A few of the elves I recognized from the march, including the three council members who I had been introduced to, all began to awkwardly clap, and the entire group slowly, as word passed about what It meant from elf to elf, all joined in. It got really weird when they all started clapping in sync.
I raised my hands then, thanked them for their attention, and allowing us to bother them, and told them they didn’t have to clap if they didn’t want to. It was a truly awkward moment, but it at least stopped the erie clapping. I did the cut the mic sign to Ailsa, and she broke her spell on our voices and the instruments.
As I helped the others get up from a sitting position, the three elder councilors came over to us followed by perhaps the shortest elf I had ever seen. “Perhaps now is a good time for us to introduce the fourth and final member of the council.” Sed said as he held his hand out for me to shake.
I did so and waited for them to begin. The fourth member of their little group stepped forward from behind Terr’a’min and his glowing rainbow tattoos. He was short, shorter even then Sed’min’el, who was the shortest elf I had met up till that point, but in every other way he was a perfectly normal elf.
What the elf wore was a different story. Everything was green, from his peaked wizard's hat to his curly shoes, with the one exception his big black leather belt with a gold buckle on the front. He was, essentially, a cross between a Keebler elf, as he was a little on the pudgy side, and that leprechaun from that old cereal that ended up poisoning those kids in Alaska a few years ago. My eyes went wide and I looked over at Ailsa, who only shrugged.
“This is Elmer Keeb’larich, master of the bakers guild in the far eastern corner of our colony. His people have great relations with the human and dwarven villages of that far-flung region of our lovely forest.” Lisander said kindly, a smile on her demure, intelligent face. Honestly, she looked like Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings trilogy in this light. except she was wearing green rather than starlight silver and white. So, basically Galadriel from the Peter Jackson version, not the Michael Bay films that came years later. I nearly shuddered at the thought but managed to keep my revulsion at that international travesty to myself.
“It's a pleasure to meet you Elder Keeb’larich.” I said as I bowed, he returned the gesture.
“It is a fine thing to meet you as well Mr. Tear.” He said as he gripped my hand and shook it in both of his. His fingers were slightly pudgy but gripped my hand with surprising strength. It took me a second to realize he had said the word ‘mister’ in English. He winked at me, goosebumps went wild on my arms.
“Let us retire to the council chamber yes?”Terr’a’min said as he began walking away from the small group and towards one of the pair of massive trees, the moons overhead only now having begun to silhouette them in the night. We all followed him, to the base of the tree, it was at least the size of a Walmart, if not a Walmart supercenter. The one next to it was definitely the size of a supercenter, but we didn’t go there.
The place we were headed was on the very bottom of the tree, a small one-person door of plain wood that blended into the bark of the tree rather well. In fact, I was ninety-nine percent sure that it was made of the bark of the tree, and it blended in so well that If I hadn’t seen Terr’a’min open the dang thing I would have walked right past it without ever suspecting a thing, and I'm pretty sure that was the point.
Inside was a large hallway, nearly large enough for a team of oxen and a large covered wagon to go through with a little room to spare for people to walk alongside. I looked back at the door and realized it was a small door, recessed into a large set of double doors that could very easily be opened for just exactly that purpose.
We walked down the hallway for a few minutes before we finally stopped at a seemingly random spot in the hallway, while Terr’a’min knocked on a perfectly flush wall, which then promptly opened inward. Dang this place is designed with secrecy and stealth in mind.
Inside was a large ornate stone table, that had four wooden, and one stone chair on one side, and a plethora of chairs of lesser craftsmanship on the other, with a small lectern in front of the table facing where the council would sit. The council each took their seats, with one chair on the far right being left empty. Looks like there’s a vacancy in the city council. But before I could say anything, Ambassador Silvia sat with them. Wait, did she even come with us? What?
“Thank you for notifying me, and allowing me to sit in on this meeting,” Salina said as Tol’geth and I took seats in the “audience” area.
“You are an honored guest, of course, you are welcome at our table. I am sad that we had the vacancy as it has proven somewhat problematic.” Terr’a’min said as the other members all nodded in agreement.
“Now, to the matters at hand. If I am correct, we have three matters we must attend to. The matter of the communication from Cutters Hollow, the matter of the loss of Pina, Salina’s guard who sacrificed herself to keep you out of danger Ambassador” Salina nodded solemnly.
“And lastly, a plea for aid from the Wizard Rayid Tear, a human who has rendered some assistance to our friend and ally Tol’geth of Varidian and Barisel in his quest to fetch the wayward children. Is there anything we have missed?” No one responded. “Good, then I hereby call this meeting of the Council of Lo’sar to order.”
---
The letter was a simple message explaining to the Lo’sar council that the town of Cutters Hollow was going to need to triple its winter militia force in response to some minor goblin raids along the river, the only delivery route that the Cutters had during winter. The elves had expected for the force to grow in size as it regularly did for the winter season, but not nearly by so much.
Such seasonal growth was expected to start not for a few more weeks, and it was usually a response to the need for more men too police the town's taverns when off duty out of town cutters, stuck until winter thawed, ended up spending nearly all of their time and coin on alcohol and women.
“If the swamp goblin tribes have started harassing the barges going into and out of the twins again, then perhaps Sed should visit with them?” Suggested Lisander hopefully. “It might prevent some unfortunate bloodshed.” The rest of the council agreed to that, and a proposal by Sed to allow him to visit the Hollow so that he could reassure their neighbors that the council was going to reach out diplomatically, in an effort to soothe their “fearful dispositions” was also approved.
I rolled my eyes when Sed of all people said that. Arrogant and oh so condescending. Elves will be elves I suppose. Even the jolliest among them.
On the second issue, something strange happened. Terr’a’min’s tattoos began to glow in a dark-light, almost neon blue color and his disposition fell, giving him a serious-as-sin demeanor. “I hope that the commissioned ballad has been finished?” He asked Salina who nodded solemnly.
“I have edited the work handed to me by my court poet. It is respectful and louds her accomplishments, as well as her peoples. She shall be remembered fondly with this work to follow her into eternity.”
So odd, they’re talking as if they know for a fact that she is dead. Well, you can’t stop a person from believing something they have thoroughly convinced themselves of, besides even you think that she is probably dead and buried. One part of my mind said another said there is always hope, and yet a third part said, she’s probably a slave somewhere. I had to fight off the images that this last voice in my mind conjured, dark, and dreary, and thoroughly unhelpful.
When finally the issue of my plea came up, I was asked to take to the stand directly. “Please state your full name, and then what you want from the Green Elves of Lo’sar.” Terr’a’min instructed, his tattoos having returned to an only slightly subdued version of their original hue.
“My name is Rayid of House Tear, I am here on behalf of the Gods of the Pervolin peoples.” There was only a small reaction to this pronouncement, but it was more of interest then shock. “They have tasked me with finding
suitable winter quarters for the many people who are traveling north as we speak. They will die in droves of cold, starvation, and disease if proper planning is not undertaken and supplies are not laid down for their provision.”
“Do you have a plan? Or do you seek our aid in forming one, wizard?” Terr’a’min asked. I grinned, searched through the small bag at my waist, and took the map that Tol’gath had given me out, unfolding it. I walked to the table and laid the map out in front of all of them, and pointed to a place directly east of Lo’sar’s forest.
“This land here, between your forest and the river, is empty if this map is to be believed. According to one of the rangers who I spoke with while we practiced for the musical demonstration, he told me it primarily flat, with a few rolling hills that could block the wind. It is along the river, but out of the way of the trade route between the Twins and Cutters Hollow, so he won't have many objections from the barge masters from the Pervolin refugees potentially disrupting traffic along the river
“In point of fact, I plan on using the barges that sit idle during the deep winter to transport not wood, but the Pervolin people from the twins, to this site. What I need from you all” I said looking each one in the eyes individually as I spoke. “Is permission, and even assistance, in cutting wood for lodgings, hunting what game can be found and what food you can spare or grow in this forest.”
The four leaders looked at one another, a silent conversation taking place between them that I was not privy to. “I believe that we should discuss this in private. Would you mind stepping outside while we discuss to what level we wish to become involved in this situation?” Elmer Keeb’larch said from the far left of the group of four. “You are asking for a lot Mr. Tear. It is only appropriate for us to debate it, yes?” The others slowly nodded or voiced their assent.
“I understand. And thank you for even considering this.” I bowed slightly, turned on my heels and walked out of the room.
----
Tol’geth shook me roughly and I snorted awake “Wah? What's happening?” I asked as my hand went to sparks on my hip. I stopped when I remembered where I was and why I was there. “Oh, it's only you Tol’geth. I seem to have dozed off.” I said wiping drool from the corners of my mouth.
The tall man grunted in agreement “Yes, they have. You should return and speak with them.” I rose to my feet with Tol’geth’s help balancing. And lifting. Okay, he basically hauled me to my feet unceremoniously. Being around elves and giant men isn’t doing good things for my ego.
The atmosphere in the room when I entered was one of tension. The look on each members face was a different variation on frustration, annoyance, or self-righteous indignation. When I got back to the stand, it looked like there was going to be an explosion of frustrated yelling from the looks on a couple of their faces. Lisander, Elmer, and Terr’a’min all seemed to be having the greatest emotional reactions. Sed’min’el just seemed board as he fiddled with something in his hands.
“We have come to a conclusion” began Terr’a’min.
“A stupid decision, that breaks the fundamental principles that this colony was founded upon, but sure, a decision.” Said Elmer his face flushed with frustration.
“How dare you!” Lisander shouted as she took to her feet “you little half gnome!” The room exploded into mayhem as Lisander attempted to strangle the small, green covered man, who bit her arm in response. Terr’a’min sat there shaking his head as the two fought behind him, while Sed’min’el laughed and watched the fight as he took a drink from his flask.
For my part, I was stunned. The graceful veneer of these deeply emotional, and in at least one case highly inebriated people, was stripped away in an instant and I saw that they were little better, or worse than humans.
Once first blood was drawn Tol’geth stood and waded into the fray, interposing himself between the baker and librarian, lifting the short man by the scruff of his coat, and grabbing the book worm and hauling her to the tips of her toes gripping her under one armpit. Got to remember that one, armpits are sensitive.
“ENOUGH!” The barbarians voice boomed over the squabbling struggling combatants who even though he held them, still tried uselessly and desperately to get at one another. They stopped struggling, and he placed them both firmly in their seats, with a growl of warning. Tol’geth then began to bandage Lisander’s arm where the erstwhile baker had left a bloody set of teeth marks, as her face went fire engine red with anger, and embarrassment.
“You see Rayid the wizard,” Said Salina voice filled with laughter. “We are just as susceptible to the failings of mortals as your kind. We just hide it better.” She winked at me and took a sip from a wine glass I hadn't noticed before.
“That…” I said pointing toward the bite mark. “And that…” I pointed to Sed who was now so tired and filled with spirits his eyes where fluttering closed as he fought sleep. “And that…” I pointed to Elmer who had a growing bruise around his throat that would probably be dark, deep, and tender before the night was over. “Are why I don’t drink.”
Sed, who was half asleep roused at that. “Don’t drink! Bah, the Gods of men and elves banish the thought!” The sentiment seemed to be shared by all in the room, save Tol’geth who just stared at the council, arms folded, from behind them.
“The love of wine and spirits is one of the few things that truly unit all of the races, men, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and even goblins though their tastes are far less refined than our own.” Explained Salina. “The thought of depriving oneself of such pleasures for an entire lifetime, even one so short as a humans, is … well… it's like to drive one to madness.” Her eyes were slightly shiny, but whether it was from the drink or mirth, or a mixture of both I was unsure.
That statement seemed to mollify and unite all the parties at the table. “I’m starting to rethink my vote.” Said Lisander playfully, smiling at me as she took another drink, and wincing at the pain in her wrapped arm, the blood from the wound darkening the bandage.
“Well, we all know wizards tend to have, eccentric ideas about propriety.” Sed said as he too took another deep draft from his flask.
“Indeed,” said Terr’a’min as he stood and went to refill his own wine cup from the table along the back wall that held a golden pitcher. “Wizards, the arcane wonderers of the wild, the shambling shamans, and barefoot teller of tales and dispensers of wisdom throughout the realms, indeed. One can not expect them to have every virtue.” He finished as he sat back down in his marbled chair and took a long drink from his own cup.
So that's what wizard means to these people! Well, I can live with that. I thought . I’ve always fancied my characters in role-playing games similarly, why not LARP it up! Outwardly, I simply shrugged. “So does someone want to tell me what the outcome was? Or are you just going to sit here all night and drink while I stand here and watch you?” That earned a long pause, followed by uproarious laughter from all of the council members. Salina choked on her wine and some of it spilled onto the white gown she had at some point changed into. Even Tol’geth chuckled, a little before he went back to dutifully glowering at the two trouble makers.
“Alright, alright” Terr’a’min said, his colorful tattoos having returned to normal, meaning a bright and almost neon rainbow. “Perhaps we are a little too drunk to actually be having this conversation.” He held out a hand and multi-hues mana spread like light over the entire gathering to the protestations of everyone there, save me and Tol’geth.
“Terr’a’min has cast “Cleansing Rainbow 2” all effects from inebriation, poison, or other intoxicants, along with exhaustion and other natural stat-based effects have been removed. Removed Effects: Tired.”
The prompt wasn’t wrong, I felt as awake and energetic as I had when I first woke up. Which meant a lot, I am usually a morning person and often do my best work at hours that others would consider unseemly.
“There.” Terr’a’min said as he sat up straight in his chair, the demeanor of self-imp
ortance having re-asserted itself. “We are all clear-headed now.” The other members of the council all coughed, straightened in their chairs, scowled at their drinks, or stains that said beverages had caused. “Our decision was nearly unanimous in the affirmative, with only one dissenter.”
I didn’t quite understand what that meant. “So, you were all inclined to acquiesce to my request?” In an odd random act of the universe the words had direct analogs from English, using the same assonance and rhyming scheme. Slight smiles reappeared on all of their faces.
“Yes.” The chairman of the council said happily.
“My dissenting vote was not intended to be a judgment on the worthiness of your cause or a dismissal of your people's plight, you understand.” The short, odd-looking elf who had bitten Lisander a few minutes earlier said. “When this colony was first founded, it was meant as an experiment into the connection our people have with these trees. Many of us once thought them all holy things. Though that sentiment has waned in recent generations…” Elmer gave Lisander a sideways glance that she pointedly ignored. “... It is still one that many of us original founding members of the colony hold true too. To fell the trees in our forest, even for such a noble cause, was once unthinkable.” The short elf shook his head sadly, the peak of his wizard's hat flopped from one side to the other with the motion.
“I understand and am grateful for the council's decision. If it helps at all ease the pain for your people Elmer, I will ensure that the refugees you help will assist in the replanting of young trees. While I do not know the disposition of these people yet, I will ensure that they know of your people's sacrifice.” Elmer nodded, his expression still pained, but he was obviously somewhat mollified.
Terr’a’min cleared his throat before speaking. “We will work out the details tomorrow as those of us who can go to survey the area south of the Guardian Mountains, west of the river, and east of our forest home. I hereby consider this matter, and this council meeting closed. Now, who wants to go back out to the party?” Just as he asked, a loud thumping in the ground shook the room, but no one reacted with fear or alarm. Sed actually groaned, annoyed for some reason.
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