Solo Blind Leading The Blind [solo]

[Lena Estelain]

16th of Summer, 512 A.V. Road to Karjin, early night, miles from the nearest city... Lena and the other helpers spent the last few hours unpacking the caravan and getting ready to camp for the night. Those unlucky enough not to have tents had to be cautious. The wilderness of Taldera, once peaceful and serene, unlike the rest of Mizahar. Had become a twisted and brutish version of itself. The Djed storm had transformed and mutated much of the forest. Making some roads impassable and others misleading. The parties that were sent out to scout ahead, didn't always come back whole. And those that did brought with them strange and frightening tales. People began to talk about the woods being against them. Shifting as they slept so they would get lost during the day. Lena, born and raised a Denvali, scoffed at their fears and superstitions. Her people lived through harsh winters, breaking their backs to turn the stoney soil. Each person tempered by adversity and suffering. The children learned to defend their home with sword and spear at a young age. Weakness was not allowed amongst the Denvali. And if she were surrounded by her brethren, this talk of a haunted forest would be just another topic of gossip and intrigue. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. But her hand did not raise when they were calling on volunteers to search for the missing men and women. And when she slept, a dagger was clutched between her fingers. She would never go out into the forest alone at night, not even to relieve herself. But still she rolled her eyes, oblivious or willfully blind to the way her hands shook when she saw another group of scouts coming back to camp with a horse and no rider.

[Lena Estelain]

"Lena, you got a moment?" Fyren, the head of the caravan and Lena's employer, a bronzed skin Syliran Merchant, walked into the campfire light. She knew that his question was only courtesy and rose to meet him. "What is it?" She could feel the eyes of the men and women around her, abandoning their food and drink to stare curiously. "In private." He motioned for her to follow. Which she did, but not without hesitation. The moon was fresh and dark, nothing but the stars to give light and the camp fires scattered along the rode. She didn't doubt her ability to defend herself but she was no longer in Denval. The people were foreign and so were their customs. Besides, they were deep in the woods with no form of justice. If she hurt him defending herself, who was to say he wouldn't order the other guards to attack her? Would anyone take her word over his? When he was the one with the gold?