Despite his non-human features I recognised the face of Derek Lettman, one of the guys in my class in school. Derek was an emo and didn't have many friends at school, and seemed to have even less outside. I would probably consider myself one of those friends, but even then there was distance between us which was something I regretted but didn't really know how to fix, afraid I'd screw up and drive him away, and I had reasons other than friendship to not want to drive him away.
"J-Jon?" He stammered in shock at seeing me.
"Derek?" I asked back.
Before either of us could answer a cough interrupted us. "I believe you dropped this," interjected the wizard, handing 'Derek' something. I didn't get a good look but could have sworn it was a stone like the one I had in my belt pouch. Before I could comment the wizard turned and knelt next to the fop that the guards served who had crawled halfway across the doorway, and gently turned him over. Although I was distracted by this I could have sworn I heard 'Derek' whisper "Grandad?" Not hearing this the wizard placed a finger on the forehead of the fop, who was looking up at him in horror, and muttered a spell. The man's eyes rolled back in his head and he fell asleep.
Chuckling, the wizard stood up and turned back to us. "When he awakes he should remember nothing, which is best for you three."
"I-I should be going," stammered the rogue.
"Nonsense," replied the wizard with a flourish of his finger, "You, Barûmnâzil, and Elutian here are the foundations of a fine team."
"A drow and now a tiefling?" spat the dwarf, but I was begging to suspect all his bluster was just a front and that he was trying to act the part of a dwarf barbarian to hide the fact he was as out of his depth as me and 'Derek'.
The rogue's eyes widened in fear and he replied, "t-the name's Naziim."
"Well Naziim," smiled the wizard "Now the pleasantries are out of the way we best be getting a move on." And with that he strode on. Naziim and I glanced at each other and I shrugged. Naziim blushed and turned to follow.
I dashed back and grabbed my discarded bow and hurried to catch up, slowing my pace once I'd drawn level with Nziim. I glanced over at him and said "Umm, back there you called me Jon.."
"Time for that later," said the wizard without breaking stride or looking back. Barûmnâzil, who was at the wizard's side did look over his shoulder however, giving us a quizzical look. I shared a glance with Naziim and we followed in silence.
