Title: A walk throught the woods
Author: Spiffy
Date: 2/18/00

Scene: A wooded path somewhere deep in Clan Sa'Chatham.  The canopy
blocks what little light is cast by the stars, but those involved in
this tale have no need for light.

"You're taking a big risk on this journey, you know."

"The risk is mine to take, Lord Sa'Chatham."  Lord Dalaran Sa'Chatham,
sovereign ruler of Clan Sa'Chatham to be precise.  One look at the
ancient elf and it was easy to tell his son Avery got his looks from
his mother's side, but the ruler still radiated a charismatic aura like
only a grandparent could.

"Is it, now?  I was under the impression that a Syl lived for the Clan
first and herself later."

The words were harsh, but the old elf's eyes glittered in a way that
bespoke of a playful spirit.  The look on Elainas' face must have been
priceless, as the Lord of Clan Sa'Chatham threw his head back and
laughed heartily.

"No offense child, but the Syl have always been a tad stuck up when it
comes to duty.  You'd think they'd forgotten how to have a good time."

The Syl gave the Lord another look, one that should not have solicited
another chuckle.

"Without duty to one's Clan, order would cease."

"Without duty to both Clan AND self, one becomes nothing but an empty
shell.  Not unlike our dear friend the Earth Chosen."

Elainas flushed at that.  She was quite sure Stana's downward spiral
had started before S'kae, but the mere fact that it was continuing
under her care would be more fuel for the fire when she came up against
the Council.

"Is it that obvious?"

"To the older ones, yes."

"Can anything be done?"

"Her amulet must be made whole for her to be made whole.  There is no
other known solution."

Elainas paused along the trail to lean against a large oak.  "She seems
too young to have so much trouble."

"Well of course!  She's human, after all...  their kind are always in a
hurry to get on with it, soak up all of life's misery, and die long
before an elf child is trusted enough to hold a paring knife - let
alone a sword.  It's just as well, I guess.  If they didn't, they'd die
of old age before they ever really did anything."

"She's young for a human, as well.  physically she is mature, but
mentally...  however well adapted she was to her own world, she was
grossly unprepared for this one."

"I know more than a few who were the same way, both human AND elf.
Take this human you plan to rescue - Flipper, his name was?"

"FINN, your majesty."

"Ah yes, Finn.  The lad's traveled more in the past few months than
most humans travel in a lifetime - on foot for the most part, and he
never even took the time to adapt to is blindness."

"He had started to, but priority had to be given to his continued
freedom."

"Hm.  Yes well he should have taken the time to find a safer hiding
place."

"He was staying at a safe house in Kaika. I'm sure you've heard of
it...the Inn of the Green Dragon?"

The patriarch gave a start at that.  "Drake's old place?  Well, it's a
small world after all, apparently!  So how is he these days..."

And the conversation rambled on through the night.

=====
-----------------=Aaron "Spiffy" Smith=-----------------
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