Trent smiled. "I do, she's somewhere around the ciry. She fled on my order when your guards jumpped me."
"I thought you were going to find a good home for it."
"As did I. But on a week long boat trip, when your only companion is a cat, you grow attached to them."
Lina smiled. "So what happened after you left Eluria?"
Trent's eyes grew distant, lost in thought.
"I hate the sea. It was barely a few hours before I was sick..."
* * *
Trent lay within the little sailboat, his stomach turning with each wave that rocked it. The kitten slpt beside his head.
"I should have gotten used to boats when I was younger." He said, forcing a smile.
It passed like that for three days before Trent adjusted to the sea. THe kitten was getting a little clostrophobic in the small boat, running from one end to the other, climbing up the mast.
"Energetic little thing, aren't you?" Trent smiled.
The kitten mewed in response, smiling with her eyes.
Trent shook his head, picked up the kitten, laid it within his lap and began stroking her fur.
"I think we need to give you a name."
The kitten looked at him with her soul piercing eyes, the curiosity within them reminded him of Saphron.
If I name her that I'd be constantly reminded of her. Trent thought, heaving a sigh.
The sun was setting on the third day of his sea voyage, and the stars were lighting into luminecent life.
"Starfire." Trent said with a smile. The kitten perked up and purred. "Like that?" She mewed happily. "Then that will be your name."
The night passed, Trent and Starffire slept within the bottom of the boat.
On the fourth day, Trent and Starfire woke up in a fog. Quite literally.
Quickly, Trent lowered the sail. He couldn't see where they were going and didn't want to drift off course.
"Ah where are we?" Trent asked, his glowing eyes reflecting light off of the fog. Even his keen eyes couldn't see more than ten feet through the thick fog.
It continued like that for two days and two nights.
The fog finally lifted on the seventh day. The sun rose and warmed Trent's skin. From where the sun was rising Trent realized he was now headed north-west, toward the city of Lycon.
Rather than change course and lose a few more days of travel time, I decided to head to Lycon. Either way I didn't know where the Stranger went. I'd have just as much luck in Lycon as I would in Marintel.
Within a few hours, Lycon became visible on the horizon.
"Almost there, Starfire." Trent smiled. "No more little sailboat."
An hour later Trent docked in Lycon and stepped on to dry land for the first time in a week.
"Lad!" an old man said as he stepped from his boat. Trent turned his head. "Where do you hail from?"
"Eluria." Trent said after hesitating a moment.
"Ah! And what's the news from Eluria?" The old man smiled. Obviously he was one of those old men who had nothing better to do than hear the stories of passing travelers in an attempt to keep up to date on Eiure's current events.
"Death and destruction, old man." Trent said heavy harted. "I'm the last Elurian."
The old man seemed shocked. "What happened mah boy?" He asked, patting the ground next to him, signaling Trent to sit.
Trent walked over and sat crosslegged, feeling it was alright to rest of a little while on solid ground before heading out. Starfire curled in his lap.
Trent related his story to the man, who sat amazed.
I've had to tell my story so many times. I hope this is the last.
'Hrm." the old man began after Trent had finished. "Unless my eyes deceived me, a man fitting the description of your stranger came across here a few days ago. He asked me where the town's leader resided."
Trent's eyes grew wide. "Do you know anything else?"
The man thought a moment. "well, our mayor did begin mass-building weaponry yesterday, or so the rumors say."
Trent stood. "You must leave this town, evryone must."
"Ah young Elf," the old man said. " I'ave been here for sixty years, not only would I watch this city burn around me, I have no way to leave."
"Then take my boat, I have no use for it. If you stay, you will watch your town burn around you, then you burn yourself."
Trent picked up Starfire, placed her on his shoulder and began walking into town.
Trent passed a bar. Hearing a commotion he decided to stop in for a drink. He pushed open the saloon-style doors and walked into a dark, dank building, a bar fight in progress.
Trent weaved his way through the people and seated himself on a stool at the bar, however the bartender couldn't be seen. Trent rose and leaned over the bar, a skinny, jittery man sat with his back against the bar, shaking.
"hey!" Trent said, causing the man to jump ten feet out of his skin.
"Wh... what do you want?" He asked, with much fear.
"A drink." Trent smiled.
"well stop this chaos and you'll drink for free!"
Trent thought a momen, picked Starfrire from his shoulder and dropped her into the bartender's lap. "Take care of her."
Trent stood and turned toward the brawlers, quickly surveying them.
"Twenty." He smiled smugly. "Not too bad."
Quickly, but calmly, Trent made his way around the crowd, striking the brawlers and either knocking them to the flood, or giving them the Bum's rush, hurling them from the establishment. Soon only two remained standing, both drew very large broadswords.
"So someone thinks he's a hero." One man said.
"Guess we'll have ta do somethin' 'bout that won' we?" the ohter commented with a sly smile.
Trent drew his father's blade and readied himself for attack. As he did his armor shimmered. From the back of his chestplate came slivers of metal that moved over Trent's head, completely protecting it. HIs ears were armored by pieces of metal that looked like small blue-white wings. A solid metal, but he could still hear. The helm represented a Dragon's wedged shaped head, its mout potruding just a little from Trent's own, with razor looking teeth. The eyes were solid cobalt crystal in the shape of an irregular diamond. Using them, Trent saw an sharper outline of everything in the room, vastly improving his already enhanced vision.
Oh this is so awesome. Trent smiled thank you Dad, you thought of everything.
The two men stood, stunned.
"what are you?" One asked, nearly dropping his blade.
"I'm a very pissed off individual who is ready to take his repressed anger out on you two assholes." Trent said, a smile forming behind the Dragon's teeth, barely visible.
"Screw this!" The other said. "I'm not taking on this freak!"
The two sheathed their swords and hurried out of the bar, as they did Trent's helm retracted.
He moved toward the bar. The bartender was now standing and Starfire was nibbling on some peanuts.
"Thanks!" The bartender said.
"Hey, no problem." Trent smiled, sheathing his blade and sitting again. "It was getting noisey in here anyway."
"So what'll ya have?"
"I don't suppose you have some Elven wine down there?"
"Mew!"
"And some milk for my companion."
"I have both." The barkeep smiled as he took a glass and saucer from under the counter. He filled the saucer with creem and placed a crystal, Hourglass shaped wine bottle filled with silver liquid beside the glass.
"Drink as much as you want. Hell, keep the bottle. No one ever orders it."
" hrm." Trent smiled. "This is from my village. Over a century old."
He poured himself a half glass and swirrled it around a few times before taking a mouthful. He smiled. "Sweet. I think this is the best I've had in a long time."
"As I said, It's your's. No one but the elven people can drink it, and th eonly Elves we get here are from Eluria."
"Not anymore." Trent said, taking another deep drink.
"Oh? Why's that?"
Trent Drained the glass, poured another, and guzzled that one in one drink. Silence dominated the room until he poured a third glass and continued.
"Eluria was destroyed a week ago. Myself and Starfire are the only survivors."
The barkeep nearly fainted, steadying himself on the counter.
"What Happened?" He asked. "I had friends in Eluria, Good Friends."
Trent told the barkeep about the stranger.
"Oh my..." he said Shocked. "Lusten... I dont' suppose you ran across a Silver ring with an emerald in it, etched with an inscription."
Trent took his pack from his back, withdrew the leather pouch that contained the rings he had taken and tossed it on the bar.
"If I did, it's in there." Trent said, a little disgusted with himself. He took another long drink.
The barkeep dug through the rings and withdrew the one he was looking for. a twinkle and a tear formed in his eye.
"Ah," Trent said. "That was Elena's."
The bartender's eyes dulled a bit at the sound of the name. "Then she's..."
Trent nodded, finishing his third glass. "She was a friend of my Father's. That ring was worn on a chain about her neck. I never saw her without it. She held it in her hand when she died."
The barkeep sighed as Trent poured a fourth glass. "I don't condone your actions, but I thank you for finding this. I'm sure you had your reasons..."
Silence.
"May I.... May I keep this?"
Trent waved his hand in dismissal. "Fell free. I have no use for it, ohter than to sell. It obviously has significance to you."
"Aye, it does." The barkeep said, his eyes looking back to a time long ago. "I met Elena fifteen years ago, half way around the world. I gave her this ring when we parted, saying I'd see her again. I Traveled as far as here and didn't have the money to go further. I guess now I'll never see her."
"well," Trent said, "sometimes we don't get what we want. But if you truly wish to see her, she's probably still laying where she died.
The barkeep was mortified, but Trent's face was cold and emotionless. The alcohol in the wine was taking its intended hold.
"Either way, you need to leave here immediately. Te Dark Stranger is, or was, here and this town will be destroyed."
"There's nothing you can do?"
Trent hesiteted and shook his head. "I don't know how he fights, nor am I strong enough."
"How much time?"
"It'll happen soon." Trent replied, corking the bottle and placing it in his back, along with the sack of rings. "So leave as soon as possible."
Tret stood and turned his back to the barkeep. Starfire pounced on his shoulder.
"Is there somewhere I can stay the night?"
"Yea, Take a right when you leave, there's an inn down the street."
Trent thanked the bartender and stumbled from the bar and down the street.
A few minutes later Trent stopped in a rundown Dusty inn.
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