Chapter Fifteen: Half-Elves


    “A few people have claimed to have felt the monster or seen glimpses of it, but nothing concrete. Um, sorry?” Rosalia offered after they had all set down.


    Amalia looked at the others.


    Will held up empty hands,


    “Nadda, zip, zilch, big ol’ goose egg.”


    Rosalia giggled, ears going pink. Ash tried very hard not to scowl.


    Nick grunted,


    “All I could get was something about light-cursed singing.”


    Ash cleared his throat, and all sets of eyes turned his way. He rubbed the back of his neck and then explained what he had learned.


    “Feel like we wasted our shadow damned time. Course the elder knew; he’s the one who posted the notice, to begin with!”


    “Ah well, at least I got to see sights. The shar ocean looks pretty this time of year.”


    Rosalia laughed,


    “You’ve never been here before, silly! How could you know?”


    Will tapped his nose,


    “I happen to be a well-read man!”


    Nick chuckled,


    “And I’m the hero of light reborn!”


    Even Ash laughed a bit, despite his intense dislike for the way Rosalia was looking at Will right now.


    “We are dealing with a night maiden.”


    Everyone looked over at Amalia. Ash raised a hand,


    “Uhh…what is that? I get that you’re talking about the monster, but clarification would be nice.”


    Amalia tapped a nail on the table.


    “Night maidens are the manifestation of the betrayed souls of dead young women. Usually betrayed by a lover, they die as a result of that betrayal, and thus, a night maiden is born.”


    “That’s so sad…” Rosalia lamented.


    “Mm. It means we will have to take extra steps if we wish to harm her.”


    Will raised an eyebrow,


    “What extra steps? Use the pointy end of our swords a few times, and presto! Dead monster.”


    “Would that it were so simple, Master Al’Seen. You will learn more at the academy, but it suffices to say that some monsters cannot be harmed by conventional means unless steps are taken. Some require special weapons to be defeated. In this case, a wraith oil, a blessing, and a script should be sufficient.”


    “Yeah, I’m going to need all of that explained. Preferably in small words,” Will said dryly.


    “Master Al’Smith, you must fetch us some things from the market. I will give you a list. Master Al’Seen, you will be coming with me to purchase weapons and have them blessed. Master Lorcan and Miss Va’Sear, you shall investigate local deaths, in particular, any young women who have died recently. Expect some resistance, but I trust in your problem-solving skills.”


    Amalia waved a dismissive hand, and they got to work.


    __________This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    “This is all so exciting, don’t you think?”


    Ash shrugged.


    “New places, and we are learning to fight! And magic!”


    Her ears went bright pink, and she looked away.


    “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean…”


    Ash sighed,


    “I’m not a cripple, Rosalia.”


    She bit her lip, wringing her hands.


    “I wasn’t trying to say-” Ash slashed a hand, cutting her off.


    “I know. But all of you treating me like I’m an invalid is getting old. Look!”


    He held up both hands, “These still work,” he pulled at his ears, then lifted one foot after the other, wriggling them.


    “I can still hear, still speak, and my feet work, too!”


    Rosalia frowned, her green eyes flashing,


    “I get your point, Ash. You don’t have to be a light cursed ass about it.”


    He grunted,


    “Maybe I do. I haven’t exactly hidden how I feel about the situation. You can all see it, but you do it anyway.”


    She had the decency to look guilty. She sighed a moment later,


    “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.


    Ash nodded,


    “Yeah. I’m sorry, too. I know I’ve added to the tension. We’ve all been through a lot the last few days.”


    Rosalia grinned, bumping his shoulder with her own.


    “Look at us acting like two mature adults! Anyway, where should we start?”


    Ash rubbed his chin,


    “There’s a couple of options. We could talk to the receptionist at the healers. She seemed open. Or we could try the elder I spoke to. But I don’t think he wants to be bothered.”


    Rosalia tapped her chin with a finger, looking up in thought.


    “Why not try the healer? Prefer to deal with a nice person!”


    Ash led her to the healer’s home, passing people going about their daily errands as they did.


    It was less busy this time, the receptionist smiling wide when she saw him.


    “You’ve returned! I’m afraid mister Bert is sleeping right now. Healer Shawna doesn’t want him disturbed.”


    Ash offered her a smile,


    “Hello. We’re here to talk to you.”


    “Oh? How can I help?”


    Ash pointed at Rosalia,


    “This is my friend Rosalia, and I’m Ash. As I said earlier, we are hunting the monster, Sally of The Water.”


    She smiled again,


    “Nice to meet you! I’m Sara. I don’t know how to help, but ask away.”


    “We are looking into the deaths of young women. We think that it’s related to the monster. Are there any young women who passed away recently that maybe had a relationship go sour?”


    Sara leaned back, reaching up a hand she pulled on her earlobe, brows furrowing.


    “Let me think…”


    She chewed on her cheek, drumming her fingers on her desk.


    “I can’t say I kept up with the local gossip. However, three young women have passed in the last few months: Adra Clear, Raisha Al’Carpenter, and Arisa Bell.”


    “Do you know where we can find their families?” Rosalia asked.


    Sara nodded,


    “I do. Just be gentle, okay? They’ve been through a lot.”


    Rosalia smiled gently,


    “Of course we will. We just want to stop the killing.”


    Looking at Ash, he nodded at her, and they departed after Sara handed them a slip of paper with the addresses on it.


    __________


    “That was a dud. There are no romantic entanglements for the first two.” Rosalia looked as if she had just bit into a lemon.


    “It must be this last one, then.”


    Rosalia didn’t look so sure.


    “I don’t want to disappoint Miss Amalia.”


    Ash snorted,


    “You have about as much chance of doing that than disappointing a stone.”


    “You’re too hard on her, you know that?”


    Ash started, working his mouth like chewing on a piece of gristle.


    “Me? Hard on her?! Hardly.”


    Rosalia shook her head, eyes closing briefly.


    “No, you are. She saved our lives. She trains us every day. Think about it, have you ever thanked her for that? Have you ever considered how she’s been feeling about this?”


    Ash scowled, kicking a rock on the road and shoving hands into his pockets.


    “I don’t care. She knows Rosalia. She knows who that figure was and why they were there. Yet she holds the information for ransom! Making us go to this school, train, and now fight monsters! You can’t seriously tell me all that is fine with you.”


    Rosalia held up her hands,


    “You’re right. She does know. That means there could be very good, very real reasons she isn’t telling us. You’re being short-sighted, Ash.”


    He looked away, grunting.


    “We’re here.”


    The home was small, and if there was a bad part of town, this was it. The buildings were more run down, and the people looked dejected. They had passed a few men passed out in a ditch. It smelled, too. The stench was like rotting fish and days-old garbage. Mixing with the air that came from the ocean, it permeated everything.


    Ash fought the urge to wrinkle his nose as he knocked on the door.


    A haggard-looking elf woman answered the door. Even haggard, she was beautiful. Her platinum hair was matted but still lent her an otherworldly quality. Her ears were pointed out widely to the side rather than up, and her hazel eyes gleamed with flecks of gold.


    She wore a simple brown garb that was at least clean. Deep bags were under her eyes,


    “Yes?” She sounded utterly spent, as if she were ready to drop any moment.


    “Uh, hello, ma’am. Are you perhaps the mother of Arisa Bell?”


    A mute nod.


    Ash and Rosalia shared a glance. Rosalia cleared her throat,


    “Yes, well, we wanted to ask you a few questions about your daughter, ma’am. Is it related to the monster you might have heard about?”


    A large man with a lion mane of hair appeared from behind her,


    “We just want ta be left alone, ya hear?”


    Ash raised a placating hand,


    “I understand, sir. But people are dying. As hard as it is, this could be important.”


    He shared a glance with his elven wife, then sighed.


    “Ya better come on in, then.”


    Ash entered with Rosalia.


    He had a feeling they had found the right place.