Elara

The smell of rain clung to the air of the city as we made our way to the tea house. The two half-elves were walking together, but in silence. Family dynamics were not my strong suit, especially since I had been estranged from mine for about ten years now. I had no words of unity, or ways to lift the heavy blanket of unchecked negative energy. I continued with them in silence, watching the surrounding crowds that ebbed and flowed by.

“Elysia, please put up your hood. It’s best we remain concealed here.” I whispered in her ear, pulling her shoulder to slow her angry march. She rolled her eyes then put up her hood. We continued on, the silence still lingered.

“Here we are, Mara said this is the best tea in the first ring.” Lyra finally spoke. I looked up at the tea house, its teal paint needed a new coat, and the sign was on its last legs, but it was full of customers, a good omen for a good cup of tea.

We walked in and found a booth in the back, the tea house offered privacy screens with detailed scenes of mythology finely painted across each one. Ours happened to be the tale of the Manticores, with multiple scenes of a first folk mage creating one with a squashed bug, his favorite pet, and a spare pair of bat wings he seemed to have laying around.

“Welcome to Leaf Sigil, here are our menus, and please feel free to request a free sample of one of our baked goods.” The waiter excused themselves after we ordered a round of oolong faeberry for the table. I was hoping it would relax the never ceasing tension between Lyra and Elysia. I was going to at least get us talking.

“So, how are you two related exactly?” I asked, trying to put on an emotionless tone, my eyes going from one to the other. Lyra spoke first, her green eyes meeting my gaze for a second before shyly looking away.

“My father is her mother’s brother. I am half-elf on my mother’s side—” she got interrupted.

“I am a half-high elf on my father’s side, we are not the same. The only thing we might share is our humanity.” Her gaze shot arrows at her cousin.

“This griffinshit again!” Lyra hissed, “Just because I am half wood-elf and not a self healing, celestial, boot-licker like high elves—” Elysia looked shocked, Lyra continued on, “ doesn’t mean anything. When we were young you always made me feel inferior because of it.” She looked at her cousin and asked the first sincere question I heard them ask all day.

“Do you even want to have a relationship with your family, or are the celestials more important than your blood?”

Elysia froze, the privacy screen opened and the waiter presented our oolong. I thanked them, and poured us all tea in the silent booth. They soon started bickering about unresolved childhood fights, and my ears started to tune them out. The sounds of a neighboring conversation at the next table, caught my attention.

“I hear there’s been news of beasts on the bridge, and not just the normal kind either,” one of the voices explained, “I hear they’re metallic and their screams will deafen all who hear it. Wish my wife would go out there and find one, hah!” The first voice roared with laughter as the second spoke up.

“I heard the Obsidian Sovereign is trying to infiltrate Skyhaven with the beasts. If it falls to them, how many isles will be left under the old rule? Everglade didn't stand for too long against them, do you how many, Glez?” The second voice asked.

The first voice, Glez, replied “My cousin says that the Azure Waters and the Gorge will be the only isles not under their influence.”

“My goddesses…” I tuned out and looked back at the warring cousins.

“Did you two overhear that?” They were still at each other's throats, bringing up the past and not paying attention to anything but their next cutting words. I interjected, “Hey, we’re gonna make some new friends right now, act right.” Pulling open the privacy screen I leaned over the next table, and smiled warmly to introduce myself to Glez, planning on charming more information out.

“Hello, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.” The fist-folk, who resembled a Komodo dragon but with three horns on his face and some feathers sprouting around his head, and his companion, a dwarf with a finely braided beard and matching hair, his dusty eyes matching his tanned complexion, looked me up and down. The dwarf spat then spoke first.

“Names Glez, Glez Y’throwind, and you are?” He leaned in, looking me in the eye, reaching out a dirty hand. I grasped it and shook, “Elara of Lyranside, pleasure.” I scooted over in my booth, pushing Elysia to the wall, “Please, gentlemen, join us for some tea.”

******

The two men were actually very lovely tea companions, with stories of the mines of other islands, and tales of monsters slain, and women bedded. Reminded me of time spent in the barracks back home with the creatures of all races with many stories to share. Eventually, after many rounds of tea and biscuits, I asked again.

“So, Glez, tell me about these monsters on the bridge to Sky Haven?”

His bright demeanor soon faded and he pulled the privacy screen closed tightly.

“Listen here goat,” I would excuse his slur for information, this time, “It’s dangerous. Three—” he hiccuped, “Three ladies should not be going to Skyhaven, no matter how tough you may think you three be. There are metallic chimeras out there that can kill a man three times the size of you little lady.” He gave me a pointed look, I thought it amusing he thought he could patronize me into not leaving. He meant well, but I didn’t need his unwarranted advice. Just the information.

“Who is creating them? Are there any rumors?” I asked, skipping over his fatherly remarks.

“Some say it’s a faction the Sovereign contracted out. All we’s know is this: riders, and their mounts have vanished and are never accounted for in Sky Haven. Travel between the two cities has been slow at best since the Sovereign took hold of Everglade, us Gladians, we survive, but not being able to go trade our goods in Sky Haven has put us all in a crunch. Some braves souls, like D’ink here’s cousin, he left how long ago now bud, three, maybe four months ago?” He looked at the first-folk who nodded in agreement, licking his eye in the process, “Yeah so he packed up his goods, and says to us ‘Yeah! I am gonna make it big in Sky Haven, I can cross a bridge no problem!’ He left on his manticore, and both never arrived at his mothers places in Sky Haven. No word of him. Poof. Then others have come in from the bridge after hunting for loot or other goods, and they refuse to go back out because they have seen the chimeras ripping apart bandits, and dragging their mounts away to who knows where. It’s just all around bad news.”

I thanked the two men, bought them a round of Yarrowwine, and we took our leave back towards the safe room.

“Do you think we’ll be able to navigate our way to Skyhaven?” Lyra asked me, her scarred face serious. Knowing that I could lie, I chose to be honest, but then a lie came out.

“It’s going to be a very intense mission, but I am sure all of us can get there, no matter the monsters.”

Lyra seemed comforted by my words and continued to walk beside me until we returned to the safehouse. Once inside I informed Thalas of what I learned. He scratched at his bearded face, and seemed lost in thought. Finally he told me what he thought.

“I guess the only way is forward then. If we get caught up, we fight.”