I Approach The Strange Man

I make my way through the inn passing the drunks and women for the back exit where I last saw the man exit. I make my way threw the door into a dark alleyway peering through I don't see anyone here. I step out and start looking both ways for a shadow or anything. When suddenly a hand comes from behind me covering my mouth.

"You always forgot to check your surroundings didn't you, Kaitlin?" said the voice behind me, which I instantly recognized.

"Zander! But you're supposed to be dead!"

"Right you are. Well kind of..." He says while simultaneously releasing me before giving me a hug.

"I haven't seen you since... Well since we were both kids". Zander came from a very poor family and in order for his family to get out of their situation Zander willingly signed himself up for the Elven Paladins an elite group of guards anyone who was accepted guaranteed themselves and their family a luxurious life but after becoming a Paladin a few years later word was sent to us that Zander was killed at the time he and I were... close.

"I know I know we have a lot of catching up to do but this isn't the time or the place. Come with me and I'll explain everything to you." He quickly grabs my hand and dashes off in the alley bobbing and weaving through the corners faster than I can keep up with. Until we reach a brick wall, a dead end?

"Hey not to overstate the obvious but this leads no where."

"Again you don't see your surroundings?" Zander pushes in a brick and suddenly an opening in the wall appears big enough for us to fit through, "Come on we'll talk on the way there"

"On the way where?" I ask Zander.

"Elsmer"

"Elsmer but that city hasn't been around for ages don't you remember it was destroyed?"

"I told you I'd explain as we go along didn't I?" Zander grabs a torch from the wall and steps ahead into the dark passageway bringing me along. "All those years ago. I never became a Paladin, officially it was said I became a Paladin but in reality I became a **** Seeker."

"What? Why?" **** Seekers were only a myth that we were told as babies to keep us from acting out. It was said that anyone who did wrong by the elves would be sought out by **** itself those we called '**** Seekers' were highly trained individuals with extraordinary gifts that were only enhanced by magic making them the ultimate warrior, assassin, archer, almost anything they excelled at.

"I don't know. I was approached by the King himself and asked he promised me that any and all who I loved would be taken care of beyond my wildest dreams so I agreed to help my family out to help you out. Officially I had to be pronounced dead in order to remove any ties I may have to you guys. Just like me Elsmer is a lie or at least the part of it being destroyed it is our bunker for all **** seekers. When I heard of our home being attacked I had to return to see if anyone survived."

"I'm sorry Zander... I tried but... There were too many of them... They... They..." I start tearing up just thinking about it brings back so much pain.

"Shhh. Don't worry Kaitlin it's okay we'll get our **** I'm just glad to see your okay" He stops to give me another hug wiping away the tears from my face. "Don't cry it doesn't befit your beauty. When we get to Elsmer we'll talk to the council surely they will help you and we can mount a strategic attack to get **** for our fallen families.