No one spoke for a long time. Neetah removed a small scarf from her cloak and wrapped it around her souvenir. She was careful not to touch it. Next, she sheathed her sword. Then she quickly folded the scarf and slipped it into her side pocket. All the adventurers except Elkin smiled at her painstaking care. They guessed at what she had just gone through. Elkin seemed to be in some sort of trance. He shook his head, snorted once and lowered his staff. Then he hastily sat down. Tara held back tears in her eyes as she watched Neetah.
Hastily, Tara walked over to Neetah and held out a seed cake and a water skin. "My name is Tara." Neetah glanced at the food and water and accepted it.
"Thanks," she said simply. Kuros cleared his throat and spoke:
"It seems that we have been given a fighting force, but with many men it will be hard to hide."
"That was cruel." spoke Cher to Rollvag. Rollvag merely shrugged.
"Where are the one hundred, anyway?" asked Murki.
"I think we are about to find out," stated Longsilver as he pointed through the trees.
Suddenly, a group of men and women came into view in the pine forest. They led their effereet by leather harnesses. The effereet were green and brown speckled and matched the forest greenery. Then more could be seen and heard moving to the right and left of the adventurer's position.
Neetah handed the water skin back to Tara after taking only a gulp. Then she flexed her shoulders and looked out at her troops as they moved in. She listened and watched to see if she would have to discipline any for speaking. She smiled when they spread out without saying anything.
From the center group approached a heavily muscled elf, a burly sergeant and a newcomer; the latter by the looks of it a lady forester. Elkin got up and turned to face them. When the Elf saw Elkin there was an immediately friendly reaction.
"Elkin!" said the Elf quietly.
"Vilef! Old friend." stated Elkin.
The two of them went up and exchanged a greeting none of the adventurers had ever seen before. The two elves raised their right hands with arms up at a right angle. Then they stood silently and faced eachother, almost as if talking without words. The sergeant approached, saluted and stood beside Neetah. Meanwhile, the lady forester looked nervously at all of the adventurers, then at the pine boughs above them and then at Vilef and Elkin standing. Tara saw the nervousness of the Lady Forester.
After checking again to see if Neetah was all right, Tara crossed over and spoke to her in a weak Arvetan:
"Hail and well met, Lady Forester. Be calm, you are among friends...."
(Q1) What will you say?
Keri sees a group of assorted men and women, all except one are dressed in the same clothes as the troop of one hundred.
From left to right, there is a tall, slim elf with a spear, bow and sword. He has green eyes and blonde hair with very handsome features. Right now he is busy watching Elkin and Vilef, as if trying to figure out what they are doing.
A slightly shorter young man with khaki fighting gi and cloak and a two handed staff and bow. He has blonde hair and brown eyes. He is the only one whose clothes are out of place. He appears concerned about Keri (you). He is stocky, although not overly so. Keri is sure that he is a Eyri, which requires her to give him a great amount of respect. Keri also has a funny feeling about him. (Vague)
A short man who appears to be a gnome of some sort. He has very stark features, which is contrary to the soft round kind that Keri has usually seen of a gnome. He appears to be very wood wise and confident. Right now his eyes are closed, but he has very short, dark brown hair. Keri has a feeling of some great strength about him.
A strongly built but very youthful man with red hair in a pony braid and blue eyes. He has a very ornate sword and short sword strapped to his belt. He has fine features and the face of a nobleman. Keri has never seen a man with red hair before so she is a bit curious about him.
An attractive, brown haired and brown eyed, very strongly built man with finely crafted weapons: elven bow, sword, short sword and quiver of arrows. Right now his hat is in his hands and he appears to be breathing slightly heavier than normal (as if he has been running or fighting recently.) He is as tall as the elf identified as Elkin, and is slightly taller than the tall elf.
A (bird??) woman with a stout stature, sharp grey eyes and long blonde hair. A man would say that she had a stunning beauty, almost fairy like. She has tremendous, although not unseemly, arm muscles, and at her side is a elven double bladed axe. Her blue-grey wings swept back on either side. Right now she is looking out at the troops in admiration. Keri is awed at the sight of her.
A kindly faced young girl about your age who is standing the closest to you of all the party members. She appears to be deeply concerned about something in addition to you. In her hands is a water skin and a seed cake pouch. She is about an inch shorter than you and has light brown hair and blue-green eyes. She also has a short sword and a two handed staff very similar to the Eyri's. She is the one who spoke to Keri (you). Keri feels that this girl has not even a hint of malice. (sensation).
Another elf. He has longer hair than the others, blonde and well combed. He has incredibly deep blue eyes. His sharp eyebrows make him look wizardly indeed. He carries a spear, long sword, elven bow, and quiver of arrows. He is only slightly shorter than the first elf, although he appears to be just as strong. Right now he has a broad smile on his face as he watches (and listens?) to Elkin and Vilef.
A huge, burly young man. He is unquestionably the tallest of the group. His girth dwarfs the others. He is even bigger than Eytawe. His features are also stark, with dark brown eyes and dark brown hair and ruddy, tanned skin. Keri finds herself staring at his attractiveness for a moment. Right now his traveling cloak is thrown up over his shoulder. She can see his fine elven long bow and sword and one half. They match the ones held by the man holding the hat. There is something else she feels as she gazes at him: a feeling of incredible purpose and almost majesty?
Another Forester! Keri sees the arrow pin on his lapel. A gold one with two bars beneath it, which makes him one of the highest ranking Foresters she has ever heard of. He is about as tall as the other big men, that is: six feet and some in height. He has blonde hair and grey eyes. He appears to be the oldest of the group. He also has a silver handled sword and an elven bow.
Please note: Keri is somewhat overwhelmed by all this, but curiosity about the warband's great strength, and happiness over missing her boring assignment keep her from feeling fatigue.
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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