The drow remained slouched down in his seat as he watched the woman make her way toward him, her man directly behind her. So perhaps that was her mate. Either way, it mattered not. As they came closer, he was able to get a better look at the woman, and held his breath as his eyes locked with hers. He had never seen an avian elf with gray eyes. He had only heard a story of one long ago when he was younger. Many told stories of an elf with wings, a man who was captured during battle and brought to the lord of the drow. Somehow, the lord had heard that the winged man had a woman with silver eyes; and he wanted her for his own. But the winged one would not reveal anything about her. The lord had the man killed the same night.

He scowled at the remembrance of his lord, the same one who had cast him out because he would not obey the laws of the drow. Now, he wondered what this woman, who brought back so many memories, wanted. As they stopped in front of his table, he shifted his gaze back to the man at her side. He almost laughed at the foreboding look the winged one was giving him, but he managed control of that urge.

Mendra just stood there awkwardly for a moment, not sure what to say. She glanced at Ralith, knowing he didn’t approve of her decision. Turning back to the drow, she tilted her head. She could see him better than she had from the bar, though his expression remained shadowed. The only things she could see clearly were his red eyes, which reflected in the candlelight every so often.

"I heard you were a tracker."

"So you heard."

This caused Mendra to frown. She could tell that, without coaxing, she would not get any of her questions answered. "What is your name?"

The drow studied this woman before him, shrugging off the dirty looks her friend was giving him. "Why do you want my name?"

Mendra sighed. It wasn’t going to be easy at all. "I wish to hire you as our guide."

"I’m not for hire," he said all to quickly.

"Why not? Surely you could use the money we would be paying you."

The drow leaned forward, his features coming into the light, causing Mendra’s eyes to widen. Even if his face was still hard to see, what was visible was beautiful. Never in her life had she seen a drow, only in pictured people had created in books with minor descriptions. But here one sat, right before her very eyes, and she was not disappointed. His high cheekbones were well defined, typical of any elf, and his jaw was square. He was beautiful, but also masculine.

"I said, I am not for hire, that is, unless you wish to hire me for something other than guiding." He grinned, but the comment caused Ralith to step forward to Mendra’s defense, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you," he said, watching the man at the woman’s side from the corner of his eye. "I would have my dagger to your throat before you could pull that stick of yours from its sheath."

Ralith ground his teeth together. Already, he did not like his man. He took hold of Mendra’s wrist, "Come, Mendra. He is not for hire as he said, so we have no more business to attend to here." He began lead her away, but she pulled back from him.

"Wait Ralith." She turned her eyes falling on the drow once more. "At least tell me your name."

"My name would only bring a curse upon you." He watched her frown deepen as the one called Ralith drew her away. Their eyes remained locked until she finally turned away clearly disappointed. A chuckle to his right tore his gaze from the woman’s back.

"Well, Alak, I see you are back in town and you already have women throwing themselves at your feet."

Alak groaned as his eyes fell on Celia. "But never you, Celia dear."

She grinned, brushing back her red hair. She stepped closer, placing one hand on his shoulder and the another on his chest as she leaned against him. "Because it was you who threw yourself at me."

Alak lifted her hand from his chest and shrugged her off. "I was drunk that night if you remember. So drunk I even thought you attractive."

Her cobalt blue eyes flashed, but a sweet smile remained plastered on her lips. "Oh, but I am attractive, very much so as you believed it that night." She grabbed his hand and brought it to her breast.

Her action brought a scowl to Alak as he tightened his hand over her breast, causing her to gasp under the brutality of his touch. "I am in no mood, Celia." He thrust her away.

Celia stumbled back, her hand on her breast as she glared at him. "But you were in a mood to stare at that bitch with wings!"

"Jealousy doesn’t suit you."

She scoffed. "Jealous? Jealous! I am not jealous, Alak. I was just hoping for a night of passion as you gave me that one night."

"Yes, that one night, and the last. Never again, Celia. Will you learn?"

With that, she turned and stalked away.

Alak sighed and slouched even more in his seat. He had not cared to remember the details of that night with Celia, and he never tried. All he knew was he woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and a woman who was wide awake, caressing his most intimate parts. He couldn’t even remember the reason for his drunkenness, nor what could have made a woman like Celia arouse him in any way.

But Mendra, the name he had over heard from Ralith. She could stir something within him with a simple glance. He chuckled to himself. She thought him a tracker like everyone else who hadn’t made a run in with him. But even those people could not speak a word of what he really was.

*****

After the encounter with the drow, Mendra and Ralith made their way to their room. Ralith was silent, but she knew he was in a bad mood due to the grip he had on her wrist. He was angry, but she said nothing about the pressure he had on her. When they reached their room, Ralith opened the door to allow her entrance.

"Get some rest, Mendra."

She could see him visibly calm down as he looked at her. "Are you coming in?"

He shook his head. "It is not proper for a lady to spend the night in her room with a man. I will remain out here near the door."

Mendra nodded. "Is there anything you need? A blanket perhaps?"

"No, I will be fine. Now get some sleep and lock the door."

With a soft sigh, Mendra shut the door and locked it. Turning about, she glanced around the candle lit room. It was small, perhaps even a little smaller than her study. It was furnished with a plain bed and a nightstand. On the nightstand sat a basin of fresh water and the candle, which provided the light. On the far end opposite the door, there was a window with a dark blue curtain, split slightly in the center to reveal the open window. Stepping further into the room, Mendra made her way to the bed, setting her pack upon the floor next to the nightstand. The bed was nicely made with fresh linen, for that she was thankful.

She sat upon the bed and pulled off her boots, setting them side by side near the foot of the bed. With a smile, she leaned down on her elbow, then cradled her head in her arm as she lay on her side. Not until this moment did she know how tired she was. She could feel her eyelids growing heavier until her eyes shut. She was fast asleep a moment longer.

*****

Ralith sat on the floor next to the door. His limbs felt weary from travel. He could only imagine how Mendra was feeling. He would give much to sleep in a soft bed, and he would give even more to have Mendra beside him. He could almost feel her soft touch upon his flesh.

The noise from downstairs was beginning to grow softer, most probably having gone home.

He sighed and let his head tilt to the side and rest against the wall, his eyes closing. Many times he had slept upon the cold ground and countless times he had envisioned Mendra. He even imagined her being his mate. Someone he would come home to. Someone who waited for him. Someone who would lay with him throughout the night, taking and giving.

A groan caught in his throat at the picture of her lying in his arms with her bare flesh pressed against his.

More clamor was made downstairs, the sounds of chairs crashing and glass shattering. There was some shouting, but he shrugged it off as an everyday fight breaking loose, one he did not care to pay attention too. But footsteps running upstairs caught his attention instantly. Ralith opened his eyes, but before he knew what was happening, he felt a hard blow on the side of his head and then another on his back. Pain shot through him like he never felt before as the hollow bone of his wing broke under the impact. He tried to open his eyes but all he could see was a red blur.

He lay there as darkness overtook him.

*****

Mendra jumped awake upon hearing a loud pound upon her door and then another. She rose and took a step forward, instantly forgetting her weariness.

"Ralith?"

There was no answer except for the hard thumping, causing the hinges and the knob to rattle. Mendra stepped back, her eyes widening. She snatched up her bag and glanced frantically around the room for some place to hide. She could find none except for the space beneath the bed, but her wings kept her from being able to crawl under. Her head soon began to pound due to the sounds on the other side of the door. She closed her eyes and just stood there, her hand raising to the amulet on her neck, her fingers curling around it.

"Mendra!" hissed a voice behind her before she could think of anything. She turned in the direction and frowned, jumping as she saw a dark gray hand being thrust through the curtain. "Come on!"

She looked over her shoulder to the door as the hinges again rattled, coming looser with each pound.

"Hurry!"

Mendra didn’t wait another moment. She rushed to the window and took the hand, climbing out with her bag in the other. As she stepped out on the roof of the second story, she lifted her gaze and gasped. "You!"

"Not now, woman!" He grabbed her shoulders and moved her from the opening of the window, pulling her with him as he turned the corner.

She could hear the door in her room being knocked down and things being thrashed about. Standing as still as possible, she turned questioning eyes on Alak, who watched the corner intently. Soon, her gaze was drawn to the streets below. Dark, stocky figures scattered the closed market, many running in and out of the inn itself. Squinting her eyes, she tried to get a better look at the creatures, and a chill ran down her spine.

Orcs!

It was a raid. Oh Gods, Ralith! She turned to Alak, her eyes wide and frantic. "We have to go back. Ralith is in there!"

He narrowed his eyes on her then pulled her close, clamping a hand over her mouth as he rasped out, "Hush!"

Tears of frustration pooled in her eyes. Ralith was hurt, she knew it. She had to go back for him. He couldn’t be dead, not now! But she didn’t struggle. She knew she would endanger herself if she went back into the room. She stood there with the drow’s hand over her mouth, staring at the market helplessly, as the stands and buildings were torched. Screams filled the air. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Then she felt herself moving, her wings pressed painfully against her back as she pressed against him. He released her mouth and pulled her along. She followed without question.

Alak scowled. He had been getting ready to leave, but the moment he rose, the orcs had charged into the inn wildly, swinging their clubs at any being they encountered. He was lucky to press himself against the wall, his dark attire concealing him in the shadows. A window was near where he had been sitting, and silently, he made his way to it. He had noticed a band of orcs run up the stairs. His first thought was the woman who he held to him now. As quick as he could, though careful to not be noticed, he climbed out the window and pulled himself up and onto the roof. He searched every window until he found hers, and he had arrived just in time.

Searching the ground below, he edged toward the side of the roof. He turned to Mendra after making sure everything was clear. "I will go down first then I want you to climb or jump down. I will catch you."

"But I can get down on my own."

"I am sure you can but I don’t want to risk your being seen. Those wings of yours, when open, will make you a larger target."

Before she could reply, he was already climbing down, holding onto the edge of the roof. Dropping down, he landed in a crouch, his fingers lightly scraping the coarse dirt. He straightened and searched around him before looking up. "Come down. Now."

Mendra looked down and tossed him her bag down. "Catch."

He did just that, slipping it over his shoulder. "Now you."

She kneeled, taking hold of the edge as Alak had and followed his movements, hanging there by her fingers. She felt arms wrap around her knees and steady her as he pulled back, letting her slide down his front. They stood there for a moment before Alak grabbed her wrist, running off in a direction where they could be hidden in the shadows the night provided. But instead of heading toward the bridge, which led back to the trail Amuril had marked on the map for her to follow, he headed in the opposite direction toward the Felic forest.

"Where are we going?" Mendra breathed heavily as she ran.

"Some were safe. Keep moving," Alak commanded. He didn’t seem to tire one bit, but Mendra’s legs were already beginning to burn from the running.

Soon, when she thought she would collapse, they entered the forest, darting through trees. He slowed their pace, but he still held her wrist. Mendra took in deep breaths as she walked behind him.

"This way."

She nodded, though there was no point since he couldn’t see her. He came to a halt in front of a wide tree. He released her wrist and stepped forward, his hands moving over the rough bark. Suddenly, the front of the tree creaked open, revealing a doorway entrance. He turned to her and motioned her inside as he held it open. Slowly, Mendra stepped forward and entered, her hands in front of her as she felt her way in.

"Down the steps," said the drow from behind her as he shut the door, blocking out all light.

Mendra felt very vulnerable in this bleak darkness. She could not even see an inch in front of her face. She stumbled a couple times on her way down, her pace slow. Not once had she heard Alak. It was as if he wasn’t even there, but an arm snaking around her waist told her that he was.

"Close your eyes."

The sound of his voice near her ear was thrilling. She felt her flesh tingle and did as she was told.

"Just envision the steps and trust me."

She did this as well as Alak led her down the stairs. The air grew more damp and frigid as they traveled deeper causing her to shiver. Before she knew it, they had reached the moist earth below. She could feel it beneath her bare feet, causing her toes to curl.

Alak pulled away from her, leaving her with a sense of helplessness. But then she heard some tapping and saw sparks. Immediately, Alak had a candle lit. Around her was a circular room with nothing but a chest set next to the stairs and a pile of blankets. The roof wasn’t very high, but high enough Alak to stand his full height of what appeared to be six feet.

"We’ll stay here for the night. They won’t find us here." He turned to her, the candlelight dancing upon his dark features, making his red eyes seem like they were glowing. "Tomorrow, we will return."

Mendra gazed upon him but her head bowed at his words. She was worried for Ralith. She could not think of anything other than how he had protected her, but she was unable to do naught for him.

"Alak."

This brought Mendra’s attention back to the drow. "Alak?"

"My name." He walked to the chest and opened it. Rising, he made his way toward her and held out a strip of jerky. "Eat this and get some rest." He motioned to the pile of blankets.

Mendra took the offered meat then glanced at the pile of blankets. "Thank you," she paused then continued, "for everything."

He simply nodded as if none of it mattered and set the candle on the top of the chest. He bit into his own jerky and tore off a piece, chewing it as he sat on the cold ground, reaching forward. Mendra needed no more coaxing and headed to the blankets, laying on her stomach as she pulled one over her. She tried biting into the jerky, but soon gave up on trying to eat the hard meat. She set it aside and watched Alak. He had his back turned to her as he worked at something she could not see, though she didn’t really care what it was at the moment. She felt weary, and not long after her eyes closed, she fell into a deep sleep.