Exploits of Alex Drake Ch. 01

"Not from around here, are you son?" The bartender spoke to him.

"No. Just passing through, for the most part. It looks like there was a hell of a party going on in here."

"Indeed. Usually happens on the weekends. Everyone forgets their troubles and comes in here to drink and enjoy themselves. Pretty cordial and usually ends up with new relations, even if just for a night."

Alex looked at the bartender, then glanced to the opposite side of the room where a couple of human/elven couples were making out as far as they could take it without going that last step. It certainly was a far cry from many other places in the world.

"Looks like relations between the races is doing just fine. If you don't mind, I'd like some privacy."

The bartender nodded to the newcomer and left him be. Alex reached into his coat and pulled out the list that had been given to him by the goddess just a few hours prior. There were a few names that he recognized on the list, but only four of them out of the ten.

Lirana Augusta was the first one he recognized. She was a princess in the kingdom of Crystania to the north, roughly two days ride on a horse.

Telenna Galathir was royalty amongst the dark elves, though her exact whereabouts was something that he had no clue of where to begin his search except on the outskirts of the realm where they resided.

Silvara Vanviel was Queen of Ereschel, the wood elf kingdom that hugged the eastern seaboard of the continent. Getting to her would be incredibly difficult as it was one of the toughest realms to gain access to as a human. Usually, it required special permission.

Lisa Ruel was the last name he recognized on the list. She was a cleric high up in the Great Mountains to the north, though that was well past most every settlement.

He went through the rest of the names after that, none of which rang a bell. Serah Corwen, Traci Haeos, Nessa Tirowen, Valasca and Antianara Galleon, and Terra Koryinth. He would have to do some research on all of these women in order to figure out where to look for them, but he figured it might be easier to start with one of the names that he actually knew.

Of the four, Lirana was probably the easiest to actually find, but might be a bit difficult considering she was high royalty. Telenna, being a Dark Elf, would take some careful planning to go into Dark Elf territory, especially since to get to that portion of the world would require coming dangerously close to the area where Drow had been spotted, presenting an entirely different problem. Silvara was easy enough to find, just like Lirana, but getting into Ereschel would be impossible without some help. Lisa, of course, was also pretty easy to find, but the farthest trip.

"I guess I'll just have to do some hunting in this town. It's as good as any."

The bartender overheard Alex talking to himself and poured him another drink.

"Having some problems, stranger?"

Alex looked up at the bartender and, figuring that it wouldn't hurt to ask, showed the list to the man.

"Know any of these women?"

The bartender took the list and glanced over the names, nodding his head to a couple of them but seemingly clueless on others.

"I know of Serah Corwen and Silvara Vanviel. Goddess Serah can be found up near Crystania on the outskirts at her place of worship, though I often wonder if she's actually a Goddess as she claims. Silvara Vanviel is the Queen of the kingdom off east of here, about half a day's travel. You might get lucky and actually be spotted by her entourage in this town."

Alex raised an eyebrow at the man, curious as to what he meant.

"What do you mean by her entourage?"

"Well, rumor has it that Queen Silvara likes to slip out of her kingdom and find suitable mates from races that aren't her own. It's impossible to miss her: six feet tall, tanned complexion, emerald eyes, white-silver hair, and a body of a goddess. It won't be here you'll see, though. You'd probably run into her guards and receive the special invite that men talk about."

Alex was now intrigued enough to continue prodding.

"So, you're telling me that the leader of Ereschel, who has banned every race from her kingdom, likes to have affairs with humans?"

"Not just humans, newcomer. Humans, dark elves, goblins, hell she'll even go for a drow if it doesn't want to kill her. I guess it's just her thing."

Alex took a sip from his drink as a few patrons came into the tavern in dark garb, bearing some foreign insignias. The bartender glanced over and actually paused.

"Actually....it's strange that we're talking about this, because that insignia is of Ereschel. I wonder..."

"Quiet...just watch them."

Alex instinctively had his free hand on his sword as if there was danger, though the patrons were completely covered by their dark purple robes. It was impossible to tell who or what they were. They slowly walked around the room as if they were searching for something. Alex took a drink from his glass as he eyed them carefully, wondering if there was about to be trouble. As they circled back around, they stopped at Alex and the bartender.

"Ci shor mer si cel ber tholi." The one spoke to the other, obviously in the elven language.

"Excuse me, but if you are going to speak in my tavern, you will speak in common." The bartender obviously had dealt with this in the past.

The two mystery beings said nothing. One of them finally extended out a small trinket and handed it to Alex. Cautiously, the human took it from this person.

"And what do I do with this?" Alex's tone was obviously a bit of annoyance, but curiosity as well.

"...Go to Ereschel, human."

With that, the two beings casually left as if nothing had ever happened. Alex examined the trinket and found that it was of the royal crest of the kingdom of Ereschel.

"It looks like you may have just found your luck, newcomer. That's your key into Ereschel."

Alex grinned to himself and finished his drink, flipping a few coins onto the bartop.

"Thanks for your help in this, barkeep." He gave a nod of respect and left the tavern almost immediately, making his way back to the stables to gather his horse. Whether or not this was what he thought it was, or if the rumors had been true, it still beat hunting around and talking to random people that may not even know what he was asking. With that, Alex rode off to the east, knowing it was not a short journey to his next destination.