Telhari listened to the sound of his footsteps, one at a time, as his boots impacted the floor. There was a commotion all around him, but he heard none of it.

Zorren’s proposition was incredibly troubling. He was tempted, more than anything, to look into the matter. He had no trust in Zorren’s intentions and had even less trust toward the Magistrate. Something about that man made Telhari uneasy— and he hated feeling uneasy. Yet even so, his own words kept echoing to him.

No allegiance to the nations of men.

That was indeed how it was supposed to be…

As Telhari turned the corner, the main hall of the Lonely Song opened up before him. He searched instinctively among the many patrons for those two familiar faces. He caught them seated at a table in the far corner of the room. Ma Mileena was sitting next to them.

No allegiance…

Telhari moved these doubts from his mind and headed over towards Ellis and Mary. Despite his uncertainty, he found it comforting to orient himself towards a task. He still had a promise to fulfill.

“Well, look whose back?” Ma teased.

“Was I gone so long?”

She waved her hand.

“Have a seat, Alfy,” she insisted, pulling out a chair for him.

He gripped the back of the chair and gave her a curious look. As Telhari leaned down to take a seat, he noticed something was off. He made eye contact with Ma, and she confirmed his suspicions with a subtle tilt of her head. Telhari sat down in the chair and slid it across the floor until he was close enough to the table to rest his arms.

He waited for Ellis or Mary to say something: to play off each other in their usual way. He waited for the two of them to get excited, then curious, then upset, then argue, then make up and smile at each other.

But they weren’t smiling.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah.”

Ellis spoke the words so shortly after Telhari had finished asking, that it felt more like an accusation than an answer.

Telhari watched him carefully then slowly turned to Mary.

“Mary?”

Mary could feel him looking at her and she tried her best to avoid his eye contact. Telhari continued to pressure her— looking at her directly while facing his whole upper body towards her, until she had no choice but to respond.

“What did they want?” she asked. “What did the Magistrate want with you?”

Telhari leaned back in his chair.

Ah. They are worried. Of course they are worried.

He lightened his tone as he spoke.

“It was nothing important,” he said, giving them a reassuring look.

“I doubt that,” Ellis spat from the corner of his mouth.

“I promise, Ellis, there is nothing to be concerned about.”

“How can we believe you when you won’t tell us?” Mary jumped in.

Both of them were looking at Telhari now; the full force of their frustrations directed towards him.

“It was nothing important, I pro—”

“If it’s not important, then you can say it.”

“Yeah. Why should it matter then? Just tell us.”

“They asked me to help them with something and I said no.”

“What did they need help with?”

“It was nothing important.”

“Stop saying that.”

“If it wasn’t important, they wouldn’t have asked.”

“I can assure you both there is nothing to be concerned about.”

“We wouldn’t be concerned if you would just tell us!”

“I am telling you, but you won’t listen.”

“You haven’t told us anything!?”

“Why won’t you believe me when I tell you it isn’t important?”

“Cause we don’t trust you!”

The words flew out of Mary’s mouth and cut through the air. Her breath was heavy and her face was growing red. Telhari looked at her in surprise and his eyes softened in a moment of genuine pain. She caught this immediately and sank back into her chair, biting her lip and looking away. Ellis too was surprised that Mary had been so up front, but he was clearly of the same mind. He tightened his jaw and hardened his eyes.

“Why don’t you trust us?” he asked. “We’ve been listenin’ to you and trusting everything you say, but we know nothin’ about you.”

Telhari thought to speak but ultimately held his tongue. He could feel his heart beating more quickly than usual and his body was tense. He was upset.

The absurdity of it all.

Did he really care that Ellis and Marybeth thought favorably of him?

Did the opinion of two human children matter so much?

As he surveyed his feelings, Telhari couldn’t stop himself from smiling— just a little.

“Hey! It’s not funny!”

Mary leaned forward in a fury, but when she caught sight of Telhari’s face, she stopped herself. There was no animosity in him.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“No, it isn’t, Mary,” he said quietly. Then, Telhari straightened himself up and addressed them both. “You are right to accuse me of not trusting you.”

Ellis shifted uncomfortably.

“So, you don’t trust us then?” he asked, disappointed.

Telhari shook his head.

“I trusted you to do what I said and to follow orders. But I never trusted you as equals.”

Ellis and Mary exchanged looks.

“So now what?” Mary asked in a stern voice. “Do we just…go away?”

“I certainly hope not.”

They both perked up in excitement, which then quickly gave way to confusion.

“But you said—”

“I never trusted you as equals before. But I think it’s time to change that.”

Ma Mileena crossed her arms and gave Telhari a toothy grin.

“What do you have in mind, Alfy?”

Telhari placed both his hands on the table.

“It is unfair of me to expect you to trust me, when I don’t extend you the same courtesy. So…If you wish to know about me, I will tell you.”

The sound of rusty hinges rang through the room and then faded into silence as Ma closed the door behind her. After their conversation in the main hall, she had guided the group back to a small room that served as her office. There were a few chairs, crates, and a table which Ma used to write her records. She had moved the papers and crates to the corner to make room for the group. The chairs were empty, but no one was sitting.

“We can talk here,” she said. “It ain’t much, but it should be quiet enough.”

“Well?” Telhari offered. “What would you like to know?”

Ellis looked awkwardly at Mary who shrugged her shoulders. Mary then looked at Ma who shook her head.

“Don’t look at me, kid. He’s your uncle.”

“I ‘spose…” Mary said, tapping her foot. “Let’s start with…where are you from?’”

Telhari nodded and settled himself against the wall, leaning on one foot and relaxing the other.

“Beyond the western border of Omnirius lies, hidden high in the mountains is the citadel of my people— Minas Oroth. That is where I come from.”

Ellis grabbed a nearby chair and sat down.

“Is that a city of elfkin, then?”

Telhari nodded.

“So does your whole family live there?” Mary asked.

“The entire Lindhathal clan resides in Minas Oroth.”

Ellis put his head in his hand.

“How’d you end up here?”

“Nearly three years ago, I was banished from my home.”

Ellis and Mary shared a look of concern.

“They kicked you out!?”

Telhari nodded.

“Geeze, Alfy. What did you do to deserve that?”

Telhari thought on it. He then leaned his head against the wall with a light thud and exhaled.

“As my father’s eldest son, and as a member of the Lindhathal clan, I had certain responsibilities to my people. The Lindhathal are warriors and lore keepers— we are tasked with safeguarding all of the knowledge and sacred artifacts of our people from those who would seek to pervert or destroy them.”

He paused to make sure they were still following.

“One night, the citadel was attacked by an unknown enemy. I had a single order— to protect the vault that houses our library. But…” Telhari then sank his head and stared at the floor. “ I let my emotions — and my pride — take control. Against orders, I led my men in pursuit of the intruders. However, not only did I overestimate my own abilities, but I severely underestimated our enemy. I was so driven by ego that I failed to anticipate their ambush.” He lifted his head. “My men were killed… along with a very dear friend.” Telhari closed his eyes as the memories came back to him. “I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t stop the enemy. And I failed to do my duty.”

“The vault?” Mary guessed.

Telhari nodded.

“Their goal was to cause a distraction to lure us away. Without anyone guarding the vault, they were able to undue our enchantments and break in.”

Mary opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. Telhari knew she wanted to comfort him but couldn’t find the words.

“My failure was absolute,” he said. “There was no other recourse except for banishment.”

“But isn’t that unfair?” Ellis asked. “You tried your best, didn’t you?”

Telhari shook his head.

“My father was right to banish me. Even if he had not done so…I would never have been able to face my people knowing how much I had failed them. Truthfully, I was glad that I was forced to leave. Then I would not have had to face the shame of leaving on my own.”

“Still…” Mary said as she shook her head, “For a father to do that to his own son?”

“It is true that he is my father. But he also has his duties as head of our clan and ruler of Minas Oroth. I do not blame him.”

Ellis wanted to protest but he was cut off by Ma.

“Ruler?” she asked, leaning forward with her hands on her hips.

Telhari nodded.

“Wait…” she said as she wagged her finger at him. “Your father is a king?”

“So, you’re a prince!?” Mary squealed.

“I was,” Telhari corrected. “I have lost all claim to my birthright as a consequence of my exile.”

Mary flung herself down into the chair and folded her arms in disappointment.

“Oh…”

“Then why come to Omnirius, of all places?” Ma asked him. “I don’t know much about the rest of the world, but I know that here…” she said, pointing toward the floor, “Is not really the best place for an Alfkin.”

“Initially, I traveled the west for a year or so before coming to Omnirius,” Telhari said with a shrug of his shoulders. “I didn’t have any particular plan.”

“But you went so far?” Mary said. “Wouldn’t you want to be by your friends or people that you know?”

Telhari grabbed a chair and brought it towards him.

“It is a lot easier to ignore your past mistakes,” he said as he sat down, “When the people around you don’t know about them.” He put his leg on his knee and leaned back. “Otherwise, facing those people, day in day out, is like constantly looking in a mirror. It becomes unbearable if you hate your reflection.”

“Well, we don’t hate you!” Mary announced with a smile.

“Could’ve told us sooner though,” Ellis added.

“Thank you, Mary. And you are correct, Ellis. I could have. I should have. But I wasn’t only hiding my past out of shame. It was also to protect you.”

Mary and Ellis shared a look.

“The citadel of Minas Oroth has stood for millennia,” Telhari continued. “Those who attacked three years ago were not the first. It is dangerous to know too much about my people.”

Ellis raised his brow.

“I don’t understand, though. Ain’t there alfkin everywhere? We all know about them, and no one’s come after us.”

“Many people don’t know this…but not all elfkin are the same. My people and I are called Yuen'athenya; we are part of a lineage that remains unbroken since time immemorial. The elfkin most are familiar with are our distant kin that travel more freely and openly in the world. They have become separate from us…and though we may look it, in many important and fundamental ways, we are not the same.”

Ellis considered the new information carefully, tapping the table as he thought. Finally, he folded his arms and leaned back confidently in his chair.

“I still don’t get it.”

“Ellis…” Mary groaned, rubbing her face with her hand.

“So, what are you going to do then, Alfy?”

“What do you mean?”

Ma held up her hand and ticked off her fingers one at a time.

“Well? You’ve been kicked out of your castle. Stuck in a foreign land. And now you’ve got the Magistrate knocking on doors and asking questions. So…” she asked once again as she leaned in. “What are you gonna do?”

Telhari leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

Ellis and Marybeth watched him intently, waiting for an answer.

“If I recall correctly, a very insistent young man once asked me to join his Guild.”

Ellis grinned wide.

“If the invitation is still open, I think I’d like to sign up.”