Journey Across Jord

by Allan Joyal

  The elf smiled slightly as I said the last name. "That might be the only name that sounds right to me," he said. "I am Elrolethlyn. I agree to your proposal that we speak."

  The elf stepped off the small stage and started walking toward a table. "Keep!" he shouted. "Bring me a glass of the elven wine you keep back there, and whatever these humans want. The brown hair called Ron shall pay."

  "I hope you brought coin," Steve whispered in my ear.

  I nodded as the elf claimed a chair. He turned to look at the table. I chose the chair directly across from him. Heather claimed the one to my left as Lisa claimed the one to the elf's left. The others in our group quickly jumped into the remaining chairs.

  I turned to Steve. "Get us a pitcher of ale. I hope everyone remembered to bring a tankard."

  The girls all set tankards in front of them. Heather placed one in front of me as I turned to look at Elrolethlyn. "Again, I'm sorry we disturbed your playing. We are new to Jord."

  Elrolethlyn nodded. "I surmised that. The uncouth one sitting next to me has her hair uncovered. The humans of the plains hide the sight of their women's hair. I also see you have too many women here for just three men."

  Lisa frowned. "I'm sorry; I wanted to look my best today."

  Elrolethlyn turned to look at Lisa. "Why? What possible reason would a human female have for wanting to appear nice when coming to a tavern?"

  Lisa looked down and covered her face with her hands. Steve was sitting next to her and patted her in the shoulder. He looked over at Elrolethlyn and shook his head. "Please be kind. Lisa was hoping she could audition for you. She wants to be a singer."

  Elrolethlyn looked a bit more closely at Lisa. His eyes seemed to spend a considerable period of time focused on the chest of the quietly crying woman. "A female human going to taverns and singing," he mused. "Humans barely understand the art that music is, and you expect me to believe that an ignorant female will impress me."

  I smiled and looked at Lisa. "Lisa, can you sing Amazing Grace?"

  Lisa kept her face covered with her hands, but managed to nod. She lowered her hands and sat back. Elrolethlyn was watching her chest closely as the young woman took a deep breath and started to sing.

  Lisa struggled a bit with the song. Her voice cracked on a couple of notes, but she seemed to gain confidence as she ended the first verse. The melody soared as she reached the climax of the second verse. She held the last note for a long time and then let it fade away.

  Elrolethlyn stared at Lisa as the other men in the tavern banged their tankards against the table. The tavern keeper came over and set a cup in front of the elf and then turned to the rest of us.

  "Can we get a pitcher of ale?" Steve asked.

  "You also owe for the elven wine, so I need two silver," the tavern keeper said.

  I reached into the pouch at my belt. I pulled out four coins and spread them out in my palm. Three were silver, but the fourth was the strange red metal one. Elrolethlyn sat up as I took two of the silver coins and tossed them to the tavern keeper.

  "I have never heard such a song," he said. "But even the dumbest bird can be taught to warble one tune."

  Lisa frowned. She began to chew on her lower lip. "What should I sing?" she asked. "It's not like I know any of the songs that are popular here."

  Esme looked at her. "What about the one song about a girl with the father who had spread his seed a bit too much? That might work, and it would show you can sing in more than one style."

  Lisa blushed. "I hope no one here believes that really happened to me."

  Steve and I both laughed. "Lisa, we know where you are from. We won't believe that it's real."

  Lisa giggled. She turned to Elrolethlyn. "Please don't look down on me for singing this song."

  The elf just nodded as Lisa took a deep breath and started to sing. I had never heard the song before, but Steve and I were laughing by the end. The song was a tale of a young woman who wanted to get married. Unfortunately for the girl, every time she started to date a boy, her father would tell her, "He's my son". The punch line came at the end when the girl goes to her mother to complain and gets told that her father was a sailor her mother spent a night with.

  The elf laughed at the end of the song. "I have never heard a song that so perfectly fit the ways of human villages. And you were right my dear," he said turning to Esme. "That was a much different style than the first song."

  Lisa beamed. She then turned to Elrolethlyn. "I just thought of another, but it would work best if you would play for me."

  "I would not know the notes," the elf said with a smile. He put his arm out and touched Lisa's shoulder. The young woman smiled bigger.

  "I think you could play for this one. Although, you might find the song a bit disturbing," Lisa said before looking down at the table and blushing.

  "What song?" I asked.

  "Mister Monotony," Lisa whispered back.

  Steve and I looked at each other. Steve shrugged. "It is a classic, and she's right, the music isn't very complex. The whole song centers on a musician who is not a dynamic player. Lisa, you realize that the song describes instruments that might not exist here?"

  Lisa shrugged and looked at Elrolethlyn again. "After hearing Elrolethlyn here play that beautiful and haunting melody, I'm sure he can play the melody at the start."

  The elf held up a hand. "Just Elrol, humans have such a short lifespan, one should not waste their time. How does this song go, young human?"

  Lisa sang out a number of low notes. Elrol nodded and stood up. "I can play that, one moment." He walked back to the corner stage and picked up a small harp. He played a couple of notes and then walked back to the table.

  Elrol sat back down and then tried to repeat the pattern Lisa had sung. She listened to it once and nodded. "The song changes key and speed after the first verse. I hope we can make this work without practice."

  Elrol smiled. It was an expression of supreme confidence. "I can match your singing."

  Lisa giggled. She inhaled and began singing. "Playing on his slide trombone, in a certain monotone."

  Elrol paused for a moment and then began weaving a melody of notes around Lisa's singing. The elf proved to be a master musician, easily matching the tune from the harp with Lisa's singing. I took a moment to glance at the other tables and found that the men sitting there were watching Lisa.

  Lisa clearly grew more confident as Elrol's playing matched her singing. When she got to the faster section, she stood up and stepped behind Elrol. She leaned against him, pressing her breasts into his side as she belted out the betrayal of Mister Monotony. She then leaned back and slowly moved back to her chair as she sang out the moral. When she sat down and let the last note fade, the men at the other table again banged their tankards.

  Elrol was looking over at Lisa again. "You are a mystery," he said.

  "Why?" Lisa asked.

  "This music is too complex for humans," the elf said with a sneer. "I've traveled these plains for decades, and I've never heard such music."

  I sighed. "We are from a land far from here," I admitted. "Where we come from, the music is different than you find here."

  Elrol nodded. "I can see, so why did Lisa want to sing for me?"

  "We were brought here by magic," Lisa said quietly. "And we've found out that we cannot go home. Ron and the others here are planning on traveling until they find a place they can turn into a home."

  "You said Ron and the others," Elrol asked. I noticed that he was gazing hungrily at Lisa's chest. "Are you saying that you don't want to join them?"

  Lisa sighed. "I would love to stay with them, but I'm not brave enough to make the journey. When I was growing up, I had a dream of singing for others. I thought I might find a minstrel or bard who would not mind me traveling and performing with him."

  Elrol put his arm around Lisa. "If you travel with me, we will be staying in the same room in taverns."

  "I don't mind that," Lisa said. I noticed she shiv
ered at the elf's touch.

  "I'd expect you to listen to me, and be a true apprentice. You have to learn to play an instrument and to sing other songs. I also expect you to teach me the songs you know," the elf said.

  "I expected that," Lisa said. "I'm actually looking forward to learning more. I love music."

  Elrol looked at me. "You approve of this? A young maiden traveling with an elf?"

  "Protect her and keep her happy is all we ask," I replied. "She is a treasured friend, but this is what she wants. If we kept her from doing this, it would only destroy the things that make her special."

  Elrol smiled and pulled Lisa closer to him. He placed a kiss on her forehead. Lisa responded by putting her arms around him and returning a kiss to his cheek. Elrol's eyebrow went up when none of us said anything.

  "You are strange ones," he said. "Lisa, I will take you with me. But we must start your training today. Can you stay with me?"

  Lisa looked over at Jennifer. The young coed held up a bag and handed it across the table. "This is yours," she said. "Natalie and I packed it; we were confident that you'd impress." She turned to look at the elf. "Please take care of our friend. We only knew her for a short time, but we do love her and only want the best for her."

  Elrol nodded again, but then looked at me. "She has so little, yet you have that coin. Why?"

  "We arrived with nothing except the clothing we were wearing and a few personal items," I replied. "The coins we obtained after we arrived, but I've been spending them cautiously. Once we realized we might not get home, we wanted to have the funds to supply our journey to find a place to live."

  "Wise beyond your years," the elf said. "But that coin will hardly spend in most towns, it's too valuable. If you trust me, I'll exchange it for fair value."

  I placed the coin on the table. "Your offer is very kind," I replied.

  "Not at all," Elrolethlyn replied. "I can use such a coin. When I return to the elven forests, such a coin will pay for new instruments. And I'd rather carry one coin than many. Would you accept seven of gold and eight of silver for that coin?"

  I nodded and pushed the coin across the table. "Would you be willing to answer a couple of questions?"

  The red coin disappeared from the table. Elrol placed three stacks of coins on the table. He did not push them across, but Hencktor picked them up and handed them to Heather. She quickly passed them to me. Elrol watched this and then shook his head.

  "I can only answer so much," he said.

  "I don't think these questions will cause trouble. We had a sorceress suggest that we travel far to the East to find a place to live. I was told that the last major river we'd cross either borders or runs through a forest claimed by elves. I was wondering if the elves will be upset if we cross the river," I said.

  Elrol nodded. "Once you cross the river, stay out of the forest. The elves do not welcome intruders into their sanctuary. I would cross the river at Saraloncto. There was an old bridge there that was built during the time of the empire. It has fallen now, but there are still remnants of the old road you might find."

  I nodded. "I hear that the hills and plains on the other side of the river were the site of an orc invasion. Will a small party be in danger?"

  "Not a great amount," Elrol said. "Orcs are not farmers and once the humans had been wiped out, they retreated back to their mountain homes. Some goblin tribes will appear on the plains, but like the orcs, they are not farmers and rarely stay. I would be careful near any large groves. There are a couple that are home to small goblin tribes, they will attack intruders."

  "Those were my only questions. And now, we should be going. We have many things we want to do to prepare for our journey."

  I stood up and walked around the table until I was next to Lisa. She jumped up and threw her arms around me. "Thank you," she whispered. "This is what I want."

  "And if he wants you to share his bed?" I whispered back.

  "I'll try to name our son Ron," she replied with a quiet giggle.

  I held her for a moment more and then released her. I then bowed to Elrolethlyn. He waved quietly, watching as the rest of the group stood up and came over to hug Lisa. I then turned and started to walk from the tavern. Heather ran to catch up and took my arm as we left the building.

  Chapter 8: Tools for Traveling.

  "Do you know where the sledge is?" Heather asked me once we were outside.

  "No, but we can ask Relway," I replied. "We should check with him anyways, since any medical supplies we are going to get will probably come through him."

  "Nice of Elrol to change your coin," Steve said. "Do you think he gave you a fair trade?"

  "Hard to say," I replied. "My main worry is if we have enough to supply our trip. We still have quite a bit to purchase. I just hope this sledge will work, otherwise we might be stuck here until the snows melt."

  We were making our way across the street. The snow seemed a bit firmer this time as we staggered around the various drifts. I led the group to the door to Relway's store.

  The door groaned as I pulled it open and stepped inside. The smoke from the flame made it difficult to see. I paused just inside to allow my eyes to adjust to the dim light.

  "So you made it here," Relway called out. "Come by the fire."

  I could see the glow of the flame and made my way towards it. A think smoke was billowing up from the fire pit. There was just enough of a breeze to keep it from one side of the rim, so I moved to that side and sat down, turning my back to the flames.

  Relway's daughter came out with a leather-covered bladder. "Some weak ale," she said. "To help clear your throat."

  "Why all the smoke?" I asked.

  "We didn't expect the extra two days of storm," Relway said. "I'm waiting for another delivery of dried wood. This stuff burns well, but the fire is smoky if it hasn't been properly dried. I kept it around for emergencies."

  I nodded. "We can keep this short if you'd like."

  Relway looked back towards the door. I turned and watched the rest of the group enter. Heather quickly made her way over to sit by me, but the others scattered throughout the shop, looking at various items.

  "It seems your friends want to look around a bit," he said.

  I nodded. "They might have ideas about things we might need."

  Relway came out from behind a large rack. He was carrying the stick and leather chair he had used during my previous visit. He set it up and sat down, looking at Heather.

  "She is not who was with you last time," he said.

  I nodded. "I was with Lydia, Hencktor's wife. Last time he stayed back to guard our belongings, but we thought we might need her knowledge when we visited a merchant. This time Lydia stayed with the young women you brought to us."

  "How are they doing?" Relway asked.

  "Not so good," Heather admitted. "Aine is starting to heal, but I'm not sure Sharice will. Right now, she is still far too angry."

  Relway nodded. "I hoped that was not true, but I've seen it before. Meanwhile, I'm guessing you want to know about meeting the farmers."

  "Yes," I admitted. "The sooner we can talk to them and start planning what we need to take, the better. One of my biggest worries is not properly preparing for our journey and for founding a farm once we arrive."

  "I can have my daughter bring them to your lodge tomorrow," Relway said. "Vincanto and Lewrin have been farming near the academy for decades. I'd try to bring them tonight, but I expect you want to look at the sledge."

  "Yes," I said with a nod. "If we like it, can we bring it into the city? It would be nice to load it before we leave this place. Also, from what we were told, it will require some repair."

  Relway nodded and turned to look at the back of his store. "Rolway! Come out here."

  "Your son?" I asked.

  "Yes," Relway said. "He knows where the shed is."

  "Shed?" Rolway asked as he appeared out of the shadows. "Which shed?"

  "Vincanzo had a neighbor farmer who died. H
is widow abandoned the home and tools. There is a shed of some kind on the property. Vincanzo said his son knew the location and used to take you out there when you were avoiding your chores," Relway snapped at his son.

  Rolway frowned. He was a short man, probably three inches shorter than Relway. Unlike most of the men on Jord, his arms lacked muscle and he slouched once he came to a stop next to his father. "That means going out into the snow. We'd be walking for an hour."

  "It's far?" I asked.

  Relway laughed. "Any distance is far when you are trying to make your way through this snow. It's not that far. Vincanzo has his house and barn within the city walls."

  I watched as Rolway nodded sourly. The young man was clearly upset by the idea that he would have to assist us. He looked at the floor for several minutes.

  "Fine," he spat. "I'll lead them there. When do we leave?"

  "Steve, round everyone up," I called out. "Our guide to the sledge is ready to go."

  Steve walked over, carrying a pair of shovels. "Can we get these now?" he asked me. "We'll need them to farm and they might help clear snow."

  Before I could reply, Esme ran up. "Ron!" she called out. "We've found some salves. Can I purchase two containers?"

  Hencktor walked up, he was carrying a small barrel. "Rivets," he told me. "If the sledge needs a new harness, I'll need these to repair it."

  "Ron!" Jennifer asked. "Can we get a couple of the chairs Relway is using? It would be nice to not sit on the floor when performing some tasks."

  I sighed and reached into my coin pouch. "Can I offer a trade?" I asked. I pulled out the jar of what the dwarves called phantom caps and held it out.

  Relway gasped. "Phantom caps. Some of the wizards pay very well for these. The items you are taking aren't of equal value."

  "How about when we start to negotiate with the farmers for seeds, you help us there? Perhaps we can offer some of your goods in trade," Heather asked.

  Relway looked surprised. "I can do that," he admitted. "But no one ever asks for that."

  I looked at Heather. "How did you come up with that?"