"There it is," Tedrick said, "Faehaven."

They'd made impressive time today with Tedrick now there to lead them. The old hunter knew the area better than Myron had expected, directing them to an old animal trail that actually cut through the forest and fields almost straight to Faehaven. The nearest road, according to Tedrick, wound around to the east due to a shallow ravine. Nothing the four of them would have known about, and from the responses of some of the villagers, they didn't know of this path either.

The expectation had been to get there just before night fell, but the sun was still high in the sky. All the better, as it gave them more than enough time to discuss with the Elefae elders here about accommodations for the villagers. They all knew it wasn't likely there would be enough beds for everyone, but they could at least see about getting the children a roof over their heads tonight.

Seeing Faehaven now, Myron was left wondering if it wouldn't be better for them to just sleep outside again. The houses and other buildings were even more ramshackle and rough than Verdan had been, while being packed closer together. Myron could even see multiple patchwork tents. Although he held a faint hope that there weren't elves living out of them, something told him that hope was wasted.

And yet, even from here, Myron could tell the sights and sounds of bustle were there. Children calling out in play echoed faintly from somewhere out of sight. Elefae men and women walked about, some stopping to chatter, others standing in groups caught up in quiet conversation.

It may well be a poor community, but it did not appear an unhappy one. But given that this was the place that had produced the likes of Kalvarel...no, Myron did not want to leap to that generous a judgment. The mask could yet prove to be fragile, and the secrets hidden underneath it many.

What was not fragile were the stone walls of Kelshir, standing ominous and gray a short distance beyond Faehaven. The whole settlement had been built far enough away so that the shadows cast by the walls would not fall on any of the buildings. Myron found that a bit odd, as he would have thought the shade provided by the wall would make the summer heat more bearable. But who was he to judge this decision? There had to be some reason for it.

"Not much to look at, is it?" Tedrick remarked, a bit too loud for Myron's liking. Being a skilled hunter did not come with diplomatic talent, it would seem.

"It'll be fine." Or at least, Myron hoped.

A couple of elves had clearly spotted them as the pair waited under the shade of the trees for the rest of the survivors to form up, but otherwise there was no sign of alarm or urgency at their arrival. That might change soon, as the other villagers were emerging to join them. Nela and Edeline were among them.

"I'm sorry...but what is this?" Nela's disbelief was apparent.

"Faehaven," Myron answered, understanding her reaction. He'd thought over having Nela handle talks with the leaders here - they'd be more open to listening to her - but the mix of confusion and anger in her expression was making him reconsider.

Still, Myron wasn't sure they would listen to him or Hamond. As for Edeline...explaining her ear was already going to be difficult. If the elders here reacted anything like the one they'd encountered in Hallowscroft had, it would bring a premature end to any beneficial conversation right then and there. That itself led to a different problem, that of keeping Edeline out of the way until after the meeting.

Myron really was hesitant to bring that up. She was already not all that happy with him after the whole camp watch affair, and one wrong word could easily sour her mood further. An argument here, meanwhile, would just draw too much attention to them, and defeat the point.

"If you're going to just stand here and do nothing, I'm going on ahead," Tedrick suddenly said, putting a pause to Myron's thoughts. "I could use some herb tea right about now. Or anything to drink, really."

"But we need to-" Myron started to protest.

"He knows the elves." Myron spun. Galian was standing there, looking in the direction of his mentor, who was already setting off. "He's visited them several times."

There was an argument to be made that Galian still could not be trusted, but Myron didn't see any reason the man would lie about this. Besides, Tedrick knowing the path they had taken had to mean he had used it before, so it did make a certain sense. The old hunter had to have been one of the villagers who had sold or traded goods to the elves here. The excess meat and skins of what he hunted would be quite valuable.

That aside, it was now or never. Myron raised a hand and waved the people forward, before stepping out into the open.

Now that got the attention of everyone, as the elves froze at the sight of so many people emerging from the forest. The sounds of Faehaven faded into an unsettling quiet, with only a few faint conversations preventing a full dead silence. More elves, possibly driven by curiosity, began to come out to see what was happening, only to join in staring at the ragged men and women of Verdan.

You couldn't paint a better portrait, Myron acknowledged with grim amusement. Two groups of people staring at each other. One desperate, the other confused.

But it had to end. "Who are you?" an Elefae man asked, stepping in front of the growing crowd. "What are you doing here?"

"We're from Verdan." Kalias pushed his way out front, taking a position just to the right of Myron. "It was attacked."

"By who?" The Faehaven crowd shrunk back, with many of the faces looking fearful.

"The Aetheric Knights." This was as good a time as any for Myron to speak up. "These are the survivors we were able to gather. They need sanctuary."

Several of the elves immediately turned and walked away.

"We...we can't help you with that." The man stepped back, face pale. Fear then, which Myron could hardly blame them for.

"Can't, or won't?" Nela advanced, staring up at the man with a fierce look.

"Do you want the swords of the knights to fall on our necks?" Fear was seemingly giving way to anger, as the man's face reddened.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"If you were going to-" Nela started to say, only for a fresh burst of childish laughter to cut her off. Around the corner, a couple of girls ran out, their play coming to a halt as they stopped and stared at the assembly of people.

"Girls! Girls!" Following behind was a woman who also came to a stop. "I told you...what in the..."

"Ma...is that more visitors?" one of the girls asked.

Nela had also looked over to see them. To Myron's surprise, her eyes wide with shock as she gazed at the pair of children. He looked back at the two girls, unsure of what had made Nela react like that. Then it hit him.

The older of the two, despite being of age to have the rite performed, had rounded ears, same as him.

"So he was right," Nela finally said, soft and hollow. "You've all given up."

"What?" The man was confused. "What are you even talking about?"

"You-" Nela started in fury, then broke off as her face fell in defeat. "You know what? Forget it."

Myron reached out a hand, to comfort Nela, to pull her out of whatever dark mood she was in. Without even looking at him, she batted it away with one arm, then walked past him. Something for them to talk about tonight, once Nela's emotions were not burning quite as hot.

Back to convincing the Elefae it was, then. Myron did have an idea of how to go about it though.

"Let me ask you something," he said, addressing the assembled elves with raised arms. "When you were shut out of Kelshir, forsaken by the people of the city, did the villagers of Verdan not step forward to supply you with what you needed?"

The Elefae began to murmur among themselves, uncertain. Some of them were nodding, and that was enough for Myron to continue.

"And now, in their hour of need, when the same men who exiled you raised their blades against them and cut them down, you would turn your backs on them?" Myron let an edge creep into his voice. "Do you all have no shame? Or will you prove that you can match their compassion, their generosity? Make your choice, and quickly. They cannot afford to wait."

The murmuring grew. The man in front, looking at the elves around him, shifted nervously. "Fine," he said, spreading his hands in a vague gesture of surrender. "I'll go tell the elders. They'll still refuse you, but this way you can't say I didn't try."

Myron gave the man a sour look, but he had nothing to counter that with. If the Elefae elders here were as stubborn and blind as some of the ones back in Hallowscroft, then this was pointless. They'd have to figure out some other form of shelter if that turned out to be the truth of the situation.

As the Elefae man turned to leave, Galian spoke up again. "Can I talk to you?"

The look on Galian's face told Myron this was intended to be a private conversation. With another gesture, Myron indicated that the people of Verdan should disperse while they wait. Then he followed Galian a ways to the side, out of earshot of the rest. "Go ahead."

"That was a good and fancy speech." Galian leaned over, whispering. "A little too fancy. You're a noble, aren't you?"

Myron held back a harsh retort. There was nothing that limited inspiring words to those of noble or royal blood, true. But he had to admit that a peasant might choose different phrasing than he had.

"I shouldn't pry into your business. Not after what my wife and I did," Galian admitted, stepping back. "But words like that get attention. Some of it you want, and some of it you don't, if you get what I'm saying."

"Understood," Myron said, "I'll consider it as advice then." He could tell this was an attempt to make amends, as clumsy as it might be. He appreciated the effort, regardless.

Returning back to where he had been standing, Myron could see the change. There was a tension in the air that had not been there before. Unease was spreading among the elves, as many went back to what they were doing.

He had been right in his guess moments before - any happiness here was only an illusion.

The wait was not long before the elf man returned, bringing a pair of older elves along with him. Myron briefly wondered how many elders in total Faehaven had.

"So these are the one seeking sanctuary here?" The elder who spoke first, the one on the right, had a wispy gray beard, reflecting silvery in the sunlight.

"Indeed we are," Myron answered.

"Denied," the other one said, without hesitation.

"Excuse me?" Myron was thrown off-guard by the suddenness of the decision.

"You heard him," the first elder said, "As the elders of Faehaven, we refuse to recognize your need for shelter. In a hexday we will rebuke any among us who are offering you or anyone from Verdan food or a place to rest. Such things should not be permitted here in Faehaven."

Myron had to stop to think that through. So that was how they were going to handle it. Very clever of them.

"You...you can't just-" Nela sputtered, looking like she was about to explode again.

"Wait," Myron interrupted her, holding back a smile. "I understand."

"Very well then." The elders gave a slight bow, faces kept stony. "May the grace and glory of the Fae accompany you when you leave."

Myron shook his head as the pair of elders left. The Elefae man who had brought them was standing there, looking a bit dumbfounded. "Uh, there, you heard them. Now leave."

"Stop that!" It was the woman who had followed the girls here, their mother. "You know what they meant, Zald."

"Fine," the man conceded, still disagreeing if the tone of his voice was anything to go by. "We'll see if we have some spare tents to set up."

"Don't forget the empty houses down on the west side!" the woman called out after him, then she turned to Myron. "Sorry. Some of us aren't feeling all that friendly lately. Fae bless us, we're all Hyarchians in the end. Our doors should be open for all, no matter what anyone says."

"Wait, we are staying?" Nela looked completely lost.

"Yes." Myron supposed he'd have to explain the ploy of the elders later.

"But we don't have room for them," the woman's daughter protested, peeking around her mother shyly. "Not with that other visitor."

"Other visitor?" Myron asked, curious.

"That would be me," a deep voice answered.

Myron turned. And stared.

Standing there, the size of a small horse, was a beast with a human head. The...creature...had a muscular frame supported on four large paws, with a long twisting tail waving in the air. A thick mane of dark hair framed the face of a man, which now gazed over each of them in turn.

It was one thing to have heard various tales and rumors of the catfolk of the north, who lived in and beyond the lands of Remuat. It was another thing to be standing in the presence of one.

This...was a sphinx.

Myron could not find any words.

The sphinx padded closer, looking them up and down. "A curious chance encounter, indeed. I am Ugotlas of the Sekhmati."

"Uh...you got what?" Nela said.

"It is hardly a surprise that one such as you is unable to grasp my name upon first hearing it. I am certain that knowledge will come in due time."

Awe was quickly giving way to irritation, but Myron set it aside. "Excuse her mistake. I am Myron."

"You may consider it a matter of the past." Ugotlas fixed his gaze on Edeline, and approached her. He raised his head, and Myron could see his nostrils widen, as if he was...smelling her. "Quite curious. Yes, I do think we can get along."

"Perhaps," Edeline said, one hand drifting up to pull on her one pointed ear.

"I myself am waiting on word from my petition to enter the city, as I do have some business there." The sphinx's tail straightened, extending and pointing towards Kelshir's looming walls. "I suspect you may desire the same. Perhaps, if the eyes of the heavens favor us, we shall encounter each other in the future. For now, I have other matters to see to before night descends, so I will take my leave."

Without waiting for a response, Ugotlas carefully walked around them and headed off, tail still held high.

"Not a friendly sort. I'm starting to regret giving him the spare room, but what is is." The elven mother sniffed, then straightened up. "Now, how about we get you a room. I...think I know a place. One where you shouldn't be bothered."

"You don't have to, if-" Myron began, noting the woman's hesitation.

"No, it's fine. You deserve a roof over your head. So follow me."

"We have one more companion," Myron said, looking over to see if he could spot Hamond. Right, over there, standing with a couple of Verdan's villagers under the shade of a tree.

"Get them over here and we'll go then." The woman started to cross her arms, then stopped and snapped her fingers. "Right, I forgot. My head's full of fluff. My name's Centurla."

"Nela," Nela said, extending one hand. Myron gave a nod, as he'd already said his name, and left them to finish their introductions while he fetched Hamond.