Elora listened to the dwarf speak, her ears perking at the word 'dragon'. A dragon? Really? Her blue eyes grew wide at the thought. How could
she fight a dragon? She was about to speak up when a familiar scent caught her attention. An elf! Another elf! It had been nearly a century since she last saw an elf other than her family. Was he from Sal'Sumarathar? Had he also escaped? The smell of salt water told her that he had traveled a long way to reach this little tavern, and although Sal'Sumarathar was across the sea, she doubted that he had ever been there. Her heart sank momentarily.
She managed to wrench her gaze away from the elf and back to the dwarf, listening as intently as she could with her wandering mind. Would it be worth it? Would she die? There was a chance that she would die tomorrow, whether she took this journey or not. And if she didn't die? She and her brother could once again be a happy family. She could give him a great childhood, like her parents had given her. Yes, she thought that instant. Yes, it was worth it.
For the first time that night, her long, pale fingers reached up to her hood and pulled it down from her shoulders. The light of the tavern finally greeted her features, giving them a pleasant glow. Her blue eyes moved around the room. If they all signed, she would be one of them. She couldn't say way, but Elora was no longer afraid. The she-elf stepped up toward the table, and reached into her pocket and pulled out her purse.
Think of this... as an investment, she told herself as she allowed it to fall to the table. She then picked up the quill and touched it to the parchment.
I, Elora Nei of the Honey Water Empire sign my name unto this document in a sane state of mind that I agree to all conditions as they are in this document. It had been so long since she had signed her name, and to add her birthplace to the parchment seemed to breathe new air into her. It honestly felt good.
Elora caught sight of the dwarf again. "Now, tell us about this dragon," Elora said, her voice not quivering as she once feared it would do. "Leave nothing of importance out."