It was raining buckets for almost an hour already. Lanaer was slowly walking on the road, she was tightly wrapped in her cloak and had dragged her hood deeply in front of her face. The raindrops were loudly hammering onto her hood, pouring down onto her nose, mouth and chin. The gloves emerging from underneath the cloak in front of her were completely soaked. The horse's mane was sticking to his neck and a slight mist ascended from his body. A bit of the water got into her right boot during a heavy gust of wind and Keaira started to feel really cold. If she wouldn't have her cloak, she would be completely soaked through with the rainwater. The sky was almost black with lightning repeatedly striking the horizon in front of her.

Oh beautiful! If I don't get there soon to dry and warm up, we both end up with a cold... The thought ran through her mind as she pulled the cloak more tightly to her body. With her other hand she patted Lanaer's neck. "Hold on buddy, it shouldn't be far away anymore."
She spoke to him softly, but in her mind she was cursing. On both sides of the road was a thick dark forest and there was not a trace of any housing in sight. But the storm came closer to her by the minute and she was upset. Keaira spurred the horse again into a light trot. Thankfully she was already very near to Oxenfurt, not far away from the place, where she was supposed to meet Coinneach and the others.


Four tall elves entered the noisy tavern and looked around – from behind a large table in the right corner a dark-haired elf stood up with a jolt and a wide smile, yelling loudly:
"Deagan!" and after the split of a second his face turned to open shock, when his gaze stopped on the next elf: "Neach?!"
All the other eight elves at the table twitched and turned their heads towards the new arrivals.
"Cian!" Deagan went over with a few quick steps and greeted the standing elf behind the table, hugging him firmly. Eirnin and Niall followed with loud cheers. Coinneach just shortly waved with his hand, but remained standing at the front door and looked around the tavern very closely.
They were lucky to arrive in time to escape the huge storm coming their way from Oxenfurt. It just slightly started to rain as they've left their horses in the stables.

It was a large tavern with massive walls of stone, in an unremarkable small village outside of the main road, approximately a two hours ride from Oxenfurt. The place where they should meet Keaira again. A place, which will allow them to wait for her with full bellies and a roof over their heads after weeks spend in the woods. And all that despite of the fact, that they were still in Redania and that the tavern was owned and led by a human man. Despite the fact, that the secret agents knew, that this is one of the places, where the Scoia'tael are welcome and where they regularly meet.

The tavern was located in an area, which was governed by Oxenfurt. James Verndahl, the tavern's owner, was a tall muscular man in his prime – and he was the brother of the local secret service's chief. But he has never hidden his sympathy for the Scoia'tael, who saved his life once as he was a small boy. As long as the tavern was a 'neutral ground' and James welcomed and served all the guests evenhandedly – including the secret service agents – his brother has covered his back. Dijkstra never learned about this place, even though some of the agents from Oxenfurt came here from time to time. One of the reasons was also, that nobody has cared about the other guests and James Verndahl always made sure, that there were no fights or even worse 'problems' at his place. Another reason why some of the agents even liked to come here was, that this place was a great source of new information for them. But here James' word was the law – everyone is equal. And everyone who knew about the tavern and has visited it, had to comply with this rule. This was ensured as well by Verndahl's numerous guards tactically positioned inside and outside of the tavern.

Coinneach's eyes quickly scanned the wide room. The tavern was almost full, most of the guests were elves, although only the nine who have greeted them, sitting by the huge table at his right, were Scoia'tael. Amongst others there were humans, a few dwarves and Neach also noticed three secret service agents in the opposite corner, who were just finishing their meals and who were very thoroughly ignoring the four new arrivals. The huge room was filled with noise of people talking, singing and some music played by a traveling bard.

The tavern's backdoor has opened and Verndahl came in with his hands full of chopped wood. As his eyes caught the sight of Coinneach, his mouth formed a large smile. Without a word he dropped the wood at the fireplace, quickly crossed the room in between the full tables and the guests and greeted Neach with an outstretched arm.
"I thought you're dead..." he told him quietly.
Coinneach's corner of the mouth twitched a bit with the hint of a smile as he returned the handshake.
"Not yet, James. Nice to see you."
Verndahl's gaze wandered to the Scoia'tael's table.
"I'll let the staff bring you an additional table. What would you like to have?"
"Something warm for our stomachs – and for our throats." Neach had a small grin on his face.
"Aaah, I see you still remember my special hot honey mead." James returned the grin and nodded.
"Do you have any free rooms?"
"Last two. But the best ones – the ones at the end of the second floor. They both have their own bath tubs and fireplaces. For how long?"
"I don't know yet, James..."

Verndahl was carefully watching him for a while and once he saw the serious look in the elf's eyes, he just quietly nodded and said:
"You can have the rooms for as long as you need."
"Thank you."Neach nodded slightly as well, then hesitated for a moment and added:
"Could you please arrange a hot bath for us in both of the rooms to be ready before the night?"
"Of course." answered James already with one foot moving towards the kitchen.
Coinneach turned and moved to the group of Scoia'tael, where the waiter was just joining more tables together for them to have more space. As soon as additional chairs have been brought, they all sat down and Cian automatically offered his seat at the head of the table to Coinneach.
"It looks like old habits die hard... commander..." said Deag teasingly to Neach as he sat down at his right side.
Coinneach thought about his remark for a while, then frowned, but said nothing. He quietly sat down and started to eat the food, which has just been served.
The storm was now thundering directly above the tavern, making the cutlery on the tables slightly shake with each lightning strike, that hit the earth around the small village.


It didn't take long for Aodhan to understand where the small group of elves is heading to, when he was leaving Tretogor. He knew, that Coinneach wants to get out of Redania as soon as possible and he knew from Vivaldi, that the human woman has not exchanged any gemstones for the currencies of the states north of Redania. That left him as possible directions Temeria in the south, Kaedwen in the east and Aedirn in the southeast.

To reach Kaedwen and Aedirn would be easier, but it was further away and there was practically nowhere to go there for the Scoia'tael. Besides, Kaedwen had an even worse reputation amongst the non-humans as Redania. Dol Blathanna was located behind the Pontar Valley, but he knew, that Enid an Gleanna will tolerate no Scoia'tael there. So he discarded the idea of those two directions. But going further south across Temeria would allow them to reach Brokilon – and that has always been a good hiding spot for elven fugitives and a meeting place, where they often left and exchanged messages.
To get to Temeria they would have to cross the Pontar river and that was possible only by using one of the few known bridges. For him there was only one of them suitable enough – the main bridge at Oxenfurt. He was well aware, that the guards on that bridge are probably the most corrupt in all of Redania. They would let the elves cross the bridge for a nice bribe and for another one offered to the temerian guards on the other side the group would have no trouble to reach Temeria. And the human woman had enough money for that...

Dá Reo and the others will have to take a small break at least for a while during their travel and with the autumn weather now fully unfolded, they'll surely use a tavern for a night or two on their way. Again only one possible solution came to his mind – Verndahl's ‚Green Oak' not far away from Oxenfurt... It was a risk to bet everything on one card, but Aodhan's sixth sense was never wrong. That was one of the reasons why he was such a damn good and highly paid mercenary.
In that moment, when he found the familiar tracks of the woman's horse on the edge of the muddy road a few days later, he knew he was right. He spurred his horse into a wild gallop with a wide vicious grin. It was absolutely clear, that she still hasn't reached the elven group, which was ahead of her. Maybe he can catch her as long as she's still alone... Based on the description from the tortured and dying Vivaldi it looked like she's exactly his type. And he didn't want to miss such a chance. Plus, he wanted to know who she is – and what her plans with Dá Reo are.


Keaira was cursing in her mind, wrapped in her soaked cloak while listening to the loud sounds of thunder. Despite his training, the horse lightly jerked with each booming thunder. A few days ago she has stopped on her way in a small town and bought some new clothes, a very good bow and arrows and a spare armor jacket. Without elven embroidery. As a woman in armor she was still drawing some attention, but at least she wasn't literally a walking provocation anymore. But she has forgotten to buy a winter cloak and now she was utterly upset about herself.

She has used the time while being on the road just alone on her own thinking the whole situation over and looking at it as objectively as possible. She's planned a few of the next steps to make the most of what she was left with. Finally the first shock has subsided and she returned to being herself – focused, determined and ruthless if necessary.
Now she realized how overwhelmed she was with the reality of this world despite her whole training and the excessive knowledge she had about it. How shaken by the fact, that she has almost completely failed to fulfill her mission immediately at the beginning in the first few days. That has thrown her so much off balance, that she's made several mistakes.
She should have killed Aodhan right there on the spot in the stables, when they've met the first time and they were alone. Sure, she didn't want to endanger the tavern's owners and Coinneach, who was still too weak at that time, but she should have tried...
She shouldn't have told Neach anything personal, just mere facts related to her assignment. After all, he was just one of her targets. Although an interesting one... she smiled.
And she shouldn't have allowed Deagan, Niall and Eirnin to join them – they were increasing the risk of getting caught or getting into some trouble. Without them she would have been much faster and less suspicious alone with Neach... Aside from that, there was the risk that Coinneach will reveal something to them and she had explicit instructions, that only the primary targets are allowed to know all the facts. At this time she had no idea, that it's already too late and that those three know the whole situation.

After chewing on and digesting all of her emotions from the past few weeks, her 'defense wall' was back up – the mask behind which she's hidden her true self. Built over years of her life amongst the elves. The wall, which her brother taught her to create and helped her to strengthen it. She remembered when she once as a teenager arrived home crying...
„You're like an open book, you wear your emotions on your face and uncover your weaknesses this way. Don't be surprised when somebody takes advantage of that." he told her back then, sitting with her still sleepy in the early morning hours at the kitchen table with a cup of mint tea.
„Do you want to have the word ‚prey' written on your forehead for the rest of your life?"
Keaira smiled at the memory. Her brother was the first one whom she told about her intentions to go to the Academy and he was the only one to support her in her decision.

Her adoptive parents were hoping that she grows up to be a proper lady, marries a wealthy elf and this way strengthens the position of her family in the aristocratic circles on Gwaeloth. Instead their stubborn adoptive human daughter decided to be a special agent serving the Federation. That was for them a kick in the teeth and when she reached adulthood, finished her finance studies and moved away to her own place, getting her first job, they've almost immediately cut ties with her. It bothered her, she liked them a lot and truth be told they were otherwise in fact parents with a great heart, but they also wanted to maintain their social status at any price. She understood, although she has secretly cried quite a few nights over it alone at her apartment back then.
And then again, when during her second year in the Academy one evening Ari came to tell her, that her brother has died in an accident and that they cannot let her attend the funeral. When El saw her the next day with red swollen eyes during their training and was mocking her with sarcastic comments for several hours, she swore to herself, that she won't allow anyone ever again to hurt her feelings.

But why did she then tell so much about herself to Coinneach? Relatively just a little, but still more than to anybody else she knew. Well, not counting Myri who was her best friend. And maybe Ari... It was disturbing that the feelings she had towards Neach were as intense as she had towards Ari. But she knew Ari and Myri already since a few years, while Neach was almost a stranger. Knowing him just about a month or two, while most of the time he wasn't even talking to her or they weren't together... Why does she trust him just the same as them? Why somebody like him? Just because he allowed her to see him when he was weak? Or because he accepted her weakness without judgement?

She was fighting for a long time with her mixed feelings, going through the information she knew about him. She liked him. He piqued her interest. He was exceptionally intelligent. One of the most experienced Scoia'tael. A born leader. Dominant, tough guy. Merciless, but just. Solid granite on the outside, pleasant inside. Those dangerous olive-green cat shaped eyes were attracting her like a magnet. Slowly she realized he's exactly her type...
Keaira frowned. Her first assignment and the first elf who crosses her path is throwing her off balance like that. Aside from the fact, that he's one of her targets. How did she call them? Medieval savages... The corner of her mouth twitched in a smile with that thought, but then she was serious again. She cannot afford any feelings. Not with her type of work and not when thinking about what awaits them in a few months back home.
Despite her best intentions, when she was falling asleep that night, his face appeared in her mind again and what was worst – it wasn't the first nor the last night in which this has happened...


During her stay in the small town Keaira remembered a tip she got from Lorcan and went to a small inconspicuous shop. She was greeted by a young very bored looking woman. When she spotted the bow on Keaira's back, she visibly tensed and watched her with a frown on her face.
„I'm looking for Scannal." said Keaira with and ice-cold voice right away and laid a few coins onto the narrow counter in front of the young woman.
The woman behind the counter stopped frowning, but for the moment just observed Keaira and made no attempts to take the money from the desk.
„I just want to talk to him and get some information. I'll pay for it, of course..." added Keaira and was staring unpleasantly into the young woman's eyes.
The woman visibly gulped and then very carefully reached out with her hand, hovering over the coins on the counter.
A loud clap sounded, when Keaira suddenly moved her arm and slammed the young woman's hand with the coins against the counter, holding it there with force.
„I have no intentions to cause any trouble," added Keaira almost with a growl while the other woman tried desperately to get her hand out of her grasp, „but I need these information really a lot and really fast, so if it's necessary, then I will cause a lot of trouble without hesitation."
Keaira finished the rest of the sentence leaning forward over the counter and this time it was her frowning at the young woman from a very close distance.
„Ehm... and what am I supposed to tell Scannal - who's looking for him?..." whispered the woman, when Keaira finally released her hand. She immediately pushed her hand towards her belly with the coins in a fist and holding it with the other hand as if she has just touched a hot plate, face full of fear.
„A friend of Lorcan. That has to suffice." replied Keaira with a cold voice and moved towards the shop's entrance door.
„I'll be back here in an hour." she added over her shoulder and slammed the door behind her as she walked out of the shop.

An hour later Keaira again entered the small shop. Instead of the young woman there was a tall grey-haired elf standing behind the counter. On the other side of the shop near the entrance door was another elf. This one was younger, had for an elf a surprisingly bulky build and was armed to the teeth.
„Stay there!" he snarled at her, while she checked the room with her eyes. Nobody else. But her sixth sense told her, that there's somebody else in the backroom behind the half-opened door.
„What do you want from Scannal, human?!" the bulky elf snarled again and to emphasize his words he slightly waived with his sword, which he was holding in his hands ready for battle.
„That's something I'm going to talk about with him only." replied after a short pause Keaira with a calm voice while staring directly at the grey-haired elf. She couldn't tell their age very well, but she could obviously see, that the elf standing behind the counter is an elder even despite his deceiving young looks. And according to the description she had from Lorcan, she assumed, that he's Scannal.
The grey-haired elf made a small gesture towards his guard and after a short hesitation the guard sheathed his sword.
„And what is it, that I'm going to talk about with Lorcan's friend?" the old elf raised a corner of his mouth into a small smile. In spite of his beautiful soft voice he spoke with harsh authority and the dangerous sparkles in the gaze of his dark blue eyes revealed, that in reality he surely had no need for a personal bodyguard.
Keaira's mouth also twitched in a smile. „I need a few information and I'm willing to pay for them."

She slowly took the bow from her back and together with the quiver gave it to the bulky elf. He looked at her a bit unsure, then at Scannal and took everything from her with an appreciative nod of his head. Keaira then unfastened the leather sheath with her knife from her thigh and gave it as well to the guard. Again he took it with a slight nod and went to the backroom. She knew she still has her swords in case she needs them, but didn't even bother to unfasten her belt and start to explain as nobody on this world knew this type of swords, so her belt didn't raise much suspicion anyway...
Shortly after the guard returned with two chairs and placed each one on the opposite side of the counter. The old grey-haired elf sat down and relaxed while motioning for Keaira to sit down on the other chair.

„With what kind of information may I help you?" he asked her while she sat down comfortably leaning against the back of the chair.
„Tell me everything you know about Isengrim Faoiltiarna, Iorveth, Coinneach Dá Reo and Aodhan. Things none of them would speak about loud and things that not every little child already knows, or which I cannot read about or find out elsewhere myself..." she was smiling when saying that, but in this moment it was the smile of a predator. Slowly pronouncing each word, deliberate and with the same authority in her voice as the old elf had before.
The grey-haired elf was watching her for a long time without moving a single muscle in his face in the silence which now filled the room. Keaira was sitting there the whole time without movement as well and was patiently waiting. The elf's eyes were piercing her with a cold stare looking her over from head to toe. He was trying to figure out how much of her calmness and confidence is just a facade. There was also something about her accent...

Dozens of minutes have passed without any one of them making a single move. In the end Scannal nodded again with his head:
„First you'll have to answer my question."
Keaira smiled and motioned with her hand towards the elf to continue.
„What's your native language?"
„Muiren llinge. Just like Lorcan's." replied Keaira still with a smile and waited for Scannal's reaction.
For a moment a smile appeared as well on the elf's face.
„The gods must have a strange sense of humor if they create in this vast universe so many worlds, so many species – and yet they arrange it the way, that certain people will always meet in the right place at the right time..."
Keaira instantly realized based on the extent of the knowledge, which Scannal summarized in just one single sentence, that the elf in front of her is an Aen Saevherne – one of just the very few legendary elven mages.
„Maybe it's this way to make our lives easier. And maybe because this way some things are even more complicated. Maybe it's just a game for them. So that they're not so bored..." she replied to Scannal with a whiff of irony and a raised corner of her mouth.

To her surprise the old elf openly laughed aloud. Again he looked her over from head to toe, but this time with a lot of respect.
„Good, let's talk then and I'll give you the information you desire. But it will be a very long talk and I also wish to learn something new. If you have enough time and the will to share with me the information, which I want to know, then we can simply call it a barter trade and you don't have to pay me anything."
His face was serious again when saying this and he was waiting for her reply.
Keaira nodded shortly without hesitation. „I agree to your proposal."
„In that case - please be my guest." the grey-haired Aen Saevherne had again a charming smile on his face and waved to his guard. The bulky elf closed the entrance into the shop and left for the backroom, from which a while later the same young woman came, who was in the shop the first time Keaira entered it. She silently brought a jug of wine and two glasses.
„Thank you, but for me water only, please. I'd like to listen to it all with a clear head." Keaira grinned and the young woman immediately brought another jug with water.
Scannal only quietly nodded, sipped a bit of wine and started to talk...

When Keaira left the shop, she guessed, that around ten to eleven hours passed in the meantime. It took her far longer than planned, but it was worth every minute. She gained information, which she would never find in the Federation Archive and which drastically changed her view on some things...

Unbeknownst to her, Aodhan has on the opposite side of the small town entered a small inn, wanting to eat and again exchange horses. They were just thirty minutes away from each other as she left the town towards Oxenfurt.


The storm was almost directly above Keaira now and the cadence of the falling raindrops was nearly unbearable. She gave up, turned away from the road into the woods and went deeper between the trees. She didn't want to risk it anymore on the wide open road with all the lightning above her head and she definitely had enough of the rain.
A thought crossed her mind, she giggled aloud and spoke to Lanaer: „Imagine the evening news at home: ‚A federation agent and her horse were struck by lightning while being on a mission recruiting Scoia'tael from the Vrihedd brigade, who's emblem by the way consists of three silver lightning bolts.' That's what I'd call irony of life."
Thanks to the storm and the black clouds she wasn't visible from the road even though she stopped just a few feet away near a dense bush under a wide tree. A dark figure in a dark cloak on a dark horse in very dark surroundings was sitting motionless in the saddle with eyes closed and waited until the storm passes by. A lot of memories floated in her mind...

She remembered the first day at the Academy. They were standing there in a few rows. All 64 who were accepted that year. From that nine females. And she was the only human. After the welcome speech their future teachers and mentors were introducing themselves. They were working in pairs and each pair of teachers was responsible for four cadets, which they've picked at the beginning and remained with them until the very end. Which often meant a very quick end - either by the cadet giving up during the very harsh years of training, or by dying during one of the tests. The final test alone had a casualty rate of 76%.
The teachers were some of the best the Federation had to offer – former agents, war heroes, famous specialists. A lot of them passed the Academy themselves.
Wait – no... not ‚passed' – ‚survived'! she thought remembering Ari's words from her first year:
„You do not ‚pass' the Academy – you have to ‚survive' it. Those, that think, they can pass are usually those, that give up and just leave on their own. The rest will stay and try to survive. But only the best will do..."
They had classes of history, strategy, tactics, anatomy, psychology... Endless hours of training with all sorts of weapons, without them, survival trainings...
She knew the teachers will pick them based on the results of the first tests, which they had in the first week. And she also knew, that whoever it will be who picks her, she won't have it easy as a human woman – it was the first time ever in the history of the Academy, when females have been even accepted into the training program and the general public reaction to this decision was very negative. She remembered the press and the media gathering around them like hungry vultures each time they've left the Academy's premises for a drink in a nearby bar. Ugh... Kea shuddered with that memory - she probably hated nothing more than those journalists.

After about two hours during the welcoming ceremony the blond elven female next to her left quietly whispered: „Damn, I just hope they won't say all their titles during the introduction otherwise I'll not be able to hold it any longer and have to pee right here in front of everyone..."
Keaira smirked: „Well if it helps you I'm having the invitation letter here with me – you could use it to wipe yourself..." she said through gritted teeth trying not to laugh.
The redhead next to Keaira's right giggled: „See, I knew I should have brought it with me as well, might need some paper myself..."
All three had by now already trouble holding still, shaking and trying not to burst into laughter when a fourth female voice joined them from behind Keaira's back: „Not sure about you three ladies, but I'm used to wet toilet paper. Can you imagine how these golden letters must scratch?"
„I don't think they'll scratch your pussy much more than a good five o'clock shadow..." added Keaira with a wide smile.
The four were now almost choking as they've tried to stifle their giggling and the whole conversation did not go unnoticed by the two teachers standing closest to them. In order to save the situation Ari asked for a short break in the ceremony and El had them four escorted to the bathrooms.
To their surprise they've learned a week later after the first tests, that their teachers will be El and Ari of all people. And so the four of them - the blond grey eyed Myriel, the redhaired green eyed Eronia, the brownhaired brown eyed Keaira and finally the brownhaired blue eyed Ruadil - formed right at the start an inseparable friendship and were at the end of their training almost legendary. And not just for their inappropriate humor. They were the first and the only females in the Academy's history who have survived the final tests.

Keaira was smiling when remembering all of this. She was still sitting motionless in her saddle and waiting until the rain subsides. The worst of the storm has already passed her by and the lightning was now illuminating the direction from which she came. Suddenly she felt Lanaer tense up. She opened her eyes and watched from underneath her hood how he moved his ears back and forth and then turned his head towards the storm. In between the lightning she could see in the distance a lone rider, who was galloping towards her on the road.

Without a word she slowly moved her hand to the horse's right ear and lightly pulled on it. The horse immediately returned his head to the previous position and remained absolutely still. Keaira carefully adjusted her dark wet cloak making sure, that nothing light colored can be seen from the road.
Only a madman can rush through that storm with such speed... she thought when observing the oncoming person.
In the very last moment, when the rider has passed her by in a wild gallop not more than 40 feet away, she fully realized who it is. You can get rid of this elf only by killing him... Lorcan's words popped instantly into her mind. And on her face hidden underneath the cloak's hood an ugly malicious grin appeared.
I think it's time to get rid of you, you sadistic bastard...
She waited until the rider disappeared from her sight, spurred the horse into a gallop as well and rushed out of the forest back onto the road to follow Aodhan.


„What's that?" asked Cian sitting at Coinneach's left side, when the waiter put on their table in front of Neach a jug with steam rising from it.
„Hot honey mead." replied Neach, filled his mug and offered some to Cian. He only frowned, curled his lips and shook his head:
„No, I'd rather have another jug of beer..." and waved with his empty beer jug in the air for the waiter to see it. He didn't even try to call him – the waiter wouldn't hear him in the loud noise within the tavern anyway.
Neach smirked: „You don't even know how it tastes, but you make a face as if I'd offer you a henbane brew."
„Thanks, but I bet, that it's so sweet, that if we'd be in the forest, you'd attract all the vermin within a radius of several miles..." Cian was smirking as well and his brown eyes were sparkling with laughter. The waiter has just brought him a new jug with fresh beer and took the empty one. „Nothing beats a good beer."
„Do you ever drink anything else then beer, Cian?" asked with a smile Deagan and joined their small talk.
„Sure, water – but only if my head hurts too much in the next morning." answered Cian quickly and they all laughed and relaxed.
„But women like the sweet stuff more than licking off some beer foam from your lips, Cian." said Deag again with a smile. „Maybe that's the secret, why Neach never had any problems with them – look at what he's drinking and how the girls are stuck to him like glue..." he laughed and winked, when he noticed how the pale-haired elven female sitting at a nearby table tries to catch Coinneach's attention with flirty smiles.
Neach registered Deagan's look and the elven female, but only replied with an emotionless face: „Thanks, but no, you should know she's not my type."
Deag stopped smiling and watched the look on Coinneach's face, both staring at each other for a long while. Cian noticed the sudden tension in the air and quickly understood, that it's best to let them talk alone for now. He turned away and joined the discussion which the rest of the Scoia'tael had at the table.

„You've changed... But I'm glad as well, that after the last few weeks you're returning back to normal..." said Deagan quietly after some time and poured some honey mead into his mug.
Coinneach didn't reply. He was watching his own mug, deep in thought.
„You like her?" asked Deagan again and remained watching him closely.
Neach slightly frowned: „I've said already, that she's not my type..."
„I didn't mean her..." nodded Deag towards the pale-haired elven female. „You know very well whom I'm talking about..."
Anger flashed through Coinneach's eyes: "That's a topic I'm surely not inclined to discuss at all!"
But Deagan remained determined and persistent:
"If you have the feeling, that it's an accusation, then you're wrong. I have eyes and have known you for too long." he took a sip from his honey mead and before Neach could say anything, he quickly continued: "You're not alone, I like her as well..." and again he remained staring into Coinneach's eyes.
If this somehow surprised Neach, he didn't show it. He regained his old balance and self-control and was only without any emotions staring back at Deagan, who - ignoring Coinneach's behavior - continued:
"You've always been like an older brother to me and I'm probably one of the very few who knows, that you're not such an insensitive dead-hearted bastard as they say. So you could know, that I'm not trying to provoke you, but simply want to talk to you like an old friend."
Deagan took again a sip of his mead, looked back an Neach and this time waited for his reply.

"I'm sorry, Deag. I'm just not used to talk about things like this after so many years. People always expected from me to make the decisions without being sidetracked by such little 'details' like feelings. Those were simply a luxury I could not afford, so I've learned to push them back and bury them as deep as I could." replied Neach quietly after a longer while. "But everything, that happened in the last time, has turned my life upside down... You're right, I've changed – at least in a few things. It was quite hard these past few months. Nothing is anymore as it was before the war, everything has changed – even the circumstances..."
Deagan only silently nodded and patiently waited. He could see, that Coinneach finally relaxed enough to talk openly, so he let him go at his own pace.
"As elves we've so often laughed at the humans for their ridiculously short life spans, calling them primitives without a culture and savages who breed like rats... Only as they were escorting me to Drakenborg, I've realized, that at least they are living their short lives to the fullest, never wasting a minute. And if given a chance, they take it, they don't let it go. They're not waiting for anything... I've realized how much I've missed in my life, because I thought so selfishly, so arrogantly, that I have enough time for everything. And then it suddenly hit me, that my life will end much sooner than I've expected and that there won't be any other chances... Then she appeared out of nowhere and saved my life in the very last moment. And as I was watching all my friends down there dead in that ravine, I swore to myself, that I won't miss any chances ever again. I want to live every minute I have, because tomorrow may not come..."

Neach remained silent, gulped and staring into his mug again he added:
"Now I don't care anymore what the people think about me. I've decided to leave this place and start again somewhere else completely anew. Somewhere, where the elves and the humans don't cut their throats just because they're different... I've got a second chance and if that means to fight one last war and then finally live in peace being able to do whatever I desire, then I'll do everything I can for that..." he paused again, drank up his mead and then refilled his mug.
The thick honey mead changed color in the dark mug and reminded him of Keaira's eyes. He smiled at that thought. "... and yes, I like her. A lot..." and then – just for the split of a second – a flash of anguish flickered in his eyes: "I'm just afraid I've lost the ability to show it on the outside..."
Deagan nodded again and with his next words he's earned a surprised look from Neach:
"I want to go with you Neach – I don't want to stay here either." he took another breath and wanted to add something more, when the door to the tavern opened. And suddenly from one second to another it was dead silent in the room. Standing in the door was a tall redhaired elf with an ugly mutilated face, completely soaked through with rainwater.


Keaira watched the fresh tracks of Aodhan's horse on the muddy road in the weak light of the fading lightning on the horizon. The clouds above her head were still dark. In that moment, when the tracks turned to the left away from the road into the forest next to an old milestone showing the remaining distance to Oxenfurt, she realized, where he's heading to. She smirked and stopped watching the tracks. She spurred Lanaer again into a gallop and was hurrying towards the Green Oak tavern.


Instead of what Deagan planned to say before, he just quietly growled at Coinneach:
"Neach, no trouble at Verndahl's tavern... You know the rules..."
Coinneach's eyes were hatefully piercing Aodhan who was still standing in the middle of the opened door, his hands lying on the table formed to fists, the knuckles white. He just quietly snarled back to Deagan through gritted teeth:
"I know them very well, Deag! I just hope this fucking pig remembers them just the same!"
Aodhan slowly closed the door behind himself, leaving the wind and the cold outside, and thoroughly checked the whole room with a malicious smirk. He was enjoying the reaction, which his appearance caused every time he walked in somewhere. He was enjoying the fear he felt emanating from all the guests at the tavern and which he was causing.
Even James Verndahl himself reacted to the total silence and came out of the kitchen. He immediately recognized the elf standing at the entrance door. James leaned against the door frame of the kitchen door, folded his arms on his chest and watched with a hard gaze what the elf is going to do.

Aodhan noticed the agents in the left corner, but those have ignored him just like they did Coinneach's group before. Two elven females sitting at a small table underneath a window at the backdoor of the tavern gave him angry looks, stood up slowly, laid a few coins onto the table and left the tavern through the backdoor. His gaze wandered to the right corner. At the head of a long table full with only Scoia'tael was sitting Coinneach Dá Reo, who was watching him with squinted eyes. For a while they were staring at each other across the whole room. Both had their hands curled to fists. Both had pure hatred in their eyes. Nothing more revealed their true feelings for each other. But that was more than enough for Verndahl. He coughed loudly and looked at Aodhan with a question in his eyes. Aodhan tore his gaze away from Coinneach after a while, looked with respect at James, shortly nodded and without saying a word went over to the now free small table underneath the window. He sat down, face towards the room, and took off his jacket.
The tension in the tavern disappeared, people started to talk again, the bard started to sing and the waiters were hastily running between the tables to serve all guests.