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seemed amiss about them.
    “Well, it’s a shame to let it go to waste. I’ll be sure to take care of it,” he offered. “Good day to you both.”
    “Why were you staring at us?” the girl asked.
    Amra shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with the question. Namitus glanced at the angry warrior and said, “Two elves with two humans. Unusual company, that’s all.”
    “What about you?” the girl asked. “Did your father leave you behind?”
    Amra gasped and Namitus let his rips rise in a slow smile. “It takes a babe to know a babe.”
    “I’m seventeen,” she rose to his taunt. “I’ve been tested in battle and I’ve seen things that would haunt your dreams for ages.”
    Namitus smirked. “Perhaps you have. Tell me, mighty warrior maiden, what is your name so I may sing ballads of your exploits?”
    She stiffened and then said, “Allisandra.”
    Namitus nodded. “Allisandra the warrior maiden.”
    “I’m not—”
    Namitus shook his head. “Too late, I’ve already got the song in mind.”
    “What?”
    He reached into his pack and pulled out his pipes. “Would you like me to show you?”
    Allie’s eyes widened. “You—you’re a minstrel?”
    Namitus noticed her interest and the way the two elves stiffened at the table. There was something going on he didn’t understand. “I dabble,” he said. “My talents are varied.”
    “Who are you?” Gor asked.
    Namitus glanced at Amra, hoping that was enough to share she should stay quiet. “Namitus,” he said while he tucked his pipes back in his pack. He moved to tie the satchel to his waist, securing everything in case trouble was brewing.
    The two stared at him for a long moment before Gor turned to Allie and asked, “We done here?”
    Allie frowned and glanced back at the table they’d come from. She turned back to Namitus. “Are you two married?”
    Namitus snorted. “I’m escorting this young lady on a journey. Should I ask the same of you?”
    Gor laughed and nodded. “I like him.”
    Allie’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. We were looking for somebody.”
    Namitus lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “Oh? Maybe I can help.”
    She glanced at the elves and back again. “No, I’ve made a fool of myself already. I’m sorry. I…I’ll leave you be.”
    Namitus and Amra watched her turn and leave. Gor shrugged and followed her.
    “That was…odd,” Amra said.
    “The elves never came over,” Namitus observed.
    “Is that unusual?”
    Namitus shrugged. “Believe it or not, I don’t know much about elves.”
    Amra frowned. “Why? Should you?”
    He chuckled and shook his head. “Some people think that way. There are strange events afoot. Unlikely powers at play guiding us, I think.”
    “Guiding us? Where…and why?”
    Namitus considered her question and decided he didn’t have time enough to answer it. He finished his drink and grabbed the spare ale. “Let’s go ask them.”
    Amra watched him stand and move around her towards the other table. “Ask them what?” she wondered. When she realized he wasn’t slowing to answer her, she jumped to her feet and followed. Her ale was untouched.
    “Pardon me,” Namitus said as he came to stand between Gor and the elven man. “You mentioned you were tested in battle. Might I ask what you’ve fought? For the song, of course.”
    Allie’s face clouded at his question. Gor and the elven man turned to face him, dour expressions on their faces. They began to rise when Allisandra spoke up and said, “Splisskin. They attacked my home.”
    Namitus smiled. “I’m not surprised.”
    “Excuse me?”
    The rogue held his hands up. “My apologies; I misspoke. I’ve been searching for news of the splisskin, and it seems I might have stumbled across it. Today has been a day of days.”
    “Why?” the elven man asked. “What interest do you have?”
    Namitus smiled at him. “Let’s just say I’ve run afoul of their tender mercies in the past and would like nothing more than to make sure no one