“Why, we’re almost there,” Aesthyrondalarurai announced abruptly.
Brahma craned his neck –his ridiculously too short neck– too peer about the forest. “We are? I can’t see anything for all the trees.” Nothing but trees as far as his way–too–close–to–the–ground–to–get–a–proper–view eyes could see.
“Yes, the village is just ahead,” Aesthyrondalarurai confirmed, pointing at a unremarkable stand of trees and shrubs on an indistinguishable hillock surrounded by identical such stands and hillocks.
“If you say so,” Brahma said doubtfully and a little disappointed as they moved on. Weren’t humanoids supposed to live in big, imposing, piles of rock and wood. What did they call them? ‘Chattels,’ ‘creeps,’ ‘footrests,’ or something. “I don’t see nothing.”
“No. You don’t see anything,” Aesthyrondalarurai corrected.
“That is what I said,” Brahma agreed. “I expected something…well something.” He made a vague building gesture.
“It’s a hidden village, Young Bull,” Galanthyr reminded him blandly. “That’s the whole point.”
“Yes, but … just how do they hide a village?” Brahma wondered as he strode forward searching the woods. “I mean, it’s not like a cave where you can conceal the entrance with mist or illusory walls. Huh? Is it? Do they bury all the buildy things underground? Or, ah ha! Maybe they hide them in the treetops? That’s it, isn't it?” He craned his neck in and walked smack into a wall.
Bouncing on bottom –which was annoying for not having a tail, but at least was quite well padded– Brahma stared ahead at the forest in puzzlement. He waved his hand through the insubstantial bushes in front of him. “Uhm– So…”
“Yes, that’s right. They use hallucinatory terrain spells,” Galanthyr explained.
“Now remember,” Aesthyrondalarurai cautioned as she turned around to give them a last minute preening, “don’t do anything that will draw attention to yourselves. Behave politely and try to blend in. –– What was that Galanthyr? If you have something to say, speak up and share it with the class. Don’t snicker under your breath.”
“Er, nothing,” the apparent gnome replied as his gaze drifted innocently from the apparent drow daughter riding piggy back on the apparent wood elf “I’m a boy” girl to their high–elf adopted mother. “Nothing at all, Aesthy Dearest.” You could almost hear a trace of guilt in his voice if you strained your ears hard enough … and were prone to hallucinations.
Aesthyrondalarurai growled in an unelvish manner, then continued. “Tarre Honey, stick close to your brother so he can ––uhm–– protect you. Brahma Dear, keep a close eye on her. That is not an excuse to pick fights. And Galanthyr… don’t.”
“Don’t what, Aesthy Dearest?”
“Whatever prank it is you’re planning. Whatever trick it is you think up. What ever joke it is you want to play. … Whatever! Don’t, Gaddabout, just don’t!”
“Awe…”
“Brahma!” Aesthyrondalarurai exclaimed. “I do not want you get involved in his shenanigans.”
“‘She nanny goats?’” Tarre echoed and looked around excitedly. “Wheres? I’m hungries!”
“Don’t worry, Little Lizard,” Galanthyr laughed. “The elves put on quite a spread. Why I’m sure they’ll even be able to fill up Bottomless Pit here.”
“Hey!” objected said bottomless pit.
“That reminds me,” Aesthyrondalarurai agreed. “You will have to eat light, Brahma. I don’t want you ruining your girlish figure while you’re here.”
“Why not?” demanded Brahma, who didn’t see any point of keeping his girlish figure any longer than he had to. “I only had a shark before we landed,” he whined.
“Why, because elf maidens are polite, refined, and delicate,” Aesthyrondalarurai declared.
“And carry longbows and spears with sharp tips,” Galanthyr added.
“And carry long… what are you babbling about, now?”
By way of reply, Galanthyr pointed up. Aesthyrondalarurai looked up. Brahma looked up. Tarre looked cute. The welcoming committee looked down. The arrows looked pointy.
“Why are they all pointing their bows at me, in particular?” Galanthyr demanded.
“Well, I’d assumed it meant that they’d met you before,” Brahma replied, looking around excitedly at all the shiny, sharp–edged steel.
“…” Galanthyr muttered with wounded pride.
“Can I try one of those bowenarrows?” Brahma pleaded. “Can I, Mom, can I?”
“Absolutely not,” Aesthyrondalarurai put her delicate elven foot down. “This is a diplomatic meeting. I’m not having you shoot holes in things.”
“Some of those things would be people,” Galanthyr agreed. “Remember how your sword lessons went?”
“The what now?” Aesthyrondalarurai, demanded with an icy gnome–ward glance.
“Er, uh, well, that is… Ahem, Alazphraxion insisted that Brahma be able to defend himself in this for… erm, forest,” Galanthyr declared his innocence. “Herself. You cannot blame me for it; its a good idea.”
Aesthyrondalarurai arched an eyebrow. “Well, I suppose that’s true enough.”
“Exactly!” Galanthyr nodded, then did a double take. “Wait. That didn’t come out right.”
(Posted Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:49)
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