Chapter 1

The sleepy port slowly stirred as merchants began moving down the foggy streets. Setting up their stalls, in the Port of Pyra Noris Lor arrived with his eldest child to set up their goods. Jazza had come many times to help her father, spending many days here as a small child. "I've got to go pay for the stall, I'll leave you to finish setting up." Noris left his daughter heading to the head merchant to pay their dues. Jazza placed a cloth on the table slowly unpacking raw medicine plants and made medicine out in an organized fashion.

An unusual language caught her ear, someone speaking elvish nearby. Spending so much time in ports, and markets Jazza had learned many different languages. Other than medicines, herbal plants she loved spending time trying to learn other languages. Reading, writing and speaking them. Her father saw no harm and treated her to writings and books if he could trade for them. It helped when people from other countries speaking other languages asked for something. Jazza became a merchant translator for a few stalls.

Elvin was definitely not common here but also the high elvish they were speaking to.. It was beautiful to listen to, however the conversation did worry her. "Yes, passing through the northern forest is not a well known and safest route. It will cut your day's travel." Gabriel stated in common and Oddie translated. Glancing over she saw two hooded figures standing by the alley opening, a familiar merchant's son Oddie stood in the middle a dwarf man translating in lower elvish to a well known merchant man. Jazza knew that this man named Gabriel had no need for a translator; his elvish was leagues above Oddie's.

'Oddie and Gabriel both know that root is dangerous… Why lie to these travelers..? They could die..' Jazza thought to herself.. "Thank you, as promised for you advice." The men handed over coins. Gabriel looked in, smiled brightly thanking them and left with Oddie in toe.. Jazza picked up some healing medicine and approached the two hooded men. "Greeting friends.." she said in high elvish, causing them to pause. "We are not here to purchase anything miss." One spoke his sharp blue eyes, the only thing she could see with strands of gold hair.. "I do not meddle, but if a persons life is on the line I deem it proper.. Those two just lied to you and I may not know why but do not take the northern passage." She stated in a whisper holding up the medicine like she was showing it off to them.

The man with golden eyes then spoke, "How is it dangerous?" he took the medicine but never stopped staring at her. "Gabriel and Oddie are two merchants here not very well liked. The northern path is very dangerous and they know it well.. Bandits and beasts plague that path.. Our family friend was told it was safe and never came back.. people die and very few that live will ever take it again. If you're lucky only the bandits rob you.. but then you deal with Giants, and other monstrous creatures.. Also Gabriel speaks elvish better than myself.." she states before stepping back heading back to her stall thinking that's all she needed to say. Plus she needed to finish setting up before her father came back.

Both men followed her watching as she began working again. "Then is there another passage?" The one with golden eyes asked his voice to speak a little softer than the first. "There is a southern passage that very few merchants know of, off to the south. It will take a day longer but is the safest way to get to the Kingdom." She paused, turning to them, thinking. "My Father was requested to deliver some herbs there. If you'd like I could take you on the southern passage.. no coin required." Both men looked at one another.

"No coin? You go alone with us? What about your father..?" The blue-eyed man asked skeptically, "I have gone plenty of time before on my own, plus my Father needs to be here and run the stall. If you promise no harm to fall upon me then I shall take you with me. Or you can take the northern path." She said with a shrug. They whispered to one another for a moment before the golden eyed man stepped forward. "I shall promise on my name and honor no harm to befall upon you. As long as you are honest and truthful." He bowed his head, Jazza bowed back. "I also swear on my family, I tell the truth. I will lead you down the southern path, and help you get to your destination safely. My name is Jazza Lor." She said standing smiling brightly.

"I'm Sundrin this is my friend Rama, can you meet us here tomorrow before dawn?" Jazza nodded, "I can let me talk to my Father and let him know I'll take the delivery early.. if he asks you both are merchants. They don't like outsiders knowing of our route." Both men nodded, "Then tomorrow Sundrin, Rama." Sundrin handed her a gold coin she tilted her head, "I said no coin." "For the medicine," he held up the medicine she handed him earlier and turned away leaving. "This is too much!" It was too late and both men were gone..

Sundrin and Rama stopped in the alley. "Do you really think we can trust this girl?" Rama asked looking at Sundrin, "Investigate and ask around quietly about the two men. I'll stay here and watch the girl." Sundrin had a feeling the girl was more honest. However he could not take any chances. Rama nodded disappearing knowing this was the safest way to see who was deceiving them.. Little did Jazza know what she had just gotten herself into.