Disclaimer--I do not own the forgotten realms setting, but I do own the characters used within the story. In other words, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THEM! I SWEAR I'LL SIT ON YOU!
AIDEN'S FLAME
Chapter 2
The pair went to every clothing shop in Waterdeep, or so it seemed, before Aiden forced her to a temple of Sune, where he made a donation in exchange for a healing that left little more than a scar on her stomach. Aiden recalled the look and amusement the cleric of the Goddess of Beauty had worn as he wove his spell. Apparently, he had thought them to be a pair, and the image of an elven child and a human had been so outrageous as to make him laugh.
"Are you a traveler?" the woman tending sales asked, pulling Aiden from his musings.
"Yes, why do you ask?" he responded.
"The clothing is all, sir," she said, gesturing at the mixed clothes in front of them. From hunting leathers to cloth robes, all meant for casting: it was clearly the armor of a mage, and likely a battle one, at that. "Been long since we've had business of this sort here. Oh, hold it now, that's not entirely true. There was one not too long ago, perhaps you travel together? He had a very strange manner of speaking, and wore a crossbow that I 'ave not seen the like of afore."
Aiden glanced just long enough at Zenalic to see her incredibly subtle nod. "Was this the weapon?" he asked the clerk, pulling the crossbow from his magical bag that allowed items to slip into another dimension when placed inside -- for weightless safekeeping. He placed the weapon on the counter and looked at the lady, watching for her response.
"Yes, precisely the same! So you do travel with him, then?"
"When was he here, and what, exactly, did this man buy?" Aiden asked, not bothering to answer her question.
"Less than a tenday, and he bought robes much like these," she gestured to the robes Zenalic had selected. "He paid in full and asked where he could find a vendor who'd sell him some components for his spells."
Aiden nodded his thanks, then took the items and flipped her a few gold coins.
As soon as they were out the door, Zenalic turned and asked, "Why did you not seek him further? Find out where she sent him?"
"I already know where he was sent, and there is no point in seeking the shop, for the shop master would have seen through the illusion the drow would have had to cast, and if the shop master is still alive, we must assume he's allied himself with the drow," he responded calmly, turning toward the inn. "Now, shall we go eat? I'm famished!"
They walked silently back to the inn and remained so until Zenalic asked: "I'm curious. You did not ask me if I had a room in an inn, you assumed me a traveler. How?"
"In the breath you awoke with you would have demanded I take you to your inn, had you had one," Aiden replied. "However, it was not simply as a traveler I have marked you. A traveler might have had a room. However, I derived you were a traveler carrying everything you owned from the fact that you were attacked. Why, given no other motive, would they attack someone who was likely carrying naught to interest them?"
"You are too young for such deep thought, Aiden," she responded. "It is not suiting, correct or not. And you are."
"Am I also correct in assuming we will be going after their master, who undoubtedly has your items?" Aiden asked.
"We?"
"Rule of mine, milady: Never save someone only to allow them to die the next day. However, I would be happy to supply you with coin enough to buy back what you have lost."
"I will fight for much more than items, Aiden," she stated.
"We, milady. Nonetheless, so be it. I took two spell books off the drow. You might like to have a look at them. Curiously enough, they were in common, not dark elvish." Aiden dared not spare a moment for sympathy just now: the look in her eyes suggested she would kill him if he so acted.
"I will need components, assuming I can cast the spells," she said.
"Very good. However, I believe you need rest for now."
"Agreed, but tell me, Aiden, where did you learn to fight? You do not even carry a blade, how could you have killed four drow?" Zenalic asked.
"I learned something everywhere I went, but skill comes mostly from a great deal of practice," Aiden replied, smiling as he thought of all the fights he had won.
Zenalic nodded, saying, "I see. And where will you be while I rest?"
"Hunting," Aiden replied, and was out the door before she could ask any questions.
A.N.--Does anyone ever give a straight answer in these things?