Rayne, Child of a Thousand Years CH 33

Rayne sighed as she tested her wings gingerly. It would be easiest to just fly down to the village that sat in a shallow valley between the hills and the mountain range. Of course...that would also mean that she'd have to use her wings, and they were quite stiff and unhappy with so much use recently. "It would figure that I'd have to do something like this," she growled to herself as she slowly flapped her wings until she was airborne.1

The air was warm and inviting as she floated down to the sleepy little town. After a moment of ungainly shifting, she landed at the boarder of the town and looked about. The roads were dusty like most isolated villages and the houses were of wood...which would explain the lack of vegetation on the nearby hills and mountainsides.2

Clay shingles of beige to deep red covered the roofs and a few windows sparkled with light from within. The road was nearly empty and there were no lamps to be seen. Rayne wondered just where Jacub and Tyke would be in a town like this. She looked about quietly and sighed. Somehow, she sensed that this place would be important later on.3

After what seemed forever, she finally convinced herself to walk down the road and up to what appeared to be some sort of tavern. If the drunk at the door hadn't given it away, Rayne was certain she'd have thought it no more than a slightly bigger house. "Oi, me lovely!" hic-cuped the drunk at the door as his bumbling hand came down on her shoulder.4

Rayne froze and turned her head to look at him. He was quite drunk. Knocking his hand off of her she backed away a moment, cursing herself for forgetting her spear at the castle. "Get away from me," she growled.5

The drunk didn't seem to get quite what she was saying as he stumbled closer, "Oi, don' be like dat..."6

"Get away from me!" she hissed as she backed away again, catching hold of something behind her as she went.7

Her hands came up before her with the axe she'd found and she held it between them warily. "Let the lady go," a smooth voice came from just behind the drunk and Rayne leaned to the side to see who it was.8

A blue-haired elf winked at her with a grin on his face as he came to stand beside the drunk, "Let me buy you a drink."9

"Ah!" scoffed the man as he turned away from Rayne with a wave of his hand, "Stuffy li'l chit! Wot kin'a d'ink, matey?"10

"Anything you want," offered the elf as he ushered the man inside. He glanced back at Rayne with a slightly concerned smile, "You all right?"11

The youwarkee nodded quietly as she tossed the axe back behind her again, "I would hope so."12

He grinned at her and motioned her to follow, "Perhaps a glass of milk will help calm your nerves?"13

Rayne followed after him quietly. At least he didn't seem dangerous or anything. She glanced about outside for a moment before disappearing into the tavern. The place was nearly crowded, but she could still spy one or two tables that were empty. The bar was crowded, with rowdy customers, but she spotted the elf making his way over to a table in the far corner with two mugs. Rayne spotted the drunk passed out on the floor to her left.14

She made a wide circle about him as she made her way over to where the elf was. A thank-you was very much in order. Sitting down at the table, Rayne accepted the mug of milk and smiled quietly, "Thanks."15

The elf grinned a little as he chugged his drink down, "For what?"16

"Helping me out back there," answered Rayne without looking up from the white frothy milk in the cup.17

Smacking his lips, the elf set his cup down and leaned across the table to look at her closely. "Name's Eyrion."18

He extended a hand and she looked at it for a moment before shaking it. Still, she didn't quite feel comfortable talking to the strange elf. "...You looking for something?" inquired the elf. He didn't seem too upset that she didn't return the favor.19

She nodded quietly as she scooted the drink to the side, untouched, "Two boys. Tyke and Jacub...they were traveling with me and we got separated."20

"Ah..." he nodded as he kicked his feet up and crossed them over the table, "So you must be this Rayne character that they keep talking about."21

Her attention when straight to his face, "You know them!?"22

"Found them just like I did you," he grinned with a shrug. "They ought to be up in my room resting."23

Without a second thought, Rayne stood up, drink forgotten, "Show me to them."24

"What?" He looked at her blankly for a moment.25

"Show me to them," she repeated impatiently.26

The elf thought this rather preposterous, but he finally stood up and slowly made his way up the stairs. There were a few snickers and a few lewd shouts from behind them, but Eyrion waved them off as he led Rayne upwards. She could hear the uproar downstairs just as they disappeared from view.27

The hall was narrow and the floor creaked a bit, but it was still quite cozy felling. Eyrion fumbled with a key and opened the first door on the left. He turned to let Rayne in first while still holding the door as it swung into the room.28

A quick scan of the room was rather pleasing for such a small inn. A rug before the fireplace and a rather plush bed. Rayne walked straight up to the bed and nearly collapsed in relief. Jacub was sprawled out with Tyke curled up under one arm, "Thank the Gods!" she whispered as she knelt on the chest sitting at the foot of the bed. "I thought I'd lost you two..."29

Eyrion made a muffled cough and she turned to see him still standing at the door, "If you wouldn't mind..." he blushed a little, "I'll go downstairs to see about another room for you..."30

He vanished before she could say a single thing more. A room for her? She hadn't slept in an actual bed for quite some time. "...Rayne..." Tyke shifted in his sleep, his hands outstretch to her as if begging her to come to him.31

She gently took the boy into her arms and sighed. For as old as he was, he still fit so perfectly in her arms. "By the legends, Tyke," she whispered as she kissed his forehead, "I thought I'd lost you for good back there..."32