"Sorry can't help it." He laughed.
"You pig." She snorted while grabbing the bread.
"Look who's talking."
"Women can do and say anything they want." Lorilie sat on the opposite counter.
"Who told you that?" he raised an eyebrow.
"My mother." She dropped her eyes.
"I'd like to talk to your mother." He smiled.
"She's dead." Lorilie lowered her voice.
"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't offend you." His voice carried concern.
"She died when I was five."
"Natural cause?" Brand jumped off the counter.
"My father killed her." A silent tear fell.
Lanie walked in yawning, her eyes squinted closed. She opened her eyes and glared at the two, "What are you doing up? And sitting on my counters, off." She smacked Lorilie's leg.
"I'm going back to bed." Lorilie stepped out of the room.
"Lorilie looked troubled. What did you say to her." Lanie crossed to Brand once Lorilie was out of hearing range.
"Nothing!" he threw his hands up.
"Get out of my kitchen!" Lanie shoved him through the doors.
*****
In his room at the abandoned mansion, Albain sat writing at his desk. The candle wax burned low and the light was fading. He ran a hand through his hair and threw down his pen. He opened a drawer and pulled out a picture. Albain just stared at it for countless minutes; a tear splattered the page he was writing on.
"Lielay I still love you." He murmured. "I had to do it. I had too."
"Stop crying, you fool." A dark elf said while cleaning her nails.
"When did you get here?!" Albain snapped.
"Just a second ago." She walked over to him. "What did you call me for?"
"I want you to follow around Lorilie and give me reports about where she goes and what she does." Albain threw the picture and his writing in the drawer.
"Fine, fine." She muttered.
"This isn't a game, Victoria." He spat.
"I know!" she sneered, "Gods, you sound like my mother."
"Valamora isn't on our side and you know I hate that name so don't bring her into this. Now go." Albain pointed to the door.
Victoria threw back her sheet of silvery hair and left. She kicked opened the door of the room she stayed in and started packing her bags. Her narrow face frowned as she looked out the window. She grunted and pushed the hair out of her purple eyes. "Stupid mother, making me look bad and you aren't even here. Why didn't you stay the way you were?" Victoria slammed the door shut and walked onto the empty street.
*****
Caleb paced his room back and forth thinking of what happened; he also had other things on his mind. Lorilie quietly crept into his room and watched him. She giggled and he stopped. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Caleb said.
"I'm eighteen, I can do what I want. Why are you still up?" she sat.
"Thinking." He continued his pacing.
"About what?" she crossed her legs.
"Stuff." Caleb itched his cheek.
"That's informative." She rolled her eyes.
"Kel came back a half an hour ago with a letter from Tenaden about Master Justyn."
"Your druid teacher? About what?" she stood promptly.
"Master Justyn has grown very ill. He put together this list of where to go and people to find for some items he would like to study before he dies." Caleb held a piece of paper up for her to see.
"He's dying!" gasped Lorilie.
"Don't you ever listen to anything that comes out of my mouth?"
"Where do we need to find the items?" she ignored his last question.
"It doesn't really say exactly, but-"
"How the hell are we supposed to find them then?" she interrupted.
"If you ever let me finish. We have to go to places all over Norrath and ask people that are listed here." He pointed to names on the paper.
"Sorta like a scavenger hunt?" she asked dubiously.
"Yes. I really want to do this for Master Justyn. He raised me and taught me everything I know today. Well, almost everything, Mother taught me many things."
"I'll help you. I'll sail you to the places." She smiled.
"I was going to make you anyways." He laughed half-heartedly.
Now lets get to sleep." She said while yawning loudly.
It was midmorning when Lorilie got up and dressed. She yawned down the stairs and sat at one of the tables. Only a few costumers were scattered around the room since most wanted to leave after the incident that happened the night before.
The griffin, Kel lay stretched out in front of the fire; his feathers glistened in the light. When Caleb was younger, he had befriended the griffin. Through their travels, Kel, whose real name was Kelvren, protected the wood elf from all danger. What was so unique about Kel was that he had the power of speech, very odd for creatures. The griffin treasured his gift.
Lanie was leaning against the wall peering around at the people; dark circles lay under her eyes. Striding down the stairs like he owned the place came Brand with his cloak fluttering out behind him. A moment later, Caleb and Wintercloud entered the room with their heads bent together talking low. The two sat on either side of Lorilie; Brand joined them.
"Winter is going to come with us, Lorilie." Caleb smiled.
"Where? What?" Brand tilted his head.
"Nothing that concerns you." Lorilie glared.
"We are going on a quest for our old master." Said Caleb.
"We want to leave tomorrow if possible. We decided to put Lanie and Slith in charge while we're gone." Wintercloud took a sip form his steaming mug.
"Oh, ..may I come?" Brand spread his hands open.
"No!" Lorilie snarled.
"I don't see why not." Caleb grinned to his sister.
"I can't believe you." She stomped off to the fire by Kel; she sat scratching his head.
"Well, if you excuse me I need to go into town." Brand got up and left.
Late that afternoon, Lanie finished packing for the four who were leaving.and Kel. She hummed as she placed flasks of water in a bag. Caleb told her all about their mission and she agreed to take care of the inn. Slith pleaded to go, but changed his mind when Lorilie whispered something into his ear. Kel was in the kitchens talking to anyone who would listen; he ruffled his feathers when someone ignored him. "Jussst call me when you'rrre leaving." Kel slurred while walking out the back door towards the shed that he lived in.
Night fell quickly and all who would be leaving the next day went to bed early. They weren't going to sail so Lorilie didn't have to call upon her crew again, they were just headed to the Commonlands. An owl hooted outside Lorilie's window, as she tried to sleep. She couldn't close her eyes; every time she did she saw her mother, Lielay's face. It was too hard for her to look upon her mother. Eventually she dozed off into a light sleep.
*****
The leaves of the trees Kelethin was build on shook in the wind.. or was it the wind? Caleb quickened his pace as he climbed the lift. It was empty, no one was in sight. He walked the ramps towards his house, the wood beneath him groaned at his weight. Caleb started to run. Before him was his house in flames. He clawed at his face in horror as he heard a scream from inside. The fire surrounded him and he inhaled the fumes. It burned his nose, eyes, and throat. The smoke drifted all around him.
*****
Caleb awoke from his dream and jumped out of bed. A thick layer of smoke covered his room. A woman screamed somewhere outside. Caleb rushed around his room and gathered his personal items. He kicked the door down and ran to Lorilie's room. The hall was like a tunnel from hell, the flames licked him as he ran. Lorilie's door was ajar no one was there. He sighed and ran to the stairs, but tripped at the top and tumbled all the way down. Brand flew down the stairs and fell over Caleb who was picking up his things.
"What the hell happened!?" Brand shouted as he helped pick up items.
"I have no idea. Get out of here!" the two ran out of the inn.
Outside Lorilie fanned Lanie who had collapsed on the ground. Slith held onto Kel's collar; Kel pulled at it and tried to run into the inn. He stopped when Caleb ran out. Wintercloud and others were throwing water onto the flames trying to put it out. Caleb dropped by Lorilie and hung his head. He shook it and threw a large rock at the inn. A huge cracking noise was heard and the roof of the Windchaser's Port caved in. Lorilie screamed and covered her face. Brand stood next to her and frowned.
"All my years of hard work. Gone in just one night." Caleb threw another rock.
"There goes my job." Brand folded his arms.
"Shut your mouth! Your so rude!" Lorilie pushed him.
"What arrre we going to do?" Kel trotted over and placed his head on Caleb's shoulder.
"We're going to the Commonlands first, then we go to Kelethin." Caleb patted Kel's beak and stood up.
In the morning the Windchaser's Port was rubble. A smoking pile of rubble. Caleb and Wintercloud searched through the ash for any items that they could still use. Slith, Lanie, Brand, Lorilie, and Kel packed the things they salvaged into bags they had gathered before the building collapsed.
*****
Victoria pulled her dagger out of the burglar that had tried to rob her. She was assaulted while walking down a back alley. Without breaking a sweat she threw the man off of her and killed him. Twirling the bloody dagger in her hand she made it disappear up her sleeve. She replaced her hood as she walked on. She smiled as she rounded the corner and saw the burning rubble of the Windchaser's Port. She had successfully set fire to the inn without being caught. Laughing quietly she passed the people and griffin packing their bags. The half elf glanced at her as she passed. She turned and stared at him before vanishing behind a nearby building.
Brand turned his attention back to Lorilie who was being loquacious about how cruel people were getting. He stared at her; he wanted to hold her in his arms forever. Only after a day with her, Brand had fallen head over heels. Slith looked confused at Brand and peeled his lips back into a grimace.
"Don't even try it." Slith said in Brand's ear.
"Try what?" the half-elf stuttered.
"The last guy that looked at her like that ended up with a broken nose and a limp."
"Lorilie did that to a man?" Brand gave a quick glance at the beautiful wood elf that stood a few feet away.
"No, .Caleb did." Slith laughed.
"We should leave soon." Caleb said while brushing off his hands.
They all nodded and picked up their belongings. Following Caleb and Wintercloud, they slowly made their way through the filthy streets of Freeport. The crowd was thick and it was hard to force a path through the throng. Kel flew overhead to avoid being pushed around by people since the last time he tried to walk among them, people, mostly children, pulled out his feathers. The griffin soared with ease, gliding up in the sky laughing at those below.
*****
Riley and Albain were talking again when Victoria came into the room. Riley put his black mask up to hide his scared face. Albain clicked his tongue and waited for her to say something. Victoria tossed her bag down and sat in the chair in front of the fire. Riley glared at her and sat behind his desk.
"Did you get anyone in the fire?" he demanded.
"All the people you described to me were safely outside the inn." She said carelessly.
"Where are they going?" Albain asked.
"The Commonlands." She flicked dirt off of her cloak.
"How did you find out?" Riley adjusted his mask.
"I have my ways." Victoria laughed.
"You pig." She snorted while grabbing the bread.
"Look who's talking."
"Women can do and say anything they want." Lorilie sat on the opposite counter.
"Who told you that?" he raised an eyebrow.
"My mother." She dropped her eyes.
"I'd like to talk to your mother." He smiled.
"She's dead." Lorilie lowered her voice.
"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't offend you." His voice carried concern.
"She died when I was five."
"Natural cause?" Brand jumped off the counter.
"My father killed her." A silent tear fell.
Lanie walked in yawning, her eyes squinted closed. She opened her eyes and glared at the two, "What are you doing up? And sitting on my counters, off." She smacked Lorilie's leg.
"I'm going back to bed." Lorilie stepped out of the room.
"Lorilie looked troubled. What did you say to her." Lanie crossed to Brand once Lorilie was out of hearing range.
"Nothing!" he threw his hands up.
"Get out of my kitchen!" Lanie shoved him through the doors.
*****
In his room at the abandoned mansion, Albain sat writing at his desk. The candle wax burned low and the light was fading. He ran a hand through his hair and threw down his pen. He opened a drawer and pulled out a picture. Albain just stared at it for countless minutes; a tear splattered the page he was writing on.
"Lielay I still love you." He murmured. "I had to do it. I had too."
"Stop crying, you fool." A dark elf said while cleaning her nails.
"When did you get here?!" Albain snapped.
"Just a second ago." She walked over to him. "What did you call me for?"
"I want you to follow around Lorilie and give me reports about where she goes and what she does." Albain threw the picture and his writing in the drawer.
"Fine, fine." She muttered.
"This isn't a game, Victoria." He spat.
"I know!" she sneered, "Gods, you sound like my mother."
"Valamora isn't on our side and you know I hate that name so don't bring her into this. Now go." Albain pointed to the door.
Victoria threw back her sheet of silvery hair and left. She kicked opened the door of the room she stayed in and started packing her bags. Her narrow face frowned as she looked out the window. She grunted and pushed the hair out of her purple eyes. "Stupid mother, making me look bad and you aren't even here. Why didn't you stay the way you were?" Victoria slammed the door shut and walked onto the empty street.
*****
Caleb paced his room back and forth thinking of what happened; he also had other things on his mind. Lorilie quietly crept into his room and watched him. She giggled and he stopped. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Caleb said.
"I'm eighteen, I can do what I want. Why are you still up?" she sat.
"Thinking." He continued his pacing.
"About what?" she crossed her legs.
"Stuff." Caleb itched his cheek.
"That's informative." She rolled her eyes.
"Kel came back a half an hour ago with a letter from Tenaden about Master Justyn."
"Your druid teacher? About what?" she stood promptly.
"Master Justyn has grown very ill. He put together this list of where to go and people to find for some items he would like to study before he dies." Caleb held a piece of paper up for her to see.
"He's dying!" gasped Lorilie.
"Don't you ever listen to anything that comes out of my mouth?"
"Where do we need to find the items?" she ignored his last question.
"It doesn't really say exactly, but-"
"How the hell are we supposed to find them then?" she interrupted.
"If you ever let me finish. We have to go to places all over Norrath and ask people that are listed here." He pointed to names on the paper.
"Sorta like a scavenger hunt?" she asked dubiously.
"Yes. I really want to do this for Master Justyn. He raised me and taught me everything I know today. Well, almost everything, Mother taught me many things."
"I'll help you. I'll sail you to the places." She smiled.
"I was going to make you anyways." He laughed half-heartedly.
Now lets get to sleep." She said while yawning loudly.
It was midmorning when Lorilie got up and dressed. She yawned down the stairs and sat at one of the tables. Only a few costumers were scattered around the room since most wanted to leave after the incident that happened the night before.
The griffin, Kel lay stretched out in front of the fire; his feathers glistened in the light. When Caleb was younger, he had befriended the griffin. Through their travels, Kel, whose real name was Kelvren, protected the wood elf from all danger. What was so unique about Kel was that he had the power of speech, very odd for creatures. The griffin treasured his gift.
Lanie was leaning against the wall peering around at the people; dark circles lay under her eyes. Striding down the stairs like he owned the place came Brand with his cloak fluttering out behind him. A moment later, Caleb and Wintercloud entered the room with their heads bent together talking low. The two sat on either side of Lorilie; Brand joined them.
"Winter is going to come with us, Lorilie." Caleb smiled.
"Where? What?" Brand tilted his head.
"Nothing that concerns you." Lorilie glared.
"We are going on a quest for our old master." Said Caleb.
"We want to leave tomorrow if possible. We decided to put Lanie and Slith in charge while we're gone." Wintercloud took a sip form his steaming mug.
"Oh, ..may I come?" Brand spread his hands open.
"No!" Lorilie snarled.
"I don't see why not." Caleb grinned to his sister.
"I can't believe you." She stomped off to the fire by Kel; she sat scratching his head.
"Well, if you excuse me I need to go into town." Brand got up and left.
Late that afternoon, Lanie finished packing for the four who were leaving.and Kel. She hummed as she placed flasks of water in a bag. Caleb told her all about their mission and she agreed to take care of the inn. Slith pleaded to go, but changed his mind when Lorilie whispered something into his ear. Kel was in the kitchens talking to anyone who would listen; he ruffled his feathers when someone ignored him. "Jussst call me when you'rrre leaving." Kel slurred while walking out the back door towards the shed that he lived in.
Night fell quickly and all who would be leaving the next day went to bed early. They weren't going to sail so Lorilie didn't have to call upon her crew again, they were just headed to the Commonlands. An owl hooted outside Lorilie's window, as she tried to sleep. She couldn't close her eyes; every time she did she saw her mother, Lielay's face. It was too hard for her to look upon her mother. Eventually she dozed off into a light sleep.
*****
The leaves of the trees Kelethin was build on shook in the wind.. or was it the wind? Caleb quickened his pace as he climbed the lift. It was empty, no one was in sight. He walked the ramps towards his house, the wood beneath him groaned at his weight. Caleb started to run. Before him was his house in flames. He clawed at his face in horror as he heard a scream from inside. The fire surrounded him and he inhaled the fumes. It burned his nose, eyes, and throat. The smoke drifted all around him.
*****
Caleb awoke from his dream and jumped out of bed. A thick layer of smoke covered his room. A woman screamed somewhere outside. Caleb rushed around his room and gathered his personal items. He kicked the door down and ran to Lorilie's room. The hall was like a tunnel from hell, the flames licked him as he ran. Lorilie's door was ajar no one was there. He sighed and ran to the stairs, but tripped at the top and tumbled all the way down. Brand flew down the stairs and fell over Caleb who was picking up his things.
"What the hell happened!?" Brand shouted as he helped pick up items.
"I have no idea. Get out of here!" the two ran out of the inn.
Outside Lorilie fanned Lanie who had collapsed on the ground. Slith held onto Kel's collar; Kel pulled at it and tried to run into the inn. He stopped when Caleb ran out. Wintercloud and others were throwing water onto the flames trying to put it out. Caleb dropped by Lorilie and hung his head. He shook it and threw a large rock at the inn. A huge cracking noise was heard and the roof of the Windchaser's Port caved in. Lorilie screamed and covered her face. Brand stood next to her and frowned.
"All my years of hard work. Gone in just one night." Caleb threw another rock.
"There goes my job." Brand folded his arms.
"Shut your mouth! Your so rude!" Lorilie pushed him.
"What arrre we going to do?" Kel trotted over and placed his head on Caleb's shoulder.
"We're going to the Commonlands first, then we go to Kelethin." Caleb patted Kel's beak and stood up.
In the morning the Windchaser's Port was rubble. A smoking pile of rubble. Caleb and Wintercloud searched through the ash for any items that they could still use. Slith, Lanie, Brand, Lorilie, and Kel packed the things they salvaged into bags they had gathered before the building collapsed.
*****
Victoria pulled her dagger out of the burglar that had tried to rob her. She was assaulted while walking down a back alley. Without breaking a sweat she threw the man off of her and killed him. Twirling the bloody dagger in her hand she made it disappear up her sleeve. She replaced her hood as she walked on. She smiled as she rounded the corner and saw the burning rubble of the Windchaser's Port. She had successfully set fire to the inn without being caught. Laughing quietly she passed the people and griffin packing their bags. The half elf glanced at her as she passed. She turned and stared at him before vanishing behind a nearby building.
Brand turned his attention back to Lorilie who was being loquacious about how cruel people were getting. He stared at her; he wanted to hold her in his arms forever. Only after a day with her, Brand had fallen head over heels. Slith looked confused at Brand and peeled his lips back into a grimace.
"Don't even try it." Slith said in Brand's ear.
"Try what?" the half-elf stuttered.
"The last guy that looked at her like that ended up with a broken nose and a limp."
"Lorilie did that to a man?" Brand gave a quick glance at the beautiful wood elf that stood a few feet away.
"No, .Caleb did." Slith laughed.
"We should leave soon." Caleb said while brushing off his hands.
They all nodded and picked up their belongings. Following Caleb and Wintercloud, they slowly made their way through the filthy streets of Freeport. The crowd was thick and it was hard to force a path through the throng. Kel flew overhead to avoid being pushed around by people since the last time he tried to walk among them, people, mostly children, pulled out his feathers. The griffin soared with ease, gliding up in the sky laughing at those below.
*****
Riley and Albain were talking again when Victoria came into the room. Riley put his black mask up to hide his scared face. Albain clicked his tongue and waited for her to say something. Victoria tossed her bag down and sat in the chair in front of the fire. Riley glared at her and sat behind his desk.
"Did you get anyone in the fire?" he demanded.
"All the people you described to me were safely outside the inn." She said carelessly.
"Where are they going?" Albain asked.
"The Commonlands." She flicked dirt off of her cloak.
"How did you find out?" Riley adjusted his mask.
"I have my ways." Victoria laughed.