Encounter in an Alley
Elias motioned for them to duck into a dark alley a few minutes after they left the Gatehouse. After following him for some time, they were nicely wedged in what could charitably be described as a chasm between two buildings.
"So what's this about Elias?" Vordea said with a smile. "Normally I wouldn't with an audience but I can make an exception."
"We got time for that later." Elias said dismissively, causing Vordea to blush slightly. "They clearly knew who you were at the Gate, which means you have a document you didn't show me."
Elias immediately started going through Vordea's pockets, but she immediately grabbed his hand. Only her demons were allowed to be that forward with her.
"I don't think so." Vordea said, admonishing him. "That's no way to treat a lady."
"Okay Mira I get the picture. Please let go." Elias said, trying to shake his hand out of her vice like grip.
"Your dishonesty is why he even tried that, you know." Francisco said. "Why don't you just start telling us the truth?"
"I wish I could, but I can't tell either of you." Vordea said quietly, as she slowly released her grip on Elias, who rubbed his wrist. "You're not ready if I told you now."
"Why aren't we ready?" Francisco asked. Elias stood quietly, looking at Vordea.
"Elias will... be somebody important." Vordea said, knowing she can't tell him he's the next High Priest. Not yet at least. "And if I told you, you'd tell Elias. You'd promise you wouldn't. You'd try really hard. But you would."
"Somebody important?" Elias asked, intrigued now.
"See if you can fuck the answer out of me tonight, loverboy." Vordea said, kissing him on the cheek.
"Oh? Is that a promise?" Elias asked, grinning. "What about the boy?"
"We'll find him a nice girl at the Inn." Vordea said, patting Francisco on the shoulder.
As Elias and Vordea laughed, Francisco motioned for them to be silent. "There's somebody crying. Somebody is beating them."
"Where?" Vordea whispered.
"End of the alley, make a right." Francisco said, after closing his eyes to focus on the sound.
"Wait here, boy. Elias, with me." Vordea said, inching her way down the narrow alley, barely wide enough to walk.
Vordea reached the end of the alley and peered around the corner. As little danger as she was in, she still wanted to at least pretend to be mortal. In a secluded square, 3 dwarves had an elf surrounded, who was laying on the ground sobbing as they continued to punch and kick her.
"Please, I didn't do anything!" The elf sobbed.
"That's the problem with these knife ears, they're all liars!" One of the dwarves said as he gave a swift kick to her stomach. The other 2 dwarves laughed in response as the beating continued.
"Somebody... help." The elf sobbed.
"There's our cue, Mira. Come on." Elias said, pushing past her and into the square. Vordea followed shortly behind him, impressed at how closely to her teachings he already was.
"Hoy, fuck off humies." One of the dwarves said. "This is between us and the knife ear."
"That makes it about us." Vordea said, the venom in her voice practically dripping out of her mouth. "I'll give you one chance. Walk away." Vordea continued, pulling Dungar's cutlass out of her belt, and tossing it between her hands.
Elias nodded, his hands already crackling with lightning. "On my honour, I will cut you down where you stand."
The first dwarf turned to look at his companions, only to find them already gone, all too eager to give up when faced with a fair fight.
"This isn't over!" He shouted as he followed them down the alley, leaving Elias and Vordea alone with the elf.