A/N:
Hope everyone is enjoying the story! Please review and let me know if you like it or not.
ForGG: Thanks for your review! Don't worry, you won't have to wait long. The entire story is written, I've just not been able to edit/clean up the later chapters yet. I'm posting them as I'm able to do so.
Twisted Fate
Chapter 4
Nariel awoke to darkness in her room. The only source of faint light was the soft orange flicker of a torch outside of her window. She lay there for a moment trying to shake off the grogginess of an unpleasant sleep before rolling out of bed quietly and stepping over to the window to peer out. The dark sky was moonless, and the stars had begun to fade – a hint that the first morning light was almost upon the small village.
Might as well just stay up. She thought to herself.
It was her habit to rise before the sun each morning, so while it was a bit earlier than she wanted, it was close enough. Silently she slipped on everything but her mask – she didn't think she would need it in the dark, and it would interfere with eating - and packed up her gear before stepping out to the main part of the inn. It was deserted, save for the lone innkeeper who was just beginning his daily work, chopping meat and pulling supplies out of the cellar. The Orc looked up from his task as she approached, giving her a polite nod.
"You're an early riser I see" he said before returning to cleaning a mug.
Nariel only nodded before asking "What have you got ready?"
The Orc motioned to the table he was standing at. "Only what you see here." He replied, adding "Bread, water, and a little bit of leftover meat. If you're after something more it will be a bit longer."
Nariel shook her head. "Pack it up." She said as she placed a few coins on the counter, taking the food he gave her in return. She ate half of the bread almost instantly – I must have been hungrier than I thought she said to herself – and stored the rest of the food away before draining the glass of water and turning to the door.
"You're off then?" asked the innkeeper.
"Yes." Nariel replied.
"Weren't you with a couple others?" he pried.
Nariel shook her head. "Just acquaintances. I doubt they even remember my name." she said before turning and stepping out into the dark.
In truth, she did want to leave before the pair awoke. They seemed friendly, but the previous night was reminder enough why she preferred to be alone. Her wolf, accustomed to her early morning starts was already awake and waiting where she had left it in the stables the previous day. Next to it, curled up on a pile of straw, was Frostbite. At the sound of Nariel approaching the tiger lifted its head lazily to peer at the rogue. Nariel paused briefly before turned to the tiger. Reaching into her pack, she brought out the meat and tore a chunk of it away before stepping over and kneeling next to the orc's pet.
"There." She said as she placed the meat on the straw in front of Frostbite, adding with a smirk "Truce?"
The cat sniffed it briefly before downing it in a single bite, looking up to Nariel expectantly. She gave a slight laugh and shook her head.
"Sorry girl, the rest is for me." She said, reaching her hand up to scratch behind the tiger's ear.
In response, Frostbite flopped over and began to purr as if she were a normal house cat, apparently accepting the peace offering with glee.
Who's a killer? Yes! Who's a good killer? You are! Nariel grinned as the absurdity of the tiger's actions ran through her mind. It was just as she rose and turned to prepare her own wolf for departure that a voice spoke behind her.
"I think she likes you." Solarius said.
Nariel froze briefly, caught off guard before turning her head to see where he had spoken from. Sure enough, the Paladin was leaning against the stone wall of the inn, an amused look on his face.
"How long have you been standing there?" Nariel asked uneasily.
"Only a moment." He replied with a wave. "Frostbite wasn't fed last night, and Molikor sleeps like a rock." He said, adding "I came out to give her something to eat, but it looks like you beat me to it"
"What are you doing out here?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow.
"Leaving." She said, slightly on edge.
"Leaving?" Solarius asked with a surprise. "So early?"
"Yes" she replied.
"Where are you heading in such a rush?" he asked before adding "We were going to ask if you wanted to join us in heading back to-"
Nariel shook her head, cutting him off. "I-I can't. I'm sorry." She said, trying unsuccessfully to hide the edge in her voice.
She needed to leave soon. The conversation was quickly beginning to feel like having a spotlight pointed at her, and she felt naked without her mask on, like her entire soul was on display for him to judge.
"Are you ok?" Solarius asked seriously, the rest of his smile fading as he took a step towards her.
"Yes." She said, more firmly than she intended.
Quickly she turned away from him, reaching into her pack for the mask, pulling it out before fastening it on with a single swift movement. The small piece of leather hardly provided any true physical protection, serving instead more to conceal her identity but when she wore it she felt as if a thousand extra layers of armor had been wrapped around her body. Her eyes closed as she felt the buckle click behind her ear, and she let out a soft relieved sigh before turning back to face the Paladin.
"Nariel, I know you aren't very familiar with us yet" Said Solarius "but if you need help Molikor and I will gladly aid you."
"No. I'm fine, really." She replied. "You just caught me off guard a moment ago." She added, trying to sound convincing.
Instantly her body language had changed; it was an act she had mastered and once again was able to perform with her security returned. She was no longer stiff and guarded, but more relaxed. She had control of herself now, and tried her best to seem as if she were at ease with the whole conversation. She stepped over to where her wolf was waiting, untying it from the post and leading it out to the path. As she passed by Solarius, he said nothing but wore a grave look of concern on his face. She climbed atop the wolf and turned to the Paladin one last time.
"Thank you for your company. Please tell Molikor I'm sorry I could not wait for him this morning." She said. Still he said nothing, but nodded slowly in reply.
"Farewell Solarius." She said to the Paladin.
"Good luck to you Nariel." He replied, his voice laced with concern.
With a nudge of her heel the wolf set out, leaving the Crossroads and her two temporary companions behind. Solarius stood quietly, watching her ride away and thinking over the conversation that they had just had. Something was certainly off. He thought over it all, looking for some clue, but could think of nothing that might have caused her uneasiness. Nothing had been unusual about their conversation the previous day, and she had seemed to be enjoying herself even up until the group disbanded, heading to their respective rooms in the inn.
"Well girl." He said sadly, turning to Frostbite. "Whatever it is, it's out of our hands now. I just hope it's nothing too serious."
He scratched the top of the cat's head as he thought. The elf had worn her mask since they had met. Several times she had even deliberately avoided removing it, such as when he had offered her water after knowing she had not had any during the entire ride. She had even kept it on in the inn, while they talked away the evening hours the night before. It was clearly something she felt attached to, so it was a surprise to see her without it this morning, and he couldn't help but notice one thing in particular:
Nariel was beautiful.
