"And that's what happened." Oreon sighed. "That was 10 years ago. After that fight with my mom and my sister, he took me and tried to convert me into..." Oreon shook his head slightly. "I don't know...A high-ranking soldier or something. But I wouldn't move, I wouldn't listen, I just sat there, and that's where the whippings came in..." His eyes narrowed. "Soon after Aura broke me out from my father's grip and left me with Meara...and I haven't seen Aura since." Oreon finally finished. "So, yeah, that's my story."
After Oreon had finished his story, both sisters wore completely different expressions on their faces. Celestia gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, and Sylvanie's previous suspicion and anger towards him lessened.
"I..." Celestia stuttered as she lowered her hands from her mouth. "I don't even know where to begin...To have witnessed such..." She paused, swallowing hard. "Everything gone in one night and then..." She lowered her gaze. "You're no different from us," She added, looking back up at him.
Sylvanie kept quiet for a time, her gaze fixed on Oreon, and she then sighed. "So that's why you were so—Argh," She grunted in frustration. "Damn it. Here I was thinking that you were some secret Order lackey playing us into some trap!" She grabbed her head with both hands, rubbing her temples for a moment.
"Well," Celestia looked over at her sister. "Mother always did tell you not to judge a book by its cover," Celestia said, moving closer to Oreon. "I must say, to endure those things and as a child no less," She looked back to where they'd been, at the tall building on the cliff, with its holy emblem overlooking the lands.
"Even now, I learn that there are no lows that the Order won't stoop to." She turned her head back to face Oreon. "Even during our kingdom's destruction, we've witnessed harm to anyone who stood in their path, man, woman, or child. So, even though we've only just met. Please accept my deepest condolences and thank you...I know we don't deserve your story, but thank you for telling us." Celestia bowed her head to Oreon.
Oreon blinked, visibly shocked by Celestia's dignified manner. "I...you don't have to bow," he said quickly, feeling awkward. "Really, it's—I mean...You shouldn't..." He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed as he looked away. "I just...Look, don't bow, ok."
Celestia raised her head back up, a small smile on her face. "It's how we show thanks in our kingdom. Gratitude for the story that you shared and the trouble that we have caused, even indirectly." She glanced behind her, her eyes falling on her sister. "Speaking of trouble."
Celestia hurried over to Sylvanie, took hold of her ear, and guided her toward Oreon. "Get over here and apologize."
"Ow-ow-ow!" Sylvanie yelped, stumbling forward as her sister dragged her by the ear like a scolded child. "Celestia, what the—let go! I'm not a damn kid anymore! Hey! Why are you tugging so hard?!" She protested.
"Because you've been acting like one!" Celestia reprimanded as she continued to drag her sister by her ear. "You accused him of being a spy for the Order, threatened him multiple times, and were ready to attack him without hearing his side," she said firmly, her eyes narrowing. "The least you can do is apologize properly to the man who freed us! Now apologize!"
"Fine! Fine! Just let go of my ear already!" Sylvanie hissed, swatting at her sister's hand until Celestia finally released her grip. The dark elf lurched ahead a bit, glowering with a look of annoyance as she massaged her irritated ear. "Honestly...treating me like some common brat..."
With a stern look, Celestia folded her arms. "Well? We're waiting."
Sylvanie glared at her sister, then reluctantly turned her attention to Oreon. She froze, her gaze fixed on him with the same piercing stare, but now, a hint of annoyance or possibly even shame flickered in her eyes.
A moment longer passed as the two continued to stare at each other before she decided to speak. "Look..." She spoke the first word as both Oreon's and her sister's eyes slightly rose, awaiting the drawn-out apology. "I..." Sylvanie began to speak. "I...I...." Suddenly, she turned her head away from him, looking into the forest. Her cheeks puffed up as she crossed her arms tightly like a two-year-old.
"I won't apologize for slapping you or trying to snap your neck."
Her words broke the silence, and Oreon and Celestia hilariously tumbled forward onto their faces in response.
"Sylvanie!" Celestia exclaimed, her composure faltering as she glared at her younger sister after pushing herself back up from the ground." "That's not an apology! That's literally the opposite of an apology?!"
"I said what I said!" Sylvanie shot back, still refusing to look at Oreon. "He could've still been lying for all we know! I was just being cautious!"
"Cautious?!" Celestia's voice rose, something that clearly didn't happen often, but the two were locked in a battle of sisterly words with one another. "You've threatened to kill him multiple times! Multiple times?!"
"Well, excuse me for not trusting every random human who just happens to show up out of nowhere!" Sylvanie snapped back, finally turning to face her sister. "What was I supposed to do, huh? Besides, all those things were because of him anyway! It's his fault!"
"What kind of crazy Elven logic is that?!" Oreon took his turn to scold the dark elf. "You held me up by my throat against a tree! I could have died!"
"But you didn't! So, what are you so mad about?!" Sylvanie whirled around as the two were right back in each other's faces.
"Are you serious right now?!" Oreon shot back, his voice rising as he stepped closer, matching her intensity. "You literally tried to kill me!"
"And yet here you are, still breathing!" Sylvanie gestured wildly at him, her eyes just as defiant as her attitude. "So clearly, I wasn't trying hard enough!"
"That's not the point!" Oreon threw his hands up in the air.
"Then what is the point?!" Sylvanie challenged, leaning in even closer, their faces now merely inches apart.
"You're unbelievable!" Oreon started.
"ENOUGH!" With a hand on each of their chests, Celestia stepped between them, her voice quieting their argument as she pushed them away from each other. "Both of you, stop this childishness this instant!"
They looked away from one another, arms folded, displaying identical, stubbornly irritated expressions.
Celestia pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a slow, measured breath. "By the ancients..." She said, attempting to calm herself down from the childish tantrums they both were throwing. "Sylvanie...Please. Just...apologize. Properly. You know you were in the wrong." Her voice softened slightly.
Sylvanie's jaw clenched, her head glancing back behind her, catching both her sister and Oreon in her sights. For a moment, she looked like she might argue again, but something in Celestia's expression caught her attention—that quiet, patient disappointment—that made her deflate slightly.
"Tch..." She clicked her tongue, turning around slowly to face Oreon again. "Fine. Whatever..."
"Sylvanie—"
"I said fine!" the dark elf snapped, then took a breath, her shoulders dropping. She still wouldn't look directly at Oreon, her gaze fixed somewhere over his shoulder."
"Ok...I'm...I'm...Thank you for breaking us out." She turned her head to the side, causing both Oreon and her sister to lower their heads and sigh.
"That's still not an apology!" Their voices combined into a single sound as Celestia and Oreon spoke together.
"Ugh...Just forget it." Celestia finally said, her regal self completely gone due to how tired she was, as she turned her head back towards Oreon. "I apologize for my sister's..." Celestia paused, searching for the right word. "Lack of social graces." She began.
"Hey?! I'm standing right here, you know!" Sylvanie protested, whirling back around.
"Celestia ignored her, keeping her focus on Oreon. "She means well, truly. She's just...protective. And stubborn. Very. Very stubborn."
"I heard that too!"
"You were meant to," Celestia replied coolly, not even bothering to look at her sister. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips—barely there, but present. "She's grateful, I assure you; she just has a...unique way of showing it."
"Unique is one word for it," Oreon muttered under his breath, though loud enough for both sisters to hear.
Sylvanie's gaze narrowed as she snapped her head back in his direction. "Treading water, human!"
"Sylvanie, please," Celestia said, her tone weary as she rubbed her temple with her fingers. "Can we have one conversation without threatening him?"
"I'm not threatening—" Sylvanie started, but Celestia cut her off with a single raised hand.
"You literally just threatened him. Again." The older sister's blue eyes were locked on her sibling, and her look made it plain that she'd had enough of their argument.
Sylvanie opened her mouth to protest, closed it, then huffed and looked away. "...Whatever."
Oreon couldn't help but let out a small, incredulous laugh at the exchange. Despite everything—the escape, the story he'd just shared, the battle they had with a corrupted elf—watching the two bicker like this was...oddly normal.
"You two really are sisters, huh?" he said, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.
"Unfortunately," both sisters said simultaneously, then immediately glared at each other.
"Don't copy me!" They said in unison again, which only made them glare harder.
Oreon blinked, then actually smiled a real, genuine smile. It felt foreign after everything, but...there it was. "Yeah, definitely sisters."
Celestia's expression softened as she noticed his smile, her own lips curving upward slightly. "I suppose we do make quite the pair, don't we?" She glanced at Sylvanie, who was still stubbornly looking away but had the faintest hint of pink on her cheeks.
"Anyway..." Celestia cleared her throat, straightening her posture and attempting to regain some of her regal composure. "That aside, it seems we share more than just a common enemy. If anything, Rot's last words were a warning to whatever the Order has planned. This threat is bigger than all of us. They've taken so much already, families, kingdoms...and now they seek power that could destroy everything."
"Or everything non-human." Sylvanie retorts.
"At least those who don't rebel," Oreon added, his expression turning grim.
"Exactly, no race is safe." She turned her gaze towards Oreon. "But hearing your story does explain things a bit better. But you're not purely acting out of vengeance, are you?" She questioned him lightly.
"No, it's not entirely vengeance, at least I don't think it is." Oreon pondered for a second. "Watching what my father did back then does play a huge part in it, making my old man mad is just a bonus, but he also has to be stopped, or else everybody in this region is going to repeat the same cycle." Oreon finished as he looked back at the elves.
Celestia nodded gently, her gaze fixed on the human, as she began to understand him. "A noble goal, then. Not just revenge, but prevention." She paused, her gaze drifting toward the distant stronghold again. "Though I suspect the line between the two can blur when the stakes are personal."
"That's mildly putting it, but you're spot on," Oreon stated as Sylvanie stepped up, adding her own interpretation.
"So, you want us to help you get revenge on your father," She states, not a question but an observation. "And that's why you freed us." She added, obviously misreading the entire meaning of everything that Oreon shared. "A wise choice, human."
"I don't think that's what he said at all." Celestia counters gently.
"That's definitely not what I said," Oreon added.
"Isn't it, though?" Sylvanie shot back, raising an eyebrow. "You free us, tell us your tragic backstory, revealed that your father is the purifier of the Order..." She counted on her fingers mockingly. "Seems pretty straightforward to me. You want allies. We want revenge. Sounds like a win-win."
"Sylvanie, you're oversimplifying—" Celestia started.
"Am I?" The dark elf cut in, turning to face her sister. "Look, I'm not saying it's a bad plan. Actually, it's pretty smart if you ask me. We need help to get back at those zealots anyway, and he clearly has some type of knowledge." She gestured toward Oreon. "So why dance around it?"
Oreon rubbed his face with both hands, letting out a long, tired sigh. "Because that's not why I freed you..."
"Then why did you?" Sylvanie pressed. "Out of the goodness of your heart? Please. Nobody risks their life like that without wanting something in return."
"Maybe some people do," Celestia interjected softly, her gaze meeting Oreon's. Not everyone operates on transactions and debts, sister."
"In our world? They do." Sylvanie's voice sounded bitter. "Trust me, Celestia. Nobody does anything for free anymore. Not after what we've been through. The things we've seen."
There was a heavy pause for a moment before Oreon decided to break the silence.
"I freed you because it was the right thing to do." He spoke in a quiet, firm tone. "That's it. No hidden agenda. No grand plan to recruit you." He looked between both sisters. "You were prisoners. Slaves. And I had the chance to do something about it...So I did."
Sylvanie frowned a bit, like Oreon's statement was a foreign concept to her. "So, you're saying...you don't want anything from us?"
"Nope," Oreon said simply.
"...Nothing at all?"
"Emm emm." Oreon shook his head.
"Not even a favor? Or an allegiance? Or—"
"Sylvanie," Celestia interrupted. "He's telling the truth."
The dark elf looked between her sister and Oreon, clearly struggling to process Oreon's actions. "That's...stupid," she finally said, though her tone lacked its usual defiance. "No one does something for nothing." She grumbled.
"Maybe not where you're from." Oreon replied, "But I do and have."
Suddenly, the unexpected sound of a horn echoed from the fortress, interrupting their talk and making them turn their gaze toward the noise.
"That's an Order patrol horn," Oreon said in a calm voice. "They're sweeping the forest, I'm pretty sure by now they probably found the body we left for them." He stated as he turned around, facing the direction they were already heading in. "Come on, town isn't that far ahead. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can rest up and..." Oreon paused and turned around, staring at the two sisters for a bit. "You two need better clothes." He quickly turned his head as he limped forward.
Sylvanie was about to protest before she glanced down at her tattered slave garments with obvious disgust, then at Celestia's equally disheveled appearance. "He's not wrong," She muttered, tugging at the frayed hem of her dress.
"Celestia nods in agreement. "A fair point indeed," She admits, also tugging futilely at a torn sleeve. "Proper clothing would indeed be...Prudent."
"Prudent?" Sylvanie scoffed, falling into a step beside her sister as they followed after Oreon. "It's necessary. I look like I've been dragged through a goblin den backwards." She plucked at the ragged fabric with disdain. "What I wouldn't give to have my old armor back, or at least a decent cloak."
As Sylvanie examined the rips and stains on her clothes, a mischievous smirk tugged at her lips. The tattered slave garments they both wear barely cover their bodies, revealing almost everything. "You know, I wonder if you've held that thought since you first laid eyes on us. Have you been staring, human?"
Oreon nearly stumbled mid-step, his ears turning red. "W—What?! No! I—That's not—!" He sputtered, whipping his head forward so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. "I wasn't staring!"
"Oh really?" Sylvanie's voice dripped with amusement as she quickened her pace, moving up beside him with that signature smirk plastered across her face. "Then how did you notice our clothes needed replacing so quickly, hmm?"
"Because they're literally falling apart!" Oreon shot back defensively, still refusing to look at her. "It doesn't take a genius to see that!"
"Sylvanie," Celestia warned from behind them.
"What?" I'm just asking an honest question—" Sylvanie teased, leaning in closer to Oreon as they walked. "Besides, we were locked in cages for months. It's not like we had access to proper clothing. So, if someone did happen to glance our way..." She trailed off meaningfully, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief.
"I didn't glance anywhere!' Oreon insisted, his voice pitching slightly higher than normal.
"Uh-huh,"
"I didn't!"
"Sure—"
"I'm not!" Oreon exclaimed as he continued to limp ahead, trying his best to keep his head forward. "I'm just saying we don't want to make the town's people uncomfortable or..."
"Oh, I'm definitely not opposed to making some of these humans...Uncomfortable." Sylvanie replied with a sly smirk on her face. She made sure her eyes stayed on Oreon.
"Sylvanie, enough," Celestia said more firmly this time. "Stop tormenting him."
"I'm not tormenting anyone!" Sylvanie protested innocently, though her grin said otherwise. "I'm simply observing his reactions. Carefully, very...carefully." She emphasized the last two words while still walking slightly behind Oreon.
"You're impossible, you know that?" He groaned.
"I've been told," Sylvanie replied cheerfully.
"Multiple times," Celestia added from behind.
"By multiple people," Sylvanie continued without missing a beat, completely unbothered by the observation.
Oreon let out another long, suffering sigh. "Great...Just...great." He muttered, rubbing his temple with his fingers. "How did I end up with you two again?"
"You freed us, remember?" Sylvanie chirped. "Your choice, human."
"The biggest mistake of my life," He spoke under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Look, can we please just focus on getting to town before those patrols catch up?
"Fine, fine," Sylvanie relented, though she didn't move away from his side, her hands clasped behind her back as she leaned slightly forward. "But you didn't answer my question—"
"What question?!" Oreon snapped, finally glancing at her—then immediately regretting it when he caught sight of just how revealing her tattered clothing really was. His eyes darted away so fast it was almost comical. "I—You—Forget it!"
Sylvanie's grin widened into a wicked smirk. "Oh, you definitely looked."
"I did not!"
"You just did!"
"That doesn't count!"
"It absolutely does count!"
"Ugh!" Oreon groaned loudly, rolling his eyes as he continued to walk as best as he could.
The three continued down the path in silence, Oreon visibly gritting his teeth in discomfort, all while being watched closely by the two Elven sisters.
Oreon took another step, and his ankle gave way, causing him to fall. Sylvanie was there to catch him, grabbing his wrist and slowly helping him up, allowing him to lean on her as he put his arm around her neck.
"Don't misunderstand," She muttered. "If you collapse, we'll have to carry you, and I'm not in the mood for that."
Blinking in surprise, Oreon steadied himself against her. "...Thanks," he said quietly, genuinely meaning it despite the gruff delivery.
Sylvanie didn't respond immediately; her eyes fixed ahead as they walked. But after a moment, she huffed softly. "Yeah, well...don't mention it. And I mean it, one word and I'm dropping you."
Celestia watched the exchange with a small, knowing smile as she walked up to Oreon's left side. "Here—" taking his other arm and draping it across her shoulders. "This will be easier."
Oreon slightly glanced from one elf to the next and then lowered his gaze to the ground as they helped him move. "I...uh...I can walk on my own. Really...You don't have to—"
"We know," Celestia answered back, slightly glancing over at Oreon. "Your ankle is clearly injured, and you've been favoring it since we were thrown out of the clearing." She added as she turned her head back to face forward as they slowly moved. "Pride won't help you if you collapse halfway to town."
"Besides, no matter what you say." Sylvanie chimed in. "We're doing it anyway, so just be quiet and accept the help, human. It won't come often." She lightly threatened.
Oreon opened his mouth to protest again, then closed it with a resigned sigh. "...Fine." He muttered, defeated as he kept his eyes on the ground.
The trio walked in silence for a bit, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves under their feet and the distant calls of birds, along with the rustling of bushes.
"So..." Sylvanie broke the silence between them, her tone more casual this time around. "That story you told us...Your mother and sister...You knew about Elven settlements, and your mother let you and your sister go alone to...learn from them." She tried to find the right words as she glanced over at him.
"Yeah," Oreon confirmed quietly, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "She was friends with them, friends with a lot of non-humans," Oreon answered. "But she was closer to the elves; a lot closer...The elves there treated us like family, always watched us when our mother was away. Taught us about their history and the differences between humans and other creatures. Magic, fighting, healing." Oreon sighed. "Alice was better at learning it than me, though, but I guess the older sister was the prodigy between us. I just wanted to swing my mother's daggers around," Oreon admitted lowly.
Celestia's expression softened as she glanced over at him. "Your mother sounds like she was an extraordinary woman," she said gently. "Not many humans would willingly associate with elves, let alone trust them with their children."
"Yeah, she was something special, alright," Oreon replied, his voice full of grief that even made Sylvanie glance over him with a bit of sympathy. "She didn't see the world the way some humans do, the way my father does. She believed...that we were all just people trying to survive. That race didn't matter as much as character."
"A rare perspective indeed," Celestia murmured.
"Especially in this world," Sylvanie added, her tone surprisingly subdued. "Most humans we've encountered would sooner spit on us than speak to us." Her eyes glanced down a bit before returning to her usual expression. "Present company excluded, apparently."
Oreon gave a weak chuckle. "Yeah, well...my mother made sure we knew better. She'd have our butts if we ever treated anyone differently just because of what they were." He paused, his expression darkening. "My father...didn't share that view at all."
"Clearly," Sylvanie muttered dryly. "Our home can attest to that."
Oreon winced, guilt flashing across his face. "I'm...sorry. For what it's worth—what he did to your people, your kingdom—" He swallowed hard. "I know 'sorry' doesn't mean much, but—"
"You're right," Sylvanie cut him off sharply, though her tone wasn't as harsh as it could've been. "It doesn't mean much." She stated, keeping her eyes forward as her sister looked over at her, but decided not to say anything as she too turned her head straight, as the two elves helped Oreon as they reached the forest ending.
As they emerged from the forest's edge, the small town of Haven's Crest came into view. Faint smoke appeared from the chimneys, and most people had already seemed to turn in for the night.
"Good," Oreon grimaced as he looked around, the pain of his ankle emulated on his face. "It doesn't look like there are that many people out," Oreon acknowledged, glancing around. "This may work out better than we thought. "He ended.
Celestia followed his gaze, taking in the quiet streets and dimly lit windows. "A blessing, perhaps," she said softly. "Though I imagine our appearance will still draw attention regardless."
"Oh, definitely," Sylvanie agreed with a smirk, glancing down at her tattered garments again. "Two elves in slave rags helping a limping human through town? We'll be the talk of the tavern by morning." She paused, narrowing her eyes slightly at Oreon. "That's assuming anyone even lets us in anywhere."
Oreon let out a deep breath. "Just keep your voice down and don't do anything...You would do."
Sylvanie raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Anything I would do? That's a pretty broad category, human. You'll have to be more specific."
"You know exactly what I mean," Oreon replied, wincing as his ankle throbbed again. "No picking fights, no sarcastic comments to the locals, no—"
"No fun whatsoever?" Sylvanie finished for him, a hint of mock disappointment in her voice. "Got it."
Celestia sighed softly. "We'll behave," she assured Oreon, though she shot her sister a pointed look. "Won't we, Sylvanie?"
"Sure, sure," the dark elf replied with an exaggerated wave of her free hand. "I'll be the picture of civility. Scout's honor."
"You don't even know what that means," Oreon said flatly.
"Doesn't matter—I'm still promising it."
Oreon groaned again, already regretting everything before looking straight ahead again. "There's a tavern around this corner, just bust a left right here." Oreon gestured with his head as the trio slowly made their way towards the tavern that appeared to be almost in the center of town. Those who were out saw them but didn't say a word. Their questionable stares were enough to make the group uneasy.
Sylvanie felt the weight of every stare, her jaw tightening as they passed a group of men loitering near a cart. One of them spat on the ground as they walked by—not directly at them, but the message was clear enough.
On the other side, a woman standing near a doorway pulled her child closer as they approached, whispering something to the boy before hurrying inside and shutting the door behind them. The sound of the latch clicking into place echoed louder than it should have in the quiet street.
"Just...keep moving," Oreon said quietly, his voice strained. "We're almost there."
Celestia remained silent but nodded her head in compliance. Her expression was calm and composed despite the uncomfortable scrutiny. But Oreon could feel the way her grip on his arm tightened just slightly—enough to know she wasn't as unaffected as she appeared.
"Ahead..." Oreon stated as the group appeared in front of a tavern with the sign "The broken barrel' hanging loosely from the wall. "Let's go and remember what I said...no trouble." He glanced over at Sylvanie.
Sylvanie let out a small grunt as they approached. The travelers felt the inn's comforting warmth embrace them, thick with the rich scents of roasting meat, spilled ale, and the lingering sweetness of pipe smoke. The three stepped inside, the noise level dropping noticeably as curious glances turned their way; a hush fell over the room, broken only by the soft murmur of hushed conversations. Sylvanie instinctively shifts closer to Oreon, her muscles coiling a bit, while Celestia does the same, her eyes scanning every human she can.
Suddenly, a large, over-muscled man roughly got up from his seat. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" He said arrogantly.
The man's voice cut through the tavern, gaining everyone's attention, drawing them all towards Oreon and the elven sisters. He was built like an ox—broad shoulders, thick arms, and a belly that suggested he'd spent as many nights drinking as he had fighting. A scar ran down the left side of his face, a rough, shaven beard. Behind him, two other men rose from their seats—smaller, but no less intimidating.
"Didn't know this place was lettin' in strays now," the man continued, his gaze sliding slowly from Oreon to the two elves flanking him. His eyes lingered far too long on their tattered clothing, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "Especially pointy—eared ones."
Oreon gritted his teeth as he looked up at the broad-shouldered man. "Come on, grog; not now." Oreon winced slightly.
Grog let out a bark of laughter, slapping one of his companions on the shoulder. "Hear that, boys? Not now, he says!' He took a heavy step forward, his boots thudding against the wooden floor. "You got some nerve walkin' in here with them, boy. What, you become some kind of elf-lover while you were off playing' hero?"
The tavern remained deathly quiet, all eyes fixed on the unfolding scene as Oreon could feel both Celestia and Sylvanie tense on either side of him.
"Listen, I don't have time for your crap today, and for the record, when you're not actually scared to leave town, then you and I can have a discussion, but for right now, move. I didn't come here to see you." Oreon countered.
Grog's grin faltered for just a second, his face darkening as the insult landed. "You little shit—" He growled, taking another step forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "You got some nerve, where do you get out runnin' your mouth like that?"
But before he could get any closer, Sylvanie shifted slightly—just enough to place herself more firmly between Oreon and Grog. Her eyes locked onto the larger man's, and though she said nothing, the look she gave him was cold, dangerous, and utterly unyielding.
"Careful," She said softly, her voice low and edged with a warning. "I'd hate for you to do something stupid."
Grog's eyes flicked down to her, then back up again. For a moment, he seemed to weigh his options—then he spat on the floor near her feet. "You think I'm scared of some Elven bitch in rags?" he sneered. "You're lucky I don't drag you back to whatever cage you crawled out of."
"I'd like to see you try." Sylvanie took a step forward, but Oreon quickly removed his arm from around her shoulders and stuck his arm out in front of her, gently moving her back behind him, looking up at Grog.
"Grog," Oreon said firmly, his voice carrying despite the pain etched across his face. "I'm not asking again. Move."