Alec

Tariel Saeltria

I was hesitant to approach this man, but I was also desperate and knew I had no other choice but to seek help.

I reached into the inner pocket of my vest and gripped the dagger in my right hand. In case anything happens, I could pull it out at a moment's notice. He looked just like a regular peasant from his appearance and clothing. But Loueras always looked sickly and about to collapse any second, so looks are deceiving. Anything could happen, and I can not say I had much trust in humans anymore after the latest incident.

He heard my footsteps even though I was barefoot and he was sitting near running water. The man lazily turned his gaze towards me and inspected me for a moment before his eyes went wide, and the straw fell out of his mouth.

"Well, I'll be damned. No way. Around these parts is the least possible place I thought I could have encountered an elf."

He let out an amused chuckle while staring at me, but his lighthearted attitude quickly changed to that of concern when he got a closer look at the disheveled, exhausted, dirty, and bruised elf standing before him. Barefoot, wearing a torn-up nightgown with patches of blood I was not able to wash off, and a leather vest.

He rose and began making my way to me. I instinctively flinched and stepped back, gripping the blade even tighter. The man noticed this and stopped in his tracks, then bowed his head down a little while still keeping eye contact, and raised his hands up.

"I ain't gonna hurt ya, girl. What happened to you? You look awful. Did you escape a slave market or something?"

"Slave traders," I mumbled as an answer. I thought I answered too quietly and was ready to repeat myself, but he nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, that's tough. Whatcha doing out of your forest anyway in Radiver's countryside?"

I stayed silent. I had no energy or willingness to talk anymore.

"Ain't gonna answer? Well, I won't pressure ya."

"Um…"

"Hmm?"

"Do you…know of a town…north?"

"Ah! Wulbrond you mean? Sure, well, it's the closest one to here, and a little further is Grassente, but it's a few days' horseback." He pointed behind him with his thumb, in the direction of the path. So I was going the right way. That was a relief.

"Ok, thanks." And I began to leave.

"Hey hold on now!" The man blocked my way. "Don't know what happened to ya, or why you are heading there, but I can't just let a kid go off alone looking like…that. What kind of an adult would I be? Tell you what, stay over at my place for the night, get yourself tidied, and in the morning I can get you to Wulbrond."

"I'm ok, thank you."

"Heh, no you ain't. You look like you're about to collapse at any moment."

I knew that myself, better than anyone else, but how could I just trust this man? I just met him, and although from the start he seems nice, I can never be sure what his true intentions are. If I continued on, then yes, I had a chance of getting lost, starving to death, or being taken by some other slave traders or bandits. This wasn't Elvedriel anymore.

"Hah." The man sighed. "OK, well, I'm gonna leave now. Follow this path forward and you will see an intersection. Go left if you want to leave for Wulbrond, right will take you to my house. Your choice."

The man walked over to his fishing pole, cursed under his breath that he caught nothing the entire day, packed his things, and left.

I debated on whether I should call out to him or not, and reached out my hand, but staggered. I wanted to trust him, I wanted to go with him and find sanctuary, but I couldn't speak out a single word. The words were stuck in my throat, and I silently watched as he disappeared from my view.

The sun was setting, and I knew that I will either get stranded here in the dark, or follow after him. 

I clenched my fists in frustration at my indecisiveness. Fate could be cruel. What if this was the only person I would meet in this middle of nowhere? And if I let him get away, I would be throwing away my only opportunity. But what if this was all a trap? People can be pretentious, and strangers can never be trusted, no matter how nice they seemed on the outside.

"But it isn't like I am left with my of a choice." I mumbled to myself, deep in thought.

One step, a second, third, and I was determined to follow this man. If worse comes to worst, and I will need to fight, I always have my dagger with me. I can escape, I can at least do that.

When I came to the intersection he told me about, I headed right, towards where presumably his house will be. But after an hour or so of walking, and the sun setting, casting an orange glow in the sky, I could not have been more surprised than I was now.

Judging by his appearance, somewhat disheveled, and wearing peasant clothes, I was sure his house would look something like Robert's, but what I came upon was a beautiful two story manor. In the afternoon sun, its dark blue tiled roof gleamed. The outside walls were white and smooth, and the outline of each window was lined with the same dark blue colored stone. Antique sculpting and carvings were everywhere, and were masterfully designed.

The yard in front was large. Green grass cut short and neat. Thuja plants clipped into neat cuboids. A path lined out in polished decorative stone, and a what seemed like marble fountain.

I stared at all of this, mouth agape. I never could have expected seeing something so grandiose in the middle of nowhere. And did I actually come to the right place. That man in tattered clothes could not be someone who lives here. But looking around I could not see any other homes, and the path only led to here.

Pushing the metal gate open, I nervously stepped into the premises of the manor, and made my way to the front door. There I stood for a solid five minutes, debating on whether I should knock or not, but decided to do it anyway, making sure to cover my ears with my hair to the best of my ability, just in case.

The door was opened by a young woman with brown hair, green eyes, and in a maid's attire. She looked me over with surprise in her eyes, and then crouched down so our eyes were on the same level, and smiled warmly.

"Are you perhaps the guest of master Alec, little girl?"

"Um," I stammered, "he is the one who…was by the creak today, right?"

"Oh yes yes, of course. He told us to be prepared to expect a little girl to arrive. That must be you right? Well come on in."

She stretched out her palm, and waited patiently. I hesitantly held it back. It was rough and hard to the touch, probably from all the work she does around the house.

As I stepped inside, it was even more beautiful. Two giant semi-curved staircases led up to the second floor, with cream colored steps and darkwood railing. On the ceiling was a massive chandelier, made up of hundreds of tiny crystals. The floor was tiled from decorative stone in an arching manner, and polished to a gleam so that the light from the chandelier reflected off of it. Inside, the walls were made of darkwood, stone, and in some occasional parts, what seemed like gold. On those walls, were lanterns that cast off a warm golden glow. Past the stairwell, on the far side of the manor, were leather couches, and a big curtained window.

The entire color scheme of the inside of the manor was dark brown, gold, and light cream. It was mesmerizing to look at. I never knew that humans were capable of constructing such elegancy, not after what I saw at Tralelin.

"You wait right here," the maid said in a gentle tone, her voice somewhat echoing inside, "I will alert master Alec of your arrival. But make sure not to touch anything."

I still was looking around in awe, unable to process what I was seeing. Even the buildings in Elvedreil, although still elegant and msterfully designed, couldnt compare. I could only assume that only the beauty of the royal palace could go head to head with the elegancy of this manor.

But was that peasant man that I saw by the creak really the owner of this place? I learned to never judge people by their appearance, but it was just impossible for me to picture him living in such a place.

And just as I thought that, the man himself came down the stairs, followed by the same maid. But his appearance was no longer that of a peasant, but a nobleman.

His brown, greying hair was neatly combed back, and tied into a ponytail which laid neatly on his left shoulder. He was wearing a dark grey tailcoat, embroidered with elegant golden patterns and an obsidian-colored brooch fastened at his neck, cream colored silk pants, and leather boots.

His gaze was stern, no longer that giddy lighthearted one that I saw at the creak, and radiated authority. He was like a whole different man, and I would believe it to be so if not for the same facial features. He exuded a domineering aura that just made you instinctively want to bow your head down slightly like I was meeting a king.

"Melina." He said in a leveled tone. "See to it that the elven girl is bathed and fed."

Melina's eyes widened in surprise. "Master Alec, did you just say elven?"

"I was quite shocked at this too a while ago." Alec said, with not even a hint of change in his tone of voice.

He even spoke differently, more properly. Back then he spoke in slang, and even the pitch of his voice was different. Now it seemed authoritarian, deeper, and colder. I could not wrap my head around the fact that this was the same man. And what was his true nature, this cold nobleman, or the cheery peasant?

"I…I will get to it."

Melina bowed, and with her hand, she signaled the direction in which I should go. As the two of us left, I could feel Alec's gaze on my back. He didn't seem like a bad man, or someone who would hardbor ill intent against me. He seemed more like a stern grandfather who would not tolerate horseplay from his grandchildren, and scold them for not behaving themselves properly.

I was brought to the bathroom which was no less exquisite than the rest of the manor, and was finally able to enjoy a relaxing warm bath. They even added bubbles. Once it was time to get out, my nightgown was nowhere to be seen, and I was presented with proper clothing, just perfect for my size, which also looked quite expensive, just like Alec's.

After the bath, I was taken to the dining area, a large hall-like room with a table around fifteen meters in length, made of darkwood. I ate these thin and long things, the name of which I did not know, with tomato paste, and meatballs.

Once I finished, Melina walked up to me. "Master Alec is waiting for you. I will guide you." She said in a soft voice.

We made our way to a comparatively small meeting room, with two couches facing each other, and a low darkwood table on top of which was a plate of cookies, and cups of tea. Alec was sitting on one of the couches, arms folded, and staring into space. When he heard us walk in, he wordlessly motioned for Melina to leave us, and she closed the door behind me, leaving the two of us alone.

"So! Did ya enjoy the spaghetti?"

What? He is back to his old manners again? Now I am totally confused, is this the real him, and the cold nobleman just for show in front of the servants?

"Um, is that what that food was called?"

"Yup. Was it good?"

"Yes, very, thank you for your hospitality." I offered a bow, which he only waved away impatiently.

"Oh relax, enough of that. I finally have someone I can normally talk to. Here, sit. I want to hear everything because frankly, what is an elf doing out here all alone? And I love a good story time!"