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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeremy" data-source="post: 142000" data-attributes="member: 4036">The elves stood nearly motionless with huge eyes that at the moment held no emotion as they regarded Collin.  In his excitement Collin's first statement did not reflect his intelligence, but then, his youth combined with his excited curiosity was only exacerbated by the fact that he was the first person he knew of from Ardonia who had met a real elf.So he rather joyously asked them, "Are you elves?"The elves' flat expressions changed not a whit."Oh, yes, well, silly question I suppose.  Yes, um, let's see.  Is that," with a look indicating the rustic wooden lodge at the end of the dock, "Your home?"Still silent, and with no emotion one way or the other on their faces, one of the elves slowly rotated his head fist to the left a few degrees, then to the right."No, I suppose not.  Well, this is quite exciting, to actually be in the prescense of elves.  I've read all about you.  Well, er, yes, not exactly as talkative as I had expected but I guess that can be, yes that can be explained.  Elves!  I'm actually talking with elves!  Well, speaking to rather really, you're not really doing much talking.  But then, I suppose, yes there must be a reason for that too, and I shall discover it.  Hmmm, but first, hmmm--Elves!--let's see.  Galearon, yes?  This of course isn't it.  It's south correct?"Collin's unbridled enthusiasm is utterly unaffected by the still expressionless and equally slow inclination of the other elf's head."Hah!  Wonderful.  I knew that.  The map is wonderful.."  Collin visibly considers pulling the map out to either study it, show his prize to the elves, or maybe just caress it wonderously and replace it, but after a moment he merely smiles bright again and continues on.  "Well, I suppose we shall be off to the south then.  We are going to visit your capital.  I, um, well that is I don't know if you actually have fun, but well hmmm, I guess this is good day!"  And after an entirely one-sided conversation that probably took less than 60 seconds total, Collin walked up the ramp to relay his findings with one more excited murmur to himself."Elves!"Back aboard the ship Frederick had was slowly coming to the decision that compliant or not, the crew might not be trustworthy enough to be left alone on a ship they once piloted.   The fact that it had taken them twenty-one sailors before and Collin's magic and Frederick's intelligence just now to operate the ship escaped him in all the details of the moral dilemma.Khuuld strode down the gangplank, not a timid bone in his body but was met with the same bland looks, and shrugging to himself he packed down and buckled on his gear.  Andrew and Tylette also came down; Andrew was grateful to finally be back on the ground even when he heard that yet more walking awaited them.  As Collin came down the gangplank again with the rest of his gear now lashed securely into place, he called back after Frederick.  But Frederick announced that he would be staying to look after the ship.With a nod, Collin set to summoning forth mounts for the party.The ride through the forest was peaceful counterpoint to the bare skeletal trees they had ridden through near the ruins north of Ardonia.  The only damper on the soothing atmosphere was the strange feeling of being watched.  Animals that seemed to not know they should avoid man watched them curiously.  Irritated, both at the itch of the hairs on the back of his neck and that hunting should prove so little challenge here, Khuuld dismounted, unshouldered his long bow, and began stringing it at the sight of a great stag.A dignified voice began at a slow pace, each word carefully pronounced, "Please do not do that."  The silence between his sentences seemed to stretch.  "If you wish food, it can be provided for you."  The pace of his speech had a ponderous quality to it, as if each word were cautiously chosen, though there was no reflection of that emotion in either the elf's face, nor his body language.Khuuld's reply was equally bland, perhaps in mockery of the elf's fine pronunciation bereft of emotion, perhaps just in strained patience and an honest effort to be civil, "I'm no bloody green ear.  I knows what I'm doin'.  I'm a flippin' furrier.  Yeh just mind yer own business an' lets me see teh mine."Andrew nodded and looked to Khuuld, "It is their farm, their rules."Collin added, "It might be adviseable to just carry on, Khuuld."More irritated now than before, Khuuld finished stringing his bow and fingered the arrows at his hip questioningly.  With an aggravated grunt he deliberately began to draw an arrow out when the elf lifted a single finger unnoticed.Three loud hisses ended abruptly in the earthy thunk of three arrows imbedding themself around Khuuld.  Each from a different direction, each at a down angle.</blockquote>

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