Chapter 4
The next day, I got up and freshened myself, eager to get lost in the forest and let Axen find me. A short flight, a little distance from the ground-based problems, and then I’d return to Emsha to settle into the strange new life I’d be living for the next few days.
My leg twinged slightly, but it got easier to ignore with each step. I had to remind myself that Magra said I’d have to take it easy today and let my body finish healing. I wasn’t used to being able to walk so quickly after an injury like that. I had to admit, I could get used to being around a proper healer. I’d tried to learn the art myself once, but just didn’t have the talent for it.
I opened the door to find Rik on the other side, reaching for the handle. He looked as surprised as I felt.
He recovered quickly, though. “Good morning, raisa. I heard you were doing better today.”
“I am. Thank you.” I saw the trees behind him, on the other side of the road, and longed to be running free through them. No, not running. Walking. Sedately. As fast as I could.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I nodded and stepped to move around him.
“I thought you might like a tour of the village,” he offered.
I exhaled slowly to keep my response polite. “Thank you, but perhaps that would be better later.”
“Oh.” He looked surprised again. “Did you have plans for the morning?”
Yes. Big plans involving the wind in my face and perhaps a couple of rolling spins through the air. Gentle rolling spins. “I…”
That was when I spotted Erret marching in my direction with a determined look on his face.
My frustration boiled upwards but caught in my throat, held back by old habits of polite mannerisms and culture. If I let Erret start with me, I doubted even that would be enough to restrain it. And I needed to remain at some semblance of peace with the villagers until I could help fix things between Emsha and Krenish.
I turned to face Rik squarely and forced a smile. “Actually, I would like a tour of the village, thank you.”
A brief look of confusion disappeared into a smile. He offered his arm.
I didn’t take it, instead gesturing in the opposite direction of Erret. “What’s this way?”
He turned, accepting my refusal with grace. “That’s… the end of the village.”
“That sounds like a good place to start. One end to the other.” I started in that direction.
Rik caught up and walked at my side.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Erret glaring after us, but then he turned and stomped away. I finally relaxed. Part of me would have loved a chance to tell him off, but that wouldn’t have made life here any easier for me. And it was already going to be hard enough as it was.
Rik proved to be a polite and attentive tour guide, though there wasn’t much to see. A field nestled in the forest behind the main village. Most of the men worked there, tending to budding crops which would supplement the meaty diet they gained by hunting the forest. Several men cast dark looks in my direction, but most of the workers politely dipped their heads in greeting. Children helped their fathers, though others flitted through the forest, playing chase games and occasionally stopping long enough to gather berries and wild fruits.
The houses themselves were simple, low buildings arranged in a generous circle. The covered space in the center of the circle was, as I’d suspected, a community gathering place. Many women sat there now, enjoying the light breeze and sunlight now that the rains had temporarily moved on. They worked on various arts and chatted, occasionally calling out directions to a child running past. Like the men, some were less than welcoming to my presence, but others called out greetings and expressed their pleasure that I was well.
“And that brings us back here,” Rik said, walking toward the road. “You know the inn and Magra’s, of course. The building in the middle is Jec’s smithy. I imagine you don’t have much interest in that sort of place.” He paused. “And that’s Emsha. It’s not very big, I know, or grand, but it’s a good village with a lot of good people. And very friendly.” He paused again. “I mean, I know you haven’t seen all of them at their best. They’re really a lot nicer than they seem. Even Erret.”
I was sure Erret was very nice to everyone who fit his mindset of how people should or shouldn’t behave. I nodded and returned my attention to the businesses. Fasha had mentioned Jec. I couldn’t remember anyone else she’d talked about, but at least I could tell her I’d met one of her friends. “If it pleases you, I’d like to meet Jec.”
He looked only a little surprised and nodded. “Of course.” He held the door to the smithy for me. The smell of hot metal and ashes, the tools hanging from the ceiling, the rhythmic ring of hammer against metal all transported me back in time, and I found myself the most relaxed I’d been since I first entered Emsha.
Rik slid around me and hurried forward to get the smith’s attention. “Jec, I’d like to introduce you to our visitor.”
Jec wiped his hands on a rag as he turned. He was old, possibly the oldest man in the village, with wispy silver hair sticking out from skin darkened by years at the smithy fires. Heavy lines crossed his forehead and nestled in the corners of his eyes. His eyes whispered of a vibrancy and strength his age would deny, though.
I bowed politely. “If it pleases you, tabe-da, my name is Alita.”
“I claim the pleasure as mine,” he said. “Jec.”
The shortness of his words made me remember that just because I wanted to meet him didn’t mean he wanted to meet me. He might feel more like Erret, preferring that I wasn’t there. “I apologize for disrupting your work. I won’t delay you further.”
“Nonsense. Far be it from me to be called a poor host. Have a seat. I’m sure I have some tea here.” He wandered to a cupboard near the forge which I hadn’t noticed before and set to rummaging. “You’re the raisa with the dragon, hmm?”
I saw a stool with only a couple of misshapen molds made of firmed sap resting on it. I picked up the molds and sat down. “I am.”
“Can’t say I ever had the pleasure of meeting a dragon myself. Should like to introduce myself before you carry on your way, if it’s all the same by you.”
His request startled me, and I found myself smiling. “Of course. I’ll see it done.”
He shifted his search to lower cabinet. “Saw you in action yesterday. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a lady dashing around and taking swings at her attackers like that.”
“I imagine you haven’t.” I glanced at Rik and measured my words. “I understand that isn’t common for Traditional Elf women.”
“Don’t see why not,” Jec grunted as he strained to reach something.
I was too startled by that one to speak at first.
Rik coughed politely. “It would be inappropriate to place someone so valuable at risk.”
“Pshaw.” Jec opened a tin, sniffed it, made a face, and shoved it back into the cabinet. “My tools are my life; doesn’t mean I stick them on a shelf and avoid using them for fear they might break.” He tossed a wink my direction. “And most ladies I know are a mite stronger than a mere hammer.”
Rik didn’t have an answer for that.
I chose to remain silent. I was suddenly glad I’d decided to come meet this man.
Jec walked back toward us, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I’m to be called a poor host after all. No tea.”
“That’s quite all right,” I reassured him. His words and company were comfort enough for me. “I wouldn’t want to spoil my appetite for lunch.”
He smiled, then glanced down at my hands. “What’s that?”
I looked down and realized that I was still holding the molds. I’d been unconsciously smoothing them back into shape. My cheeks warmed. “I apologize. They were on the stool.”
He took them from me and examined them. “This is good work.”
“My father worked with metal. I used to help him with his m
olds when I was small.”
“I see.” He didn’t probe into my family’s past, to my relief. “These old hands still grip a hammer and sword well enough, but I’m afraid they aren’t so good with such delicate work. I heard you might be visiting for a few days. If you’re ever looking for a way to pass the time, I wouldn’t say no to a little help, and I’ll pay well.” He set the molds aside. “I’ll have tea next time, too. Promise.”
I hadn’t thought much of what I’d do to pass the time while staying put. While I hoped most of the time would be spent brokering peace, I supposed there would be moments that needed filling. And Jec’s company was infinitely more comfortable than that of the stiffer Traditionalists in the village. “I’d be honored. Thank you.”
“I help Jec at times,” Rik chimed in. “Carrying coal and things.”
It seemed an odd fact to volunteer, but I nodded to be polite.
“He’s a good helper. Strong lad. Not much of a mind of his own, but he’s got his moments.” Rik reddened at the frank assessment. I bit my lip to hide a smile.
Jec eyed me. “I’m sure a pretty young lady could help him find his own thoughts, though.”
Now it was my turn to blush.
“Thank you,” Rik said a little too quickly. “Thank you for the very nice chat. I’d better get her to the inn now, though. For lunch.”
“Thank you, tabe-da,” I echoed and cringed internally at how quickly I spoke, almost as bad as Rik. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Jec.”
He just grinned and dipped his head in response.
Rik didn’t say anything as he walked me to the inn, to my relief. He opened the door for me and paused. “Sorry about him. He’s…”
“It’s okay. I know older people often are prone to speaking their minds. Even if what they’re saying doesn’t make much sense.”
His smile looked stiff. “Right. Right. Anyway, is there anything else around the village you’d like to see? Anywhere you’d like to go after lunch?”
Into the forest. To be with Axen. “No, thank you. I think I’ll enjoy a quiet afternoon.”
He bobbed his head again. “Okay. Rest well, then.”
“Thanks for the tour.” I turned and hurried inside.
Tarvia was already there, directing Fasha through meal preparation. The girl insisted on serving me herself and managed to present the bowl of stew without spilling too much. She was delighted when I told her about meeting Jec, but Tarvia called her back to her work before she could gush too much. Thone wandered in not long after with the boys in tow, all of them smelling strongly of hard labor and the outdoors. The boys served his food, then dished up their own and dug in with gusto.
I politely ignored them all, knowing this was likely a customary time for Tarvia and Thone to enjoy one another’s company. I didn’t realize I was being addressed until Thone cleared his throat.
“Pardon the interruption, raisa.”
I looked up, startled.
“I was wondering how you enjoyed your morning with Rik.” He had a slight glint in his eye, and I got the feeling there was something he knew about Rik that he wasn’t saying.
I decided to ignore it. “He gave a very nice tour, thank you.”
“You seem to have something on your mind.” Tarvia squeezed her husband’s hand like a gentle correction. “We won’t disrupt your thoughts.”
The perfect opening. “I do have something on my mind,” I said as if in confession. “But it wouldn’t be my place to pry.” A little manipulative, perhaps, but it was the way of polite Elf society.
Tarvia shook her head. “You are our friend. Ask what you wish.”
“I gather Emsha has been paying some manner of tribute to Krenish for some time now.”
They looked at each other for a moment before Thone replied. “Yes. Regals, when we have them. Otherwise, a portion of our furs or crops.”
“I wondered what other goods of value Emsha produces.” Something valuable enough for a treaty agreement.
He shrugged. “We are a small village. Most of our effort goes to the work of everyday life and little more.”
I took another bite and savored it while I thought. “Is there something of value nearby? A lode that could be mined, perhaps?”
“No.” His voice had turned a bit cooler. As he swallowed down the rest of his food, I saw that he understood clearly what I was asking. He set his empty bowl on the table, kissed his wife, and stood. “Boys. We need to get back to the field.”
Tarvia looked a bit surprised as they left. She eyed me, clearly suspecting that there had been something underlying the exchange. “Is something wrong, raisa?”