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Mistcrag: the 12th day of the 6th month.
Runa Seaspyre sighed as she walked into her town, Mistcrag’s local tavern, ‘The Blue Mare’.
The main room was dimly lit, the small braziers that held the flames flickering invitingly.
The tavern was run by Aralia, who was quite a good friend of Runa and her sisters, the place was calm, most of the time. Runa scanned the room, her excitement fading quickly after entering, Sigrinn and Helle weren’t there. She knew that her sisters were prone to going off on long jobs, but she was still disappointed that she couldn’t see them. Glumly, Runa walked over to the bar, where she sat down and heard Aralia’s lilting voice, “I’m sorry, Runa.” Standing at only 1.55 metres tall, Aralia was considered quite short for many women. Runa looked up at Aralia, her teal and gold eyes meeting Aralia’s warm brown ones, “I’ll be fine, ‘lia.” The brunette woman gave Runa a look that said ‘I don’t believe you, but I’ll drop this, for now.’ Runa slumped in her seat and she felt a gentle bump next to her head, she looked up. A hot chocolate sat next to her, and she smiled wanly, “Thanks, ‘lia. How much do I owe you?” Aralia laughed softly, “No problems, It’s on the house.” Runa began to slowly sip on the warm drink, savouring the chocolatey flavour and how it warmed her up from the inside.
The tavern doors opened and a tall woman walked inside, Runa couldn’t stop her head from turning to look at the newcomer, and how she walked. She walked proudly, as if she were somebody quite important. It was unlikely that the woman was important, despite how beautiful she was, the small town of Mistspire was not on any important trade routes, or on any major roads. The strange woman walked over to Aralia and Runa, and she bowed her head slightly, letting Runa catch a glimpse of her pointed Fey ears, so much like Runa’s own. The girl gasped softly and she saw the newcomer smile at her. Aralia spoke up hurriedly, as if to defuse any potential situation, “Welcome, stranger, what brings you to the blue mare?” The woman smiled and she nodded her head in greeting, “I am here to meet two others. My name is Leralen.” Aralia bowed back in greeting, “I’m Aralia, the owner of this place. The girl on the bench is Runa.” Runa’s mouth fell open and she whispered, “Leralen the Bold?” Leralen laughed softly, and she gave Runa a gentle smile, “Yes. That is my nickname.” Runa tried and failed to conceal the amazement and excitement that she felt, “It’s… It’s an honour to meet you, Lady Leralen.” Leralen held out a hand, Runa took it, and they shook hands, “You don’t have to call me lady, Runa, but it is an honour to meet you as well. I hope that you have a lovely rest of your day.”
Leralen walked over to the table in the corner and she sat down, resting her sword next to her. Aralia hurriedly began to make a steaming pot of coffee, as a gift to Leralen.
Not even five minutes later, the door opened for the second time that evening, and Runa craned her neck, attempting to see the person, or people who had just walked in. They were a faerie, and Runa recognised their face in an instant, Adawyn the Silent, faerie sorceress and sister to Queen Stellis of the Faeries. Adawyn walked over to the bar and almost before she’d gotten there, Leralen called out to her, “Ada! I’m in the back!” Adawyn changed course and she went over to where Leralen was sitting and she sat down next to the other woman.
Runa continued to drink her hot chocolate, not being able to change the feeling that she had that something was about to happen. She'd learnt long ago to trust her instincts, especially when things like this happened. Her attention was instantaneously arrested by the arrival of a third being. The third new arrival walked into the tavern, her job obvious by the weapons that she wore. She was either a sellsword, like Sigrinn or she was some kind of soldier. Runa would bet on the latter, if she were the kind of girl to bet, or if she had any coin to spare. As the new arrival pulled her cloak off, Runa gasped audibly and Arlenna the Cunning turned her way. Golden eyes met Sea-Blue and Runa’s mouth fell open in shock for a third time that evening. Arlenna was the sister of the Fey Queen, and her best fighter. Arlenna smirked slightly at Runa, and the girl almost fell over from the shock. No person from Mistcrag had ever considered Runa to be anything more than a nuisance, except when they needed to be healed. Then she was the greatest person in Mistcrag. Arlenna noticed Leralen and Adawyn sitting at the corner table and she walked over to sit next to the pair.
Runa felt a touch on her shoulder, and she turned to Aralia, who grinned at her, “Can you take them some food for me? Tell them it’s on the house.” Runa nodded once, and she picked up the platter that Aralia had placed three bowls of stew, some of her handmade bread, some water and the Coffee that she’d made earlier. Runa carefully picked her way through the tavern, despite there not being many people there, she didn’t want to risk it. As she got closer, Runa could hear small pieces of the conversation that the newcomers were having, “The Heartless.” Leralen had said, referring to the human Queen known as Creyis. She heard other words, “Twice-Killed.” and “Deathbringer.” That caused Runa to stop and freeze, why did they mention her sisters’ names? She had almost dropped everything, if not for Adawyn’s timely intervention. The faerie woman looked at Runa gently, her dark green eyes full of concern and care. “Are you alright?” Runa looked up and she whispered to Adawyn, “Where…” Adawyn shook her head and she whispered back, “We have to be careful, if you’re caught talking about-”
Their hushed conversation was cut short by a loud bang, the door had slammed open, almost tearing it off of its hinges. Adawyn placed the tray that held the food on the nearest table, forgetting about it for now. Runa and Adawyn’s heads snapped up as they turned to the door, spotting the soldiers of Creyis’ army storming in. Leralen and Arlenna stood up, their hands falling to her weapons, but making no move to draw them, instead waiting for Creyis’ soldiers to make the first move. If that happened, then Creyis’ soldiers would be seen as aggressors, and all of the women in the tavern’s main room would be safe, which was the typical first priority of any warrior who fought with honour, and Leralen and Arlenna always fought with honour.
Adawyn turned to Runa and she asked urgently, “Can you fight?” Runa shook her head, “I took…I took an oath of not hurting another being, unless I had no other option.” Adawyn nodded, “Keep yourself and the tavernkeeper safe then.”
Leralen leaned against a table, her arms crossed, “What brings you here on this fine autumn night, gentlemen?” She smirked sardonically, her sharp teeth flashing in the candlelight. The captain glared at her, “Leralen Shadedane. Adawyn Darkfire, and Arlenna Dragondane. Her majesty, Queen Creyis has put out an order for your heads. Come quietly, and I will not have to arrest you on her behalf.”
Arlenna raised an eyebrow, “What will you do if we don’t come quietly?” She questioned the soldier, her voice silvery and smooth. Despite already knowing what the answer would be, Arlenna wanted to annoy them, to make them angry.
An angry soldier always made rash choices, and Arlenna would use that to her advantage. Her hand fell down to the hilt of her sword, freeing it from its scabbard slightly. The motion was imperceptible, to untrained eyes, but Runa had grown up with a sellsword and an assassin as her siblings. She knew what movements a trained warrior would make when getting ready to fight, and she knew that Leralen and Arlenna were the best of the best.
The captain shot a venomous look at Arlenna, “Then you fight and loose, knife-ear.” He clenched his fists and drew his sword, glaring at Arlenna like she was nothing more than a leech and he was about to destroy her.
Runa watched as Leralen, Arlenna and Adawyn subtly prepared themselves to fight. There were at least twelve enemies, and three of them. The odds were four to one, or rather six to one, because Adawyn didn’t fight with melee weapons, being a sorceress, she was more comfortable at a distance, she eschewed using traditional weapons herself. Runa knew that a properly trained warrior was worth at least five regular soldiers, Sigrinn had proven that many times before. She waited in front of Aralia, ready to defend the tavernkeeper and herself, should the need arise.
Leralen pulled her hatchets out of their sheathes. A feral grin broke out across her face, revealing her sharp teeth. She stood casually, with the relaxed stance of a warrior who knew exactly what she was doing.
Arlenna freed her swords from their scabbards, her face a picture of serenity and calm. She cocked her head to the side, and her lips curved into a half-smile.
The first set of guards approached, and Leralen advanced to meet them. One of her axes stayed close to her body, so that she could guard herself.
The soldier tried an overhead cut, but Leralen had predicted that. As his sword came over, she sidestepped the swing, leaving the man to crash into the ground.
Arlenna stood stock-still, and one of the guards went for her. She brought up her left blade, grinning when she saw the shock on her enemy’s face. Left handed swordmasters were a rare occurrence, and Arlenna happened to be one of, if not the finest in all of the kingdoms. In a matter of two well placed cuts, she’d disarmed him, and had nicked his armpit with her second blade. He collapsed, bleeding out onto the flagstone floor.
The next one was more careful, and Leralen feinted an attack at his head, which he fell for. As his sword came up to defend against the perceived attack, Leralen aimed low with her kick. His weight was unbalanced and he fell to the floor, sprawling next to his already fallen comrade.
Aralia winced, “That’s going to be a pain later.”
Arlenna would have laughed, if she were able to hear Aralia, instead she attacked her next enemy. He tried to feint to her left, intending to attack her vulnerable right side. Or at least, he thought it was vulnerable. Arlenna’s second blade caught his attack, and she pressed forward. Cheekily, Arlenna pressed a kiss to the enemy’s cheek, her distraction worked and she pushed him to the ground easily, sending him sprawling and knocking him out.
Leralen didn’t wait to see what happened as she went for the next soldier, slamming into him shoulder-first. He gasped, the wind knocked from his lungs, and Leralen shoved him to the ground. She carefully stepped over him and grinned as she saw her next opponents. Two soldiers stood in front of her.
Unfortunately for Arlenna, she didn’t notice the small nick at the base of her spine, until the blade had pierced her skin. Arlenna swore loudly and on instinct, she kicked backwards, catching her would-be assailant in the stomach and sending him sprawling to the floor. She had only just enough time to disarm her next few opponents, before she collapsed, to the ground.
One charged for her and she sidestepped his attack, the flat of one of her axe blades crashing into his head, causing him to fall to the ground. As that happened, Leralen noticed a small fleck of movement out of the corner of her eye. She brought up an axe just in time to parry the second soldier’s cut. She pressed forwards and caught his blade on her Axe. She used that to rip the blade from the soldier’s hands, as well as delivering a powerful kick to his sternum. He bent double and gasped for air, as he began to empty the contents of his stomach onto the floor. Leralen curled her lip in disgust, as she beheld the sight.
Her eyes flickered to Arlenna, who was white as a sheet, and shaking uncontrollably. She rushed over, not noticing the Guard Captain, who managed to get her with a similar blade.
Adawyn, who had been watching, froze the captain as she saw his blade cut into Leralen’s skin. Unfortunately for her comrades, she was far too slow to save them.
The captain, the still-living guards and the dead guards were removed from the room by Adawyn, who used her sorcery to move them to the capital city where Creyis had her palace.
Runa ran to where Leralen and Arlenna lay, pressing her one hand against each of their foreheads. She sighed with relief, “They’re alive and stable. I can get the poison out of their system, but I’ll need to move them.”
Adawyn nodded once, “I’ll get them to wherever you need me to. Lera and Lenna can’t die.”
Aralia spoke up, “I’ll help you.”
Together, the strange trio began the slow task of moving the warriors to where Runa could heal them safely, without risk of harming the legendary pair.
Leralen and Arlenna were heavy, due to their armor, and even Adawyn had trouble carrying them.
But, the group managed to get Leralen and Arlenna to Runa’s house, where she directed Adawyn and Aralia to set them down on medical beds.
“I should go.” Aralia bowed, “It was lovely to meet you, Lady Adawyn.”
Adawyn smiled, “And you, Miss Aralia. I must insist that I give you some form of repayment for the destruction that I had an involuntary part in causing.” Aralia shook her head, raising her hands, palms out, “I couldn’t possibly accept that, you had no part in this-”
Adawyn cut her off by pressing the purse into her hands, “I will not take no for an answer, Aralia.”
Aralia bowed her head and she smiled at Runa, “I’ll see you later, Rune.” Runa didn’t respond, as she was busy mixing herbs in her bowl. Aralia took that as her cue to leave Runa and Adawyn.
Runa hummed softly, “The burning sun’s flames bathe the sea in light, feel the deepest warmth, touch our darkest nights.” Her hands glowed slightly, the only indication of what she was truly doing. “Calm our angry hearts beneath the waves of fate, feel the tears of rain, wash away our hate.”
“Your song is beautiful.” Adawyn commented, “It’s like a hymn that the faeries have to the mother-goddess, Zespira.”
Runa smiled as she continued her healing, she didn’t look away from her patients as she responded to Adawyn, “Thank you, Adawyn.”
The pair let the silence stretch, not the kind of silence that was tense and uncomfortable, but the kind that was calming and peaceful, the kind that old friends may have. Adawyn found that strange, the fact that she felt like she’d always known Runa.
Runa stood up and she gave Adawyn a weak smile, most of her magical energy drained for now, “They’ll need a day or two, but they’re alright for now.”
Adawyn almost bowed in gratitude, “Thank you, Runa.”
Runa shook her head, “None needed, I’m a healer, I would help anyone that needed it.”
Adawyn looked at Runa and as she noticed the girl’s ears, she blurted out, “You’re not a human, or at least you're not fully human.”
“You are correct. I am half fey.” Runa’s face turned dark, “You mentioned my sisters, Helle and Sigrin before, What do you know about them?” She tensed, bracing herself for hearing the worst news possible.
Adawyn sighed, “Creyis has them. She stole them from their recent hunt, and in doing so, myself, Lera, and Lenna had tried to figure out where they lived, so that we could possibly help their family. Now I learn that they only have one sister, who heals others.” She and Runa both laughed slightly, and Adawyn continued, “I didn’t expect any family of the best assassin and mercenary in all of the Verdant Lands to be a healer.”
The pair fell silent, and Adawyn realised that Runa could be the key. She could feel that Runa’s magical affinity was almost on par with her own, despite not having enough training. It was easy to guess, as Mistcrag was quite out of the way. That is why Creyis couldn’t get Runa. “Runa,” Adawyn began, uncharacteristically nervous, despite what her age and reputation would have made many believe, “Have you ever thought that your power is more than just healing?”
Runa shook her head, “I’ve always been good at healing, but I never thought that I’d be able to do something other than heal people.”
Adawyn understood the sentiment, when she’d been small, she’d thought that she was only skilled with defensive techniques. “I want to train you to use your magic properly. Would you like to be my apprentice?”
Runa stared at Adawyn, her feelings written on her face, plain to any observer.
“You don’t have to rush into this, Runa.” Adawyn continued hurriedly, “I don’t want to force you into doing anything that you aren’t comfortable with doing.”
“Adawyn”, Runa smiled slightly, “I would be honoured to be your apprentice.”
Adawyn smiled and for the first time since she was a kid, the first time she had felt happy.