The Last Mage

Chapter 23: The Curling Horn

Eryn noticed him right away. He stuck out on entering the city. Not much of a city to Eryn's experience but that's what they called it. The business made up for the people she guessed. She had been following them for a while. The tall one intrigued her. The Guardians were tall but this guy must have been close to eight feet. He wasn't big like giants from stories but skinny. He reminded her of Jory back home. Jory was a bit touched, tall-though not that tall- and scrawny with black hair. This man was tall with the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen, his hair white blonde and he was traveling with a dwarf. At least she thought so though the dwarf was a bit thin as well. Around four feet. The giant and the dwarf.

Eryn thought it was fun to try to avoid being seen by them. The giant knew she was there though he did a good job disguising the fact. The dwarf seemed oblivious, chattering in some language she didn't know, the giant commenting here and there. She thought he was mostly paying attention to her movements through his sneaky corner-of-the-eye way. They had wandered past numerous establishments until she was sure they were headed to the Curling Horn. It was nowhere near the best inn but as Jefferey said, it was cheap. And not frequented. The owners had another business, the inn just a side thing. She was sure that's where they were going so she ducked down an alley and raced down the back ways till she came out of breath to the back of the inn's stable.

Just as her hand closed on the stable's back handle she was jerked backwards. She spun around expecting Jefferey to be there but her eyes came just to a man's gut and she craned her neck in wonderment recognizing the giant she'd been following on the street. She tried to twist from his grip but only got a smirk from him. She twisted again, lashing out with her feet. The man moved gracefully away from her kicking legs holding her at arms length to avoid the punches she aimed at his gut. He smiled at her struggles and yells without seeming to worry if she might have friends near.

The dwarf showed up only seconds later, red faced and out of breath. He stopped nearby and bent over his knees holding up one finger trying to regain his breath. That's when Eryn noticed he was an old man. Grey streaked his black hair his face lined with time but Eryn found kindness in his eyes and the fear that had engulfed her moments ago receded. She looked back at the blonde giant still holding the back of her tunic. He wasn't breathing hard at all. The old man straightened, looking her up and down.

"Oh Derrel do let her go. You've gone and scared her." He turned his wrinkled smile back to her as Derrel let her go stepping nimbly to avoid the quick kick she threw at his shins. His triumphant smile made her scowl up at him- not an easy task. The old man cleared his throat gently bringing attention back to himself. His smile lit up his face disarming Eryn completely.

"My name is Redrick Fields and this is my good friend Derrel Draheim. And who might you be?" Eryn glanced at the tall stranger who seemed completely aloof now, studying the alley they'd come through as though looking for something. She glanced at the stable door wondering if she should bolt but meeting the old man's kind smile again she felt safe enough.

"I'm Eryn. I...I'm sorry I followed you around. I was just curious." She glanced at Derrel and couldn't help lowering her voice. "I've never seen anyone so tall before!" Redrick's smile seemed to grow.

"It's quite alright Eryn. He's not touchy about his height. He likes making people feel inferior." The blonde man scowled at them a moment before going back to his scrutiny of the alley. "What he is touchy about is being followed through a town and then ditched for no apparent reason. Must be careful doing that to Tashians, dear."

"He's a Tashian? What's a Tashian?" It was out before she could stop it. Both men looked at her, confusion on their faces before Derrel started laughing and Redrick's airy chuckles joined him. She could feel her cheeks redden. Redrick noted her distress and quieted his laughter though his eyes were still bright with it.