Dragon's Fire

As Talon sat and cried, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and went for her daggers before she looked up to see a cleric standing over her.

"Are you okay?" There seemed to be genuine concern in the cleric's voice.

"I'm fine." She shook off his hand, and stood up. "I've just done some things I regret."

"Oh, I see," the cleric replied sarcastically. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the next street over. Talon could hear the shouts of people looking for her. She waved her hand in front of her face, quickly casting a spell to change her appearance.

"Please play along," she whispered to the confused-looking cleric.

A group of the King's Guards ran into the alley and looked around. They saw a human cleric and an elf with bright red hair and pale green eyes.

"Have you seen a human with long, blonde hair and gray eyes? The King requires her presence," a guard stated.

"Does this human have a name?" the cleric asked.

"Her birth name is Maurynna Blackhart, but she goes by the name of Talon most of the time," the guard replied.

"Talon?" The cleric raised an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that the sweet-looking girl that ran past me that way," he pointed down a side street that led deeper into the city, "was the infamous rogue?"

"Yes, she is, and the King is very anxious to question, I mean speak with her. Thanks for the information." The guards ran off down the street in the direction that the cleric had pointed.

Talon watched in disbelief as the guards ran, wondering why the cleric had helped her when he obviously knew who she was. She looked at him, only to become more confused.

"But why?" Talon's voice trailed off as he shook his head and motioned her to follow.

"Come on, we need to get farther away from the palace before your magic fades."

Talon shook her head as she followed the cleric through town. They arrived at an inn on the edge of town, and the cleric led her to his room.

"You can relax now, Talon," the cleric told her. "Do me a favor and get rid of the disguise, too."

Talon shrugged and waved her hand in front of her face, removing the glamorie to reveal her long brown hair and green eyes.

"Why did you help me, once you knew who and what I was?" Talon asked.

The cleric looked at her for a few minutes, and just when she thought he wasn't going to answer, he replied quietly, "I wish to... borrow... your services. You have skills that I need, and knowledge I wish to access."

"And what do I get out of this deal? Money? Don't need it, at least not in the amounts you can offer. Help? What kind of help could you lend me?" Talon shook her head and started toward the door.

"How about constant access to an alibi? Who would doubt the word of a cleric? Not to mention my healing abilities? Or are you so good that you never get hurt?" he smirked at the last comment.

"You'd lie for me? Wouldn't that break some oath or something?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to lie. However, I would bend the truth to your favor."

"Isn't that lying?"

"Is it a deal or not? The guards aren't that far off, the" cleric replied heatedly.

Talon looked at the cleric and shook her head in disbelief. "Demanding, aren't you? What makes you think I'd do my best if you force me into a deal? I could act like I was helping, but actually tell you nothing but lies."

"I'm not forcing you into anything."

"Oh, so threatening me with the guard isn't forcing?" she interrupted.

"I meant I could help you leave the city."

"And why are you doing this for me? Something more specific than your earlier reasons would be nice, ya know."

"Is anyone listening outside?" the cleric asked cautiously.

Talon glanced at him, and then wove a quick ward to prevent eavesdropping. "No-one will hear now."

"You have arcane magic..."

"So? So do a lot of people."

"Let me finish." The cleric sighed in frustration. "Sometimes... when I cast some spells... I can feel... something different. It almost feels... like it isn't divine. Maybe it's arcane power."

"And I'm supposed to help you figure out what it is, I suppose?"

"If you're willing to help me."

Talon could tell how hard it was for the cleric to say that, and something in her decided she needed to help him. There was something intriguing about this.