning forwards in his seat across the table glaring at the magic wielder.

“If that helps you sleep at night, elf, then by all means keep spouting that nonsense,” Arlan replied sitting back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest as though putting up a physical shield to protect himself from Taeril. Varrell put her head in her hands but at least their argument had turned to normal level of sound rather than shouting.

                                                                                            ~~

Varrell had arranged to meet Arlan later after she had helped Taeril with some more supplies and so she met him at their favourite tavern. He said he felt he needed to apologise for his behaviour recently and she felt he did too, so she accepted this invitation. She had not dressed up very much for the night, she remained in her trousers and a simple shirt her long dark hair pulled back. She entered and greeted the other regulars warmly as she stepped inside. She could not see Arlan yet and so she went to the bar buying her own drink first of all; there will be more, Arlan can buy those when he gets here. She looked around and noticed a hooded man sitting in the corner, but she ignored him knowing all sorts frequented this establishment. She could not help but feel his eyes on her though. In fact, she was certain he watched her. She took a seat in an empty table and waited for Arlan to arrive trying not to look at the hooded man. Suddenly from behind her a note was slipped under her arm and she turned but the messenger was so fast she barely saw them before they disappeared outside. She took the note and opened it.

Meet me in the alleyway behind the tavern. Your friend.

Friend? Who was this ‘friend’? It certainly was not Arlan, he would have no need for secrecy like this. She looked back to the hooded man, but he was no longer at the table in the corner. She knew too well that this could be some kind of trap, but she stood to do as the note instructed pleased that her sword was sheathed at her side.