"Tell me, Vigil, what an elf like you is doing here, so far away from home?"
Vigil's expression didn't change but his mind did race. He had little time to prepare a believable story.
"Home" he replied after a brief pause. "It's complicated. Let's just say I have been… displaced".
The elder's eyes narrowed, clearly unsatisfied with the vague answer. "Displaced? That's an interesting way to put it. Elves are known for their deep ties to their lands. It's rare to see one so far from Slyvaris."
Vigil glanced down at his battered clothes, a faint cold smile forming on his lips. "The world is full of surprises, Elder. And sometimes, even elves find themselves in places they never expected to be".
Their conversation was briefly interrupted when the tall wooden gates slowly opened, and for a few seconds, the whole village stopped.
Vigil couldn't help but feel a bit pressured by the amount of people that were looking directly at him. Some of the villagers looked at him with curiosity, it seemed his ears had attracted some attention.
"Our village has seen better days," said the elder, his voice melancholic.
And that was an understatement as Vigil's eyes scanned the village. The wooden houses were marked by signs of hardship and maintenance. Some roofs had patches with scraps of wood and cloth. The market looked like it had been raided, with only a single shelf surviving the onslaught. The vegetables looked old and frail while the seller looked towards the villagers passing by, his eyes empty.
Placed right in the middle was an elevated tent, it looked better maintained in comparison to the rest of the village. The wooden stairs looked clean and well maintained while the tent was adorned with drawings that resembled a hunt.
"Is it because of the snow?" asked Vigil.
"Do not be concerned about our issues, elf" the elder answered, his voice invasive.
He then looked towards his soldiers, and with a swift gesture, he commanded. "Back to your posts". The group quickly dispersed, but the scarred soldier Troba remained, though he gave them some space. His eyes remained fixated on Vigil.
"Please follow me towards the tent," said the elder.
The tent was modest but well-kept. Inside, the space was neatly organized with a small, rounded table at the centre and a few chairs scattered around. Placed in the ground was a fur that looked like a boar, its size was unusually big for that kind of animal. A single torch hung from the centre pole, casting a nice comfortable light inside.
The scarred soldier remained at the entrance, while the elder gestured Vigil to have a sit.
"You asked for an audience and now you have it" said the elder while he settled in a chair across Vigil.
The bat remained silent, though his body shifted with anticipation.
Vigil's legs trembled a bit, this was the moment he was waiting for. He needed to figure out where he was, and how long had it passed since his execution. And well some clothing too.
"You asked me what I'm doing here, so far from home. Well, the truth is, I'm lost."
The elder furrowed his eyebrows, his expression unreadable "And how did that happen?".
Vigil took a few seconds to answer; he had to come up with something believable and reasonable or the elder would probably refuse his request.
"I was travelling with a caravan" He began, his voice confident, "We were attacked by bandits. They took everything. Our supplies, my clothing and even my sense of direction. I managed to escape them but I've been wandering ever since".
"A caravan, you say? And where was this caravan headed?"
"To Valthera" Vigil replied, he doubted the news of the escalation between his kingdom and the elf's dominion had reached this area yet. It was a risk he was willing to take.
The elder leaned back in his chair, his eyes looked like they were lost in thought ."And what of your companions? Did any of them survive?".
Vigil shook his head. "I don't know. I haven't seen anyone since the attack. I've been… surviving on my own".
The elder studied Vigil for a while, his eyes looked like they were studying him. Finally, he nodded "You are currently in the dark forest and as you probably guessed, it's the land of the orcs".
Vigil suddenly felt dizzy and his whole body shivered with the news. He was very high up in the north. His mind raced with questions, just how did I get here and why? And for what reason.
His familiar sifted in his pocket almost revealing his upper body, sensing his unease ."calm down master, we will find the answers you seek, be patient".
The elder seemed to take note of Vigil's long pause, he whistled towards the scarred soldier, who hurriedly reported to him.
"Is there anything I can do for you, elder?" said Troba.
"Please bring our guest something warm to drink"
Strangely enough, Troba didn't retort back. He replied with a deep and respectful bow towards the elder before turning and leaving the tent.
The elder returned his eyes towards Vigil. "You have seen the state of our village; regrettably we don't have much to offer besides a warm drink"
"And I appreciate the gesture. But truthfully, all I need is some clothing, and then I'll be on my way". The information he learned from the elder was already a good gift, the clothing would be a bonus, he didn't want to walk around half-naked for long.
The elder remained silent for a while, he leaned back to his chair. "Very well. I'll have someone bring you some clothing".
With that, the elder left the tent, leaving Vigil and the bat alone. The small creature finally left his pocket and sat down on the edge of the table.
"Master, do you think they suspect anything?"
Vigil shook his head. "I don't think so. But we shouldn't stay here longer than necessary"
The bat nodded. It didn't have to wait before the tent opened again and a young villager stepped inside. She carried a bundle of folded clothing; they looked simple and clean.
"Here," the villager said, her voice timid but polite. "The elder thought these might fit you".
"Thank you" he nodded.
The villager hesitated for a brief moment, like she was unsure whether to say more, then turned and left without saying a word.
Vigil wasted no time. He unfolded the clothes, revealing a simple dark brown tunic, a pair of trousers and a worn but serviceable cloak. The fabric felt rough but it would serve its purpose. He quickly dressed.
As he fastened the cloak around his shoulders, Vigil felt shivers running across his body. He staggered slightly, catching himself on the centre pole of the tent.
The bat noticed immediately, and he flew towards its master, hovering close to his face. "Master! Are you alright?"
Vigil closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, but the dizziness only grew worse, his legs began to feel heavy. His mind raced with possibilities. The villager's hesitation and the strange taste of the drink he'd been offered earlier.
"Poison", said vigil, his voice but a whisper. His legs finally gave out from the tiring fight, and he collapsed to his knees, one hand gripping the table hard for support.
The bat's eyes widened in panic and helplessness. "Poison? What do we do!?"
He tried to respond, but his words fumbled as the poison spread through his system. His vision darkened, and the last thing he felt was himself falling forward.