"So, do you have any particular route in mind?" Iver asked no one in particular as they all gazed down at the map before them. Whatever dinner they hadn't finished had been pushed aside.

Darin had led them to an inn that sat in the center of Langerich, nearest to where the mana reservoir was strongest. It was Iver who suggested the type of location. For their journey to Weststar, if they wanted to make it to Paraglia before snowfall settled, the man and his apprentice needed to regain their mana supply as fast as they could.

"I was thinking of crossing the river here," Darin said, tracing his finger along the path. "It's also the least fae-infested route since there's a low concentration of—"

"We go through Téchivar."

Darin stared incredulously at Noctifer. "You want us to go through unseelie infested territory and through mountains?" he asked slowly, careful to enunciate his words to make sure the warrior understood him. "We are going to Weststar for the purpose of mana potions. I thought we'd make it a point of trying to use the least amount of mana."

"I could care less if you run out of mana or not," Noctifer replied gruffly, disregarding Darin by gazing around the tavern idly. "We won't make it far if we choose to go around the mountains."

"Won't make it far? We won't make it far your route, either!" Darin exclaimed. "Do you think I have an unlimited supply of mana floating at my fingertips?"

Noctifer raised an eyebrow, challenging, "Do you not?"

Darin could only stammer in reply, absolutely baffled. Luckily, Iver quickly piped up to say what Darin could not.

"Darin is human, Noc," he explained. "Humans cannot produce their own mana, hence why they rely on reservoirs and potions. You may need fae blood to be able to possess magic, but only fae-born races such as elves and dragonkind can produce their own."

"I see." Noctifer crossed his arms and leaned back, regarding Darin once more before turning away with a huff of laughter. Darin narrowed his eyes at that, opening his mouth to confront him, but a sing-song voice cut him short.

"Listen all, and listen well! For the story tonight is not one many can tell!"

An extravagantly dressed man pranced around a stage set in the corner while he strummed a lute wildly in suspenseful chords. There were many groans, but others crowded around to hear the bard more clearly. As if he wasn't loud enough already.

"Leave it to a bard to begin playing at the most inopportune moment," Darin commented smartly, setting his elbow on the table and resting his head in his palm. Iver chuckled at his words. They wouldn't be able to get anything done with the racket, anyway.

"Excitement and betrayal; origins and the final battle. Tonight, you shall hear the epic tale of the Great Sorcerer Ordephus and his dragonkind apprentice!"

From the corner of his eye, Darin saw Argent look up; spiteful, yet intrigued. He didn't blame the boy for reacting the way he did. It was universally accepted that Ordephus was the first to fight the "evils" of the dragonkind. Nonetheless, he bumped the boy with his knee to remind Argent of where he was. In a subtle twitch, the boy's disdain was hidden. If anyone had seen the slip, it could easily be blamed on the bard, at least.

"The son of Polagora, god of the gods
The son of Ventura, Nimn's Warrior Queen
Part warrior, part power, no man could decide
If this was a being too great to deny.

The trees would bow down as he passed by the way
The ground and the mountains shook steps that he'd take
He banished the Fae King and traitors alike
The blood that flowed endless red eyes set alight.

Yet there laid low, the wretched Agkaneel
With a face of horns and claws of hardened steel
He's a monster born of human and beast
But pity was spared by Ordephus' rein.

Master and monster, what a true tragedy
To be betrayed by one who you had set free
Only one could live, and who would that be?
Red eyes were last thing the traitor did see."

The bard proddled on a few more verses before Darin turned to the rest of his companions.

"Huh. Never heard that version before," Darin noted, shaking his head and turning his attention to his companions. It appeared they were done listening as well as Darin continued, "The previous version I've listened to said Ordephus was an exiled god and his apprentice a shapeshifter."

"The elves tell a much different tale," Iver chuckled.

"Care to tell me?" Darin quirked a smile. "Leave out the dramatics if you can."

Iver laughed at that. "I am not sure I could accomplish the same energy as the bard either way." He cleared his throat. "For one, we believe Ordephus was created by the gods at the beginning of time; a perfect being to lead the first mortals of the earth. Unfortunately, the fae also occupied the world and soon began corrupting Ordephus' spirit until he became a powerful harbinger deity. Unwilling to destroy what they created, the gods put him into a deep sleep, and he rests somewhere no mortal can reach. Although, Ordephus' legendary red eyes stayed consistent. As for Agkaneel, there is no elven version that connects the two. To us, Agkaneel was simply one of the ten sons of Faerie King Agkael and the Dragoness Larrag."

"That's quite a fantastical telling, though," Darin said, impressed. "Is that what you believe?"

"I am a bit more inclined to believe what I was raised with, but I am open to a more plausible version," Iver replied with a wiry smile. "But seeing that there are many opposing stories of Ordephus, your guess is as good as mine."

"Fair enough." Darin turned to Noctifer. "And what about you?"

"Ordephus never existed."

Darin blinked. "Really? You don't believe that Ordephus existed?"

"You would have to be a fool to believe in a person with a story no one can agree on," Noctifer said bluntly. "As for Agkaneel, I suppose someone had to be the first."

"Someone had to be the first to master magic, as well," Darin pointed out, but only got a grunt in response. The bard's voice raised an octave, echoing around the tavern.

"He then plunged his sword, forged by the tainted
Into the heart of one who he had trusted
With a mighty roar, the dragonkind died
Victory was his, and the legend survived

Master and monster, what a true tragedy
To be betrayed by one who you had set free
Only one could live, and who would that be?
Red eyes were last thing the traitor did see."

A few drunks at the bar who were enraptured with the story gave a cheer, but most began to pack up as the story came to a close. Argent looked over to Iver, perplexed.

"Didn't you say dragonkind was a fae-born race?"

"I did," Iver nodded. "And they are."

"So the story was wrong, then," Argent stated, and once again, Iver confirmed with a nod.

"Some people rather tell something exciting than tell the truth," Darin said with a shrug. "Bards are the worst offenders of this, so it's always best to take what they say with a grain of salt."

"So does that mean your words are unreliable as well?" Noctifer smirked, and Darin shot him an irritated look.

"I won't even dignify that with a response." Darin jumped suddenly when he felt someone lean against the back of his chair, arms snaking over his shoulders.

"Hey," a voice purred next to his ear while a hand wandered down to the collar of his shirt. "Word on the street was that you were back in town."

To the other travelers' surprise, Darin leaned back into her embrace, his hand falling away from his spellbook. So she is not a threat, Iver thought, but he couldn't stop his eyes from wandering to the young woman behind the wizard.

She was an attractive woman; not many would argue with that statement. Fair, unblemished skin, long dark hair, alluring blue eyes, and a generous figure. Dark pigment dusted the lid of her eyes while a wine-red stained her lips. It was obvious the woman knew her beauty as well, as she didn't care to cover her assets and shamelessly leaned over Darin's shoulder. At first, he thought the two of them were connected together—either married or lovers—but it was the stripped cloth wrapped around the woman's waist that gave a different explanation. Iver blushed at the realization and glanced at Noctifer. The warrior, having come to the same conclusion, let out a small snort.

"Nothing escapes you, Namari," Darin said with a smile, but he reached back to tap her side while making a show of looking at the people around him. The woman—Namari her name must be—followed Darin's gaze, but it didn't click to what he was trying to say until she saw the wide-eyed boy sitting next to him. Immediately she straightened and moved her hands to Darin's shoulders.

"Oh." She looked slightly flustered and gave an apologetic grin. "There's a child."

"Indeed there is," Darin tried to hide his laughter as he laid his hand over hers, "so you're going to have to keep your hands to yourself. Can you do that?"

She tutted her tongue and slapped her other hand against his cheek lightly, earning another laugh. "You behave." Examining the group once again, all showing various levels of surprise, she added, "This is a change for a lone wolf. Why so?"

"They're parasites."

"Speak truth or not at all," Noctifer growled at Darin, having enough of being referred to as one.

"Am I not telling the truth?" Darin shot back.

Iver internally sighed as he reached over to hold onto Noctifer's arm to keep the warrior seated. Namari did the same sort of damage control with Darin, hissing something that sounded like, "This is why you don't have friends," and carding her hand through his hair. Once most of the tension had dissipated, Iver gave Namari a friendly smile.

"There is a bit of truth to Darin's statement, but rest assured that he is not receiving nothing in return," Iver clarified. "We provide protection for him and the boy while he pays for our food and beds."

"Is this because of the mana shortage?" Namari asked, giving a sympathetic look when Darin nodded in confirmation. "Moric talked about it a couple times. It's not a problem to him and his men, but there have been concerns about traveling." She shook her head. "But besides that depressing topic, care to introduce me to your companions?"

"First you should know Argent, my apprentice—" he motioned to the boy beside him, "—who you may have scarred a few moments ago. The saint across from you is Iver, and the scowling one is Noctifer."

"And handsome gentlemen they are." Namari leaned forward once again slightly, a teasing grin pulling at her lips. Knowing what that look meant, Darin put his hands over Argent's ears, much to the boy's bewilderment. "My name is Namari, and I'm sure Darin would be generous enough to tell you where to find me if you wish to seek my company."

"I don't care to lay with whores," Noctifer replied shortly, and Iver gave him a scandalized look. Namari didn't appear offended in the slightest, however, as her lips formed a pout.

"That's too bad," she sighed. "I won't keep you, then. It looks like you're already planning your next expedition, and I should be getting back to work." Her next words were directed to Darin. "But remember to see my brother before you leave, yeah? He'd be thrilled."

"I will tomorrow," Darin assured, removing his hands from the boy's ears since the danger had passed. "I thought I'd check the barriers while I'm here, anyway."

"Good." Namari gave him a surprisingly friendly peck on the top of his head, but Iver and Noctifer suspected it was because there was still a child present. "See you another day, then."

All watched as she sashayed through the tavern, many more eyes trailing her until she exited. Not able to hold it in any longer, Iver guffawed.

"I did not take you for a scoundrel," he said to Darin, trying to hide his chortling behind his hand.

"She's just teasing," Darin shook his head with a half-smile. "She and her brother are good friends of mine."

"That's not a denial," Noctifer said, raising an eyebrow at the wizard.

Darin only gave him a sly grin, shrugging his shoulders and moving to take a drink from his cup. The action made Iver laugh even harder.

Poor Argent, meanwhile, looked amongst the adults in utter confusion.

Word count: 2165