A Human and his Wounds

[Jalen Noel]

Sitting on a chair, Jalen pulled the cloth from the hot water and placed it against the still-stinging wound along his upper chest. For a week, he'd been just a simple man with simple goals. Cutting trees, mining ores, and killing more pigs than he could remember... Jalen had never done anything against another soul. But now here he was, cleaning a wound given to him by the elf he now knew to be called Dhaeraow.

"A thief," Jalen thought to himself. "That's what they think I am?"

The accusation had been just as sudden, and even just as painful, as the elf's blade. Jalen had endured the arrogant insults of Dhaeraow for days, but had ignored them as the bullying of a fool. He never thought it would reach the point of physical assault. Even more shocking, still, was the fact that this elf had an accomplice. A human, his name unknown to Jalen, had joined in the attack.

The image of the men's faces gave birth to a vindictive sneer. Jalen's anger caused him to clench the wet cloth tightly, squeezing water down across his pants. He was lost in his thoughts, trying to calm himself while also analyzing the situation. He had no idea why Dhaeraow was against him, or why others would aid him. Being labeled a "thief" was so impossible for Jalen to fathom that he dismissed it as some false excuse for these ones to justify their attacks.

However, if they truly believed what they said, Jalen wished they would simply explain it. He hated this conflict and the antagonism that now seemed to swirl around him. Earlier today, Negyth the dwarf had confronted him angrily with the same accusation. Now the lie had spread, and Jalen's reputation was being destroyed throughout Trolls Bane. How could he hope to prosper in a town where he would soon no longer be trusted? Or worse still... where someone else may seek to cause him harm.

Drying off the wound, Jalen redressed it and then slouched back into the chair. A long, deep sigh left his mouth, but released none of the tension and confusion in his heart. Two days ago, his biggest worry had been improving his skills to get his business off the ground. Now, he couldn't turn a corner without fear of being attacked.

[Ronazin]

As Jalen sat within his house contemplating, against the wall of Jalen's home, an elf sat. He had seen Jalen from time to time, doing various work for his upcoming business. He admired Jalen for his determination. He had also witnessed the end of Jalen's Brutal beating.

"I should have helped the human... he was in need of assistance... yet the fear inside me of recieving the same fate held me back.

Since this Elf had seen Jalen from time to time, he knew that this human had comitted no such act of Theivery.

"Still if I try to help him, they will surely drag me into his Dilema as an accomplice...what is this elf to do?"

[Fjaen Greybone]

Fjaen had finally arrived in Trollsbane. Word spread to his homeland of his brother, Dhaeraow's death.

"What a fool. Never thought he'd live this long anyhow!" He exclaimed.
"No worries. His burial will be a quick and honorless one, the God's have taken pity upon him."

He walked on further towards the town.