Sky Full of Stars

Chapter 4: The Defiant Plate

    I took Iadara to her new school and smiled warmly when I spotted Elwyn. He waved us over, and Iadara dropped her pack as she rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. I smiled as I picked up her pack and tossed it over Penny's back before following her over to the mostly mute wizard. I say mostly mute because he's still able to whisper just enough to cast his spells, but it wasn't not loud enough to be heard in conversation.

    "Elwyn, it's good to see you again. It's been much too long" I held out my arm to him, which he gripped in the standard welcome.

    He smiled and looked down at Iadara. There's a moment of silence before she smiled and rolled her eyes. She looked to me. "Elwyn wants to know if you'd be okay with him using message to speak to you, to make things a bit easier on everyone"

    I grinned and looked to Elwyn, already knowing what he planned to say. "Of course you can use magic, Elwyn, I've no problem with it"

    He grinned back and after a moment I heard his voice in my head. I'll keep this brief, I know we're all in a bit of a hurry. I was hoping I could get your blessing to marry Iadara...?

    I smiled warmly at him and nodded. Of course you have my blessing, Elwyn. There's no one I can think of who would be a better match for my little sister.

    He tilted his head curiously. Will you be able to make it to the wedding?

    I will certainly try, but I have no idea where I'll be at any time. But I will do my very best to make it back in time.

    He nodded and smiled. I understand. Now, I'm afraid we must get going. I have a class this morning that I need to teach...

    I nodded and pulled Iadara in for a tight hug. "Alright, little sister. It's time to say goodbye for now, but we'll see each other again"

    Iadara teared up and hugged me back just as tight. "Please be careful, big sister. We couldn't take it if we lost you too..."

    I kissed the top of her head lightly. "Don't worry, little sister. I'll be careful, I promise. Now off you go, you need to get ready for your classes"

    She gave me one more squeeze, then stepped back to Elwyn. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she wrapped her arm around his waist. I made a quick shooing motion before my own tears began to spill over. Elwyn took the lead, turning them around and leading Iadara back towards the college.

    I waved after them until they were out of sight, then turned around, taking a deep breath, and set off to find the Defiant Plate Tavern.

~

    It took several hours and a lot of asking around before I finally found the small tavern in one of the busiest squares in the city. As it was already nearing sundown, I quickly entered the tavern and took a look around. It was a very rustic feeling place, made almost entirely of wood, at least the look of it, with plenty of tables and chairs spread out throughout the tavern. I headed for the bar, intent on renting out a room for the evening.

    The woman behind the bar smiled warmly at me. "Are you here answering the ad for adventurers, lassie?"

    "Aye, that's me"

    "Well good, you're the only one so far. I think the poor group may only get you, but they won't be so bad off from the looks of you." She looked me up and down, eyes flashing with a bit of lust.

    I held back an eye roll and forced a kind smile on my face. "Do you know where I might find the group?"

    She nodded and pointed to a group of people in the back left corner of the tavern, furthest from the bar and the door. I nodded my thanks and leaned against the bar, studying the group for a moment.

    I spotted a changeling right off the bat, and tilted my head curiously. Their hair was pure white, skin pale as snow, and their eyes were completely colorless and devoid of emotion as they chuckled lightly at some joke one of the others said. I recognized a symbol of Mireille, goddess of life and creation, on their half-plate armor, and spied a longsword on their hip and a shield bearing the same symbol on their back. Most likely a paladin or cleric.

    Next I spotted the dwarven man with brown hair braided down his back, a long brown beard, and dark green eyes. He carried a battleaxe over his back and wore no armor. Most likely a barbarian? I'd heard they didn't wear armor because their rage was enough to protect them.

    I nodded, smiling lightly, and then spotted what must be twins. Two half-elf men with short black hair and bright blue eyes. They looked much younger than the dwarf, maybe early twenties while he's probably in his mid to late fifties. I looked over their equipment quickly. One of them was studying what looks like a spellbook, and wore no armor. Wizard, got it. The other wore an amulet around his neck and occasionally clutched it tightly. I saw no armor, no weapon except a single dagger. Sorcerer, made sense.

    Finally, I spied a dark-elf woman, leaning against the wall behind the group. She wore a hood over her face and had two daggers on each hip, only wearing leather armor. I narrowed my eyes as her gaze met mine, a beautiful deep blue, like that of the ocean. A strand of her black hair dropped in front of her face, almost indistinguishable against her dark skin. A thief, a rogue. Damn it all, I was meant to work with a rogue.

    When she realized I was watching her, she quickly dropped her gaze and muttered something to the changeling, who turned their unnerving emotionless gaze on me. They muttered something to the dwarf, who glanced at me as well. This drew the attention of the twins, and I drew in a deep, calming breath as the dark elf woman pushed off the wall and slowly approached me.

    I forced a calm expression onto my face as she got closer and stopped about three feet in front of me.

    "I expect you're our new member. The changeling is Cylqis, the twins are Ulneak and Alben, and the dwarf is Emdrom. Who're you?" She asked me in a strangely melodic voice.

    I pasted my fake kind smile onto my face. "Nimue. And you are?"

    The woman looked up at me, studying my face carefully, and for a moment I found myself lost in her deep blue eyes, so strange for a dark elf. Her answer was short, simple, but in such a sweet voice.

    "I am Miznia"