The lady Red and the Scholar

[Fenris]

Lady in Red

" Please tell us another Fenris. Please." she asked. I admit it's rare to have a duchess beg me for anything but then again, I always aim to please. At first I simply sat back and enjoyed my drink ignoring their requests. I had been spinning tales all night and lets face it, it can make a man thirsty. But a rousing chorus began to fill the tavern there was little I could do. I slammed my drink down, pulled my feet off the table and stood up to their applause, it was time to make someone famous.

I leapt onto the table and raised my hands demanding silence as the tale began to spin around in my head. I watched as the Duchess Roliana leaned in close giving me a better view of her, interest, in the matter. With a smile on my lips I looked around making certain I had everyone's gaze.

" You wish to hear another tale! A tale from my travels to Blackstone and beyond?" I shouted. Yes they replied in a rousing chorus. I chuckled lightly and began....

------

Tonight I will tell you tale my lords and ladies, a tale of a woman far braver than any noble with a smile that could melt the heart of an Ice Elemental. A raven haired Goddess who's eyes danced in the fire light and sparkled with the mischief of a wood elf. A beauty who spared me a touch of her horns, and it is a moment I will cherish because for a moment I was able to stand in her presence.

But I am no romantic! My tale is not about the broken hearts all men must mend when she leaves them in a cold bed alone; no sir not me! No I tell you a tale of how she roused action out of the Nobility by daring to do what none of them would. So forgive me ahead of time Duchess, for the words that might escape my lips but I speak the truth in what I say.

It was a night much like this. The sky above Blackstone was ripe with thunder and swollen with rain that some great evil pushed back, the guards walked their patrols mutely. Their pale flesh adding to the sorrow embracing it and yet there was a small spark of light in that darkness, a tavern run by a mystic named Hooch who's legend is long indeed. I came in from the cold accompanied by Rastin, a scholar and a man of great potential, and we saw her there tormenting a poor Romani. Ah the Romani, truly a sporting fellow who thought he could ply her to his chambers but she was smarter than him; smarter than the fey was she and twice as lovely.

But as desperately as he plied she danced from his grasp and graced my friend and I with her presence. Her name, she claimed, was Red though Enchantress might suit her best because even Rastin was smitten and he was not one to be so easily tamed. Being the romantic of course I saw such things and was about to court her myself when trouble came to our door.

Hooded beasts! Figures in the shadow who said nothing burst through the tavern door their weapons held downards, their heads bowed in silence! I watched as those gathered stared in silence. Clearly they had seen this evil before, clearly the saw the fangs and teeth half revealed by the fire light of the torches and yet...they did nothing. Yes, my friends, nothing!

They merely watched as the figures passed through the tavern and at first I thought there would not be a brave soul in all of Blackstone as they passed us by. I saw their twisted visages, men twisted by packets with demons and darker things and yet these people saw nothing; or so I thought. Red did though, Rastin as well, and against all reason the two leapt from the tavern steps and began to follow them.

Yes! Do not believe what others may tell you for it was no act of bravery by any night or man with a sword that uncovered their purpose! It was a man and a woman much like yourselves that dared to venture out into the western woods and seek out the darkness! Carefully they stalked their prey, moving from shadow to shadow as the creatures began to assemble. She watched as they twisted and chanted forming a great circle of magick near the very grounds others slept in.

Silently they crept forward until suddenly the leader of the hooded mob spotted them and sent his minions forth! Rastin summoned forth the magic of earth and sky raining down stone and magick! Red warded back the beasts with ancient scrolls and the sounds of battle finally stirred the nobles from their rest and brought them charging into the night.

And my friends never have I seen such grace in combat, she twisted and moved like a ghost raining down her magick upon them even as the brave fighters of the land pushed back the foul hooded things. Under the command of their leaders they managed to corral the beasts allowing the lady to tend to the wounded. Oh, good sirs, her hands were like silk and as warm as mothers milk as they tended to the wounded. Each man and woman thanked her for just a touch and though I myself sustained no injury; I might have faked one just a bit.

-------

" And that my friends is the tale of the Lady Red and her brave scholar Rastin! Perhaps if you wander the roads and find the places where heroes gather you will greet them both. Forgive me for the brevity of it but the night is long and perhaps if you ask me later; I will give you another performance. " I said with a smile hopping down from the table.

As I sat there with beer in hand and propped my feet back on the table, I shifted my shirt aside seeing the claw marks Red had left behind. I admit I learned a valuable lesson that gather; never touch a mystic's horns.

Oh, and as for the truth to what happened in Blackstone that night. Well lets face it, I didn't lie. I just stretched the truth a little bit.