Chapter 18. Childish Ambitions
Kylia sat down with Artin, who went on drawing as if the half-elf stranger wasn’t sitting next to him. Tine watched from a distance with Marlynn as Kylia said something they couldn’t hear. Artin laughed. He let her draw on another sheet of paper. That’s probably very generous of him, Tine thought.
Tine recalled her days in Nagir City. And working the mines. When you didn’t have much, even paper was a luxury. If only I had someone kind like Marlynn to watch over me when I was little…She switched her tail at the thought. Her heart ached a little then. She wanted nothing more than to find the lost children in that moment. Augh. Why do I think I can save everyone? She smiled to herself. I guess Autumnus is rubbing off on me.
Soon Kylia was back with a couple of drawings in hand. Not hers. Artin’s, Tine noticed, bringing her back to present day. Artin sat examining the drawing Kylia had given him. “Make a trade? I was hoping to see yours.”
Kylia laughed. “Oh, no, I’m sure you don’t. These are much better than mine.” The rogue looked at one of them and frowned a little. “Maybe we should show these to the others outside…”
Before they headed out, Marlynn gave Kylia a hug and wrapped up some bread and honey for the trip. While they waited, Artin tugged at Kylia's sleeve. "Make sure you take the map," he said, very seriously. "You're going to need it."
They headed out to find Lou, who looked inexplicably exultant, Autumnus, who was playing with a new crossbow like it was a toy, and a very grumpy Hafoc, who sat on his pack. Tine thought he looked frustrated to the point of tears.
“Nice crossbow!” Kylia shouted, waving. “Where did you get it?”
At this, Hafoc folded his arms and turned away from the rest of them. Lou burst into hysterical laughter.
“Um…was it something I said?” Kylia cocked her head.
Lou wiped away a tear, and tried to stifle a stray giggle. “Yes…but no, my deadly damsel of the dagger. Believe me, it’s just better not to ask.”
“Ri-ight.” Kylia held up two drawings. “Anyway, I got this for the journey. Thought it might help.”
Autumnus put down the crossbow to inspect them. He took it in hand, squinted, and rotated the paper a few times to look at each of the drawings in turn. “It’s so wonderful that you’ve brought us this, Kylia.” He coughed into a gloved hand. “But just what does it mean?”
The little blonde girl Marlynn pointed out as Elitzy came running out of the farmhouse brandishing a stick. "You better not leave without me! I'm the only one who knows how to deefeet those monsters!"
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Hafoc threw a look to Kylia, seemingly to convey that he was not good with children.
Autumnus gestured for Tine to come by and whispered. “Can you read this?” Tine squinted at the scribbled drawing with ramshackle lettering, and shook her head, no.
Overhearing him, Eliza stood on tippy-toe to look at Artin's drawing in Autumnus's hands. “—I—can tell you what everything in that picture means, easy-peasy, mister demon man.”
Autumnus handed the first piece of paper to her to look at. “Ok, young miss. What do you make of this?” He asked.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1081627664932159620/1200287086801063996/Screen_Shot_2024-01-23_at_5.39.15_PM.png] [https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg]
Elitzy was quick with her reply. "It shows what happened! See? The bad guy came and grabbed Ohn and Isa unner each arm! He was looking at baby Oe, but I was like 'Grrr!' and I waved my stick like this." Elitzy demonstrated fighting maneuvers that looked like Noh theater piece being performed while fighting bees. "The monster guy was all 'rawrrrrr' and ran away.”
Tine awkwardly patted the girl on the head, once Elitzy stood still long enough for her to do so. She didn’t know what to say, but she felt an ache in her heart for these children. She knew what it was like to feel alone against the dangers of the world.
Kylia chimed in. “Thank you Eltzy for the help! You are one brave girl! I feel so much better leaving the farm, knowing that you are here you protect everyone.”
Elitzy looked disappointed, but proud. She held her stick up. “You know it, sneaky lady! Can I borrow a dagger? It would sure help!"
Kylia shook her head no, and brushed the young girl's hand away from the weapon.
Hafoc stood up and stretched. “It’s time to go.” Tine thought he looked like he couldn’t bear another second of the farm or the children. It kind of looks like he was headed out already, Tine thought, noting his stuffed pack.
Autumnus knelt by Elitzy. “Young miss. Excuse me, but can you tell us more about this one?” He showed her Artin’s other drawing. It was a mess of black lines on one side. Blurry green scribbles filled the center of the page. In one corner there was a drawing of a tiny house and a very large cat. Another corner was dominated with an ominous red circle and the word NO.
Elitzy looked at it and squinted. “Oh that? It’s a map.” Then she ran off, waving her stick high in the air.
Autumnus stood up again and held the drawing at arm’s length, turning it every which way. “I swear upon the heavens and the earth, the good people of Svlandir can’t make a decent map to save their lives.”
Hafoc laughed. “Well mebbe they’d be better if’n you didn’t get them from drunks and small children.”
Autumnus gave him a disgruntled look.
Tine plucked the map from his hands. “Here. Let me see.” Her ears pointed back and she tilted her head. “Oh. I think I see now.” She pointed to the green part of the drawing. “This is the forest. The house and cat is where we are now,” she said, “nodding to the farm and the mew-ba flock. I think the top part is the city.”
Autumnus pointed to the large blood red circle and the word NO. “And this?”
“That? That is where I’m sure we need to go.”
[https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg][https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg][https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg]