Human and Elf

The sounds of birds chirping and fires crackling fill my ears. Smoke wafts up my nostrils as I sit up in the rubble of a brick shop. My head is killing me, damn sore all over too, not surprised but this is a pain. I opened my eyes, rubbing the crust off of them. Fuck. I passed out didn't I? I got up from the rubble which I was laying in. Well, I'm alive. That's something.

The hot tropical sun beat down on my deep brown skin, attempting to scorch the world in an unnatural heat. The sea breeze moving inland from the south offered little relief as I sat up. My grey training tunic was shredded, revealing large muscles honed from 10 years of military training. Last night was... it was just crazy.
"Hey, I see you're finally up," said a feminine voice, interrupting my thouhts. I turned around to see a pale woman slightly over 6 feet tall sitting beside a partially collapsed stone wall. Her hair was light brown, only reaching down to the base of her neck. Despite her thin frame, strong and powerful muscles lay just beneath her skin, nurtured through years of hard labor and exertion.

"Who are you? What are you doing here you..."

"You what?" she said.

"You pointed eared freak. What's an elf doing here?"

"Similar to the second question you asked. I'm here because I heard there was a wealthy port city here, but I guess not."

"There was, elf. Now go before I chop your head off," I snapped.

"With what?" she asked.

I reached over to my left side to my scabbard. Huh, where's my sword?"

"Now," the elf said, " since you can't chop my head off, tell me what happened here." She got up and grabbed me by the throat, lifting me off of the ground. Shit. Is she- no, she won't kill me; she wants info. "Tell me what happened here, or I'll break your neck." I nodded in agreement. After glaring at me, the elf threw me to the ground and walked away. I followed, stepping over broken glass and abandoned weapons. What time is it? Looking up I saw the sun was just to the right of the Great Band in the sky. Ok, it's late afternoon. If it's only been a few hours I might find my regiment.

We walked through the remains of the city, towards the coast. A sea breeze swept in from the south, masking the smell of decay with a salty ocean mist. The birds chirped their songs, blissfully ignorant of the carnage that happened around them.

"Who fought here human?" the elf asked.

"Humans fought here." The elf quickly turned around and slapped me across the face. Who does this elf think she is, my mother?

"What factions? What nations? Don't try to fool me. I'm not an idiot."

"Fine. It was a rebellion. The Venkí Royal Army and Grrínka's rebel faction."

"What side were you on?"

"Venkí Royal Army, Class 210. Student-soldier."

"I didn't need all that. Anyways, you're coming with me."

"Why the hell will I be doing that?"

"Because, soldiers sell for a lot of money, male soldiers especially."

Wait, sell? I turned and ran as fast as I could. Nope. Not being sold. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Roughly a hundred yards separated the edge of the city and thick jungle. Another one hundred fifty yards separated me and the edge of town. Good thing I wasn't near the coast. If I had I wouldn-- The elf grabbed me by the hair and dragged me to the ground.

"Did you really think a human could run from me? And why do humans keep their hair in long cords anyways? It's dumb." I looked up and saw her face right above mine. I looked up and saw her face right above mine. All I felt next was a sharp pain piercing my skull.

Slave and Slave To Be

I woke up in chains on a wooden floor, a rocking wooden floor. This is pathetic. One punch knockout. Usually, I'm the guy knocking people out like this. Above me, there were two people speaking, a man and a woman.

"Kao eejukenao'o Guangmei?! Teishae kao eejukenao'o Guangmei?! Mel fa'oreeta dangrei'ochen haoyusheing'a!" shouted the outraged masculine voice.

"Laongga fa'oreeteija'ok kao eejukenao'o sa'aogre doncho. Shi'a'okee fangwa'ola fa'oreetaja'ok chazreijengja'ok. A tashleimo va'aozekwo chazreijengja'ok dazno." protested the fearful feminine voice of my captor.

"Mel slayata reibao'a! Nakao nugeing'ijeka yakwa'o mel zangkeija'ok a eejukenao'oeing yeing a tashleimo!"

"Nu'aom don--" I heard a large thump on the ground and then some stomping. After a few minutes a light appeared in the room. Ok, don't panic. Although most slaves become eunuchs maybe I'll be lucky. Grandfather, grandmother, other ancestors, please watch over me.

"Hey, human," said the woman with a fresh bruise on her face, "sorry about the rough introduction. I'm Guangmei. Don't ask questions." She unlocked unchained me and ran a finger over my biceps. "Looks like you took your training as a soldier seriously," she said, helping me to my feet. I should be questioning this, but I like moving freely more.

"Thanks, and the name is Barrékél."

"Follow me, Barrékél." We walked up a set of old, creaking wooden stairs to the deck. The moon was high, but long past its zenith right below the Great Band. We walked up another set of ancient stairs and entered the captain's cabin.

"He's a heavy sleeper," Guangmei said. "Grab his legs and walk him over to the portside. I'll hold his arms." We grabbed the male elf and carried him over to portside. I hope she's doing what I think she is. We looked at each other and nodded.

"One...two...three." We flung him overboard. The elf sank without even a scream.

"Good riddance," Guangmei said. The sun rose in the east, painting the sky in an orange glow.

The Trio

I looked out to the sea, glimmering under the morning sun. The salty air filled my nostrils as we drifted further out.
"What now? I am I your slave now elf?" I asked.

"No," Guangmei said, "you're free, but I have a name," she growled, "use it."

"Fine, Guangmei where are we going now, back to Tarí'ívaz?"

"That's the name of the city? Well, no. I'm going home."

"Hey Guangmei," I called. "that guy we threw overboard, who was he to you?"

"Why do you ask?" she questioned suspecting I had a plan.

"Curiosity," I replied.

"Hmm, ok then. He was my master. He was my owner," she said as she walked to the steering wheel and turned the ship westward. "No more, no less."

"Ok."

After I replied, the ship got hit with a large wave, tilting it to the left. I heard a large thump and a masculine voice. "Teishao! Yasha'olejarei heitao'aretelja'ok? Shakeiroe yasha'otejarei ta'oreetei melzo hemotei?"

I turned around and saw a soldier coming at us, followed by two others, each wearing a dark blue hood over their head, and a matching scarf to cover most of their face, with the only thing visible being their eyes. They were large, strong men, easily over six feet tall, average for an elf, but imposing for me, only five foot eight inches.

"Ya'eingroe sha teishao fa'oreetei sha doshao?" I could tell he was already angry at the situation. All I could do was hope Guangmei was able to calm them down. She pointed to where we tossed to captain overboard, and one of the soldiers ran over to the edge and looked over. The two in front of us pulled out the sword on their back and pointed it at us. "Kwona'o fa'oreetei shinei'oba," the one near the edge came back towards us, "nu'oam changgre'ee, nu'ongvue. Tunao nu'ayee waso'evao."

"Dei'o bameol,"the one in the center looked at both of us, "lakeomei kao ei mel be'ao'ota e'ola shineita kaole?"

"I have a better idea than dying," I said assuming that the bloodlust I sensed was aimed towards me, "hear me out. So, you three are mercenaries from the looks of it. That means you care mainly about money. I have a guy I want to kill, but that requires land and money. This is my plan, I will get an army, money, and a base of operations. To show my gratitude to you all if you agree to help me with this, I will give you lands to own, tax, and raise larger armies with."

Guangemi looked at me as if I was out of my mind and translated what I said. The three of them started laughing at what I had offered.

"Mel!? Yakwa'o sha hashei'aongya sheiya nakao ba'oazenoe yeing sengda'ong. Mel fa'oreeta yeing zao'ei rochinglue e'ola vizroe shiseikwao rekrei'o'ang ei angsleirong. Shei'ao'a nakao feiroja'o, mel fa'oreetaja'ok ja'aonggei sha bameol, mel ze'a'odmeota e'ola wasooleng navarao."

"What did he say Guangmei?"

"He said," Guangmei translated, "that you are in no position to make an offer because you were just a slave."

"While I do believe that I just gave you a reasonable offer, I can give you a better offer." I really hope there's still some gold left at my house. It might've been stolen, but if it's there, I'm saved. Hopefully. "But before I tell you this offer, I have one question for you. How much were you all paid?" Guangmei translated what I said, pausing every few seconds.

"Kwojrashaong, kee'ao sulrachi beile aole'a bameol mel wasongnei."

"When were you last paid? I might not have enough. Let's hope there's some more valuable or semi valuable shit left.

"Kwo vogwe'aome'eing nateod."

"So your money has been withheld from you?" I said after Guangmei translated for me. "Hmm. Probably not, you would've killed the guy if he had. He was broke wasn't he? Struggling, looking, failing to find funds. I have nothing to lose here. You saw my home from the coast. What would be the point in lying? There's no one left back there. No one to go to. Nothing to go to. I believe our interests align. I want my country to return to what it once was. You want money. Both can be achieved at once."

"Sa'eingro yakwa'o mel hemota nu'ayee ze'ao'odmeota. Hemota mel gane'aong'a taoshee yakee'o?" He pointed to fire with an arrow on his shoulder guard."

"I've seen a lot of elves with that symbol when I was growing up. My grandfather hired a lot of your people. My money is at my home. If you kill me now, you would be passing up on an opportunity. Looking at this from your perspective, you do not trust me, you think I'm lying, but what is the cost to you if I am? Nothing. What is your profit if I'm speaking the truth. A few thousand each minimum. If we go there and see nothing, kill us there. If you get your money, work for me and get that large plot of land for you to tax. Become nobles through right of conquest."

I could see they were thinking about my offer once Guangmei translated for them. After a minute, the one in the middle nodded and put his sword on his back, the other two following his action. "Dagei, tunao weoso eekozei seleino mel. Dazno fa'oreeta meleoma haneilao e'ola ze'a'odmeota ya'kwa'o sa'eingro heing'a lameona tunao re'ao'om. Naem wava'aonegei fa'oreeteiten nu'ayee va'aoche, kwangsao mel gane'ao'a'ota. A jeheano, tunao weoso chingre shenee sha daneimo'aol gajao'eing. Aole'a bacheonakei, maneiloeta meleerao nukei'ao'alue." They walked away from us, heading towards the lower deck of the ship.

I really don't wanna pay these people. I can't give these things all my money. I need an army, not three overglorified elven bodyguards. Plus, if I end up not being able to pay them, I'm dead. Granted I just promised to pay them anyways. Fucking hell! Money? Life? Money? Life? Money? I'll take life. I'll need more money though. Hmmm. I would how much elvish concubines will get me? A few thousand? A kick in the teeth?

Guangmei turned the ship back towards the shore. The wind blew stronger towards shore, speeding up transit. When the ship reached the shore, the ship reached the shores of Tarí'ívaz. After a few hours of travel, the ship entered the port city of Tarí'ívaz. The city was in ruins, just as when I left. Some of the buildings in the distance were still on fire. I looked at Guangmei and I could tell what she was thinking. You better the money ready. The 3 assassins walked out from the lower deck and came towards us.

"Ya'eingroe meleoma hahao'era?"

"Near the center of the city, a bit west to the central plaza."

He nodded and walked off the ship. I was hoping his soldiers would follow, but they got behind us and pushed me and Guangmei forward, forcing us to go with them. Well, time to hope most of my family's money is still there. I need some luck on this one. We walked towards the city center where a large amount of corpses remained.

He turned around and looked at us. "Yasha'olejeire heitao'aretelja'ok yasei'ao'eingjrale?"

"A battle happened, that's what. I fought in it," I said after Guangmei translated. A soldier crawled out of the rubble. He was covered in blood and purple blotches. "My lord," he told me, "we have.... We have failed you my lord." He coughed up blood. ". Your brother, though injured, lives."

I stared at him in shock. I thought no one was left. And he is still alive? I looked at Josheire to see him glaring at me. He walked over to the wounded soldier, drew his sword, and stabbed him in the back. I could only watch as he turned the sword in him slowly, increasing the pain he was already feeling. He wouldn't let the soldier die, and would keep him awake as long as possible to make sure he felt the pain. After 10 minutes, he pulled out the sword, and in one quick swing, decapitated him. "Dei'o, dazno vang'eilaongle yakwa'o meleoma neing'ao'en laongge vezao'ing'elaongtaja'ok. Nakao hemota nu'ayee jeolamue vingmuetei vezao'ing'elaongzaoteno. Vinglo rongno'acheing e'ola sufei'ung ei'od shinei'oba."

"I wouldn't say friend. More like accomplice." I replied after hearing the translation.

"Really," Guangmei said as she glared at me. "You would abandon me like that?"

"Well it's not like we really know each other. We have no common interests, and you did drag me into this situation."

"Look, if we survive this, I'll help you out. I just want something in return."

"I'll think about it." The mercenary behind me pushed me forward and we continued walking. We turned west and as we neared my home, we were stopped. "Why we stop? I thought you wanted to get the gold."

"Sheindao ei'od. Chaele'ao'een ei'od akeino. Tulem ei vingreejao." He said as he pointed to three looters roughly 200 yards away.

Damned elves and their enhanced senses. "Ok, what's the plan then?"

"Kei'aongja yasei'ao'eingjrale. Changa'aom aongne nakao weoso shinoegul mel naka'aoree." The three of them began climbing one of the buildings, leaving me and Guangmei on our own. We both wanted to run, but they were elves that knew how to kill. Guangmei might get away if they don't shoot her, but I don't have a chance.

We moved forward quietly, and saw the scavengers going through my former home, taking anything of value. I saw three fall in quick order, as arrows began to rain down on them. With nothing to protect themselves with, they were all killed in under a minute.

Very quick. To be expected. They are trained professionals. Let's see how much is left. I walked down to what remained of my house and digged around the area that used to be my parent's grandparent's rooms. Ok, so there should be around 1,000 gold coins in here. As I dug around I found gold goblets, gold statues, a pouch with 500 gold coins, and silver rings. I heard the mercenary walk behind me. "Nu'ayee sha langcheing ei kwengmao, hachi a seolao'ing ei taoshee ha'eo'nale aole'a sha haoyee'eng lang'aongma." He began to pick up the items and hand them off to his two partners. He nodded and walked back to the ship. Guess it's a deal. I saw a glimmer under the rubble where I didn't look earlier, under was 500 more coins, a large grey egg, and a steel sword with a sea serpent grip and pommel. A few steps away was a deep purple, blue, and green feathered cloak, each color blending into the others. These are too important to be sold. I tossed on the cloak, grabbed the sword, walked towards the elves and the sea.

"Guangmei, teach me their language and you're free to live." She twirled her hair in her fingers and replied. "I'm glad that's all."