The Keepers of the Elements

Tulii

Meanwhile in Greenroot, an elven village, Tulli Everbrush had no idea what was going on in the other side of The Brook Wood. All she knew was that she had to go to the market and get a stupid dress made for her aestar (elvish for marriage/wedding). Which she wasn't very happy about.

The elven tradition was to get married before you turn eighteen, and since she was seventeen, her parents had found some rich guy who was a little older than her, and thought he was the coolest guy ever. Most girls were jealous that he was betrothed to Tulii, even though she would totally let any other person take him.

"Tulip- uh Tulli!" Oh. It was him.

"What do you want, Atrius?" Tulii grumbled, without bothering to turn around and meet his eyes. Atrius lunged in front of her and shoved a rose in her face. A thorn scraped her in the chin. "Ack! What is wrong with you? Did you not know roses had thorns on them?"

"I know that certain roses don't." Atrius flashed her a creepy smile, making it obvious he was talking about her.

Tulii rolled her eyes. "All of them do." And she turned away to hide the grin that had crept onto her face when she saw Atrius' expression. "I'm off to the market. I'll see you again, later today." She informed him and continued on her way.

The market was busy, no surprise, and Tulii soon grew frustrated trying to get through the mob of merchants and customers.

Suddenly, a black haired boy bumped into her, knocking them both to the ground. He had startling dark eyes that seemed to flash like lightning every now and then.

"I'm so sorry!" He said, quickly getting to his feet. "I'm trying to get back to my father's smithy stall."

Ooooh, blacksmiths mean weapons. Tulii liked weapons. "I'm actually looking for a blacksmith. Could I accompany you on your way back, please?" She asked, wanting to stall the search for the stupid aestar dress.

The boy bowed his head, recognizing Tulii's nobility. "Of course, Mistress..."

"Tulii Everbrush. And many thanks Master..."

"H-Huro, son of Benjamin Brokk. Um... our stall is this way." Half of Huro's hair was pulled into a sloppy bun and the rest fell just above his chin. He was short and scrawny, and wore patched clothing. He was almost the exact opposite of Tulii. Her light hair was slightly lighter than her pale skin and it fell to her waist. Her bangs were braided and clipped to the back of her head. She had light periwinkle eyes and was tall and muscular, or at least she liked to think so. And not once had she been outside the quartz wall that separated Greenroot from The Brook Wood, unlike Huro who she assumed to be a travelling merchant.

"M'lady, welcome to our stall." A man- who must be Huro's father, Benjamin, bowed.

Tulii smiled. "No need for that, Master Brokk. I'm here to browse for weapons. Perhaps you have daggers? Mine are quite dull and I have been searching for a new pair."

Huro and his Benjamin picked up several daggers and handed them to her. The pair that caught Tulii's eyes had ivory handles carved with a swirling design that she recognized as Kess Teu, the wind spirit (another elvish translation).

"How much for the pair?" She asked.

Huro counted on his fingers. "Twent- er aiakeshaki scient, Mistress Tulii."

"I see you know a bit of elvish." Tulii smiled. "But I'm perfectly capable of speaking the common language too. And twenty gold pieces doesn't seem nearly enough." She handed them a pouch of most of her allowance.

"M'lady, this is double the price!" Benjamin exclaimed.

"It's the price I'm willing to pay for these weapons. You're very skilled, Masters, and it's the least I can do to help recognize your skill." She turned to Huro. "Thank you for helping me, Master Huro. It was very kind of you and I will appreciate that for the rest of my noresh- er day." She bowed to the blacksmiths, sheathed her new weapons, and continued on her way for her aestar dress.

"GATHER IN THE SQUARE! GATHER IN THE SQUARE!" Tulii's ears perked up. "A MESSAGE FROM OUR KING!" The king?! She rushed to the square. "Yesterday, Queen Metisa was found dead. She seems to have been murdered by shadow magic." Tulii gasped along with everybody else in the crowd. Shadow magic? It had been three centuries since anybody had heard of such a thing. "The princes, Mel and Callavhan, will take their leave and hunt the killers. Every elf will travel to the castle and pay their respects belath."

They'd travel tomorrow? Since it was about a three day journey there... and back... and they'd stay about a day... Tulii's aestar would be put off. But a stupid wedding wasn't what she should be thinking about right now.

Queen Metisa had been murdered.