Role

Chapter 5

Lasentia was roused to consciousness by a hand shaking her awake. As her eyes
opened she expected to see Issandril standing over her with his warm smile,
but the unkempt beard dashed any such hopes. "What in the ells yah doing ere
elf?" The dwarf's voice was filled with confusion. "Yah be thinkin this a
fine place fer a soddin nap?" He took a moment to swig some liquid from a
large tankard before continuing. "Were yah in better shape, I'd a booted yer
arse out a ere already instead ah avin tah waste me time fixin yer sorry arse
up enough tah get yah wake nuff tah ask ow yah got ere."

Her eyes looked over her body, noting linen bandages having dressed most of
her wounds. She began to speak but the dwarf cut her off. "Little elven girl
nappin in dis holy place, ells I seen it all now." She had no idea where she
was, which seemed to calm the dwarf some. She found she barely noticed her
injuries as she sat up and told the dwarf what had happened, the man and the
deaths of her two friends and how Issandril had saved her. She asked if the
dwarf had seen any other wood elves near by. "Nah, none livin least I could
see. Jes a few corpses not far off near the road, dey might ave been elves,
but dat bloody mess made it ard tah tell what was what. Ah counted four
though only three looked tah be elves. Takin they were those friends ah yers
yah mentioned."

The dwarf hoisted his tankard once more and took a long drink before offering
it to her. "Ave a drink, tah honor yer fallen comrades, be the best ah can
offer yah fer what yah been through" She managed to her feet and took down a
swallow of the thick ale. "Now den elf, be bout time yah make yer way out ah
dis place, be nothin fer yah ere." She looked over the battlefield, nodded
once more, and allowed the dwarf to lead her through the thickets till soon
they were once more on the road. "Suggest yah get yerself tah Arkam, mebbe
learn ow tah better take care ah yerself, less ah wind up avin tah bandage
yah up again next we meet." The dwarf winked at her with a degree of kindness
that caught her off guard, then turned and began trudging off down the road.

Lasentia looked down the road towards Arkam. Her thoughts only went over her
fallen friends. Her hand stroked through her hair, finding her Crescent
Shadows clasp. Issandril had given her it when she had joined them, saying it
was a token of good fortune for those who thrive in the night. Foolish to
believe, but it comforted her now, to at least have something to remember
them by as she walked alone towards the city towards a new life on her own.