Long ago…
The North came to war with the South. Salynthra lied down the world as a truly remarkable jewel that the South possessed. The North? The great and graceful Empire by its righteous ruler to whom was bestowed the name Velstorm The Pure by the Elves. There was unity, once. Not a unification between them due to their immense distance to where there was simply no way to aid, but a common understanding that there is peace amongst the world of Tryphaena. The King of Salynthra, leader of the race of dark Elves, had gone down in Imperial history as a Tyrannical betrayer to Humanity. The Emperor, Velstorm The Pure? Now named and remembered as Velstorm The Vile in Elven history.
It was said that there was a betrayal between them. The only thing known is that the Elven King suddenly went mad with these alleged visions of an ally of peace slaughtering his daughter. With it, it came to be after his crazed paranoia sent notice to all of the Kingdom. The Emperor suddenly had whims of rage of unknown origins and abused his family by neglecting them to ever leave the cells they were met to stay in. Doing so, they died. It was there, war began from a simple nothingness that no man, elf, or spirit could procure an answer for. For ages this set them apart. But, now, with the kindness of the Queen of Salynthra, she put an end to the War and made peace with the great Emperor Maul. With that? The two sides are at peace again. But, once again, war is to unveil.
"Well, I never thought I'd see you here… After our last meeting, I thought you'd go up and die. Well, you know what I mean." Her voice, so irritatingly calm and collected.
It made Davina envious of just how she was able to close her heart to such things like… Well, everything. She looked around the Elves, praying they wouldn't just all release the arrows at once. Her silver eyes soon directed back to the Witch she had met a time ago in Brytwood.
"Witch-" She stated.
"I saved your town. Now would be appropriate to vouch by asking them to lower their arrows." She said, more weary that she couldn't pull what she did at Mor Vendrel whatsoever anymore.
At least, from her knowledge and how she felt so much less powerful and enraged. She hoped that Ksenia of Loraant would spare her the antics of her passive aggressive nature.
"I don't recall owing you anything? I helped you up that perilous mountain. We're even." She said, in retort.
"Do you know this human, Wicca?" An Elf asked, the Archer next to her.
Ksenia puffed and closed her eyes, resting a hand on her hip as she shrugged a shoulder and smiled at the Valerian innocently.
"I'm not sure yet." She said, with her rather smooth vocals.
Dammit, the Valerian thought. She grunted a little under her breath from her answer. Was she just out to get her or was this some grudge? She almost remarked if she must've wronged her in another life to mock her religion. But, she swallowed her pride and decided bargaining was best. Something for something, as the Witch no doubt inferred.
"Well, it seems that we, as of yet, have prevented bloodshed." She began.
"Let's remain in that position. Ksenia, just tell me what you want." Davina said, awfully sternly.
Ksenia eyed her down and up, clearly thinking of a way. She made a humming noise as she walked over, soon to slowly circle around her.
"Your armor." She said.
"What of it?" The other asked.
"Fit precisely to your tiny little body. Not at all colored as the Salynthrian theme… A weapon and shield designed so kindly out of the usual soldiers' look." The Witch seemed to be making acute observations about the other woman.
"Well, that is interesting… You're leiged to the Queen now, yes?" She asked.
It was then clear she was quite intelligent and observant. But, she was just a tad wrong.
"No. I'm doing her a favor in return for one. As I'm offering now." The Valerian clarified.
The Lady of Loraant seemed to have found that mildly disappointing. Of course, her visible disappointment brought Davina to think ill of her. This could mean more trouble. And… She was so unpredictable with her thoughts it nearly made the warrior anxious. Her life now in the hands of a Witch. Or, well, her current state of being reformed that is.
"Fine, then." She finally said.
After the silence was broken, Ksenia soon stepped forward further.
"I do require a favor. My beloved friends here have a problem…" The Witch began, circling around the other woman as if she was prey.
Her eyes followed as much as they could before the silver orbs just scrolled down as she listened. Another town with a problem. Lovely.
"You'll tell me where Wrafe is, then." Davina said.
"That's not the bargain." The Loraant woman said, quite firmly.
"It is, Ksenia. You said it yourself… you could've killed me in Brytwood. The Elves here? They kicked my ass well. The only reason you'd need my help is if it was dire. Life threatening. Why else would you seek aid for a warrior who cannot die?" The Valerian spoke so very confidently.
Ksenia wasn't a fan of how she apparently had it all figured out. The Witch crossed her arms and then smirked. She respected the confrontation.
"Well, you aren't mindless at least…" She said, soon to take a deep breath as she finally stopped in front of the warrior who was known as a Valkyrie in battle.
"We have humans close by. Closer than we'd like. Bandits. Cutthroat, violent, and…" Her voice trailed off as her brows creased a little.
A rare sign of emotion from her. Her head shook a little as she simply looked away.
"They need to leave. Whether it's by turning the other way or being sent to their afterlife. I don't care which. Do this for them, I will gladly infer where the Savencroner is." She said.
Davina took note of her words. The use of "them" instead of "me". Perhaps she was full of humanity after all. Just reserved.
"Then we have a deal." She agreed to it.
The Witch of Brytwood smiled and soon nodded with her head tilting.
"Of course we do." She said, ambiguously to what it meant.
She could read through the lines fairly well.
"Human… human!"
The voice barely registered with her in her sleep.
"Hey, human! Wake up, please. Are you awake, Valerian" Then, it finally stirred her.
A soft voice, coming from a male. It sounded light. Young, with plenty of youth. Davina had stirred from her bed, rolling from her stomach onto her back with the back of her gloved hand resting over her forehead with her eyes not even opening.
"What?" She said, groaning quietly.
She hadn't slept in days, it felt like.
"I'm sorry, I was told to come retrieve you. For the… you know—" He soon whispered.
"The human bandits." He said.
She felt so tired still. A little sore, to boot.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm the Witch's bounty hunter at the moment. I'm fully aware." She answered, bitterly.
Then, she opened her eyes. The silver orbs then moved to see the Elven man before her, knelt down and gripped the edges of her bed with a worried look. He was surprisingly young. He was thin, extremely thin and scrawny. He was also different in appearance. His hair was a bit short, wavy strands of black hanging about his forehead with these big bright green eyes. He had blue tattooed going down his eyes ending at sharp points at the cheeks with the same being done with the corner of his lips. He had a stripe going down his nose too. Of course, he had pointy ears going through his messy hair.
"Who are you, boy?" She asked, raising a brow at the Elf just staring at her expectantly.
"My name is Niketas The Half-blood. What is yours, if I may ask?" He asked, as if just having an innocent conversation all the sudden.
"Davina The Joyous." She remarked, sarcastically, knowing she had a rather sour look.
His eyes squinted a little in curiosity.
"The Joyous? I didn't know titles affiliated with emotions. You must be awfully tired then." The Elf names Niketas replied with.
She almost, almost asked if he was stupid. Her face was showing a truly surprised facial expression. No, he was not stupid. He was stupidly dense. Yes, she thought. That had to be it.
"Why didn't the Witch come herself?" Davina asked, rising to sit up and lean back against the wall with a grunt.
Her armor had dug into her a bit. Not pleasant.
"Huh?" He tilted his head in curiosity as he had sat back onto his legs.
She nearly rolled her eyes, but wished to make no enemies.
"The Witch. From Brytwood?" She asked, hoping it'd ring a bell.
"The Princess of Loraant?" He asked.
Brytwood clearly rang a bell thankfully. She knew that the Witch was of Loraant origin and she was of royalty. She didn't expect a line directly to inheriting the kingdom with the way she was. And the fact she just was in Brytwood.
"Yes." She nodded a little.
"She's unfortunately too scared to go with us right now. That's why she sent me." Niketas answered.
Her? Being scared of something? It'd be amusing if it wasn't for the fact she needed Ksenia. What could she possibly be scared of a bunch of bandits for?
"Is that so? No offense to you, but why would you come with me? You only look to be… What?" Her brows furrowed as she eyed him down and up.
He was dressed in this light blue set of bandages covering his upper chest. They wrapped under and over his arms and shoulders. Well, they were more so just vines stripped and dried to where they were as tough as leather and a whole lot thinner. His stomach and lower was left open, showing just how lanky the Elf was. Plus, he had on a thin tattered top over it. The sleeves only draped to his elbows and the bottom barely went down below his back, the ends being tattered with its transparent gleaming cloth. He then had this baggy white pants tied around the waist with the same vines from his chest, the bottoms being tucked into his matching blue shoes with pointed ends. What skin was shown, he had tattoos of the same color of his face going down his arms and stomach. Admittedly, the Elf was more beautiful than handsome.
"I'm almost in my second decade. Just by one!" He said, as if that saved him from anymore questioning.
"Almost." She repeated.
"I sincerely doubt you'll need to help me take on bandits. Besides, I know how to wield a sword quite well." She said it more so as an assurance to him.
"Oh…" His face contorted to a disappointed one.
"What about a bow? I could be your Archer?" He tried to reason with her with any excuse to come along.
"I won't need it." She said.
Niketas was disappointed further.
"She said I need to, though." He nearly pouted as he lowered his head a bit.
Ugh, Davina mentally thought. She definitely wasn't the motherly type. Nor did she work well with exceptionally young individuals. But… If an Archer was a part of the deal, seeing how good they were back there when she had her ass handed to her. She sighed a small breath through her nose as she looked down upon him. She could tell he was the type who was just barely confident enough to prove themselves.
"Fine. But, under one condition!" The Valerian submitted to his wishes.
His face immediately lit up as he sat up.
"Okay." He nodded, almost smiling.
"You do not come to the battle. You will stay far, but take down whoever I cannot. Do you understand?" She asked, sternly.
He nodded.
"If I fall, or they come after you, you run back here. Let me hear you say it." She calmly demanded.
"I understand!" He said, quickly standing up and quickly turning to eagerly go out the room.
"I'll meet you outside! We have to be on our way!" He urged before shutting the door.
Davina shook her head. Then, she noticed one thing about the energetic soul. He didn't seem to pay attention to who she was. A human. He didn't scathe or look at her with disdain. Perhaps he'd be good company.
It was then she was to come out of the building. A small hut where the Valerian exited with her sword and shield on her back yet again. It was there she saw him. Niketas and him holding the reins to his beautiful horse. Pale colored fur with braided mane and this simple cloth over its back. He had already been on top of it.
"Ready to go, Lady Joyous?" He asked.
Was he serious?
"Of course." She said, plainly.
She moved to walk over, going to the other horse standing at the held reins of another Elf glaring at her suspiciously. She didn't much care to pay him any mind.
"Off we go then! Marx, please tell Lady Ksenia that Lady Joyous and myself have departed." He politely asked the other, earning a nod from him.
Oh no, she thought. He was serious. The poor fool. Should she tell him? No, that was simply too amusing. It was definitely worth entertaining yourself with these things. It's not every day that she got to meet such an intelligent being who was tragically oblivious to her humor. She took the reins with a jerk from the Elf before mounting the average looking horse. Then, with a nudge, Niketas had his horse going. She did the same with more force as she whistled for it to go. The horse did, beginning to gallop with the Elf's pace. It was well noticed that Niketas, the Half-Blood with the only one having dark hair in the humble village had a bow around him. As well, as a case of arrows on his back. Thus, their journey began and started with them traveling off the path and into the woods. Obviously, the Half-Blood would be leading her. Funnily enough, he looked awfully human, too. His skin was shaded similar to Davina's, just slightly fairer. He certainly didn't have the height of the usual male elf. Nor the attitude, noticeably enough.
"So, Niketas. You are a Half-Blood. Do you get treated as an equal?" Davina asked, quite a bit after their journey had begun.
He shrugged a little.
"I always have. My mother still remains in the village, a full-blooded Elf. My Father, too. He is seen as family even though he's human." He explained.
She was fairly surprised to hear it. She wouldn't have guessed that was the case.
"Why does your village seem mortified by the sight of me then?" She asked.
She had been quite oblivious to the relationship Humanity had with Elvenkind. She herself never bore hatred or much thought at all towards Elves. The war between them was simply out of her range of care. Since it wasn't really in her time. She has never seen them nor been stationed to fight them until recently. She was often open-minded to them, as she tried to be with Niketas.
"Well… Humans have hurt us. A lot- I-I mean no offense to you!" He quickly corrected.
"It's just- They're worried, is all. Plus, you're… Clearly different." He said, looking away rather timidly upon the point he was bringing.
Her head turned to him as her eyes narrowed. She wondered what he meant. If, maybe, by some miracle, he knew.
"In what way?" She asked.
"Well- You're… Well, cut off. From nature, I mean." He spoke as if she'd know what that meant. Upon saying this, the Elf had looked at her and soon been flustered.
"W-Well- Every living thing has a connection to nature. I just meant- I- Uh, well, you're not… Which could only mean you're not… Alive." He explained, doing so while stumbling over his words and it told her what she dreadfully assumed she suspected him to imply.
"It wasn't my choice." She said, thinking back on it.
Unfortunately, about him. She closed her eyes for a moment to focus on putting the image in her mind in the back.
"I believe you! It's just- The Koshakír are fabled to be these vicious, deadly warriors. The one's who come back from the dead with their master… Someone who knows the darkest and most heinous magic." He added.
Dark magic? For the warriors arose? That is what happened to her, it seemed. Her lips pressed firmly together as she stared down as her horse lightly galloped. That spirit of the Mountain. She did this to her. A damn trick, she thought to herself. Perhaps she was the reason she had felt so much rage and power that night she finally found the Savencroner. She already felt so much hate.
"When I was little, my mother was told the common tale of the Koshakír." His Elven accent really dug into the odd word, clearly being their equivalent for Revenant.
"They are these dark, emotionless beings. Void of humanity. It's said they kill mindlessly in hopes to restore who they once were. It's scary." He mumbled the last part.
Then, it got her thinking. They knew no difference between her and the Draugr. Except, she knew it was true that she had her humanity. Her emotions. It was one thing she was thankful for.
"Your village is wrong about me. I hold everything I was presently. I'm just someone who was deceived into being who I am now." She explained, calmly.
He had nodded.
"I believe you. I can see it in your eyes, even if they lost their color." He said, politely.
He was well mannered and quite a kind individual. She even smiled a little from it.
"I appreciate that." She added.
He nodded with a friendly smile as well. She was beginning to tolerate the obliviousness. Even growing to enjoy his company. Even with the realization it brought.
It was a couple of hours of riding later. The Valerian and the Half-Blood had been off their horses. Doing so, they were knelt down, crawling upon the edge of a cliff as she had eventually laid on her stomach, scooting to the very edge as her silver eyes glared down upon the bandits. Niketas, he had soon done the same, withdrawing his bow and arrow as he had done so.
"There they are… the Bloodstream Bandits." He introduced them to her as he whispered, despite how far away they were from them.
"That's a stupid name." Davina said, as she had narrowed her eyes, looking over the camp.
Simple tents and Huts in a circle with a massive bonfire in the center.
"Wait… Xantora!" He quickly sat up.
Then, she immediately grabbed his arm and jerked him back down.
"You stay here! You remember that?" She hissed, glaring at him with agitation.
He looked like his pet just got kicked and he had slowly nodded.
"If there are prisoners, I will free them." She said, soon to look away.
There were at least a good dozen. Maybe more. Mostly leather and incorrectly worn armor. She took a gamble to assume they didn't know what the hell they were doing except mistreating a race for simply living.
"We will wait until night." The Valerian said.
"But, that's too long! What if they hurt someone..?" He whispered, holding his bow with both hands and clearly being anxious to save his alleged friends.
What a heart of gold.
"I will keep an eye on them. They have just come from a hunt from what it smells like. The day is almost done. They will rest, we will strike." She said, looking at him with a brow raised.
She didn't want to cause him distress. But, the worry was written all over his face. Before his brows furrowed and he had looked at her, soon to nod.
"I trust you." He said.
She greatly admired the response.
"Let's get set up then." She whispered back.
That following night…
All had been quiet. The air was filled with smoke with the aroma of wild boar. The hide was left amongst the ground as the bonfire lightly crackled and popped as the charred wood had such a small flame underneath it. Then, a boot planted right by the stone surrounding a pattern around the bonfire. Her boot. Davina was standing up hunched over slightly. Her armor didn't rattle a bit, thankfully. Which, she dragged her other above the dirt slowly as she had stepped forward. The tents were all closed with the watchman being asleep beside a tree close by to the camp. Her first priority was the prisoners. Which were all caged in a big wagon. She heard whimpers and worried, but silent cries from there. She quickly and quietly stepped up to the side of the wagon, soon to approach the front where her head had been visible over the little gate tied up from the back of the wagon. Which, she had untied and lowered, letting her whole appearance be visible to the Elves who grew silent at the sight of her. Her brows furrowed a little as she saw the children. Mostly women with a few men within there. Young of most of them all.
"Please don't hurt us…-" A woman clung to a small child.
Which, Davina grabbed the edge of the wagon and quietly lifted herself up. She stepped up to the cage, soon to kneel down to the woman and child.
"I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to return you to your rightful home. Your village." She whispered, assuring them all as she held a finger over her lips before they got too cheerful of the dark knight saving them.
She raised her gloved hand up to the lock. It was a big one. One too risky to break without alerting them. Plus, they seemed more like farmers and humble people as opposed to fighters.
She sighed and cursed under her breath, turning her head away as she gently rested the lock in its natural position from before.
"Okay, here's what I'm going to do." She looked back at the Elves, looking at them all.
"I will be back, alright? I will free you, I promise. I must rid the bandits first." She explained.
She earned a nod from some of them. She was thankful they didn't panic or freak out. She then turned away and gently lowered herself to the ground. The night, even at its darkest, the Valerian could see just fine. All the little details.
The specks of dirt, the dust and blood specks on the wagon, the rather sorry state of the camp. She had to find the key. But, then...
"Hold yourself to stay right there, wretch." A deep voiced man ordered.
He did so fairly loudly. Which, had been alerting some of the camp. She saw him. A massively built man dressed in red leather armor and wielding this massive battleaxe onto his back as he came around the wagon with her eyes falling to land on him.
"You trying to steal our property, eh?" He asked, pulling out the large axe.
"Ay, boys! We gotta lass here who's lost." He yelled, awakening his friends that had soon emerged from their tents. Some were enticed, others were angry, more were thirsty for blood.
"Shit..." Davina thought to herself as she had withdrawn her sword and shield.
Some of them laughed.
The Valerian certainly met an unfortunate change of events.