No One's Chosen by Randall Fitzgerald Read Free Book Online

hands as much as his had been
in hers just a moment before. " Hah! " he began after what seemed like
forever. "A Drow of all things. I feel your poisons doing their
work and I still scarcely believe it."
    He groaned a little. Fighting back the poison must
have been sheer force of will. And what a will it was. Aile had
seen the elixir she'd used fell a bull ox in less than a minute.
For the briefest moment, she lost herself in awe at the centaur.
His words snapped her into the moment. "The kill is yours and I
would honor you."
    "Not curse me for a coward?" Aile wasn't used to the
idea of honor.
    " Ha! Darkling, what do you know of the
mighty centaur?" He let out another groan.
    She found herself sheathing the dagger. "Very little.
You bleed and die just like any other creature. Beyond that, I
imagine I'd find the knowledge a waste."
    "Then my revenge will be the burden of our custom."
The warlord, with great effort, turned his torso and pulled taut
one of the dozens of braids that made up his tail. He cut the braid
with the dagger and tossed the tool aside. He turned around and
laid the thick rope of hair almost gently in the dirt. "There is no
shame in the kill, darkling. Only glory. The Battle is everlasting.
It does not abate for meat and mead or dreams or even death. Our
paths crossed in Battle and I was found wanting."
    Aile didn't move from the spot. The braid was in
range of the great centaur and she knew it. She looked down to it
and back up at him.
    He stared into her for longer than she would have
liked. A dare to move. Finally he let out a tired laugh. "Haah hah
hah. Good, Drow. You… you are smarter—" A hacking cough took him,
blood spattered the dirt. "—than your fair-skinned cousins." His
torso began to slump, his breathing labored. "What I wouldn't have…
urk… have given to take you with me…" His head drooped. He rolled
his eyes up to look at Aile. "Tell me, Drow—" The coughing was
worse, phlegmy and wetter than before. "What trophy would have
coaxed you?"
    Aile couldn't help but smile. "You misunderstand,
horselord. My trophy was half paid before I entered your disgusting
hovel and the other half wasn't hanging from your arse."
    At that, she turned and made for the edge of the
tent. The Warlord Ke'Laak began to laugh with all he had left. The
laughter turned to hacking coughs which turned to silence and the
horde slept on, none the wiser.
    A short walk from the camp, the Drow had anchored a
horse to the sand. She found it quickly and aimed it toward
Fásachbaile. The ride would be a long one, and boring. But the air
was at least cool enough at night in the far desert. There was
little to get in the way of her ride and she made it to the city
easily enough. The horse was stabled and she began what was like to
be a rather obnoxious walk through the city proper.
    Other cities were not so fascinated at the sight of
Drow, though her people were rare enough outside of the Blackwood.
There was something about the desert that seemed to breed
slack-jawed oglers, and that was what Aile saw along the side of
the road, gathering in ever greater numbers as she moved toward the
inn. It was unlikely that any among her number would be brave
enough to so much as approach her. Or so she thought.
    A tiny elf girl stumbled out into the street, barely
taller than Aile. The girl looked like to shit her pants just from
the sight of the Drow. A word was enough to send her fleeing to the
alleys beyond and Aile continued on her way. The alehouse where she
was to take payment for the centaur smelt of piss though she came
to realize it was just the drink. She was not sure that made things
better.
    She took a room and allowed herself a short nap. She
woke just after sundown and took up a place at the tables of the
first floor. She was not there long before a tiny elf in a cloak
pretending not to be the girl from earlier in the day came in. Aile
heaved a sigh as the foolish child made her way up the stairs. Her
time was precious