“The information he gave you on money was very accurate and valuable. The information on dying is from his people’s beliefs… They are not the only ones you will encounter. The information he gave you about women…”
He heard a deep sigh.
“Complete and total garbage.”
“Does that mean I can’t buy a loaf of bread now? I do finally have some of the copper coins.”
“What is it with you and the bread? And remember I said you can just think. You don’t have to speak out loud.”
“I understand,” I said. “It just feels strange to talk to you like this. I’m never sure if I got everything organized in my head before I think it out loud. When I speak then I feel like it’s organized a bit better.”
“Trust me. When you say it out loud, it makes others think you are crazy.”
He nodded.
“Ok. I’ll start practicing. But when we are alone can I talk out loud at least sometimes?”
“Yeah. Whatever,” she said.
“Is that a yes?” I asked.
I heard her huff, and an exasperated tone.
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” I said out loud.
“I’LL START PRACTICING IMMEDIATELY!” I thought.
“You don’t have to shout!” She replied.
“Sorry.” I grinned. “I wanted to know if it worked.”
“You could have just asked,” she said. I detected an edge to her voice.
“Is this a woman thing?”
“No! This is a rude thing.”
I stopped thinking at her. I suspected that not everything the tanner had said about women was completely wrong.
The shop next to the tanners belonged to a leather worker and while the smell in here was not nearly as strong there was still a lingering odor. I entered and looked around expecting to see a man behind the counter. Instead there was a short woman with dark brown hair, a heavy vest and a long needle in her mouth.
“Be with you in a moment,” she mumbled around the needle.
I watched as she folded a large piece of soft doe hide across another folding them to create a smooth seam. She pulled the needle from her mouth and stuck it into the leather driving it through the folded leather with a practiced eye. She reached out and two more needles were in her hands and she pinned down along the length of the skin.
She looked around then picked up a curved needle and a long piece of cat gut. She looked up.
“You’re the new adventurer. Understand you’ve got some coin. Take a look around and tell me if there is anything you like.”
She went back to sewing the skin. I watched her for a moment, the graceful yet strong fingers pushing the needle through the leather in evenly spaced distances.
Her hair had partially fallen over her face but I could see her features clearly. A strong jaw, but not angular. Large brown eyes, and a small nose. Her ears…
“She is half-elven,” said the voice in my head.
“Ok. Is that why she has those slightly pointed ears?”
I was proud of myself for thinking the question this time.
“Yes, she is half human and half elven.”
“And what’s that? Elven?”
“It’s another race of creatures that live on this world. They are rare in this part of the Kingdom. A half-elf is rarer still.”
“Why?”
“Generally, the races do not mix much, although they can.”
“Races?” I thought. “How many are there?”
“Many, but I am not allowed to tell you about all of them, you must discover that for yourself.”
“She’s very attractive,” I thought.
“Hmm. If you like that sort. They are very long lived. Full elves can live for centuries.”
I thought a hint of jealousy was there, but I ignored it.
“But, they do die.”
“Oh yes, they can be killed. It is a great tragedy among the elves when one of their people dies. They have few children and the loss is felt by all.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
I moved over to examine her wares. The craftsmanship, even to my untrained eye, was excellent.
“I looked over a pair of leather pants. They were soft and supple yet I could tell they were tough.”
“Use your Inspect on them,” said my guide.
“How?” I said.
“Touch the item and think the word ‘Inspect’”
I did and a small screen popped up with information.
Elven Pants of Silence, +1 defense, +1 silent movement
I put the pants down and picked up a leather cape. I touched it and repeated the command.
Elven cloak, +1 to concealment
This is amazing, I thought as I began running around the room touching things and inspecting them.
The shop was full of interesting items. Most things were ordinary but occasionally I would encounter ones that were magical. I soon found a pattern. I noticed the same careful precise stitching in all the items that were magical.
“She has a gift, but she does not know its extent,” said my guide.
I paid little attention as I dashed around touching items.
Suddenly a small golden glow enveloped me.
"Ability ‘Inspect’ Now Rank 2.”
“Inspect Range increased to 10 feet.”
“You can now begin inspecting things at a distance. Your ability will increase with practice.”
I began looking around trying out my new ability.
“However, do not attempt to inspect…”
I turned and pointed at the leather jacket hanging behind the leatherworker. I said ‘Inspect’ just as she rose in front of it.
“… people.” Finished my guide.
<
“Whoa! What is all this stuff!” I closed my eyes looking at all the information. I was so surprised that I spoke out loud.
“Can she see all this stuff about me when she looks at me?”
I felt a warm body suddenly pressed against mine. My arms were pinned to my sides, a prick of metal at my throat.
“She is not that rude!” said a voice breathing in my ear. I could smell something like jasmine and leather.
When I opened my eyes the half-elf was behind me. I looked down, and a knife was at my throat. She had cleared the counter and landed behind me without a sound, pulling me tight for a killing blow.
“Well, she didn’t kill you outright,” said my guide. “You should apologize. It is impolite to inspect other people without permission. And, an inspection is usually the precursor to an attack.”
“That’s stupid. It would take forever to read all this stuff before a fight.”
“You can trim the information.”
“Oh.”
The half-elf pushed the knife a bit further into my throat.
“Do you want to die now?” said the half-elf.
“Not really. This feels pretty good.”
“This is NOT the time to flirt with the half-elf!” said my guide.
The elf stiffened. I capitulated.
“OK, my guide says I should apologize. But really it was an accident. I was trying to inspect the jacket behind the counter and you stepped in the way. My focus kinda shifted.”
I took a small breath and said, “Anyway, I’m sorry I inspected you without permission.”
Nothing happened for a few moments. Then that soft breath came in my ear.
“Did you say, ‘guide’?”
“Yes, and she was right. But I truly was going after the jacket. At least at first. If you want to kill me though, go ahead. I understand. But, I would like to buy a few things here. “
I paused.
“Would it be alright if I came back and bought them afterwards?”
“Afterwards?”
“Yeah, after you kill me.”
“Do you think I won’t?” Her voice was a low growl.
“No. You have a perfect right to according to my guide. But after you kill me is it alright if I come back and buy some things. At least the pants. I really need new pants. The rats chewed holes in the old ones.”
He was beginning to enjoy the feeling of her body against his. It was warm, and that perfume was…
“Idiot! Pay attention! She has loosened her grip you can turn quickly and strike her…”
“I’m not going to do that. I was in the wrong. So, she kills me. I die. I come back. I walk back here. I buy some stuff, all’s forgiven. Right?”
I could hear the guide's deep sigh.
If you came back after she kills you they would probably burn you alive as undead.
“Do I look like an undead to you?” I said to the half-elf.
“No,” she said. I could hear a note of confusion in her voice.
“See,” I said out loud. “I wouldn’t look any different when I came back so why would they burn me as undead?”
“What are you talking about?” said the half-elf.
“My guide is saying that you would burn me as an undead if I came back after you killed me. But that’s not true. I don’t look anything like undead. They are all gray and usually have pieces falling off them…”
The hold around my body loosened as she stepped back. I turned to face her.
“You have seen undead?” She said.
“Yeah, they don’t look like me. And they smell really bad, too.”
“And you have a guide?”
“Yes, although she isn’t very helpful sometimes. She’s always letting me blunder from one mess to another then telling me what I shouldn’t have done.”
“That’s not true!” said the guide. I was angry at this point so I shouted back.
“Yes it is. You showed me how to use ‘Inspect’ but you didn’t tell me that I shouldn’t use it on people until after I did it.”
There was a long silence.
“You can request another guide now if you wish. I will make the arrangements.” Her voice was pouting.
“I don’t want another guide. I just want you to tell me before I screw up, not after.”
The half-elf’s eyes got wider.
“You really have a celestial guide,” she said.
“Of course. Except she wants to quit on me now, instead of admitting she made a mistake.”
The half-elf looked at me in confusion.
“She’s new.” I added. The guide spoke.
“OK. I made a mistake. But, so did you. You could have asked me what you could inspect safely.”
There was a pause, then she continued.
“I can’t talk to you all the time. There are limits as to how much I can tell you and how often. If you want a more experienced guide I can petition for one.”
I thought I caught the edge of unhappiness in her voice, maybe a bit of a sniffle.
“No. And that’s final.” I thought. “You are stuck with me. I’m not letting you off the hook that easy.”
“Easy?” I definitely heard a sniffle. “You think you are easy? You are a disaster looking for a place to happen.”
“Well then, I guess you will have to just get used to disaster. Because I’m not changing who I am no matter how many times I get killed.”
I looked over at the half-elf.
“My name is...”
“You finally remembered your name!” Said the guide.
“No,” I said with a shrug. “I don’t remember my name. I was hoping something would give if I started, but I got nothing. But I need to have one. Sooner or later somebody’s going to ask for it so I need one.”
“Menethial,” said the half-elf.
“What?” I said.
“Menethial. It means ‘remember’ in the language of forest elves.”
“It’s very pretty,” said my guide.
“Fine. Menethial it is, at least until I remember my real name.”
I nodded at the half-elf. “Thanks.”
She nodded back.
So what’s…
I stopped and hesitated.
“Is it alright to ask her name?”
“It depends on her. She may refuse. Names can have power.”
“… your name?” I said.
She smiled.
“My father always said he had a guide. He claimed he was sent for a great mission. My mother fell in love and they married much to the shock of my mother’s people. But then he went away. I was born after he left. But he left a name for me.”
“Cassana.”