Kritor walked slowly towards the edge of the forest, his eyes were empty, his face clear of any emotion. He could hear sweet voices calling him forward, their song speaking of eternally green fields. Before him shone an iridescent light, illuminating the forest that stood before him. A voice whispered his name and a hand reached out to hold his own, to guide him through the light. Words of peace were whispered in his ears as he approached the forest and stepped into the light.

"Kritor! Kritor!" A young High Elf called the name of his friend as he raced through the streets of his home city. For two hours he had searched for Kritor, to no avail. His armoured feet brushed against the cobbled streets as he made his way to the guard tower in hopes that his friend may be there enjoying a drink with Cin, captain of the guard. He was greeted by two fully armoured guards, their polished armour reflecting the dim morning sunlight. In their right hands they held spears that were near twice their height, and on their heads winged helmets.
"How can we assist you, Sir Kirith?" The two men spoke in unison, their tones even.
"Who was on watch night?" Kirith asked, his voice severe.
"I was, sir." The guard on the left announced.
"Did you see Kritor? Was he here?"
"Who, sir?"
"Sir Kritor of the Randin Knights!"
"Such a man does not exist." The soldier said calmly. Kirith turned his back and marched away. It was the seventh time that week someone had vanished. No one seemed to remember them, even the Queen refused to acknowledge they ever existed. He was the only who could remember them. Now, his closest friend had been taken, abd he was not going to forget about him any time soon - he needed revenge.

Her bare feet shielding her eyes against the blinding light of the sun, they were filled with mud and grass, if her mother would caught her like this she would probably shout about how she now looked like one dirty boy and that was so unladylike.

If her father was here... what would he say?

She got up and yelled at the top of her small lungs "STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERT" the loud shout was followed by silence and the moments passed and nothing happened, more moments after those came to pass and nothing was still present, maybe even more than before

"STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERT" A cry of a little girl in a forest, unnerving in other situations but today it was different and then it happened, something lunged at her and she tried to shrug it off but the thing was huge and it weighted so much that a full grown male would have trouble lifting such a beast.

It had its paws pressed against her shoulders and she was facing the ground and she was helpless, then the beast moved for the neck and nothing could be done it was too late.

She had lost, the dog was covering her whole face with his tongue "Stert stop it you mangy dog!" with that said the dog moved back and made a whimper "Allright you are not mangy I take it back... you just got filth all over you" Stert then made a happy bark and resumed to playing with her master´s daughter

It had been a gift of sorts from dad, before he had set out to do whatever it was so important to leave behind woman and child, he left behind his dog who in his words, had saved him from death more than once and was now tasked with keeping the safe the two most precious things in the world to him.

She was glad that the dog was so energetic and eager to play with her, since the other children... well those that werent terrified of her dog were petrified of the singing, and the disappearances.

She was scared too, she put up a brave face but it made her quake in fear when Mrs Worrington disappeared the last month and not even her husband and child remembered her, it was as if she had not existed at all.

The bark of her dog pulled her back to the reality, she was hungry now and surely mother was going to do those delicious mushrooms with cheese she had promised her, it was time to head back home

"My Queen." Kirith knelt before his mistress. "I request permission to set off on a quest." He lifted his head slightly so that his eyes could trace the expressions on her pallid face. Her voice had been lost many years ago after the Great War and so her answers could only be read through the expressions that were made clear on her face. Kirith noted that her current one was of confusion. "I know that you hear the, My Queen. I know that you can feel each elf that leaves our beloved city. I want to find them. I will search for them. Please, give me permission to seek those that have been lost to us!" The knight's voice was pleading as he spoke softly to the woman he served. Raising his eyes once more, he could see that she was not convinced by his request. "Kritor has gone missing, I am sure the voices drew him to their lair. I need to go find him. My Lady, if you do not allow me to go,I may find myself defying you." A smile crept up the Queen's face as she listened intently to the words of her favoured knight. Slowly, she rose from her throne and walked silently towards him. she placed a light hand on Kirith's shoulder, giving him her blessing. as she returned to her heavily decorated throne he could feel her asking him to rise and begin his journey. Tears filled his eyes as he gave thanks to his mistress before leaving the throne room hurriedly.


"I wish to accompany you." A young Elf trotted by Kirith's side. "Let me come with you!"
"Not this time, Cin. It is too perilous for an elf as young as you."
"I'm ready, Master! I truly am!"
"No Cin, you're not." Kirith sighed as he went to greet his horse in the royal stables. His coat was such a deep shade of black, it became blue in the light. The knight whispered gently to him as Cin began to armour the stallion. Once the red covering, bridle and saddle were fitted securely, Kirith mounted his horse and looked down at his Squire.
"I really am ready, sir." Cin muttered sulkily.
"I wish you were, Cin. I could use a companion on this journey." Kirith smiled warmly at the young elf, trying to encourage him a little. "Farewell, Cin. Make sure to keep my chambers clean in my absence!"
"Yes, sir." Cin tied a bag of supplies to the saddle, along with a spare blade, a bow and a quiver of arrows in case it became neccessary to use long range combat - something that only elven knights had permission to do. Kirith kicked his horse into gallop and sped fromthe stables, through the quiet streets of the city and out the opened gate, past the silent guards. he followed the thick and worn track that led to the forest of Illusions. he knew there was an inn nearby and hoped to find others searching for people, just as he was.

"My Lord please, you must listen?", pleaded Amalthea, Lord Theal looked at her with no recognition of who she was or him. "I know not this Phoebes you speak of, I have no son and there fore you can not be married to him", said Theal starting to get aggravated with the young woman. In his eyes she was quite lovely and if he had a son would see why he had chosen such a beautiful woman as his wife, but he did not he was an heir-less Lord and his name would die with him. He waved in his guards, "Please escort this young woman out of the castle I am through listening to her inane chatter", he said waving his hand. Two guards walked up on either side of Amalthea, "My Lady it is time for you to leave", said one of the guards with a kind tone of voice. She began to sob but took the young guards arm as he escorted her out of the throne room.

The young guard felt sorry for the young woman she was so beautiful, but the things she was saying made no sense, Lord Theal had no heir yet she insisted that she was married to the Lords son. She was obviously a lady of the court and looked the part of a Lords wife. No one even knew how she got into the castle in the first place. "My Lady, there is an Inn just in town on the west side if you have no lodging. The inn keeper is kind and if you tell him your dilemma I'm sure he will take you in as long as you are willing to work. I hope you find who ever you are looking for good day to you", with that he turned back towards the castle. As the heavy castle door closed, Amalthea collapsed to her knees on the ground, "What is going on, everyone has gone mad", she sobbed.

The ride from the city was long and uneventful. Cin had tried to follow, desperate to follow his teacher and master for some adventure. Kirith had ignored the pleas of his young squire - he was too inexperienced to accompany him on such a long journey. That, and this was personal business, something that only he could attend to. The steady rhythm his horse set on the cobbled road allowed the elf to drift back to thoughts of his dear friend.

"Kirith, you fool! You're swinging that sword like a loon!" Kritor laughed as he approached his friend in the training ring. Kirith didn't look up as he continued to swing his sword over his head, thrashing the dummies that circled him. Kritor raised an eyebrow. "Any reason for the wild attacks?"
"I let her die." Kirith panted as he thrust his blade into the sand stuffed dummy that stood defenceless.
"I heard about the attack."
"It didn't go well. This girl..." He decapitated the dummy behind him with a swift motion of his hand. "she was surrounded by men. I wasn't fast enough. They killled her." Kirith plunged his sword into the dirt. "She was no more than five." Kritor sat on the outside of the ring and nodded understandingly.
"You tried, right?" Kritor watched as Kirith sheathed his blade and nodded in response. "When we took the oath of the Knight we promised to protect all those in need, rich or poor, hated or loved. You tried to save her." Kirith came and sat beside his friend, panting heavily from the battle with the sand men. Kritor lay back, his eyes admiring the setting sun, the purple sky swirling in colourful and complex patterns, mixing with the tinted links and oranges that settled in small clumps.
"The sky is beautiful tonight. Be grateful that you still breathe. If you did not many more people would die." Kirith smiled at his friend's words before allowing his eyes to reach the sky.


The inn was close now - Kirith could see it in the distance. "I'll find you."

"Hmm sounds like you are in quite a dilemma, but if your willing to work I'm willing to take you in", said the Inn keeper. The old man with the salt and pepper hair pushed his glasses up on his nose. Amalthea had left out the part about her loosing her love Phoebes and told the Inn keeper that she had been abandoned and had nowhere else to go.He said that she could have a small room as long as she worked during the day at the inn's pub. She didn't mind as long as she had somewhere to stay. It had been some time since she had lived on her own, she could change into her "old", form and live of the land around her. But she had grown accustomed to humans and didn't want to be away from them, "Perhaps if I work in the pub I might pick up on some information about Phoebes", she said to her self.

Soon she had changed into the clothing provided to the chamber maids in the pub and got to work taking orders, and avoiding the hands of grabby young soldiers. It was then she realized how accustomed to court life she had gotten when she got tired quite quickly. "Mr. Yaner may I go out for a bit of fresh air?", she asked the old man smiled and nodded. The young soldier that had escorted her out of the castle had been right when said that Mr. Yaner was a kind and generous man", she sighed and sat down on the small curb in front of the Inn. She looked down the road and it looked as though a knight was coming towards the inn. Now it wasn't that she had never seen a knight before she had many times at court, but never had she seen one traveling alone.

Kirith slowed his horse to a steady walk as he approached the inn. It had been many years since he had visited a human city, and already he could smell their mortality. As he came to the curb next to the tavern ge noticed a young woman sat outside. From his height on his steed he could not see her face clearly but she carried a noble aire which provoked the Knight's curious nature. In his politest tone he greeted the young woman. "Milday, may I ask what brings you to the pavement?" His voice was soft and as he spoke Kirith removed his helmet revealing his race. It was only polite to show the person you were speaking to what you looked like. Gracefully, he dismounted so that she could see him clearly upon replying.

"Oh I'm sorry sir Knight I was just taking a break from my work in the inn", she stood and gracefully curtsied to Kirith. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear she could tell now that the knight was an elf. Even more uncommon than a knight in this town, was a knight elf. "My you are far from your home, Kin usually stay in their homelands", she said with a sweet smile. She could actually relate to an elf, being as her true form was a unicorn.

"The innkeeper here was kind enough to take me in after...", she stopped talking and she could fell the words start to catch in her throat. She started to feel a sting in her eyes and then her legs grew weak. Before she knew it she was collapsing to the ground.

"No need to apologise, milady." Kirith smiled warmly as he stroked his mount's neck gently. "Yes, I am far from home, but matters close to my heart have brought me thus far. If you excuse my boldness, I would ask why you are working in an inn when you should be the one being served?" It was then that she began to collapse, just as she was trying to tell him something. Being an elf, his reflexes were fast and with a swoop of his arms he caught the young maiden in a armoured embrace. Holding her in his arms he requested that his horse stay where he was until he returned before entering the inn.
"Inn Keeper! This young woman collapsed outside the inn. I believe she works for you, sir." Kirith stated as he walked delicately towards the landlord.

The inn keeper nodded and waived the knight to bring her to on of the small rooms on the first floor, he sighed.He pointed to a small bed in the corner "Yes she just started today poor lass, never seen her in my life till this mourn, said she'd been living in the castle and now had nowhere else to go. Strange why would Lord Theal send such a beautiful maid away, you'd think he would at least try to find a wife and produce an heir but no", the old man shook his had and clicked his toungue. "Maybe it was this birth mark on her forehead", he brushed Amalthea's bangs aside revealing the faint purple star. "Never seen one quite like that before, to bad that the Lord would be so superficial she's a beauty, not very suited for servant work in my opinion".

Amalthea began to mumble incoherently at least as far as the inn keeper could tell, "Phoebes come back, the song make it stop", she began to thrash about. "Shh now get some rest young lady", said the inn keeper covering Amalthea with a blanket, He then turned to Kirith "so Sir Knight what brings you to this part of the world?"

Kirith listened intently to the inn keeper's words. He too wondered why a king would send such a fair maiden away - the actions of humans had always confused him. Kirith frowned as the mark on her head was revealed. It was indeed strange, and he somehow felt connected to it, a strange feeling rose within him as he looked. "I agree with you, sir. She is not suited for serving work."

It was then that the young woman began to mumble in her sleep, mentioning the name of a man and then...the song. Kirith's eyes widened, could it be the sing that had taken his beloved friend? He prayed she would say more, but she dud not. The inn keeper asked what brought him here and he realised his manners had been forgotten. "Excuse my rudeness! I am Kirith, a Knight from the Elven Kingdoms. I am here on personal matters and request a room for the night and a place to stable my horse who stands outside. Once this has been arranged perhaps you will join me for a mug of ale and I will be able to ask you a few friendly questions?" Kirith spoke with great confidence and charisma, his face series as he spike to the man before him.

The inn keeper nodded, "Of course I am glad to hear word form the world of the Kin. We used to have your kind travel through our village often, but alas I haven't heard from an elf for sometime, I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my abilities. But I'm afraid my memory is not as good as it used to be". He showed Kirith to one of the rooms, "It's two gold pieces a night, I take 10 for a week", he said with a nod. The room was small but well kept, it was obvious the inn keeper took pride in his inn a to good care of it.

Amalthea woke with a start and sat straight up in the bed, she looked around the small room she had been given at the inn and sighed. It was so small compared to her chambers she had back at the castle, she knew that the knight elf must have brought her here when she fainted outside. "That was so kind of him but you would expect nothing less from a knight", she turned and stepped back onto the wood floor. As the inn keeper took his place at the bar once again Amalthea cam out of the back room. "Child you shouldn't be up again so soon", the old inn keeper spoke with concern. Amalthea smiled, "You needn't worry to much and besides I have to keep up my end of the bargain", she said as went back to taking orders from customers again. The inn keeper shook his head, "Well dear if you feel faint again say something and you can sit for a moment", the inn keeper felt a moment of deja vu like he had spoke those words before. But he shook it off and went back to manning his bar.

Kirith inspected the room briefly before removing his armour in order to appear more sociable for his meeting with the inn keeper. Carefully, he laid it on the bed, ready to be put away at a later date. His tunic was made of elven silk, the stitiching so small that it could have been made by fairies. His trousers were also silk, but of darker material, creating a contrast with the white tunic that he wore. The sleeves were short revealing his well disguised arms which held a decent amount of muscle, perfectly suited to his size and slim proportions. On his left arm was a tatoo of a dragon curled around a sword, the mark of the Elven Knights, a brotherhood that was difficult to get in to for these Knights also specialised in sorcery. Not many knew of the brotherhood and for most it existed in legend only.

He drifted downstairs and ensured that his horse had been stabled safely before sitting at the bar before the innkeeper. "So, my friend. My questions are short but rather important, please try to answer honestly. If I could have amug of ale I would invite you to sit with me for a while. Please tell me when you're ready, sir. If possible, would you be kind enough to have the young lady I found join us? I'm afraid this involves her also."

Amalthea had been busy clearing a table when Kirith came and sat at the bar, she heard every word he had said. This would be a surprise to anyone but her hearing was a as good as any elf. But people just assumed her human and never thought anything else. She walked over to them with the tray in her hands, "Sir Knight I must thank you for your kindness this afternoon", she said with curtsy. "My dear if you don't mind just put that tray in the kitchen the Knight her feels that you must here his questions as well", said the inn keeper. Amalthea nodded and did as she was told, she soon came back out of the kitchen drying her hands off on the apron she was wering, "You have something to speak with me as well sir Knight?", she asked even thought she knew the answer.

"Indeed, milday. However, first I must ask for you to forgive my rudeness when we met. I failed to introduce myself. I am Kirith of Narzul, a Knight from the Elven Kingdoms. I have come here on a matter of urgency and pray that you will be able to answer my questions." Whilst speaking he had stood up and bpwed before the young woman, ahasmed at forgetting his manners. Once his introduction was finished he offered her a seat before sitting down himself. "Now, the matter at hand. Excuse my haste, but I have travelled for along time and I fear that time is running out. I ask, have either of you experienced disappearences in the village or heard beautiful voices sing at night? I know this sounds strange," Kirith lowered his head, "but it is highly important that I know what you have seen or heard."

The inn keeper looked as though he was thinking, "No not that I can think of, but I have heard of others in the town going on about missing people, but for some reason these missing people I've never heard of before. What about you child?", he said turning to Amalthea.

Amalthea swallowed hard and she could feel tears start to form in her eyes, the burning sting made her blink, causing a couple of tears fall down her cheeks. "I'm sorry inn keeper I don't wish to look foolish in front of you. But yes I have lost someone very dear to me, and not a soul can remember who he was but me. His own father couldn't and therefore couldn't remember me", she started to break down and placed her face in her hands and sobbed. The inn keeper stood behind the bar in shock, "Child do you realize what your saying, you told me you came from the castle, your speaking of Lord Theal he didn't have a son my dear you must be mistaken thats all", the inn keeper looked at Kirith and shook his head. "If who ever your missing told you that he was the Lords son then they were not being truthful with you", the inn keeper put his hand on Amalteha's shoulder.

"No you don't understand, he is the Lord heir I was married to him", she said shaking her head, and I was living in the castle, until that night with the singing. I tossed and turned all night so I was quite tired when I woke the next mourning. Then I noticed that my Phoebes was gone this wasn't unusual, he is the son of a Lord and often had business to attend to but when I started asking others about where he was, they looked at me like I was mad. I requested audience with Lord Theal and.. and", that was when Amalthea broke down.

Kirith listend in silence as the young woman spoke of her missing husband - the son of Lord Theal. The young elf had never heard of the lord before, but from what he had picked up from his short stay he was a figure of great importance. An involuntary frown crossed his ageless face as the inn keeper insisted that the woman was mistakened, that the lord had never had a son.
"I think, you are the one who is mistakened, my friend." Kirith stated politely, his eyes meeting those of the inn keeper. "The young woman is most likely speaking the truth. I too lost someone close to me, a great friend who is like my brother. No one remembers him but I, they don't believe me when I tell them that he existed. Only our Queen has hope that they can be returned. She can feel each elf that lives. She may have lost their aura, but I know it can be found." Kirith spoke with great sincirity as he thought of his friend. "I can find this man, and all the others. I will return them to their homes. The reason I came here wasto seek help from those who remember. On my travels here I heard of you, milady and another girl some distance from here. I request that you join me. If you do not wish to I can understand, but know that I will protect you." Kirith knelt down before the woman, his head bowed, eyes boring into the floor.

The bad thing about shrooms with cheese was that you needed mushrooms and cheese, and Natalia´s mother had no cheese at the moment to speak of so being the girl she was, it was only natural for her to inmediately set out for the nearby Inn to get that wedge and taste that lovable dish that her mother did.

Normally it would be dangerous for a 10 year old to go around trough the forest and roads on her own and that was exactly why Stert was allowed to accompany her everywhere, she never really felt endangered when she was around her valiant hound, her father told her several tales and feats that the dog was capable of

"This one time my child one knight was about to run me over while I was fighting a swordsman, when the cunning stert lunged him and unseated him from his very mount! and then much like we peel oranges my brave hound got rid of all the armor and put a snappy end to him"

She could not know if this was truth or just her father making up tales about the dog, but she would not be surprised if they would turn out to be fact rather than fantasy, after all the dog was a monstrous breed whom none of the locals could quite pin point, stert was smart and not feral like some wolf hybrids and packed so much muscle in his frontal legs that some travelers had called him the wolf gorilla... whatever a gorilla was tough, Natalia knew not what kind of animal it could be surely some wolf in the north.

"Have I told you about this time I was tracking a mage? a vile rouge that had been luring away children in their sleep however me being me girl, I could not tell away a mage only when he blazed fire out of his hands! and even then how to be certain"

"so how did you found him dad?"

"I didnt, brave Stert here did, I unleashed him on the village and in no time his tracking nose had delivered us to the wizard! I told him to surrender and free the children and was met with nothing but projectiles which forced me back!

But ho! he had not seen the huge hound that jumped at his back and separated the head from the shoulders!"

"Did he really do that?"

"O naty my girl he did that and more Stert is a special breed that was given to Romandian captains, they can smell magic and have an innatural resistance to the effects of the arcane, however they do like to run away with your only pair of clean pants as well trough the whole camp and force you to catch him"


She really missed dad, but she knew how he would loathe to see weakness in her, he detested to see that trait in his own blood, so she always put up the strong face even when he wasnt even there to look.

It was as she and her dog got closer to the Inn that she noticed something was not entirely right with her companion the hairs on his back began to stand still and he emitted a growl that she had only heard when he was about to strike

"Stert whats wrong?" she told the dog as she petted the beast lightly, being somewhat scared herself to see that huge dog clenching its tooth and finally when he began to bark she jumped back startled by this sudden change "Stert be quiet" she yelled but it was in vain, the dog was off to the inn carried away by its four legs it moved far faster than the short Natalia could ever hope to catch up.

She saw how Stert made its way into the building and then shouts and the dog´s barks filled the air

When she finally arrived she saw tables turned, people cornered and making their way outside the structure and her own dog barking furiously at a couple, not really, Stert was barking at the woman with a star on her head

"Stert be quiet!" she shouted, the man looked dangerous he could harm the dog and she did not want him lopping off limbs like her dad had told her the beast could do, she ran to his side and wrapped her arms around his neck "Stert stop it" she looked at the couple and said "He is..." it was a horrible and flat lie but she had to find the way to avoid them getting hostile as well "...harmless?"

Kirith didn't have a chance to hear the young woman's answer - a large dog came bounding into the inn, teeth bared and snarling aggressively. Instinctively, the elf stood in front of the woman, regretting leaving his sword upstairs - he didn't want to use magic here. Thankfully, the owner of the wolf-like creature followed soon after and wrapped her arms around its wide neck. She claimed it was harmless, Kirith smiled in response.
"Apologies, my lady for not giving you the opportunity to respond." He addressed the noblewoman he had been conversing with. "I could not risk you bring injured." His attention turned to the girl who looked no more than ten. "How did you aquired such a companion?"

She had expected so much worse, swords ready to be swung, blood being splattered like rain and fear and rage polluting the air.

Luckily it had not come to that, Stert had a woman pinned with his barks and gnashed teeth ready to take a chunk out of her, and a big one too there was a man between her companion and the woman, upon further notice he didnt really looked that dangerous, he was an outsider to be certain she had not see him here before and he was calm despite the situation at hand he said something to the woman with a star on her forehead, apparently she was a noble, her father had told her to be wary of nobles and now she had screwed it

"How did you aquired such a companion?" said the tall and lean man "He is my father´s hound, he goes where I do" she could feel the hairs on Stert´s mane rising up and his throat vibrate with his low growl "He isnt aggressive most of the time... does that woman have something that could rile up my hound? He is a tracker maybe the best one"

Kirith nodded as the girl spoke. His hands were tensed at his sides, prepared to cast a spell should she lose control of her companion. His eyes narrowed as he examined the dog, he did not recognise the breed. "A tracker you say? How interesting. As for this woman, I could not tell you if she had anything that might set him off. I have only just met her myself." Without relaxing his body he crouched down a little, coming face to face with the dog, but remaining a safe distance. He inspected the dog cautiously, wondering what breed he could possibly be. "A curious case indeed." He murmered. As he spoke, his eyes turned to the girl once more. He wondered if it was normal for such young children to be making such long journey's alone with dogs they appeared unable to control. He rose from his crouching position, reluctant to return to his seat in case the dog snapped again. He looked back to the young barmaid, and a thought crossed his mind - Kirith wondered if the fates had somehow brought them together, if perhaps the prayers he had spoken had been answered. Examining the two women with his kind eyes he wondered of perhaps he was taking it a step too far - after all, they were young women who seemed to have no idea about how the world worked and functioned.

Jasmine walked through the forest alone. She was tired, and sore, she had fallen several times getting cuts and scrapes on her body. Unknown to her, these wounds healed quickly, but thinking they were still there she still felt the pain from them. She finally got out of the forest, and saw a inn, good maybe she could rest and get clean. She walked to the inn, whose door was swung open, and entered. She paused, looking at a mess that looked like it had been caused by a tornado. She saw a small group of people, one with a giant dog, she guessed it had been the dog to cause such a mess. She walked over to the group, drawn to them for some reason. She was aware of a strange smell, coming from the lady with the star on her forehead. She very much doubted that the lady was human, she didn't smell like one after all. Once she reached them she looked to the dog with some curiosity, then to the male elf.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but I seem to be lost. Can you tell me where I am?" she faced the elf concentrating on his mouth. Many didn't know it, but Jasmine was deaf. She could read lips and speak just fine, but she could hear no sound.

If he was being quite honest with himself, Kirith felt a little overwhelmed. Here he had a young barmaid - who was obviously royalty - that had not yet replied to his questions (he presumed she was in shock), a child no more than ten with a large dog-like creature that seemed to want to devour the young woman he had been conversing with, and now on top of that another woman had entered and approached him asking where she was. The first thing that went through the mind of the elf was that the fates were obviously testing him in some cruel way by facing him with the callenge of taking three women on his quest. He had nothing against women, but these ones didn't appear to know how to fight - unlike the leven women of his home - and seemed utterly helpless. He sighed inwardly, and realized that he had been impolite enough to postpone answering the question of the newcomer due to the sudden burst of thoughts that rushed through his mind.
"My Lady, I do apologise for the late response. I am...a little overwhelmed, one might say. You are in the 'Severed Head' inn, on blood alley in the city of Siddion, island of Anzare. I am Kirith of Narzul, Elven Knight. Unfortunately I do not know the names of the others for this woman here appears to be in shock," Kirith indicated the barmaid, "and this child has only just entered with her...dog. May I request your name?" The knight spoke a little faster than he had intended, he had a thick elvish accent as it was and so hoped the young woman who had just arrived could hear what he was saying clearly.

Jasmine caught everything Kirith said, she didn't have the problem of a accent getting in the way of her understanding what was said to her. "I am Jasmine, I have been traveling the woods, in search of my brother." she looked around taking in her surroundings a little better. The dog the little girl had with her made her uneasy for some reason, and the barmaid that wasn't really a barmaid also made her uneasy. The smell, the one that wasn't human, was making her hungry for some odd reason. She looked to Kirith again "I usually don't leave my home, so I lost my bearings quite easily. I thank you for telling me my location." not that it helped, like she had said, she had never been far from her house.

Kirith smiled in response. "Greetings, Jasmine. I am sorry to hear that you have lost your brother, I do hope you are able to find him. I too, am in search of someone, a friend of mine." He stated kindly, trying to relate to the young woman, make her feel more at ease. It was then that he turned to the girl with the dog. "Child, may I ask your name?" The smile was still on his face, it was warm and welcoming, telling the child with the dog not to be afraid. The woman named Jasmine had said that she was searching for her brother, the noblewoman had lost her beloved to the singing voices. It was all linking together, and Kirith was already certain that the child who was before him had something to do with this quest.