Ember's Reign

Chapter One: The Contract

       Ruvyn had been traveling in the human lands for days now. After being cast out by his tribe, he had nowhere else to go. He had stopped by countless small towns like Frita and Breigh but he had always been forced to leave. The occupants of those towns did not take kindly to a Venatai staying at their inn and walking their streets. So he continued on his journey across Lanaria in search of someone to hire him for his... skills. He had been trained as an assassin by his people before he was cast out. But the assassin business wasn't always bountiful. The sun was setting, though darkness was little more than a nuisance to him, he was tired and decided it best to stop and camp. He took in his surroundings for shelter, he spotted a tree of a decent size and decided that it was the best option considering he had nothing with him but his weapons and the armor he wore. He glanced around taking in details of the land around him, he was in a field with a few sparse plants, trees and boulders. He ascended the tree in a few fluid motions. He leaned back against an overhanging branch, letting his leg dangle out of the tree. He closed his eyes and slept.

       He awoke at sunrise the next morning. He opened his eyes and jumped from the tree limb onto a nearby boulder to get a better view of his surroundings. He saw the small outline of a town to the west. He hopped off of the boulder and started off in that direction. The town, whatever it's name was, was probably his best option. He reached the town around noon and though the exterior looked weathered he decided he liked it. He walked up to the gates, made of logs bound together by rope, as were the walls. As he walked through the gate he noticed the city wasn't much better. The buildings were ramshackle and rotting. The streets were muddy and smelled of urine. The children playing were covered in mud and scrapes, they all paused and looked at him as he stalked down the road towards the tavern. The tavern was the only building that looked somewhat intact. It was two stories tall with a balcony. There was a sign out front hanging from the railing of the taverns porch.

       "The Rusty Mug" Ruvyn muttered to himself, rolling his eyes. "The name is about as colorful as the people."

       He strode through the door and into a dimly lit room with wooden tables and chairs. Conversations stopped and all heads turned towards him. He felt every eye in the tavern turn to him, and then to his ears. That is when he felt the shock and hatred rippling through the room. He sent his mutual feelings back towards the patrons as he walked towards an empty table in the corner of the room. He took his seat and watched the room. The conversations continued as though nothing had happened. He watched the room with interest, he hadn't been around humans for more than a few weeks. The way they lived and interacted was still a curiosity to him. He continued to look around the room, he noticed men at a table across the tavern glancing at him. Ruvyn watched from the corner of his eye, he always attracted curious, wary or hateful glances wherever he went. But there was something different about the glances these men were giving him. They seemed to be sizing him up, hopefully for a fight. His ears twitched as a chair slid across the room. He continued watching from the corner of his eye, a man from the table of watchers had risen. He was now making his way across the room, straight towards Ruvyn's table. Conversations died one by one and now all eyes were on the man who was only feet from Ruvyn's table. The man stopped, Ruvyn's muscles tensed, he was ready to pounce at the first sign of a fight.

       "Venatai, I have a... proposition for you..." the man said in a quivering voice as he glanced at Ruvyn's multiple weapons, he was afraid. "...there's a m-mage in the Black Oak forest that has been a real pain for us hunters." the man's voice died in his throat as Ruvyn finally casted his emerald gaze in his direction.

       "Go on." said Ruvyn with a smile that he made sure bared his fang like canines. The man retreated a step but continued speaking.

       "We were hoping that you w-would take care of him so we could feed our families..." the man seemed to shut down completely when Ruvyn stood up. He stepped out from his chair and pushed it in. He turned to face the fearful stranger, Ruvyn stood a head taller than the man. The human wore a bland green tunic with leather pants and gloves. His face was a mans, but soft with brown eyes and a head of black tousled hair. The man reminded him of a mouse, small, meek and afraid. Ruvyn didn't understand why all of the humans were so afraid of him, he felt normal, but all of the humans considered him opposite. He guessed he was the opposite of normal to them, with long, sharp canines and long pointed ears with emerald eyes, he was definitely not a human in any fashion. He realized that the man was still in front of him, waiting for an answer. Ruvyn could smell his fear but, something about the man seemed desperate and Ruvyn was looking for work.