"No way," Geraint said. "You're joking."
Selussa narrowed her eyes, but it just made her look silly. "I am not," she declared. "Malorn was a dragon that guarded my tower my entire life!"
"Dragons aren't real, Selussa."
"How do you know? You haven't seen one in real life!"
"Exactly. That means they're less likely to exist."
Selussa clenched her fists. "Malorn told me they sealed themselves inside mountains, and they're sleeping to this day!"
"Yeah, right. I believe that."
She stood up looking so angry and red that it looked like her head was about to pop off her shoulders. "I will have you know that Malorn would never lie to me!"
Geraint wasn't sure whether or not to believe Selussa's statement. I mean, come on. Dragons?
"If elves and goblins exist why shouldn't dragons?" Selussa asked. "And what about the gods? What about them? Shouldn't they-"
"Selussa," Geraint said. "I believe you. Just calm down."
She glared at him for a moment, then sat next to him again. A breeze blew by, and she shivered.
After a moment of hesitation, Selussa huffed and burrowed herself into Geraint.
They sat there for a long time. Just watching the elves carry around crates labelled "food" "bows" and "medical."
Selussa drew a circle in the dirt with her foot.
"I know about your mission," she said after a long moment of silence.
"Hm?"
"I want to help you."
Geraint straightened up so suddenly that Selussa jumped back, almost falling off the stump.
"Excuse me?" he asked. "But how did you know about my mission?"
Selussa giggled. "You did a terrible job of concealing your letter."
She held up a folded piece of paper and waved it around.
Geraint's hand flew to his pocket, and of course he found it empty.
"You dipper!" he cried.
"I could be a pickpocket," Selussa said, grinning. "But anyway, I want in."
Geraint scoffed. "It would be way too dangerous for someone like you."
Selussa's eyes were twinkling with excitement, but she frowned. "Someone like me? I will have you know I fought those stinky trolls that day, when you," She jabbed her finger at his chest, "were knocked out!"
Geraint laughed. "You're right. But still. This mission is dangerous. Gwyn said so."
"And you trust what Gwyn says?"
"She has her morals."
"I'll bet you she's a speciesist, like all of those other humans. Nasty vermin, they are."
"Hey!"
"No offense," she apologized. "I'm just done with hearing about how 'Fleuries' are so bad. I mean, the name is bad enough!"
"The name?" Geraint asked. "What about it?"
Selussa rolled her eyes. "Fleury is the elvish word for 'disgusting.' So basically humans are calling us 'disgusting.'"
Geraint drew back. He always thought the word "Fleury" was awful, but now that he knew what it meant he hated it even more.
"That's awful," he said. He felt like apologizing for humankind's stupidity and cruelty, but it wasn't like it was going to do any good in this situation. "I mean...sheesh."
Selussa shrugged. "I don't really care. It's just their speciesism is revolting, to me anyway." She unfolded the letter from Gwyn and her eyes skimmed it. "Perhaps we should take advantage of the militia's expedition outside their kingdom."
"Are you saying we should follow them?" Geraint asked. Doing that was like asking to be stabbed in the throat.
"That is exactly what I'm saying, Geraint," she said, folding up the paper again. She slipped it into Geraint's boot casually. "We have two weeks to prepare. You're with me, right?"
Geraint shrugged. "I guess. There's obviously no way I can sway you away from doing this."
"Great!"
"But wait. I still need to find Miss F. She could help us."
Selussa tapped her chin. "I suppose. Beraint could know where Miss F. is hiding."
"Really? That's where I was headed to."
Her lips curled into a grin. "I'm not just a good pickpocket, I'm also a good eavesdropper."
