Dark Elf's Chosen: Season 1 Episode 11

Chapter 1 - SAVANNAH

“Julius, we’ve been trudging through this valley for two days now, and that sword of yours doesn’t seem to be leading us anywhere. And those mountains that leer down at us, I fear they threaten to attack at any second,” I vent my frustration to Juluis, who is walking up ahead with his sword pointed forward and glowing.

“Have faith, my dear. Orthani wasn’t built in a day,” Juluis replies.

“But we’re not building a city, Julius. We are following a glowing sword,” I shout.

“Okay, this sword I carry wasn’t forged in a day,” Julius says.

Even though I can only see the back of his elf head I know he wears a smirk on his face.

“That makes even less sense,” I shout.

“Yes, I know,” Juluis replies.

Finally, the monotonous mountains begin to dissolve into a lush forest on either side. The sudden change in scenery is a breath of fresh air, a welcome respite from the endless valley.

“I think I smell the sea,” Juluis turns and says to me.

“You said that yesterday,” I say.

“You agreed,” Julius says.

“I was just being polite,” I say, stopping to look around in the hope that something more than forest and field, and to my surprise, I spotted smoke rising from over a hill in the distance. “Look, Julius!” I point to the grey swirl of smoke that rises into the sir.

Julius turns and looks, “Brilliant.”

“Should we risk it? It might be dangerous,” I ask.

“When has it ever not been,” Juluis replies.

As we change direction, the glow from Julius’ sword dims, and he places it in his belt, then we head toward whatever is the source of the smoke but hope it means no malice.

We soon reach the top of the hill, and both look down to see a little tavern that sits pretty among the green fields that surround it. A small path, enough to handle a wagon, runs past the front of the house, heading in each direction. I also notice another smaller path that leads from the back of the building and winds its way to a forest, into which it disappears.

“Looks rather inviting,” Julius says with a nod of his head.

And I can’t help but agree with him, “Do you think they’ll have any wildfire?”

“I’d rather not consider that the tavern contains a bunch of orcs drunk on wildfire,” Juluis replies.

“Pity,” I say as I begin my descent down the hill toward the tavern.

As we draw closer, I notice a large sign hanging above the door that reads ‘MANAHA OUTPOST’ and turn to Juluis, “I wonder who Manaha is.”

“Probably the owner,” Julius replies.

“Shall we?” I ask.

“We shall,” Juluis replies, and we head across the pathway that looks to lead in endless directions each way. Julius pushes open the little gate, and we enter the front garden. It is filled with all manner of pretty, colorful flowers in bloom a path that leads towards the polished and well-maintained front door.

I push the door open and am instantly enveloped in warmth and comfort. The crackling fireplace fills my nostrils with the inviting scent of smoldering wood. Aged timber surrounds me—the exposed beams overhead, the knotted pine walls—and it all blends into an earthy, homely aroma.

Soft lamplight casts a golden glow, illuminating the well-worn furnishings and fine-crafted decor adorning the space. Tables and chairs are clustered together, some occupied by friendly-looking elves but also humans, their faces engaged in conversation or some quietly savoring the contents of their mugs.

But it's the kitchen scents that really draw me in. The earthly amora of bahru floats on the air and mingles with the crisp fragrance of roasted burgona and the smokiness of thison sizzling over an open flame.

“I think we may have hit the jackpot,” Julius says, nudging me and I think he may be right.

No one looks up or stops their conversation as we stand in the doorway, rather shocked to have stumbled upon such a fine-looking place in the middle of nowhere.

“Welcome,” a voice greets us, and we look to see a portly human female behind the bar.

Both of us take a few steps closer to the bar, wearing that smile that begs people to think you are kind and friendly.

“Hello!” Julius begins, “I am…”

“This is Julius, and I am Savannah,” I cut Juluis off before he launches into the pontification of his introduction.

“Well, it is very nice to have you here; I am Inga. Are you here for the hunt?”

“Ah, no, just passing through,” Julius says.

“Oh, it's a long way from anywhere just to be passing, don’t think we’ve ever had anyone just passing before,” Inga states. “Greta!” she shouts, “My sister, the cook,” she tells Julius and Savannah.

“Yes!” Greta yells from out the back.

“Have we had any folks just passing through before?” Inga shouts back.

“Let me think, oh yes, there was that one fellow once, remember, wore those odd trousers and had a funny name, Got plastered, and wandered off in the middle of the night. The only thing we found of him next morning was his odd trousers,” Greta shouts.

“Oh yes, I remember him. Do beg my pardon. We do get folks passing through. Now it's time to make you two feel at home. Grab yourself a table, and I’ll get you drinks, and you can try a big bowl of Greta’s bahru. It’s to die for,” Inga tells us with the biggest smile I have ever seen another human pull.

Julius and I look at each other, not being used to such friendliness, we are slightly taken aback. Regardless we find a little table, and the elves and humans at the other tables nod and smile greetings at us. We sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire, and Inga appears with two mugs of ale and places them on the table.

“Don’t worry, wine will be served with your meal,” Inga says. “Now, I suppose you two love birds will be looking for a room for the night to do the necessary. Oh, I do envy you. It’s been years since I’ve had a stiff cock me.”

Julius coughs and spits out his ale. I don’t know how to react, so I just grin.

“Oh, no need to be shy, it's natural. You feel free, Master Julius, to bang the living daylights out of your lovely sweetheart here all night if the want is in the both of you. Greta and I sleep like logs so don’t be thinking you’ll be disturbing us,” Inga says with a nod of her head and leaves.

“I’m not sure where to begin with that one,” Julius says.

And although the thought of Julius banging at me all night did send quite the tingle through me, I say, “It’s probably just the way of things here, plain talking kind of folks.”

“Yes, we’ll run with that,” Julius says, taking a large swig of his ale.

Inga arrives with two steamy bowls of bahru and a bottle of wine.

“Not the finest of wines, but certainly the finest bahru, I promise you. Greta is making up your room, so it’ll be ready when you finish,” Inga says.

“Very kind,” I say.

“And this hunt, you talked about it. What is that,’ Julius asks.

“For the Manaha,” Inga replies.

“What’s the Manaha,” Juluis asks.

“See, that’s the thing. No one knows cause the only ones to ever have seen it have never lived to tell anyone what it looks like,” Inga says.

“And when is this hunt?” Julius asks.

“Two nights for now. Most arrive early tomorrow. By tomorrow night, this place will be full to the brim of eager hunters wanting the glory of killing the Manaha. Oh, it's a hoot and a half, I tell you,” Inga says.

“Sounds it,” I say.

“Not such a hoot the night after. Never more than a handful come back,” Inga says. “Now you folks eat up, I could chatter on all day, I could.”

“Our stay, by the way, what of the cost,” Julius asks.

“Oh, we don’t charge 'cause we pay no cost for our produce. It all comes given to us by the land, the forest, and the mountain. There’s no need for coin in these parts,” Inga says and heads back behind the bar.

Julius looks at me and grins, “Excellent, seconds it is, and another bottle of wine.”

“When in Orthani,” I replied

“What?” Julius asks.

“Never mind,” I replied as I took a mouthful of the bahru, “Oh, Julius, this is delicious. The meat is so tender.”

Julius takes a spoonful, and I watch his eyes light up, “By the Mother, I have never tasted meat like that in my life!”