Chapter 4

The Trail Begins

It was late at night, the moon was out, and traveling through the woods was dangerous, especially for a young woman all alone. Tshaya avoided the roads to hide from Invidians and Ezrans, but the roads didn't carry all the dangers. Still, she had no choice but to risk the forests of Barovia. The weather was pleasant though. The heat of the day had long since died away and only the humidity still lingered in the night air. Tshaya knew that it was about five miles to the Sithican border. She could make it there by dawn if she kept going, and she wanted to keep going. Driven on by fear she reached the Nharov river just as the skies were taking on a lighter hue.

Tshaya was tired, but she didn't have much farther to go. She'd been in the area before a few times. Not often, for the elves of Sithicus weren't as easy to fool as humans were. Her clan made their rounds through the more profitable lands inhabited by humans. She remembered a natural fjord in the river that her kumpania had used to get their vardos across years ago and so she walked up river until she found it once again. Before long she was in Sithicus, and the forest grew thicker.

The nearest elven village was on the far side of the Mantle Woods and many miles away, but Tshaya knew that there were smaller elven communities scattered about in the forest. Once she was within the Mantle Woods the signs of elves were present. Tshaya saw small dwellings in the trees and young elves jumping from branch to branch, watching her curiously.

"Hello.", Tshaya said to them in Mordentish.

"Szei-sah! Szei-sah!", one of the young elves called out, which was the elven word for Vistani. Other elven children came towards the newcomer, jumping skillfully from branch to branch as they did so.

The elves didn't seem to understand Mordentish, but they were young and still had much to learn. Tshaya knew that the others in the village ahead spoke her language.

"That is right. I am Szei-sah!", Tshaya called out, and with a flourish, she cast a spell that summoned forth a happy Vistani song. She walked to the village, using her drum to beat out the tempo of the music.

The faces of the young elves turned to smiles and they followed alongside in the trees. Exhausted, Tshaya reached the village, which was little more than a clearing on the ground, but all around her she saw a complex of dwellings knitted into the folding branches of the dense forest. The elves of the village stopped their work and came out to see who had come into their village.

Too tired to dance, Tshaya just stood in the middle of the clearing and sang a Vistani song about the merits of avoiding work and dancing all day. Soon the branches were filled with elves listening to Tshaya's wonderful singing and playing. When she finished her song two of the elves, a man and a woman, climbed down to the clearing while the other elves slowly went back to doing their daily chores.

As the couple approached, Tshaya bowed deeply and greeted them in Mordentish, "Good morning kind elves. I am Tshaya."

"Good morning, Tshaya.", the elven man said warmly. "I am Odric and this is my wife Elena."

Again bowing deeply Tshaya replied, "It is always a pleasure to meet some of the wise folk of the wood."

Odric smiled. "I invite you and your kumpania to stay with us. We always enjoy your spirited music.", he said, looking up the path for other Vistani.

"I thank you for your generous hospitality, but I am traveling alone. But do not fear! I promise to eat enough for a whole kumpania.", Tshaya replied laughing.

"You play wonderfully.", Elena said with a warm smile. "Are you tired? Hungry?"

"Yes and yes.", Tshaya answered. "I have been traveling all night with nothing to eat but moonlight."

"Oh dear.", Elena said, growing excited. "You must stay with us. I will prepare you a meal and a bed."

"Odric, how did you marry the most beautiful and kind elf in the world?", Tshaya flattered the elven gentleman.

"She insisted.", Odric replied grimly, then smiled again. "I welcome you into my home."

The wiry elves expertly climbed up the trunk of a large tree. Odric helped Tshaya up, which she needed only because she was tired, and soon she was within his home. Elena bustled about in the kitchen while Odric offered Tshaya a seat at the table. Everything was small in the elves' home, but being a slight girl of about average elven height, Tshaya did not feel cramped at all.

"What is the name of your village?", Tshaya asked, taking a seat at the table and placing her pack at her feet.

Odric took a seat across from her. "Avrentis.", he answered. "I am the mayor, or so they tell me."

"Avrentis. A fine name for a fine mayor.", Tshaya replied with a smile.

"Charming.", Odric said warmly, then he took a curious look at the face of the young girl.

Being used to having men stare at her, Tshaya just smiled and let him look as Elena placed some bread, berries, and cream on the table.

"Thank you Elena.", Tshaya replied as she began to eat. "Elven bread is the best."

Odric decided that he didn't recognize the young woman and shook his head. "It's been a while since the Vistani have come to Avrentis.", he said. "What brings you here?"

"Well you said it yourself, it's been a while since the Vistani have come to Avrentis.", Tshaya answered.

"And all alone too.", Odric asked, growing more curious.

"Don't give the girl such a hard time.", Elena scolded him nicely.

"Well, truth be told, my kumpania decided to go one way and I wanted to go another.", Tshaya replied as tactfully as she could, which was very tactful.

"Ah.", Odric said, nodding.

Odric could see traces of elven blood in Tshaya and wondered if she was an outcast. That was all the more reason to welcome her into his home. Elena set down some dried meat and bustled off to another room to prepare the guest bed.

"It has been a long time since I have visited the elves and I decided to travel through Sithicus.", Tshaya added.

Tshaya's eyes gleamed a bit at the smell of meat. She took a bite and liked it. The food wasn't bad, and since she was very hungry it tasted quite good. The berries were the best part. They were as  fresh and sweet as if they'd been picked just yesterday. Indeed, they had.

"You are welcome to stay here.", Odric said with genuine kindness. "For as long as you like."

"Thank you.", Tshaya replied, happy about how smoothly everything was going. "And as long as I am here, the children of Avrentis will hear Vistani music."

"Oh, and my mother always told me that if I was ever in Sithicus that I should look up Adraiss Erekholm.", Tshaya added. "Have you heard of him?"

Odric's eyes lit up as he heard the name. Then he raised a finger and pointed it at the young woman. "Adraiss.", he said. "Yes. Adraiss."

Tshaya smiled. "No, I am Tshaya.", she said playfully. "Adraiss is who I am trying to find."

"That's who you remind me of.", Odric continued. "Elena!", he called out.

Tshaya got a little nervous. She wondered if she should leave but she just sat and waited instead. She gauged the reactions of the two elves to see if what was happening was a good thing. Elena returned to the kitchen.

"Do you like a soft pillow or a hard one?", Elena asked.

"A pillow? I think any pillow would be luxurious.", Tshaya said in all honesty.

"Doesn't she remind you of Adraiss?", Odric said. "Look at her nose."

"Well I am only looking for Adraiss because he owes my kumpania a boon.", Tshaya said quickly. She didn't want anyone to figure out that Adraiss was her estranged father.

"And so charming too.", Elena added, forgetting about the pillow.

"You can thank my mother for that.", Tshaya countered, trying to change the subject.

"Adraiss used to live here. Not long ago. Thirty years, maybe?", Odric said.

"It was more like twenty.", Elena corrected him.

"Oh I see.", Tshaya replied, taken aback by what elves called a "short time". "Where did he go?"

"What a wonderful young man.", Odric said as he fondly remembered Adraiss. "I know why he left, but not where he went.", he added apologetically.

"Oh. Why did he leave?", Tshaya asked curiously.

"He didn't want to settle down.", Odric replied. "He said that he liked to move from place to place. Like your people."

"Ahem.", Elena cleared her throat. "Odric. That's not why he left."

Tshaya decided that this was a good time to sit and listen.

Elena turned to Tshaya and smiled. "He fell in love.", she said. "With Aliana. She was so lucky. All the girls liked Adraiss."

"And he didn't want to settle down.", Odric gently insisted.

"So he went away with Aliana?", Tshaya asked, a little confused.

"How can you say that?", Elena replied to Odric. "He lived here for two years. He built a small home. He loved living here. He was settling down."

"A home? Is it still here? Does anyone live in it?", Tshaya asked.

Elena turned back to the young woman. "Someone else lives there now.", she answered. "Anyway. They were so in love.", Elena said wistfully. Then she cleared her head. "But he left her. And no one knows why."

"He didn't want to settle down.", Odric said once more.

"Perhaps he was looking for someone?", Tshaya wondered out loud.

"He found her.", Elena said sadly. "They made such a wonderful pair."

"Who? Aliana? But he left her.", Tshaya asked, trying to figure things out.

"We're all looking for that special someone.", Elena replied. "Maybe she wasn't special enough.", she said sadly.

"Is Aliana still here?", Tshaya said after thinking for a moment. "Perhaps he told her where he might be going?"

"She's still here.", Odric answered as Elena went back to the guest room.

"Oh good. Perhaps I can speak with her?", Tshaya said. Then she remembered how tired she was. "After a quick nap."

Odric nods. "I will arrange it.", he replied. "Enjoy your rest."

"Thank you.", Tshaya replied.

Tshaya took her pack and went into the guest room, noting that there was nothing in the home that was of any value except for a small chest of drawers in the couple's bedroom. The guest room wasn't fancy but it was comfortable. The bed was soft and so was the pillow. Tshaya kicked off her boots and curled up in bed. She thought for a moment about what she was going to say to Aliana but fell asleep very quickly.


Tshaya slept soundly until just before evening. When she awoke she found that she was all alone. She slipped on her boots and then stuck her head out the front door to see if there was a village meeting or something going on, but the other elves were simply going about their business. Odric and Elena were out and about somewhere. Tshaya went into the kitchen and put some of the dried meat into her pack so that she would have food later. Then, she left the home and wandered around the village.

Tshaya turned on the charm and sang and danced for her hosts. The elves were truly grateful to have her entertain them and greeted her with smiles. But these were simple elves. They owned very little and were happy to live peacefully in their corner of the world. That suited Tshaya just fine. She wasn't there to earn money or to steal it from anyone, she was satisfied to play for food and a place to sleep. Avrentis was a perfect place to lay low while the White Knights and Mario's mercenaries roamed the countryside of Barovia searching for Vistani, and for her in particular.

As she made her way around the village Tshaya ran into Odric who was pleased to see her refreshed and cheerful. Beside him stood a stunning young elven woman who he introduced as Aliana.

"Hello Aliana. I am Tshaya.", Tshaya said, smiling at the young elven woman.

"Hello.", Aliana replied almost indifferently.

"Odric tells me that you knew Adraiss Erekholm.", Tshaya said.

Aliana glanced at Odric pleadingly, then turned back to Tshaya and nodded her head.

"Do you know where he might have gone?", Tshaya asked, hoping to break through to the woman.

"I don't care.", Aliana replied with a frown.

"Aliana.", Odric said. "Tshaya has traveled a long way."

"But, did he say anything? Mention a town or a direction?", Tshaya pleaded. "Anything would be of great help to me."

Aliana shrugged. "He wanted to travel the world.", she said reluctantly. "I thought that he was going to take me with him."

"Where did you think you two would be going?", Tshaya asked.

"He said that he'd just come from Barovia.", Aliana replied. "And told me stories of how beautiful it was."

Then Aliana shot Tshaya a jealous look.

"Parts are quite beautiful. Other parts, are less so.", Tshaya said, hoping to put the young girl at ease. "Do you think he was heading further west?"

"He has family in Mal Erek.", Aliana continued. "Maybe he went there."

"Thank you.", Tshaya replied and smiled. "You have been a great help."

Aliana nodded and turned to go.

"Did she tell you what you wanted to know?", Odric asked.

"Yes, she did. Thank you Odric.", Tshaya replied.

Odric was pleased that he could help his young guest and Tshaya was pleased that they were helping her so willingly. That was something that she wasn't used to. She was used to having to pay for such help, or find a way to trick others into revealing things.

"Where is Elena?", Tshaya asked. "She wasn't in your home when I awoke."

"Out gossiping I suppose.", Odric replied. "She'll be back before dinner."

"I have been wandering around your village.", Tshaya said, pouring on the charm once again. "You are quite lucky to be the mayor of such a lovely, friendly village."

"We all take turns.", Odric explained. "We share the burden. It's a lot of work."

Tshaya was stunned. "Take turns?", she wondered. That did not make any sense to her at all. She was used to one person being the leader for life. That was the way it should be, or so she thought.

"I see.", Tshaya replied. "How long do you think it will take to reach Mal Erek?"

"A few days.", Odric said, scratching his chin. "If you leave for Iron Warden early tomorrow morning you should get there by nightfall. From there you might find a caravan that can take you to Mal Erek."

"Is Iron Warden as lovely as your village?", Tshaya said smiling.

Tshaya worked her charm further still. She didn't understand the elves' sense of hospitality and felt that she needed to flatter the mayor in exchange for her meals, lodging, and protection. But even as Odric smiled back her she felt that if Mario were to find his way into the village, that Odric wouldn't hesitate to turn her over to him.

Odric laughed and took Tshaya's hand in his. "My dear.", he said. "You are the most lovely and charming Vistani that I have ever met."

"I hope when you say that you mean that you have met many.", Tshaya said playfully.

"I have.", Odric replied. "And the Vistani are a beautiful people."

"And now you know why I have returned to elven lands, they are so free with their compliments.", Tshaya returned.

"As are you.", Odric said, giving Tshaya's hand a squeeze and then letting go. "Tshaya, you are welcome to stay here as long as you like."

"Thank you. I would enjoy staying in your village and learning some elven songs.", Tshaya replied.

And that's what Tshaya did. For five days she lived with the elves in Avrentis, learning their culture by day and entertaining them by night. She found an elven musician in the village who was more than willing to teach the her a few things about elven music. She discovered that elven music was different than what she was used to, but she became good at it nonetheless. She also found that she couldn't really dance to that style of music, and so she played Vistani music when she entertained.

For the first few days Tshaya enjoyed the simplicity of life in the village, but then she grew very bored with it and became more and more eager to move on. It was her Vistani blood that inspired such feelings. The Vistani were born wanderers, never spending much time in any one place. When it came time to leave the elves gave Tshaya detailed instructions on how to find her way through the Border Edge mountains. "After that it is all downhill.", they said. They also told her that Iron Warden was very different from Avrentis. The people there didn't live in the trees, instead living like humans did on the ground. And they warned her about the Dwarven Lord, Azrael, who ruled Sithicus with an iron hand and advised her never to cross his path. Tshaya asked if Azrael hated Vistani and the elves told her yes. But they also told her that Azrael didn't discriminate. He hated everyone.

Odric and Elena gave Tshaya a small but hearty send-off and gave her enough food for her journey. She  thanked them kindly, but not too long, and in good Vistani fashion she left without looking back. The trail wound through the Border's Edge mountains but was easy enough for her to follow. By mid-day she had reached a point high in the mountains where she could see all the lands around her. She could see into the rolling plains and forests of Invidia and Barovia. And when she looked to the west she could see a small town across a river that she knew was her destination.

The weather stayed nice and Tshaya enjoyed a comfortable downhill journey, reaching Iron Warden an hour before night fell. With her flair for the dramatic, she entered  the small town of about two hundred people the same way as she did Avrentis.  She played her drum and used magic as an accompaniment as she sang and danced towards the center of town. Some of the elves came out and greeted her with smiles, following her in the hopes of catching a show. But the denizens of Iron Warden were not all so easily impressed, and many simply shrugged as she passed by. Tshaya and her followers reached the center of town where she spied a tavern and led a small troop of twenty admirers in the front door.

"Good evening!", Tshaya called out as she burst into tavern.

The barkeep turned and smiled as he saw Tshaya, then he smiled even more as he saw the others filing in behind her. "What can I do for you?", he asked.

"You can let me sing and dance in your tavern.", Tshaya said. "You will find that my admirers get very thirsty and hungry while I perform.

The barkeep frowned slightly. "I've already agreed to have someone entertain tonight.", he replied unsteadily.

From his place at the bar, Damon Hazelgrove overheard the arrival of the Vistani musician. Damon was a handsome fellow in his late thirties with sharp, angular features. His skin and hair were both of a fair color, and his eyes were of the startling shade of blue-violet that was common among the people of Kartakass. He was wearing a blousy shirt and trousers of bright yellow and blue with black leather boots. He glanced over to see what the commotion was about and saw a stunning young Vistani woman. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Tshaya had black curly hair that came down just past her shoulders, and had emerald green eyes. She wore a dark purple skirt that came down to her ankles and a loose, white blouse with short sleeves.  She also wore silver bangles on her ankles which shook and jangled when she walked and danced. Her face was gorgeous, and her features were wild, exotic, and seductive.

Tshaya waved her hand at the people who had followed her in. "But did he bring his own audience?", she asked.

The barkeep looked nervous. He looked back towards Damon, who was sitting at the end of the bar with a lute on his back. Pointing to the man he said to Tshaya, "Perhaps you can make some sort of arrangement with him."

Tshaya's eyes turned towards the handsome bard and a strange feeling came over her. She remembered Madame Raisa's words, "a lover he could be", and realized that Damon was the man who she had been talking about. Tshaya felt scared and nervous as she looked at him. That wasn't like her, and she got angry with herself for feeling that way.

Although Tshaya was attractive, and had pretended to fall for many gaje men, she had never taken a lover. There had been a few young men in her kumpania who had lusted after her, but she didn't like them at all, especially when they acted strangely about her. She hated them for their selfishness. They'd never liked her as a child, being as how she was a half-breed, and they had treated her poorly when she was growing up. But when she became a beautiful young woman they started to treat her nicely, and Tshaya knew that it wasn't because they accepted her or loved her. She knew that they only wanted to use her for their pleasure. So she'd learned to deal with them by giving them the cold shoulder and treating them harshly whenever they got too close.

Now, as Tshaya looked at Damon she felt the same feelings, and contempt filled her heart.

"Okay then.", Tshaya said in a bit of a huff. She walked over to the human. "All these people came to see me. Will you disappoint them?", the young woman asked with a glare.

Damon turned fully around on his stool and leaned one arm against the bar looking quite amused. His eyes casually roamed from one end of the young woman to the other. "Well, I'm not terribly concerned about them but far be it from me to disappoint a lady.", he said suavely.

But Damon's attempts to romance the young lady met only with fierce resistance. "Good!", Tshaya said harshly. Then she turned and walked away from Damon. She waved her hand at the barkeep to let him know that everything had been taken care of.

As Damon watched her bemusedly, Tshaya walked up to the stage and set down her pack. She took out a small bowl and set it in front of the stage. Then she played her drum once more and started up her magical music. The barkeep looked a little happier as things seemed to be working out. Then he started serving up drinks to his new customers.

Damon watched and listened. Tshaya's magic music was nice, but not nearly as good as what a good lute player could do. Damon took a while to get the feel of the music and then slung his lute from off his back. He began to strum a complimentary tune and leisurely strolled towards the stage. Tshaya shot a look at the human as he began to intrude on her performance, but resigned herself to sharing the stage. Damon caught Tshaya's glare and returned a wry grin.

The crowd got into the show, happy to see not one but two musicians play. Wanting to make sure that she was the star of the show, Tshaya made her dance a little more wild and carefree than usual. She made eye contact with everyone, and tried to let each audience member believe that she was performing just for them. Damon continued to stroll around the stage, turning and stepping gracefully to remain just clear of Tshaya's path. His fingers swiftly danced across the strings of the lute in the same way that the girl swiftly danced across the stage. Damon's playing was masterful, and Tshaya noticed that he was helping, not hurting her performance. In fact, Damon was adding much more than she could ever have hoped to do with her magic alone.

Then Tshaya noticed a rich merchant on one end of the stage. Seated on either side of him were two pretty young women, a silver-haired elf and a brunette half-elf. The rich merchant was eyeing Tshaya lustfully. Tshaya made certain to stay at the end of the stage near the rich merchant, smiling at him often. Tshaya flirted with the audience, and the merchant in particular, flipping up her skirt to give quick peeks at her slim firm legs as she danced around the stage. The merchant was hypnotized by Tshaya's beauty and seductive charm. Tshaya noticed that one of the women next to the merchant, the half-elf, was growing jealous, but the other was smiling and enjoying the show. Many members of the crowd began clapping to the rhythm and Damon continued to play, enjoying Tshaya's show almost as much as the audience was.

But Tshaya was a little too tired to put on a long show, and was a little disappointed with her performance that night. The crowd loved it nonetheless, especially Damon's playing, which seemed particularly inspired. Tshaya wrapped up the show on a lively note and quickly walked through the audience with her bowl gathering tips. Damon played a light tune and called for a drink, allowing Tshaya to make her way through the crowd. Tshaya collected many crowns and swords, Sithican silver and copper pieces, and Damon was surprised as he saw the large haul.

As Tshaya came to the merchant he reached out to put a gold piece into the bowl, then grabbed her wrist with his other hand and pulled her close to him. Tshaya let herself fall into the merchant's lap giggling. The half-elf glared at Tshaya while the elf watched her and laughed as well.

"There's more where that came from.", the merchant said as he dropped the golden coin with the rose shaped carving into the bowl.

Damon eyed the pair carefully, noting the facial expressions and body language, and prepared to move in quickly if things got out of control. But Tshaya was in her element, and she handled the merchant expertly. Sitting in the merchant's lap Tshaya took the opportunity to steal a couple of coins out of his pocket. Then she smiled playfully and slipped away from him, waggling her finger at him as if he were a naughty little boy.

"Tsk tsk. Now what would your companions say?", Tshaya told the merchant, playfully sticking her tongue out at the half-elf.

The half-elf fumed while the merchant grinned and his elven companion watched with a smile. Damon took a long drink and when the moment was right he began to play once again.

"I want to see you dance more.", the merchant said to Tshaya. "Privately."

"Perhaps tomorrow night.", Tshaya smiled as she slipped away from the merchant and turned back to the stage.

The merchant pulled Tshaya back against him. "Tonight.", he insisted.

Damon's fingers slipped on the strings when he saw the merchant grab Tshaya, but he quickly recovered and continued to play. In a soul-stirring tenor, the bard began to sing a tale of dark shadows and the foul things that call them home.

Tshaya slid her hand over his cheek in a calming, soothing manner. Speaking in a low, relaxing voice, she said, "Relax. It will be better tomorrow night. I promise."

Then Tshaya whispered a few magic words that only she could hear. The merchant relaxed his hand and let Tshaya go.

"Tomorrow night it is.", the merchant said with a lascivious smile.

Slipping slowly away from the merchant, Tshaya went back to the stage and gathered up her things. As Damon continued to play, she walked quickly out of the tavern, trying to get as far away from the merchant, and Damon, as she could. Once out of sight, she checked her bowl. In it was one rose, ten crowns, and five swords. That was a good haul for such a small town and she wondered how much of it had come because of Damon's exquisite playing. She looked in her hand and found that she had taken two roses from the merchant's pocket. That was more than a good night's work. Then she began to look around town for an inn, but could find nothing other than the tavern and she didn't particularly want to go back inside.

Damon's fearful tale wound down and was replaced by another, a sad tale love and loss, jealousy and betrayal. He kept an eye on the grabby gentleman with the heavy coin purse and saw that while the merchant wasn't very interested in the show anymore, the two women at his side both had their eyes fixed on him. Damon was used to the attention of attractive women, and smiled pleasantly at the pair.

Standing and thinking about it for a moment, Tshaya decided that she would have to risk it. Quietly she slipped back into the tavern and asked the barkeep if he had any rooms available for the night.

The barkeep handed Tshaya a key and said, "Room Two, on the house."

Tshaya smiled and took the key, slipping out the door again before Damon or the merchant noticed her. She went out to the room and locked the door behind her. The room was not nearly as nice as the one that she had stayed in for the last week, but it was clean and would do fine. She bolted the door and slid a small table in front of it. Then she hid the gold pieces in the bottom of her pack, kicked off her boots, and went to bed. Before going to sleep she wondered about Damon and what Madame Raisa had said. Once more she felt warm feelings towards him and grew angry at herself again. If he wanted to be her ally that was fine, she told herself, but never would she allow him to be her lover.

Damon finished up after playing a few more songs, wanting to leave his audience wanting more. Afterwards he inquired with the barkeep as to who the dancer was, but the barkeep was embarrassed that he didn't know her name. Damon changed subjects and asked him about the merchant and his companions. It turned out that the merchant's name was Silas Erekholm and that he traveled between Mal Erek and Har Thelen every few weeks, trading in jewelry, fine cloth, and spices. The women weren't from Iron Warden, so the barkeep didn't know them. Damon figured by their ages and appearance that they were either his wives or his concubines. But the two women didn't matter to him nearly as much as the dancer did. Damon had a sharp eye for beauty, and had noticed that the Vistani woman had a few characteristic elven features, which made her more even attractive to him. He needed to know who she was. He had to meet her again. And last, and not least, he wanted to get his cut of the money that she had gathered.