Four: After the Party

Dynyd tends to Tanin's wound, and finds himself in need of a Healer. And who is the mysterious elf-friend wandering by the stream?

“When do you leave?” asked Kaldan, as they cleared up what little mess had been left. Ardorm had wanted the elves to tidy the clearing, but Dynyd had insisted that it was traditional for the host of the party to clear up after it. He was glad, however, that elves did not leave litter behind, for there had been quite a crowd, some of whom he did not know, even by sight.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps in a week – I need enough time to get my things together, and decide where I’m going to go first. What did you do for your Quest?”

“I went to stay with father’s friend Rodyn, the wine merchant, in Faycrest. It was not dangerous, nor particularly exciting, but it was a good experience, and I learnt a lot. I made some good friends, as well. Gares taught archery to the merchants’ sons in Faycrest, as well.”

“We wanted to be near each other,” Gares explained. “In our sixteen years, we’d never been apart, and we knew it would be harder to be apart from each other than from Nydan. I discovered that I am a good teacher, and an even better archer – the merchants asked if I would return again next year.”

Dynyd frowned. “I am not sure that I wish to teach,” he said slowly. “I have little experience with humans – I am more like an elf in my mannerisms than a human, these days. Besides, I would like to travel, and I cannot do that if I am to teach in any depth.”

“You would make an excellent teacher,” said Kaldan. “You are more proficient with both bow and blade than any of the King’s Guard, and you have patience and wisdom beyond all our years combined. But if you would travel, will you come with us? Do not feel obliged to stay, or even to come, but please, spend a few days in Faybridge?”

Dynyd smiled. “I would like that. How long before you return?”

“Father wishes to leave tomorrow, but I am sure he could be persuaded to put it off for a couple of days if you wish to join us. We have food enough for the homewards journey, and these elves provide more than we need! The hospitality is so good that it would almost be a shame to leave.”

“Very well. See if Nydan will delay his departure. If not, I believe I could be ready tomorrow evening, and I could catch up with you if I am not by then – elves breed the fastest horses in all of Ortera.”

Kaldan nodded. “I will go and ask him immediately.”

“So, what has changed since I left?” Anything?”

“I am betrothed now,” announced Gares, grinning. It was clear that he had wanted to say this sooner. “Anel Korthsa, do you remember her? She used to talk to the traders when they came, in return for their gifts. Well, now she talks to everyone else as well, and she’s quite wonderful to listen to. She sings in The Boarhound sometimes, especially if there are guests in town. Earns quite a bit of money from it. We’re planning to get married next Winter.”

“Congratulations!” Dynyd was amazed by how much his friend had grown up.

“Thanks. It would have been sooner, but she is adamant that we have a Winter wedding, and we can’t do it this year if I’m here now – when would we prepare?”

“I’m honoured that you still regard me so highly,” said Dynyd honestly.

Gares laughed. “She wanted to come too, but her parents wouldn’t let her, so I’ve got her handkerchief to ensure that I don’t fall in love with some elf whilst I’m away from her.”

Kaldan had returned with the news that Nydan would delay their departure for another day but no more than that – for he had promised his wife that they would return by the turn of the month, and the journey would take at least two weeks in the winter months.

“That should be enough time for me to pack,” smiled Dynyd. “So, how about you, Kal, is there anyone you’re interested in?”

“He barely looks at the girls in town,” Gares laughed. “Next thing you know, he’ll be bringing home a young lad!” He dodged the blow that his brother aimed at him. “Hey, hey, careful!”

“I have to protect Tanin from the interest she is shown,” explained Kaldan, glaring at Gares. “Besides, there are very few attractive young women in town. I had hoped that, during my Quest, I may find a woman who was suitable, but sadly none presented themselves. Still, I live in hope.”

Dynyd smiled nervously, then asked, “Is there a lot of interest in Tanin, then?”

Kaldan nodded. “Aye, there is. She is too good-looking for her own good.”

“She inherited her brother’s good looks, then.”

Gares winked a Kaldan mischievously, “Why, brother, here is a young man who may consent to bed with you tonight! Shall I vacate our room that you may have the pleasure?”

This time Kaldan’s blow hit true. The two brothers began pummelling each other, oblivious to the arrival of their younger sister, who rolled her eyes at them and curtseyed to Dynyd.

“They call themselves men now, but they are still boys!” she remarked.

Dynyd could not help but smile. “And what am I?”

“Oh, you’re a true man now, Master Rodranson!” Her eyes flitted to the floor, and up again. “Father says you are travelling back with us.”

“I hope to.”

“Will you stay for my coming of age? It is late in the first month. It will not be such a great affair, as the ceremony is not so important for a girl as a boy, and both my brothers have gone before me. But I should like for you to be there.”

“I don’t know if that will be possible,” replied Dynyd cautiously, though his heart leapt and told him to accept immediately. “I intend to travel, you see, once I have spent a couple of weeks in Faybridge. I may be many leagues away on that date.”

“Couldn’t you come running back to me?” asked Tanin playfully.

Dynyd looked into her eyes, trying to fathom her intent. He could not tell whether she was merely seeking his friendship, or something more. He knew what he hoped, but he also knew that Kaldan would not be too pleased to learn that his friend was courting his sister. He decided that it would be best to stay well away from Fay on that date. “No, I’m sorry.”

“It’s OK. I wish I could do a Quest, like you. I’ll just be married off to someone.”

Dynyd took her hand in his. “Hey, cheer up. Nydan won’t marry you off to just anyone – he’ll make sure it’s somebody nice, somebody you approve of. Besides, if you marry the right sort of person, you may find yourself having a Quest of sorts.”

 Tanin nodded, and slid her hand away gently. “I suppose.”

Her brothers had finally finished playfighting. They climbed off the ground now, and took an arm each, then marched her back to their guesthouse, singing loudly. Dynyd wondered vaguely how much they had drunk, and whether he ought have warned them that Elven beer was stronger than the human stuff. Dynyd stared after them for a minute, then hurried off to find his father.

“Nydan has offered me room at their house for a while,” he told Rodran, who nodded. “I hoped he might. It will be good for you to visit the village again – there are people and places that you should see. Faybridge should always lie close to your heart. It was your home for six years, if not your birthplace.”

Dynyd smiled. “It does. So does this place, and you.”

Rodran grunted gruffly, his eyes rapidly watering again, and he turned his back on his son as he said, “Well, I suppose you should choose which of your gifts you wish to take with you.”

Dynyd followed his father into the largest of their rooms, which was now full of his presents. There were lucky charms, songs and poetry, gems, gold and silver, arrows sung from an ancient yew, leather and mail armour and even a new saddle. The armour and arrows went straight into the travelling pile, the saddle with them. A handful of jewels and coins went into Dynyd’s purse, and another bag of them into the secret compartment of the saddle that he accidentally discovered as he moved it. Two charms, his gifts from Taial and Veses, both showing traces of magic, he hung around his neck, along with a small vial that was his gift from Ardorm – an antidote to most poisons.

Other things he took from the pile and his own belongings, a map of Kal’mara; another of Lorwynne; a weapon cleaning kit, made by the elves and of highest quality; spare strings for his bow; riding boots; a travelling cloak that his father had given to him three years ago; a small glass ball bewitched to give light in darkness; a small bottle of spelled water that would restore his strength if he were somehow drained of it, by magic or exhaustion.

Finally, Dynyd gave up his efforts, returned to the stag he had killed the previous evening, and ate his fill of the meat, then buried the carcass. He retired to his bed, where he dreamt of his childhood, of his old village, his friends, and his mother.

 

The next morning he finished packing his bags, then set out to thank the elves for attending his party and for their gifts, and to bid them farewell. Gares and Kaldan joined him with this, for they were intrigued by the elves, and delighted to meet them.

It took several hours for Dynyd to complete his rounds, his pockets overflowing with yet more goodies, apples and sweets, coins, small jewels. The time was due mainly to the fact that many of the elves did not understand the meaning of his Quest, and demanded an explanation, which he repeated willingly and enthusiastically every time it was asked for.

He spent longest talking to Taial and Veses, who, although pleased that his father had allowed him to partake in the Quest, were upset that he was leaving so suddenly.

“You will return, though?” asked Taial, looking concerned. “You come back here? When you finish?”

Dynyd nodded. Taial’s clumsy use of the human language seemed to portray his feelings better than his words. He was only speaking in the human tongue for Gares and Kaldan’s benefit. Taial had taught Dynyd all he knew of the Elven language, but had struggled to master the human tongue.

“Of course I will return. I told you what this is about. For six months, I am going to travel, and learn many things along the way. But I will return. You will hardly notice that I am gone.”

“Are Kaldan and Gares going to be with you the whole time?” asked Veses, whose grasp of the human language was much better than Taial’s. “We will not fear for your safety if you are with others – you would be safest with us, or our kind, but these humans look strong, for their race.”

As Kaldan and Gares exchanged looks, Dynyd smiled, and replied, “They will not be with me the whole time, but they will look after me whilst we are together.” He added in the Elven tongue, “Humans may be weak, but you offend them to point it out. And I don’t need looking after.”

Veses smiled, and bowed to the two brothers. “See that he comes back to us in one piece.”

“Can we help you be ready?” asked Taial.

“I have packed everything I need,” replied Dynyd, frowning. “However, we will want to make a quick start in the morning. If you would…our horses will need preparing for the journey.”

“Of course,” replied Taial. “We will feed and water them, and dress them.”

The three humans laughed at Taial’s choice of words. Dynyd explained to the distraught elf what was so funny, assured him once again that he would be back, and that this routine event was nothing to worry about, then they carried on.

When he finally finished his rounds, he stowed them all in his pack and went to make arrangements for the morning with Nydan. The family were staying at the guesthouse, a squat oak tree with the guest rooms set out on the ground floor and the host’s above.

“I will be ready to leave at the seventh hour tomorrow,” the man told him, as he rummaged in his pack for a whetstone. “Meet me at this guest house, for I am sure that I would get lost if I were to call on you! I do not know how you can tell these trees apart from one another, or how you fit the outside around the inside!”

Dynyd smiled, and bowed himself out of the house, for the family’s preparations were chaotic. He almost ended up losing his ear as Kaldan threw a knife to Gares, earning himself a scolding from his father.

When he retuned home, his father was waiting outside the house, his horse, a stallion too pure a white to be called a grey, by his side. Dynyd looked at his father, then at Storm, then back at his father, his forehead creasing into a frown.

“No, father, I accepted your sword, but I cannot accept this!” he began to object, but Rodran raised a hand for silence.

“Listen to me,” he said calmly. “I have not yet given you a present! Yes, I gave you the sword, but that is tradition. This…is not. I have no real need for Storm at the moment – I am not planning on leaving, not until you return, at least, and if I do need to go anywhere, I can borrow a horse. No, you must take Storm with you – he deserves a chance to see the world, at least. It is about time you had your own horse, Dynyd. Think of it like this; if you cannot accept Storm as a gift, take him as a favour to me.”

Dynyd scowled. “When you phrase it like that, how am I supposed to refuse?”

Rodran smiled. “You’re not. I’ll not worry if the two of you are together. Storm is worth a man in a fight, perhaps even two!”

“And me?”

“Five men and a bear!” Rodran paused. “Ardorm tells me that men have been sighted, on the Western fringe, just past Faelyn. The wood there is good, the trees rich with fruit and berries, and it is not too far from the Great Road East. Be careful as you pass, but they are unwelcome in these lands. Please, if you can, see that they leave and do not return.”

Dynyd met his father’s anxious gaze, more anxious, he thought, than it should be. “Of course. I’ll be careful, don’t worry. But if there are men in Kal’mara, I shall dispel them.”

“My boy,” said Rodran fondly. He clapped his son on the back. “Well, you should get yourself to bed. You’ve a long journey ahead, and you need to sleep. I’ll wake you tomorrow, and see you off. I want to speak to Nydan before you leave, as well.”

Author's Note

Is the storyline and dialogue realistic enough? Please pick out any spelling or grammar errors you notice.