Adventures of Melannya
Chapter Two - The Meeting
I would have felt out of place in the city had there not been others dressed as plain country folk just like me. In fact, there were people of all races and walks of life in that town. A few of the finer dressed folks stared at me with disdain plain in their eyes. I knew they must have thought poorly of me since here I was, sitting astride an old donkey, in dusty well-worn rags. My fair skinned face was riddled with dirt and sweat from the trip to the city, and my shirt and skirt certainly had been patched more than once. I turned away from the flood of faces surrounding me and glanced about as we plodded on past the inner gates. I could not help but admire the beauty and elegance of the walls and buildings. This great city of Tir Na Nog was something I had never seen before and loved it from the beautiful floating balls of light to the tree pattern that echoed throughout the entire place. The street musicians playing tunes all about me filled my heart with happiness and had I not been riding, I may have very well done a small caper of joy.
Hoping the four adventurers had not noticed me trailing them for the long night and day it took to get here (well, I had paused to camp a few hours during the night as my tired body and the donkey both needed some rest), I strained to keep an eye on them as to not lose them in the enormous city. Noticing that they turned right down a side street, I hopped off of Nunna and pulled her along behind me. Peering around the corner, I saw that they were tying their horses out in front of a small Inn called the Green Thorn. Making certain they had all entered, even the strange undead one they called Amerc, I did the same and tied up the donkey at the very end where there was just room enough for her.
Peering once again around the door edge, my shirt was grasped tightly and pulled in carefully but quickly. Face to face, the undead Shar stared at me with open curiosity and a twinkle of humor in his eyes. I took a deep breath and smiled. Really not knowing what else to do, I waited for him to speak but he just laughed a hearty laugh and at once I decided to like him. He gently grasped my wrist and pulled me to a large table that was attended by the same riders as I had met just a day before at my family's homestead. The female 'keen motioned for me to sit, in an inviting way, mind you. I sat awkwardly, knowing it was at this point when I would be either yelled at or told to go back home. I heard neither as the lady said,
"Well, well, well. We have a young lady here with quite a stubborn streak!" She smiled at me, and I began to feel myself relax a bit. They ordered a cup of mead for me, which I hastily drank it down, smiling as the warmth began to infuse throughout my body. They let me listen in as they spoke of this person or that and certain places and things they'd seen. I felt a little out of place as I was unaccustomed to hearing of such things, but they quickly brought me back into the conversation upon asking my name. I found out that the lady was named Cimyr and her ward was actually her husband, named Finde. The third Lurikeen was named Borne, and of course there was Amerc. I found that they were part of an association brought together by the desire to uphold the name of the land of Hibernia in which we all lived and protect it from the evils that plagued them.
"What are these evils?" I was intrigued. Unfortunately, it was not something they wanted to talk with me about, and the conversation focused on me once again. Uncomfortable at all eyes upon me, I tried to be light-hearted and said, "What shall you do with me now, hand me over to the nasty Firbolgs?" As I said such, an extremely tall creature with a small turned up nose and beady little eyes came over and towered above me. I was shaken but stood (or sat) firm. He had shoulder length green hair, green eyes and glowered down at me. It was at that point when I realized he wielded a sharp scythe taller than I was and also at that point when I began to tremble in fear. It was obvious to me that this was a Firbolg and also obvious that I had insulted him. But it was Finde who jumped up to defend me.
"Take ease, Alov. This is our new friend and she meant no harm in her teasings to you." I shook my head in agreement, which caused the Firbolg to lower the weapon ever so slightly. Giving me one final glare, the large creature stalked over to another table. I sighed, relaxing only a bit. The lady Cimyr shook her head, but then smiled at me and said in a hushed tone, "You are very lucky! You do not bother the Vales." I peered over, noticing that his back was turned to me and whispered, "I know he is Firbolg, but what does he do with that stick besides bail hay and he wears a robe as well? And what is a Vale?" I had never seen such a thing but then again I was just a simple girl, and so much of what I'd seen over the last two days was new to me.
"He is a Valewalker. He wields that scythe as a weapon and has some magiks about him in order to keep him safe. Very tough and very powerful, the Valewalkers are not something to be trifled with lightly. Come on, we'll get your donkey tended to and let you meet the rest of our guild mates" It was at that point as we were leaving the Inn, that I began to find myself wondering if I could ever be something as powerful and strong as a Valewalker.