Chapter 6: Not What It Seems

Eris

The guardsmen at the city gate greet them warmly, as the party asks for directions to where their leader is. Narrlin is slightly bigger than the dwarf village they had just come from. It also houses a variety of races. Most of the populace is gnomes with a few humans and elves here and there. They make their way to a modest building in the middle of the town. It is made of wood and was a bit in disrepair. A huge bell chimes at the top of it. Outside the entrance is a half-elf. He is dressed in more formal attire. His brown hair is cut short and smoothed back. His skin lightly tanned. He isn't as tall as Kith or Ren but he is handsome and strong looking. The man turns their way.

"Hello, adventurers," the half-elf says in an even and light tone.

"Good morning," Kosh responds. Mayhap you're someone to talk to about, Kosh looks around, "some more sensitive business?"

The half-elf ponders Kosh a moment and does the same to each of the other group members. He eyes Ren the longest.

Saying to Ren, "My name is Elion." He gestures for them to come inside.

Eris looks around. The building looks like it did outside. Some of the paint is peeling off the walls and the furniture is somewhat worn.

It's warm and cozy despite the disheveled appearance. They walk through a small seating area with chairs lined up against the wall on one side and a desk with a halfling on the opposite side. The halfling nods to Elion as they continue past her into another room. This one is smaller than the last one. The group barely fit.

She is pushed up against Ren's back and could feel his pack digging into her chest. "I think I'll take a look around," Eris says

"I'll go with you." Kith states.

Eris's heart pounds. There isn't much chance of her getting alone time with Kith. She could barely contain her excitement.

The pair walk outside. "Maybe we can talk to some of the townspeople." Eris offers.

Kith nods heading towards a younger woman who seems to be a few months pregnant. She is human and very beautiful. Not someone Eris thinks would be in this little town sweeping the leaves off her front porch. Eris looks after Kith walking ahead. How is she going to be able to get him to open up? It isn't like he is the biggest talker. She wants to get closer to him. Find out more about him. She knows his past isn't something he likes to talk about. She heard a lot about it from the rumors the guards would say. She wants to know how much of it was true though. They said in a fit of rage that Kith had killed his mother and attacked the chieftain.

Eris takes a deep breath, reaches out, and grabs his arm.

The woman sees Kith and Eris and stops sweeping. She puts her hand instinctively on her stomach and looks at Eris's hand now braced on Kith's arm. Kith looks down at Eris. She quickly removes her hand and her face begins to feel uncomfortably hot. Kith looks at her a moment longer, then turns to the woman.

"Hello," Kith says hoarsely. "My companions and I are traveling through. Have you heard mention of the Black Sun?"

The woman shakes her head, clearly unnerved by Kith, and heads inside.

"Maybe you should do the talking, Eris," Kith says sighing and rubbing his face.

Eris notes the small look of displeasure at the woman's reaction. "You shouldn't let her ignorance upset you. She doesn't know you."

"You don't either". Kith gives her a peevish look.

"I know better than to judge someone without knowing them."

"You think you're better than all the others?" Kith asks. "A bit more conceited than I first thought," Kith says walking towards the building next door.

"Does that mean you are thinking about me then?"

Kith continues ignoring her.

Eris continues. "That's good to know considering I've thought about you since I first saw you."

Kith stops so suddenly that Eris walks into his back. He whips around and glowers down at her. "Woman, what are you playing at?"

Eris smiles sweetly at him and quirks an eyebrow. Her face resembles kindness and his, grumpiness "I thought you were ignoring me?"

Kith proceeds to look at her waiting for her to continue.

Eris thinks he is so handsome. He really didn't look so orcish that anyone should be so nasty to him. But she also knew she was biased. "You thought I really wanted to make tarts for everyone? I never made them when you weren't there," Eris said looking away. If she could see her face she would bet it was as red as a phoenix's feather.

Kith eyes her suspiciously. "I don't believe you"

Looking offended Eris scoffs. "I speak truth Kith. I heard you liked elderberry. Is that not true?" She says biting her lip. It is her favorite too. She will be crushed to find out it isn't true. What if he doesn't feel that way about her. She had never really thought about that.

Kith

Kith's features soften. "Where did you get your information from?" He already knew. Only one person knew him enough. Only one person would pay enough attention to him. Well, outside of Eris it would seem. Could he be so lucky that she likes him? Damn, she looks so sexy standing there worried if he really likes elderberries.

"I can't give up my informant." She turns her face, nose in the air. He could really kiss that face.

Kith smirks and turns around to walk to the next house.

Eris grunts and stomps towards him. She walks up the ramshackle stairs. They creak under her weight and for a second, he thinks they will give way. "The shop sign read "Bits and Brews," Kith tells her.

Eris says nothing likely ignoring him for ignoring her. He is fine with that. He needed time to deal with what she had said. If it is true. It will be easy to find out. All he has to do is ask Kosh if she has ever asked about him before.

The notice on the door says open and they walk in.

"What can I do for you?" an elf asks, not looking up from the busy work he is preoccupied with. He is young and tall with black hair pulled back in a short, tight braid. He is definitely someone the ladies would find attractive.

He looks at Eris. She steps forward and begins to ask, " My group and I are wondering if you've heard any rumors of the Black Sun recently." Her voice is silky and sultry and the elf must have noticed too since his head snaps up and finally takes notice of them.

Eris smiles as the elf slowly looks her over. A bit too slowly for Kith's taste. Kith growls as if that was telling the elf that Eris was his and the man moves his gaze to Kith. A knowing grin forms on the man's face.

"Why is a pretty thing like you worried about something as horrid as the Black Sun?" he asks with a smoothness that causes Kith to roll his eyes in disgust.

"We heard rumors of the Black Sun in this area," Kith states flatly.

For a moment the elf's eyes flicker. "Just your usual orc sightings nothing about the Black Sun though. Sorry."

Eris waves her hands, "thanks anyway." She and Kith start for the door.

"Please come back again if you need any potions or scrolls," Looking Eris over again, "I would be happy to accommodate you. " He casually goes back to doing busy work from before.

Renimil

"We haven't seen the banner of the Black Sun for a few months now." Elion states. "Farmer Trif had complained of strange noises out on his land the past couple nights. Says he sees shadows but that's about it. The usual missing animal here and there. Though, that isn't unheard of."

Renimil looks around the official's office. There is a painting on both sides of the door they came through. One of Elion and another of an older woman. She looks like the female version of him. There is a small bookshelf to the of them. The room smells of the fresh flowers that are sitting on his desk. Not a smell Renimil liked in the least.

Kosh sitting in the only chair, shifts in his seat. "Any chance this Trif would speak to us?"

Elion shakes his head. "Hasn't been home. I think he went with a caravan that left a few days ago."

Kosh didn't bother telling him that there was no Trif in that caravan. It could be nothing after all. But Kosh has a sinking feeling, things were not what they seemed out on the farm.

Renimil places his hand on Kosh's shoulder. "We can still go by, maybe talk to a farmhand or something."

Elion gestures his approval.

Renimil can feel Kosh stiffen under his hand. He squeezes slightly and removes it. He didn't intend to upset the gnome. He likes him. He likes all of them. Even the half-orc. His heart isn't hardened by betrayals like Kith and Kosh. Though trust is still something that is earned not instantly given. He is no idiot. He knew earning their trust was going to be hard. For some reason, he actually cared. Why? He thought. Part of him didn't know, another said it is because they had more in common than they all realized. Kith wants to belong so did he and Kosh. They would never admit it but it is there. A silent plea that only the lonely could understand. He even felt that from Eris. She is still a bit of a mystery and that doesn't sit well with Renimil. He wants to know a bit more about her.

Kosh and the official talk a bit longer about the town and the people. They didn't have anything they needed help with, so the conversation is brief.

Kosh stands up. "Thank you for your time, Elion." With that, they left to go meet back up with Kith and Eris.

Eris

Kith and Eris make their way back to the town square. The street is now busier with people selling their goods. Some of the people give Kith a wide berth and try to sell their goods to Eris.

Eris thinks about the apothecary. He ass hiding something. The mention of the Black Sun had changed his attitude slightly.

"What do you think of that elf?" She asks Kith.

"Didn't like him." He says. He seemed to have noticed something about the goods seller himself.

They meet with Ren and Kosh, as they are leaving the official's office. Kosh retells them what Elion had said but reminds them that there wasn't anyone named Trif with the caravan they had met days before.

"A different caravan, mayhap?" Kith guesses.

Ren and Kosh both shrug.

Eris tells them of their suspicious run-in with the elf in the apothecary.

"Seems there is more to this village." Kosh states.

Eris walks beside Kith in uncomfortable ease. Is Kith mad at her for knowing something about him? She tried to be upfront about her feelings but it didn't seem that he was willing to reciprocate. Eris sighs.

"What's wrong?" Kith asks.

Eris smiles and shakes her head. She is definitely not going to be upfront by telling him it hurt that he didn't seem to want to have anything to do with her. She had always felt lonely. After being orphaned then driven from her village. She thought they would have that in common. She wants someone to share her heart with or that this mission scared her. She knows the likeliness of making it back home after all this, was minimal. It sent shivers down her spine thinking about it.

They made it to the farm. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

A few farmhands are out working in the fields.

Approaching one, Kosh speaks up. "Hail young sir." The farmhand looks to them and wipes his forehead. The air around them smells of freshly watered dirt and the young human male has it smeared across his face and on his pants.

"Hello"

"We're here to speak to Trif," Kosh informs him. "The elf official in town said he may be here"

"Haven't seen 'im for a few days. Think he left with a 'aravan few days past. We usually don't go up to the house lest we have to."

"Mind if we look around?"

The young farmhand waves his hand. "Don't see what you'll find but, guess so."

Eris sees movement coming from her right and looks out towards the forest just on the edge of the farm. She tugs on Ren's shirt.

"What is that?" Ren looks to where she is pointing. He recognizes what he sees and his eyes go big.

"Kith," he says his voice louder than usual.

Soon the others recognize what they see and start making their way over to the horde of undead now emerging from the trees.