Page 43 of Whispers of the Elderoak

“No one knows. Though some say she was the one who allowed them in. That she isworkingwith them to take over Eorhan,” he said, keeping his companion riveted to her seat.

His friend gasped again. “Oh, how awful! What are we going to do? Will we go to war again?”

“It is likely. Very likely.”

Casimir rose. He’d heard enough. He must find his friends and inform them of what he learned. It should be impossible. Though he’d heard of humans, he had never heard of one arriving in Eorhan. They lived in their own world in a faraway realm he thought was inaccessible. It was likely these were only rumors, ignited by fear of what was to come, but he must take heed, nonetheless.

He stepped out of the tavern and onto the cobblestone streets. Oakshire was a small town, shops nestled so closely together they felt almost oppressive at times. Golden lanterns lit the streets, joining the warm lights shining through the windows of the shops in town. He passed by a small bakery, a bookstore, even a brothel—something he never had much interest in, but Raine loved—as he strolled along.

As was tradition in his kingdom, the town was integrated into nature as much as possible, with trees interspersed among the wooden buildings and vines climbing along the walls. The glow of the setting sun brought a fiery orange tint to the sky, as the night prepared its arrival. All manners of fae bustled about, a flutter of activity in the cool evening. He continued to make his way down the street, looking for any signs of his companions.

As he came upon a small potions shop with a wooden sign hanging above the door that readArcane Elixirs, arguing sounded from within. He grumbled and rolled his eyes, knowing what he would find as he pushed open the door.

Upon entering the crowded shop, filled with wall-to-wall shelves of tinctures, bottles and jars, he found Raine bickering with the proprietor at the front desk. Quinn was sauntering about the shop, looking at the goods stocked on every surface. Noticing Casimir, she raised her eyebrows at him and jerked her head pointedly toward Raine.

“That’s not what you said earlier,” Raine was saying to the short, gray-skinned goblin who was seated behind the counter upon a stool. “You said twenty coppers for the healing balm,notthirty.”

Casimir approached the scene and lowered his hood. Raine turned to him. “Cas. Where the fuck have you been? This damn goblin is trying to swindle me over some healing balm.”

“I am not!” the goblin insisted in his scratchy high-pitched voice. “I said twenty coppers for the tin of salve sitting next to the healing balm. That’s the one you pointed to.”

“It is not, and you know it. You switched them around when I wasn’t looking.” Raine waved his hands. “Twenty coppers is all I’ll pay.” Raine looked at Casimir with frustration, running his hand through his platinum locks. “Cas, help me out here.”

Casimir turned to the proprietor of the shop. “Will you take twenty-five?”

The goblin nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, general. Thank you, general.”

He turned to his friend and gestured toward the pouch hanging from his leather belt. “Pay up.”

“But… twenty-five coppers?” Raine scoffed. “Oh, come on, this is outrageous.”

“Just do it. We have more important things to worry about right now,” replied Casimir, patience waning.

Sighing, Raine retrieved the money and set it on the counter. “Here,” he said as he snatched the balm off the desk and huffed out of the shop mumbling to himself as the goblin gave a triumphant small smile.

Quinn appeared next to Casimir, holding up a bright purple vial and dropping her coppers into the goblin’s hand.

“You came in here for soap?” Casimir asked.

“I’m tired of smelling like you brutes.” She grinned.

He gave her a flat look and grunted.

She laughed as they walked back out into the night and joined Raine who was still huffing and puffing in the street. “You heard something?” she asked Casimir.

“Yes. We need a private location to speak.”

A moment later, Jorrar appeared with a new quiver of arrows. “What did you learn?” he asked as the four of them walked down the lamp lit streets.

They found a quiet alleyway between two buildings and stopped, scanning the area for prying eyes or ears.

“There’s a rumor a human woman was brought here with Deidamia,” Casimir informed them.

“A human?” Quinn was incredulous. “Impossible.”

“I thought so too, but we need to keep our ears open for more. Jorrar, what does this mean?” he asked his wisest warrior.

Jorrar thought for a moment as he shook his head. “To my knowledge there has never been a human in Eorhan before. I’m not sure what to make of it. Did you learn anything else? Talk to anyone?”

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