Elira

[Maevan2]

Sundren. A small kingdom south of the Spine of the world. She has never even heard of it before. And yet she was on a small ship set for Sundren. She could smell the salt and hear the waves and the men on deck. The movements of the ship made her feel uncomfortable even though she got used to me after the first two days. But that was the least of her problems.

Sundren. Why Sundren? She wasn't sure. But she knew that it was far away from their home. And that was exactly what she needed.

She guessed that it was probably already noon but she refused to open her eyes like if she could pretend that this was just a dream and that everything would be allright again once she opens her eyes again. But this was real and nothing would change that.

"Elira? Are you awake?"

The voice of the little girl made her cringe. Did she know what has happened? Or did she believe the lies she told her?

"No Anna, I am still sleeping and you should be sleeping too"

"You are silly! It is almost noon and sun is shining!"

Anna chuckled and Elira could hear her run towards the door and onto the deck. There was a time when hearing Anna's laugh managed to cheer her up no matter how she felt. But those times were gone and each time she heard her she felt a punch into her stomach. She tried to hide her sorrow from Anna but she was sure that Anna would notice it it soon. And that she would ask questions. Questions about when they would return home. Questions about her home. Questions about her parents.

"I can see land! Come Elira! You must see this! We are almost there!"

Elira opened her eyes and smiled at Anna that was standing in the door. Her clothes were dirty now and her long black hair was uncombed. But her laughter was as cheerful like always. How long would she be able to hide the truth from this innocent little soul?

"Just a moment, I'll be right there"

She sat up on the edge of her dirty bed and looked around. Suddenly she shivered and turned pale. But whe she looked under her bed her sword was still there and she relaxed again. Her sword and Anna were the only remains of her past and she couldn't afford to lose any of them. Her sword had become a part of her since her old master has given it to her the day she left. It meant a lot to her and losing it would be almost like losing her own arm. But that was not the point. She would need it to protect Anna.

She pushed herself up and followed Anna

"I'm coming"

[Maevan2]

Avanthyr. Dirty and loud like every other port in Faerun. The streets full of every kind of people. The rich, the poor, they all have their reasons to be here. Sailors looking for cheap sex and even cheaper alcohol, merchants waiting for their wares from foreign countries, thiefs looking for an easy victim. For some it is the end of all their hopes, for others it is the beginning of a new life. But for all of them it is an exciting place to be.

“Look Elira! Look!”

Especially for a young girl.

“Have you seen that huge crane?”

Elira had to hold Anna's hand tight to keep from running away and exploring this new world. But she was glad that Anna was so excited about this new world. This would keep her from asking the questions that Elira was afraid of. At least for a while

“Yes Anna, I have seen it. It is really impressive. And look over there at this great ship”

She pointed at a great ship at the other end of the port and it was really impressive, maybe three or times bigger than the one on which they just arived.

“Can I have a look at it Elira?”

“Maybe later. First we need to find a place where we can stay”

“Really?”

“Really”

"Ok"

She smiled at Anna. Yes, they would have a look it. But first they needed to find a place for the night. This was not the place to walk through the streets at night with a little girl at your side. This was not the place for a girl that grew up in a manor. Not yet. Anna has always been a curious little thing that was never afraid to make her hands dirty or to play with the servant's children. Something her father was not always happy about but her mother encouraged her. But this was not the manor and the drunken sailors were not their friends. She would have to learn a lot of things about places like this. Elira would protect her with her own life. But would that be enough?

“Where are we going”

“Over there, that looks like an acceptable inn”

She pointed at the Menacing Mariner. It seemed to be one of the better places in the port even though the harlot at the entrance seemed to say something else. This was not the place for Anna and she knew that she would have to find a new home for her. And something that she couldn't offer her: a new family. She has been Anna's bodyguard since the day she was born. She has seen her grow up, she has seen her smile and she has seen her cry. She loved her. But she was no mother.