Alan thought for a few seconds before replying. “It can happen but it is very rare. When it does it is even worse than a human broken heart because it can last centuries.
But you don’t have to worry about that, you are lucky. Lissette is one of the most beautiful halflings around. She is smart, she has some elf magic, quite a bit in healing, looking at you, and she is well thought of. The whole enclave will be pleased when they find out.”
The whole enclave, Daniel thought, I don’t know how I am even going to talk to Lissette. This is like one of those movies where two people wake up after a wild night in Vegas and discover they are married to a stranger. I never got see Vegas, the thought popped in from nowhere, it’s not like Alan is wrong. Lissette is special and I have been attracted to her from the start of this dream. How do I even start to kiss someone when they may be thinking I want to ‘mate?’ Then he shrugged to himself and decided that probably wasn’t far from anyone’s mind after a kiss.
“Alan, you know I didn’t know any of this, but since they didn’t tell me and they knew, I feel a little set up.”
“Look at it from their perspective. For Beylvar and Eliana it was a gamble they were pretty sure of. If it hadn’t worked, well, no real loss unless Lissette knew she was smitten, then the broken heart would have been hers. The good news is that it worked, and really well, exceptionally well. I don’t see any signs of the bruises. That will tell people a lot. Don’t worry about Lissette. She knows how it works. Nature will take its course. And a new set of, three-quarterlings, will be running about in no time.” With the last comment, Alan was back to laughing at Daniel’s discomfort.
“Come on Daniel, the gathering needs to see this new development sooner than later.” With that said, Alan slapped Daniel on the shoulder and headed off along the tree line.
They hadn’t gone far when they ran into one of the mountain elves. “Good morning Daniel,” the elf said extending his hand. “We did not get a chance to formally be introduced. My name is Calden, and I am pleased to meet the growing legend in person.”
The legend thing made Daniel uncomfortable and he was afraid his wince had shown. “Nice to meet you, Calden, this is my friend Alan.” Daniel turned to Alan with the introduction and saw Alan had gone stiff and formal. Looking back at Calden to see what was going on it was clear he was deciding something. Calden slowly extended a hand to Alan and Alan hesitated a moment before extending his own. The handshake was stiff, but relaxed more by the second pump.
“Daniel - and Alan, if you don’t mind I have a few questions and I would like to find a shady spot where we can talk.”
Daniel glanced at Alan, saw a slight shrug and then nodded for Calden to lead. They followed him a short way to a shady piece of grass that was not near any of the houses and afforded a modicum of privacy.
“I see your bruises are gone,” Calden opened. Watching Daniel blush and Alan smile told him volumes. “I assume Lissette did the healing?” They nodded affirmation and the look on Daniel’s face made him smile. “A good match I think, but not everyone may agree.” That got Daniel’s attention and a quick look at Alan saw the stiffness back.
“Not everyone will be pleased at the promise returned matched to a halfling, and please, Alan, I assure you I mean no offense.”
So that was the stiffness, Daniel realized, the halfling thing. Apparently it was all around him, and the presence of the mountain elves and the attitudes they were known for, reminded everyone and kept it in the open.
“Calden,” Daniel said with the best politely threatening tone he could manage, “I have no interest in whether someone is half, three-quarters, one-quarter or full human or elf. I don’t like assholes regardless of heritage.”
Calden was quiet for a second and then burst out laughing. It was an honest, full-bodied laugh and took him a minute to recover. “I have never heard that description applied to people before, but if you don’t mind I may start using it myself. You cut straight to the point, and I like that.” Calden laughed a little more while shaking his head and repeating ‘asshole’ as if sounding it out.
“Your time in the human world has made you different from humans and elves alike, at least in our world. Don’t misunderstand, there are many who feel the same way as you, and I am one of them.”
Daniel saw that Alan was clearly surprised by Calden’s statement. “Alan, what do you think?” Daniel asked. Alan was even more surprised to have his opinion sought in the presence of the elf.
Alan looked at Daniel and then Calden and back to Daniel. He knew Daniel was sincere in his question, but he had to admit he was very uncomfortable talking around the mountain elf. “Daniel, those are surprising words for some elves and especially for mountain elves. Calden, I mean no offense but this is difficult to accept.”
Calden nodded with a slight smile. “Not unfair, Alan, and not surprising. And I see that Daniel’s straight talk is contagious. This is a disease we have needed for some time, I think. But don’t misunderstand: many elves, not just mountain clans, will have difficulty with this. Those I travel with are hard put to resolve you, Daniel. Your demonstration of last night may hit harder and farther than you realize.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Daniel asked. “Won’t this cause trouble for you with your clan?”
“No one knows of what we speak here, save us three. I was sent to test you and I have done that in my own way. But there is a second test as well.”
“I am getting a little tired of being tested,” Daniel replied. “I didn’t ask for any of this and if I am stuck here, then I am going to do things my way as much as I can.”
“Fair enough, but I was not sent to test your magic, but your swordsmanship.”
That caught Daniel flatfooted. “Why could that possibly be important?”
Alan broke in. “Barton has told everyone of your part in the attack on the Baron Below. Felling three assassins is no small feat. I am curious, too, I admit. You said that in your world there is no armor, yet you spoke of practicing with sword, and I think we are all wondering at a place with swords and no armor and where knights can so easily be defeated. None of this is possible to us, so we all wonder at your skills.”
“Alan speaks to the heart of the dilemma,” Calden added, “What you do is of legend. What you say is wondrous and frightening. Pardon us for the testing, but we are trying to understand what is real and true. We don’t disbelieve you, but we don’t know how to believe.” Calden finished with an almost embarrassed half shrug. It was clear he was not used to openly expressing his doubts of veracity to someone’s face and Daniel realized that perhaps everyone was on the same footing as him: almost no footing at all.
“How do we do this?” Daniel finally asked.
“Once we begin everyone within earshot will be watching so I suggest we move more into the clearing so no one has their view obstructed.” Calden smiled at his comment and continued, “Another reality for you to learn, Daniel, we are all related and all wonder the same things so we rarely try to keep secrets. Let us get this over with and go back to more important topics.” Calden stood and started walking toward the sunlight.
Daniel looked at Alan who only shrugged with a half-smile and stood to follow.
Once in the clearing and well into the sunlight, Calden stopped and drew his sword but held it pointing down while he waited for Daniel.
“Any rules?” Daniel asked.
Calden smiled, “Fair question. As a practice exercise we will start slow and pick up until one of us is extended. No blood to be drawn intentionally.” With that he raised his sword and began to hum.
Daniel drew his own sword, looking at Calden’s stance, took a deep breath and began his own song. They did start slow and the pace increased. Daniel was watching for patterns and seeing none and trying desperately to avoid any himself. Calden was fluid, an obvious master, and Daniel knew he was outclassed. The sparring continued to escalate until suddenly Calden’s sword was
at Daniel’s throat. Calden held the point for a moment and smiled and asked, “Again?”
Knowing he had little choice, and hoping to do better the second time, Daniel nodded and they resumed the dance. The escalation was faster this time and ended the same way. This time when Calden dropped his sword he sheathed it.
“Not bad for someone your age, Daniel. It is clear you could have held your own with human assassins. No offence intended, but they were probably not well trained…more of the alleyway mugger. Your style is different and may offer some advantage. Your song is unusual and gives you exceptional speed and strength. But even that will not save you standing before a professional swordsman with intent to kill you. I will be honored to train you but I suggest that if you can produce the weapons with which you are more familiar, your life may be long enough to accomplish something.”
Daniel was not really surprised, but somehow in the back of his mind he had begun to think the magic could do anything. Now he was critically reminded that while some things came easily, others required practice - a lot of practice. “Thank you, I think,” he replied with little enthusiasm. “What you are saying is that if I run into some of the Baron’s men, I am a dead man.”
“Most of the Baron’s men are no better than you. Several dozen would take you with some trouble, a few with no trouble at all. Most elves would beat you easily, but take heart you are better than most elves of the same age. Keep your friends close, your safety is in numbers and finding ways to bring your magic to bear.
If you will excuse me, Draskin will have many questions, some of which he will not get answers to. What we spoke of remains between us. Besides, there are many watchers now desperate to know what is going on.” With a smile and slight dip of his head he turned and headed toward the three others in his group standing across the clearing.
“The good news is,” Alan interjected, “if he wanted you dead he could have killed you ten times.”
“That’s the good news? What’s the bad news?” he was almost afraid to ask.
“If you get into a fight with real swordsman, Lissette will find out just how good a healer she is.”
Lissette, Daniel thought, how will I talk to Lissette?
Daniel noticed a pair walking toward him and Alan and saw that it was Durbin and Aldon. “Quite a show,” Durbin, started. “Any mystique of Daniel the invincible is now shattered.”
“Irretrievably,” Aldon agreed. “In fact, we were just discussing on how having your back wouldn’t be enough.”
“Front too,” Durbin tossed in and then turned to Aldon. “What will we do about the sides?” While Durbin and Aldon were having such a good time at his expense, he wondered why Alan hadn’t chimed in as well. A quick look told him Alan was smiling.
“Alan, didn’t you volunteer for one side?” Durbin asked, obviously catching Daniel’s glance.
The smile disappeared, mostly, from Alan’s face. “You two worthless elves know I am no better than Daniel, so it appears I will have to supply the brains.” This led to serious good natured banter among the cousins insulting any and everything but parentage. The banter did help Daniel relax, but the problem was still there. He tuned out the back and forth and began to consider all that was happening. People would be out to get him, possibly from both sides.
“If you four have done embarrassing the family, I would appreciate some of your time.” Beylvar’s voice was unmistakable and the mirth mostly subsided. “As you will, grandfather,” Durbin replied, still stifling another outbreak of laughter.
With that, Beylvar turned, his head shaking from side to side and walked toward Eliana’s. The four could not see the smile on his face, and while Daniel was gaining more and more experience with his grandfather’s sense of humor the other three would have been surprised to see, and discomfited to see, that smile.
Back in the common room they joined Eliana, but Lissette was nowhere in sight. Eliana smiled, “Now that word is out, some of the other women have hauled her off to make sure her elven education was complete.” Daniel started to ask but caught himself and the look on his face led to another round of laughter that even Beylvar joined in.
“He won’t be nearly as much fun once he figures out all the rules,” Durbin said. “Those gob smacked expressions on his face make this almost irresistible.”
“Come now, Durbin,” Aldon interjected with mock seriousness, “we can’t keep humiliating our new cousin forever - can we?”
“I think tormenting him is an excellent idea,” Eliana chimed in. “I have already removed the two of you from dinner and at this rate my work will drop to nothing shortly.”
Apologies and protest followed but died quickly at a sign from Beylvar and they got back to business.
“Counting Barton and Lissette and you three, Daniel has a fair set of support to help him navigate and to keep him out of the worst of it. Barton knows enough to anticipate the Baron and is good at disappearing at the right time. The mountain elves seem duly shaken. They walked away instead of helping us send young Daniel back, and now that they have seen his power, they are having to vie for admission to the party.
I expect everyone, full or partial elf or human, to know of the discussion Alan, Daniel and Calden had today by nightfall.”
Daniel started to protest but a palm up facing him from Beylvar quashed the sound before it got out.
“Only the three of you know what was said there, despite many sharp elven ears trying to pick up the conversation. What they do know is that a Halfling was in the discussion as an apparent equal to a mountain elf. That unusual scene will only add fuel to the tales spreading like wildfire. I expect everyone within fifty miles will know of the mickey by tomorrow night.”
Not the mickey, Mickey, Daniel thought, but kept it to himself.
“The Baron will hear of these things within a week. He will see it only as a threat to his power and will try and come after Daniel. Cutting the head off the serpent, so to speak. So the real point of this meeting is to determine how best to protect Daniel until he decides how to proceed.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘We decide?” Daniel asked.
Beylvar looked at Daniel, then the others and took a deep breath. “Son, you are so much more than we thought we would get. At the same time, you know so little about this world. We can guide but I think the perspective you bring, like treating a Halfling and a mountain elf as equals, will somehow drive how this all works out. In the end it will be the outcome of the path you chose and how the rest of this world reacts to it.” Then he gave Daniel a small smile and said, “And so far, it looks like you are doing alright.”
“But I am guessing at every juncture,” Daniel protested.
“True enough, but the sophistication of your world, the things you know shape those guesses in ways we cannot conceive.
As if timed, Lissette walked through the door breaking the silence that had been hanging in the air after Beylvar’s remark. Her arrival set the jokesters to twittering, Eliana to glowering, and Lissette and Daniel both looking embarrassed.
“Count your lucky stars none of these idiots is closely related to you, Lissette, and come help me in the kitchen. It won’t take long, we are only feeding three of us tonight. The laughing stopped immediately and worried looks were exchanged among the cousins as Eliana and Lissette left the room.
“What’s going on in there?” Lissette asked in a low whisper so only Eliana could hear.
“Alan has educated Daniel about the healing, Daniel has demonstrated he is very good with a sword for his age, and wouldn’t last two minutes with a real swordsman, and the others are nervously coming to grips with the size of the commitment they have made. And somewhere in that set of occasionally empty heads, we hope will be an answer to ‘What’s next?’ How was your day, dear?”
“I heard that Barton is dealing with an influx of Humans wanting sanctuary on the edge of the woods and gathering information on the Baron.” Lissette paused briefly, ta
king a breath, and continued, “I spoke with some of the other women on what to expect from the matching, and frankly, I am scared.”
“Of what?” Eliana asked in an overly neutral tone.
“During the healing I felt a wave of power from Daniel, much stronger than mine. I could almost see the structure under his skin; I have never heard of these things,” Lissette said.
“Sounds like the bond is very strong,” Eliana answered, “but I don’t think that is the concern.”
“Eliana, I was thinking about my mother and Draskin. Draskin felt matched to her and she felt matched to papa. What if Daniel doesn’t feel the match the same way – what if this is as one sided as Draskin? Eliana, he was so powerful what if he is too powerful to match? What will happen to me?” As the questions poured out, her voice began to tremble and her eyes had the shiny look of welling tears.
Eliana looked at her and gave her a sad smile and wrapped her arms around Lissette in a comforting hug. “First, I will say that those questions are all possible. Daniel is very much an unknown. But, I will tell you this, I have seen the way he looks at you, so has Beylvar and I think some of the others. He does not understand the meaning of the feelings fully but he can’t take his eyes off of you. Even a human would know those signs as smitten. Be patient, he hasn’t been prepared for this possibility his whole life. He is wondering what it means, if you feel as he does, and a dozen other things stemming from human male insecurity.”
Elves- the Book of Daniel Page 19
