Zewrepa and Leuma are standing in front of a cave’s mouth. „It is done. The barrier is down.“ says Leuma. „Let’s wait here.“ answers Zewrepa. They stand in silence for a minute. Zewrepa begins the Song of the Future. Leuma respectfully waits for her to finish. She briefly unfolds her wings in a show of respect.
Zewrepa asks „Will you stay?“. Leuma considers that this question starts the conversation. Very well, let’s give her frankness „What worries you about the humans? Aside from them breeding right now.“. Zewrepa pipes the chords of amusement. „Breeding is good. It creates motivation.“. Leuma flicks her tail in her equivalent of amusement „I am glad you understand humans that much. You think they are too passive?“. Zewrepa alternates a chord between major and minor. Leuma expands „Too cautious means learning from lost opportunities. Too bold means learning from death.“. Zewrepa changes the chord she is alternating on. Leuma adds „There is no perfection. They are young in a way your kind never is. They never hear the ancestral hymns.“. To that Zewrepa has to reply verbally „So we are to commit?“. Leuma’s answer is short „Loki has cast the dice.“
----------------------------------------
We don’t punt. Neither do we use a rope. We use a pole tied to the board. I am tired. I’ve worked throug the night. I knew that I wouldn’t get much sleep anyway, so I at least got something useful out of the time. But I am still not letting pregnant women work while I sleep. Branislava even seemed a bit disappointed as I told her to sit there and do nothing. But I’ve let Zewrepa help with the first heavy load.
My new home isn’t cozy. It has a touch of family life though, as it now houses Julia’s cradle. Anyway, it is only for a few days and we better get used to losing the comforts of an Atantean’s lair. I chase Anjali and Hildegard out, admonishing them to act like they wanted to hide the existence of these chambers from our scheduled visitors. That includes, to their horror, cooking lunch.
----------------------------------------
Two Dark Elves emerge from the mouth of the cave. The first performs a short bow and announces „I am Sefthril of clan Vinyathos. This is my deputy Vinyal. We are intriged to meet you after getting a mesage from an unexpected sender at a this location.“.
Zewrepa and Leuma return the bow.
Leuma speaks up „We are glad to see you, even under these unusual circumstances. I hope your journey was safe. I am happy to extend guestrights to you and welcome you to our temporary base.“. Sefthril replies „Temporary base is an interesting choices of words. Before I take you up on that offer, which I am glad to hear, I must enquire after the permanent holder of your temporary base.“. Leuma answers „I understand. His interest in this base has waned, as he has become aware that our presence and our success may mean that his base is no longer hidden from people he needs it to be hidden from. We better not name them or him, for that matter.“ Sefthril smiles „I am sure you are aware that this precludes paying us with the fruits of your success. Even the drastically altered circumstances don’t change that.“. That is Zewrepa’s turn to speak up „We understand that. Metals keep their value. The stamps on them are redundant to you. What is of no value to you may be of value to others.“. A satisfied smile appears on Sefthril’s face as he responds „I am glad we agree. I am happy to talk about arrangements in your temporary base.“
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
----------------------------------------
Sefthril’s face is carefully neutral as he states „Your conditions are unusual. We understand that a group that has performed an unlikely feat under unlikely circumstances is made up in an unusual manner. But our people are valuable to us.“. Anjali keeps the curse to herself. That is the problem with complicated plans. The other side has plans of their own. Very well, their hand has been dealt, they need to play it and folding at this point would not do. Their guests would wonder why they would have been ready to pay as much as they have already offered. For the record she sighs and announces „He knew the secret of smelting mithril. I’ve learned half of it.“. Vinyal, who has been mute, gasps. Sefthril casts a look of worry at him.
Anjali expected anger. She smiles „Your … deputy is a quiet man, but even he will see that you cannot eat mithril.“. Vinyal says „Your … associate knows the second half.“. Anjali smiles.
Sefthril says something in the elvish language. Then he adds „The education of the young who are intended to bear greater responsibility is a delicate task. Yes, we know that you cannot eat mithril. We also know that it can be used to get the means of producing things you can eat.“ Leuma adds „Or the means of keeping you healthy during a bitter winter and the means of guarding the things you eat whie living on charcoal. We should have known that such a secret carries its own issues with it. I would like to point out that mithril right now is more useful than mithril even in a few weeks.“
Sefthril agrees „Yes. We are living in times where prudence demands haste.“. Vinyal says something in their native language. Sefthril’s ears fold down and up, then he says „Very well, double the fees, Vinyal and another elf will stay here until your first group reaches Naples. I can call in my waiting associates. However, we will need more assurances that our people are safe. Two of you are pregnant. One of you will have to stay here until the second group leaves.“
Anjali could kick herself. This means that she’ll have to leave with the first group. That is not a problem. However, it means that Hildegard will have to stay here. As much as she may be a young, inexperienced girl, she is not stupid. Hildegard says „I will stay. But how do you know?“. Sefthril’s ears go down again „We have a sense of smell much better than you humans.“. Hildegard’s face turns red.