Merill opened his eyes. He couldn’t see anything, his hands were tied behind him. "Cade... Caden!"
"Ahh... please don't yell so much. I'm right next to you..."
"Oh, my head, what happened there?" Merill asked.
"A while after you rushed into the cabin like a madman, someone hit me in the back of my head," Caden replied.
"Do you see anything?" Merill asked again.
"Either I'm blind or it's dark."
"Hah, don't worry, I'll get us out of here," Merill said when the door opened and two people entered in the dark cloaks, one carrying a torch.
"How did you get into the town?" the person with female voice asked Caden.
"You're asking me?" Caden asked.
“Am I squinting? How did you get into town?!"
"Well, I don't know, through the gate?" Caden replied, and he was punched. The interviewer probably didn't like the answer.
"Nah... what do you want to know?"
"How did you get into town?" a person asked again.
"I said by the gate, like everyone else!"
"You couldn't pass the check!" the character punched him again.
"How did you get there?!"
"Hey! Why don't you try someone more experienced," Merill shouted at them.
"Oh, Merill, we can't hurt you. You're even worse and more rotten than we are," a person came to him.
"That wasn't very nice of you," Merill replied.
"Hmm... We've been following you for a while. We like your, let's say, investigation methods," the person laughed.
"Strange, I don't know if I should be flattered or disgusted," Merill laughed.
"See, he's not a coward either. Our master can choose his champions."
"Seriously? Why don't you tell me about him?" Merill laughed.
“This is not a good time yet. Hmm... we'll let you cool down for a while, then it'll be better," the person said, and they both left and closed the door.
"Well, I got it!" Merill released his hands.
"How did you..." Caden said.
"Blades in epaulettes, that's an invention," Merill explained as he released Caden's arms and legs.
"Strange, they left the black scarf over your mouth," Caden wondered.
"They are dark elves, their habits probably have not changed from the normal elves," Merill replied, and with a blade, he opened the door lock he had seen, thanks to the light behind the door.
"It's done, let's go. Stay close to me, Caden," Merill whispered and walked down the hall to the right.
Caden paused. "No. We have to go left." He grabbed Merill's hand and led him to the other side. Caden led Merill out of some underground building, and they found themselves in the forest, it was night.
"How did you do that?" Merill asked, pouring out a small bottle of some liquid just outside the entrance, hidden by leaves and dirt.
"I don't know, I somehow... felt it," Caden replied in confusion.
"No matter now, we have to get out of here," Merill said while leading Caden out of the forest.
"I know this tree, the farm can't be far away. I can't believe that old Herb was right."
After a while, they reached the farm.
"Look! Our horses are still there. Hurry, we have to go to the town now!" Merill ran, but he was hit by the arrow to his leg and fell to the ground.
"Merill!" Caden ran to him and helped him up.
“Idiots! I said stop them! Not kill them!" was heard from the forest.
"Leave me here," Merill said breathlessly.
"Forget it, you'll come with me!" Caden dragged Merill.
Their pursuers were almost behind them, and at that moment, the light in the colour of fire appeared in the sky and enlightened everyone.
"Wardens! Get back, you fools!" their pursuer shouted.
Two wardens on horses ran towards Caden. "Hmm... I see you guys did it without us, after all," the warden said. The wardens helped Merill to the horse and they all went back to town. They took Merill to the hospital and went with Caden to their guardhouse.
"What will we do now?" Caden asked in the office of the wardens.
"Attacking them at night will be madness, we have to wait until morning," the warden told him.
"But they won't be there in the morning, they are already packing things and moving out!" Caden shouted.
"Mr Snead, you probably miss a pretty important thing. And that is, how many is us and how many are them. We were lucky they haven't decided to fight with us, I wouldn't risk it again for you," warden explained.
"So call some reinforcements, you know how dangerous they may be to the neighbourhood," Caden urged.
"The reinforcements would arrive tomorrow anyway. We will inform the competent authorities. Thank you for your help, Mr Snead, we can't do anything more for you."
Caden went offended to the hospital to see Merill.
"How's he doing?" Caden asked one of the doctors.
"I'm sorry, sir, but the arrow was poisoned. So far, we don't know what kind of poison it is, unless an antidote is found, your friend will die in a few days," the doctor explained.
"What? Damn it, find something! They were dark elves, don't we have any writings or books about them?" Caden went angry.
"Not, sir, unless you try to find something yourself. We can't do anything, I'm sorry."
Caden walked over to the bed where Merill lies. "How are you?" Caden asked.
"I'll die, won't I?" Merill replied.
"What? Of course not! How did you think of that?"
"Don't lie to me, Caden, if it was a normal arrow they'd kick me out of the hospital already," Merill said in surrender.
"The arrow... was poisoned you know," Caden said timidly.
"And I suppose the local geniuses have no idea what to do with it," Merill laughed.
"No... they don't. But you're half-elf! You must know something about poison, herbs, and so on," Caden replied.
"Caden, a lot of people in the Empire are half something and they know nothing about it. I don't know any herbs against poisons," Merill replied.
"But I won't let it go, I'll get an antidote, even if I would have to track down those bastards who did it to you myself!" Caden called out and ran out, where the warden was waiting for him.
"What do you want again?" Caden exclaimed.
"Mr Snead, I forgot to tell you that you should be quiet about the dark elf incident. I don't think that I have to explain why."
"I'm afraid that you have to, sir," Caden replied hostilely.
"You know, the Dark Elves are officially under the quarantine administrated by wardens. If anyone got to know about this, there could be riots. And your career would also be in danger."
"Fuck the career! The only friend I have in this town is dying of some poison! Either you can help to heal him, or I'll tell every living creature in the Empire about your incident, sir!" Caden shouted.
"Mr Merill's life is in our interest as well. I assure you that we will do our best to save him," warden answered calmly.
"Just as you did everything to make those damned dark elves not escape from your quarantine? Sorry, but that's not enough for me!" Caden walked away.
"What are you going to do?"
"The only crazy thing I can think of!" Caden furiously left.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
