The Bell and the Bow

“She loves you.” Tharan says after a few moments’ contemplation. They’d finished dinner, and were now lounging in the parlor. Alkara had just finished telling him about the Ironshod incident. She blanches at his assertion, but Tharan continues before she can reply. “It is the only explanation.” Alkara snorts, “She has a funny way of […]

Weeks pass and Alkara finds herself enjoying lunch with Dre and Chiron. They had taken their meal outside the Retrievers’ guild hall to a wide open space that lies Trueward from the hall. One of Alkara’s favorite places to eat lunch. She hates eating in the mess.  And this is one of the last open

“So um…” Alkara begins with a quaver in her voice. “What was that? That thing you did with your voice.” She peers about the glade. “It’s like even the flowers and birds obeyed.” Tharan pauses, outlining the bell under his tunic with a finger. “During my tenure as Bell Keeper, Doë has deigned to give

A strange infestation of jub-jub birds delays Alkara’s next meeting with Tharan. Two weeks of tracking and hunting, then exterminating them in the burrows that were somehow on the good side of the Grecian River. And unlike others, they didn’t connect their tunnels. But if the Waste Walkers hadn’t taken care of them, the pests

Alkara sighs as she sinks into one of Tharan’s couches in his parlor. She holds the tome Aberrants and their Nature: A Treatise with her forefinger wedged between the cover and first real page. She taps her thigh with the other hand while Leä sets out small snacks and drinks. Plus a bowl of cream

Alkara approaches the glade with quick strides. Guen keeps up easily enough. A field of blue-petaled flowers reach toward the sun. Moss-covered stones dot the perimeter. Butterflies flit from bud to bud while birds chirp in the background. Early morning light licks at blades of grass. The meeting isn’t till midday, but Alkara arrives early.

Alkara lay in dappled sunlight on the forest floor. A partly eaten rabbit lay in the grasses next to her. The char on it graces its underside. Small bites mar the remaining raw flesh. Alkara hadn’t even caught this one. Guen had caught it for her. Alkara had been too miserable. And she doesn’t even

What passed for morning arrives and the band packs up to leave. Alkara’s hand twitches with impatience as she walks the winding tunnels. She jerks and starts at every hint of movement or echo of noise. Vilsper had declared it would be the last of the twists but Alkara’s not sure she believes him. With

Careful to erase the smile well before entering the tent, Tharan moves forward and pulls the flap open for Alkara. She clenches her jaw and looks sidelong at Tharan while moving past. No outward sign of gratitude presents itself. No thank you necessary. Tharan enters to a duet of sly and suggestive stares. Dreonna and

Scrape. Scrape scrape. The spoon strikes the sides of the bowl with force as it gathers gruel. Weak light, so alien in the Depths, fills the tunnel. Shadows wrap around the creature holding the spoon. Dark leathers drape from its hunched shoulders. Purple eyes look out from a darkened alcove at the assembled elves. It