Snake

Cean, the elf captain vanished and reappeared next to two of his men. Spitting out black blood he howled. "Kill him. That thing reeks of the Winter Court."

Elves rushed in, forming a circle of blades around Eion. He spun wildly, his hands and feet a blur as he deflected thrusting blades. His darkness-covered hand left rot on any whose flesh he reached. But, try as he might there was no escape. They closed in on him, tightening the circle. Yet the sickly green glow of their smile never lessened, it grew broader instead. Then as the circle closed in for the final push. They were just, gone.

"Where did they go!" The captain snarled, his necrotic wound already healed by one of the healers with them. "Check the halls. He can't have gotten far." Cean glared at the spot where the half-elf had vanished. It was true that the half-elf could step between the veil like a proper fae. But he was definitely not the one they were looking for. Not with that sinister power.

"What a waste of time." He muttered to himself.

**********

Eion appeared in the dark tunnel of the mine. It had been right at the limit of the range of his teleportation. Just below the room he had been fighting in. If he hadn't been so familiar with the area he would never have been able to arrive without seeing his destination. That meant the elves couldn't find him either. His left hand reached down and touched the largest of the wounds. One of the elves had managed to poke him in the side with their slender blade. Golden light covered his hand before seeping into the wound. When he moved it away the flesh was healed and his robe needed but another patch.

Darkness drained from his mask as the sickly green light started to fade. "Better run cry baby. Or the elves will get us."

Eion looked around confused. How he had gotten to the mines. It was dark but he could make out the detail of where he was. Even in a world of greys, he recognized which tunnel he was in. Following the tunnel, he found one of the main work areas. Tools were propped against wooden tables, waiting to be claimed by the priest on duty for digging. Eion eyed a lantern and considered lighting it. He could see fine in the dark but it wasn't as good as with some light. But with elves running around he decided against it.

Eion knew he had to run again. The priest couldn't keep him safe anymore. Ten years had been longer than he expected. It had been nice. But it was time to move on. He definitely couldn't stay here now that the elves were back. Glancing around he picked up a pack left sitting on a table. Inside were a few loose items left behind by one of the working priests. The mining tools were of no use to him. But he spotted one of the clear shiny rocks they dug up. This one was one of the big ones. The priests would cut them down, something about the big ones being not worth as much. Or that they were too much trouble to sell. He forgot what the problem was exactly. But it sat there the size of a large melon, even in his grey-washed vision it sparkled.

He knew what he was going to do. Had always said if he ever got away from the monastery he would become a merchant. Merchants needed something to trade right? Even if it was a lot of trouble and not worth it. He could certainly sell the shiny rock. It might not be worth much, but it was better than nothing. They wouldn't miss it either. They had plenty. Besides, he reminded himself, the big ones were a lot of trouble to sell. Eion stuffed the giant diamond into his pack before turning down the tunnel that would lead him to the hidden exit.

It was better this way. If he left, the elves would follow him. Only then could the priests be safe.

**********

"Cean, report." The captain maintained his mask of indifference at the harsh command from what amounted to a child in his eyes. But a child of noble blood.

Ara flicked back the cowl of her plain cloak, her slender ears poking from her crimson hair. "I said report. Or can you do nothing right? I confirmed with one of the acolytes that the half-elf was hidden somewhere here in the monastery. Those old priests might be unreadable but the mortal child was easy enough to read, mask or not."

Cean mentally swore. 'Child? You are one to speak.' But his face showed none of his displeasure. "We located the half breed. But they were not the one we sought. They reeked of Winter Court."

Ara motioned for him to bend down, then slapped the captain hard across the face. "That is not for you to decide, Cean. Besides, have you forgotten the prophecy states they can join either court? Rule… Either court. Of course, they have the potential for either court's power." She paused to ensure he was listening. "Where are they?"

"They escaped." Another loud slap echoed through the hall.

Ara paced in front of the captain as he stood stone still containing his rage. "You." Ara pointed to a random soldier. "Tell me what happened. I wish not to hear this one speak."

As soon as the soldier recounted the events, there was a third sharp sound of a slap. "You ordered them to kill him? Kill one of the candidates for the prophecy. Do you like being stuck in a stalemate with the Winter Court? Are you not one of the Summer Flames?" Ara glared at him, her green eyes locked with his sea-blue ones.

"Of course princess." He answered, heroically keeping his rage out of his tone.

"Not for long! When my mother hears of this, you will be lucky if you are allowed to scrub the royal meanger!" Ara spun on her heels and marched away. She did not look forward to letting her mother, no the queen know they had failed. Cean watched her go, his eyes ablaze with the indignation of how such a fledgling had treated him. In front of his own men even. If that was to be the next monarch of the Summer Court, perhaps it was best if Winter won after all.

**********

Weeks passed as Eion moved across the country, traveling through the roughest of mountain forests to emerge far away from the monastery. He had always been good at identifying and harvesting plants. The priest had taught him well, which kept him well fed with nuts, berries, and other bounties of the land. But now below him was a town. Small, dark, and dingy compared to the one below the monastery. But it was far enough away Eion felt safe that the elves couldn't have followed him here, yet.

Adjusting his mask and pulling the cowl of his robe lower he moved down out of the trees and to the road. It was muddy, with many deep wagon ruts. But so far he hadn't seen anyone move by. A wagon. A merchant's wagon. How he would love to have one. Even a small cart would be a start. What kind of merchant didn't have a wagon?

People eyed him as he entered the town proper. Sitting on porches of dilapidated houses, little more than shacks. All of them looked dirty, unkempt, and mean. Eion waved at them cheerily as he passed seeming unphased by their disposition. Often calling out friendly greetings and equally unphased by their lack of reaction. Or at times harsh replies.

There was only one larger building in the small town. Eion made straight for it. That would be where he could make his first sale as a merchant. He spotted several wagons and carts off to the side of the building as he approached. His heart raced, what if he could get a wagon? Could he trade the pretty rock for one? Probably not, it wasn't worth as much as a wagon for sure.

Eion pushed through the door into the loudly greeted everyone, even waving cheerily. The rough clientele within stopped to gawk at the odd sight of someone being friendly in their little town. Two of the men after a short pause stood up, moving to greet the new arrival.

**********

Snake propped his feet up on the table in front of him. Things were going poorly for him. The last several jobs he had been on had gone bust. If he didn't score big soon his overseers would have his head, the Zhentarim did not look kindly on low earners in their ranks. Sighing he knew he should be out looking for something, anything. It wasn't like a big score would just come knocking at his door.

As he thought that there was a loud heavy thud at the door leading to the alleyway. Daggers appeared in his hands so quickly it might have seemed like magic. He eyed the door waiting. But nothing happened. Slipping one of the daggers in its concealed sheath, he cautiously approached the door before creaking it open. A body slumped into the doorway with a groan.

"Sorry!" A small slender robed figure with a plain white mask rushed over and grabbed the ankle of the groaning man. "Sorry. I'll get him out of the way for you. Sorry!" They tugged him down the short steps, the bald man's head bouncing on the stairs. Each time his head hit a stair, there was a grunt.

Two more men came rushing down the alley and Snake watched as the small figure seemed to float around them as they came flying at them. Like a leaf on the wind, they passed through, while their hands and feet moved as a blur. The two rough thugs crashed to the ground, groaning but unmoving. "Sorry! Sorry! But you can't just attack people. That isn't nice!"

Poking his head further out the door Snake spotted a total of now seven men sprawled out in the muddy alley. "Who the hell are you?"

The robed and masked figure dropped the leg of the one he was dragging. "Oh no. Sorry! I'm Eion." Before Snake could react they were standing on the stairs, pumping his hand vigorously. Snake almost shanked him with the dagger in his other hand, concealed behind his body. But thought better of it at the last moment.

"Uh. Eion it is? What happened here?" Snake eyed the scene again not sure what to make of it.

"Oh. They said they would sell me a wagon…With a horse even! All for my shiny rock." The pure youthful excitement in their voice let Snake know they were dealing with a child. He glanced at the downed thugs, many he had even done jobs with. A child maybe, but a dangerous one.

"Shiny rock?" He asked only half listening as he wondered how he could profit from this.

"Oh yes." Suddenly the robed figure was gone and in the blink of an eye back. Now holding a worn backpack. Opening it up he tilted it so Snake could see inside.

Snake nearly pissed himself. Inside was the biggest diamond he had ever seen. There was no way it could be real… but if it was. "Ahh, you don't want to trade with these scum. Come into my office and let us do business. You should have come to me first anyway. I'm the only real merchant around these parts." They barely got the door opened all the way before the excited youth pushed in.