Faylen's Lost Company

I watched silently as a man dressed from head to toe in black, only a few bits of silver gleamed in the light on his low brimmed hat and buckle. I could barely make out his slender rugged yet handsome face, but his gleaming dark eyes darted this way and that as if he was searching for someone. They landed on me and I had to look away. His gaze was so intense and wild. I felt like his prey in some odd way. Maybe I was overthinking things a bit. I am not anyone’s prey, or victim, or anything like that. I refuse to go through that again. I tucked a strand of my deep auburn hair behind my ear, turning back to the bartender, figuring it was safer to not continue watching the shadow man behind me.

“What will it be this time, little elf princess?” The smart-mouthed human behind the bar asked with a smirk. Rolling my eyes at the comment, I had gotten that a lot in my travels. “I’ll have a tall shot of dragon’s blood whiskey,” I replied nonchalantly not wanting to deal with his ridiculousness. “I don’t serve that until I see the coin, princess.” He shot back with a smirk believing I couldn’t afford the drink in question. Before I could even reach for my purse a gold coin was slapped down on the bar. “Pour the lady her drink and a second one for myself.” A rough deep voice growled from beside me. The bartender went pale but did as he was told without a word. Slowly, I turned toward the kind stranger who got him off my back to find the shadow man standing there.

“Thank you very kindly, sir,” I said quickly turning back to see the shot set down in front of me. “You’re welcome. I have a question for you.” He replied in a hushed voice taking a sip of his shot. I sat there for a few moments contemplating what kind of question this shadow man could have for me. Finally, I took a sip of my drink before turning my head back to him. Finding his eyes locked onto mine. “Of course, but only because you so kindly bought me this,” I answered picking it up to take another sip and waiting for him to ask his question. Slowly, removed his hat sitting down on his knee. As I suspected he was a handsome man underneath. His eyes are as dark as pitch, his hair just as dark, and his skin paler than even mine. “Was it you that lost your entire group of companions on a particularly dangerous quest?” The words came from his mouth so smoothly like he was asking about the weather.

I could feel the color draining from my face. I knew exactly what he was asking about. It still hurt remembering that day when all my friends died… But I lived… Why...? “Y-yes, I did lose all my friends.” I managed to answer in a whisper mentally reliving it all over again and the question of why buzzed in my head like angered hornets. “I see, would mind accompanying me to another set of ruins west of here?” He asked calmly his eyes holding mine almost like a trance. “Wh… Why would you ask me this?” I countered shocked that he would be so bold and even more shocked he knew I had lost everyone I was close so recently.

“One, I know who you are. Two, I know your skills and abilities. Three, I need your daggers for this battle. Four, I am your superior.” He explained calmly slowly pulling his military rank mental from one of his pockets on inside of his cloak. He is my Sergeant…? I don’t remember seeing him before. “Now corporal, I know it’s hard right after losing your team, but we still need you in the fight. Not in here getting wasted. I will explain the details of this quest in the morning after you sober up.” He said calmly before he grabbed his drink. He downed it in one go then set the glass down. Slipping his hat back on he gave me a nod before standing. He left leaving me to my own devices.

After sitting there for what felt like eternity I finally downed my own drink then left in search on this Sergeant that I had never seen before. Heading west in the direction these ‘ruins’ were. I found him half a mile from the tavern, two military tents already up waiting. “Am I ask your name, Sergeant?” I asked as I settled in on a log across from him. “My name? Of course, I am Alas. My younger brother was on your team.” He explained staring into the fire not even looking up. I stared at him a long moment realizing he did look like Davos. “They sent us on a suicide quest and they knew it. I don’t even know how I survived.” I said quietly staring into the fire as well. I could feel the tears pricking my eyes.

He looked up at me with a haunting expression. “We sent reinforcements too late. I was the one that carried you out of there. The healers didn’t think you would make it either. Now, enough about that. We should get some rest.” He explained standing in a flurry of his cloak and then he was gone into his tent. I sat there a little longer processing what he had said. The tears fell from my eyes as the sound of Davos’ screams echoed in my head. Slowly, I shook the sound away and got to my feet. Walking over to my tent, I bent down to get inside. Finding a bed roll for me I collapsed and blackness took over within seconds.