Page 82 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“What happened?” he asked.

“It’s… a long story.”

“Give me the short version.”

“The man I came here with last time is in grave danger. We had a run-in with some people who mean him harm. I need to find help, or something terrible might happen to him.” Something terrible was probably already happening, but that was too gruesome to think about. “Will you let me talk to his friends?”

She wrung her hands while the man thought about it. He still seemed reluctant.

“They’re staying upstairs,” he said finally. “Second door on the left. Don’t do anything you shouldn’t.”

Crow smiled. Suddenly, his demeanor had become less threatening. She got the distinct impression that his bark was worse than his bite.

She didn’t often meet other half-elves. It made her wish she’d met him under better circumstances—ones that would paint her in a better light, preferably. But these days it was hard to find a light in which she looked good.

She nodded, stepping inside. “Thank you.”

“Is that your dog?”

“Sort of.”

“Keep it outside.”

She looked down at the dog, frowning. It was her only chance of finding Vaara.

“Hold on to her for me, will you?” she said. “I can’t leave her outside and risk having her wander off.”

“What? I’m not watching your dog for you.”

“Oh, she’s friendly. Don’t worry.”

She slid a hand over the dog’s head, giving it a quick set of commands, and hurried inside as he protested.

The tavern was full again that night. One or two people looked up at her curiously, though not with hostility. It was as dark and hazy as it had been the previous night, smelling of sweet pipe smoke and the fire burning in the corner and odd-smelling food cooking somewhere. It looked much like any other tavern in Valtos except for the odd clientele.

It still set Crow on edge. Even having known Vaara for some time, it was hard to ignore his people’s reputation, and it was difficult not to be nervous as she passed by them, even as they talked and laughed as easily as any Ardanian.

She went upstairs and came to the second door on the left. They wouldn’t be happy to see her again, after last time. But she had nowhere else to turn to for help, and she couldn’t do this alone.

She knocked on the door.

There was a pause, and then the door opened. The night elf, Aruna, appeared in the opening. He frowned. Crow’s heart sank. This would have been easier if the mage or the sword-woman had answered, instead. But she gave him her best charming smile and opened her mouth to speak.

Then he opened the door wide and drew his sword—which he evidently wore even when he was alone in a locked room. Maybe he was still nervous after what she’d done to him the previous day.

She held up her hands defensively, taking a step back. “Hey! Take it easy. There’s no need for that.”

He kept his distance. He’d learned his lesson after last time. He knew she was Ashara. She peered over his shoulder into the room. No one else appeared to be there with him.

She was better at commanding than at apologizing or asking for help, admittedly. “Look,” she said. “I’m sorry about what happened before. There was a misunderstanding.”

He just glared at her.

She sidled closer, and he raised the tip of his sword. She quickly halted, giving him another smile. “But I’m sure you’re not the type to hold a grudge, right?”

He gave her a look of vague disdain before taking a step toward her. Her smile evaporated. She backed away, wondering how often they had to clean up bloody corpses in a place like this. It was clearly an illegal bar, patronized by night elves illegally staying in the city. There was no law here, and for all she knew, there were no morals, either.

But instead of attacking her, he moved to close the door on her. Startled, Crow jumped to stick her boot in the door before he could close it all the way. Being murdered in the hallway, she could understand. But having the door shut in her face? For the second time in as many minutes? “That’s incredibly rude, you know.”

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