Today had been a bad day.

They'd gone through ground that was downhill for most of it. Tyrasa and her comrades found no end of amusement in their troubles. For one thing, no one except Jehair was able to move through the roots and trees without difficulty. William fell several times and, in his armor, had to be pulled up by Felix. He nearly twisted an ankle, which got melodious laughter from the Wood Elves. Even Massacre had it, for she did not seem used to this forest. The roots seemed to take a special interest in grasping at her.

Tyrasa often called behind as she walked, looking back at her slender neck. She had a tendency to sway those wide hips of hers rather provocatively as she looked back, and she was not alone. Her garb left little to the imagination, and it was difficult to imagine a better sight. She had a very toned physique, as did all of these elves.

They were also quite open about bathing, though William did not take advantage to look in those cases. He bathed separately from them and kept his back to them as they did. No matter how much he wanted to. Although a comparable one was visible when she looked toward him. Their breasts, soaked with cool spring water, were very firm were-

No, not appropriate thoughts around a woman.

Jehair must have also bathed at some point; however, he did not see when she left his company or how. She obviously had a talent for appearing and disappearing. And once when she appeared, she had wet hair that had been unbraided and allowed to dry, and was wearing a second set of clothes.

Felix played cards against himself.

The trees were nice when you weren't walking through them. But ultimately, they got past it, only to pass into boggy lowlands. However, they took secret paths that were very difficult to pick out. Tyrasa insisted he tells no one, but she needn't have bothered. He could not pick out the path despite William's efforts as he followed her.

"What was that place?" asked Felix as they rested on an island.

Some of the elven women were eyeing one another with amorous glances. A few looked to William or Felix, but they kept their distance.

"The Fortress of Kalisa," said Tyrasa, waving them off. "It lies near what was once our northern border, and we defended it from looters many times. Now, however, the trees have grown high.

"It has fallen into ruin, but we seek to maintain what remains in the memory of what it once was."

It was stripped of treasure by King Anoa's soldiers. Father fought there, killing a dozen men while covering the fleeing refugees.

"That was in the days after the fall of Lord Feanor, who once ruled Bright Guard before Orson. He kept Anoa at bay by diplomacy and war for long ages and was the chief of Queen Dawn's lieutenants. And south of Gel Carn was the Greenlands, where Queen Sylvar dwelled in better days. Now that domain is controlled by Adrianeth, the Demonic Archon of Pride. Battles are waged against him daily.

"We have sometimes led troops to aid the men building there in secret. It is our way to strike by ambush. However, the need has not been there for many years."

"You aid humans?" asked Felix.

"The demons are the enemies of all," said Tyrasa.

"What do you mean 'for long ages?'" asked William.

"Well, that is to say, the rise of humanity predated Anoa the Bright," said Tyrasa, looking away with a blush. "Anoa was a name often given to great heroes. It was said there was only one. Though we have few records remaining to us."

"If there are any records you have, I would love to record them," said William. He suspected she was too easy to become infatuated. "I have a love of history."

"You would have to prove yourself to my Father, of course," said Tyrasa. "Tell me, what do you know of Queen Sylvar?" Her tone was interested, and William did not see why.

"We were less fond of her. She was brutal with humanity," said William.

"And by her actions, she prolonged our civilization," said Tyrasa, voice a bit chiding.

"I believe she shortened it," said William, remembering the records. "Atrocities never benefit the side that performs them. I do not believe Anoa or humanity was helped by their misdeeds. Even if this conquest was necessary. The brutality of it bought all our people misery."

"In that, we are agreed," said Tyrasa. She had the most beautiful blue eyes, actually. "But we must move on."

They pressed on and finally came to the main settlement. You could tell it was because many people were sewing, and there were more shelters there. However, there did not seem to be any real village. William guessed that they were nomadic, and this place was intended more as a meeting place. There had been periodic shelters they'd stayed in any way.

Then William saw King Faras.

He wasn't sure how he knew it was him, but he was an unmistakable sort of person. His body was covered in furs, and he almost looked like a bear at first. He had a long, very long green beard, and his hair was long and green as well. His violet skin had a greenish tent, and his eyes, too were green. In one hand was a gnarled staff, and he had such old eyes.

You could not imagine such eyes on someone young; they were like the oldest trees in the world. And they had great misery that had even been etched onto his face.

"Father, I bring you visitors," said Tyrasa, going stiff.

"I have seen them walking in dreams of horses," said Faras. His voice was gnarled and authoritative. William felt as though he were speaking to nature itself.

"Forgive me, Father," said Tyrasa. She and her companions had changed in appearance. "However, they have already been of some service and wish to repay their debt to our people."

"Then they will be toiling forever," said Faras. "Seldom have we allowed your kind within our woods? And not at all within our city, not since the siege of Anoa the Bright. His legions did not pierce the gates then, and you will not walk where he could not live without a battle.

"Who are you?"

William halted. "I am William Gabriel, the son of-"

"Your lineage is of no concern here. And you?" asked Faras.

William felt a surge of insult at the statement but halted and kept his silence.

"Have you no tongue?" asked Faras.

"Answer him, Felix," said William.

"I am Felix, a servant and companion," said Felix.

"And the chimera?" asked Faras. "I assume it serves you, Jehair?"

"It does not, Lord Faras. It is the companion of William," said Jehair.

"I see," said Faras. "These... emissaries must remain here." The insult enraged William, and he had to stop himself from going to his sword. Why? "Jehair, you are known to us. You may enter, but they may not."

"King Faras, these are very important nobles, and they have come to aid you," said Jehair.

"I have often seen humanities aid," said Faras. "It ends with blades in hand. Never again. Their nobles even now clear vines and bushes that have stood for decades. In the name of the reclaiming ground, they do not need it. Their High Priest even now schemes and tries to subvert the gnolls who are our children to his own ends.

"There is nothing that you could say that would convince me. Not unless it were the noblest of causes."

That was his chance. "I have documentation of slaving records taken from the gnoll's villages!" said William. "If you use this at the right time, you will utterly destroy the High Priest!"

Faras looked up. "Cirithil and the nobility will suffer if we use these records?"

"It will be the end of the church as we know it," said William. "Every noble associated with him will be utterly humiliated."

Faras laughed, seeming years younger. "That, child, is the noblest of causes!

"Come in; I will look at this information and see if it bears fruit as I'd hoped."

William handed the case over, and Faras took it. "You knew of it?"

"Yes," said Faras. "There is an ancient elven strategy you should learn. When your enemy is too strong to defeat, you must feign weakness. Make them think that you are utterly defeated and too weak to respond.

"If they believe, they will become overconfident and be distracted.

"I knew, once Tavish Kern arrived, that there was no hope of a direct confrontation. So I did not make one, simply ordered the gnolls to cooperate. Eventually, he grew complacent and started storing records, which are necessary for business.

"And now they are here."

"Well, why didn't you use them before?" asked William. "What were you waiting for?"

"For you," said Tyrasa. "Or someone like you. I had hoped to work with House Korlac, but his overzealous obsession with the law means he will never work with me. And he is too prominent; if his opinion of me was raised, Antion would regard me as a threat.

"Lord Arthur is more or less decent for a human, but he is too honorable. He would never enact such a stealthy approach. And Vorn has too many local connections to ever do it."

"So it was either Tanith or me, really," said William. "No other house would have the pull besides ours. And no other member of our houses would have the inclination and cunning. It really seems like Tanith cutting that tree down might have been for the best."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Not necessarily," said Faras. "The Tanith Telus who chose not to cut that tree down would walk a different path. Her actions up until this point might be the same. But had she undertaken your journey, she could do the very same thing.

"However, she chooses her path, and you choose yours.

"Even if neither of you had chosen it, Lamech might have done it eventually out of spite. Or perhaps Tavish Kern could have been convinced to act. Thus, you are both unique and essential, and yet, not essential.

"In this world, at this moment, you are the most important person to ever live. And yet you are insignificant, just as all of us our."

"Why the deception?" asked William, surprised.

"I had to know your nature," said Faras. "You do not know a man until they get angry. Humanity took a very long time to become angry, and that was ill for us all. They endured too much without complaint while we took it for granted.

"The result was a forest fire that nearly consumed the entire world.

"Had you flared up, stormed off, or simply remained silent, I would know your character. And had you simply broken off negotiations out of pride, you would still have the documents. No doubt you would eventually use them, but you would have no cover."

"You've thought of everything," noted William.

"I am a druid," said Faras. "My purpose is not to exist as an independent entity or live the life of a man but to be the manifestation of nature. To do so, I cannot simply be aware of all possibilities. I must be all possibilities.

"It is not an easy thing to explain.

"And yet, I must also be myself at times, bitter and angry at a world that tormented me. This is a burden all things must endure, the disastrous knowledge that they exist.

"Tyrasa, remain here and ensure they do no harm. I must examine this with Jehair."

And Faras departed.

William could not help but feel a sense of relief. It was difficult to stand in his presence.

"Forgive my Father," said Tyrasa. "He is old enough to remember the wars of old, and the atrocities committed in those days have scarred him. It is in his living memory a time when all this was great, greater than you can imagine."

"Then he must have firsthand knowledge of the old wars," said William. "Would he be interested in speaking of your history?"

"Not to you, I think," said Tyrasa, shifting beneath his gaze. Many of her companions had already departed her. Only the blue-haired one remained, waiting. "Or to any human or errand, though he has made some records that he has made us recite often."

"Perhaps he should arrange for the knowledge to be provided to others," said William. "His memory would be a fitting end to the days long gone. It might aid you in making humans understand your vendetta."

"And you believe this?" asked Tyrasa, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, the policy has worked quite well for me. A story that goes unrecorded is a tragic one," said William.

"Have you seen many stories?" asked Tyrasa, raising an eyebrow.

"Several," said William. "Massacre knows of them all. Or, most of them."

"Bah," said Massacre.

Tyrasa frowned. "How is it that you became a companion to so majestic a creature?"

This question seemed to attract the attention of some of the others. William soon found himself surrounded. The sheer number of scantily clad women was distracting, so he focused on Tyrasa.

"It would be more accurate to say I became Massacre's companion. You see, Felix and I had been fleeing from satyrs in the woods of Seathorius-"

"What were you doing there?" asked Tyrasa.

"Perhaps I should start at the beginning if you'll allow me," said William. "Most stories are interwoven with others."

"Please, do," said Tyrasa.

"Very well then," said William. "The first thing you should know is that I grew up in a land far to the north called Haldren. It was harsh and frozen, but it was home. To me and to my closest friends Tanith and Felix. Tanith went away to the wars before I did, and so she did not take part in the events I describe..."

And so William began to describe his stories again and enjoyed it nearly as much as before. Moreover, the descriptions seemed to fascinate Tyrasa and the others of her kind. Some walked away, but most stayed.

"Then, leaping out the window, I scrambled up to the very top of the castle. All around me, I heard the groans and breaking," said William as he finished. "But the demoness was fast after me, and she lunged at me with her claw.

"One of her claws caught me right here over this eye, leaving a scar for ages.

"Then she summoned a great fireball and declared that there would be no escape. Well, I was prepared to meet my end by fighting with my bare hands if I had to. But just at that moment, a lightning bolt surged out of the skies.

"It caught her, and she fell like lightning from heaven.

"Of course, by that point, the whole castle was collapsing, and I should have been killed myself. But by divine providence, Kiyora and myself were rescued from harm. And Elranor offered me a position as one of his paladins."

"You have had a very storied career, William," said Tyrasa, adjusting her hair and getting nearer. As though expecting something.

"Yes, well, that was only the beginning of things," said William. "I'm afraid humans have a knack for calling up problems we can't put down easily."

"You seem all too aware of your flaws," said Tyrasa.

"It is only by being aware of our flaws that we can work to fix them," said William, shifting to go get his pack. "I could not conquer my fear until I experienced it firsthand."

"And how did you conquer it?" asked Tyrasa, following.

"Well, for a start, the attack on my ship," said William. "But the true terror I faced in Seathorius, or I should say we, for Felix had his own adventures, was Laughing Wraith."

"Father has spoken of this demon," said Tyrasa. "He says that it was called into being by the horrors inflicted upon our people by Anoa. The shock and the trauma caused it to take form and continually torment the dream world. For it was that part of all those souls that they rejected.

"It is said that it sometimes takes on a mortal incarnation. Such was the case some years ago.

"How was it that you confronted him and lived?"

"Well, I was lucky and perhaps a bit brave," said William, sitting down on a stone and beginning to play his harp. "You see, the battle made Kiyora flesh and blood with Arraxia, and together we began a journey to Artarq. With Massacre at our side, we managed to avoid most problems. At least until we came to a sunlit wood and a creature beyond our worst nightmares.

"Or, I should say, mine. Kiyora had battled him for years without incident. It was only because of our presence in the wood and her protecting us that wraith was no threat."

"The Dreaming Goddess is well known as self-sacrificing," said Tyrasa. She was sitting down next to him. Her hands were clasped, and the proximity of her body was nice. The idea of holding her appealed to him. "Though she does not come here in person."

"I imagine the dwarves and otters had more need of here than you," said William. "I suspect they are less used to the same hardships you have suffered."

"You flatter us," said Tyrasa.

William did not think that qualified as flattery. "I state a simple fact.

"The Nakmar Dwarves have never faced a war of extermination on the scale that your people faced.

"Baltoth's intervention prevented the Nakmar from suffering the same fate.

"Neither my race nor the dwarves have had an event happen on the scale that I have read of. And one does not flatter one by reminding one of the wrongs dealt to them. On the contrary, the flatterer focuses his attention only on virtues for the sake of personal gain.

"They provide no assistance." He sounded much wiser than he actually was. William was beginning to see why the elves hated Anoa so much. Even if he had been good for humanity, he had destroyed many beautiful things.

"It is said that one should beware of one bearing gifts as well," said Tyrasa, putting a hand on his shoulder.

William shifted so that her hand dropped from him, putting his harp away as he stood up. He did not like this proximity; it did not seem appropriate. "It is a wise saying.

"And you are right to distrust me until I have proven me. Shall I go on?"

"...Very well," said Tyrasa, seeming disappointed.

And William went on to describe his adventures as they went on.

"Are you certain it was truly Elranor and not Ictargo?" asked Tyrasa hopefully.

"Quite. I imagine I should have been corrected by now," said William. "I do not think that Elranor's will did Anoa the Bright's more ruthless actions at all. Not by direct command.

"I've come to learn that sometimes a man may serve you loyally yet not enact your will."

"What makes you say that?" asked Tyrasa.

"Well, most of Anoa's great victories didn't involve atrocities," said William. "Yes, there were a few brutal moments, but that was when humanity was utterly desperate. I believe that Anoa went beyond the orders given by his god and pursued a personal vendetta. Or perhaps he could not control his own people.

"Certainly, it would explain why things fell apart later in his reign. And Anoa II was wise enough not to continue the violations. Though it would have been better if he had corrected them earlier."

"I have heard it said that he prevented others from entering the domain of the high elves. Them and others," said the blue-haired one impatiently. "He and those who came after he protected us from the worst of the humans."

"That was small repayment for what they did to us, Shai. By then, it was too late,"

"Is it?" asked William. "You have increased in number, and if all goes well, may reclaim some small part of what you once had? In time, perhaps you could reclaim more or establish colonies elsewhere. Not in my time, perhaps.

"But if the surrounding lands were to come to understand you. As your own efforts continue, your land could be restored. Not as it once was, but perhaps in some new form with its own beauty and power."

Tyrasa halted and looked at him. "What do you want, William Gabriel? What drives you?"

"What do I want?" asked William. "I want to heal the land and the people who have been injured. Both mind and body. I want to create a world of strength but without brutality. To raise up great monuments to greater deities.

"I would see the glory of the old world restored, but without eclipsing those things which are good about the new."

"Those are very grand designs," said Shai in irritation.

William moved a bit away. Their aggressive advances needed turning down here. "Yes, I'm aware.

"In the immediate future, I'd like to get to Gel Carn for the Tournament of King's and settle the present crisis."

"Which crisis would this be?" asked Shai.

"Well, it's all very economical, and I don't think you'd find it very interesting," said William.

"I want to hear it," said Tyrasa, who was beginning to get interested.

"As you wish," said William.

And then he recited his adventures thus far, most recent. And they were mighty dull, a boring slog through plaguelands and dull parties. No rest, and no notable battles besides the duel with Lamech. Moreover, absolutely nothing of any importance happened to him.

"And that brought us here," said William.

"This is all very complicated," said Tyrasa.

"To make it all very short, everything we do affects everything else. It has taken some time for me to learn that," said William.

"That is a very druidic way of thinking about it," said Tyrasa.

"I would call it simple common sense," said William. "Your every action affects others far more than you will ever know. Still, if all that had never happened, I might never have been able to meet you. Or a lot of other people."

Tyrasa stood up, shifting. "I..."

"Tyrasa, Shai, cease fraternizing with that human," said Faras, coming back, thank goodness. "You were assigned to guard him, not speak to him.

"You, give this to your Father."

And he handed William a letter.

"Give this to him and only him," said Faras.

"May I read it?" asked William. "I am aware of House's situation, and I will not be with him for a long time. I may be able to tell you how he will react."

Faras nodded, and William opened it, privately thankful Tyrasa had been fended off. She and the others had no real experience with other people. Her infatuation was not healthy for her.

He read the letter;

"To the Duke of House Gabriel,

"Your offer of reparations, however insufficient, is accepted in the spirit it is given.

"-King Farus of the Woodland Realm."

"King Faras, may I tell you something you don't want to hear?" asked William.

"You may," said Faras.

"This reply will never be accepted," said William. "For one thing, Duke Vanion is unaware of your situation. I was making the offer to you on his behalf. However, I would still have to speak to and convince him of my perspective. He has many concerns, and such a curt letter would alienate him.

"Even if it did not, responding to such a response with, as you put it, reparations would be viewed as a sign of weakness. Human monarchs can never show weakness, or they will lose the respect of their people."

"I am a King," noted Faras.

"I am fully aware of our positions," said William, not wanting to say that Faras, as King, was weaker than many Lords. "However, it is impossible for us to respond to this.

"Jehair, you are aware of the doings of nobles. She has an outside perspective and might know how to explain things better."

"King Faras, please humor them," said Jehair. She was leaning against a tree with her arms crossed under her breasts. Her hair had been tied up above her instead of in braids, and it looked nice. "This is a real opportunity for us. It will speed up many of the plans already in motion."

Faras nodded. "...As you wish."

And he departed to go back to his work.

"Your Father has different notions of statecraft from my own people," said William.

"He had led us since long before I was born," said Tyrasa. "Of the original survivors, he is the only one left. Virtually all of them is descended from him by now. And so every death among us is a death of his own flesh and blood.

"It weighs heavily on him," said Shai. "And he ought to have more respect from beings so much younger than your Duke."

"You must forgive us," said William. Were they sisters? It was difficult to remember the others. "We have become so focused on our many enemies gained over ages of battle. We have yet to be aware of your existence. Harlenor cannot know how they ought to treat you when our war with Calisha has blinded us to you.

"It is an oversight we will not make again."

Tyrasa nodded. "I will ask no more, then."

"Are there any injured here I might tend to?" asked William.

"Some of the gnoll servants may be in need," said Shai.

"Take me to them," said William.

And so things began again.

If William didn't figure out how to shut all this down now, he could face some serious problems later.