The Collector

Chapter 1: Daevock

Tranneth's Hollow was a town that would never grow larger than it was now. Nested in a crescent of hills that held off the strong eastern wind and protected the town from the devastating floods that came with the Great Storms, it had endured for more than two hundred years. A cluster of sturdy houses made up the town proper, with the largest building the inn, which also served as town hall and emergency shelter. The inn, though small by city standards, had several good rooms available, and more space could be prepared when needed, though it rarely came to that. Sharnan's Rest, as the inn was called, saw only sparse use even in the best of seasons, and when a Great Storm threatened it could be expected that the only customers it would be playing host to would be farmers washed out of their homes until the rain stopped.

Kale Sharnan listened to the distant crack of thunder and sighed. It was shaping up to be a big one, this storm, and if he didn't miss his guess there would be a lot of wet farmers looking for better shelter than their own homes. That didn't irk him much, the farmers always paid for their stay by providing the innkeeper and his family with food and clothing when they needed it, and providing cheap food for guests when the inn saw them. No, what got him was that the farmers always brought their animals with them, and expected the innkeeper and his family to be able to look after the beasts as well as their owners.

"You've got the blankets and beds ready?" He asked of his tall son as the young man came up behind him. "And brought in the wood we'll be needing for the fires?"

"Yeah, dad," his son replied, dropping into a chair next to his father. The boy had nearly reached the age where he could be considered an adult, and though Kale had always hoped to see him leave the Hollow to go make his fortune in the wider world, it was seeming more and more likely that he would instead stay in the town and follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. Kale knew that other fathers would like nothing better than for their sons to want to be like them enough to sacrifice a possible future of adventure and wealth, but he couldn't help but feel that a certain wood-witch had more to do with his son's attitude than any idolization of him. "It sounds like a bad one," his son said, looking at the same tightly shuttered and nailed shut window as his father.

Kale nodded in agreement, pausing as another peal of thunder shuddered through the inn. "Tell your mother and sister to get the fire in the kitchen burning, the rain'll start soon and then we'll be gettin' visitors soon enough, and I know more than a few of them'll want to eat."

"Yeah, dad, I'll tell them," the boy said, getting out of the chair and heading for the door beside the short bar that led to the kitchen. Kale sighed again, looking around his clean common room. He was stocked up on ale and the local wine, had water for the children and the less adventuresome women, and enough food to last a full in for a week, which he hoped dearly wouldn't be needed. His wife and daughter were both quick and good cooks, though their selection of dishes wore thin after as long a while as he'd been eating them. His son could tend the bar as well as any he had seen, though when he wasn't busy with all the other requests customers made Kale preferred to see to that job himself.

The door to the kitchen opened and his daughter scurried through. She was only a year younger than his son, and it was often remarked by the other fathers in the town that she was the prettiest girl in the Hollow. Not that there was much competition for that title, but he knew she was already making some of the wild young boys of the town and the surrounding farms jump to her bidding with a batted eyelash or coy smile. Her mother had been just the same way in her day, and truth be told she still retained much of the vibrance that had so enamored him in his youth, though hardened by the long years of experience and dull town life.

"Mom's getting the fire ready, and she sent Rab to fetch more water from the well just in case someone's injured and we need a store to boil for bandages," she said, coming up to the table where he sat, plucking absently at the large cloth bow that held her long brown hair out of her face. "She told me to come out and keep you company while she worked. I'm worried, dad, Rab says it's going to be a bad one."

"Ah, Rinni, don't worry about what Rab says. We've been through plenty of storms like this," Kale assured her. "The year you were born the waters started flooding the Hollow itself! I'm not thinking it'll get that bad, though we're likely to see a lot of wind and hard rain."

"But Cessa Dorma said that her grandma said her fingers were aching, and that meant that this storm's going to be worse than the others."

"Lera Dorma's fingers ache all the time, little heart, it doesn't mean anything more than that it's one of the Great Storms, and we already knew that."

"I don't like these storms," Rinni said after a short silence. The wind had picked up again, and was now whistling through the small cracks between the shutters. Outside it could be heard howling through the village, even protected as it was by the ring of hills surrounding and elevating it.

"Neither do I, little heart, neither do I," Kale said, putting an arm around his daughter and drawing her in for a warm hug. Just as he was letting her go the loud report of someone knocking at the door startled him. Rinni jumped and gave a little shriek, for which she immediately began to colour red with embarrassment in the pale candlelight. "Quick, to your mother, girl," he commanded. "It seems as if some of those farmers have gotten smart enough this year to come to me before their feet start soaking and their roofs blow off."

Kale made his way to the main entrance of the inn as Rinni ran back into the kitchen, her light footsteps barely making a whisper on the well-traveled floors. The knocking came again just as he made it to the door, and with a quick turn of the latch he opened it inward. Immediately he was assaulted by the sound and force of the winds, his eyes tearing with it as he strained to look out into the darkness and discern who it was that had come looking for shelter. A moment later he couldn't repress a look of surprise as his visitors turned out to not be farmers come early, like he had thought, but rather a group of hooded and cloaked figures holding horses.

"This is the inn, yes?" The man who had knocked on the door said, nearly shouting to be heard over the wind.

Kale pulled himself together quickly. "Yes! I'll have someone take your horses in a moment!" He replied, then ducked his head back into the inn. "Rinni, Polla! Get Rab out here now, we've got customers who need their horses stabled!" He turned back to the travelers, only barely catching the beginning of the disbelieving reply from his wife. "Is this all of you?" He asked looking over the six windblown figures in front of him. Two were obviously male, the one talking to him and the huge man holding several horses behind the others. Of the other four two were obviously female, and the other two were too hard to distinguish for certain in their wind-whipped cloaks.

"Yes, this is all of us!" The man said. "My name is Daevock!"

"I'm Kale Sharnan!" He said, catching sight of his son rushing up from around the side of the Inn. "This is my son Rabbad! He'll see to your horses so you can get inside out of this wind!"

"My thanks, Kale Sharnan!" The man who had named himself Daevock said, and dutifully handed his horse over to Rab. It took only a few minutes to get all the horses into the Inn's stable to the boy's credit, and soon all the travelers had made their way inside for Kale to shut the door on the wind.

"The common room's just down to the side there," he said, indicating the way for them. "Pull yourselves up a seat and I'll see about starting a fire."

"My thanks again," Daevock said, pulling the hood away from his face. Something about his voice now that he was out of the screaming wind plucked at Kale. It was a melodious voice, almost otherworldly, yet strong and sure at the same time, and it seemed to spark a feeling of deep trust in him. "I had begun to think that we wouldn't make the town before the rains began. Perhaps I could negotiate for rooms now, before I sit down? We'll certainly be needing them until the storm is passed."

Kale almost missed what was said as he caught sight of the man's face in the faint candlelight coming into the hall from the common room. The man, his slightly pointed ears and fine features proclaiming his heritage as a Half-Elf, was the most beautiful thing Kale had ever laid eyes on. The innkeeper was left wondering for a lost moment if some Angel had decided to visit his inn. Daevock's eyes, those intense blue orbs, sent shocking tingles through Kale as he met them, jolting his mind into motion again. "I, of course," he said, his tongue feeling heavy and the words clumsy. He almost wanted to apologize for taking so long, but the stranger's eyes urged him on. "I don't have rooms enough for all of you, though. How many will you need?"

"Three will be sufficient," Daevock said, lips quirking up in a smile that made Kale grin with relief and pleasure. "How much to have them for the week?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't… the storm. You need shelter, and I'm happy to oblige," the innkeeper said, the words stumbling over each other as they came out.

"No, no, that won't do," Daevock said, and Kale felt like he wanted to melt away from those incredible eyes. "I have the coin to spare, and I'm sure my companions will inconvenience you and your family at least a little during our stay. I insist you charge us the full price, not a copper less, no matter what the circumstances of our arrival."

"Of, of course," Kale said, his lips twitching, undecided as to whether he should smile or cry. "It's… it's two silver pieces for a room for a week, so six for the whole of it," Kale swallowed. In a town such as Tranneth's Hollow, six silver pieces was a large sum, but he didn't know what a man such as Daevock would think of it.

"Of course, then that is settled," Daevock said, reaching into his cloak to pull at the strings of a coin purse. The distinct ring of a good amount of coin followed, and the man produced six shining silver pieces, which he laid in Kale's obediently outstretched hand. "There we are. Now, about that fire you were going to set. The weather is warm this time of year, but the wind chills one so."

Before he could say anything else Kale was rushing through the inn for the wood store. He would need to get the fire going, and soon. He didn't want his honored guests to be cold.

Leena Karto descended gracefully into one of the hard wooden chairs that surrounded the tables of the common room. She leaned the long, cloth-wrapped staff against the wall next to her and shrugged off her cloak, leaving it to hang over her chair and provide at least some measure of comfort for her legs and back. She watched the others as they took up their own positions in the room while Daevock spoke to the innkeeper.

Sten Salva sat with his back to the wall next to the fireplace, the large warrior looking ill at ease without his sword or armor, which Daevock had insisted be left with the horses. Taking up a seat at the same table was Renick. The Elf, though tall for his people, seeming a child next to Sten's bulk, his forest green eyes never stopped moving as he pulled his hood down and began to relax. She knew from experience that he was memorizing every detail of the room, just in case he needed to fight blindly in it. Ilana Maerova the pale priestess took a seat next to Leena, dropping her cloak unceremoniously into a pile next to her. The final member of their party moved to the far side of the room from everyone else, pulling a chair into the corner and sitting quietly, her hood up and cloak wrapped around her still.

Ilana flashed a smile to Leena and leaned towards her. "Tell me, is my makeup still on?" She asked. Leena looked over to the Priestess, noting the careful black outline around her eyes and covering her eyelids and the intentional whitening of the skin. Her lips pursed so that Leena could see if any of the dark red paint had smudged or worn off.

"It's all still there," Leena confirmed. "Though why you would bother to ask is a mystery to me. It was windy outside, not raining."

Ilana shrugged. "It's always good to know," she leaned back into her chair, tipping it up on two legs. Leena was sure that she was going to bring her booted feet up onto the table, but thankfully her companion refrained. "This is a good storm," she said, closing her eyes and lacing her fingers behind her head. "It's going to last days."

"And Daevock still hasn't told us why we're here," Leena said, looking around the meager common room of the inn. "I would have preferred to stay in Keisallan for the storm. For all the rough stink of a trading city, it had comfortable lodgings."

"Ah, come down from your tower!" Ilana smirked. "This place is fun. Out in the middle of nowhere, wilderness all around for more miles than we could walk in a day, one of the Great Storms heading straight for it, what's not to like?"

"All of the above, Ilana," Leena sighed. "It will rain and it will rage, and I suppose that will keep you happy, but I will be going half-mad in this place," she watched with idle interest as the innkeeper came rushing into the room with an armful of wooden logs. The man nearly tripped over himself as he leapt towards the hearth and quickly began stuffing the wood in. Daevock himself strode in only moments later, casually removing his cloak and smiling pleasantly at his companions. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must have words with our leader."

"Talk to him all you want, but remember it's my turn tonight," Ilana said, her voice suddenly low and dangerous. Leena turned to lock eyes with the other woman, and for a long moment considered going for her throat.

"I remember," she said finally, pulling her gaze away as she stood. "I leave you to hope that he does as well," she could almost feel the snarl on the Priestess's face as she walked away, but chided herself on delivering the jab. She didn't need such emotional displays, the agreement dictated that it was Ilana's turn to spend the night with Daevock, and there was no reason to be jealous or waspish over it. Leena's turn would come, she need only remember to be patient.

"Ah, Leena," Daevock said as he noticed her approaching, though his eyes were still on the innkeeper who was hastily trying to get the fire to start. "I suppose you are the least suited for this setting of our entire group. I apologize for bringing you so far out of your element, but I assure you it was necessary."

Leena felt her legs go weak as he spoke to her, but forced herself to remain calm. She glanced at the innkeeper, quirking an eyebrow. "How long will it last?"

"Oh, maybe another five minutes," he replied. "There will be some lingering effects, of course, but I thought it the most expedient way to get us settled and on with our business."

"And what, exactly, is our business here?" Leena asked, fixing her gaze on the Half-Elf.

"Oh, dear Leena," Daevock said, turning his eyes to look into hers. She forced herself to remain calm; to quiet her breathing, but her body was betraying her. "You will see soon enough, though I'm afraid you won't be too happy with me for it," he lifted a flawless hand to caress her cheek, and a shudder went up her spine at the touch, her breath coming in short bursts. She closed her eyes against him, forcing her body to still, falling deep into her old meditative training to instill some sort of order on herself.

"You should tell us your plans," she breathed. "We can assist you better if we know what it is we should be doing."

"Leena, Leena, my sweet, logical Leena," Daevock whispered, drawing her close enough to feel his warm breath on her closed eyes. "Do you love me?"

Leena choked back a small whine and swallowed hard. "Yes."

"Then if you love me," Daevock said, pushing her back. "Don't second guess my decisions. You'll find out why we're here when I decide it's time for you to know. Until then study your spellbook, play with this man's family, whatever you want to do to ensure you're entertained. Oh, and make sure you and Ilana don't tear each other apart. I spent a lot of time and effort finding you two, I will not tolerate you putting it all to waste with some petty squabbling," Leena nodded dumbly, still working to steady herself, cursing mentally at her own profound weakness. Daevock's gaze turned back to the innkeeper, who had managed to get the fire going. "Wonderful, sir. I'm grateful that we have found such a hospitable place to stay during this storm. Won't you please introduce us to your family? I'm sure your son is done with the horses by now, and if I'm not mistaken there are others in the kitchen who might want to meet their guests."

"Yes, yes of course!" The man said, stumbling to his feet, a broad, too-happy grin on his face. "They'll want to meet you, I know they will, my wife and daughter are good people, and my son's so grown up! I know they'll want to meet you!"

"Of course, but you have to go and fetch them before they can meet anyone," Daevock said, and the man cast a slightly panicked look at the kitchen door, but then nodded his head like he was trying to shake it off and hurried towards the door. "Just a little push," Daevock sighed and brushed an errant strand of dark brown hair from his face. "I wonder if it would break his mind if I used the real thing?"

There was the muted sounds of voices from the kitchen, drowned out by the wailing of the wind outside the inn's walls, then the door opened and two women were pushed in by the innkeeper. "Kale, what has gotten into you?" The older woman was saying. She seemed to be of the same age as the innkeeper, but retained a good deal of the prettiness she must have had in her youth, a prettiness that she had obviously passed on to her daughter. In the cities that Leena preferred she wouldn't have been more than slightly above average, but she supposed in such a remote place she could pass for the most beautiful girl in the town. That boded well for the girl's future, or at least it had, before Daevock came. "Why are you . . . oh," the innkeepers wife said as she caught sight of Daevock's smiling face. Leena almost felt sorry for them, their lives had just changed, and unlike her and Ilana, these poor women would not be leaving with the Half-Elf.

"Why, Kale Sharnan, you did not tell me that your wife and daughter were beautiful as well as good people!" Daevock said, striding towards the awestruck family. Their daughter, who couldn't have been more than fifteen, looked like she was going to faint, and Leena saw Daevock tense in preparation should it happen. "Kale, would you care to introduce me to these lovely women?"

"This is my wife, Polla," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Not, Leena noted, in a protective manner, but more as if her was making ready to shove her at the Half-Elf. Leena held back a snort; the poor man was doomed. "And my daughter Rinni," he moved his hand towards his daughter, almost as if he was going to almost-push her towards Daevock like he had with his wife, but instead cut the gesture short. A confused look ghosted across the man's face, as if he were uncertain of exactly what to do now.

"I am delighted to meet the both of you," he said, smiling at each woman in turn. "My name is Daevock, and these are my companions. The one next to me is Leena Karto, the one at the table is Ilana Maerova, the two imposing men are Renick and Sten Salva, and the quiet one in the corner is Sariel Denilan," Daevock turned to the still cloaked figure huddled in the corner. "Sariel, why don't you take off the cloak, you must be getting quite warm in here," he said, and though his words sounded nothing like a command, Leena knew it carried the weight of one.

Sariel shrugged out of the cloak, letting it fall around the chair, though she made no other move. Her long orange-red hair spilled messily over her shoulders and down her back, seeming to deepen in colour against her tanned skin and lighten against the stained white of her simple shirt. Eyes of bright turquoise regarded Daevock for a moment with unfathomable emotion, before drifting unfocused to a bright corner of the room.

"Good girl," Daevock said, smiling proudly at the third woman of his troupe. Leena threw a disgusted look her way before stalking back to her seat next to Ilana who was grinning at the trapped family. "Now I'm sure you three have much do, but would you mind if I were to talk with you for a while? I'm sure your work could stand a delay of a few minutes or so," a chorus of agreement came from the Sharnan family, and Daevock laughed brightly, the sound mixing in with the first dull sounds of rain against the shutters. "Wonderful! Now, let's take a seat, and you can tell me everything you know about the forest around here."