A World of Danger: Part One

Tal'niel stared out at the village for a few minutes, lurking silently within the surrounding trees. It was nearing dusk, and activity had died down, with only a few of the villagers wandering about. Some hunters strolled in, passing right beneath Tal'niel, yet not noticing him despite all their tracking skills. They laughed as they passed, and carried a large buck upon the shoulders - surely a great prize for dark times like these, with winter fast approaching. The three were all dark of hair, with bushy beards, and either brothers or close kin.

Tal'niel watched them enter the village, and go into one of the larger houses together, its warm light spilling out of the doorway and into the darkening streets, before it closed. Opposite the house was an even larger building, filled still with light and many sounds of merriment, for despite the few travelers that wandered in these dark times, this village was one of the few for miles around, and the inn was often busy.

Tal'niel leapt to the ground, landing silently, in a crouch, before rising back up. He checked his bow, upon his back, and his hand swept across the hilt of his sword - his father's before his own, and ancient and well made. Nodding to himself, he pulled the cowl of his cloak tight about his face, and walked into the village, and into the inn.

A few faces glanced his way as he entered, but noted his worn leathers and long cloak, and dismissed him as one of any other number of adventurers who wandered the woods. He glanced about, and then headed towards a corner, where a familiar face resided by a table.

As he sat down by the table, the face looked up - a bearded face, with a great nose and piercing eyes. Eyes that widened at the sight of him, and the dwarf bellowed, "Tal! By the forge, I have been waiting here for you this past week, now! Where have you been?"

Tal laughed, lightly. "I had some unfinished business to take care of. Mitzik and a company of his orcs were a few days away."

The dwarf raised his eyebrows. "So he's dealt with, then?"

Tal nodded. "He didn't have El'nela, or any of the others... but I knew that already, Dain. Still, he won't trouble anyone ever again, and that is one small evil laid to rest."

"What of the orcs?" Dain asked.

"Too many to deal with. They are probably still wondering how their commander died in the middle of the night, and will hopefully run back to the dark one's lair in confusion."

Dain nodded. "Well then, let's get to business," said the dwarf, and they fell to talking throughout the night...