Our hosts were delighted that we were coming with them. Personally I suspected that this was because we had a big honking boat, several times larger than one of their canoes. They did indeed ask we carry some of their stuff, and people too, but I nixed the latter part of the request; not knowing these people I didn't want them to do anything unpleasant on my vessel.

Of course I was getting something for my aid I hauling their stuff, several things. First I was getting their knowledge of the region, for they knew the swamps and paths towards the center far better than I. I was also getting them as guards, some beasts would attack our small group as we traveled, but a larger group like we were now forming would give pause to even the largest of the monsters in this world.

There was no elder for this village, he and all of his closest people having left some time ago, instead I ended up negotiating with Curz. Curz was the man who'd met us when we arrived and one of the few people here with any power at all.

“So, why'd you stay?” I asked as we tied down the goods in my craft.

“After the elder left you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Thought I could take over, reestablish. Seemed a better idea than going and getting in the war. I'm nearly old enough to have my own village, but my power just started making itself known, so it'd be some time yet before I could establish one personally.”

That wasn't too odd, while all elves had the potential for magic, and even the weakest had some small trick, true ability was rarer among us. I'd even heard that as we aged the chances that it would blossom into something more increased, with every elder I'd ever heard of having some magical talent.

“So what happened?” Chien asked, pulling the rope-like vine we were using taut and flashing off a quick knot into it.

“Too weak honestly. I'd like to say it's not a problem, but we had a few close calls, and I wasn't as strong as I'd need to be to deal with them easily. Most of our best hunters and the like left too, without them the village is indefensible in the long run.”

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“You're giving up on it then?” my assistant asked.

“No, not forever. What I'm doing is taking the time I need to prepare properly, surely a traveler understands that?”

“We do,” I assured him. “And I suspect that's what's been happening all over the place. A few of the strongest leave, then there's just not enough for all that needs doing.”

“Hmm, at any rate we are thankful for your aid. Would've had to make some hard decisions on how to do things or made new boats, but with yours we can leave almost immediately.” Even if we weren't taking passengers having extra room since they no longer needed to worry about the stuff helped.

“And we yours, it would take forever to find where we're going without a proper guide.”

“On the subject of boats, don't suppose you'll tell me how you made yours? I've never seen the like.”

“It's not a secret,” I said with a shrug. “So while we're going I can teach you how. As with most things there are ups and downs to any way of doing things.”

He nodded at that and left us.

“He's touchy,” Chien observed as the man left to go deal with the others leaving, which was everyone left in the village.

“He's leaving his home and not in good straits. Even if Curz isn't showing it he's under a lot of stress.”

“Why?”

“Would you be so relaxed if you were leaving not only your home but your family?” I asked.

“You've seen me leave both my home and family.”

I pulled up short at that, because he was right. Chien hadn't had to come with us on this journey, but he had. He'd also left everything behind to do it, all the people he knew, all the places, and he'd come without so much as blinking. That felt sort of sad to me, but I wasn't sure I could really stand in judgment, after all I'd left my home multiple times now.

“Fair point,” I said after a time. “But most people are a lot more attached to those things than you seem to be.”

“Nah, I've just got my priorities straight. Cities and towns are just buildings, and as for my family, we don't really get along. It's an important thing there Justin, to know what you need to care about and what you don't.” Now he was giving me advice.

I just shook my head. “I always forget what you're like, still seeing you as that kid I met all those years ago.”

“Haven't changed much honestly, though I'm a lot stronger now.”

“That you are, and hornier too.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he said, puffing out his chest.

“I'm proud of you Chien, you worked hard to get where you are.”

He looked over at me with a smile, the joking gone for just a second. “Thanks boss.”

We had just enough room left in the boat for our own things and to sleep, if of course we slept atop some of the gear. Honestly as I looked over the gear that these villagers were having us transport I almost scoffed, but then I remembered myself. Their tools looked much like the ones my own village had had so long ago, before I'd begun introducing things like metal and ceramics, before I'd taught them some of the simpler methods of which I knew. No, as I looked at the tools and goods piled I realized that for this world these weren't just trash, but prized possessions, it was me who was odd.

Perhaps I should work more on spreading those techniques, maybe not all of them, but some of them. This world would grow, would change, would improve. Then I realized that now really wasn't the time for these people, they were in the middle of a war, and my intervention would only spur one side or the other to be far more interested in me than I wanted. I'd teach them the boat technique, as I'd promised, then nothing else. That would do fine for a plan.