Forfeit

He watched wide eyed as the woman struggled on the ground.

He knew it was just a dream.

He watched as she was stabbed over and over again by a faceless man. He was under the bed, he could not do a thing to help her.

It was only a dream.

He watched as the blood flowed across the floor to his hiding spot. He saw the man give a maniacal grin as the body fell limp. No one in the room was human. They were all Nidians. He was slightly tanned with bright red hair and eyes, but at the time his horns were small for his race as were his tiny wings. The faceless man had long dark hair drawn back in a pony tail, and massive blue wings with an unusual set of spiked appendages on them, and horns that curled in on themselves. The woman was dark skinned, pale gray eyes and bright red hair, a small set of gazelle like horns crowned her head, and her wings were twice the size of the faceless man's and the color of a brilliant sunset, but she was dead. She had left her son to hide under that bed so he would not have to face the faceless man.

But it was only a dream now.

The young man woke up with a yip. He was drenched in sweat from the nightmare, even though he had had it so many times before. Each time more vivid than the next. He leaned forward and brushed his sopping wet hair from his face. His hair was still a fiery red, with red eyes to match. His horns, however, large and curved, bigger than most men of the race. His wings were barely large enough for flight, so he often kept them hidden using his magic. One day he would find someone to fix his broken wings, but no time soon. He looked his room, which was empty besides a few changes of clothing folded on the table, a money bag and his old and worn sword. For a fencing champion he owned little, and often wandered with nothing but a satchel (he needed a new one since the last one broke) and his sword. He could not stay in a place for too long, so he was finally making his way down to the nearest continent where the Avs dwelled.

Hopefully they would not rip him as soon as he entered the town. He sighed, and brushed his hair out of his face again. Slowly he got up and dressed himself in a brown coat with green trim and gray pants. He grabbed his simplistic fencing sword and attached it to his belt.

With money in his various pockets she slipped outside of his hotel room only to accidentally run into the cute young woman he had bumped into earlier. She had bright blue hair and green eyes, with small horns that would remind a human of a gazelle, and her wings were massive, even when they were folded they touched the ground. She gave him a cheery smile and spoke in a wind chime voice, "I'm sorry!"

He smiled back, "It's no problem at all."

"Would you... like to go to breakfast with me?"

He blinked, "Oh, of course!" He had not expected such a gracious invitation from such a pretty young girl, but then again he was "handsome" for a man of his race. Personally, he thought that without his horns he would look like a girl--which is why he also attracted guys.

The young woman, Marie, lead him to a small cafe not too far from the hotel they were staying at. She smiled and ordered them both drinks as a start. He shrugged, she probably knew what was good around here. "So..." he cleared his throat, "You seem to be around often."

"Oh yes," she grinned, "I used to live here, my dad owns the hotel."

Oh.

"Wow," he managed.

She was blushing, "I was wondering... um... I've never seen anyone with your hair or eye color, where do you come from? I mean...I'm sorry if that's inappropriate."

Cairo remained silent for a moment. "I don't remember where I come from. I gave it away to make a new life."

"I'm sorry," she whispered as the waiter set a plate in front of each of them. The pancakes covered in strawberries, whip cream and chocolate syrup could have never been more ominous and Marie poked at them with her fork.

"No problem at all," he winked, "I'm just a stranger passing by, no need to be worried about offending me, customs or no."

She gave him a weak smile.

He sighed and took a bite of his pancakes. They were sweeter than what he usual ate, but enjoyable, none the less. He gave Marie a wide grin as he made his way through is pancakes. "Wonderful!"

Her smile widened a bit.

"So, do you know anyone who can take me to the town east of here?"

It was as if the whole area went silent. She blinked at him a few times and leaned forward, over her pancakes. "You can't seriously want to go to Av territory."

"Of course I do, I need to expand my horizons."

"But, they'd probably kill you on sight."

"We have a treaty."

"Treaties mean nothing," she said and rose immediately. "I'll pay the bill, but I won't help you commit suicide." She gave the waiter the money and tip, and in a graceful motion she left.

Cairo smirked to himself. Well, she wouldn't make the perfect mother for his children. Hopes dashed. Oh well.

Now he still needed to find a guide to the territory. Apparently that was easier said than done. He sighed and walked slowly down the streets. He wasn't a hero, he was just another person trying to make it in the world. He could not stop people from being abused, could not stop people from dying. He was not a doctor, a police officer, or a social worker. All he did was use the sword to feed him. He wanted something more than helping the occasional stranger, but at other times he wanted to be perfectly normal.

He shrugged things off.

"No place to go, none." He muttered quietly as he came to the edge of town. It had been a hour walk to the edge, he was closer than he speculated. Five more miles and he would be in a different country. He would have no guide, no contacts, nothing.

"Bottoms up."

***

"He has dreams of dragons," said the elf. A tall slim figure with short hair curling down to the cheek. It was the color of dusty charcoal, which classed with his spring green eyes. His ears were larger than the average elf, and covered in piercing. He wore something akin to a trench coat that engulfed him. His bracelets jiggled and clattered as he took his hand away from the woman. "He dreams of death, and hopes for the future. He wears orange lace and silver bones. A highwayman, with horns like a ram and eyes the color of blood mixed with fire."

The young woman was barely nineteen. She had long purple hair trailing down to the floor, flowing black robes with golden trim that obscured her simple black riding pants and thigh high bright red leather boots. She had a set of feathery wings of pale blue and gray. She gave the man a solemn look, "Is that all you can tell me?"

"This highwayman is going to be a strong influence in your life. He is blocking the rest of your future. However, Kuorai, do not do anything rash."

The Av stared at the elf for a moment. "You're probably barely older than me, and you know so much more. You also know I can't follow your advice."

"You're right, I'm only twenty-five, and I can only hope that you follow my advice. I can't predict the future, really, but I can at least help you change it."

She rose, and the elf rose with her. They both walked out of the small tent, with him leading the way. Kuorai turned to the elf and asked, "What's your name?"

"Call me "Evo." When we meet again I may give you my real name." He smiled and gave her a graceful bow.

She smiled as he returned to his tent, and she made her way towards her city. She would probably never see the elf again, but it was nice to think that she may just find out who the man he spoke of was, or any of the things he meant were. Too bad none of it could be real.

***

"An elf?" The Nidian blinked and rubbed his eyes. He watched a winged horse trot gingerly down the road. Sitting on top of it, bareback, was an elf with shortly cropped hair and large, obviously pierced ears. Cairo looked up at the elf when the horse came to a stop in front of the Nidian.

"My name is Evo, and it seems like you're in need to assistance."

"Fencer of the Nidavellir," Cairo replied, "And at what price do I pay to receive your help?"

"Forfeit a sad story from your past. That's all I need to know before I help you. Make it quick and simple."

"My mother was killed in cold blood behind my eyes by a demon," he shrugged, "Metaphorical or not, that is the only thing that happened to me that was misfortunate enough for me to remember. To be honest, I don't think about the misfortunes that happen to me, I dream them."

Evo remained silent for a moment before grinning, "Very well then. Hop on, Highwayman and Fencer of the Nidavellir."

Cairo, with much difficulty, managed to hop on. The elf turned the horse around, with little protest, and headed towards the nearest Av city, the City of Dreams, Havira.