Page 55 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

Vaara watched the three of them from across the room, then pulled back his hood and tugged his scarf below his chin. The girl at the table frowned. She nudged the other two and nodded toward Vaara.

The woman with the sword froze. Her eyes locked onto Vaara, and for an instant, they were filled with fear.

“She knows you?” Crow asked.

“No. I’ve never seen her before.”

“And the night elf?”

He nodded slowly, and Crow couldn’t tell whether or not he was happy to see the man. “Him, I know.” He started toward them.

She snatched his arm. “Wait.”

He came to a halt, halfway through a step. He turned to bare his teeth at her. Crow decided she liked him better with the scarf on.

She glanced over at the table. The night elf cautiously stood up and looked about to come over. Crow had been worried a fight was about to break out, but the stranger looked more wary than angry.

“Who are they?” she demanded.

“I only know the Varai. His name is Aruna.”

“But who is he? What is he doing here?”

“He was a friend of my brother’s. If he’s here, it might mean this woman isn’t a thief or a murderer after all.” He looked relieved.

“Or it meanshe’sthe thief or murderer,” Crow pointed out.

“Varai don’t turn on each other the way that humans do.”

“Are you certain?”

Vaara frowned a little. “I’ll find out when I speak to them, if you’d ever let me.”

She studied the three at the table. The other night elf was approaching them now. “You’re not to tell them what we’re here for. And you’re not to ask them to help you break the binding,” she said hurriedly, under her breath.

He glared, but didn’t argue.

Before she could think of more restrictions to place on him, the other night elf, Aruna, was in front of him. He was smaller than Vaara, but still taller than Crow, and she counted several blades on his belt. She took half a step back, behind Vaara, without really meaning to.

Aruna eyed both of them in turn, then spoke. The syllables bounced in alternating strokes of sharp and smooth. It was not unpleasant to listen to, and when Vaara replied, Crow found she enjoyed the sound of it. She’d never heard him speak Varai until that day.

She was relieved when there were no raised voices and no reaching for weapons. After a few exchanges, Aruna turned to go back to the table, and Vaara followed him. Crow started to go with him.

Vaara slowed. “Let me talk to them alone,” he said quietly.

Crow hesitated. The venom in his face and voice had faded, and he was giving her a wary, hopeful look. Aruna paused to look back at them, his expression flat. The atmosphere had suddenly become very grave. Something bad had happened. Something about the change in mood tugged at her conscience.

But she was in a room full of night elves. She’d be a fool to let him be with the others alone. How easy would it be for him to summon their aid against her?

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Just a few minutes,” he said quietly. “Then we can go deal with your master. Please.”

His quiet desperation took her by surprise. He felt so deeply about this that he was willing to resort to politeness.

Reluctantly, she nodded.

Vaara and Aruna went back to the table. The woman with the sword was still staring at Vaara like she’d seen a ghost, but that panic Crow had seen on her face was gone.

Crow peered nervously around the room, then tucked herself into a corner at one of the few open tables. She didn’t bother to pretend she wasn’t watching them as they started talking.

---