14 June 2012
"Not in the mood, Kieran." A simple sentence that should have told him "Danger - angry elf within. Do not approach if you value your life." However, he did not take the hint.
"So how did it go? The meting with Hollar." I glowered at him.
"How do you think it went?"
"Ah. I see."
"No you don't!" I exploded. "You're thinking that he just decided to give us a little punishment that I could easily laugh off, but he didn't. Instead he's going to force me to go on Samuel's silly little quest to get revenge on a stupid evil megalomaniac who wants to take over that world!"
"Ok, maybe I didn't see, but perhaps you could enlighten me..."
I was just about to launch into another tirade of abuse when I stopped myself and realised that I had left him in the dark about the specific details of what had happened in the past half-hour, so I did so. After I finished explaining Kieran looked pensive.
"So you are going to Serana?"
"Yes."
"Then you probably need to find out how the city works, and I'm not really qualified to do that. I may be able to kill the most animals to feed the clan, but I'm certainly not the most experienced. You'll need to talk to Virra, as she's the only elf I know of who's actually been inside that city, or any city for that matter. It would be useful to do so, Lily."
"Virra? I didn't know that she had gone to Serana before."
"She has, but it was before you were born. She was your age when she did so, actually."
"So the information might be out of date."
"Lily, if there's one thing I know about humans, is that they take at least a century to change themselves. The beliefs they held dear twenty years ago will be as strong as today, so, as said, it would be useful. Go, I'll finish packing your stuff."
"But you don't know what..."
"Sure I do. Spare pair of shoes, arrows and food. I've been on more than enough hunts with you to know that is the norm with you."
"Alright. You got me. But don't pack the food. I'll need to travel light, so I'll most likely hunt and gather on the way."
"Sure thing. Boss."
I smiled. Kieran was an expert at lifting people out of moods, and I'd miss his company when I was gone. I exited the tent and immediately saw Virra, making her way out of camp, obviously just about to go on a hunt. I called her name and she stopped while I ran over. Her face broke into a motherly smile as she saw me, obviously practising for the day three months in advance when she'd give birth to her first child. It was a bit weird seeing her in full hunting gear with her tummy so swollen, so I asked.
"Why...?"
"Am I going on a hunt? It's simple, I have a bet with my layabout of a partner that I can't bring a good evenings meal home, because he's too lazy to hunt himself. If I win, he has to hunt every day until the baby is born, and if he wins, I'll take the loss, but then persuade him that as I couldn't hunt with my pregnancy, he has to hunt himself. It's a win-win situation." I smiled. It was typical of Virra, as she was one of the smartest of the clan, and was able to run rings around anyone in a discussion, even Hollar. And that took a lot of doing. "But I'm guessing that isn't the reason you've come to talk to me. Am I not correct?"
She had me down to a T.
"You're right. I need to ask you a favour. Please could you tell me about your experiences in Serana. I know you went there and I need to know all about it before I go there."
Virra stiffened.
"You're going with that human mage, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Well I'm sure that he will be able to tell you all about it." And with that she turned on her heel and started to walk away.
"Please! Stop!" I cried. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted to know."
She stopped.
"I'm sorry. I just... I just didn't want to tell you." She turned and faced me again. "What happened to me in that city is just..."
"It's alright if you don't want to tell me if you don't want to talk about it."
But her face had set.
"No. I will tell you about it. Come back to my tent after I've returned from the hunt, and we'll talk."
Some Advice • Opuss № I