When Viessa opened her eyes she found herself as a specimen to too many observers. Admittedly, I had jumped across the room when I noticed her stirring, which prompted Valor and Glory to crowd in behind me.

  The elf sat up, blinked several times then gasped, covering her face with her hands. She tucked her ears back under her silver hair--a fruitless attempt to hide the obvious. Fear arrived in her emerald gaze, then panic, but hunger conquered all.

  Viessa stumbled off the couch, reaching for the table and Naila swooped in.

  "Easy now, easy," she said, guiding her over to the table.

  Good, she can move. We'll be out of here in no time.

  Everyone joined her at the table. Valor and Glory sat in utter awe, watching as the elf slayed an entire loaf of cheesy bread.

  It's not that impressive.

  I poured Viessa a beer, but she reached over, snatched the pitcher from my hands and downed half of it as she scanned her next victim, a prime cut of steak twice the size of her head.

  "I thought elves were vegetarians," Wedgmund said.

  "Only in Onadell," I said.

  "May the wind remember our names," Naila chimed in.

  Viessa's ears perked up and she set her fork down, turned to me and whispered, "She speaks Elvish?"

  "She does?"

  "Cyprus, you speak elvish?" Naila asked, though I couldn't tell if it was in Aclanian or Elvish considering the Divine Framework automatically translated everything on the fly.

  Awkward.

  "Who taught you the language of my kin?" Viessa asked, which almost rattled Lexington and Wedgmund from their chairs.

  Lexington slapped his knee. "She speaks Aclanian!"

  "Some," Viessa said.

  I bit my tongue, totally fucking confused by who was speaking in what language.

  "Incredible," Naila said, leaning over the table, infatuated with the elf.

  "Where did you learn such a saying?" Viessa asked.

  "A friend. His name was Faedel," Naila said.

  "Humans do not befriend elves. They own them. Faedel of the Mossveil clan?" Viessa's gaze sharpened like a knife going for a pig's throat.

  "How do you know?"

  "Faedel was one of twelve Elvish children taken in the middle of the night 20 years ago by human invaders."

  I bit the inside of my cheek, finding it tough like leather, trying not to laugh at such an inappropriate moment. Child abductions were not funny in the slightest. Naila's main intention of talking with Viessa was to determine whether or not I was keeping her against her will. But now the shoe was on the other foot.

  Look at who's the improper slaver, now.

  Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice neither wavered nor broke as she said, "A year after Master bought me, he brought back a young elf boy."

  Never mind. I'm an asshole.

  "We spent almost every day together for five years. He taught me several adages, and enough  Elvish to get me into Onadell. At least that's what he claimed, saying if I spoke it well enough the Grand Guardians would have no choice but to let me in." The fondness in Naila’s voice withered into a harsh silence, like autumn leaves surrendering to winter's first frost.

  "Faedel, he's no longer alive?"

  "No."

  Viessa nodded, her righteous expression melting away. "Thank you. I'll inform the Mossveil clan of his death once I return home."

  "You were a slave?" I asked. "Who was your master?"

  If Wedgmund's legs were long enough, he probably would've kicked me underneath the table. He vehemently shook his head, while Lexington motioned for me to shut my mouth.

  "Daven Murpharion," she said with a hollow voice.

  The noble who owns the Stacked Deck?

  "Let's leave the past alone," Lexington chimed in before the blanket of depressing silence could smother everyone. "How did you end up so far from home?"

  Viessa's eyes flicked upward, finding the words in her head. "I was taken by humans in Zirhama."

  Naila leaned forward. "You were in Kalistan when you were abducted?"

  "Ab-ducted?" Viessa asked, slowly sounding the word out.

  "Taken, stolen," Lexington said. "What were you doing there?"

  The elf fumbled for the right phrase, before she looked toward me, falling back on her native tongue. "Tell them I was there for official state affairs on Onadell's behalf, when raiders attacked our convoy."

  I relayed the information and Naila nodded, impressed with my translation skills.

  "When do you plan on returning to Onadell? It's no easy feat. But I know a smuggler. He imports rare wines from all over the world and he owes me a favor. If you wish to return home, I can have it arranged."

  "Aye, what are you saying?" Wedgmund asked.

  "She's offering my friend an exit," I said.

  "Naila, you're crossing a line." Lexington gulped, exchanging a nervous glance with Wedgmund.

  After all, the last argument Lexington saw me get into resulted in severed limbs and two deaths.

  "No. Thank you," Viessa said loud and clear, turning her attention back to the steak.

  The instant rejection took Naila by surprise. Sitting stunned in her seat, she watched the elf devour most of the steak before trying once more.

  "We'll accompany you, Cyprus can come as well. Aclana's far too dangerous for an elf."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Viessa dabbed her chin with a napkin then graciously bowed her head. "Your offer is generous, but I must decline."

  The elf paid no mind to Naila's disbelief. Instead, she confiscated the rest of the unused napkins and began filling them with leftover rolls, seasoned potatoes, and even a tray of butter, wrapping them and tying a neat knot on top.

  "Not the jelly, too." I palmed my forehead.

  "It's fine. I will double wrap it."

  Viessa stood up and bowed. "It was nice meeting you... Va-Lor and Glo-ree?"

  "Are you healthy enough to travel?" I asked, surprised she was making for the exit.

  "I suffered from mana exhaustion. As long as you don't die again, I'll be fine."

  "Please, stay the night," Naila said. "There's no—"

  But Viessa interjected, "The hours before the first breath of dawn..."

  "Carries the sweetest scent," Naila finished, confusing Lexington and Wedgmund once more.

  Whatever weird elf adage that was, it finally shut down Naila's relentless badgering. She sat in silence, stewing in an unspoken longing. Meanwhile the elf changed back into her heavy armor.

  "Let me help carry your raid supply pack and food to the stable," Lexington said.

  "Be safe. Mountain bandits still own the night in these parts," Wedgmund said.

  "I feel bad for the bandits," Lexington muttered under his breath as we headed for the door.

  I kept close watch on Viessa on our way to the stables, not picking up on any signs of weakness in her stride. The cool night air greeted us, followed by the rank scent of horseshit as we stepped into the stables and retrieved our horses.

  "Pardon Naila's overreach." Lexington glanced over his shoulder both ways like she'd appear if we said her name three times. "When it comes to elves, she's protective."

  "Think nothing of it."

  He let out a sigh of relief, and assisted Viessa onto her horse, securing the raid supplies and her leftovers into the saddlebags.

  "This Daven Murpharion, how come he's still breathing? Naila doesn't seem like the forgiving type.

  "Mate, I know you're not from around here, but let me make one thing clear. Aclana is run by nobles for nobles. If the wrong person hears you speak ill on their name, you'll find yourself neck deep in trouble."

  "Trouble is all I’ve known," I said as I climbed onto the horse. "What makes him so fearsome you won't curse his name out in a desolate stable miles from Ingcaster?"

  "Because cursing his name only reinforces the illusion that we can change the course forged by the kingmakers and those who serve in their shadow. It took years to convince her not to throw her life away chasing revenge." He paused, jaw tightening. "They'd kill her, her sister, then Wedg, me, and everyone close to us."

  "It's a shame. When decent people fall silent all anyone hears are words of the wicked. Maybe it's time those words end in screams."

  "One can only hope." Lexington reached up and shook my hand. "Thanks for keeping us alive. I have an overwhelming sense we'd still be inside the belly of that monstrosity if it were not for you."

  "Take care, and try not to go into any more dungeons anytime soon."

  ***

  Lambert, a level four of the Ashfang Raiders lurked at the wooded crest of a steep hill, overlooking the path just before it winded into the mountains. Ten yards down from him a spotter signaled that two targets were approaching the bend.

  "Oy, one of 'em looks drunk. The fucker's all slumped over," Gazzhe said, his yellow teeth glinting in the moonlight.

  "It's about damn time. We've been getting eaten alive by the insects and all we have to show for it is one horse and a half bottle of rum," Lambert growled. "I'm starving, drop the drunk's horse once they're in range."

  "Oy."

  I snapped back into my body, sitting up as my horse trotted toward the bend.

  During our ride out of Vaulter, I discovered by keeping my feet in the stirrups and rigging a rope around my waist and the saddle horn I could stay balanced while I piloted Void Seer. Viessa led the way on her horse, and I scouted ahead.

  Void Seer's new mastery active bonus was proving useful. I'd spotted the raiders miles earlier and tethered my vision to the canopy above them. With the tether set I could snap into Void Seer and watch them instantly without a need to fly my vision across any distance.

  "There's seven of them. Four up past this bend, and three that we're passing now."

  "You're speaking elvish, loudly..." Viessa whispered.

  "None of them are worthy of sparing. They're all between levels two and four. If you're willing to draw blood, I can prep them for you."

  Viessa shuddered. "I can't."

  "So be it. I want to test out my new mastery levels anyway."

  "I still don't understand this Divine Framework of yours."

  "Neither do I."

  We drew our horses to a halt on the cusp of the bend, just out of Gazzhe's line of fire. I dropped down from my steed and stretched my legs, taking to the center of the moonlit path.

  "You can come out now. Don't make me come chasing after you."

  Gazzhe replied with an arrow that came spiraling out of the brush. The hairs on the back of my neck raised as a static electricity hummed up my spine. A shadow swirled out of thin air and nicked the arrowhead, driving it into the ground.

  No incantation. No movement. Only an impulse fired by instinct.

  "What was that?" Gazzhe said, his voice coming in crystal clear despite whispering a 100 feet away up the hill.

  Is this a byproduct of Void Seer's new mastery bonus?

  "Kagoru, dispel him," Lambert whispered.

  "Done," the mage said.

  I whistled and tapped my foot. "What's with the delay? Fire some more arrows."

  "Do it," Lambert commanded.

  "What the fuck? No. Nobody asks to be shot at. I've got a sick feeling we should let these two go."

  "Pussy," Lambert snatched the crossbow from his comrade and jammed in another bolt.

  Swoosh and snip. Before the bolt could exit the brush a sliver of darkness sliced it in half.

  "Lambert, we should run," Gazzhe cried, voice steeped in dread.

  I cupped my hands around my mouth. "Don't bother! There's no one around for miles. Now come out onto the road before the woods swallow you whole."

  Lambert threw his fingers forward, signalling the three goons to collapse in behind us. "We have the high ground, he can't take all of us."

  "Fuck this," Gazzhe said and turned for the brush.

  He ran away, deep into the brush. Yet, it felt like I was right next to him, reaching out from underneath the logs he had just jumped over. Grabbing at his feet.

  Gazzhe screamed as he crashed into a bush, the bottom half of his legs parted from his body, hanging back by the logs. His screams were way too loud. I swore I could almost feel his spittle wet my ear.

  Quiet, please.

  Darkness wrapped its arms around him and squeezed. Gazzhe exploded like he had swallowed a hand grenade. Footfalls belonging to the trio running in from behind transitioned into hesitant steps, each one slower than the last.

  Lambert, the mage, and a spear carrying goon emerged at the top of the hill covered in their comrade's blood. I took a stroll up the hill. Viessa kept close behind me with both horses in tow until we were sandwiched 10 yards between both trios.

  "Are those the only ranged weapons you have?" I sighed, hoping they'd have some throwing knives or slingshots.

  "Who are you? And what the hell did you do to Gazz?" Lambert's voice cracked along with his tough raider persona.

  Though to be fair, it seemed like his whole crew shared the same sentiment.

  Shit. They're way too scared already for this to be any fun.

  Plus, I could feel Viessa's judgemental glare, like a parent catching their kid burning ants with a magnifying glass.

  I retrieved the last four throwing knives from my burnt leather sheath. With a careful underhanded toss, I delivered two uphill, and two downhill.

  "Pick them up."

  "Lambert, what happened to Gazz?" one of the downhill goons asked.

  I clapped my hands together producing a thunderous echo. "Focus. He's dead, and you'll all join him unless you can land a single hit. Does everyone understand?"

  The silence was deafening.

  I never should've exploded someone so quickly.

  "Five. Four. Three..."

  On three they scrambled for the throwing knives, on two they wound them back.

  "One."

  One bolt, one arrow, and four throwing knives came flying through the air. Three projectiles from the incline, and three from behind.

  It was like the world around me became a mere extension of myself. Despite not having eyes in the back of my head, I felt the iron rippling through the night. Raw instinct controlled the shadows, swatting each projectile down only inches from their release.

  "Cursed magic?" Lambert yelled.

  "Interesting. Thanks for playing."

  Six thin spikes formed out of thin air and impaled the raiders through the back of their skulls, temporarily raising them off the ground. I blinked and they dropped dead.

  Shadow Weave at will, no fancy hand movements required.

  +20 XP

  +5 Karma

  "That's your mastery? The result of the Divine Framework?" Viessa gasped.

  "Seems I can wield Shadow Weave at will with ridiculous precision. Though, I admit it’s kind of spooky.”

  "Are you leaving them like this?"

  "No, you're right."

  Using Shadow Weave, I sliced them into bits and shoveled them off into the woods. Viessa gagged.

  "You're feeling ill again? From the mana exhaustion?"

  "No! I thought you'd bury them, not do something so crass and disgusting."

  "Digging is too much effort. I'm doing nature a favor. It's like steak'ums for the wolves."

  "What are steak'ums?"