Disclaimer: See Chapter 1-2
Chapter 3. Up for Hire
Taylor stared blankly at the inn sign. She was trying to figure out where in Elibe she was. She walked around the quiet village, her eyes occasionally trailing to the small group by the castle. She sighed. She couldn't stand the fact that her hair was in her eyes no longer. She blew upward, and her hair flew behind her.
She paused. Her hair was shoulder length with bangs up to her eyebrows. She pulled strands of hair from he sides and gasped as she found mid-back length hair. She ran her fingers through it, finding it immensely tangled. She blew out air in anger, and started exploring.
Besides the inn, there was a modest toy store, and small bookshop, and a quaint diner. She walked up and down the streets for several minutes. She saw men, women, and children. She saw a few guards patrolling the streets. She paused to ask them where exactly she was, but thinking they'd find her crazy. How'd she explain not knowing where she was?
The over-used streets were a brown dusty color, and she noticed a water trough. She decided to see what she looked like with mid-back length hair. She strode up to the trough, and gazed down at her reflection. She could've screamed. She was older, much older. She was roughly 17 or 18, and she had a more shaped face. She blinked, happy she still had her magical gray-blue eyes.
She found Elibe peaceful, but there had to be an adventure somewhere. She heard some people talking. They were mentioning what sounded like places. Towns. She crept over with that super stealth she hoped she still had.
"What do you think happened to Lord Elbert?" A sly looking woman not much older than Taylor currently whispered. She was talking with another woman, maybe Taylor's age.
The younger girl shrugged. "Pherae has been untouched for a while. Maybe he just had…" she paused to think, "a meeting somewhere."
The older woman snapped. "Marquesses don't just get up and leave! His son is absolutely devastated!"
The younger girl sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right… Did you hear Lord Elbert's son is leaving to search for his father today?"
"Why yes, I did. I also heard they were sending knights out to the villages to gather local aid."
The younger girl nodded. "They haven't sent a knight here yet…," she sighed distantly. "I may have helped if I wasn't… so…"
"Crazy about knights?" The older woman chuckled. "You couldn't concentrate IF you had any battle skills."
Their conversation continued, but Taylor had gathered quite some information. She learned she was in Pherae. Lord Elbert is missing, and his son is searching for him. And knights have yet to visit this particular village. Perfect.
Off in the distance, the soft noises of a horse galloping came closer and closer. Taylor jumped in excitement and rushed over to the village gate, and started to slow down casually as she drew closer. She sat on a rock, and watched alert as the knight drew closer. She had to find an excuse about why they should take her.
She couldn't expose herself as what she really was. So, she decided to ask the knight what kind of aid they needed.
A knight rode in with dark sea foam green hair and golden armor. He looked pretty confident, riding in all knight-like. The younger of the two who were talking quickly hurried inside the inn, followed by the laughing older woman.
The knight rode in on his horse, and announced loudly, just feet from Taylor.
"By the request of Lord Eliwood, son of Lord Elbert, any of those who have any skill that may contribute the safe return of Lord Elbert, please step forward." The knight looked proud, remembering the announcement.
Nobody came forth to the knight. Several who walked past him said 'sorry'. Taylor stood up.
"Of what aid do you seek?" She attempted to sound somewhat honorable. She stood waiting for his reply.
The knight looked down, thought, the looked at her. "Tactical, mostly. A few mages, monks, even a shaman would do…" He went on mumbling, while Taylor was deep in thought. She could do tactics. She liked thinking for some reason.
"…clerics, troubadours," the knight continued.
"I could help in tactics. I've some experience." She smiled. "And I do know some magic." She paused. "Fire and stuff." She forced a big giant fake smile.
"Fire and stuff…" the knight paused. "Right. Well, I'll take you down to Lord Eliwood." He patted a small portion of seat behind him. "Come on."
She smiled weakly. She had her adventure. But she never rode on a horse before. Maybe that was the real adventure here.
A plot is slowly beginning to form. The chapters are really short, they hurt me, deep down. takes pen and 'stabs' self The chapters should develop more as the fanfic progresses. I made an outline, and whoopee! Forty… four… chapters… blinks then sighs Bleh.