Chapter 2

Eleonora was in a good mood as she crossed the bridge overseeing the Thain, the river that truly marked the beginning of the north, and thought about some of the more enjoyable memories of her past. After crossing the river she started to run, while moving around her staff in complicated patterns around her trained body. She continued on for an hour before pausing and trailing off road towards some traps she had laid out three days prior. The wood was filled with the sound of nature as birds called in the new day with their calls. It was orange and brown all around as autumn claimed the forest.

“Only two...” Elly removed the two rabbits from her traps and redid them. Seven snares in total. It would be enough food for a while though so she wasn’t too worried. She just couldn’t sell more to buy better tasting meals. She walked towards the road and sat on a small tree trunk. The rabbits were expertly skinned and gutted. She stored them inside her satchel covered in some cloth and licked the blood off the knife before storing it on her leather belt and continuing down the road.

The sun was slowly rising over the horizon and illuminated the forest and the running girl with her staff swinging about in unpredictable patterns. After another hour of running the girl sat down next to the road and breathed heavily as she drank from the water skin in her satchel. She suddenly got up and hid behind the nearest tree while staring down the road. There was likely no danger but precaution was one of the best allies in the wild...and not wild. Precaution and a lack of overconfidence were hammered into the girl by Mike for years now and it has saved her life at least three times so far.

Talking voices slowly made their way closer to where she was hiding before she could make out a band of armed travelers talking to a peddler sitting on his wagon. It was highly unlikely that they were up to anything nasty with their joyous behavior but she needed to make sure. As they closed in she could see the dull golden tags around their necks and let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. It would take years to get a golden tag at the guild and they would be banned immediately if they attacked a random girl on the road and someone found out.

Of course they likely wouldn’t be found out but the risk was none the less too high. At least for what she was carrying. And there was a woman in their band so she assumed what she was carrying on her bones wasn’t in much danger of being taken either. Not that there was much on the 17 year old girl to begin with, although Eleonora did notice more stares in the city as the years went on. Another reason why she liked leaving that stinking pile of stone as often as she did.

An arrow was drawn but not aimed at her as she left the trees with a non threatening attitude. One man in the group immediately scanned the surroundings and another run into the woods in a speed Elly could barely follow. She heard a “Clear!” a couple seconds later as the arrow was put back into its quiver. One of them, presumably their leader approached the girl with a greeting “Good morning, now tell me. What is a young girl like you doing alone in the woods?” They were still on edge as she could feel but less so than they were a moment ago.

“On my way to a lake north west of here to gather herbs. My mother is a herbalist in Dunewatch. And who might you be adventurers?” The woman in the group covered her face with her hand “Why fucking adventurers, it sounds so stupid...” she murmured as the group visibly relaxed upon the answer from the girl before them. “Forgive the threatening behavior, there are rumors of a shape shifter going around in these parts. Name’s Jaime, these are Patricia, Keith and Aron.” Jaime said as he pointed respectively to the woman dressed in a light blue robe covered with intricate symbols, the man next to him shouldering his bow and the man coming back out of the woods with two daggers on his belt.

The two men nodded to her while Patricia simply seemed to ignore her. “We’re the Limping Horses, golden seal from Onarith.” Jaime continued as he approached her and shook her hand. ‘The capital….and what about that name.’ Elly thought as she shook his hand and smiled about the name. “He thinks it makes people underestimate us...gives us an edge.” Keith said and continued “Sounds stupid but can’t lie about it working. That’s why he’s the boss.” Aron just grunted at that.

Patricia seemed impatient as she continued further down the road, walking right by Eleonora. “Can we move on, it’s a long way still to the border...” Jaime had an apologetic expression on his face as he turned back to look at Elly “You must excuse her, we’ve been traveling for weeks already and can’t stop at Dunewatch. She misses her bed.” ‘I can sympathize...’ Elly thought as she looked towards the woman with a sad expression. “Herbs.” said Aron as he seemed to absentmindedly look into the woods. “Oh yes, young lady you mentioned you were the daughter of an herbalist?” Jaime went towards the peddler and searched through the bags on the wagon. “As I said we can’t stop and if my friend here sells everything alone I can’t trust him to play fair...” he winked towards the old man sitting on the wagon who only smiled in return. “If you have money we can sell. Would help each of us save some time and get what we need. What do you say?”

Elly hid her smile immediately ‘Perfect, let’s see what they have. Maybe I can spend some of that gathering time reading in bed….’ she walked towards Jaime to look at what they had “That is agreeable...” They bartered about the herbs for a couple minutes before she filled half her satchel with various plants. ‘Not too bad..’ she thought, as she carefully stored the only plant she didn’t know out of the batch. A red lotus, or so it seemed. ‘I’ll find out what it does later on but I guess I won’t have to gather for as long as normal today.’ Elly was overjoyed as most of the plants and herbs were usable by her in the shop ‘Or my mother, if she lays off the booze for once...’

She parted with two silver coins and three bronze coins. Not much considering the amount of herbs she got and the time she saved. She could make different mixtures, creams and medicinal drinks with those herbs getting at least five times the worth back when selling them. “Take care then young girl. Didn’t catch your name by the way...” Jaime said “Eleonora, pleased to make your acquaintance oh brave adventurer” she answered with a smirk and walked further north humming a happy tune while waving at the departing group. “Same to you lady of the herbs” Jaime said and gave an exaggerated bow before catching up to Patricia. The others waved and went on their way.

The lake was only another couple hundred meters further into the woods and Eleonora reached it after walking or rather skipping happily towards her target. There was a serene silence next to the lake and she grinned happily as she saw all of the different herbs growing around it. The smell alone was calming and nearly intoxicating. Her black hair glowed in the sun, fractured by the leaves above and her eyes seemed to glow green as she looked at the scene before her. The moment was only broken when a low growl alarmed her.

She immediately readied her staff and crouched low while focusing on her surroundings. ‘Focus, sound, movement, breathing, surroundings’ She slowly backed up towards two trees close to each other, her back covered she waited. Holding her staff at the ready in a defensive stance. Another growl, ‘Direwolf, young’ she thought and a moment later the wolf showed itself, barring its massive teeth, its snout still covered in the blood of the unfortunate creature that crossed its path before. “Well then come out little doggies, I know you never hunt alone...” the girl said in a mocking tone as her body tensed, ready to strike at a moments notice. Her heartbeat slow and steady, her breathing controlled. The opposite of what it was the first time she came across one of them. She had barely made it back alive to the city even though it was a single wolf and a young one at that, probably lost or left by its pack.

She knew now after dozens of encounters that the wolves wanted easy prey, nothing that would fight back. Why would they not? The forest was full of animals and all the people that had the guts to leave the city walls were likely strong enough to fight a bear, let alone a wolf. They weren’t magical creatures after all, no monsters...simply animals. “You kill to eat, not to kill...now come...” she whispered as two more wolves appeared from the underbrush. They were naturally cautious around a human for most humans they encountered were powerful beings, holders of mana. The girl before them did not possess such power though, a power they felt immediately and ran from in fear...a power they themselves never had.

Of course the wolves were acting on instinct and instinct told them that the human before them was no threat, just a meal. Meat to feed their young. The wolf in the middle moved in, trying to bite at Elly. The staff was faster though, the girl ready. The wolf veered back as its snout was badly hurt by the powerful and fast blow delivered by its prey. The other two wolves flanked her as she moved around the trees in a swift motion, dodging the one to her left and swinging the staff in a practiced and powerful motion to the leg of her predator to the right. She could feel the pressure going up her arm as the staff shattered the wolves leg but she didn’t stop. Her back again to the two trees, now on the other side she circled it, facing the wolf she dodged before.

A wicked grin formed on the girls face as she carefully moved around her heavy wooden staff. “My turn...” she said as she swiftly approached the wolf with controlled steps, observing her other two adversaries behind it still recovering. The staff moved and caught the wolf on its head. Blood started to soak its hide. Confused and afraid the wolf ran away, nearly losing its orientation because of the heavy blow. Eleonora noticed one of the wolves was limping away in the opposite direction while the presumed Alpha was facing her, locking eyes they waited. The wolf lowered its head and slowly backed away, following its insured mate. Elly stayed on edge and ready for another five minutes, scanning her surroundings before moving on with the gathering. ‘This is just better than sparing in some weird way, even though I get my face smashed in by Jonathan and these wolves can barely touch me...’

She finished carefully gathering and storing everything she needed in under two hours. Normally she needed at least five, but the plants she bought from the Limping Horses was helping tremendously. ‘Maybe I can visit old Jeffrey today and borrow some books….its been months since I’ve seen him last.’ Jeffrey was an old friend of her mother and he still lived in the village her mother and grandmother lived in before she was born.

“Well I’ve been standing around long enough...” she said as she started jogging again, trying to focus on the magical energy that supposedly filled all of existance ‘Stupid mana...’ she kept running but stopped focusing on some unseen power after another complete failure at grasping it.

The village was called Honhill and was located a bit north of Dunewatch, north east to be precise so it wasn’t exactly on her way back. With the additional time she had it seemed fine though. The way back was uneventful as the wind blew in her hair and the autumn forest smell filled her nose. The road was generally rather safe to travel by daylight because most animals kept clear of it and most magical beasts either didn’t prowl the woods before nightfall or were too strewn about to be an issue, except if you were incredibly unlucky. Elly was at least confident on her escape though...from most creatures that is.

She reached the village in only three more hours, the sun was already starting to set. The guard immediately saw her and asked her to stop as his hand went to the hilt of his sword. “Who are you? State your name and purpose!” she quickly replied “Eleonora Vera, here to see Jeffrey Sanders, he’s an old friend.” The guard immediately softened up and greeted her, letting her pass. She had heard of it before but now it was apparent. The shape shifter was a real concern. Elly had read plenty about magical beasts, or more commonly just monsters. Shape shifters could change their appearance to beings they had killed and eaten before. Some speech was possible but they apparently were incapable of understanding and responding to questions. Or generally holding a conversation really.

That explained the caution of the guard and the adventurers before. The shape shifter was not a common magical beast and was incredibly powerful and dangerous. A horror story to scare children, a true one nonetheless. The worst about it was that it only lived to kill. No trick or payment other than death could appease it...and its hunger was endless.

Elly felt her stomach turn a little at the thought of a near beast like that but kept going, to find Jeffrey. He was at his house, smoking some weeds she had shown him previously that would cloud his mind. The pain in his back was getting to him at his old age. His mind seemed to still be rather sharp, at least four months ago when she saw him last.

He immediately smiled as she approached but didn’t make a move to get up. “Elly my dear! Or are you the shape shifter everyone is droning on about? My eyes are getting bad so you have to excuse me if I mistook you for a monster!” Elly laughed and carefully hugged him on his chair, not to cause pain in his back. “Still not dead you old fart?” she said while smiling and entering his house. “Have you eaten yet oh wise old man?” he only grunted something akin to a no as he kept sitting there, smoking his weeds and looking at the falling sun. ‘This smells horrible’ Elly thought as she entered the house and opened every window, door and other opening she could find to exchange the air inside with the air outside. Then she started to cut up some of the herbs she found and prepared the rabbit and a fire. It didn’t take long until old Jeffrey overcame his comatose state in favor of a wonderfully smelling meal.

“I love you girl, are you sure you’re not ready to marry yet?” he opened a cupboard and got two mugs “This old beautiful man is free you know?” he winked in her direction as he filled the mugs with a brown brew he stored inside a barrel. “You sure you’re up for the task old man?” she asked while rising one eyebrow. “You’re a herbalist, I’m sure you can find a way to help me...” they both started laughing as Elly served the stew she made in two bowls and Jeffrey put the mugs down on the table.

“It’s been lonely...you know, since you and your mother left all those years ago….and...your grand..” he was interrupted by her coughing “Let’s not start this again Jeffrey.” she took a deep swig from her mug “I’m glad to see you. Sorry I can’t visit more often, it’s been….difficult.” He only looked at her with sad eyes and grunted “Ye, can’t be easy living with a banshee like that...if I had known Elly...” she stopped him again with a gesture ‘This might actually be why I don’t visit more often Jeffrey...’ she thought as she started eating. “So how’s life going in the bustling city of Honhill?” she changed the subject and he accepted. “Boring...my kind of life. After all I went through this is a perfect evening Eleonora.” she smiled and they continued eating for a while in silence.

When they finished she put away the dishes after cleaning them. “So how’s the old hut doing?” he just nodded “Same as always, if you wanna get stuff just take it, I know she wouldn’t have cared.” she nodded “Thank you, I’ll be there for a while then. The bed still free?” he got a key from a drawer and handed it to her “Ye, nobody been there since last you came. Have a good night Eleonora.” he kissed her on the forehead and went outside, back to his chair.

She packed her things and left the house too. It was dark already, the stars out and the two moons shining above the Empire of Trinesfall. It was a clear night and the autumn wind was making her shudder under her thin clothes. She quickly said her goodbyes to Jeffrey and walked through the village. Nobody was in sight anymore except the two guards assigned by the city to watch over Honhill. A bit outside of the village was an old hut, where the girl slowly opened the door to find old memories...’but more importantly...’ she approached a specific part of the room and removed a rug. Below it was a trapdoor that led to what she assumed was her grandmothers secret dwelling.

It was always a treat for Eleonora to go down there and read the old books her grandmother had left behind. Not much was left, but enough for the young Elly not to have read all of it already. She only discovered the secret door three years ago and she couldn’t take many of the books with her. It would create questions….questions that would lead to the room she was standing in. And if they found what other books were in there...death would be the least of her worries.