HOME | DD

Description
Shallow’s Crossing had grown from a small town to an actual city since the last time Ellaira had visited it. She supposed that should not have surprised her. It was a mostly human settlement and that short-lived race always seemed to be in a hurry to build and expand their territory. It probably came with having an average life span of less than a century – without the help of magic anyway.

Looking up from the book she was reading to glance at the door, she slowly swirled the wine around in her glass. The messenger had claimed he would be able to deliver her letter in two days. Ellaira had some reservations about that. The fastest she had ever made it from Fheren to Shallow’s Crossing, or back, was three days and a half. She supposed it was possible. If one rode on without resting. With access to a fresh horse every few hours, that could probably be done. Still, she had told herself not to expect anything for a week at the least. Today was the seventh day and even though she tried not to, she found herself hoping for a message from her old village. Preferably from Khith, but she could not be sure he still lived there and even if he did, that he would be home.

During the moments her eyes lingered on the entrance, the door remained shut. With a small sigh, she let her gaze wander to the bar. The innkeeper was talking to someone she could not see past several people blocking her view, but her breath caught in her throat when the man seemed to discreetly nod in her direction. Not wanting to stare, she looked back at the book on the table. If there was indeed a courier with a message for her, they would find her.

Although she tried to appear calm and relaxed, she could not focus on the book, catching herself looking in the direction of the bar again. She was about to force herself to go back to reading, when the groups standing near the bar shifted and then parted to let someone through. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was not a courier, but someone she would recognize everywhere.

***

Just another part of Ellaira's story

***

Render: DS 4.12 Iray
Postwork: PS CS2
Character is my own.

Description
Shallow’s Crossing had grown from a small town to an actual city since the last time Ellaira had visited it. She supposed that should not have surprised her. It was a mostly human settlement and that short-lived race always seemed to be in a hurry to build and expand their territory. It probably came with having an average life span of less than a century – without the help of magic anyway.

Looking up from the book she was reading to glance at the door, she slowly swirled the wine around in her glass. The messenger had claimed he would be able to deliver her letter in two days. Ellaira had some reservations about that. The fastest she had ever made it from Fheren to Shallow’s Crossing, or back, was three days and a half. She supposed it was possible. If one rode on without resting. With access to a fresh horse every few hours, that could probably be done. Still, she had told herself not to expect anything for a week at the least. Today was the seventh day and even though she tried not to, she found herself hoping for a message from her old village. Preferably from Khith, but she could not be sure he still lived there and even if he did, that he would be home.

During the moments her eyes lingered on the entrance, the door remained shut. With a small sigh, she let her gaze wander to the bar. The innkeeper was talking to someone she could not see past several people blocking her view, but her breath caught in her throat when the man seemed to discreetly nod in her direction. Not wanting to stare, she looked back at the book on the table. If there was indeed a courier with a message for her, they would find her.

Although she tried to appear calm and relaxed, she could not focus on the book, catching herself looking in the direction of the bar again. She was about to force herself to go back to reading, when the groups standing near the bar shifted and then parted to let someone through. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was not a courier, but someone she would recognize everywhere.

***

Just another part of Ellaira's story

***

Render: DS 4.12 Iray
Postwork: PS CS2
Character is my own.