A Hiding Place for a Elf, a Dwarf and a Centaur

Sitting in a verdant hollow between groves of pine and birch, a clearing of wildflowers surrounded a cottage of grey stone and dark wood. The lulling buzz of bumblebees accompanied a chorus of birds caught on the breeze passing over the grass of the clearing. The cottage was short with a crooked roof and haphazardly placed windows, lavender and rose bushes framing the gnarled wooden doorway. The roof of the cottage sloped into that of the stables, open and dirt packed it was home to two mares: one white and one brown. At the back of the cottage, lying lengthways and sharing its roof was the barn. It was small for a barn, and despite the pealing of the red paint it stood strong, keeping the hay and the farming equipment dry.

A slam echoed throughout the hollow as the barn door was thrust open then mirrored as the auburn coated centaur threw it closed behind his elven and dwarven companions.

“Well, that was a lucky escape,” said Maellyn, a silver haired and silver skinned elf, tossing the brown speckled crimson egg into the air and catching it again.

“What were you thinking?” yelled Aegus, the centaur, “Stealing a griffon egg? This is just another level for you!”

“It was pretty and within reach, and valuable, of course I’m going to steal it,” said Maellyn with a shrug.

“At least tell us before you do something like that,” said Svezym, a stout and wiry haired dwarf, “I had to leave a whole leg of lamb by the campfire.”

“If I told you, he’d stop me,” Maellyn nodded towards the centaur and Svezym gestured her agreement lying down in a pile of hay.

“No that’s not the point, he shouldn’t be doing reckless things like this any way!” Aegus said exasperated.

“It all worked out, didn’t it?” said Maellyn.

A cry pierced the air from beyond the barn walls. They froze, looking between each other. There was a second cry, closer and longer.

“No, it hasn’t worked out,” Aegus whispered, with only the slightest hint of smugness.

Maellyn tossed the egg to Aegus barely having time to catch it, “You’re the fastest.”

“What? No, this is your mess,” Aegus threw the egg back.

The door to the barn rattled followed by more squawked cries.

“You act like the leader, you sort this out!” said the elf, chucking the egg back to the centaur.

“Oh, for the love of…” Svezym said, standing from the hay, hefting her hammer, “I’ll sort it!”

She strode forwards between the other two and gave the hammer a couple of test swings.

“Wait, no. You can’t go up against it alone,” said Aegus.

“Why? Because I’m a dwarf!?” Svezym snapped, “Maybe you could help!”

The elf and the centaur looked between each other, and both drew their swords.

“Come on then you feathered bastard!” Svezym yelled.

Then the banging stopped, and the squawking moved away from the door. There was more scuffling and the beating of wings, and then several bright flashes. Silence.

Another rattle and the door splintered open. In the frame of the door stood a woman with flowing black hair over deep blue robes and holding a pale wooden staff tipped with a gem matching the colour of her robes. The elemental wizard extinguished the flame held in her hand.

“Rhowaenna!” Maellyn said relieved.

“Oh, well it would be you three…” she said with a sigh, “What did you do this time?”

Aegus and Svezym looked to Maellyn, and Aegus held up the egg.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Rhowaenna said, stepping forward and reaching out, “May I?”

Aegus nodded and handed the egg over to the wizard. She left the barn and the trio followed. Maellyn and Svezym stopped dead when they saw the griffon sat just outside the barn, “You haven’t killed it?” Svezym choked.

“Of course she hasn’t, that has never been her style,” said the Maellyn.

Rhowaenna knelt beside the beast, stroking her neck then pushed the egg toward her, “I just subdued her and calmed her mind.”

The griffon gently gripped the egg in its beak and stood, stretching her wings, and bounded away from the group, taking to the air before she reached the treeline.

“Thank you,” said Aegus.

“You’re welcome,” Rhowaenna said, “I was actually on your trail before I noticed the griffon. I should have realised you’d be where the action is. I’d like to ask you three to join me on an expedition.”

Aegus looked to Svezym who shrugged and nodded, then to Maellyn.

“Of course!” said the elf excitedly.

“We’ll join you, we’ve just collected our last bounty…hence the free time Maellyn had,” said Aegis, “Tell us more.”

Rhowaenna told them of the quest into the mountains to retrieve an ancient artefact as they walked away from the red barn and the glade of wildflowers nestled between the trees.