An Interview with Elina by Charon
Elina Svendóttir walked into the tavern; her head held rather high. The barmaid, Delores, rolled her eyes for all the kingdoms to see before muttering under her breath. The bard would reply, "I am in no mood for your cheeky remarks today. Just ensure seven casks of Ruvian Ale find their way to the Keep for the feast this evening." She produced a pouch of coins and set it upon the counter before glancing around the once familiar tavern.
Charon looks up and sees the woman at the bar, he unrolls a sketch and his eyes flicker between the woman and the parchment, "Elina Svendottir?" he questions.
Elina Svendóttir quirked an eyebrow upward and turned her face toward the voice that spoke her name. She flicked her chin in the direction of the elf, "Who asks?" her melodic voice poured out.
Charon speaks clearly and introduces himself, "My name is Charon, I'm a bit of a newcomer, so I am not surprised we have not met. I'm looking for miss Svendottir on behalf of sir Dishan, he has asked me to find out a couple of pieces of information, it's nothing sinister, I promise" He offers a friendly smile.
Elina Svendóttir let out a sigh and began to approach the man at his table, her dulcet tone allowing for a slight hint of annoyance. "Dishan, of course." She nodded as she sat without being asked, "I prefer Elina, and Elina only. No Svendóttir, no miss, no Lady." She looked the elf over more carefully, now that she was closer, "What has he sent you for then?"
Charon leans forward a little, he brings the fingertips of both hands together forming a point, "Well, as you know, there's an anniversary celebration afoot, and Sir Dishan has asked me to gather some information on the experiences of people of these lands, your name was one such name he gave me."
Elina Svendóttir chuckled gently, "Antlers again for him it is." She turned where she sat, "Delores, wine, please." she called to the sour faced woman before looking back at Charon, "Well then, you have my attention, and for now, my cooperation."
Charon nods, and refers to his papers, "Thank you mi...um... Elina", he corrects himself, "So the first question I have is, 'How long have you been in this realm?"
Elina Svendóttir looked to Delores as she grabbed her wine, bringing the rim of the goblet to her lips she took a sip and blurted out her kneejerk response. "Too long." offering up the most diplomatic smile she could, she began to speak again, "I came to this land several years ago, merely a traveler, or runner, details which matter not. I started off here, in this very tavern. The tavern was owned by the chief bard before me, Swith."
Charon scribbles down the answer, attempting to keep up, he nods gratefully, "Interesting, I suppose that make this a good place for the interview then." he smiles warmly, "So you've clearly been quite successful, have you achieved all you set out to do here?"
Elina Svendóttir leaned back in her chair, she lifted her leg and crossed it over the other as she laughed loudly, "What I set out to achieve upon arrival versus what I have in fact achieved are two different things. Staying was never the plan, learning about becoming a bard was never the plan, counseling two Queens was never the plan, fancy gowns, magics, drow, pirates, were never the plan. But here I sit and there you ask." Lifting the drink to her pale lips again, "For that you can put that I have failed, greatly. In the most successful of ways."
Charon looks curiously across the table, "Might I ask what your plans were at the time?"
Elina Svendóttir nodded, "Dock, work, make enough money to depart and keep going." She leaned herself over the table and began to whisper what would almost sound like a song, "The land has a draw, a powerful hold. You can hear her song from far beyond, she calls out, begs to be heard."
Charon: "Very interesting," he says, writing this down, "You are clearly well suited to your role here. I do have one more question if you don't mind, and I shan't take up any more of your time." He pauses to read the question again, looking up he asks, "Do you have any new goals for the future?"
Elina Svendóttir quickly finishing off her wine she swallowed it hard "Oh dear, you needn't worry about taking up my time. Always a pleasure to chat with a handsome man such as yourself." She pondered over his final question a moment and paused, a rather wicked smirk curling her lips upward, "Everyone has goals, dear sir, but not all are inclined to share them. Makes things more difficult to thwart, should they require thwarting. However, I am a patience lass. Always have been."
Charon nods and the scratching of quill on parchment resumes, a smile creeps onto his face, "Are there plans of yours that might require thwarting?" he asks, though the shift in his demeanor indicates it's more of a joke than a real question
Elina Svendóttir gave the gent a wink "Always." She responded plainly. "Should I now ask questions of you?"
Charon looks up and sees the woman at the bar, he unrolls a sketch and his eyes flicker between the woman and the parchment, "Elina Svendottir?" he questions.
Elina Svendóttir quirked an eyebrow upward and turned her face toward the voice that spoke her name. She flicked her chin in the direction of the elf, "Who asks?" her melodic voice poured out.
Charon speaks clearly and introduces himself, "My name is Charon, I'm a bit of a newcomer, so I am not surprised we have not met. I'm looking for miss Svendottir on behalf of sir Dishan, he has asked me to find out a couple of pieces of information, it's nothing sinister, I promise" He offers a friendly smile.
Elina Svendóttir let out a sigh and began to approach the man at his table, her dulcet tone allowing for a slight hint of annoyance. "Dishan, of course." She nodded as she sat without being asked, "I prefer Elina, and Elina only. No Svendóttir, no miss, no Lady." She looked the elf over more carefully, now that she was closer, "What has he sent you for then?"
Charon leans forward a little, he brings the fingertips of both hands together forming a point, "Well, as you know, there's an anniversary celebration afoot, and Sir Dishan has asked me to gather some information on the experiences of people of these lands, your name was one such name he gave me."
Elina Svendóttir chuckled gently, "Antlers again for him it is." She turned where she sat, "Delores, wine, please." she called to the sour faced woman before looking back at Charon, "Well then, you have my attention, and for now, my cooperation."
Charon nods, and refers to his papers, "Thank you mi...um... Elina", he corrects himself, "So the first question I have is, 'How long have you been in this realm?"
Elina Svendóttir looked to Delores as she grabbed her wine, bringing the rim of the goblet to her lips she took a sip and blurted out her kneejerk response. "Too long." offering up the most diplomatic smile she could, she began to speak again, "I came to this land several years ago, merely a traveler, or runner, details which matter not. I started off here, in this very tavern. The tavern was owned by the chief bard before me, Swith."
Charon scribbles down the answer, attempting to keep up, he nods gratefully, "Interesting, I suppose that make this a good place for the interview then." he smiles warmly, "So you've clearly been quite successful, have you achieved all you set out to do here?"
Elina Svendóttir leaned back in her chair, she lifted her leg and crossed it over the other as she laughed loudly, "What I set out to achieve upon arrival versus what I have in fact achieved are two different things. Staying was never the plan, learning about becoming a bard was never the plan, counseling two Queens was never the plan, fancy gowns, magics, drow, pirates, were never the plan. But here I sit and there you ask." Lifting the drink to her pale lips again, "For that you can put that I have failed, greatly. In the most successful of ways."
Charon looks curiously across the table, "Might I ask what your plans were at the time?"
Elina Svendóttir nodded, "Dock, work, make enough money to depart and keep going." She leaned herself over the table and began to whisper what would almost sound like a song, "The land has a draw, a powerful hold. You can hear her song from far beyond, she calls out, begs to be heard."
Charon: "Very interesting," he says, writing this down, "You are clearly well suited to your role here. I do have one more question if you don't mind, and I shan't take up any more of your time." He pauses to read the question again, looking up he asks, "Do you have any new goals for the future?"
Elina Svendóttir quickly finishing off her wine she swallowed it hard "Oh dear, you needn't worry about taking up my time. Always a pleasure to chat with a handsome man such as yourself." She pondered over his final question a moment and paused, a rather wicked smirk curling her lips upward, "Everyone has goals, dear sir, but not all are inclined to share them. Makes things more difficult to thwart, should they require thwarting. However, I am a patience lass. Always have been."
Charon nods and the scratching of quill on parchment resumes, a smile creeps onto his face, "Are there plans of yours that might require thwarting?" he asks, though the shift in his demeanor indicates it's more of a joke than a real question
Elina Svendóttir gave the gent a wink "Always." She responded plainly. "Should I now ask questions of you?"