“What of your family, Elwin?” P’tira asked.

Elwin told her of his family. Three children, a few decades apart. Unusual for humans, but very normal for elves who were ageless.

“So, not much seems to have changed by way of elven culture…” said P’tira with mild interest.

“What is it that you wish to know about, P’tira?” asked Blue.

“A very good question, sister. I suppose I wish to know if the values of the people of Apolaphia have changed over time. To see how much the world has changed during my slumber.” The Elder Fairy replied. Then she turned to Kari. “How about you? Silent human? Is the food not to your liking?”

“The food is delicious. I just felt that I might not have much to contribute to your conversation about family.” Responded Kari.

“There is no shame in coming from a broken home, little mote. After all, we do not choose the families we are born into.”

“Well then.” Began Kari. He explained that he was born to refugees, who, unable to support him, were forced to find an arrangement for him to be raised in Carderock Academy. Luckily his Gift was of great interest to the scholars there. His words painted a picture of a childhood life that, while lacking familial love, was certainly not bad. He had food, shelter, and friends.

But P’tira felt that something was missing from his story, as it failed to explain the dark aura about him.

“Would you say that your childhood was ‘good’ or ‘bad’?” P’tira asked him, intently. She tilted her head ever so slightly as if trying to find a better angle by which to peer into his soul.

Kari was conflicted. “I’m not sure.” He replied.

P’tira grinned. “The wisest answer.” She said.

“What do you even mean by ‘good’, P’tira?” Blue asked.

“In the context of my question, that is for Kari to decide.”

“Then since he couldn’t answer, what is good to you?”

P’tira smiled with ferocious joy. “You know, I had half a mind to give you all a trial by combat, as the truest revelations of one’s nature shines through when tempered in the heat of battle, but with such an enlightening conversation path, it seems that my curiosity will be satisfied… My sense of ‘good’ is similar to that of the creator, after all, since he created me. ‘Good’… now there are things that are ‘good’, but in the most general terms, I consider anything that isn’t ‘bad’ to be ‘good’.”

P’tira paused, considering the best way to continue. Kari and Elwin continued to eat their fill of steaming meat and fungus, especially since P’tira had proven herself to be an amicable host. Besides that, the food was indeed surprisingly delicious as Kari had stated, despite its alien appearance, and it went down almost too easily.

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“Let’s see. How about we agree on what something ‘bad’ is? I think suffering is ‘bad’.”

At this, Kari’s eyebrows flinched and stopped eating to reply through a mouth half-full. “Don’t you think that suffering is sometimes warranted? As punishment for a crime.”

“Some, like yourself, would say so. I shall entertain your opinion and ask what needs to be asked, when is suffering appropriate as punishment? For what type of crimes?”

Kari finished his mouthful before responding, shaking a leg of ham to emphasise his words. “Punishment should fit the crime, if one has caused suffering, they should suffer equally. It’s only fair.”

“An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind,” P’tira replied. “What if the individual cannot be punished? For instance, if they killed more than one, the offender only has one life. Then this debt of suffering cannot be repaid.”

“Then the criminal must be made to suffer so much that it is equal to death, and then be killed,” Kari replied smoothly, without so much as blinking.

“Such fierce, but savage words, human man. Perhaps time will show you what I have seen.” P’tira said, seemingly falling bored with Kari’s response. “Nevertheless, you have taught me much about the times with this line of conversation. As your forebear, let me leave you with something to consider: If a mistake is made, does not the mistaken bear the responsibility to correct the consequences of their actions?”

Kari fell silent, considering P’tira’s words, but only because she was an Elder. No matter how he thought about it, he just couldn't see how they helped him.

Blue listened on with interest.

“In terms of what’s good… I think I might know something most people can agree with, I mean, I could be wrong, I don’t really know…” Elwin began.

“Speak, little rabbit.” P’tira beckoned.

“I think gratitude could be ‘good’. It’s a strictly positive feeling, and it usually means someone has done something good for you, whatever that ‘good’ may be. It’s hard for me to think of any way to make gratitude a ‘bad’ thing.”

“A conversation we’ll have to have another time, my dear. More importantly, we have a new guest! Please, join us!” P’tira said unexpectedly.

Kari and Elwin looked at each other. What expression did Elwin just catch a glimpse of on Kari’s face?

They turned to face the newcomer...

The atmosphere which had warmed over during the course of their meal promptly froze over upon seeing who had come. There in the light of the torches stood a familiar, cloaked figure in a dark, tattered cloak.

The very same that had attacked Kari and Elwin outside of Ellenia.

The four of them watched his every move, for varying reasons.

“P’tira, we know this one. We have seen him before. He attacked us outside of Ellenia.” Kari said. He hesitated to add the last part, unsure of how the Elder Fairy would react.

“Well, there is quite nothing like sharing a meal with a mortal enemy to fix up your differences.” Said P’tira simply.

Rhaspalaka slowly approached with a menacing aura about him. Yet despite this, the macabre display of corpses ‘eating’ before him kept his bloodthirstiness in check. P’tira cleared the seat next to Elwin, gracefully walking the corpse away after pulling the chair back for the assassin. He sat down, glaring at Kari all the while. There was no love lost between the two.

“Return what you have stolen.” Rhaspalaka said to Kari, point-blank. Elwin looked on with confusion, of which Rhaspalaka took notice.

“Now, now,” P’tira interjected, with a menacing smile. She piled food onto the newcomer’s plate. “That’s no way to behave. First, what is your name?” she asked, as the remains of the seated battalion members turned to stare at Rhaspalaka with blank eyes.

“I am Rhaspalaka. Keeper of Secrets.” Rhaspalaka said, taking P’tira’s offering of food. His accent was unusual. Despite Kari’s travels, it was the first time he’d heard it.

“I am your most benevolent host, P̵̞͝'̷̮̈ẗ̵̢i̵̗͠r̷̭͝ä̸̦ . On your right is Elwin, the Ellenian, and the one you seem to have it out for is Kari.” P’tira said, introducing them. Elwin once again flinched when P’tira spoke her name. He couldn’t help it.

“Thank you, host… P’tira. Now, Kari…” Rhaspalaka said. He spoke Kari’s name slowly, feeling the unfamiliar name roll off his tongue. He regarded it with interest; the way a torturer might regard a new tool with which to inflict pain.