The Forsaken Hero

The following morning found me sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning until a sharp knock at the door awakened me. Groggily, I stumbled out of bed, rubbed my bleary eyes, and threw on a dress and my cloak before crossing the room and cracking the door.

"Morning, Starlight," Sorrin said, bright and cheerful despite the morning hour. "Sleep alright?"

I answered with a noncommittal shrug and opened the door, falling onto the bed and yawning. He slipped into the room with a nervous glance behind him and closed the door, quickly sweeping his eyes around the room. The sudden move startled me, and I found my tail sweeping across the bed nervously. I knew he had no ill intentions, but it was the first time in a long time since I’d been alone with a man in a closed room, the feeling sending a thrill of uncertainty through me.

"I know I don’t have much right to ask, but would you be able to do a favor for me? The Guild Leader asked for Tana and I to meet him at the guild house in an hour or so, but, well, there’s something I was supposed to pick up this morning."

He looked at me helplessly, his ears twitching, a tinge of red spreading across his face.

"The one that woman, the royal merchant, was talking about?" I asked, my hand running over the silver broach pinned to my breast.

He nodded quickly, relief spreading across his features. "Thanks, this really means the world to me..." He trailed off, then suddenly looked up, meeting my eyes with uncertainty. "Are you sure you’ll be alright going by yourself?"

I hesitated, the tip of my tail giving a nervous jolt. But as Sorrin frowned, crossing his arms nervously, I took a deep breath and nodded.

"I’ll be fine. We’ve been gone for weeks now, so there’s no way they’re still looking for me. I’ll be careful and keep my cloak on, and even if something happens, I can call Fable at a moment’s notice. Besides," I said, my voice low and earnest, "I want to help you, to return the kindness you’ve shown me."