Sir Thaydrin the High Elf

By Shawn O'Toole

Aya is an assassin. When her clan is vanquished, her name becomes known to the vengeful enemy. She flees, avoiding every village and beaten path. In the shadows of the forest, she happens upon a towering entity of inhuman aspect. She journeys with him, boldly facing the horrors of the unknown. She fears her companion but not the danger, for he is with her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shawn O'Toole
• Release date: Sep 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301523412

Shawn O'Toole

Shawn O'Toole is an avid reader who expresses his love of literature by writing his own. Though his favorite works are classical fiction, most of his actual reading is historical or scientific non-fiction. He combines his inspirations to create yarns that are fantastic yet believable. He is restless and eager, so one need not wait to delve into his adventures.

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SIR THAYDRIN THE HIGH ELF

by

Shawn O’Toole

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Shawn O’Toole on Smashwords

Cover Art Illustrated by:

Shawn O’Toole

Sir Thaydrin the High Elf

Copyright © Shawn O’Toole 2013

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this story, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is much appreciated.

This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

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SIR THAYDRIN THE HIGH ELF

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Chapter 1

The Stranger

Aya was once an assassin whose grim deeds were of renown. Now her lord was dead, her clan vanquished and her once secret name now known to the vengeful enemy. Aya was now a vagabond.

The woman tread through the forest, avoiding every village and every beaten path. As the west shone red with the setting of the sun, Aya sought a place among the trees and bushes to nestle and sleep. She stopped! She glimpsed a silent phantom disappear ahead of her. Was it an animal? No beast so large could move so swiftly yet so quietly. Was it an assassin? She crept on all fours towards where she had seen the entity disappear. She shivered upon feeling herself being stared at.

Suddenly a lean, towering figure stepped out in front of her! Aya squeaked and hopped back. Fierce, bright green, inhuman eyes glared down at her from under a hood. Aya stepped back and cringed, too fearful to even draw her sword. The tall stranger raised a long, narrow, open hand and uttered in a rich, resonant voice, Peace. He held out both hands. I mean you no harm.

Uh, are... are you... a spirit?

I am spirit. I am mind. I am flesh and blood.

What do you want?

Dear woman, you have happened upon me. Aya shivered as the radiant green eyes viewed her. She swooned when they peered into her soul! The voice uttered, You are lovely. I am pleased to behold your beauty. The entity outstretched his long, white arms and bowed. Be at peace, lovely woman. He then turned to leave.

Wait, please! The stranger stopped. Sir, where are you going?

Onward. The entity walked away.

Wait, please! the woman cried.

The tall one turned around. He seemed to be smiling. Was he amused? Silly woman, you tremble before me, yet you bid me to stay?

Milord, forgive me! she knelt and bowed.

Rise, woman. I am not your lord. I have come to your world to serve, not to rule.

"Forgive me for asking, honorable sir, but whom does one such as you serve?"

"All