| Elf Business, Human Affairs |
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To be able to feel the elements and to work with them you have to focus. This can be achieved through very different ways. Hylasander does it by singing or making music. Thus he can concentrate on the potential of the elements inside him and around him. Focused like that you can use the power of the elements and do what the humans call magic. I work my magic by dancing. It is how I concentrate and weave the patterns of what I want with the power of the elements. There are many other possibilities to focus, though singing and dancing are the most practiced amongst the elves. They suit our elements. The human mages instead cling a lot to words to focus on their elements. They call it spells, but truly the words aren't really important. Anyone can learn to do magic, at least I think so, though it is harder for the humans to focus than it is for elves. Perhaps because they are so impatient? The ability to sense feelings that empaths possess seems to be different from using the powers of the elements. I am not sure how and what they do, only that it is connected to the element of Fire, the element of human emotion. Amongst my folk there are no empaths of course. It wouldn't make much sense. I remember that the empaths were quite important for the humans though, and that they were honored and cared for. But after the events of last night and after thinking about Thev's words and reactions I reckon this must have changed. It would be interesting to find out what exactly has changed and why. These questions occupied my mind on the whole way back from Thev and Samiel's hut. I had to write them down in my journal and I kept puzzling about it till dawn. But even more of interest to me is what has happened to that particular little empath Samiel. When I shielded him, I felt that there was something connected to him. Is this, whatever it is, draining him from the power he would need to rebuild his mental shields? Thev is not particularly fond of me, so I doubt it will be easy to get him to tell me what had burned out Samiel like that. And I doubt Thev is aware that something has a hold on the boy. But at least I can now understand some of the young Lord Greensleeves' anger, I think, and I see why he is not living at the inn. He couldn't have Samiel there. Though why Thev has such a great dislike for my folk is quite puzzling. I never met or heard of such rudeness and insolence shown to a member of the Fair Folk by a mortal. We will visit the Borderland Inn again this morning, to see if the merchant has arrived. Thus I perhaps will be able to get a few words with Thev. I hope today this will not include bruises and slap marks. --------- Joanathos felt a cold gaze resting on him for quite some time now, but it didn't divert his attention from his writing. The rays of morning sunlight that filtered through the trees' branches weren't blocked out, so he didn't bother to acknowledge the waiting person, until he had finished his writing. Finally Joanathos put his small book and the other utensils away, wrapping them up in a piece of leather and storing them into his traveling bag that lay on a pillow of moss beside him. Then he looked up to find the huntress Silvassandra standing there and waiting for him to take notice. The slight breeze played with her golden hair that was plaited in a multitude of thin braids, some stripes of leather with feathers on their ends being woven into them. Inquiringly Joanathos raised one of his eyebrows. "Stop influencing Hylasander." Silvassandra said. Joanathos' eyebrow arched further up and a smile tucked at the corner of his mouth. "I am not quite certain what you are referring to. But whatever, Hylasander has passed his decade of solitude, I think." he pointed out sardonically.The huntress' dislike for the silver haired elf showed in her condescending expression. "I know he is no longer my charge, but he is still in his early second century and as one of his parents I can interfere in some occasions." she told him with icy sternness in her golden eyes. "And to what I am referring to, you know quite well, Joanathos. You prompt him to unfitting behavior." "I didn't prompt him to do anything at all." answered Joanathos amused. Silvassandra gave a little sneer. "I still remember your part in the Fimbulan-movement three hundred years ago.""Ah, yes and what part would that be." he asked with cynical curiosity. "You seduced the younger elves to take an interest in humans and their affairs." Joanathos laughed softly. "I collected some human songs and made a ballad about Fimbulan and his mortal beloved. If those inspired others to follow my lead, I wouldn't go as far as calling this a seduction.""But I am. And Laertessian thinks the same." Silvassandra remarked coldly. "Ah, yes and he of course should know, having suffered from my seductive influence when he was barely out of his first century." mocked Joanathos. "Forcing him to make songs about humans without referring to them as filthy." His icy-blue eyes gleamed wickedly.The huntress stared intensely at him. "What is or has been between you and Laertessian doesn't concern me. But the interest for the humans is unnecessary and only causes confusion and problems for both sides. Do no longer favor any notion of Hylasander that goes in this direction." she demanded calmly but very decided. Joanathos held Silvassandra's gaze." Conceding to your right as a parent I will not bring the subject to talk to Hylasander, but when he shows interest in it, I will not stop him." It wasn't to Silvassandra's liking, but Hylasander no longer being her charge, she couldn't insist on more. After a short moment of hesitation she slightly inclined her head in acknowledgment, as did Joanathos. Then she turned around sharply and walked over to Calerenios. She hadn't remarked or even looked at the fading red mark that still showed on Joanathos' cheek. Absently Joanathos observed as the two hunters set out with their bows and quivers to shoot the elves' food for today. Then Laertessian's resentful voice caught his attention and he fluidly got up from his place between the roots of a tree. As Joanathos walked to the small clearing where the others had been sleeping, he found their leader talking to Hylasander. "I wouldn't bother with what Joanathos says." Laertessian advised coldly, but with some unusual vehemence. "Are you claiming you didn't make a song about a human called Beatrice and Joanathos just made it up?" There was a slightly cheeky, mocking quality to the young bard's clear voice that quite amused Joanathos. It reminded him of his own voice. Silently he leaned with his shoulder against a tree, crossing his arms loosely in front of his chest and observed the two elves. Laertessian looked very sour tempered and Joanathos mused if he too had noted the likeness to Joanathos in Hylasander's way of talking. "No, he told you the truth. I once made such a song, but I won't sing it." Hylasander's disappointment showed slightly on his face, but he was persistent. "I really would like to hear it. I am a bard after all." He lightly touched his wrists together, to show his sincerity. It didn't have any effect on their leader, who observed the young elf unmoved."No, you're just a snowflake dancing with the storm." With that Laertessian turned away from the puzzled Hylasander. He spotted the tall dancer leaning leisurely against the tree, his silver hair floating and playing around him in the slight breeze. For a moment their gazes locked. As one of the corners of Joanathos' mouth twitched slightly up in a lopsided grin that looked quite arrogant, Laertessian gave a disapproving snarl. "Get ready to leave with me for the Inn." He ordered shortly. Hylasander's gaze had also rested on the slender dancer, but then he turned to their leader with a small frown as he had made his order. Get ready to leave with me, sounded like Hylasander would not be included to the trip to the Inn. Patiently he waited for Laertessian to make his plans for him explicit. But Joanathos voiced the young bard's unspoken question. "Hylasander will have to stay at the camp?" he asked then added wryly "To keep him out of the storm that whispers weird ideas in his ear." "Laertessian?" Hylasander asked calmly though a hint of distrust and resentment showed in his eyes. The leader of the elves turned to him. "You stay here." He told him coldly without giving an explanation. This didn't seem to satisfy Hylasander, though he hesitated to challenge their leader's choice. Calmly Laertessian gazed at the younger elf, waiting for him to affirm his choice. As the bard spoke again he sounded sincere. "You're the leader of this campaign, but I ask you to tell me the reason why I have to stay here." "We won't need you at the Inn." Laertessian answered bluntly "So I decided not to bother you by having you come along." "You are so considerate." Joanathos' voice mocked softly, but the other two elves ignored him. "It wouldn't bother me." stated the young bard, his golden gaze steadily locked with Laertessian's. Who didn't relent. "Still you will stay here. Make a song about Joanathos, bard." With that he turned and started to walk in the direction of the inn. Hylasander gazed after him torn between puzzlement and annoyance, then he looked around for Joanathos. The dancer pushed gracefully away from the tree and walked over to the young elf. Bending down a bit he gently blew against Hylasander's ear then straightened up again with a small ironic smile. "You knew he wouldn't sing that song." the bard remarked calmly. "I hoped you could make him to."Hylasander spotted the fading red mark on the silver haired elf's cheek and he didn't suppress his curious fascination for Joanathos. "What is this mark on your cheek? Did a human do this?" Contented by Hylasander's interest Joanathos smile deepened somewhat. "Yes indeed. It's not easy to communicate with them. On the other hand..." he added maliciously, "trying to talk with Laertessian should be good practice." It had the desired effect, making the younger elf smile slightly. "Will you tell me about it when you're back?" Hylasander ventured politely. "You just had to ask." the dancer answered with some amusement and smugness. "I am looking forward to the song you've made when I return."Thoughtfully Hylasander observed him. "Some song about a storm, yes?" He sounded a bit mocking and challenging, causing Joanathos to chuckle. "Indeed." With that he left after Laertessian. --------- The inn was busy like a beehive in the morning. There were two trains of merchants getting ready to move on, packing horses with big bales and barrels that contained goods. Salt, silver, furs and sometimes elf made leather, Fair Leather, going south in exchange for grain, wine, spices, glass and fine fabrics. Though most of these expensive luxuries didn't quite reach the Borderlands. There was no one who could afford them. It was the nobles of the northern counties who had a liking and a need for them, for they were doing their best to compete with the Queen's Court. And due to the increased trade and the bountiful mines of the Borderlands, that mostly belonged to nobles and merchants of the northern counties, they had accumulated enough wealth to be not only able to afford the competition but also to take the lead in it. The two elves stopped at the edge of the clearing where the Inn nestled against the mountain slope and watched the humans stomping to and froth from the stables, heaving and rolling the barrels accompanied with grunts and angry swearing. The wind carried the noise and the smell of human sweat mixed with the smell of the horses to the immortals, causing Laertessian's nostrils to flare uneasily. Some of the packhorses whinnied nervously and their restless hooves whirled up the dry mud around the Inn, so a cloud of dust hung in the air and coated the sweating faces and bare arms of the working humans. Patiently the elves waited for the merchant trains to leave and the bustle to die down. Laertessian had no intention of walking right into it. Some of the humans spotted the tall immortals standing unmoving beneath the shadowing branches of a firtree, observing the Inn. It seemed to slightly unsettle them, but then they were too busy to pay the elves much attention. The merchants didn't let them tally. Finally the first train of horses, goods, and humans set off due southwest, then the second followed the street in the eastward direction. Laertessian and Joanathos watched them disappear and the dust of their departure slowly settle down again. Only then the elves strode towards the Inn. As they wanted to enter the tavern room, having to stoop low beneath the doorframe, they almost collided with the band of mercenaries. For a moment the freebooters stared surprised at the immortals then they stepped aside, letting them in first. Joanathos observed them with interest as he passed them by, wondering at their colorful, raggedy outfits and the broad rimmed hats. Those hats had different shapes and two had the rim spinned or tied up, but all of them sported a mass of bright feathers. Each mercenary had a long, slim sword riding low on their hips and they had shouldered long pikes as well. Slung across their back they each carried a bag, so Joanathos concluded that they left the inn to continue their journey. The one who had gone upstairs with Thev the previous night caught the silver haired elf's eye. With a self-conscious grin he tipped his hat. "Fair Lords." he rasped. Laertessian gazed coldly down at him, looking insulted that this human dared to address them, the sentiment so strong, that even the human could see it. The air filled with tension and Joanathos noticed how the freebooters' grips tightened around their pikes, but otherwise they seemed not to dare to move against the immortals. Finally the one who had spoken lowered his gaze. "Beg your pardon, Fair Lords." he murmured demurely. Laertessian's icy gaze rested at him for a heartbeat longer then the elf moved on into the tavern room, paying the mercenaries no more notice. Joanathos hesitated, his interest and fascination occupying his mind. But then he gave the mercenaries a condescending nod and followed Laertessian to the bar. He heard the freebooters leave the inn quietly. Behind the bar stood the little maid Seri gazing with wide grey eyes up at the approaching elves, her hands clutching at her apron. The landlady was nowhere in sight and the girl seemed to be in charge of the tavern room, where only two more guests finished their breakfast of porridge and ale. "Has a merchant arrived who inquired for us?" Laertessian asked the maid. Silently Seri shook her head, lowering her gaze so not to offend the immortal Lords. As there came no answer, she couldn't resist the urge to squint up at the elves from beneath the thin fringe of pony falling into her forehead. The elves didn't show any sign of annoyance about the news, their strange, beautiful faces all calm and the one with the long cascading silver hair just looked leisurely around the tavern room. Seri lapped over her dry pale lips. "I'll tell 'im ye was 'ere, when 'e's askin' f' ye, Fair Lairds." she offered helpfully in a small voice. Unfortunately the two elves didn't understand a word due to her thick borderland accent. Joanathos turned back to the small girl and gave her an attentive but blank look that was answered by a hopeful expression on Seri's face, her eyes pleading him to understand. After a moment it became obvious that this got them nowhere. Nervously the maid tugged at her thin braid, backing away from the elves then suddenly she whirled around and shouted through a door at the back of the bar. "Mis'ress Mally! Mis'ress Mally! It's 'em Fair Lairds 'n' Ladies! 'Em dun 'nderstand me!" There came no answer. "Mis'ress Mally!" the girl cried again urgently. "She's not 'ere. She's at the stable." Someone finally shouted back, the voice sounding sullen. Joanathos recognized it at once. "Thev!" the girl sounded relieved "Ye cam 'n' talk to 'em, will ye!?" she pleaded. "Don' make such a fuss. Jus' let 'em wait. They won' leave, don' ye worry, 'em's persistent like the pox." Thev retorted. Puzzled Joanathos remembered that he had had no problem understanding the youth's words last evening, while now he wasn't much better than the girl. But he got some of it and Thev's tone didn't give much room to doubt the offense he meant to make with his answer. Moreover Seri went pale and stared horrified back at the elves. Laertessian seemed not certain about what was going on, for he kept his calm expression, not being touched by the humans shouting to and froth. This amused Joanathos and he gave Laertessian a questing gaze.Grudgingly the other elf inclined his head so slightly that only Joanathos could catch it. With his leader's permission he turned to Seri, talking calmly to her. "We will wait here, child. Or come back tomorrow if he doesn't turn up soon." The girl's lips trembled slightly but she nodded and carefully moved around the bar to lead the two immortals to the best table. Laertessian followed her, while Joanathos hesitated, gazing at the door that led away from the tavern room. He could only make out a short gloomy passage, which seemed to lead into another bigger room. It was tempting to walk in there and try to talk to Thev, but for now he had to stay with Laertessian and wait for the merchant. Perhaps the young human would come out into the tavern room at some time. Thus Joanathos walked to the table where Laertessian just had slid onto the bench, sitting uncomfortably. "D'ye want somethin', Fair Lairds 'n' Ladies?" Seri asked nervously, doing her best to make the question seen on her face. Guessing what she meant Joanathos shook his head. "No." He sat smoothly down across from Laertessian. "I think it meets your approval that I rejected any food or drink?" he translated into the elfin tongue for him. "That is right." Laertessian replied shortly, then started to wait patiently and unmoving. For a moment Joanathos observed the other elf, his silver eyes and light grey-blue hair. This unmoving calmness was going to unnerve the young human girl, Joanathos realized. He looked around for her and saw that she had retreated to the bar, where she dithered and fretted, whipping the weathered wooden bar top clean, but all the while peering at the silent immortals from the corner of her eyes. Nor did the other two guests seem to feel at ease with the cold presence of the elves around. They quickly finished their meals and then left for outside. Seri came to gather up their bowls and mugs and took them away through the door behind the bar. It was the landlady who came out through it again after some time, but she didn't dare to near the motionlessly waiting elves. This Capter doesn't end here. Please contiue here! |
| Tavernroom | Tales | |