You’ve never really liked elves. They’re so arrogant and vain, despite their place on the food chain. The world could do with one less. That sneaky tail slips around the child’s waist, and only then does he notice it. Before he can say a word, it tightens around him and yanks him through the crack in the door, which then slams shut, lock clicking into place. The boy screams in startled terror, calling for his mommy. His parents drop what they are doing and scramble to the door, desperately trying to open it.
“B-by the gods,” the father gasps. “Aelsworth! Aelsworth, hold on!” He shouts through the door. The boy- Aelsworth- screams with renewed horror before his childish cry is suddenly muffled by what can only be the reptilian female’s mouth.
“No!” his mother cries in horror, covering her mouth, tears in her eyes. She glances around desperately, searching for any possible help. “You! Please, you must help us!”
Urrrp. The muffled sound of a belch comes from the other side of the door, and the elf child’s faint screams are still barely audible. His older sisters cling to each other, mortified.
“Y-you carry a weapon! Please save our boy, I’m begging you!” the elven woman beseeches you. You lean against your door frame, fixing her with a disinterested stare.
“None of my business,” you say nonchalantly, though you stick around to see what happens.
“How could you? He’s just a boy!” his mother continues.
“Couldn’t have said it better,” you smirk. Meanwhile, the father is ramming against the door repeatedly, bashing it with his shoulder in a vain attempt to break through. You hear a floorboard creak in the lizard girl’s room. “Damn, someone’s hungry,” you quip. Sure enough, as the male elf rears back for another blow, the door swings open for a split second, allowing him to stumble through, before slamming shut once more.
“D... Danyl?” The woman murmurs, stunned.
“R-release me, you... you foul woman!” comes her husband’s voice, accompanied by sounds of a struggle. “Return my son and let us go!”
“Arrogant to the last,” you chuckle, rolling your eyes. The poor man’s pride is obliterated seconds later as he cries suddenly.
“Umf! N-no, what are you- oh gods, oh no! Not like this, I beg you! Th-the indignity.... the shame! Please! K-keep the child, just let me goooOORRRGGHHHffffmmmm....”
You wince, fairly certain that Danyl’s head has just been crammed unceremoniously into a reptilian asshole. “Yikes, bad way to go,” you mutter. “Honestly, boys aren’t worth the trouble,” you continue, addressing the shell shocked trio of females. “You girls will probably be better off without them. Who needs men, right?”
“You’re... a monster,” the soon-to-be-widowed mother of two whimpers, clutching her remaining children and sinking to her knees.
“Nah, that’s a monster,” you chuckle, pointing at the door, from which muffled sounds of digesting males were still just discernible. “And it might come back for dessert if you girls don’t get inside your room. Quit pouting and move on.”
You leave them to ponder your words, stepping into your room and closing the door. You stretch and yawn, then begin pulling off your armor. It’s been a more taxing evening than you had planned, and you’re looking forward to bed. As you lay down, you can hear quiet sobs coming from next door, and you feel a pang of guilt. Why had you been so cruel to those girls? Why had you let the boys die? Surviving in this world must have made you more cynical than you realized. You don’t linger on it too long, as sleep quickly overtakes you.
A knock on the door wakes you the next morning, and after hastily dressing, you answer it. You don’t recognize the man standing there. He’s young with golden hair, with bright blue eyes and fair skin. At first you mistake him for an elf, but he’s neither tall nor slender enough.
“Good morning, Dendara,” he says in a clear voice. “I was hoping for a word with you. Can I buy you breakfast?”
You study him for a moment, gauging him slowly. “I won’t turn down a free meal,” you say. He thanks you and the two of you find a table in the pub. It’s much quieter here in the morning than at night, and the morning sun shines through the windows. Taking advantage of the opportunity, you order a hefty breakfast and chow down. The man doesn’t eat anything. “So, what’s this word you wanted?” you prompt through a mouthful of food.
“Well, I was hoping to contract your services. I wanted to ask you last night but you were otherwise occupied.”
“What services are those?” you press, eyes on your food.
“I’m... looking for someone,” he explains. “I lost her some time ago and I’m afraid I don’t know these lands well. I’ve heard of your experience and judged it adequate for the task.”
“Thanks. Who is this someone?”
“A young woman of minor nobility, who may be going by the name Nessie. She has been missing for a couple of weeks. I need you to find where she’s been taken and retrieve her for me.”
“What for?” You ask.
“Does that matter?” he retorts sharply. You raise your head and meet his eyes, studying him. Behind his dashing face and pretty blue eyes, there is evil in this young man. Whatever his plans for this missing girl are, they are not in her best interest.
“How much?” you ask, dodging the issue of morality for now.
Without missing a beat, the stranger drops a bag of coins on the table. It’s not huge, but definitely significant, many times more than you make on usual jobs. “This is just the down payment,” he promises.
You rub your mouth to hide your greedy smile. “Damn. You really want this girl,” you chuckle.
“You have no idea,” he agrees ominously, and the way he says it makes you shiver. Sliding a slip of paper towards you, he says, “Once she’s in your care, deliver her to this location, discreetly.” He pulled a folded piece of parchment out of his cloak and offered it to you. On one side was a painting of a beautiful young woman, with bright copper hair, porcelain skin, glimmering green eyes and freckles on her round cheeks. On the other side was a description of her last known movements. “I warn you,” he said in a hushed, stern voice. “Should you accept this contract, failure will carry a terrible price for all of us, and especially you.”
He doesn’t elaborate, but you get the gist. Rubbing your jaw thoughtfully, you weigh the gold against the risk.
