Chapter 13 - Colifal

The cart slowed, its driver commanding the carriage’s horses to slow down, they had stopped just outside of the town’s limits; as requested.
 
  
“We’re here”, the driver called back, his voice was raspy and hoarse. 
 
Loran peeked over the wagon’s side, brush still obscuring the entirety of the village, yet he could hear life from here. The marketplace was more than likely in full swing by now. The young warrior had been awake the entire ride, his guarded nature not allowing him a moment’s rest. This was a perfect spot to stop, as he didn’t wish to enter the town directly; He had his suspicions. Siena on the other hand had just awoken from a long nap, as to her these rides were soothing reminders of her life as a missionary. She had traveled far and wide to both welcoming and inhospitable lands; This mission would be brief she presumed.
 
He nudged her leg playfully, “Still sleeping gran”? She looked no older than a young mother, but could possibly be his own distant progenitor. 
 
“Have we reached our destination, little one”? She jested back, they had grown close quite fast. Perhaps it was due to the nature of their meeting. 
 
~
 
Some time ago when Loran was on the road to Dumont, a small mining town, he stumbled upon the elf maiden; in not so pleasant company. Some of the settlement’s residents did not take kindly to elves, still harboring bad blood from the Crusade of Fire. It had been half a century since the elves had claimed right to the kingdom of men’s capital, to them it was another holy site, the resting place of their most sacred forgotten god. The brief conflict that followed shattered the Elven Tribunal, and only soured the relationship between men and elven kind. Several young villagers had few wits about them, perhaps needing an excuse to assault some poor woman, believing she’d be a fertile target. Loran was ready to draw his blade in her honor, but such matters were no problem for a priestess of her caliber.
 
The elves worshiped a god of storm and thunder, so she gave them lightning. Having killed nearly all but one of the men the two knew they had outlived their stay. He proposed that they join company, seeing that they were traveling to the same destination; Plus, she was no stranger to conflict. Siena obliged, and their journey resumed. It had been just over a week, but they had become fond traveling companions. After all, the priestess believed that humans lived short and relatively tumultuous lives, when one could be befriended it was best to make the most of it; He had no qualms with this philosophy.
 
The two exited the wagon with haste, not wanting to further delay their driver. Loran hoisted his rucksack from the back, “Why do you only come near the edge of town”? They had their own reasonings, he was curious of the driver’s.
 
The driver peeked over his shoulder, “Something in the air, people are too damned nice in this dung heap”. He spat into the earth, ready to leave as soon as possible. He was old and haggard, perhaps jaded from a lifetime on the roads; escorting so many journeys, never taking one.
 
The excommunicated knight placed his scabbard on his hip, not wanting to be defenseless for too long. He fastened it to his waste with obvious haste.
 
“Loran, how does it feel having to rely on steel for your protection”, she jested, taking whatever chance she could to poke at the young man’s pride. They had grown quite comfortable with this behavior, to make their time together more interesting of course. 
 
He stifled a grimace, then grinned, “How does it feel to rely on a dead god’s whisper”?
 
“Touché”.
 
The cart rolled back down the forgotten path, headed towards anywhere else than Colifal. Loran had his doubts about this place, especially seeing that it was the last place that his uncle had ventured to. His face grew serious; Perhaps if Roland had returned things would’ve been different. The two were alone now, just on the outskirts of town, ready to push forward in search of the truth. 
 
“So, best course of action? This is where they disappeared if I’m correct.”, Loran was ready to follow some sage advice. 
 
The elf looked at the sky, as if she was searching for something, “Rule one of navigating through unknown territory, never reveal your entire hand”. She was right, if this truly was where his Uncle and his party had disappeared something must’ve happened. Something that perhaps would’ve spread as news from Colifal had the town’s people known. If they didn’t know, they’d be of no use, but if they were hiding something…
 
“Come, let us not waste daylight”, she beckoned him to follow her through the tree line. All would come to light in due time. The two climbed through the brush, into the heart of the town.
 
~
 
The rumors had not fallen short, as the streets of this once small town were bustling with life and joy. Banners hung from house windows, people taking pride in their families’ origins. Unlike most towns the two had visited the streets were clean and well maintained, everyone walked with purpose and care; Loran felt a tinge of shame. He had expected it to be desolate when he first heard the rumors, a trap of sorts, even a place only rumored to have been an oasis as a cruel joke.
He had been wrong. Children ran through the streets playfully, reenacting the Rampage of Dramuug. There was order as well as the chaos of daily life. 
 
Siena was unconvinced. She had traveled to numerous human settlements before and only the few grandest of cities had this level of opulence and pride. Other small villages were drained of their resources, a means by which nobility could further secure their station. This place had been unclaimed by any lord or duke, but why?
 
Down the road they could hear the buzz of the market, various stalls selling a myriad of goods and trinkets. Truly odd for a settlement of this size. Two young women approached on foot, wreathes of flowers in their hair, loose curls cascading to cover their ears. Both had amber eyes, glimmering with joy and cheer; They spoke to Loran first.
 
The first one chimed, “I’m Grace”, the second one, “, and I’m Elirial”. They inquisitively examined the two travelers, perhaps awestruck by their clothing and garb. Grace spoke up, “Are you two adventurers”? She looked directly into Loran’s eyes, as if she was searching for something.
 
“Elirial. That’s an elven name, is it not”? Siena stepped forward, the two girls stepping back. Her eyes were squinted; Such names did not exist in these parts and were surely not common. 
 
“W-well, my mother gave me this name! She is a full-blooded elf, so it isn’t t-too strange”, she blushed from embarrassment, folding her arms behind her back. Grace stood firmer, now even more confused by these two travelers, especially the elf maiden.
 
“There is no shame in having elven heritage”, Loran said, “One should have pride in such things”. He was always the gallant knight, chivalrous and true; like his uncle. “Having lived here, are there any directions you can give to travelers such as ourselves? To a mayor or proper landowner”?
 
Elirial smiled and returned to her gleeful self, Grace spoke up with assuredness, “Here in Colifal there is no mayor, as we are guided by our beloved priestess”. The other young half-elf spoke up with haste, “Oh, and our mother”!
 
Siena was taken back, as was Loran, but for different reasons.
 
A priestess runs this town? Loran had never heard of such a place; plenty of towns run by clerics, but never a lone priestess. How had things become so?
 
An elf runs this settlement? Siena believed that no elf could ever command hundreds of humans, especially not willingly. What trickery was afoot?
 
Now they had more questions than answers, bewildered by the state of Colifal. All seemed pleasant, but nothing seemed right. 
 
“Who is this woman”, Siena spoke with purpose; this was serious.
 
“Sarah”.
