Fractured Kingdoms: The Fight, the Bounty, and the Realization

Amilisë and Mithnir had been arguing during the entire duration of they’re trek from Hizrabel to Sumarr, mostly over why on earth they would be going deeper into this desolate wasteland.

“I still don’t get it, you want to go into desert with no water or food just to find some random people. Are you crazy?”

“Amilisë! For the last time, this is important! Who knows how many elves came here during the Sundering! As elves, it’s our duty to find them!”

“Ok, well, maybe they’re here because they like this desolate sandpit!”

After that, Amilisë stomped away from Mithnir, telling him that she was going home.

“You lazy Caeliadon, get back here! You’ll die if you leave the path!”

Mithnir began walking and then glanced back only to see Amilisë far away in the distance.

“Whatever”, he said under his breath, “She’s done nothing but complain this whole cursed trip, I’m glad to be rid of her.”

He felt a slight twinge of regret, but quickly buried it. He had to get to Sumarr as quickly as possible.

A few hours later, Mithnir arrived at one of the more prestigious inns in Sumarr, called the Bounty. Sumarr was less busy than Hizrabel, but it was becoming evening, and many would be in their homes by now. He quickly ordered some food and a small room for the night, then grabbed a table by the stairway; he wouldn’t be there for long. One table over sat an older woman and a man dressed in a dark red tunic covered by a leather chestplate, presumably a guard and the older woman’s son. They were arguing, mostly over trivial things such as why shaving is important and why haven’t you written to me. He scowled, this reminded him of his countless arguments with Amilisë, maybe he shouldn’t have yelled at her for asking questions or let her leave to die in the desert. It was too much for him to think about.

“Think, no don’t think. A drink, yes, that will stop me from thinking, maybe even a few.”

A few bottles were stacked on wooden pallets near the stairs. Mithnir quickly walked over, grabbed three, and uncorked the first one and guzzled it. Then the second, then the third. Hmm, maybe I need a fourth, he mused. He got up from his bench to get another one, but suddenly tripped over it. The world spun in front of him, until his head drooped and he was fast asleep. The innkeeper saw Mithnir slumped on the ground, unconscious. Elves, he thought, they’re weird.

“Now son, this is why one drink is enough. If you drink more, you’ll end up like him.”

Amilisë had been walking for hours over countless sand dunes, exhausted from dehydration and the constant, deadly gaze of the sun. She couldn’t go on, but she had to, it was that or death. She stumbled and fell rolling down the dune, and landed in a patch of sharp, skeletal bushes. The agony was intense, and worse she couldn’t get up, but she had no energy.

What hurt even more was that Mithnir was right, she’d done nothing but complain and annoy him with questions. He was right, she shouldn’t have come, and now she would die. No food, no water, no remorse. Not like anyone would actually care, except for Tyr, but he was going to the Vesendere. Mithnir was gone and probably wouldn’t come back to find her. A corpse stuck in a dead bush, the thought scared her more than being useless. With that, she cried herself to sleep.

Hello, this is apart of The Bounty Collab with armonruss, goochar, and Brickuser24