Excerpt fr. Chapter One of a Story by Lyndsey Bruckman

Here's a part of the first chapter of one of Lyndsey's stories. I couldn't the whole chapter because of length (sorry Lyndsey!) but I can forward it along to people if there's interest. We can discuss tonight.

Chapter One

“Where are you going Metis?” Rosalind asked her daughter.

Metis stood in the doorway to her family’s home, her shoulders sagging, “I’m going to the tavern with my friends,
Mother,” she turned toward Rosalind, “Am I not allotted some fun once in a while?”

Rosalind stopped folding the laundry and placed the rest of the clothing on the kitchen table. She pressed down
on her apron and pushed back a few stray grey curls from her forehead. “You do know that every time you go to that tavern you get into some kind of trouble. I don’t want to keep covering for you. You need to learn to show some decency. Our pride in you seems to diminish every time you go out with your ‘friends’”.

Metis turned around fully and crossed her arms over her full chest, “I know, I know. I’ll try to act proper this time. Does that satisfy you, Mother?”

“Somewhat, but I don’t want you to become so intoxicated that you get into another fight. Your father and I don’t want to bail you out of the Guard House again. You are a Grey Elf, daughter, they won’t hesitate to do it again,” Rosalind sighed, it was the sad truth.

“Don’t be silly, that’s not the reason. They put other races in the Guard House when they become rowdy.”

Rosalind shook her head, “I don’t care. If anyone in this village sees you in there, they will think lesser of us. I don’t want that!”

“Don’t go all huffy Mother. This is my life; I will choose how to lead it.”

“If you do something wrong this time I won’t be too sympathetic, and neither will your father,” Rosalind grabbed her wicker laundry basket from the table and walked over to her daughter. “I just don’t want you to live a life of wild nights and despair.”

“That won’t happen, Mum, there is something out there for me that will make you proud of me. I just want to have fun for now.”

Metis looked into her mother’s sweet ebony eyes. There was trust there, but it was waning. Rosalind embraced Metis and lightly patted her grey cheek.

“You may go, but be home this night, no staying at someone’s house.”

Metis smiled and ran out the front door with a little hop in her step, “Thank you Mother!”

Rosalind walked out onto the path in front of their country home, “Next time wear a better dress!”


“What did your mum say?” asked Constance.

“She said that she wasn’t going to cover my arse anymore. So I best be on my best behavior tonight.” Metis downed the rest of her ale that had a nice hint of apple cider.

Constance and Metis sat at a neglected table at the back of the tavern. The Grinning Wolf tavern was filled to the brim. There was a vast array of races and kinds of people dancing, drinking, and having a good time. The hall was crowded and loud, but it was the best tavern for miles. The girls had no choice.

Metis glanced over at Constance. She was smiling at a small table of young men who were giving her the eye. Constance was a good looking human, Metis thought, maybe that was why the men were looking at her friend instead of herself.

Metis sighed. The girls had been friends for years. They were always together, and they were always there for each other when something went wrong. But Metis knew that Constance was always going to be the prettier one out of the pair. Maybe tonight was the night she was going to find an attractive man, Metis thought.

“I’m going to go get another pint, do you want one?” Metis asked Constance.

“Hmm?” Constance was too enthralled with the men a few feet away. “What did you say?”

“I’m going to get another, do you want one?”

Constance turned her attention toward Metis as she played with her long brown curls, “Why can’t you just signal for a serving girl?”

Metis smiled, “Because I want to scout the hall, maybe there’s a few more men than the ones flirting with you.”
Constance coyly waved at the men, “Oh I guess you are right, sorry.”

Metis got up from her seat and grasped the two empty pints, “That’s alright. Why don’t you go over there and make some conversation? You know they are too scared to come over and talk to you.”

“Maybe they are too scared to come over here because of you,” Constance said teasingly.

“Funny, my dear, you have a wonderful sense of humor,” replied Metis as she slapped her friend on the shoulder.
Metis made her way through the crowd, pushing past people she knew and strange men with their wenches. She turned back to see that the men from the other table had finally decided to go over and talk to Constance. Maybe Constance was right, Metis thought, maybe they were afraid of my kind.

With that thought pushed to the back of her mind, Metis made her way to the bar without being knocked over. She found an empty stool and claimed it as her own.

“What will you be having, Metis?” Geoff asked.

Geoff was the tavern owner and bar tender. Since Metis and Constance were somewhat regulars, Geoff had become pretty good friends with the girls.

“Oh, just a refill on ale, please,” Metis placed the pints into Geoff’s massive hands and slapped down four more coppers.

Geoff returned with the two now full pints and placed them on the bar, “I’m cutting you two off now, alright sweets? We don’t need two drunkards look’n like yourselves again.”

Metis laughed but she knew he was thinking of their overall well being, “I’ll take your word for it, Geoff. You are a good man.”

“Flattery won’t get you too far with me young sweet, but I thank you none-the-less.” Geoff said as he scratched his now bald head.

Metis tipped her head and watched the older man take the four coppers. She then set off back to the table and it’s new guests.

On her way, Metis looked at all the people at the tavern this night. There weren’t too many that caught her eye, but maybe she wasn’t drunk enough. She would see with the second pint.

Just then, Metis bumped into someone, and some of the ale sloshed over the mug’s sides.

“Shit!” Metis exclaimed and looked over to the person who knocked into her shoulder.

“Oh I am sorry Miss, please let me get you another.”

Metis lost all control in her jaw muscles as her mouth opened in pleasant surprise. A man had knocked into her. Not only was he a man, but a handsome man at that. He was of the Human race, tall compared to Metis, light skinned, and muscular. Unlike so many men in the tavern, he smelled like the forest, musky yet fresh. And he had offered to purchase two more pints for Metis.

“Are you alright,” he placed a large hand on Metis’s shoulder, “I hope I didn’t bump you too hard.”

“Oh yes, I mean no, no you didn’t,” Metis stumbled. His smile was kind, his hair long and black, and his tunic fit him snugly. “I wouldn’t mind your offer.”

“Alright two more ales it is. Where are you seated?”

Metis pointed to her now crowded table in the back, “I’m over there with my friend Constance. It was empty but I guess a few lads picked up her scent.”

The man laughed. He thought I was funny, Metis thought.

“I’ll meet you there with two more pints then.”

Metis nodded and watched him walk over to the bar. His trousers fit him quite nicely as well, she thought. Then the thought occurred to her, they weren’t supposed to have anymore ale, maybe Geoff won’t catch on. Metis crossed her fingers and sidled over to her table.