Lauder crawled to the nearest tree and began to search the ground around him. After a moment he reached for a stick large enough to lean on without it breaking. Pushing against the tree and the stick, he slowly lifted himself to his feet. He turned back toward Tristan. A small grin grew across his tear stained face.
Leaving him with the elves… Ha! He's as good as dead.
Tristan felt a shiver crawl through his spine as Lauder's devilish smile grew. Something about that grin was unsettling.
As Lauder hobbled away with the help of his walking stick, Tristan turned his attention toward the elves. Tristan had never dealt directly with elves. He had heard tales of their untamed violence. Few strayed from their homes within the forest. Those that did leave were unwelcome to return. Their lawless actions were no secret. Elves swore allegiance only to each other and their queens. Rumored to be the most powerful sorceresses in the world, elf queens were a force to be reckoned with. Tristan stood before three of these mysterious creatures.
"Thank you friend" Tristan cautiously offered. "My name is Tristan. Please, tell me; to whom do I owe this great honor?"
The elf turned his stony gaze on Tristan. "Do not speak unless you are first addressed, slave."
"Slave?"
"Are all humans slow to learn?" The elf sighed before beginning again. "My name is Parthius; but you will call me master until your life-debt is paid."
"You think you saved my life? Do you not see that I have not only reclaimed my own weapon but taken the guard's as well?"
"A fancy trick, but one that would not have saved you. Lauder spoke the truth when he said you have nowhere to go. If they had not tracked and killed you, I would have."
"Listen, elf! I appreciate your help, but I can hold my own."
"Silence! You humans never understand. I did not save you from that impudent fool and his men. I have saved your life by choosing not to kill you. Thus, you owe your life to me."
"You pretentious bastard! What makes you so sure I have not already returned the favor by sparing your life?"
Tilting his head back slightly, Parthius took a deep breath. "Give him a warning shot!" As his lips finished forming the last word, two arrows descended on Tristan. The arrows plunged themselves into the earth directly in front of his feet, each within an inch of his toes. "You see? We would have staked you to the ground before you ever had the chance to run." It was clear to Parthius that Tristan was beginning to fully grasp his current situation. "Now", he began again, "I will give you to my daughter as a gift. She came of age recently and I think she would fancy having a slave of her own." Addressing the other elves now, Parthius spoke elvish, a language Tristan had never heard.
The two other elves quickly moved toward Tristan. Seeing no way out of his predicament Tristan allowed himself to be blindfolded. Next, the elves disarmed him. He hated having his kwan dao taken away so soon, but swore to himself and the blade that he would wield it before long.
With two elves pulling at his sides and Parthius following close behind, Tristan found himself chuckle aloud as his current situation became all too familiar.