Just after nightfall the Elleth made her way past the gate sentries in the quiet hamlet of Arhaim. Black cloaked and deep hooded, she moved without a sound save for the rasp of the burden she bore, dragging behind her on the cobblestones. Occasionally the perceptive would have heard a harsh, sibilant muttering, too low to understand, from beneath her cloak....or perhaps they would have just imagined it.
Slowly she moved through the streets as the villagers hurried to close shutters and prepare their evening meals against the rising chill. Many folk stared at the elf and her burden as she passed but she stayed focused on her task, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Finally she came to the cottage she sought and pounded on the door brusquely.
"GOSLIM...OPEN UP...." Her voice once was musical, yet now dissonant and sharp....like a harp played backwards.
The Woodman opened the door carefully, skinning knife in his hand just in case. As the green eye of the elf burned into him from under the hood, he relaxed but did not relinquish the blade. "We're closed, adventurer...come again in daylight."
A rush of wind and the man was no longer holding the curved, serrated blade...rather the elf was. She flipped it effortlessly in her grip and stabbed downward, just to one side of the Woodman's hand. With a sneer she drove the blade clean through the heavy oaken door the man half hid behind to tack a notice to the wood, which read..."BOUNTY FOR SKADHURN, DEMON BUCK - REWARD PAID". The yellowish parchment was stained red in spots by fresh gore.
The man swallowed hard. "Oh...Skadhurn...well if you and your fellows bring that monster down you will need to bring me its' antlers as proof that..."
Xanderian stepped to one side as if gliding on air, revealing not only the deadly antlers of the beast but its' entire enormous head, hacked roughly from it's body and leaving a trail of blood through Arhaim.
Goslim swallowed again..."OH...umm... well done....ummm...you and your fellows have our thanks and...."
The Elleth took the man by the collar and pulled him fully out of the cottage. "No fellows...just me. Save your thanks, Lateborn....I wish the gold. Now." Fumbling at his purse the man drew out the single gold piece, dropping it from nervous fingers.
The huntress released his collar and caught the falling coin in one fluid motion. Shrugging her cloak back into place over iron and leather armor, she turned to go, but first her eyes fell on a figure barely visible inside the half lit cottage. A young woman had her back to the door as she laid the table...her golden blond hair tied into a bun at the back of her head with just a few long wisps falling down. The Elleth froze..then shouldered the man to the side and stepped fully into the cottage, reaching out a hand to the woman and spinning her easily around.
The woman screamed, startled by the sudden intrusion and unexpected force. Crockery scattered and shattered as she fell. "Father?!!" she called and the man, now with a sword in his hand, stepped over the girl to defend her.
"It's alright Gerda...this outsider has its money and now it will leave decent folk in peace." His voice was tight and hostile where before it had just been unsure.
Xanderian looked down at the blonde girl huddling behind her father. The villager's brown eyes stared up in fear, her full face pretty enough, but already worn by hard work and cares. Xan closed her eyes and sighed, whispering to herself like a rebuke..."Not Cyndwin....NOT Cyndwin."
The Elleth straightened, turning her back to the armed man in contempt as she spoke. "Put that sword away, shopkeeper, before I show you how to use it. Fear not..IT is indeed leaving. Enjoy your demon head."
The door was slammed and bolted behind her and she made her way quickly down the street, even as the mystical bow across her back whispered harshly, urgently into her ear. The words in a tongue long since forgotten by all but the very learned urged her to kill the old man, to slaughter the entire village for their presumption. To wade in their blood.
Shaking her head, the ruin of what had been Xanderian hurried faster out of the town, ignoring Heartbreaker's advice...keeping her eyes away from the faces peering nervously at her from windows. They were all too pale, all too golden haired...but none of them Cyndwin....Cyndwin was gone and she knew not how or where...
...And that was a sin Xanderian could never forgive them, or herself, for.
