Ch 1
Tikiez hated Chicago. Eric heard that many times in the last few months. It was all because she couldn't perform any magic and couldn't fly. She didn't mind the nice dresses or the silver necklace that had a large ruby bracketed either side by smaller ones. Neither did she mind the expensive satin sheets on the bed. Her only joy (sigh) was getting her fill of sex. Eric did understand. Tikiez was a succubus. Her power, her talent was in her magic that she could not use here and in her wings that she could not even spread out now. It had to be akin to seeing the world through a closed in box she couldn't get out of.
Personally, Eric was liking Chicago. Plain wagons were dirt cheap, thanks to everyone wanting fancier coaches or the new steam driven auto-mobiles. Guns had evolved into individual cartridges instead of the powder / ball/cap you had to put together yourself. The new lever action Winchester rifles were rapid fire and held 8 shots. Pistols were still revolvers, but also had the individually loaded shells, as well as they were more accurate and had the new 'smokeless' powder. Steel had gone up in price, but tapping a bit out of his bank account, he got another 500 pounds of steel ingots to sell.
Steam power was moving from locomotive trains to personal cars. It was a rage of fairly well to do to have one. Eric was fairly well to do, but decided against it. A car would not help him sell his steel in Krynn. He did get a pair of healthy young horses to drive his wagon.
Another thing that was cheaper now also was caps, powder and balls for the percussion cap guns. He still had his original pistols, and needed to reload all his cylinders. He also bought a pair of .44 pistols and a .30-30 for his hunting trip, with lots of boxes of ammo. Kyrnn was a dangerous place and he wasn't going unprepared.
Like the last time he left, he paid the neighbors to watch over his house until he returned then took Tikiez down to his warehouse where his wagon was loaded up with steel and supplies and ready to go. He hitched up the horses and climbed on. Tikiez beamed him an eager smile, she was more than ready to go.
.
The smiths in the town of Lakeview near the northern end of Crystal Lake had a sign up out front. Steel wanted. Covered in a long black leather duster over his clothes and wearing a wide brimmed hat, Eric noted the sign He stopped to go in and see how much they were looking for. Tikiez had wanted to go for a fly so she wasn't here. He had her check on Abby and Gateway while she was on her fly. She was still gone when Eric got off the wagon and went in.
Seeing a sweaty man with large arms watching him, Eric pointed to the sign. "I see you're looking for steel. How much do you want?"
The man waved his hammer at the others and called out, Guys! Got a fella here wants to sell us some steel." To Eric he said, "We don't want bits and pieces, or junk."
"Don't have any. Come look," Eric offered. He climbed up on the wagon, removed the floorboards under the seat and pulled out a two by four inch piece of steel a foot long. He showed it to the man and said, "High quality ingots only. As many as you want."
Staring at the ingot, the man held his hand out. Eric gave it to him.
"This feels solid."
"It is solid. You can make damn near anything out of that," Eric assured him. Two other man came over to eye the block of steel.
The man eyed him. "How much?" he asked warily.
Eric nodded to the shop and said, "Heard your fellas do good work, and you're honest men, so to help out you and the folks around here … I'll let it go for gold, even weight."
"You playing with us?" a bearded man asked.
"Nope, that's the price. I got a set of scales here, or we can use yours. No thumbs on the scales though," Eric said firmly.
The older man with a bit of a paunch said, "Tell you what. We'll buy this one. Tomorrow, if it's as good as you say, we'll buy a couple more."
"Deal. My scales or yours?" Eric asked. "Know a good Inn around here?"
"Dusty's , two blocks for, take a left, he's even got a stable." the man said, waving the ingot. "Chet, get the scales and bring out twenty pounds of gold."
Eric got down and watched them weight the ingot and the gold. The older man eyed it and said, "That's solid all right. What's your name, fella?"
"Call me Jack," Eric said. He got a small bag to put the gold in. "And if you know of where you can find a higher quality metal, you let me know."
"You swipe this from some Dwarves?" the older man asked. "Only other place I found metal this good. That was a whole lot more expensive too."
"I have my own foundries," Eric told him. "I'm testing out possible markets, and I want to get my stuff distributed. I'm selling it cheaper so I can get this first batches spread around good. Get my name out there, ya know."
"So, you're selling this batch cheaper," he asked in a musing tone.
"That's right."
"What's your name again?"
"Jack Horton."
"Well Jack Horton, come back tomorrow after lunch and we'll talk."
Eric hefted up the gold and said, "Thank you. You fellas have a good day."
Eric drove to the Inn and go his horses and wagon in the stable yard, then went in to get a room. He no more than got to his room when Tikiez popped in. Her smile was as bright as the sun in her finely crafted features, her black hair fluffed out and cascaded down her back. The low hanging neckline of her light peasant blouse let her ample assets hang free. And of course she chose a short skirt to show off her long legs .
Tikiez wrapped her arms around him, grinning widely with a twinkle in her eyes. "Abby is at the palace in Qualinost, it looks like she's doing well. Gateway is busy, and I need some pick-me-up."
Holding her, Eric returned her grin. "So, we check out the bed?"
"Oh yeah," she replied in a breath. She snapped her fingers and their clothes disappeared.
So much for seeing the town today. Eric had some sex in mind, Tikiz had a rodeo.
.
In the morning, Eric got breakfast then went out to the wagon. Tikiez was lounging in the back. She looked up at him.
With a huff of boredom, she said, "Everything's safe, not one tried to rob you."
"Good, I was going to take a walk around town. What to come?" he asked.
Tikiez flew up and out to land beside him. "Let's go."
Eric wanted to see if there were any other blacksmiths in town. Leaving the stable, he led Tikiez around town, just seeing what was here. Tikiez decided to put an arm around him to hold him close as they walked. She put his arm over her shoulder.
Eric eyed her and asked, "What are you doing?"
She cast him a wide grin and said, "Making some of these men we pass jealous. A few are gazing at me in lust, and scowling at you in envy."
"Of course you'd notice that," he grumbled. She was a sex demon, after all.
Casting him a pouting frown, she cooed, "Oh, don't you feel special knowing the hottest female alive is right at your side? Hmmm? Maybe some guy will want to challenge you for the right to have me."
Eric shook his head. In a sarcastic tone, he said, "Yeah, I get it. In the last year I almost forgot you're a demon. Thanks for reminding me."
"Any time," she chirped.
Walking down to the docks, Eric didn't notice anything other smiths. Boat building seemed all wood with only iron or brass fittings made by the smiths. It looked like he found his 'big score' for this town. Heading back up a side street, two men appeared in front of him to grip the handles of their swords. With leather ringmail, plain trousers and furry faces, they looked like brigands.
"Nice lookin girl. We'll take her," the chunkier one said.
Yup, they were brigands. By the glassy looks on their faces, they were deeply in lust. Eric wasn't going to waste time with them by getting into a fight. He pulled a pistol and shot the one who spoke in the heart.
His friend recoiled and stared at the body lying on the ground.
"How about you? You want a try at her?" Eric asked.
The other men turned and fled.
"Too fast," Tikiez pouted.
"You wanted to see a fight?" Eric asked.
"Yes, I wanted to see my strong brave Master fighting for me, not just kill him," she said, waving a hand at the body.
"Maybe I should shoot you," Eric warned.
With a grin, she said, "I can play dead, and make it look real. You'll have to have me one more time before..."
"OK, stop!" Eric barked. "That's not something I want to envision."
"If you've never done it before, how do you know you won't like it?" she asked.
"There is something wrong with you," Eric told her firmly.
"Me?" she asked innocently.
Eric decided to ignore her. Heading back to the Inn, he heard a few people commenting on the noise they heard. He was going to grab some lunch before heading to the smiths shop. On second thought, it was best to just go make his deal and then leave town to avoid any more problems.
At the smiths, the one he'd talked to before came out holding a sword that still had dark metal from it's making. The man held the sword up for Eric to take. Eric did and hefted it. "Good balance, sturdy but not very heavy," Eric commented.
"Sharp as hell too," the man beamed. "Got a good hardening on it. Good edge and it kept it cleaving through several posts. That's a third of the ingot you sold us yesterday. Solid leather wrapped long handle, and although you could polish it, it's best to leave the finish alone."
Eric nodded. "You must have worked on it all night."
"Two of us did. What the boys want to know is, will that be good for another bar? We only got enough gold to buy two more, and we saw you don't have a sword."
"Don't really need one," Eric told him.
To Eric's side, he noted Tikiez was flirting with some boys. If the boys gazed at her any more lustfully, they'd be salivating. Tikiez was casting them her 'cutie' smile, encouraging them.
Eric tapped her on the head with the sword. "Hey, knock it off, get three bars out of the back."
"Owww!" she cried weakly ad held her head like I'd hurt her. "Don't be mean to me!"
"Steel, get three out," Eric said firmly.
"Or what? you'll give me something long and hard?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, playing for the young men watching her.
"You want something long and hard?" Eric asked in warning.
Nose in the air, Tikiez asked, "Are you man enough to give it?"
Right. The handle of this sword was long enough for a double handed grip. Eric swung in a two handed grip and cleaved her head clean from her shoulders. There was no blood. As Tikiez's head tumbled down, her body tried to catch it. She stumbled and fell. Eric quickly snatched her head by the hair and held it up.
"Are you done playing yet?" he asked.
"That wasn't funny!" Tikiez snapped.
As the men and boys stared. Eric put her head on the wagon seat, then helped her body stagger up. Gripping her sides under her arms, Eric lifted her up to toss her body in the wagon bed. Her head let out a yelp.
"I'm going to at least need arms if you want me to drive!" Tikiez grumbled loudly.
Eric turned to the audience and shrugged. "Demons, handy but not the best behaved. I'll take the sword for a bar. Looks like I could use it," he said and glanced at the dark haired head on his wagon seat. Two more for equal weight in gold?"
"Ahh, yeah, that's the deal," the smith said, still staring at Tikiez's frowning head.
"You're not going to leave me like this, are you?" Tikiez asked.
Eric didn't answer. He got up in the back to get the steel out. Tikiez grabbed his arm with a hand.
"May I PLEASE have my body back?" she asked.
"Later," Eric said. He pull her hand off and got the steel out.
"Come on! I wasn't hurting anyone, I was just having some fun!"
"We'll have some fun later," Eric said and got back off with the steel.
"What? Play ravish the headless girl?" Tikiez asked. After a pause, she added, "That might be a fun game."
Eric ignored her and got on with the deal. He got his gold in the wagon, then put Tikiez's head back on so she could get up and sit on the seat. The men and boys were still staring as he drove out of the stable yard and headed down the road.
It didn't surprise Eric that after they got a half day of travel in, Tikiez did want to play 'ravish the headless girl'. She even explained in detail.
"I'm a bad witch and you take my head for cursing some people, but THEN you realize how pretty I am and you just have to have me," she said with a gleam in her eye.
Eric built the fire and looked up at her. "There really is something wrong with you," he stated.
"I'm just trying to build up your lust," she replied defensively. "The more you want me, the more energy you give me."
"Yeah, and the more trouble you want to get into," he agreed.
"Well, if we experiment, then I'm sure we'll find something," Tikiez said in a coaxing tone.
Eric let out a sigh. "What's wrong with sex as a whole person?" he asked.
"Nothing. I got my magic back now, so I want to use it," she said and got up. "Maybe shift into some exotic form? How about one of those big cats with all that soft fur?"
"How about if you make the stew and get it on the fire, then you can lay here so I can fondle you?"
Quickly, the stew was over the fire and Tikiez lay stretched out over his lap. Eric chuckled, if a promise of sex was involved, she was a speed demon.
Despite how perverted she was, Eric found Tikiez was very useful. As an invisible scout, she was able to let him know what was ahead on the road, and where good camping spots were. She was also a crazed wildcat when it came to a fight. He didn't have to watch his back so close when Tikiez was around.
.
The third day out, Tikiez returned to dive down becoming visible. Landing behind him on the wagon, she pointed and said, "Up the road another mile, there's a fight going on. A bunch of elves and humans are fighting Lizard men from the lake."
Where they were at, the road was within sight of the water. Eric told her, "See if you can help drive the Lizard men off, I'll be right there." He then snapped the reins. "Yahh!"
Tikiez took off flapping her wings, speeding up the road. Eric did see her long nails come out before she went over a rise.
Coming to the rise himself, he saw Tikiez shoot up steeply, then roll over and plummet back down. This close, he could also hear the Shouts, cries and ringing swords of combat. Getting to the top of the rise, the battlefield lay before him. He slowed the horses as he took in the fight where the spread out combatants were. It wasn't a big battle, a few dozen on each side. He also noted more Lizard men were coming.
Eric stopped the wagon, lifted his seat and pulled out the Winchester. The oncoming Lizard reinforcements were only a couple bow shots away. Not a problem for his lever action rifle. Drawing down to aim, Eric began shooting. The Lizard men fell one by one.
By the time he'd emptied his magazine of eight shots, the others noticed where they were getting killed from and turned to charge him. They were getting closer. It was time to shift weapons.
Jumping down off the wagon, he drew his colt revolvers. He shot with the left, right, left right and kept alternating as Lizards fell. He emptied those, holstered them then drew his two cap pistols and kept firing. 30 yards away, the last five Lizards tried to charge faster, they didn't make it.
Eric turned to what was left of the main fight, walking as he replaced the cylinders on his cap and ball pistols. By the time he killed three more Lizards, he wasn't seeing any left. Why was that one guy shooting an arrow in the air?
Tikiez dropped down behind him and pointed over his shoulder. "Shoot them too!" she yelled.
The men standing around now were only looking at him. He turned to see Tikiez had multiple arrows sprouting out of her sides and back. One had driven through her left breast and was dangling.
"I go to help them and they attack ME!" she cried.
Eric turned back to the men eyeing him. One called out as he pointed to a dead Lizard, "We thought she was with them."
Eric holstered his pistols and turned to Tikiez. One by one he pulled the arrows out of her, snapping each one in half before he dropped it to the ground. Getting the last one out of her ass, he said, "Go get on the wagon and bring it up."
"Can I run them down?" she asked in a growl as she eyed the men.
"No. We'll be moving on."
"Just let me kill one, please?"
"No. Wagon, now." Eric said firmly.
With a loud growl, Tikiez stomped off to get the wagon.
Eric turned back to the group. "Who's your leader?"
Another man with only a sword said, "Sir Engel, he got it," and motioned to the knight lying on the ground.
An old elf, by his hair color, came forward, a pair of younger elven warriors bracketing him. "You are Eric," he announced.
Eric looked at him and frowned. Studying his face Eric nodded. "Yeah, I remember you, same looking down your nose view as you had back when we set up the border between Gateway and Qualinost."
"You will escort us home," the old elf announced.
"Wow," Eric said on mock surprise. "We come to help, you fill my servant with arrows, then you want more help? Why is it I'm inclined to ride off and forget about the lot of you?"
"YOU WILL assist the Speaker of the Sun, Solsteran, and you will show more respect!" one of the younger elves, barked at Eric, red faced.
Solsteran held up and hand and told the elf, "Calm yourself. This is no ordinary human you see. This is the Founder."
Tikiez brought the wagon up beside Eric and said, "Climb on, let's go." She held her hand out.
Eric held up a hand for her to pause. "Hold up." He looked around. Human, elf and Lizard bodies were all over the place. Mostly Lizard bodies. He also noted a couple tipped over wagons with supplies spilled on the ground. Those still standing he only counted 14. Six humans and eight elves. "So, what brought this on?" Eric asked indicating the mess.
"An assassination attempt," Solsteran stated. "We have news to take back to Qualinost. Some do not wish it to arrive."
"Horses bolt?" Eric asked.
"They fled. We don't know if they got away. We must move with all speed," Solsteran stated.
"What about all the bodies?" a human asked.
"They are dead. They have given what they can." Solsteran stated.
"Speaker guy," Eric said, which made the elves bristle. "You have to get word to Qualinost, yes? Who had to deliver it?"
"That is my task." Solsteran said firmly.
"How about if I have my servant fly you there? We can clean this mess up, then get these guys home." Eric offered.
Solsteran eyed Eric malevolently. "I know things about you, Founder. I accept your help only because this mission is vital. You do you not hold a good reputation with me."
Eric was getting irritated at this guy. "And you are still a ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Eric countered. "Sorry, I'm out of offers. Get yourselves back to Qualinost." Eric turned to get up on the wagon.
"You would turn your back on us as you did with your own SON!" Solsteran yelled.
Eric stopped in place. He turned back. "What was that?" he asked, tipping his head slightly as he stepped towards Solsteran, glaring at him.
The two young Elves quickly got between them, brandishing their swords.
Tikiez jumped in front of Eric to crouch, ready to fight, wings and claws out and baring her fangs in a hiss at the elves.
"STOP!" a robed man cried, trying to get between them. "No more violence, I beg you!"
"Tell that to Mr. Pompous-assed Elf over there," Eric said, gripping the handle of a pistol as he stared through the crowd at Solsteran.
"It is you who make the violence, Founder!" Solsteran called to him. "Just as now, you seek to destroy even more!"
"Yeah, we really destroyed YOU here today," Eric spat. "Just look at your enemies we killed. That is absolutely rotten of us, isn't it? Well, believe me, I am real sorry we interfered, and I promise it will NEVER happen again! GOOD DAY SIR!" Eric yelled then grabbed Tikiez to throw her onto the wagon. He climbed up to have the robed human raced over.
"We need help!" The man cried.
Eric jerked his thumb behind him. "Any human that wants, we'll give him a ride. All you elves can make your own way back."
"Master, look," Tikiez said and pointed up.
In the air overhead were a pair of light colored dragons. "Know them?" he asked.
"The ones who flew over Gateway after we cleared the Black Knights out. I'm sure of it," Tikiez replied.
"Then loud-mouth speaker over there better hope they land." Eric then told the robed man. "Get on if you're coming."
"We came to escort the Speaker of the Sun," the man said weakly.
"Your funeral, not mine," Eric replied and got the horses moving down the road.
.
Golden hair flying out behind her as she rode her dragon, Laurana saw the bodies laid out from a battle below, she sent two of her dragon riders back for reinforcements. Circling down, she checked to be sure there was no one around, but a single wagon leaving. Landing, her brother, Gilthanas met her as she dismounted.
"Laurana, thank the GODS you came!" Gilthanas swooned. "We got attacked by Lizardmen, this strange guy arrived to help drive the Lizardmen away, but he and Father have some sort of disagreement. We have to get Father home, as fast as possible.
Laurana ran over and motioned for her dragon to follow.
Solsteran was looking tired. With some help Laurana got him up onto her dragon, and the silver dragon took flight back to Qualinost.
Watching him fly away, Laurana noted, "That was odd, Father didn't even greet me."
"We had a conflict here after the battle was over," Gilthanas said with a frown. "The guy who arrived to help defeat the lizardman had a strange type of magic. He also had this winged female with him. Some of our men uyt arrows in her, and he wasn't too happy. He and Father apparently know and don't like each other. We almost had another battle with him."
Laurana knew most people who had differences with their Father. All of them had more respect than to openly come to blows with him. "Who was it?" she asked.
"Father called him Founder. His name is Eric."
"Eric? Eric Carvon, he was here?" Laurana asked in a cry.
"Left down the road just before you showed up."
Laurana looked down the road. She knew Tanis and his mother were both waiting for Eric to return.
.
Eric made the next town. He noted the did have a smith, but for some reason, he didn't bother stopping by. He wa stil fuing on Solsteran's insult. Yeah, he wasn't a father to his son, those elves had made damn sure of that! He found the stable then found the inn. he got a room then sat down to drink.
The waitress, a bubbly blonde, came over and pleasantly asked, "What can I get you, Sir?"
"What do you got to drink?"
"Ale. That is unless you want some Dwarven ale."
"Dwarven ale? Sure, that sounds good," Eric replied flatly.
"Umm, Sir," she asked hesitantly, "That stuff is strong."
"I've had worse, plan on keepin them coming," Eric told her and tossed a few silvers on the table.
"Yes, Sir."
Eric thought about his encounter with Solsteran. What did he expect was going to happen? According to Eldarin, Solsteran was the one who reinforced the fact Elanza was raped by a human. Of course the poumpous Elf was going to hold to his story. To the elves, Eric was the one that brought grief down onto the Elven royalty. He killed Ketherlan, not bandits. He forced Elanza to give birth to a half-elf abomination after he beat her into the mud. Of course, the elfin version was the only version in Qualinost. Screw the truth.
The ale came and Eric drank down a long pull. Yeah, this stuff tasted like shit, but who cared? Why in the hell was he coming back here? To give Solsteran a target to spit is hate on? To have his and Elanza's son remind him of what Tanis had learned about him? To go see Abby, why was only a shadow of Elanza? To sell even more steel to get richer? He was already the wealthiest bastard in Chicago. Trading steel for gold here, then getting tons more steel and depositing tons more gold in the bank? If he did nothing for the next hundred years, he wouldn't run out of money. He didn't need the money, and didn't want to keep being forced to remember his sins as the elves told them. Why head for Gateway again? He had to be as nutty as Abby. A poke in his shoulder got his attention.
"Master, looks like a minstrel group is setting up," Tikiez said, getting his attention.
"Yeah, they are," he agreed. He saw them setting up in the corner. He took another drink.
"I heard at one time, you played good. Why not see if you can join?" she asked.
"Let's leave the kids alone," he said and drained the mug. Seeing the waitress, he raised up his empty mug. "Another!" he called.
"Don't let that pompous ass get to you," Tikiez said firmly.
"The waitress is nice, don't go saying bad things about her," he replied firmly.
"You know who I mean, that white haired elf," Tikiez stated.
Another ale came, the waitress took her money. Eric drank on.
"I can read your mind," Tikiez said, leaning close. "If anything the pompous righteousness of the elves is at fault for that whole thing, not you."
He tipped his head to her and said, "Guess what, they haven't believed that in the last two hundred years. Why would they start now? Huh? Why ruin a perfectly good shit-story That will make them question themselves?" He took another long pull.
"Getting drunk won't help."
"Won't hurt, either."
Tikiez backed off a bit then asked, "Why don't you ask me to go make them tell the truth? You know I'm capable."
"No," Eric said flatly. "I'm trying to mellow out here, and you keep poking me. Go … sit and guard the wagon."
Tikiez looked behind them. "Master…"
"GO! I can sit and drink all by myself!"
"Master, there's something you should know…"
"I know all I need to know is you're watching the wagon, get your ass out there!" he snapped.
"Fine!" Tikiez made a show of getting up and stomping away. She walked to the table behind him and glared down on Laurana and Gilthanas who looked up at her. "If you do anything to him at all, I will shred you like a cabbage," she growled.
"We didn't come to fight," Laurana replied.
"Anything and I will beat your father with your dismembered skulls," Tikiez stated, then stormed out.
Gilthanas whispered, "I saw her take a dozen arrows. It didn't even slow her down."
Eric drank down a few more ales, enough that the guy mis-playing the lyre even sounded OK. He didn't try to think, he just drank and enjoyed the fogginess in his brain.
A light voice asked, "May I talk to you?"
Focusing on the seat in front of him, he saw a bright haired blonde eyeing him. Squinting, he saw her almond shaped eyes and the long eyebrow sweeps. "You an elf?" he asked in a slur.
"I am."
"Then why in the hell do you wanna talk to me?" he asked with a deep frown.
"I wanted to know more about you," she said.
"Glutton for punishment, huh?"
"Do you know who I am?" she asked.
"Nope, and don't care," he said and drank so the mug would cover her face up from his sight.
"When were you born?" she asked.
The question was so odd, Eric put the mug down. "What?"
"I asked, when were you born."
"I was born," he said vacantly. "Wasn't everyone?"
"Where?"
"At home on the farm. You?" he asked in return as he tried to focus on her.
"In Qualinost. You?"
Eric shook his head. "Nowhere near there."
"Where was your farm near?"
"Why you asking me this stuff?"
"I want to know."
Eric screwed his face up at her. "Why? Look, Lady, I'm the bad guy, OK? Any other elves sees you talkin to me, ya might get banned or worse. So just … hope ya weren't seen and toddle on your way."
"Can you tell me, are you the Founder of Gateway?"
Eric perked up in that he focused on her again "Where'd you hear that?"
"Various sources."
Seeing his mug was empty, Eric called for another one. He looked around, but didn't see the waitress. "Damn, where'd she go?" he asked vacantly.
"You have some problems, I'd like to help you fix them."
He turned back to the elf. "Ya would huh?" He wasn't sure, but it looked like she nodded.
Fix his problems. Right. He knew how to fix his problems. Raising up a wavering finger, he said, "Got a trick to show ya. I can only do it once, so ya gotta pay attention. Help a bit too."
"If I do, will you tell me about yourself?" she asked.
"Only if ya git it right."
"Go ahead then."
Eric pulled a .44 out. He had to feel the hammer to be sure it was cocked.
"What are you doing?"
"It's an … elf pleasin trick," he said and held the gun out, pointed back at himself. "Now, grab the handle on the end there."
He saw her pale hand come up an wrap around the grip. "Up a little, no, finger in the circle there."
"Eric, what are you doing," she asked, sounding a bit stressed.
Looking right at the cylinder and her finger in the trigger guard, he pushed her finger back, "Now pull."
She jerked back and up. The pistol went off, loud as hell. The flash was bright too. Something behind him shattered. The pistol also recoiled up, nearly hitting her in the head. She dropped it on the table as she screamed.
Wondering why he was still alive, Eric turned to look behind him, nearly falling out of his chair. Lamp bits from a beam lamp were all over. Oil was burning on the floor, people were scurrying to help put it and each other out. He turned back, managing to stay seated. "Are you ever a lousy shot," he said frowning at her.
Another elf ran up and hauled the blonde away. Hearing yelling and running, Eric figured it was time to go. He grabbed the pistol and put it away, but he had a tough time getting to his feet.
Arms wrapped around him and then he was looking at the back of the wagon. He was spun in place and pushed back to sit on the tailgate.
"WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT!" Tikiez screamed at him.
"Was gonna make her a hero, ya know, kill the bad guy. She missed."
Tikiez grabbed him by his shirt and threw him in the wagon. She then jumped on him. "You gave her a gun to shoot you?" she cried. "WHY!"
"Why not?"
"Because I NEED you, you imbecile!" Tikiez growled. "If you die I go with you, and I don't want to go back down there!"
"so?"
With a growl, Tikiez jumped up away from him and was gone. Eric laid in the back watching the planks of the hay loft above. He was wondering if she was so mad she'd go away and not come back. Falling asleep, he noted the ceiling was moving. A gentle motion helped rock him to sleep.
.
Sitting on a bench outside with guards around her, Laurana stared at nothing. That thing he'd pulled out and aimed right at his head. If she was a heartbeat slower, instead of taking out that lamp, she would have killed him! He'd wanted her to.
The sheer noise and power of that little block of metal had shocked her. Looking at the Inn where the fire was being smothered with dirt by townspeople and a couple of the men with her, it stunned her that he would do that. Seeing motion to the side, she saw a wagon and that dark haired women who was with Eric, drive the wagon away out of town. She saw the woman cast her a parting glare, like this was her fault.
Laurana had listened to the tales and Tanis' grief. She had also listened to him and Abby explain that Abby was his mother reincarnated. Stories were not matching up. Especially when confronted, Eric wanted her to kill him in such a violent manner. That was not the act of a violent brigand who raped helpless women in the mud. The whole Elanza got raped by a human brigand was obviously false. She needed to find out what the true story was. The whole truth. The only one who would know would be Elanza's footman when she was alive. She had to go see Eldarin.
.