Part the One-Hundred Sixty-Second
In which: Thatch reflects on traditional Elven greetings.
Much cooled and refreshed from their impromptu bath, the group eventually resumes the road for Nayarii.
A few hours walk down the road, Lira asks a question that’s been nagging at her. “What are we going to do when we get to the city and they ask to see our passports?”
“We’ve got passports,” Thatch points out.
“Yes, but they don’t say that we’re traveling to Nayarii. They say we’re going to,” (Lira has to pull hers out to check) “En Tyai.”
“Oh. Right.”
Eva makes a radical suggestion. “We could always tell them that we
were going to En Tyai, but then were abandoned by our guide and, after wandering lost in the desert, eventually made our way to the Sea Road and this is the first city we’ve come to.”
“It does have the virtue of being true,” Lira allows.
“If incomplete,” Anvil adds.
“Will that be a problem?”
Anvil is just about to respond when a shout comes from the side of the road.
“Freeze humans! Release our sister!”
The voice is gruff, and although the command was in Common it does not sound like that language is the speaker’s native tongue.
A moment later, a small group of elves show themselves from behind a bluff on the side of the road. They look like no elves that anyone in the party (including Reyu) has ever seen before. Their skin is dark, darker than even that of the darkest human Ebisites the party has seen. Their clothing is a fierce-looking hodge-podge of the remains of several desert creatures: leather of various beasts, feathers of vultures and desert eagles, bone fragments. It takes the party a moment to realize that the bits of armor the elves wear are parts of the carapace of a giant scorpion.
Adding to their aggressive appearance are the lines of colored paint on their faces. And, of course, the fact that all of them have arrows drawn and ready to fire on the party.
Thatch silently reflects that, while these elves’ means of dress may be unfamiliar, staring down the shaft of elven arrows is an all-too-familiar sight. Somehow, that’s how elves *always* seem to start conversations with them.
“We’re not holding her!” Lira calls back as she, along with the rest of the party, freezes obediently.
The elven leader approaches cautiously, bow still drawn. Reyu does not let her guard drop for a second. Although it has not been worn by her tribe since before her Grandmother was young, she knows what his face paint means. These elves are preparing for war.
The elven leader calls out to Reyu in Elven, “Is this true? You are not these humans’ prisoner?” To Reyu’s ear, his speech is strongly accented, although she can follow what he is saying. She wonders if the other members of the party who speak Elven are having trouble.
“I am not,” she replies. As he nears, Reyu can read the other elf’s braids. He is Raku Oren of the Putan tribe of the Shesher nation. His achievement braid indicates that he is a valiant warrior of many daring exploits.
As Reyu absorbs this information, she is keenly aware that Raku is reading her braids and absorbing her own history. “Why did you think I was being held against my will?” she asks him, in Common this time.
Raku’s eye has now fallen on Kiara’s braids, and it is with some difficulty that he pulls his attention back to Reyu’s question. “You were with humans,” he says simply.
“I see,” Reyu responds. “And are humans the reason you are girded for bloodshed?”
“Four children have been taken from the Olam tribe,” he explains, still only addressing Reyu. “The child-thieves have locked themselves inside a human village. The Shesher will not rest until they are returned.”
Reyu’s breath hisses sharply through her teeth. Elves treasure their children above all else. The taking of four by humans… Small wonder the Shesher are preparing for war.
Lira, Annika, and Kiara
have been following at least most of the conversation and fill in the others as the matter progresses. “But why?” Kaira blurts out. “Why would they take your children?”
Raku spits in the sand. “They do not need a reason. They have been taking our children for years without reason. This time, they will pay for their theft in blood.”
Reyu turns to Anvil. “This kidnapping? Surely it is not… permissible… not even as a means to obtain slaves.”
“This is not in the Confederacy,” Anvil answers, “I am not an expert in the laws of this land.”
“Are the Shesher determined to extract a blood price?” Reyu asks Raku.
“
We desire the return of our children. It is
they who demand bloodshed by their refusal to return them to us!”
“Where is this village?” Reyu asks him. “Perhaps we can convince the humans to release your children without need for war.”
Raku snorts. “And why would they listen to you?”
“We are outsiders. We have no stake here, merely the desire to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.” She indicates Anvil. “He is a law-maker among his people.”
Raku considers Anvil with undisguised suspicion. “If he is a law-maker, he should make laws against what these humans have done.”
Anvil, having received a quick translation, addresses Reyu. “You should tell him that the doctrines of Universal Law would prevent such acts, as they are not holy in the sight of Kettenek.” He stands back and waits for Reyu to translate.
Reyu blinks at him. “Would you be willing to try to make a settlement?” she asks him.
“If the children were not Justly taken, certainly.”
“There can be no justification for what has happened to them, surely.”
Anvil is unruffled. “That is what Justice demands we find out.”
Raku snarls at this discussion. “The humans can not be reasoned with, but if that is your desire, you need to speak with the War Hand. She commands the gathered forces of the Shesher nation.”
(For those readers wanting the true Halmae table experience, imagine twenty minutes of “is this our problem?” discussion here. For the rest, suffice it to say
Some party members are dubious that this is their cause to take on, but eventually agree it is worthwhile to at least learn more about the situation from the War Hand.
(And so, I am just a little embarrassed to admit, began two sessions of “talk to the hand” jokes.)
“Where can we find her?” Reyu asks.
Raku does not seem pleased that “we” obviously includes the humans of the party, but he does not answer directly. Instead, he turns to one of the other warriors with him and barks at her sharply in elven. He then addresses the party. “She will take you to her.”
