The Bard: A Story

-2-

  300 AF

  They had been traveling for a good week now and Silliane was enjoying himself. There was nothing better than the open road to him and to be enjoying it with Glorianna Benderwith was just an extra bonus. The high points of her ears showed that she was a pure blood Elf where as his blood was only half. But, according to her, that didn’t matter to her. Her purple robes always seemed to flow around her lithe body and her long dark hair stretched down her back with two braids that met in the back to keep her long bangs from her eyes. She turned to him with a smile as they advanced on their destination and gave him her wicked smile that said she was ready for adventure.

  “The little valley should be right over this rise,” Glorianna said.

  “And you are sure this is the origin of the goblins that have been harassing the traders?” Silliane asked.

  “This is where Brinn tracked them back to,” Glorianna answered. “I trust his word over anyone else.”

  “Speaking of your brother, Brinn,” Silliane said with a little haughtiness, “where is he?”

  “He has some other things going on that he had to take care of,” Glorianna answered. “And besides, I prefer your company right now.”

  Glorianna turned on Silliane quickly and without hesitation as she drove herself into his arms. They kissed and held each other for what seemed a lifetime but it was only a few moments. Silliane loved her with all his heart and for the past few months he’d been trying to find a way to ask the beauty in his arms if she’d marry him. He wanted to hold her forever and lose himself in her. Even if she was an immortal Elf he knew they’d have at least a few hundred more years together, if the One God allowed.

  “I’m just saying that we could definitely have used his bow on this little job,” Silliane told her as he released her.

  “I know,” Glorianna replied with a wink of her purple eyes. “I wish he were here to, but you know how he is.”

  Silliane had known Brinn Benderwith a few years more than he’d known Glorianna and he did know how her brother was. He was distraught over his early life and he felt he had to make up for the small evils he had committed before. So now his honor drove him beyond all common sense to take up noble causes. Luckily, he had pulled through all of the situations he’d gotten himself into up to now.

  “Off on some noble quest again?” Silliane asked.

  “Of course he is,” Glorianna said retrieving her staff from where she had dropped it. “His honor demands it.”