Chapter 2
“The Friendly Village”
Aya awoke the next morning, surprised that she had again fallen asleep, yet did not remember having been drowsy. Thaydrin sat next to her, already eating breakfast. The woman asked, “Do you ever sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Did Thaydrin sleep last night?”
“No. I felt the need for remembrance.”
“Remembrance?”
“Yes.” Thaydrin could see that the woman still did not understand. “To sleep is to dream. To meditate and reflect is to remember.” Thaydrin drank from his flask then offered it to Aya. She accepted. Thaydrin told her, “My days began during your autumn and have spanned three-hundred springs since.”
Aya spat water. “Thaydrin’s three-hundred years old?!”
“Yes.”
Aya stared at the ageless elf. She believed him. “Are you immortal?”
“Perhaps.”
“Perhaps?”
“Aya, if I should perish, my quest dies with me.”
There was a tense moment of silence, until the woman said, “Aya is an assassin. Aya will kill anyone who kills Sir Thaydrin.”
“That is not my wish.”
“It is what Aya will do.”
“Obstinate woman. Do not avenge me. Flee and live. It is my hope that you live.”
“Thaydrin, you’re not Aya’s master; remember? If Thaydrin dies, then Aya dies avenging him.”
After the two finished eating, they moved on.
Just before noon: The woman and he-fay reached a river. “Aya knows where we are,” she smiled. “There’s a friendly village a short ways down along this bank.”
“No. I must avoid being seen by man.”
“Why?”
“It is not my wish to shed human blood.”
“The village is friendly, Thaydrin.”
“Friendly to woman, perhaps, but undoubtedly fearful of the unknown.”
“Thaydrin....”
“In the world of man, I am mystery, thus, I must be wary of humans.”
“Why does Thaydrin call humanity ‘man?’ Aya is human and she is not a man.”
“The father of your race is the one of whom I speak . Though he has long since perished, his blood lives on, as your blood... and as the blood of all your kind.”
“The father of Aya’s race? Who was he?”
“Man.”
Aya pouted. Why did Thaydrin always answer without answering?!
The woman thought about why the elf did not want to be seen by humans. She remembered her terror upon first seeing him. She still feared him, even though he made her feel warm and safe. An idea suddenly came to mind, “We could borrow a boat!”
“A boat?”
“Yes! I think Kamiko lives somewhere along this river. This village knows Aya. If she asks for supplies and a boat, they would be happy to help. We can find Kamiko before the dark elves do.”
The elf thought for a moment. “Yes,” he agreed. He touched Aya’s nose. “Come. We shall go to your friendly village, but only you shall enter it.”
“Is Thaydrin merely going to wait?”
“Yes. Return to me by nightfall, that I may travel the river unseen by the eyes of humanity.”
They walked on for a ways until they reached the outskirts of a village. They could already hear the giggles of children and the chatter of adults. “Aya.” The woman looked up at Thaydrin. “Cherish this moment you shall have with your own kind. Return to me when you are ready; not before. Do you understand?” She nodded. “Go, my sweet woman. Relish the smiling warmth of your friendly village.”
“Thaydrin?”
“Yes?”
The woman gestured for him to lean down. When he did so, she kissed his cheek! “I’ll be back by nightfall,” she told him. She headed towards the village, then turned and waved.
The elfin warrior raised his hand in response. He surprised Aya... with a smile.
Thaydrin raised his hood and covered himself within his camouflaged cloak. He watched from the woods as the woman hailed others of her own kind. Men and women, young and old and children came to her smiling, chatting and laughing. The woman Aya was at ease with these people, her people, the folk of her own blood. “Peace,” the elf blessed them all.
“We were worried about Little Aya,” the young woman Little Yuka, Aya’s closest friend, told her.
“Little Aya,” Yuka’s father addressed. “Where have you been?”
Yuka whispered into Aya’s ear, “We were afraid Aya had gotten herself killed.”
“Nowhere and everywhere, Mr. Uncle,” Aya answered his question.
“Has Little Aya been to any of the cities?”
“No.”
“Little Aya, come inside,” Yuka’s mother invited. “You look like you need something to eat and drink.”
“Ms. Auntie, thank you.”
Yuka giggled, “Looks like you need a bath.”
“Aya feels like she needs a bath.”
Ms. Auntie reiterated, “Step up. Hurry.”
Thaydrin watched the various humans tending to their tasks and pleasures. The aged moved so slowly and the young were restless even when busy. Children were about, playing or working, but so easily and readily excited. Thaydrin chuckled: The young would become old and the old were once young and all were once children. Men and women were always changing, but their changes were always the same. They talked and talked and never seemed to truly care about what. So long as there was someone to hear them, they were not alone. Perhaps that was all that truly mattered. Perhaps.
“Little Aya,” Yuka’s grandmother smiled, “you are such a pretty girl. You shouldn’t be wandering.”
“I’m on an adventure.”
“Little Aya is always on an adventure. You should have a happy family life– while you’re still young and pretty. If you muddle about, you’ll be an old woman before you know it.”
Ms. Auntie nodded her agreement. “Little Aya, you’re always welcome to live with us. We want you to stay.”
Aya told them, “Someone needs Aya.”
“Who?”
Aya blushed.
Ms. Grandmother giggled. “Who is he?” she enquired.
Aya squirmed. “A friend.”
“A handsome friend?”
Aya blushed and nodded. “He’s a stranger to our land.”
Ms. Auntie asked, “A foreigner?”
Aya surprised everyone with a laugh. The adults glared at her. Aya bowed her head, “Yes, he is a foreigner.”
“Where is he from?”
Ms. Grandmother asked, “What is his name? Does he come from a noble family?”
“Please forgive Aya, but she shouldn’t say.”
Mr. Uncle shook his head. “The girl and her secrets. Answer them, Little Aya, or else they will ask you the same questions for the rest of the day.”
“Please. Aya shouldn’t be talking about him without his permission.”
Ms. Grandmother hugged Aya. “Tell us when you’re ready,” she smiled.
Aya nodded.
Thaydrin watched Aya and another young woman leave the house. A little boy followed them out, but the unknown girl scolded him. Aya seemed to vouch for the lad then cheerfully picked him up hugging him. She talked to him for a while then sent him back into the house. The two young women then walked along the river’s edge until they came to a secluded spot.
Aya took off her clothes and handed them to Yuka.
“Sure you don’t want to wear something of mine?” Yuka asked, “at least until your own clothes dry?”
“All right,” Aya conceded, “but I need my own clothes by tonight.”
Yuka giggled, “It doesn’t take Yuka that long to wash clothes!”
“Little Yuka, thank you.”
“Yuka doesn’t mind.” Yuka walked off as Aya walked into the river and started bathing.
Aya sang and scru
bbed... when she felt someone staring at her! She looked over her shoulder. Thaydrin was on the bank, watching her. He neither smirked nor grinned. The elf just stared. “You sing beautifully, my dear.”
The woman hid her nudity under the water. “Thaydrin, why are you peeping?!”
“My dear Aya is lovely when clothed. I did not doubt that her comely form would be even more appealing when she was naked.”
“Thaydrin, you shouldn’t be sneaky!”
“Silly little Aya, you were singing. Did you truly seek to be hidden?”
“That’s not what Aya meant.” The elf turned to leave. “Where are you going?”
Thaydrin turned to face her. “If you wish to be alone, then I shall leave you alone.” He nodded then disappeared back into the woods.
Later: Yuka and Aya socialized with the stooped, wizened Mr. Kenji. The old man stroked his long, white beard. “Life is short,” he told the girls, “very short.”
Aya thought of Thaydrin. Old Man Kenji was a hundred years old, the oldest human being she had ever seen. Thaydrin was already twice that old the day this very old man was born!
“Mr. Grandfather,” Aya addressed, “what happens when you get older?”
The old man chuckled, “You get old.”
“Forgive me. Does life become boring?”
The old man thought. “It will if you allow it,” he answered. “When you become slow and tired, you want to rest. Try not to rest.”
“Why?”
“Life is a joy only when you savor every moment.” He chuckled, “Everyone tries to have fun when they are young. Why should they stop when they are old?” He pointed at another old man who was nearby. “Does he look happy?”
The old man in question was Mr. Yujiro. He was frowning, as usual.
“No,” the two young women answered together.
Yuka commented, “Some are never happy.”
Mr. Grandfather told them, “I was already a grandfather the day Mr. Yujiro was born.”
Aya mentioned, “Mr. Yujiro looks... older than Mr. Grandfather.”
Mr. Grandfather shrugged.
Aya stared at the smiling Mr. Grandfather. He was a wise and jolly old man, but he was also silly and tired. Though he loved life, his life was fading. Thaydrin was and would always be fresh and vigorous.
Aya looked at the children who were playing about. Even when the toddlers and babes would be as old as Mr. Kenji was now, Thaydrin would still be Thaydrin. The elf would be the same as he was now! A day, a year, a generation, a lifetime, an era: Were they all the same to Thaydrin? Was life short for him, as it was for humans– or was it merely always and forever? Before Old Man Kenji was Old Man Kenji, he was a young man named ‘Kenji.’ Thaydrin was and would always be the same Thaydrin.
Aya considered her own inevitable death. Would Thaydrin forget her? Would he lose interest in her before then? How could eternally handsome Thaydrin love a stooped, wrinkled, white-haired old woman named ‘Aya?’
“What’s wrong?” Yuka asked.
Aya took her friend’s hand and squeezed it. “Mr. Grandfather, goodbye.” she bowed respectfully. Yuka did the same and the two young women walked off.
“What is it?” Yuka asked when the two were alone.
“The foreigner I’m helping is... unusual.”
“What?”
Aya hesitated. “Yuka, I have a secret I want to tell you.”
“You can tell me. Yuka never told anyone that Aya’s an assassin.”
“The foreigner I’m helping is a... spirit.”
“Eh?!”
“He’s a warrior from another world.”
“A spirit warrior?”
“Yes. He’s not just a spirit. He’s also flesh, like you and me, but his flesh doesn’t grow old and die, like ours does. Unless someone kills him, he’ll live forever.” Yuka giggled in disbelief. “Yuka!” Aya shook her. “I’m not joking.”
“You’re serious?”
Aya nodded.
The two young women stared at each other for a moment then Yuka questioned, “Why is Aya with him?”
“He found Aya. She likes him. He’s noble and very handsome.”
“May Yuka see him?”
“He doesn’t want people to see him.”
“Why not?”
“Because people are afraid of him. Aya is afraid of him, even though she trusts him.”
“Why?”
“Because.... He’s very tall... and his eyes burn with supernatural power and wisdom.”
“May I see him? Yuka will try not to be afraid.”
“Yuka, I’m telling you all this so you can help us. We need a boat– so we can get to Kamiko the Witch before his enemy does.”
“His enemy?”
“Yes. His enemies are like him. They want to kill him and find Kamiko the Witch themselves.”
“Does your spirit warrior have a name?”
“Yes, but Aya won’t reveal it without his permission. Little Yuka, will you help us?” Yuka nodded. “We could use food and supplies, as well.”
“Yuka will help.”
The two young women embraced. “Thank you,” Aya told Yuka.
Later: Ms. Mariko found her daughter and Aya preparing food and drink as if for travel. “Little Aya?” The girls bowed their heads. “Are you leaving again so soon?”
“Yes,” Aya respectfully nodded.
“Little Aya, you shouldn’t be running off all the time; especially now. Things are dangerous right now.”
“Forgive me.”
“Is the foreigner waiting for you?”
“Yes.”
“Little Aya, be careful. Girls too easily believe what men tell them. Sometimes the warmest words come from the coldest heart.”
Aya nodded her understanding.
As the land fell under the shadow of sunset, Aya rowed her borrowed boat to a secluded spot just outside of the village. She ran the craft ashore then hopped out and looked for Thaydrin. Hearing a whistle, she knew she had found him. She led the elf to the boat. “Get in,” he told her. She complied. Thaydrin was about to push the boat out onto the water when he suddenly saw Aya’s eyes go wide. Looking over his shoulder, he spotted a young woman staring at him.
“Yuka!” Aya addressed her.
Yuka stared at the tall, wiry, other-worldly warrior, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. She bowed as he rose to his full height and gazed upon her with eerie, green eyes that seemed to glow in the twilight. “Milord, forgive me!” she pled.
“Rise, woman, and look upon me.” Yuka hesitated, but eventually did so. “I am Thaydrin,” he outstretched his long arms. “I am not your lord. I am your friend.” He pushed the boat out onto the river and hopped in. He turned and waved at Yuka. “Be at peace, curious woman.” He then looked out across the river and rowed away.
“Goodbye!” Yuka waved. She watched as the boat faded into the shadow of dusk.
“I’m sorry,” Aya apologized.
“All is well,” the he-fay smiled.
Aya felt warm. When Thaydrin said all was well, then all was well. The elf was kind, but Aya noticed that he was never polite. He always meant exactly what he said.
“Thaydrin?”
“Yes, Aya.”
“Do you think that maybe someday you’ll let Aya introduce Thaydrin to everyone?”
“Perhaps.”
“I think everyone would like Thaydrin.”
“Perhaps.”
“I know everyone would like Thaydrin.”
Thaydrin rowed and rowed, not saying another word. “Thaydrin?”
“Yes, Aya.”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” The elf chuckled. “What?”
“Aya, my dear, does my serenity trouble you?”
“I don’t know. Is Aya bothering you?”
Even in the dim light of dusk, Aya could see Thaydrin’s genuine surprise. “Aya, my dear, I delight in your compa
ny. Even when you are silly, I am glad that you are with me.”
“When I’m silly?”
Thaydrin chuckled, “Yes.”
The woman and he-fay traveled down the river well into the night. Aya lay comfortably in the boat, staring up at the sparkling stars, while Thaydrin continued to row.
The woman asked, “Tired?”
“I am not.”
“Thaydrin, if you want to rest, Aya will row the boat.”
“All is well, my courteous woman.”
“Thaydrin, do you know what stars are?”
“Yes.”
“What are they?”
“Have you not heard stories about them from your own people?”
“Yes, but Aya doesn’t believe them.”
“As well you should not.”
“What are they?”
“The stars are distant suns and distant worlds.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“How do they stay up?”
“They are not truly up. They simply float within the void.” He could see the woman trying to understand what he had just told her. “Aya.”
“What?”
“Behold the moon.”
“Why?”
“Look at it.” Aya stared at the moon. “Your kind shall tread upon it.” The woman laughed. “What I tell you is no jest. Mortal humanity shall walk upon the very moon. We have foreseen it.”
There was a long lull in the conversation as the woman tried to fathom the elf’s claim. “How?” Aya questioned.
“There is nought beyond your people that which you imagine to do. Though your lives are but a flicker, you are the Conquering Race.”
Aya knew in her heart that everything the elf had ever told her was true. So, why was it so hard to believe him?
“Thaydrin?”
“Yes, Aya.”
“Where is your world?”
“Though I trust you, my beloved Aya, that I shall not tell you.”
“Why not?”
“It shall suffice that I do not answer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I am not offended, my curious little Aya. I simply must do what I must do and not do what I must not do.”
Aya considered her own secretive life as an assassin. She understood.
Awhile later: Thaydrin noticed that Aya had fallen asleep. He smiled. He rowed and rowed and sometimes only guided the drift of the boat. Meanwhile, he loved to hear the light, restful breathing and the peaceful sight of his pretty little Aya sleeping.
Sir Thaydrin the High Elf Page 2