After we set up camp, we all gathered around the fire to eat what little food we had, and for a long overdue conversation. We all had our reasons for being here, and our secrets. Unfortunately the probability of all of us dying on this mission is extremely high. We all knew because of this, without trust death would come sooner rather than later.
No one spoke at first. Everyone was hesitant. Just a few hours ago we were strangers meeting in a tavern, awaiting orders. Are we hunters, mercenaries, or just adventures? What are each of our relations, and loyalties to the queen? These were surely questions all of us were asking ourselves while hunkering down on our food. No eye contact, no movement. We ate in silence until my daughter broke it.
“I apologize for my mother,” she said speaking softly.
This caused everyone to look up at her, watching the fire light up her skin making it look more pale than purple. Her eyes betrayed her nature as they glistened silver in the dark.
She finally spoke again jarring me from my train of thought, “Mother doesn’t do very well talking to other people.” She put a hand on my shoulder before continuing, “So I’ll help her.”
Feeling everyone’s eyes on me, I looked down ashamed. My body trembled, and I hugged myself feeling a panic attack starting to set in. She squeezed my shoulder again attempting to calm me down as she spoke, “My mother’s a good queen to her people, but as you know the drow race isn’t favored by the human queen. She who rules the land and the sky, shuns the one that rules the rock and the fire.”
Elizabeth paused for a moment taking time to look into everyone’s eyes before continuing, “My birth was meant to ease our existence, and give our people reason to resurface. I’m an illegitimate child though, as their bond was never completed. As cruel as she was mother grew to love her. She promised mother safe harbor, and re-acceptance into the lit world if she gave her an heir.”
She took a breath, “She never planned on keeping her promise. To her drow are tainted of death, and darkness. She tells everyone the goddess of the sun shuns us for we worship the goddess of the moon. This she says is the reason why our skin is a deep purple. Claiming our taint drives us to hunt and kill inside the darkest shadows.”
She lowered her head, her hair dropping over her shoulder as a tear hits the ground. This caused me to wrap my arms around her as she continued to speak, “For these reasons the queen never finished the bond. She scoffed at my mothers pleas. Told her that since my skin is purple our race will forever be cursed. The reason why were on this mission, is because the queen said she would kill me if we refused. If we fail, and return I will also be killed. To her I’m an abomination. I’m un-pure so there for I am not her child. We are more than certain that this mission is only meant to result in my death.”
Those last words lingered in the air as she composed herself, pulling out the knife hidden in the leg of her leather suit. She pressed it down to her finger until a small trickle of blood bright red as could be ran down her hand. Then she took my hand and did the same thing. My blood came out black, swirling and pulling away from the flames, then retracted into my body sealing up the wound. Her finger continued to bleed. No words were needed, as this shows she is indeed pure. We sat there in silence having spoke our piece waiting on the next person to tell there tale.
Ty moved slightly creaking before he spoke, “I’m a mercenary and a hunter nothing more.” Then he looked at me adding, “war-forged were created by man in the fires of the earth. We were only given true life when the soldiers who fought beside us died among us. Their blood gave us life and a will of our own. Since then I’ve been traveling, learning, and doing the only thing I know which is bringing death to my targets.”
He sat back starring at the stars having said his piece. The other two said nothing. None of us forced them to either. It’s their choice when they choose to trust us enough to speak. So for now we all rest. I watched the trees rustle in the small bit of wind as I closed my eyes. Just as I’m about to drift into sleep I froze in fear, and confusion recalling what the tree lady had said. Nothing living survives here. So what of the trees, and grass? Something didn’t sit right with me, causing me to feel a shiver down my spine as the last ember of the fire dies out. Something is wrong here, but sleep consumed me before I could dwell on it any longer.
ns 18.68.41.141da2
