Sword of the Godslayer

XIX - Another Drow

"What are you doing here?" Minos asked the cloaked figure.

     "Looking for you." The figure stepped closer, pulling down the hood of her cloak. She was a drow, tall and fit, with a skin that glowed like an amethyst under the sunlight, and long wavy hair dyed a dark brown.

     "And how did you find me?" asked Minos again.

     "You really have a knack for asking the stupid questions..." the drow mocked.

     "Smart men ask stupid questions."

     "Said who?"

     "Read it in a book, some philosopher. He said people of great intelligence know that they don't know everything, hence they won't shy away from asking questions, even those that others might deem, stupid"

     "Kind of ironic, coming from you."

     "As if you were surprised."

     The female drow slowly stepped closer to Minos, with a motion that could be reaching for a hug or aiming to thrust a dagger.

     "Minos! A drow..." Robb gasped as he re-emerged from the undergrowth, his finger pointing at the new arrival,

     "It's okay kid, she's my friend," calmed Minos.

     "Friend? Minos?" the drow whispered to the nobleman with a raised eyebrow, to which he only replied with a wink.

     He beckoned for the young boy to approach. Robb took careful steps moving towards the two adults, still carrying the dead rabbit by its ears.

     "This is Lira, a very good friend of mine from the Capital." Robb cautiously looked up at the stranger, quizzically studying her from her head to her boots. Lira leveled down on the young boy and met his gaze.

     "Hi. And you are?" she greeted with an affable tone.

     "Robb." The boy glanced up to Minos and back, before flashing a reluctant smile.

     "Nice to meet you Robb," she replied. Something moved from over her shoulders and what Robb thought was fur lining was actually a small but long and slender cinnamon-colored rat-like creature. "And this is my friend, Scout."

     "A weasel?!" Robb gasped in surprise and the furry thing hoisted its head up and started sniffing his face.

     "He's a ferret," said Lira.

     "What's the difference?" Robb asked. Scout's paws started reaching towards the young boy and Lira nudged her shoulder to urge the creature to hop and land on the young boy's shoulder. He then crawled towards his other side and climbed down his arm that was still holding the dead rabbit.

     "Weasels are awful animals. They're vermin," answered Minos. "Ferrets on the other hand, are fun and lively pets. And they're cute."

     "That doesn't mean they're not as mischievous." Lira added. Scout inched closer and closer towards the rabbit and the drow clicked her tongue. The ferret turned to her as if asking permission. "No, that's their food, we'll hunt later," she said to the creature.

     Robb let the Scout climb around his body, slinking in and out of his tunic. "Oh, I found a stag," the young boy said to Minos in between his giggles.

     "Where?" asked the young noble.

     "Over there..." the young boy pointed back from where he came from. Minos bent down with a grunt and followed his direction.

     "What happened to your leg?" asked Lira.

     "It's a long story, I'll tell you later," answered Minos.