by Joe Solmo

            Birell poked at her dinner disinterestedly with a polished silver fork. The elves seemed to be as stubborn as the dwarves they accused of the same trait. With a life span that can reach nearly a millennia, the elven race was seldom in a hurry to do anything. They discussed the situation she brought to their attention, coming at it from all sides to see what the best course of action was.

            Birell couldn’t stand how long it took her father, Elistrian to make decisions as ruler of the Charindril elves. As a child she sat many an afternoon watching her father debate with the scholars on the best course of action and sighed as the sun set and her chance to play with her father passed. It could be why she has such a lack of patience for things, she thought.

            “Not hungry, my dear?” her father asked from the head of the table. She turned her attention towards him.

            “Father, I just worry for my friends. How can I sit here in luxury when a possible fight

for the world is happening? The dwarves are preparing, are the elves going to be left behind?” Birell asked. There were a few shocked gasps from the other guests at the table.

            “You must excuse my daughter,” Elistrain said. “She has been gallivanting around with the hastier of races as of late.” Snickers escaped the lips of the elven royal court.

            Birell rolled her eyes. “The dwarven god Hu’Mod has returned to his people to help the defeat an evil the world hasn’t seen in an elf’s lifetime, yet you sit here eating meals and debating it like it was history and not in the present. I fear for the lives of those you all have sworn to protect if you don’t get off your bottoms and make a decision!” Birell said heatedly. She felt ashamed as soon as she done it, and looked down sheepishly.

            “Wasn’t it the dwarves that also released this evil? In fact wasn’t it the same dwarf that you have been associating with?” her father asked turning to his guests with a condescending look on his face. The snickers turned into laughter from those around the table.

            “This is why the Elven Nation should stick to itself. These dwarves, humans, and other races spread their ideals and faults like a disease through the weaker of our race,” one guest said turning her nose up at Birell.

            “If you truly feel this way, you are doomed,” Birell said throwing her fork down on her plate. She had lost her appetite.

            “This what happens when you cohort with dwarves, Elistrain,” another guest said to her father.

            “What knowledge you lack of the world could fill the sea,” Birell said.

            “Well I have never been talked to like that. I won’t stand for it now,” the guest stood up letting her cloth napkin fall to the floor.

            “Sit Veldren. Don’t let my eccentric daughter ruin your meal. She was just about to retire to her chambers. Weren’t you, Birell?” Elistrain said.

            Suddenly there was a commotion near the entrance to the great dining hall. All faces turned and made room as a heavily armed human wearing leather armor walked straight towards Birell’s table.

            “Do I not have guards?” Elistrain asked sarcastically. Birell watched the figure approach, separating the elves in his wake. She smiled as he stopped ten feet in front of her and bowed.

            “It’s nice to see you again, Birell,” Sreg said.

            “Humans are not allowed in the dining hall of Charindril,” Elistrain said. “I demand that you remove yourself immediately and seriously have I no guards?” he asked. He could hear the sound of loud booted feet drawing nearer.

            “It is a good thing I am no mere human,” Sreg said and gave Birell a crooked half smile.

            “Before I have you thrown in the dungeon, give me your name, scum,” Elistrain said.

            Sreg reached down on the table in front of Veldren and grabbed his wine glass. He poured it down his throat. “Is this what passes for alcohol in this city? No wonder you are all so uptight,” Sreg replied and winked at Birell. She couldn’t help but smile.

            “You just winked at the princess!” for that alone I should have you killed,” Elistrain stated. “Guards, take this man into custody!” he commanded as the guards finally arrived and surrounded Sreg.

            “You wanted my name first, didn’t you?” Sreg said. Elistrain put his hand up telling his guards to wait. The whole room got quiet as the elves waited to hear the name of the human who invaded their sanctum and their meal.

            “The name, is Kilyn. Nature God to you stuck up people,” Sreg said and sat down in the spot that Velden vacated. He poked around the plate. “Maybe it’s your diet?”

            “Blasphemy! You’re not even an elf!” Elistrain yelled out.

            “Are elven gods elves themselves? Wouldn’t that make them their own gods?” Sreg said and popped a roll into his mouth. “That is some deep thinking, right there,” he said with a mouth full that disgusted the elven court.

            “Take him to the dungeons. I have heard enough,” Elistrain said.

            “Wait father. I know this man. He travelled with me. He could vouch for all the things I told you,” Birell said trying to stop the guard from taking her friend to the cells that were in the branches of the tallest trees in the grove surrounding Charindril.

            “No. You want me to make more hasty decisions, well I have. This human will be taken to the cells until sunrise tomorrow, then executed for his insolence!” Elistrain spit out.

            The guards moved in to take Sreg but froze after a step. Sreg stood up and walked around in front of each guard. They grunted with effort, trying to take another step. “Ok look. I’m not really much of a worship me god, but this disrespect is really starting to bother me,” he said as he approached Elistrain who also couldn’t move.

            “You are the leader of these people? You’re Birell’s father?” he asked.

            “I am.” Elistrain said looking down his nose at Sreg.

            “Ok since it’s been a long time since you people have actually seen a god I will let you know how this works. God’s are very powerful beings. Eternal life spans and neat abilities, like my hold spell here. The physical form isn’t as eternal though. Every so often we must take our essence and put it inside the body of another being. Sometimes you races will give us different names, but we are the same no matter what you call us. My brothers and I were handpicked to be living embodiment of this world’s gods. Like it or not I am your Kilyn,” Sreg said and raised his hand. Vines grew out of the floor and twisted until it formed the word ‘believe.’

            “What is it you actually want? Why are you here?” Elistrain asked.

            “I have come to tell you now is the time to act. Send a force out to help the dwarves, they will need every available soldier they can get. I am kind of new to this god thing, but I can see how stubborn you people can be. Send a battalion with Birell as leader. Have them check out the situation and report back to you, if you are still unsure. I will aid in any way I can, but the gods will have their own battle to fight as well,” Sreg said.

            “And we are supposed to just take your word for this, human?” Elistrain asked.

            “Kilyn said you would be like this. He also told me to give you this as proof,” Sreg said and reached into a pouch around his waist. He dug around for a few seconds and looked confused. “Wait, it’s the wrong pouch,” he explained and dug his hand into a pouch on the opposite side. Birell covered her mouth to hide her smile. “I have a lot of pouches,” Sreg explained.

            Another minute passed and he pulled a gem from his pouch. “Here it is!” he said and plopped it down Elistrain’s hand. The leader of Charindril held the red gem up. Inside was a swirling mist.

            “Is this?” Elistrain started to ask in wonder.

            “The Gem of Dandruff,” Sreg said with arrogance.

            “Dragoff,” Elistrain corrected.

            “Isn’t that what I said?” Sreg asked.

            “No.”

            “I could have sworn it was. Anyway, as you seem to know the Gem of…”

            “Dragoff.”

            “Yes, Dragoff is the all the proof I need. Inside it is the magic once taken by Kilyn from the elven people, and he and I are now returning it to your people,” Sreg said.

            “Elemental magic?” Elistrain asked.

            “Sure thing. Kilyn says you have to break the gem, and the power is restored,” Sreg said and nodded.

            Elistrain set the gem down on the table and grabbed a dagger from Sreg’s waist. He raised the weapon up and brought the pommel down on the gem with as much force as he could muster. Nothing happened.

            “Yeah, I just wanted to make you look like a fool since you are an arrogant ass. Let me do it,” Sreg said and punched the gem releasing in a wave of force the elemental magic trapped inside.

            For the elves it felt as if a part of them they didn’t know they had lost was suddenly returned to them. The sense of nature all elves felt seemed doubled somehow and some of the guests that were outside the hold spell’s range brought small fires to life in their hands, made clouds and rain or other such small effects as they tested their new abilities.

            “It must be true,” Elistrain said and took a knee in front of Sreg.

            “Please, get up. That really isn’t my thing,” Sreg said. “If you want to worship me, take care of the forests of the world.” Sreg leaned in and whispered to Birell, “Gives us a place to race.”

            Sreg looked around at the elves playing with their new powers. “Can I release the guards or are you still going to sick them on me?” Sreg asked.

            “Stand down,” Elistrain said to his men and they stopped pushing against the spell. Sreg dropped the spell and the soldiers relaxed.

            “Now that everyone is friendly, can we get a real drink in here?” Sreg asked.

            “Of course,” Elistrain said. “Have a seat at our table, we will have a meal prepared, more to your liking,” the leader said and motioned to the table. A chair was brought for the extra guest and Birell put it right next to hers. It seemed her appetite had returned.

            “I am sorry, but I will have to take my leave,” Velden said and bowed to his leader. Birell laughed out loud as she watched the elf noble make his way through the crowd with a disgusted look on his face.

            “Thank you, Sreg. You made my night,” Birell said popping a bit of her salad into her mouth.

            “Then I guess you missed me?” he said smelling the glass they just brought him. He seemed pleased and took a taste sip. “It’s better. Still not proper alcohol though,” he said with a smile.

            The rest of the night went very well for Birell. The disgusted looks on the faces of the people she had grown to despise due to her guest’s manners made her giggle like she was a young girl again. Her father practically fawned over Sreg, placating the nature god’s whims. They celebrated long into the night, catching up and preparing for the battalions departure.

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