Page 38 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

Vaara grabbed her arm to hide them, but Crow twisted away. “No!” she hissed. “The archer. It’s too light out still. They’ll have a shot at us if we try to run.”

“Then what do we do?”

She watched the highwaymen with wide eyes, and didn’t answer.

“Wait a minute,” called someone from the trees. Yet another man stepped out of the forest, squinting at them. “Is that Crow?”

Relief spilled over her face. “Garros.”

Vaara stared at her in disbelief. Sheknewthe bandits who were currently trying to rob them. These were the types of people she associated with. Why was he surprised?

Garros grinned and waved off the other men, who looked disappointed as they lowered their weapons. “Crow. By the gods, it’s been a long time.”

“You’re robbing people on the road, now?” she teased. “Are you so hard up?”

“It’s honest work.”

“You all scared me half to death.”

“Apologies.”

Vaara bristled as the man stopped in front of her. He had a distinctly human look to him—all thick and hairy, like an ape. “What brings you out to the countryside?”

Crow shrugged stiffly. “The usual. Work never ends.”

Garros’s eyes slid in Vaara’s direction. “Who’s this?”

“He… is involved in my current project,” Crow said evasively.

He gave Vaara an examining look. “Do you have a name?”

Vaara glanced at Crow, who offered no help. “Vaara.”

“Why hide your face, Vaara?” He smiled. “Someone might think you’ve got something to hide.”

Vaara looked at Crow again. She didn’t look happy, but she nodded.

Vaara slowly pulled down the scarf and lowered his hood. Garros’s eyebrows went up. There were a few startled murmurs from the men around them.

“That’s something you don’t see every day,” Garros said mildly.

“Indeed,” Crow said.

“What in the hells are you doing that involves a night elf?”

“I didn’t know it was going to involve one until just recently, actually.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Crow gave him a placating smile. “You know I can’t tell you.”

“Of course. Your employer would have your head.”

“Yes.”

He gave Vaara another lingering look. He was sizing him up. He looked a little more unhappy with his presence now that the disguise had come off.

He turned to Crow. “I’m sorry about all this,” he said, waving to the others who had ambushed them. “Misunderstanding, of course. Never would have bothered you if we’d recognized you. We have a camp set up not far from here. You should join us for the night. These roads get dangerous at night, you know.”

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