Always

Chapter 3 – Daggers in the Dark

Alright, mortal, here's your tea. I reckon, you're eager to hear more?
Why of course you are.

Well, after my victory in Gorguath, I didn't lose much time, and returned to the House of Ballads immediately.
Hallam greeted me warmly, impressed with my victory, but somehow not surprised. Though he'd obviously been expecting my triumph, and in complete approval of my membership in the Court, he didn't leave me much time to enjoy my new rank.
Addressing me with "Sagrell" instead of "Mortal", he sent me on my next assignment, this time, under the King's direct orders, who asked specifically for me.

You probably can't quite imagine what I felt in that moment. I'd left the House for Gorguath being laughed at and belittled for my ambition to claim the seat of Sir Sagrell, just a few hours later, the King himself requests me. What a career!

Before I embarked on my journey to the Ballads Oratory, way south in Ettinmere, I took the time to see Iluvia, the Fae I'd rescued back in Gorhart. She'd returned to the village after reporting back, to "tie some loose ends", as she'd put it, but I'd seen her on my way in, so I was wondering why she'd already been back.

I found her in the Sanctuary, sitting in Reverie by herself. When she noticed me, she immediately jumped to her feet, and grabbed me by my shoulders.
With the most alarmed tone, she claimed I was in grave danger, that I was being followed by someone willing to kill to achieve their goals. My mind instantly shifted towards the Tuatha, but no, Iluvia told me, another mortal had been sneaking around Gorhart, to pick up my track, a mortal who radiated corruption, in her words.
When Iluvia'd attempted to warn the village leadership, as she'd been the only one to sense that something was off, the mortal jumped her as soon as they'd found Iluvia in a secluded space, and "sent her back into the Cycle".

Of course, my first instinct was to alert Hallam, but Iluvia advised against it, considering I'd only just risen in rank enough to be taken seriously, expressing fear of another mortal would've shattered that. Maybe not for Hallam, but for the rest of the Court.
Iluvia made me swear I'd heed her warning as my "life was even more fragile than hers", and especially, finite. Whoever this person was, they'd terrified her.

After going out of my way to reassure Iluvia I wouldn't get myself killed, I eventually, finally, departed.

The first few days of my journey south were rather uneventful. I traveled during the day, and made camp at night, setting up concealed tripwire around my sleeping spot, just for good measure.
One would expect an elusive attacker to strike at night, when their quarry sleeps, right? Not so in this case.

Right at the border, where Glendara transitions into Ettinmere, I finally clashed with my hunter.

I'd had the feeling I was being followed for a few hours prior to when it happened. A sense of suspense, of impending danger, that makes the hairs in the back of your neck stand up.
This tension that'd kept me on edge paid off in a single moment.

Something dropped on me from a small ledge above me, obviously with the intent of knocking me off my feet, and bringing me into a position that'd give them the advantage, but I'd expected an attack, and was ready for it when it happened.
I dodged, barely, forcing them to take the time to recover and get up, time I used to draw my weapons and ready myself for combat.

My attacker was a Dokkalfar, like myself at that time. Pale, grey, with golden hair and very much contrasting, dead eyes. She stared at me for about a heartbeat's duration, then she lunged at me.

I still use daggers to this day. I know what it looks like, when someone uses them with the intent to kill. And this woman was definitely trying to kill me.
My Faeblades allowed me to parry her easily, but that didn't faze her much. She effortlessly evaded my counter-attack, and struck again, this time, going directly for my throat. Luckily enough for me, I managed to strike her dominant arm, falsifying her dagger's course, causing her to slice only my shoulder.

It hurt, of course, and bled badly, but it was better than being decapitated.
Seeing as I couldn't properly raise my arm anymore, I spun around and ran. Having spotted a small settlement up ahed, I was counting on her to call off her pursuit as soon as I'd reached it.

I was right.
She chased me a few minutes, but when I stopped in the settlement, she was nowhere to be seen.

None of the locals approached me. I suppose seeing someone with a bloodied sleeve and drawn blades rush into your home isn't exactly usual, not even in Ettinmere. I remained there for about an hour, treating my wound and resting.

This Alfar had worked with devastating precision, I hadn't been able to sense a single ounce of hesitation in her. Iluvia's worries'd been confirmed – I was being hunted.
I spent another hour brooding over my map, figuring out a route that'd lead me through open space, with little opportunity for another ambush, as I was certain that the woman was still tracking me.

A wise choice, that eventually brought me to the Oratory in one piece. I'd still sensed the woman following me throughout the entire journey, but alas, she didn't make another attempt to ambush me.

With her in the back of my mind, I finally stood before King Wencen of the House of Ballads, who turned out to be a lot less majestic than I'd anticipated him to be.
He abruptly told me to drop all formalities, and address him sans title, openly expressing how malcontent he was with his rank and the responsibilities than came with it.
I still believe that he was only this honest from the start because I was a mortal. Maybe it was because he'd felt like I could relate easily to his struggles, or because he'd anticipated me to die before I could use any of his weaknesses against him.

Either way, I immediately sympathized with him, and took a liking to him on a personal level.

However, I spoke nothing about my newfound nemesis to him, for the same reasons as why I didn't tell Hallam. I'd had a feeling that this problem had to do with me, and me alone. Considering that I'd lost all memories of my past life, I deduced that she probably knew me, and had some sort of personal vendetta against me. Nothing to drag the Fae into. Mortal business.

Wencen explained that I was to take part in another of Sagrell's songs, this time, side by side with his trusted companion, Farrara. I was to help him take down a villainous Fae, Bloody Bones – I still hope he didn't catch me giggling at that name – who'd abducted a mortal girl.
But this time around, Bloody didn't take one mortal, no, he'd taken an entire settlement, and imprisoned them in his hollow.
A twist, inconsistent with the regular tale. Something I'd promptly blamed on myself.

He also noted how Sagrell was supposed to bring Farrara back from the dead, assuming that Hallam "likely prepared me for this task"... he had not, which worried me.
But, I consoled myself, Farrara was supposed to die because that was how his ballad was sung. My goal was now to prevent him from falling in the first place.
With the unpredictability of fate around me, I was confident I could do that.

So, I-...
Excuse me, was that your stomach? Have you had breakfast, Mortal? You do now that you body requires food to function, yes?
No, I will not hear any of that. We're taking a break, and I'm organizing you something to eat. Don't even try to argue with me here.