Yè fēng has been gathering more information on the Woodland and has managed to draw an image of her. He holds it out to make sure he has got her wavy hair right and the owner softly says, “That is amazing.”
The teacher is a man who has always struggled to accept his talents as an artist, as it is obvious he has an eye for detail. He chuckles and shakes his head. “Oh, it is just a rough sketch, it is not that amazing.”
The lady’s eyes grow wide with bafflement because the drawing to her is so lifelike to the point the lady in question could have been sat in the chair right in front of him. “What are you on about? That is remarkable, I just can’t believe you managed to do that from just descriptions of her. You really are talented. I wish I could draw like that.”
Yè fēng lays the drawing down on the table and gives it a soft pat. “Well, that is very kind of you to say. Once Dusk is back we can mingle around town asking people if they have seen her.” He rises pointing his hand at the drawing and says in a firm voice, “That better still be there when I get back.”
The innkeeper has been observing him the whole time he has been within her establishment and she has figured out he is the Crystal Master of legend who is known to freeze entire towns and has been known to freeze seawater. She places a hand to her bosom and replies, “I swear to ye it will be there when ye return, sir, from wherever you’re going.” She watches the tall Snow Elf bend down to her eyes level to whisper, “Call of nature,” before he trots off. The lady just smiles and goes on to collect the cups from the table and return to the bar.
A few minutes later the door opens and the Vern enters and looks around. He notices one of the maids is waving him over to a small table near the back, he walks over to find the teacher’s top coat is over the back of a chair and a drawing lies on the table. Dusk picks it up and emits a soft, “Wow, that’s stunning.”
“She is beautiful. Your friend is very talented, but doesn’t take well to compliments,” expresses the owner walking over to him.”
Dusk shakes his head and replies, “Yep, that’s Yè fēng. I bet he has been saying, oh, it’s just a sketch, it’s nothing much, right?”
“Aye, that’s about right, he seems to have difficulty accepting his talents.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLm9iuqXNs
“Oh, yeah, and not just in art, in everything,” answers the Vern with a sigh and wishing his old friend could see and accept it. “It is just hard to believe he did this with only one pencil, is just remarkable. The depths of her face, hair and eyes are incredible… it really looks like he has capture her in a moment in time. I am going to be admiring this all afternoon.”
“I can’t fault ye when it so lovely. Ah, he’s back,” informs the innkeeper waving to Snow Elf.
Yè fēng returns the wave with a soft smile and calls, “Dusk, how did it go?”
The Vern grips the teacher’s shoulder and responds in a low voice, “I am just pleased to see you’re all right.” He goes on to tell him everything which happened whilst he was in the Fire Planes. Then he holds up the drawing and remarks, “This is fabulous it will really help us to find her.”
Yè fēng slightly raises his hand and questions, “Why go through all that trouble to flush Raven out when he is not even in hiding?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFvuUigojb
“To be honest I think Sǫlvi mainly said it out of concern.”
“Let’s just hope you are right. Anyway, let’s take that drawing around town,” suggests the teacher taking his topcoat from the chain and puts it back on.
Dusk gives a nod and together they make their way out of the Black Pearl and decided to head back to the main market which lies in the very first section of the town. He just stands holding the lovely drawing and asking passes by if they had see her. It is not long before they see a guard is on her way over to them pointing one hand at the image and the other over her shoulder.
“Lady… over… there,” says the guard through her pants.
Yè fēng and Dusk quickly follow her through the packet market to see the very woman they are after is being held by two more lady guards.
“Release her,” orders the Vern in a bold voice.
The woman is not happy about being detained by the dwarfs and snaps, “What do you all want with me?” She watches the Snow Elf point his slender right hand at her and he speaks with a silvery voice, “You, my dear, are involved in a crime with the crew of the Yulescissa.” The accusation makes her shake her head and quickly explains, “I was only carrying out orders.”
Dusk glances to his old friend and back at the lady, “Orders? Who’s orders to send the entire crew to their deaths?”
The lady elf just stares at them and repeats, “D-deaths.”
“Those orders, my dear, were to send them to Moonlit Cove which is a cursed place,” explains Yè fēng knowing full well the woman’s reaction will be that of laughter. Except the lady remains silent and her eyes seem to glaze over. He raises his left hand just enough so that it is still hidden by the long sleeve of his topcoat and starts to scan her. “Ah, that explains it, you are a Woodland and your race believe in curses.”
This seems to snap the woman back into reality and she barks, “And so what if I am, Snow Elf, that has nothing to do with the like of you.”
Dusk’s brow rises and his eyes open wide as he asks, “Why such bittiness to a fellow elf?”
The teacher chuckles, he crosses his ams over is abdomen and states, “She is just being a typical Woodland, rude, arrogant, no respect for others. Especially elders,” he sighs and warns the lady, “I am not just any Snow Elf, I am a Head Crystal Master and Ink Summoner, who has the power and the authority to just throw you in jail.”
The woman begins to panic, she places her hands together and begs, “Please don’t send me to jail. I-I was only doing what was told to do act like what I am a Woodland… but I’m not like that.”
Dusk takes hold of the lady’s arm and suggests, “Come, let’s get off the street.” They make their way in to the guard house, which lies on the east side of the market and he sits the Woodland down on a chair. “You better start explaining yourself.”
The woman folds her arms as she rises and demands, “I want to see the Hero of Fin, only then will I explain myself.”
An angry sigh comes from Yè fēng and he responds, “Fine,” then he vanishes coursing a gust of wind to blow around the room.
Dusk points his hand at the swirling dust and states, “Refusing to cooperate with him, is a dumb idea. Trust me, woman, you do not want to be on the receiving end of his anger.” All the Vern can do is hope his husband is able to calm their old friend.
✶✶✶
Raven is awaken by soft pats on his back, he comes out from under the covers and moans, “This better be important.”
“I am so, so sorry to awaken you,” replies Yè fēng and explains why he is there watching his dear friend’s sleepy eyes open and close. The teacher knows once the information has had time to sink in he will soon be awake.
Sure enough a little while later Raven sits up and asks, “Why does she want me?”
“No idea,” sighs Yè fēng helping the Orb Master out of bed.
The legend runs his fingers though his long fringe and says, “Right, I will through something on and be right with you.”
The teacher quickly leaves the room to give the hero some privacy and can hear him moaning about being awaken from his sleep and what the woman has to say better be worth it. Then the bedroom door opens and Raven comes out dressed in a nice cream shirt and black trousers, he has a stretch as he trots down the stairs to the hallway to put on his boots. They make their way outside and the legend continues around to the outbuilding to go to the toilet and has a quick wash before joining his old friend at the gate which his slowly opening to Norven’s Gate.
The late afternoon suns are turning the sky a soft orange colour as they make their way across the crowed bridge to the marketplace and on into the guard house where the woman and Dusk are seated.
One of the guards hands Raven a cup of tea and apologies, “Sorry to drag you out of bed so early.”
The legend drinks some of the sweet tea and remarks, “Keep this coming and I will soon wake up.”
Dusk places his arm around his lover’s waist pulling him close and whispers, “Glad you’re here, darling.”
Raven gives him a kiss on the cheek, then turns attention to the Woodland who is staring at him. “Let me guess from your expression, you had no idea I was a Dark Elf that I am a boy, despite my name which is quite often given to a girl.”
The woman’s eyes blink and she begins to frown. “You really are the Hero of Fin?”
“Yes,” answers the legend slowly and directs his right hand at himself, “that is me.”
The Woodland is confused and she starts to walk around him. He is nothing like what she was anticipating, he is a lot taller than she had pictured and his hair is white not black. Also she never imagined him having scars or incantation marks. The legend allows her to run her finger down the deep scar which lies upon his left cheek. “How come you have them?”
Raven laughs and replies, “Because of my own stupidity. I went into a forest that was infested with Paranoid Pixie ill prepared for just how big the swarm was. If it wasn’t for my own defences kicking in I would be dead. I am not kidding. They are the worst kind of pixies that comes from the Shadow Realm. Every white line you see upon my face, neck and hands were done by their tiny, serrated edged weapons that tore into my flesh, which were covered in a poison from their own realm. This is why they are still visible to this day because the poison destroyed pigments, blood vessels, nerve endings, resulting in them taking months to heal.”
The lady’s expression is a mix of shock and puzzlement, which is reflected within her question, “You fort them?”
Raven cannot but help release a chuckle as he responds, “Fort them? No, nothing of the sort, I kind of stumbles into the nest. Just what have you been told about me?”
The Woodland’s eyes study him from head to his boots and she answers, “Well, it is clearly all wrong, for you don’t have black hair, you are not concealing your face nor are you short and dumpy.”
“Dumpy,” chuckles Dusk shaking his head and states, “since when has Dark Elves had black hair? As far as I know it has always been white, pearl white.”
Yè fēng crosses his arms and remarks, “It’s news to my ears. The only part of the description that was right is about the Dark Elves concealing their face. Yes, they once did that, however it mainly occurred in the daylight and during the great divide.”
The legend clears his throat and states, “Actually a streak of black hair can occur on a Dark Elf, if they have been very, very naughty playing with Ink Summoning magic. And it is not really black more like an inky blue.” All three of them are now staring at him in disbelieve making him say, “Yè fēng, my dear old friend, it was happening during the great divide.” The teacher does not respond he just frowns and Raven continues in the Snow Elf’s language, “I swear that is when it was happening. Do not stress about it, perhaps you weren’t told.”
Yè fēng giggles and replies in his own language, “I will have to take your word for it, lad, for I cannot recall. It is though bound to hit me in the early hours and I will be sat up in bed and uttering to the darkness, oh, yes, now I remember and just falling back to sleep.” They laugh and the teacher gives him a hug for this has happened a few times in the past since he has known him.
Dusk gives the lady a smile and says, “Whilst they are reminiscing, why don’t you tell me you name, my dear.”
“It is Encyne Willowrest,” replies the Woodland noticing the Dark Elf is now staring at her which makes her quickly add, “I was raised by Forest Elves.”
Raven and Yè fēng exchange places for they both cannot believe the woman is speaking the truth and wonder what her family could be up to for during the great divide the Forest Elves left no Woodland alive, nor the lady before them is anywhere old enough to have been born during that dreadful conflict. The teacher walks around her and says to Raven, “She is old enough to have been born during the great west flood.”
Encyne nods. “Yes, that is what my parents told me, that they found me washed up inside a basket and when no one came for me they raised me for they had lost their own child during that devastating flood.”
“Ah, that explains why they took you in,” says the legend. “Now answer my question, how and why did you get involved with sending the crew of the Yulescissa to Moonlit Cove?”
“Money,” answers the lady with a sigh, “but because they never got back I did not receive my part of the bargain.”
“Explain this bargain,” insist Raven getting her to take a seat whilst he takes a seat in the other chair and has some more tea. “Come now, you might as well tell us everything.”
Encyne rises and starts to take a turn of the room as she tells them, “A man approached me in the Dragon’s Pit and offered me the job to give some documents that were signed by the prince of Norven’s Gate. I was not allowed to open the envelope I was just to deliver it and would find my payment in a barrel at the dock. It is wasn’t there.”
“Ah, that is because I took it,” informs Dusk, “for it contains items which are not allowed outside of the Fire Planes.”
“Bastard! I knew it was too good to be true, that you would allow us people of Fin to keep such a diamond,” grumbles the lady sitting down with her arms folded and not looking at all pleased.
“Hold on, what exactly did he say to you?” Yè fēng asks raising his eyebrows with intrigue.
“He told me I would find a plain box inside a barrel on the right- hand side of the dock where the late night ships come in. It would hold my payment a single Blue Moon Diamond and underneath it would contain more riches to pay the crew of the Yulescissa.”
“What the fuck!” Raven gasps and announces, “Blue Moon Daimon seriously? Those things may look sweet and innocent but they bring nothing other than death and misery. You should be thankful my husband found that box and took that diamond home.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEGYTJophR
“Darling, it wasn’t a single diamond,” informs Dusk, “it contained six of them.” This informations makes his lover spit and choke on his tea. “I am sorry, darling, I should have waited until you had finished drinking.”
“I don’t think it was the tea, by boy," implies Yè fēng softly patting the Orb Master’s chest. “I am right, it is not a good sign.”
The legend shakes his head and takes a deep cleaning breath. “My question is,” he says with a slightly husky voice, “how did he get hold of that many?” He notices even his lover and old friend are unable to give an answer. Raven clears his throat and asks, “Can you describe the man who haired you?”
Encyne points her hand at him and answers, “He was like you, tall slender, muscular but spoke with quite a charming voice. He was dressed in simple clothes and wore his hood up the whole time so I couldn’t see his face. His hands, even though he was wearing a set of black velvet gloves, it was clear they were slender and a ring was upon his middle right finger.”
Yè fēng has been drawing when the lady had described and asks, “Is this what he looked like?”
When the Woodland sees the picture she gasps, “That’s him!”
The teacher shows the drawing to the guard and questions, “What about you, have you seen him?”
The guard nods. “Oh, yes, the mysterious clocked man, is often seen where the lady said and here in the market. Come to think of it, I am sure I have seen him going into the Dragon’s Pit when I saw this lady in the market.”
Raven opens the door of the guard’s room and calls, “Let’s go.”
Dusk and Yè fēng quickly follow the legend outside, through the packed market, down a narrow street to enter a tavern where a bard is playing on the stage. When he starts to sing a tale of Raven and the giant spider it makes the hero stop and listen. The moment he hears the line where he reduced the spider to the size of a mouse he laughs out loud making the bard stop and everyone in the establishment turns around to see it is none other than the hero himself and the room is filled with gasps. This makes Raven get on to the stage and announce, “I hate to disappoint, however, this tale of me is untrue, for I never in my life battled a giant spider. Nor can I perform metamorphosis for that is dark and terrible magic, and no one would dear dabble in that magic.”
The bard is just a bag of nerves looking up at the legend before him and is only able to emit a soft laugh. He nearly faints when the hero pats him on the shoulder before he hops off the stage and walks over to a Vern and Snow Elf who give him a clap. Then a cloaked man quickly rises and tries to bolt for the door only to be stopped by a set of vines which sprouted from the floorboard to wrap themselves around the person’s right ankle preventing them from moving.
The cloaked man uses his hands to try and break the vine only to have another piece wrap around his writs and then he notices a set of boots are before him. He turns his head to see it is the man from the tail. “You’re the… the Hero of Fin,” he babbles with fear.
Raven smiles and answers, “I am indeed and you are wanted for a crime.”
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please release me.”
Dusk notices the owner of the Dragon's Pit is indicating to a back room. “Come, let’s talk in there,” he suggests taking hold of the cloaked man’s arm. Once the vines are gone he drags the man inside and sits him down on a bench. When he tells him about the crime and the girl the man takes down his hoof and spits, “I will kill that Woodland!”
“Hey, harm her and you will have us to contend with,” remarks the Crystal Master whilst pushing him back in the chair. “Now you had better explain your outburst, Forest Elf.”
“Fine, I am Keawraek Willowrest and that woman is my cousin, adopted cousin. Everything she does never goes right. She knew there was a storm coming but she also knew those pesky Valley Elves would still do the job even it cost them their lives so we could bag the loot the…” the Forest Elf falls silent he seems to twitch, then the next minute he goes limp.
Raven and Dusk look to Yè fēng who is busy scanning Keawraek and softly informs them, “He is dead from Fuchsite Gems. How is that even possible?” He takes out his compass to conform what he is sensing. “Dusk, warn the owner. Raven, alert the guards.” They both nod and quickly leave the room to carry out their tasks. The teacher goes to check around where the man was sitting to discover the deadly plant sap is on the floor under the table and realises, he must have dropped his napkin or utensil and that is how it got into the Forest Elf’s system. The question is how did it get there when none of the crew made it back. Unless the girl or the other person Keawraek was about to tell them has already succeed in getting the deadly gems into Norven’s Gate.
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and then Add to home screen.