It was the end of the day’s shift, the sun had long set over Pembroke. Reilyn worked at Reaper’s Paradise almost daily since Linda had hired him, he’d been in the town for a couple weeks. The work was lighthearted and the customers were usually too drunk to care that he was an Eyll. 

Reilyn finished up helping Linda with cleaning and untied his apron. He folded it neatly, setting it on one of the tavern tables. He walked over to the bar counter, reaching for a glass of water, “I’m hungry.” He groaned. Linda tossed him an apple, grabbing one for herself, from a basket on the bar counter. Reilyn shook his head, “Nee, I’m thirsty.” He set the apple down and took a swig of water, “Sorry, Linda’da, I forgot the word.” 

Linda chuckled as she watched Reilyn pull his cloak off a hook by the door, wrapping it over his shoulders and clipping it over his chest. “I’m going to walk around town for a bit,” he said. Linda walked over and handed him his quid for the day. 

“It’s late.” 

“Yeah,” Reilyn nodded, taking note of her frown. “But the people here seem nice. Thank you, Linda’da.” He reassured her. 

Reilyn turned away and walked out of Reaper’s Paradise. The cool night air washed over him, the breeze blowing his hood down and entangling itself through his long hair. Almost nobody was outside at this time. Reilyn passed the odd townsfolk as he strolled, but for the most part, he enjoyed the peace and quiet the matins sky offered him. Some windows were still alight with the midnight oil, but most were dark, with their drapes drawn. 

Sheep bleated at Reilyn as he made his way to the edge of town, beside the palisade. He laughed softly as he walked over to stroke their wool. It had been a while since someone sheared them, so the couple that headbutted Reilyn’s hand for food and attention were rivalled only by the morning clouds. He stepped away, the sheep baaing for him to come back. Reilyn grinned, playfully bowing to the sheep, “Ku botae keu’roxcusabil, berriu’da.” |You’ll have to excuse me, master sheep.| He turned and walked towards the square. 

Chatter was audible from the Pembroke square. The group was too far away to see or hear Reilyn approach. Who were they waiting for? Reilyn got closer and made out the soldiers’ uniforms they were wearing, the Unu emblem on their backs shimmering under Luna's light. 

The symbol was two cennin, embroidered with silver and green thread, crossed like blades. 

There were soldiers in Pembroke. Confused by their presence, Reilyn hid in the shade of a tree to eavesdrop. 

“This is where we’re supposed to meet him.” Said a black haired man.

A brunette woman nodded, “He’s a mercenary, I’ve heard of him.” 

“Sent for by a Burgomaster to be commanded by a mercenary…” Mused a dark skinned man, “This must be urgent.” 

Reilyn pulled his hood up, obscuring his face. He walked into the square, ignoring the group of six that stopped to stare at him. He was almost home. 

“Hey,” a voice called from the soldiers. Reilyn turned to face them. A man, he looked to be five foot ten inches tall. His sharp blue eyes scanned the Eyll as he stepped in front of the group. His short black ponytail swayed in the breeze, the moonlight licked his pale skin. The other five also turned to watch Reilyn. The Eyll squinted back at the group. 

“Yes?” 

“What are you doing, sneaking around this late?” The black haired man crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow condescendingly. 

“Going for a walk.” Reilyn answered. Felix, who had been hiding under Reilyn’s cloak, hopped off his shoulder and climbed up a nearby tree. 

A muffled whisper from one of the soldiers in the back, a black haired woman, “Is that a Dark Elf?” The blue eyed man looked back at the woman and nodded, then towards Reilyn again. 

“Lower your hood, son.” He ordered.

Reilyn sighed and pulled his hood down. “Yes. I’m an Eyll’Una.” 

The man walked with haste towards Reilyn, reaching for his dagger. “You’re going to come with us. Burgomaster Tomos should be aware of this.” 

“I’m just trying to go home. I work at the tavern.” Reilyn huffed and reached for his own dagger, backing away from the soldier approaching him. 

The soldier chuckled, “A little far from home, aren’t you?” He grabbed Reilyn’s wrist, yanking him forward. “Don’t try to fight us.” 

Reilyn pulled himself free. Pulled his dagger from its sheath and sliced the man’s arm. “Ghibere!” |Stop!| “Don’t touch me!” Reilyn leaped backwards. 

The man growled, gripping his bleeding arm. He turned back and called to his fellow soldiers, “Grab him!” He lunged towards Reilyn, blade ready. 

With his dagger raised, Reilyn let the man come to him, driving the weapon through the man’s neck. The man’s own blade jabbed into Reilyn’s chest. Reilyn shook the soldier off his dagger, pulling his opponent’s blade from his chest and tossing it beside the dead man’s face. His now lifeless blue eyes staring wide at the injured Eyll. 

The remaining five looked down at what Reilyn presumed was their leader, horrified. In unison they pulled their weapons, a bow, a sword, a lance, a halberd and a hatchet. Wordlessly, furiously, they rushed towards Reilyn. 

Reilyn readied his talwaar, aiming it at the soldiers ahead, “Kygniss!” He called, summoning a blast of flame towards them. As they cried out and dispersed around the searing heat, Reilyn raised his right hand over the dead body, “Kyortus! Ynaesuid’keu!” |Rise! Defend me!| Reilyn ordered the corpse at his feet. The dead and bloodied soldier rose, standing tall, picking his weapon off the ground. The undead shielded Reilyn from an arrow fired by the black haired woman. She shrieked, grabbed more arrows and aimed to fire again.

“How c-could you?” Another of the soldiers gasped. He was a short chubby blond man. He gripped his hatchet tighter at seeing the undead. 

“Come closer, and I’ll burn you alive.” Reilyn growled, his casting hand engulfed in flames. 

The group hesitated, a couple of them taking a step back. “Get him!” The black haired woman ordered, with anger seething every word. The group of five ran towards Reilyn once more. 

On his left, Reilyn clashed swords with a tall blond man wielding a two handed blade. The short blond and the black haired woman were being pushed back by the undead. To his right, now behind him, a woman with a lance and a man with a halberd ran to attack. Reilyn threw his casting hand back, about to mutter the incantation to call upon his flames-

“What the fuck is going on here?” A voice from across the square exclaimed. 

Everyone paused and turned to see the man who called out. It was Burgomaster Tomos. His balding head and thick moustache were dishevelled, a dying lanturn swaying in his shaking hand. Reilyn dropped the enchantment and the corpse of the dark haired soldier fell to the ground. 

Seizing the opportunity, the tall bulky man who wielded the sword quickly sheathed it, and grabbed Reilyn’s arms. He tightly pinned them behind Reilyn’s back, the Eylles sword clattered on the earth below. 

“The Elf attacked us!” The black haired woman shouted, pointing at Reilyn. 

“I was just trying to walk past them!” Reilyn struggled against the tall man’s grip, seething. 

The man gripped Reilyn harder, sneering down at him. “And in the process, you killed Harri.” 

“He grabbed me!” Reilyn continued to struggle, grunting from the painful hold.  

“I’ve heard enough.” The deep voice came from across the square, cutting the bickering to a sharp halt. A giant of a man walked into view. Thick curls of long, dark red hair fell across his face, loosely tied back. His skin was a warm brown, his eyes a steel blue. He was six foot five inches, broad shouldered, bulky toned body. His double headed great axe slung over his back. “Harri Lu Clarke was one of the soldiers you sent for, Burgomaster?” 

Burgomaster Tomos nodded, “And not a very good one, it seems.” He groaned. “But now you’re a man short! I can’t let this…Elf off easy. My daughter…how will we find her?” He shook his head. 

“I have an idea,” the giant man shrugged.

“Who are you anyway?” The man holding Reilyn asked, frowning and furrowing his eyebrows. The other soldiers threw him concerned looks, Reilyn figured they must have recognized the large man. 

“Name’s Garrin Lu Basset. The man hired by our lovely Burgomaster here to lead this search and rescue.” Garrin crossed his arms. 

“What is your suggestion, Garrin?” Tomos asked impatiently. 

“Have shortie fill in for Harri.” Garrin motioned to Reilyn. 

“No.” The Eyll hissed. 

“Of course a Kybean would help the Elf.” The black haired woman sneered, “You’re not much better. He killed a soldier we should execute-” 

“Shut the fuck up!” The man who wielded the halberd cut her off. “What the hell is wrong with you, Nia?” Reilyn noticed then that this man and Garrin were similar in skin tone, only that Garrin was a touch paler. 

The black haired woman, Nia, scoffed, but didn’t respond. 

“Hmm…” Tomos sighed, his hands shaking more violently now. “This can’t wait. My daughter is in danger.” He met Reilyn’s eyes, “If you take Harri’s place, I’ll let you off for this.” 

Taking a second to think, Reilyn groaned. “Fine. For the kid.” 

“Never thought I’d have to ask for help from an Elf.” Tomos muttered to himself, exasperated. 

Reilyn laughed, “An Eyll that used to be a slave. How much lower could you get?” 

The man gripping Reilyn’s arms roughly elbowed him in the gut before letting him go. Reilyn gasped and coughed, picking up his sword from the ground. 

“Break it up and get some rest.” Garrin commanded, “We leave tomorrow by terce.” 

Tomos nodded, the exhaustion visible in his features. “I’ll see you off tomorrow. Goodnight.” He walked out of the square.

The soldiers’ voices quieted to whispers amongst each other. Garrin looked down at Reilyn. “I’ll walk you back to…where do you live?” He squinted, inquiring. Reilyn glanced up at the large man, ready to refuse the offer. 

The group of five glared daggers at Reilyn as they picked up Harri’s body and made their way off. 

“The tavern.” Reilyn said as he sheathed his talwaar. “Normally I’d tell you to fuck off, but I think I’ll accept this.” 

Garrin chuckled at Reilyn’s bluntness. 

The two men walked towards Reaper’s Paradise. Somehow the cool night air felt alienating and distant now. “Y’know, if you dressed less like you were in mourning…and didn’t skulk around by yourself, you’d look less nefarious.” Garrin advised. 

“As if you know what you’re talking about.” 

“Hey, I’m trying to help!” 

“Help me by backing off, you smell of mead.” 

“Yeah, well you smell of…peppermint.” 

A light blush flashed across Garrin’s cheeks. Reilyn rolled his eyes and turned away, entering the tavern. Garrin sighed and trudged away.

Linda stood at the bar counter, her eyes widened at seeing the blood on Reilyn’s chest. “My gods, what happened?” She placed the glass she was wiping down and jogged over to her friend, gently tugging at his tunic to inspect his injury. 

“It’s nothing.” Reilyn waved her off. He groaned, “But, as it turns out, I have to help Burgomaster Tomos after all.”