[hr]

[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/Q3Td30W1/IMG-2723.jpg[/img][/center]

“Awaken.”

Iliskra’s consciousness slowly returned to her, her first sensations being the impulsive twitching of the flesh around her eyes and the throbbing pain that filled her skull. Iliskra grimaced and took a slow, deep breath. She carefully wiggled her fingers feeling the recognizable texture of wood against her hands which were lying palms down. She was sitting in a chair, a chair with wooden arms and a cushioned back and seat. Iliskra tried to open her eyes only to squeeze them back shut as the flickering glow of a dull orange light made her head pound harder. A sharp crackling sound indicated that the light was from a fireplace. 

[i]Where are we?[/i] Iliskra tried to think amid the lingering headache. She remembered stepping into her room at the tavern and closing the door behind her. She, Leon, and Ibdur had needed to leave the tavern - maybe even the city. Jadarl’s estate had been a trap and the three of them were in danger. Iliksra had reached for something on an end table, some stray belonging that she needed not leave behind. She had heard a creaking sound behind her and started to turn around only to be bashed in the back of the head with something hard - something metal. The half-elf lay her head back against the chair and winced feeling a large swollen bump where she had been struck. 

“It is very impolite to ignore your host.” 

Iliskra felt a jolt in her chest. She had heard the words “wake up” but assumed it was Leon, Ibdur, or a figment of her imagination. It was a man’s voice that she did not recognize, low and oily. Iliskra tried to stand only to realize she could not move. A few futile jerks of her arms and legs revealed her wrists, ankles, and upper calves were bound to the chair. 

“Do not bother struggling. Even if you could free yourselves you are in a well-guarded room and unarmed.” The voice had a hint of amusement this time. Iliskra forced her eyes open grunting in discomfort as the light from the fireplace assailed her sight. She looked down in front of herself, she was at a table. Before her was a smooth empty dinner plate with the appropriate silverware neatly aligned on each side and a clear glass absent of any liquid. Iliskra gingerly looked to her right noticing movement in the corner of her eye. Leon sat right next to her, tied in a chair as she was and slumped forward though he seemed to be awake. 

Iliskra blinked several times, clearing the haze from her vision. She and Leon were being held prisoner in a dining hall, a rather nice one from what Iliksra could see. A chandelier with lit candles hung just overhead, a clean white cloth graced the long table they shared, and the walls were hung with fine paintings and accented by marble pillars. Despite the roaring fire and candles the place seemed gloomy and Iliksra could see through a window nearby that it was night outside.

“Can neither of you speak?”

Iliksra felt another jolt and gasped lowly as she realized that the voice was coming from right across she and Leon. A shadowy figure clad in black robes with red trim and decorative red sequins around the shoulders and chest was slouched forward in a chair in front of the two. [i]How did I not see him?[/i] Iliskra blinked a few times and tried to catch a glimpse of the face of their captor but his hood hung low and shrouded his identity.