The Legend of Eleasi

Prologue

"What are you doing mister?" The young elf asked for the seventh time in half as many minutes. Was she purposely trying his patience? He had never had much patience for children. Even as a child himself he did jot enjoy being around those his own age. He found it much easier to remain unattached thinking of her in such a way.

"I am still writing." He tried to sound kind. Not because he cared to be but out of respect for who she was. Who she would someday be. The ensuing silence made him hope that she had finally lost interest. He did not look away from the words he scribbled knowing if he did it would cause her attention to be right back on him.

"What are you writing?" She asked while trying to weasel her way in-between the man and his work.

"I am writing a letter to my son." Answering her was like accepting defeat. She was not going to leave him alone until her curiosity was satisfied.

"Why?" She asked.

"There are things I want him to know."

"Why don't you just tell him?" She poked him on the cheek as she asked.

"I likely will never have the chance to see him again." She watched him for a short time before continuing.

"How old is he?" She questioned.

"He is several years younger than you. I think the two of you would get along quite well." Her face lit up at the second part of his response.

"I hope to meet him someday." Her mind was clearly elated at the possibility of meeting a new friend.

Their wagon came to a halt. The man reached into his bag to assure that the wooden box he had been keeping inside was still there. Of course, there was no logical reason that it would not be there but when paranoia spooked your veins logic was always the first thing to disappear. They could not be in Jornsville already could they? Or had he really been so preoccupied that he had not even noticed how much time had passed? He grasped his sword just in case. Just as he went for the latch holding the door to the carriage securely shut the door was flung open from the outside. Ty stood outside, he was not a threat, not an easy sight on the eyes but not a threat. Judging by the look of the walls it was clear that they were in Jornsville and he was losing his mind.

They wasted no time. They had a very specific purpose for being here and clearly there was no time for resting. They waited along with half of the town for the King to appear and share whatever it was that he had to say. The whole of the King's party was traveling from town to town affirming that the war was over. The King wanted to make sure that everyone clearly knew who was in charge now. The pathetic part was that he could not even bother to travel with his own people. Instead he would wait until the party arrived and then he would teleport to the stage, give his speech and then cower away in the safety of his castle.

The King's youngest daughter stood by her bodyguard, he did not need to look to see that she was partially hiding behind his leg. Ty stood slightly in front of them to the right. On his other side was the King's only son Kern along with his body guard. Kern was more than capable of taking care of himself so the bodyguard could only be for appearances. Several other of the King's most trusted adorned the stage alongside. They were all waiting for the King to arrive.

When he finally arrived in a mysterious cloud of smoke sounds of discontentment wafted from the crowd. It was the opposite reaction he got in Ft. Kaine but basically the same he had received everywhere else. Once things began to settle down he began to speak. The young Elf's bodyguard did not listen but instead watched the crowd. He did not care what the King had to say. Even when he spread it as thickly as he could the lies he told could never be cover up by the truth. He watched the crowd for two reasons. The first was his job, He may have hated the King but his daughter had never done an evil thing in her short little life and although he would never admit it he had grown fond of her over the last few weeks. He did not think that he would ever make a good father but spending time with her made him realize that he would have done alright raising his son. The second reason he scanned the crowd was in search of a man he was supposed to me meeting up with while in Jornsville. He knew it would not do him any good because this man could change his appearance at will but none the lass he searched.

Ty Raised the pinky finger on his hand. It was hardly noticeable, if he had not already been looking for that movement he would have missed it. Something was awry and Ty could sense it. Before anyone could gather what was happening Ty launched himself at the King and tackled him to the deck of the stage. The young elf's body guard hid he behind him just as the volley of arrows landed on the stage. He had been quick enough to keep the young girl from catching an arrow but it was at the cost of his right thigh. Kern's Guard had not been so swift and the boy lay on the deck with an arrow sticking out of his chest, Blood pooling around his body.

They quickly escorted the young princess behind the stage where a wall of meat shields were waiting. The King was already back at home safe and sound before anyone had a chance to move him to safety. When he was back on the stage he could see the guard that had failed to protect Kern was already bobbing through the panicking crowd. There were people scattering everywhere the key was not wasting time on someone that was simply running in terror. He watched for those who were calm and clearly making logical decisions about their escape route. It took some time but he finally noticed a man that seemed to have some method to navigating the madness.

After the man cleared the crowd and ducked into an alley way the guard perused. To the guard's surprise when he rounded the corner the man waited for him. He was not old and he was not young. He was built like a blacksmith yet stood with the poise of a librarian. The guard was not sure what to say.

"They told me you would be bringing me some things." The man stated.

"Who are you?" The guard questioned not eager to let his station down.

"I am Chauncey." The ordinary man replied. That was all the guard needed to hear. He had been informed that his point of contact was a man Named Chauncey in Jornsville.

"You are going to make sure that my son gets this?" The guard confirmed as he took the bag from off his shoulder and hung it in front of the man. He was not going to let go until the man swore it.

"Indeed, that is the plan." Chauncey replied.

The guard did not have time to make sure that he believed Chauncey at his word. Ty interrupted their exchange. Knowing they had been discovered he let the man take the bag and turned to face his counterparts.

"What are you doing?" Ty asked menacingly.

"I thought this man had something to do with the attack, but he didn't." The explanation was not one that the guard figured Ty would believe but it might be able to buy some time.

"Then what did you give to him?" Ty added.

"It was his bag, he dropped it."

"Sure, that is why you have been carrying it since we left Ft. Kaine." Ty accused.

"Go!" The guard threw his sword at Chauncey's feet. He turned back towards Ty with some hope that he would be able to buy enough time for the guy to disappear.

Ty could easily kill him with magic from nearly any distance but he had always saved his most cherished kills for his blade. Ty had never approved of him being allowed to return to the Kings guard but the decision was made above his head and he had to accept it. Now was his chance to finally show his former student that the student does not always live to outwit the master. The guard did not fight back he simply drew out things as long as he could give Chauncey the best possibility to escape he could.

The elf with the marred face chopped him down where he stood. The distraction was enough for Chauncey to get a considerable distance away and turn down another alley. Before they had another chance of catching him he had turned again and then disappeared into an old inn and back to another roadway, changing his appearance to that of an old lady in the process. Once he was certain that he was in the clear he returned home.

When he was inside and out of the way of any wondering eyes he opened the book. For the Halfling. He knew that no one was able to see what was going on in his home but he still worried and decided not to mess with the items any further. He would have plenty of time to take care of these things in the years that would come. He removed the books that blocked his secret hiding area. A fake wall behind one level of shelving. It was the perfect place for hiding things in such a time as this. The book, the box and the sword were all stashed inside. Before he replaced the false wall, he sealed the book with allamancy. He wanted to make sure that no matter what that only the person who was supposed to read its contents could. As for the rest of the items he left them be.

Soon the commotion of the city would wear down and they would assume whatever the guard handed to the stranger had long since left Jornsville. Chauncey simply had to lay low until then.