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[Arcalian]

Rolf stared nervously into the hard eyes of Chup. Laertya was slowly pulling herself up with the aid of the tree trunk.

"Not to say I'm ungrateful," said Chup in what sounded to Rolf like a flat voice used to years of giving orders, "But why exactly are you following us?"

"Yeah, I figured you might have heard me." Rolf hung his head. "I'm trying to become an adventurer. I didn't think you'd accept me unless you needed me, so I followed you."

"You thought correctly, and while I'm not sure I want you aboard, we're too far into the forest to send you back now." Chup watched the youngster until Rolf shuffled his feet.

"Give the kid a chance, Chup," Laertya said, still taking in deep breaths as she came over.

"As I said, I'll have to. We're too far into the forest for anything else. And you did save my life, kid, I know it." Chup's grim expression didn't change, but he clapped a companionable hand on Rolf's shoulder.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Rolf."

"Well as you heard, I'm Chup, and this lovely lady is Laertya."

Laertya rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh you boys, all the same. Come on Rolf, we've got a trail to follow."

-------

They found the masked warrior later that day, shortly before sunset. He was still wedged into the crack in the ground.

"What have we here?" Laertya asked in an over-loud voice.

The masked warrior tried to turn around, but couldn't quite manage it. Even with half of him stuck in that crack, and his face masked, Rolf could tell he wasn't human. The skin was too thick, the body too large. What species he was Rolf wasn't immediately sure. As a farm boy he hadn't known much of the outside world.

"I would....appreciate your help," said the masked warrior, still staring forward, not knowing who exactly was behind him.

Chup and Laertya exchanged a glance, and Laertya walked around in front of him, kneeling down before him and staring into his mask.

The masked warrior was less than amused to be confronted with a Half-El f. She was obviously not strong enough to lift him out, and she might guess his heritage and be less than sympathetic.

"Who were you chasing?" Laertya asked him in a businesslike fashion.

"A dark wizard. He was headed..." the warrior breathed with difficulty in the crack. "....headed for a mysterious tower, but I chased him off that trail."

"You slew all those monsters and evil folk back there?" Chup asked.

The warrior felt more hopeful, that was clearly a human voice. Humans were much more approachable where he was concerned. "Yes, though I couldn't escape the spellcaster's....traps in the end, as you can see."

Laertya and Chup exchanged another glance.

"Very well, we'll help you. Come on Rolf, let's get him out." Chup grabbed the warrior's left arm, and Rolf his right, and they began to heave.

------

The wizard was having his own problems. He had run into Red Wind and his halfling tribe, and was once again running for his life....

[Arcalian]

She seems to have a better idea of the kid or is it that she is loath to dismiss him out of hand?

Chup isn't dismissing the kid either, it's just his time in the army makes him see Rolf (correctly) as a green recruit who doesn't really know what he's doing. But that will change in time.

I would have thought that as a natural reflex he would try to turn back and see who it was.

He would, but he can't.

Ah! So racial prejudice exists on that world as well?

Only very little, compared to either FR or the "real" world. But our masked friend grew up around evil folk and expects to be treated as one. It's the reason for the mask.

Very nice of them to take him on trust. For all they know, he might be lying.

They're still watching him.

Dear, oh dear! Trouble never seems to come singly.
Very nice chapter. I await the next eagerly.
Regards,
Maidros

Especially for evil folk, oh what a tangled web we weave and all that.

Thanks for your continued suppot!