Archives: Search for Azala
Chapter 2: Leaving Raiden
Seri and Estas left Raiden as fast as their horses could walk. The two high elves were quite content once they passed out of the gates and onto the roads. Once they were at an even more comfortable distance from the gates, Seri halted her horse and turned to face the mercenaries she hired, waiting for them to catch up.
Sairina rode up alongside Seri, who was waiting for them on the roadside. The high elves had nearly left them in the dust as they hurried out of the city. True to her promise, apparently Seri would now explain what their mission was, once everyone else was near.
Orion sighed. It was obvious that some sort of discussion was to ensure and, of course, everyone was to be a part of it. With a second rider on his mount, he had no reason not to move right into the discussion. The common elf was the last to gather, since he was the last in line of travel. He stayed on his horse, awaiting an explanation to ensue. At this point, Orion thought, it might be better not to know, now that we are about to become knee deep in it.
Eager to finally find out just what it was they were going to be doing, Luria rode to the high elves after Sairina and waited almost unable to contain her excitement.
Phaeton spurred his gelding quickly up to the others as he joined the priestess and his other companions. The young savage looked at elf maiden Luria and gave her his brightest most gentle smile. He was as excited as his companions, as he gazed from her over to the waiting high elves. At last their mission was beginning, he was certain that the details of the job would be given soon. Even so, the young wild man had made his mind up to make recompense for his earlier questions to the priestess. Phaeton would do his best to atone for his mistake somehow, to the savage it was a matter of making up for an offense.
The high elf waited patiently for everyone to gather around her, even staying silent until Orion and Kitsa finally approached. Sairina couldn’t help but be frustrated by Seri’s patience, but the priestess kept it well under control.
“Now that we are out of the city, I can explain what your job will be for Estas and I,” Seri spoke. “As you have noticed, I am with child. My child’s father is unaware and left before even I knew. I have exhausted the resources available in the Forest of No Return for finding him. Estas and I have searched on our own for a month with no success, so I sought aid. Finding Azala will not be easy, he is a wanderer and never stays in one place for long.”
Sairina was surprised by the purpose of their mission, to put it bluntly, Seri wanted them to find the guy that knocked her up. The priestess didn’t even imagine that high elves had such drama in their relationships. It was the sort of story Sairina heard often between women gossiping in the markets, some girl became pregnant out of wedlock and the father made himself disappear. And what would happen once they fond them? Would Estas force this Azala to marry Seri at sword point?
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask,” Seri said as she turned her horse around, continuing to ride onward. This time, she set a very slow, easy pace. Sairina followed Seri, keeping a pace with the high elf’s horse. “My Lady Seri, what does Azala look like?” the priestess asked.
“Azala...Is a very handsome elf,” Seri replied, and blushed, to Sairina’s surprise. “Common elf, he is originally from the Glassy Woods. Blond hair, fair skin, green eyes. Hmm...he is tall, but not nearly as tall as Estas. About as tall as you, Sairina. He carries a broad sword, usually sheathed across his back.”
“Well I’ve never met him,” Luria said after trying very hard to recall if she’d heard the name before. She followed along closely behind Sairina and near to Phaeton, a bit shy of their employers. She let out a huge breath of air. These high elves might have a spiritual wisdom, but the woman at least seemed woefully naive. “Lodoss is a big place... and that description could fit almost any male elf. Any leads at all as to which direction he might have gone? Were did you two look already? Did you find out anything in Raiden that might help us? And another thing... you hired a handful of fighters here, are we expecting some resistance from this guy?” She smacked a fist and palm together to emphasize. “Not that I’ve got qualms with dragging him back, but I’d just like to know ahead of time.”
Orion was silent. Hunting after this woman’s supposed lover was not what he expected. It did not sound much like an adventure at all. He wasn’t following them around for the adventures, though. Orion thought it was obvious that this Azala fellow did not care enough to stick around. What goal could one possibly have for finding him. From the sounds of it, Azala would not settle down and make a family. Orion had heard his fair share of stories about men that would “fall in love” with women and then dump them when some of their other urges had been met. It was not new.
Phaeton listened quietly, as the high elves explained the mission. The savage knew little of civilized ways when it came to courtship and he knew far less when it came to the ways of spirit-folk. After his companions had spoken the savage, raised a hand and spoke, “Forgive me honored ones, but I must ask the obvious. When we find this fellow Azala, what if he is...reluctant to be—How can I say this?—brought back to see the results of his...um...passion? Is…tying him up and bringing him back gently acceptable?”
“I...don’t expect him to resist. I need fighters for my own protection, but trackers who know the land most importantly,” Seri replied. “We’ve been searching for the last six months, since I realized I was with child. He left three months before us, following the north road out of the forest. We followed his trail west, speaking with people who had seen him in villages and cities. We met his family in the Glassy Woods, but they couldn’t tell us anything helpful. We found some help searching for him in Raiden, but all they found out was that he went west a month ago. Now, it seems we may have to retrace our path.”
The high elf’s ears twitched lightly, and he looked passively back, then at Seri. “That is a possible outcome...” he said in the stoic tone that only a high elf could speak with. He had lived long enough to know that happy endings didn’t always occur, and were actually the lesser of all possibilities. Of course, he didn’t know her lover personally, but assuming the worst was a common high elf trait. Or maybe it was just his.
As the high elf finished speaking, Phaeton nodded it was all perfectly clear to him. The duty of protection was familiar to him, the savage knew little of child birth and would leave that matter to the priestess, but he did know a few herbal cures and the like if needed. The young savage turned towards the High elf woman and spoke, his blue eyes seemed to almost sparkle as he’d do his best to keep them safe, “Thank you, honored ones. You answered many of the questions I’d had.” Turning to Luria, he gave the elf maiden a smile and waited until they moved out.
Luria chuckled a little as Phaeton smiled at her. “Well,” she said. “I know my way around Lodoss pretty well. I’ve got a map right here,” she tapped her head to illustrate that she meant in her brain, not that that fact would give comfort who knew her well. “So lets go west, then! Since you’ve already asked around the area, maybe someone had the foresight to let him know we’re searching for him.”
Phaeton chuckled as he regarded the elven maiden, the savage smiled and spoke as they began to move out onto their mission finally. “Hahaha, you are an intelligent, humorous and lovely woman. I’m glad I met you, and perhaps you’ll aid me as I do my best to remember the places and climes we visit during our mission. The civilized lands are so different from the Wildlands of my home. I’m as excited as a child at play, half the joy to this will be the chance to explore more of Lodoss.” The young savage meant every word, and couldn’t help a playful chance to flirt as he’d spoken.
The savage couldn’t imagine what it had to be like for the high elf female. Pregnant and looking for her child’s father, it seemed this Azala had little care for those women he left with child. The young savage sighed and chided himself mentally, as he thought to himself. I have no right to judge. The customs here are different, mayhap that is the way of certain civilized peoples. I fear I may never understand the civilized world, so many different things... so confusing. Glancing over at Luria the savage started to speak but stopped himself, the young elf maiden looked lost in thought. Phaeton smiled and turned his eyes back onto the road, now wasn’t the time for talk anyway. As they were acting as guard for the high elves, talk could wait for later.
Kitsa sighed and leaned close to Orion to speak to him personally. “I fear I may not be very helpful in this endeavor,” she whispered to the elf. “I know so little about Lodoss save for a century old map.”
Orion sat silent for what seemed like a minute after Kitsa actually spoke. He seemed to be considering his words. Perhaps he had not heard her at all, it seemed. Then, as if the thought just came to him, Orion leaned back and practically whispered in reply. “Worry not, my companion. Where you lack in knowledge of the land, you may make up in other areas. Every skill that anyone has can come into necessity at any time.”
Kitsa gave a little smile. “You are right,” she replied. The quarter elf paused and looked ahead, resting her chin on Orion’s shoulder. “What do you think of this mission?” she whispered.
As usual, the stoic Orion sat silent for a moment, as if to gather his thoughts before replying. Every time he spoke, he delayed first. Restraint was a virtue he practiced often. “It is unique. I have doubts that this story will have a happy ending, whether we find the father or not,” he whispered, attempting to make sure no one heard but himself and Kitsa behind him. “I think our mission will go beyond what she asks. A part of me whispers that our employer will require the support of our hearts as much as the sharpness of our steel or our ability to hunt for her lover.” Orion leaned his head down, silent in thought. His heart stretched out to the woman. There she was, alone and bearing child. The mission was to help her. He wondered if it was possible to do so.
Surprisingly, he took more interest in the conversation than he would have normally showed. “And you?”
Kitsa, her head resting on Orion’s shoulder, watched Seri. “From what my father told me, I suppose I had the impression that high elves were greater than everyone else,” Kitsa replied. “But Seri seems like any young woman, even if she must be hundreds of years old. It makes them seem just like regular people.”
