Lorayla saw Zaniel flinch at the sound of the door and sensed the elf’s desire to run after he glanced at those who had just come through it. She quickly stepped away from Zaniel’s table and addressed the new customers. “May I help you?”

 “We’d like a table.” The man, whose hair was blonde and wavy, did not make eye contact with Lorayla, and neither did his companions. All of them were scanning the room as if trying to find something or someone.

 “This way please,” Lorayla replied suspiciously. She had a dire feeling the unsavory customers were possibly there for her beloved hunter. She thought quickly and directed them to a table on the opposite side of the room from Zaniel. As she led the group to their table, she observed a look on Zaniel's face she’d never seen before. Dread. The moment the group sat down at their table, Zaniel bolted for the door. The group of five jumped out of their chairs, nearly knocking Lorayla over, and stormed out after him.

 Lorayla only had a split second to think. She gazed at the counter area, finding her father working furiously in the kitchen and Snider passed out behind the counter with Ceecil shaking his head.

 There’s no time, she thought. She dashed out the door and desperately looked for her hunter. She followed what sounded like the faint sound of a struggle, which led her to a dark alley behind the tavern. She hesitantly stepped through the dark, eerie alley as the sounds of a struggle grew louder. She came upon a group of shadows fighting and quickly realized it was Zaniel grappling with the five who had pursued him. The elf fought bravely but was overcome and restrained.

 “You nearly ruined our business!” said the dark silhouette of a dwarf as he landed a punch into Zaniel’s stomach, causing him to hunch over. The two elves restraining him let go and began to kick him.

 Lorayla couldn’t hold back her concern for her loved one and cried out in anger. “Leave him be,” she commanded.

The dark figures of two humans stepped out of the shadows, grabbed her, and brought her near to the dwarf and forced her to her knees. The elves kicking Zaniel stopped their assault, taking interest in the newcomer.

“And why should we listen to you? You don’t give the orders here,” taunted the dwarf. “You, no doubt, must be the fair maiden Zaniel has written about in his diaries.”

“What?” Zaniel gasped, struggling to his knees.

“Yes, we found many of your personal belongings at your residence…just not you,” the dwarf huffed from his nose. “I’m glad your maiden is here. Now we have someone else we can exact revenge on.” A purple crystal lit up with power in the dwarf’s hand, and his eyes eclipsed with a purple glow. The purple crystal Lorayla had found the night prior was in her apron pocket, and it began to vibrate and shake.

“Leave her out of this,” Zaniel pleaded.

“You should have thought about that before you crossed me!” the dwarf said angrily, slapping Zaniel across the face.

“You run a dishonest and evil business of selling stolen arms, many from innocent people you killed,” contended the elf. “You stole from the wrong person though, when you stole from me.”

“Aye, we did,” the dwarf agreed solemnly, unstrapping his triadic shield from his back. “And now we will exact revenge on you and your maiden.” Purple chains appeared across the shield, connecting its three points. The bottom point of the shield illuminated with purple and elongated into the form of a short sword. The dwarf stepped forward and thrusted his shield, running Zaniel through with the sword end.

Lorayla opened her mouth to scream in horror but found she couldn’t. A dark mist had emerged and filled her mouth the moment she opened it. Desperately, she reached into her pocket with the purple crystal, hoping she could somehow use its power. She’d never used one before and, to her dismay, wasn’t sure how to use it. She kept her hand in her pocket, hoping that somehow, she could cause it to react.

“No crying out, fair maiden,” the dwarf said wickedly. “We don’t want any uninvited guests.” The dwarf waved at Lorayla’s captors to bring her near. “Zaniel,” he threatened, getting close to the elf’s face, “you tried to ruin us…but now I’ve ruined you! Your maiden and her precious tavern are next!”

The dwarf nodded to his four companions. “Take her and do what you will!” he commanded, shoving Zaniel, who fell to the ground helplessly. He gasped for air as his life left him, pouring out onto the cold cobblestone.

“As you command!” grinned the blond, wavy haired human who, with the help of the other henchmen, dragged Lorayla deeper into the darkness of the alley.