1 Return of a Fallen Hero

He had given up trying to find her. The Fates were against him; he knew that. But he foolishly thought he could best them.

No, she had left his life and no amount of searching would uncover the obscure place she was hidden. Indeed, it would be far easier to find a lost grain of sand on the beach.

He had searched in the mountains of the eastern part of Birle and up to the northern coast. He had looked east all the way to Marek, west to Lakyle and south to Bratumil. He had searched every household from the highest nobleman to the most ignoble peasant. In his mind, the entire planet of Litavi had been upturned in his quest. Yet, she eluded him.

Now he had settled on returning to the western part of Birle. 'Maybe after all this time, she does not want to be found,' he thought hopelessly. It was time to move on.

Silver tugged on his black hood, heading back to the village of Rynnlee that he had left too long ago. This was his assignment, and he had put off listening long enough. His feet became heavy as he neared Rynnlee's edge. He was a fallen hero. He had abandoned his home and now was unsure that he would be accepted back again.

Few people in the small village looked Silver's way as he trudged in with the huge pack on his shoulder. Those that did quickly dismissed him and went back to work.

People often passed through Rynnlee in hopes for a better life across the border. Greener grass is always in someone else's pasture, it seemed. The town had grown since Silver had last seen it. The edge of the village had added a blacksmith and a tanner to its landscape.

In the center of town lay a respectable inn. It looked older to Silver than he remembered, with its paint worn and chipped. The stable behind also seemed to be missing its pride with a plank or two missing from the side. 'This is probably my fault too,' he chided himself. The cloaked figure shrugged. There was nothing he could do about it now.

Silver entered the inn's tavern and threw his pack on a table. Sitting with a grunt, he did not even bother to survey his surroundings. His mood was grim. A server approached him with her hands on her hips.

"Can I help you?" she asked, impatiently. Her voice was sharp and unwelcoming as she tapped her foot on the dirt floor. To her, he was another lonely traveler. She had seen too many of them; her compassion had run dry.

Silver looked up at her. Her tawdry attire only accentuated the beautiful brunette that she was. The traveler's eyes flashed silver. "I need a room."

Another passing server stopped to look at the newcomer. Her blonde hair was twisted in a tight bun, revealing her pleasant face. She cocked her head to one side and peered hard to try and view the face beneath the hood. "Do I know you?" she asked after a moment. "You seem very familiar."

"No," Silver responded tersely. He sunk further into his cowl. The blonde maid dropped her eyes, embarrassed. Her sensitivity reminded him of someone else he knew, and it pulled at his heart. The man quickly followed up in a kinder tone, "But I am planning to live here now."

The blonde's face lit up, an idea forming in her head. "There's an abandoned house down the road. It needs a lot of work, but it might suit you. My name is Lily, by the way." Lily's young innocence radiated from her face. Her light was infectious.

The man nodded his head in appreciation. "Well, Lily, I would be very pleased if you would take me there in the morning."

"May I put away your cloak until then?" Lily smiled sweetly reaching out her hand to take the garment.

Tensing, Silver suddenly became harsh, "No!" He continued in a low growl, "No one sees my face…"

Next to the blonde, the terse brunette raised her eyebrows. "Oh really? That's kind of intriguing... May I ask why?" She leaned casually against the table, throwing her weight into her hip. Her entire demeanor had changed.

"You may ask but I won't answer." Silver turned his face away from the women. He could hardly fight the overwhelming urge to bolt.

The brunette laughed. "Well, aren't you mysterious! You did not even tell us your name."

Lily elbowed the other maid. "Sage, leave him alone! We close up the dining hall early tonight, sir. I can take you to the cottage in an hour after I get off work. It will save you a night here."

Silver clenched his fist. His voice struggled to stay even. "It will be dark by then. I don't think you should trust me, my dear."

Smiling, Sage replied easily, "I will go with you both. It will be safer that way." She winked at the hooded figure and lifted one shoulder coyly.

Silver grunted. It was no use arguing. The sooner they show me this place, the sooner I can be left in peace.

Sage continued, "Why wait an hour?" Her voice rose to a yell, "Everyone get out! We are closed."

Grumbling, the patrons all around scowled but filed out to go back to their homes.

Lily giggled. "No one messes with Sage," she whispered to the traveler. "Once, a man tried to kiss her, and she gave him a swift kick in the pants. He could not walk straight for a week."

The male patrons seemed wary of the provocative woman, all of them avoiding her gaze like it would turn them to stone.

As the last man vacated the bar, Sage nodded slightly and brushed off her hands. She turned to the other maid and the hooded figure with a look of anticipation. "Shall we go?"

Silver stood. Sage waited to have his arm offered to her. She was used to being given all the niceties a man could offer. Silver, unaccustomed to cordialities, walked toward the door without giving Sage a second glance.

Seething in a fit of anger, Sage quickly caught her head. She laughed, flashing a devious smile, and brushed her hair back behind her bare shoulders. No man was going to ignore her. She caught his arm as he exited the doorway.

"You are going to leave a pretty girl to walk all by her lonesome in this town? I had pegged you as a gentleman, but I guess I must have been wrong," Sage taunted.

Silver looked at her seemingly innocent face. Something seemed a little off about her, but one look into her deep brown eyes caused him to ignore this fact. Sage seemed to be in her mid-twenties and all the more beautiful for her air of confidence. Women young and old alike were jealous of her good looks and the masculine stares her presence attracted.

"Please forgive me, my lady." Silver gave a mock bow. He turned to Lily, who had locked the tavern door and caught up to them. "Shall I offer you my other arm? It seems a shame to leave you without an escort." His stilted speech was how he thought a gentleman would speak.

Allowing a delighted smile, Lily giggled. Her laugh was much more pleasant than the forced chuckle made by Sage, like the twitter of a bird. "Don't worry about me. I shouldn't want people to think you are too fond of women. It might sully your reputation before you even acquire one." She smiled.

Sage shot Lily an angry look. Laughing cruelly, the brunette added. "Lily's jealous husband might not like seeing her on the arm of another man."

Silver became interested. "You are married?" he asked Lily.

She blushed, giving her an even more youthful countenance. "Yes sir, been married nearly a year now."

"No children, I take it," his voice became hollow once more.

"Not yet sir, but I am hopeful." Her bright face forced a smile from Silver. He envied her youth. 'She cannot be much more than twenty. I may look younger than her, but I feel so much older.'

Silver looked back at Sage. There was something mysterious about her smile, seductive. He could not stare at her delicate features or chestnut hair too long for fear she might bewitch him.

Sage could sense his eyes watching her, even from beneath his hood. She shot him a sidelong glance. "What are you looking at?" She asked, smirking.

Silver turned his head away quickly. "Nothing," He finally answered. "I was just wondering how much further this little house is."

"What a coincidence! We are here." Lily said, stopping.

Looking at the forlorn house, a chill ran down Silver's spine. He ran his hand up the wood of the door's frame. "Who did you say owns this house?" he asked absent-mindedly.

Lily shrugged pulling her shawl tightly as if she felt the chill as well. "A man," she said vaguely. "Three years ago he asked the neighbors to keep an eye on it until he returned, but he never did."

Silver gave a half nod. "And what should I do if the owner returns?"

"Tell him you were keeping the place tidy for him. I do not think he will be coming back though. The rumor is that he is dead." Lily paused. "Even a night's rest in this warm place is better than staying in the inn, trust me. Who knows? Perhaps you will find it a better home than he…" Lily looked at him knowingly, causing Silver to turn away.

He started to object, but decided it best not to disagree. "Thank you, ladies. Do I need to see you home? I would hate to be accused of not being a gentleman twice in one evening." His voice was flat, but there was the slightest trace of humor in it.

Starting to accept, Sage was cut off by Lily. "No, we pass my house on the way to Sage's, so my husband will walk me back after we take her home."

"I am glad he takes care of you." Silver bowed his head and retreated. "Goodnight then."

Before the girls could respond, Silver closed the door to the house. Sage cut a seething look at Lily and started to say something, but thinking the better of it she simply sighed.

"Come on, Sage, it is best not to taunt him," Lily whispered as they turned to go. "It's not like he can actually turn your head, and he doesn't seem like a man easily spurned."

"Who says he can't capture my affection?" Sage was offended. "Have I a heart made of stone?"

"Do you want an honest answer?" Lily asked, only half teasing.

"No," Sage responded after a pause.

"Good." The younger lady would not have lied and it would have brought on a new argument.

The two walked in silence for a moment.

"Still, I do wonder what he looks like under his hood…" Sage mused more to herself than her companion.

Picturing a fox creeping up on an unsuspecting rabbit, Lily shook her head. Though honestly, she could not say for sure who would end up being the fox.