A Tale of Fortunes Cross

Ch. 4: Elvish Land

Karaan had a fairly bad day that day he couldn't find anything that he thought he could make a profit off of. He let Sarah negotiate the price for some food in order to get some practice. She somehow managed to negotiate the price higher halfway through the negotiations. Karaan explained what she did wrong, she let herself fall for an old trick. Karaan paid the salesman and charged Sarah for the price. He joked with the sales man who offered him a paddo free of charge. Karaan accepted and wrapped it up and they walked out. Karaan went to the bank and deposited all but 100 silver and 200 copper once more. He then went to the inn and told the innkeeper that they wouldn't be staying the second night. The innkeeper gave him a partial refund for that night. As they walked off Sarah asked him "Why aren't we staying? It's already almost sundown we aren't going to get very far." Karaan replied "Were camping out near the edge of town tonight." Sarah was confused but shrugged it off and walked with Karaan. They walked past the fields until they came to a large patch of wild grass and weeds. It was about 5 feet, like a road made of grass. On one end was farmland on the other was a line of trees so perfectly ordered it was as if they had been left there intentionally untouched. Sarah was amazed at the sight out of nowhere there was a line of fully grown almost completely untouched trees as if the entire forest had been just cut in half. With wander in her eye Sarah asked Karaan "What's this?" He replied "Well this is where were staying tonight... and that is elf territory." Sarah looked as if she was going to feint she asked "What elf?! Why are we here?! Do you want to get us killed?" Karaan laughed and said "We're not gonna die..." Sarah said "Yes we will. Haven't you ever heard elves will slit your throat while you're sleeping?!" Karaan laughed again "You can trust me when I say that will never happen. Unless we passed through the tree line we would never be harmed, in fact if we were attacked then any elves nearby would feel obligated to help us. On top of that elves would never harm you while you are sleeping that would be disgraceful and they would be instantly cast out of their tribe. Now c'mon help me get some fire wood. Don't step out of the tall grass and you will be fine. As long as you aren't pass the tree line then your fine." Sarah scared to death couldn't trust Karaan. She said "I'm not leaving your side!" Karaan laughed and said "Fine you can help me carry the fire wood." Just as Karaan had said they gathered the fire wood and nothing happened they went back to the carriage, it was untouched and they started a fire to cook their food. They talked about elves that night and Karaan helped Sarah calm down she asked "How do you know so much about elves? I've always heard that they all hate humans and that they will kill them on sight." Karaan replied "I had an elvish friend a while ago. She taught me a lot. And its true many elves will kill you on sight, but that's only if you are in their territory without permission, and only if you are awake. If you are sleeping then they will wake you up and either chase you off or kill you while you run." Sarah said "Oh that's good that doesn't help at all... thanks." Karaan laughed as he pulled his food from the fire. Sarah did the same. They ate that night and Karaan said "Were sleeping on the ground tonight." Sarah replied "Oh No I am not! You can sleep in the elf infested grass all you want I'm at least being kind of out of sight. And just so you know... when an elf kills you in your sleep I'm assuming my debt is paid and I'm taking all your stuff!" Karaan laughed as Sarah crawled into the carriage.

Sarah woke up just before sun up that morning "Karaan already had breakfast cooking. Saran got up and walked to the camp fire. Next to him Karaan had one of the zid fruit setting next to him. She sat there for a few minutes waking up. After about five minutes Karaan told Sarah the food was done. They were having fish this morning. Sarah could almost tell that the fish was done. She slowly pulled her fish off the fire and began blowing on it. Karaan pulled his off right after her but instead of blowing to cool it down in his other hand he held up the zid fruit and yelled out "Mahlla! Mahlla!" Sarah giggled thinking to herself "Ok he's officially lost it..." Just as she finished the thought a huge elvish male standing more than 8 feet tall seemed to almost appear out of nowhere and walked up to Karaan. He had dark red hair and a slight smile. His canines were obvious like that of a wolves but flat. Sarah saw him and fell over in fright using her flimsy stick with a fish as a weapon she pointed it to him as if it were a sword. He looked at Sarah and smiled as he grabbed the fruit from Karaans hand. He sat next to him laying his bow on the ground next to him saying "Seraie." Karaan shook his head yes and continued to eat his food. Sarah sat there for about three more minutes watching the elf and Karaan both calmly eating, then starting to calm down herself she started to eat again. After everyone had finished the elf said to Karaan "Huma elvae speak?" Karaan replied "No we speak little elvae." Sarah spoke up saying "Well he does, I don't." The elf frowned slightly and Karaan said to Sarah "Just let me do the talking pleas." Sarah sighed and said "Fiine." As she sat back and watched. The elf said "Huma elvae speak rare." The elf smiled and continued "Huma purpose this place?" Karaan moving his hands to help his explanation replied "We this place ask elvae, safe passage through tra." The elf sat and thought for a minute. As he did that Karaan said to Sarah "Go get the tree from the carriage." Sarah sighed again as she went to the carriage to grab the tree. The elf sat there thinking as Sarah came back. She handed the tree to Karaan who held it toward the elf. The elf asked "What?" Karaan replied "Gift" The elf took the tree and smiled. The elf stared at the tree for a few seconds then laid it on the ground and before Karaan or Sarah could blink picked his bow up and aimed an arrow at Karaans head. Sarah sat there frozen not knowing what just happened Karaan just sat there calmly. The elf holding the arrow inches from Karaans head yelled angrily "Kill us want you!" Karaan calmly replied "No" The elf became even angrier drawing his bow to prepare to shoot. Sarah began to panic and prepared to run away. The elf yelled "tradragonabielvae" Karaan assumed that the elf meant something about the tree attracting dragons. He replied "No, faira like dragon tree." Knowing that many human words are based off of elvish roots Karaan tried to pronounce dragon as (dr-A-go-n). The elf slowly moved his bow to a resting position at his side and said kind of surprised "How know?" Karaan replied "Friend maroon" The elf smiled and laid his bow down. Sarah was still stunned trying to process the entire event. The elf took a breath and said to Karaan "We give... save..... pasigae." Karaan smiled and thanked the elf. The elf asked Karaan to carry the tree for him. Karaan happily agreed and started to pack up his camping gear. The elf took care of the camp fire and they set out through the forest. Karaan walked next to the horse following the elf, Sarah decided to follow his lead. They walked for a few minutes and Sarah asked Karaan "Why are we just following him?" Karaan replied "Well were in his territory, theirs a few reasons. First he wants to make sure were safe, it's the elvish way to protect who they see as guests or friends. Second he wants to help us find our way so that we don't get lost. Third he wants to make sure we don't hunt or do anything to harm the environment here. Elves see everything as having a purpose and harming even a plant without a purpose is the same as a crime." Sarah said "Oh I guess that makes sense." They continued to follow the elf through the forest Sarah still kind of skeptical. After a little while the elf walked ahead of Karaan a good distance but where he could still see him. He was leading him down a game trail. Sarah asked Karaan "So how long will it be until we reach the next town?" Karaan answered about seven or eight days if everything goes well." Sarah looked as if she was going to feint and asked "You are joking right? Pleas say you're joking!" Karaan laughed slightly and simply said "Nope." Sarah looked as if she was going to fall over.