Our hero wakes bright and early to watch the sunrise. He says too himself that he will remember this day forever. He cooks a morning meal of eggs and toast with fruit juice. The queen mermaid comes ashore with a moss and berry welcome wreath for his door. He promptly finds a nail to display the gift on his door. He thanks the queen for her generosity. He rides into town on Kiko to meet with his relations and friends who have waited days for him. The courtyard has many tables covered in food for the guests. His sisters are present along with spouses and children. He enjoys holding the newborn Toralyn until his mother whisks her away. Iris gives him her wedding gift, fine gold jewelry to compliment his wedding clothes. She comments how his leather pants and boots with long wool tunic make him appear grown up. Iris pecks him a kiss of congratulations. Alaric thanked the goddess and inquired what her mother meant with all the questions about their friendship. She only declared that perhaps she will explain later, today is the wrong time. Alaric started greeting his other guests; pixies, mermaids, elves, sprites, fauns, centaurs, elves, and one giant. Alaric parades with his relations and friends in front of him to the human altar where the High Priest of Brightsburg awaits. Gilda, Daxus, and Toralyn ride first. Lixi, Elexi, Elmo, Lanie, and Alani ride next. His parents ride just ahead of Alaric. Then all the guests wait for the bride.
Nix’s parade reaches Leesville as the last dew drop dries. Her attendants toss pansy petals in the air as she touches the border of the village. Nix sits with a lilia bouquet upon a brown horse with a black mane and tail. A white star is visible on its forehead. Humans ride starred horses at weddings for luck. Upon her soft golden hair tied with braids atop of long tresses lays a lilia wreath. Her gown is white with lace strands descending the bodice. Her white leather shoes are laced with linen. Her attendants shine in yellow gowns and carnation wreaths in their hair. As Nix slides off her horse, Alaric notices a long piece of lace hanging from her headpiece. Laeos and Marianna walk with their son Andan and baby girl Pippi. Her attendants toss the last of their petals down the aisle. Nix comes last with her father at her side holding a lilia bouquet, her mother dying the prior spring from fever. With Elmo, Laeos, Andan, and Alani at his side, Alaric marries his dearly beloved. The couple tosses coins to the guests. The High Priest blesses the bride and groom. They light candles praying to Iris for fertility and happiness. Gilda sings a song of praise. Flowers are laid at the goddess Ishtar’s statue for good fortunes. An elf harpist plays a song of celebration with a human flutist. The vows were spoken next.
“I Alaric Starlin the Brave, take in marriage Nix Athson of Brightsburg. I shall provide comfort, hope, love, security, and happiness for my wife for as long as we live.”
“I Nix Athson, daughter of Athar Lison the Dragonslayer, pledge to my husband love, security, comfort, riches in gold and children, and happiness in old age for as long as we live.”
The marriage contract is read to the guests. Alaric gives Nix a large ring with a bright red ruby. The dowry is paid next. Cossus the Dragonslayer gives his daughter fifteen jars of wine, three chests of clothing, fourteen bags of coins, ten boxes of jewelry, four quilts, six goats, five pigs, four sheep, two dogs, and one horse. Her belongings have already been delivered to Alaric’s home. Our hero wonders how all these things are going to fit in his home near Aurora Falls. Perhaps a cave behind the waterfall could store much of their possessions. The wedding bond announced sealed, the High Priest presents the husband and wife. The reception is celebrated in no time. Food platters were soon empty. Music filled the late morning sky. Elves, humans, pixies, godly persons, sprites, fauns, centaurs, and one giant danced in the cool mountain air. Ricky the Snakecharmer bragged to Alaric about his latest girlfriend. Alaric could never figure out what Ricky saw in these women. Large bosoms and no brain are not much to brag about. Alaric and his nephew Alani begin to know each other. The nephew seems enamored about all the stories his uncle has to tell. Alani had much to say about his half-brother Elmo. He spoke of how Elmo met his betrothed Iceni. He slept in a well on his travels in the Borderlands. A maiden tossed a coin to wish upon meeting the Grand Prince who was looking for a bride. The coin bounced on Elmo’s head and he awoken to find a shocked human girl at the top of the well. He promised to grant her wish to be the Grand Princess and sent her in a chariot with her brother to meet the prince. Her name was Athena.
She became the Empress upon her father-in-law’s death and had many children. One son died as an infant and Elmo came to guide the child into the afterlife. Many spoke of her oldest son being cursed, when he was born, by a witch not invited to the celebration. He would make a weak king so Elmo promised Athena that she will somehow have a male heir to inherit the throne. Females are only regents for young heirs waiting to grow up to be the emperor. Then, when Elmo reached Roanoke Castle of the afterlife goddess Isis and the boy’s soul judged by the phoenix Hato, he met Iceni. She was a mermaid that recently died and was judged a kind soul to go into the happy sea in the afterlife. Elmo fell instantly in love and asked to grant the mermaid rebirth into any form she chooses. Isis granted the request and Iceni chose a sea gull so she could fly and swim along the seacoast. After a few years, she was reborn as a sea gull and always welcomed Elmo into her nest to thank him for the rebirth. So now they have been betrothed for years. She returned to the happy sea after dying as a sea gull. Elmo routinely visits her. Alani followed Elmo down to meet Iceni and discovered the daughter of Isis is quite pretty. He does not recall seeing much of her at Gilda’s wedding. The goddess Manda showed him how gods and goddesses change forms at will. They played all around the castle and Alani met his elf and sprite ancestors. She talked about her sister Charise marrying the fire god Devon and moving to the surface. Elmo spoke to her parents about a betrothal as a favor to him. Alani is looking forward to growing up. Alaric told him not to hurry growing up, for he has eternity to be grown. Alani also said that his father is thinking of making him the river god when he reaches maturity. He is getting tutored in animals, plants, and spells. Alaric gives him his old bronze sword full of magic. Alani eagerly takes the gift. He thought only the wedded couple receives gifts at a wedding. He rushes to show his parents.
Gilda wished her brother happiness in his marriage. Her gift is a cherry that he can throw in the air and will turn into a bird that will deliver a message to her. She is stressed from taking over as goddess of agriculture since Daxus was stricken blind. Alaric assures her that if she has doubts, to ask Daxus. He has lost his sight, not his mind. Gilda never thought of that. Daxus rewarded the pixie that helped rescue Lanie with a splinter of enchanted wood to use as a guide separating faerie traps from food. The faerie was grateful of the gift and flew away back to the sky. Lixi gave Alaric a big hug. She gave him a starfish that can be tossed any body of water to send to call Alani to him. Elexi proudly announces his daughter’s betrothal to Alexis to anyone listening. He gave Alexis a new bow to better protect Lanie. His betrothed realized this elf already had magical powers in order to handle the charmed bow so easily. Alexis had to inform her that all immortals receive crystals to use as gods use them. This new revelation humbled Lanie. Just as the noon sun passed its high mark in the sky, uninvited brownies turn up. They flip over tables, slash at the guests with their tiny swords, knock over torches to set fire to the decorations, and set the tied up animals loose. Underneath a table, Alaric and Nix hide from the destructive brownies.
“This will be an unforgettable day to tell our children someday, Nix.” comments Alaric.
“Sooner than you think,” answers Nix.
Alaric awkwardly looks at Nix to figure out what she meant by that.
“That is right, I am carrying your child,” claims Nix.
Alaric pulls away from the table being lifted by the brownies and watches it get tossed several feet. Once the shock wears off, he jumps in joy of becoming a father. All the wedding guests congratulate the couple after the brownies fly away. Alaric swears he saw Ryan up in a tree after the brownies scattered after their destruction. Ryan naturally denied this. The wedding gifts are repaired by Alaric’s sisters. The brownies’ fires forgotten, the celebration continues into the evening. Kiko roamed nearby to take the couple home. Nix found her things were displayed in her new home. Her quilt on the bed, her pottery, and decorated boxes were sitting next to Alaric’s spell books and containers of herbs. One vase held rose and lilia flowers. Alaric showed Nix the cave behind Aurora Falls where many chests and jars are stored. The mermaids serenaded the couple at sunset. Trolls come out to offer their congratulations and give the couple a cauldron that heats faster than any human or elf made pot. Nix’s animals slept in a clay and stone building Alaric built with Alexis. The next morning, Nix retrieved some milk from the goats. It had been a long time since Alaric had milk. Spring becomes autumn and the harsh floods of Andos gave some communities few crops, while other parts had bountiful harvests. Apparently, Andos is quite angry over his defeat. Nix one night bleeds terribly and Alaric stops it when he pulls out his stillborn son. He places the cradle he made back in the cave so Nix will not have to look at it. Next, he buries the boy by a Fionan tree. Five stones in a circle mark the burial spot. Then, Nix has a harsh fever that lasts for many days. When she is well again she begins to doubt that she ever will have children. Alaric suggests going along an expedition to Kadacia that Ricky and he were planning in the spring. Her spirits lifted a little, the human woman gets ready for a mountain valley winter.
Soon after the New Year, Aurora Falls is hit with a blizzard. Alaric rarely leaves the house to get food supplies stored in the cave and feed the animals. The tree provides wonderful insulation to keep out the cold. Fur blankets are spread out on the bed and fur rugs cover the floor. One day he ice fishes atop the frozen river. When the blizzards cede, Alaric sends a messenger hawk to Brightsburg to proclaim a visit at the Feast of Idun. Nix and Alaric strap on wood planks to their feet and slide all the way to Leesville to stop at the chief’s home. They brush snow off their fur coats and wool clothes. Their leather boots have wool sewn inside them and fur trimming around the top. They eat a meal and were on their way again. In two days, they arrived at the Dragonslayer’s home. They were welcomed by Andan at the door. After Nix’s mother died over a year ago, Laeos and his family sold their hut to move in with the Dragonslayer. Cossus was elected Chief of Brightsburg again this pass summer. The firelight warmed the visitors as the family caught up to each other. Andan plays with his wooden animal figures that Cossus made. Pippi slept soundly in her cradle. Marianna served a spiced egg and milk drink. Laeos speaks for hours about the town and everything Nix missed. A relative had a baby. His old friend got married and moved to a western village. The harvest games were exciting with Laeos winning the archery contest. Since Alaric no longer lives here, Laeos comments he has better chances winning contests. A cousin won the horserace. Rondans come from Laurel once a month to trade in the marketplace. Laeos makes much money selling vegetables, animals, and bread to them. Marianna has been painting pottery and weaving colorful wool rugs to sell. Alaric invites Laeos to come to Kadacia with the giant Ricky and him. Laeos accepts. Nix, Alaric, and Andan slept in the attic where Nix used to sleep with her brother. Laeos built an adjoining room for him and Marianna to sleep downstairs. Nix points out how lovely Marianna’s quilts are. The silence of the night was only broken by the crackle in the fireplace.
Alaric awoke bright and early to find Marianna feeding Pippi. He brought in more firewood and then fried meat and eggs for the family. The spiced egg milk was heated again for the morning meal. Afterwards, Cossus stayed behind to watch the children while Laeos, Marianna, Nix, and Alaric visited Lake Nahuatl to the west of town to ice skate. They carried the strapped bone skates and skied to the frozen lake. The party skated for hours before noticing the roar of a blizzard coming. They headed back to Brightsburg when it began to snow. The wind whipped in their faces and they decided to dig a hole in a snow drift until the blizzard passes. They used their skis to block the hole. One of the few times Alaric showed his powers to Nix occurred when he made his crystal glow in the den. The party swapped stories of their childhoods. Laeos reminisced about his cousins and he threw snowballs at each other. His cousins hit his house and the noise provoked his father to open the door. Covered in snow, his father joined the game. Alaric spoke about his sisters and him sledding down the mountain sides to learn not to crash into thorny green briar bushes. Another time, they taught a faun to ski and laughed at the faun wobbling in the wood planks strapped to its hooves. The party cuddled close as they slept during the night. At first light, they skied towards home. On the way, Alaric spotted an untouched deer standing frozen in the snow. Later, Laeos saw a wolf eating a large animal. The beast lifted its head to watch the skiers pass and continued feasting.
Soon, they returned to Brightsburg to a relieved Cossus. Later, the family went on sledge rides out into the fields on the outskirts of town. Evening fell in no time and the Feast of Idun began. Alaric obtained another opportunity to prove his heroics to his family. Laeos heard a noise from the animal pens. He took two steps to race back declaring a werewolf had broken into the chicken coop. Alaric only took his father-in-law’s shepherd staff and tapered his hood. He stepped softly in the snow to not disturb the werewolf’s feast. At close range, he crept to make a snowball near the cattle barn. Another werewolf came to the chickens to be swatted away by the first one. After a minute of posturing and growling, the second werewolf ran off. An idea floating in his head, Alaric hit the beast in the back of the head with his snowball. He next tapped the staff on the toe of his boot and stood tall. The werewolf jerked around to see the silhouette of its attacker. The werewolf straightened its back and growled, pacing to size up his opponent. Alaric let out his best imitation of a panther’s scream that often chills elves’ courage. He repeatedly tapped his boot approaching the dreaded beast. The wolf man rushed a few steps in a bluff charge. Standing his ground, Alaric kept tapping his boot with the staff without a flitch. At Alaric’s waving his staff with pathetic battle cries, the werewolf scampered away. Relieved he fooled a werewolf, he came back inside to the cheers of his family. Baskets with carrots and hay were set by the door. A large Fionan nut was roasted over the fire and mashed for the family to eat. Andan lit candles in prayers to the Holly King, and then crept up the ladder to bed. The family got out the hidden gifts and placed them in the proper baskets. Andan was the first to come out of bed to see his gifts from Idun. He adored his bow and arrows, leather coat, wool blanket, and a gold armband. Alaric received a clay cup, an iron dagger, wooden animal figurines, and a pipe with crushed leaves. Laeos and Cossus enjoyed smoking their pipes from Laurel colonists. Alaric thought it had a bad taste, but the aroma was soothing. It must be a human thing.
The spiced apples were eaten and relatives dropped by with food baskets. Cossus left to deliver the family’s packages. The people were served biscuits and spiced milk. The people treaded to the Temple of Ishtar to give thanks to Idun’s statue. A bonfire lit, the people sang songs of thanks to Idun’s grace upon them. Sledge rides and ice skating parties on the village creek continued into the afternoon and another feast day ended. Alaric and Nix returned to Aurora Falls to discover Kiko the unicorn let itself in to their home. A suspicious Alaric mixed a potion for the unicorn to lick. He used the same mixture Gilda uses to restore Daxus to his original form. It is so potent that it can only be drunk once a year. Kiko licked the spoon Alaric held out and the animal transformed into a sprite. Eyeing his crystal, Alaric knew this had to be a god.
“Who are you, master sprite?” demanded Alaric.
“Mother sent me to watch over you. I am the son of Iris, your friend.” answered the young feathered man.
“And why did Iris send you to watch me when I can pray to her amulet if I am in trouble,” responded Alaric.
“Father was a sprite who spied for grandfather. Grandfather sent father to attack your sister Gilda. Daxus killed him in the form of a cat when father was in the form of a blackbird. Mother wanted you to stay safe out of Daxus and grandfather’s conflicts. She turned me into a unicorn foal and I trapped myself in a thorn bush so you would rescue me. Are you angry, Alaric?” continued Kiko.
“No, I am not angry Kiko, just surprised,” answered Alaric. “I thought Iris lost all her children before they reached the Pool of Immortality.”
“I was born after you met mother and was dipped in the Pool of Immortality right away,” replied Kiko. “I am not sure why she felt it unnecessary to tell you I was born.”
“It does not matter now. Come sit and tell me how your mother is doing.” said Alaric.
Kiko confessed that his mother does not visit the mountains very much. He finished Nix’s refreshments and was on his way. Alaric’s parents later stopped by with a message from Daxus. A ribbon fell from the paper as Alaric opened it. It transformed into a grand golden sword. Daxus’s note said that he did not need it anymore. It had so much power Alaric could barely hold it. With Iris’s help, he practiced with it throughout the winter into spring. The coming of the spring celebration came and went with a bonfire accompanied with dancing in the marketplace. Unicorns and fairies came to warm themselves. There were pageants the next day. One was about the sphinx goddess Diana meeting a king while she bathed. She turned him into a stag and his crown became antlers. The next one was about a championship wisdom goddess Athena sponsored and promised to marry the winner. The centaur Talin won the competition by severing his opponent’s arrow in the archery contest. The evening feast brought in a beautiful starlit sky that casted a comet across the heavens. The ice of Ymira thawed and snows of Vanir melted into a blossoming spring. Tiny leaf buds sprouted in the warm fresh sunlight. Mud slides down the mountains from the melting snow destroyed many centaur homes. Avalanches wiped out several unicorns. Mermaids returned to Aurora Falls to find Alaric and Nix picking mushrooms. Alaric then jumped in the river for his spring bath. Nix heated water for her shiny tin tub. They packed up their winter wardrobe and stowed it away behind the waterfall cave. Alaric lived much of his days with Nix as a mortal elf. He rarely transformed himself, used his crystal, or snapped his fingers to make things appear in her presence. He climbed trees to find honey, used his tools to grow herbs, and cooked potions on a fire beside their home. Nix collected beeswax to sell candles, crushed mint leaves to add to Alaric’s pipe grass, and sewed all their clothes. They met a man in Laurel who knew about Kadacia and recommended visiting Fort Abirgail in the bordering Anasazi Mountains. The leprechauns, the man said, would find honey and crayfish most desirable.
Ricky came back to Leesville with floral perfume flasks and jars of fruit. The Nichy beasts pulled Ricky’s cart and his newest girlfriend sat beside him. Nix and Alaric packed up honey and crayfish on their cart and hitched up Nix’s horse and Kiko. He almost forgot the woven feather capes and linen rugs they made during the long winter days. The Sorceress promised to watch their sheep, four of her goats, and pigs. One sow had piglets and was quite temperamental to everyone, except to The Sorceress. Nix’s two goats and two dogs joined the trade expedition. All the way to Brightsburg, Ricky’s girl talked endlessly how heroic he was when they sought out the Cup of Hades. She never shut up about how Ricky the Snakecharmer saved them all from the dragons and never would make it out alive without him. Laeos was not impressed with the giant female companion either. One day when they rested the beasts of burden, Ricky’s companion thought she should decide when to stop. Then she asked for a drink of water as Laeos was sipping one. He politely refilled his cup and splashed it in her face. He shouted that no giant bitch was drinking from his cup. Remarkably, she restrained her chatter the rest of the day.
During the night, the only sound they heard came from Nix’s goats and dogs. Laeos decided to bring wine and wool blankets on the journey. He needed them to hide under when giantess resumed boasting again, as if she drank from the Cup of Hades herself. The party followed a trail going into the Olin Mountains where many friendly creatures live. They reached a centaur watering hole and Laeos was ready to drop the female giant into the river. It turned out that the centaurs love wine. They celebrate Talin as their wine god. Laeos made a small fortune selling all the wine and traded a few wool rugs for fish. Alaric sold honey and feather capes for bows and quivers of bronze-tipped arrows, plus a few flutes. Nix traded her linen rugs for vegetables, her favorite was green beans. She loved the snapping noise and often said it added flavor to the beans. Ricky traded his violet and rose aromas for leather coats and bronze swords. He traded some fruits for a shield. Centaurs are masters of metals along with decorative shields and quivers. Their coins are similar to humans and accepted the human, elf, and giant coins when there was an unequal barter with objects. Nix made a leather strap and wore one of the centaur coins as a medallion around her neck. Ricky’s love had to brag how he made the most off the trading. The rest agreed Laeos made the fortune. As evening fell and the fish and vegetables were cooked, Laeos exploded at the giantess for her relentless boasting. He declared to no longer tolerate her presence and took off in his cart. It was much lighter without the wine. Alaric tried to stop him, thus making Ricky angry that Alaric took Laeos’s side in the disagreement. Resentful of Ricky insolence of Laeos’s feelings towards the giantess, Alaric grabbed Nix to follow Laeos to the cliff dwellers, where their planned next stay was. He left Ricky the Great with his bitch and refused to answer Ricky’s apologies. The moon showered enough light so the humans and elf could travel for a few hours before resting. Ricky found them the next morning sleeping on the ground. He asks for forgiveness for not calming his woman down from her bragging. He just loves hearing all she says about him. He had her stand behind a tree as he made up with his friend.
She promised to quiet herself around the humans and elf the rest of the journey. They tolerated her presence, but never directly spoke to her. The human cliff dwellers welcomed the travelers and celebrated their arrival. Dressed in feathered headdresses covering their long black hair and wool clothes contrasting their dark tanned skin, the part-Kadacians lay down carpets for the guests to sit by the bonfires. A common symbol is a spirit with a hunched back playing a flute is evident. Their leather boots and shoes are discovered to make no noise when they attack other villages when supplies are short. The cliff dwellers live in giant carved out holes in the cliffs of Dragon’s Pass. They use ladders to reach their homes. They have suspended ropes to lift cargo boxes to their doors. Women farm corn and flax. Children gather nuts, berries, vegetables, and fruit. Men herd sheep and goats in the river valley. They obtain a green fruit Alaric adored and bought bushels of it. The humans and giants detested the treasure. They grew fond of the precious stones set in silver jewelry. Nix also loved the dolls they made from corn husks. They traded honey, perfume, crayfish (the cliff dwellers had never seen a crayfish before), feather capes, bronze weapons, leather coats, and flutes. Music and dancers entertained the visitors in the firelight of the dark night. The next morning the trading party left for Kadacia. The cliff dwellers bid the travelers farewell. The female continued her grand stories of Ricky’s heroics, even including that his sword was covered in dragon scales. At least, the couple was far enough away from the others so they did not have to listen to it. Alaric giggled as he stared at the stars of all the lies this stupid fool must be repeating from Ricky. If they were confronted with a real dragon, this idiot would know just how brave Ricky the Great is not. He can be charming and win everyone’s favor, but courage lacks in Ricky during a real confrontation. Perhaps, one day she will find that out. That would break her heart. Alaric woke up bright and early to discover a cheerless Ricky watching the sunrise.
“The mountains are so beautiful with the sun behind them. The colors of the sky are wonderful to see. I can see the Desert of Kadacia from here. How can people live in such a dry climate? Everything here is lush and green.” stated his friend.
“Are you saying you do not want to go to Kadacia with the rest of us?” asked Alaric.
“No, just wondering why all my girlfriends never meet your approval. I enjoy their companionship.” answered the giant.
“Spare me, Ricky the Great. You may charm the ladies, but you do not fool me. You like them because they give you never ending praise for things you never done. I wonder if you love any of them, or your real friends. You know the ones who care about you when you are not an outstanding hero.” responded the elf.
“I want to be your hero Alaric. You are everyone else’s hero, even mine.” said the giant.
“Ricky, you are my hero. You can brush ten men over in one sweep of your arm. You stopped Flint from attacking me while I slept.” spoke Alaric to a stunned friend. “Yes Ricky, your shouting at Flint woke me. I pretended to sleep because you defended me so well.”
“I do not know how you stay modest with all you can do. You rarely use your magic powers in front of Nix. I would try to impress everyone I met if I had your powers.” finished Ricky.
“Perhaps, that is why I have them instead of you.” finished Alaric.
The irritable giantess interrupted the conversation to ask what they were saying about her. Their morning porridge was tasty with fish oil added. In two days, they reached the border of Kadacia. The Aurora River rushed under a grand wood plank bridge. The mountains and river turn northward as the party continued westbound. They follow a cursive dry river bed to find a settlement. Nix discovered thorny bushes here were more wretched than roses or green briar back home. Fort Abirgail sits upon tall hills sloping to a dry rocky desert. The leprechauns stand amazed of the giant Ricky and the giantess. The small humans have dark hair, some red, with pale skin dotted with freckles under deep blue eyes. They wear natural clothes blending into their rocky and green environment. Their tall shoes have beaded flaps that fold down from the ankle. The visitors rest themselves at the inn. The less lush Anasazi Range here wields much gold, silver, and driftwood. They also were warned them not to go looking for the Lady of the Lake. Her sirens sing enchantments that make any creature drown themselves. Alaric promptly asserts that they are only here to trade with the leprechauns. A portrait of Queen Deborah in front of sand dunes painted on the sturdy stone walls of the inn is very prominent. Soon, leprechauns readily traded for wool blankets to use in frigid arid nights. They loved the honey, perfume, crayfish, and linen rugs. They took a liking to Alaric favorite green fruit. He only traded half of it. Nix reluctantly traded her green beans for a beautiful cloak made from hair of a unique creature of the desert, a camel. Leprechauns had plenty of desert incense, lizard meat, and jewelry. They also had Anasazi Mountain reptile and ostrich eggs, in addition to amazing blue-painted pottery. For the moment, the dry landscape was in full bloom after a recent rainstorm, and nectar was collected by insects. The leprechauns used honey to make a drink they call mead and shared some with their guests.
In the firelight, the travelers decide they will need their cloaks to sleep in. Music and dancers entertained the guests. A bard sings poems of Queen Deborah fending off human invaders. One colony claimed half of Kadacia as their own province of their home country. Queen Deborah’s army swept the colonists out into the sea. Alaric thought it amazing that the Kadacian monarchy is passed from mother to daughter, unlike humans and elves. The bard continued telling a story of her visit to Fort Abirgail, when it was rumored cliff dwellers attacked the border villages. Nix walked around for a drink and found a female leprechaun providing mead drinks. As she stepped back towards Alaric, she found a box sitting in the rocks. It was pretty with blue and white diamond checker shapes and a decorated tin latch. She opened it to find it empty. She closed it in annoyance and the box jerked as if alive. She reopened it to see a glowing ball of light in the center of the container. It began to hum and whistle, then flew away to the stars to her astonishment. A male leprechaun swiftly grabbed the box from Nix and held it tight to his chest. He glared at her with a most evil expression.
“You just unleashed a banshee. Evil and death will come to you.” scowled the leprechaun.
Then, he walked away with the closed box jerking in his firm grasp. The leprechauns insisted they sleep outside the fort after hearing what Nix did. Rain poured down to stop any fire they made. Under the carts, the travelers spent an uneasy rest huddled against the animals. They set off at dawn to get off the ground and change wardrobes. On the way home, Nix’s dogs bark at a panther in the distance. Laeos and Ricky drew their bows, but it ran off before they got a good shot. They brought to Brightsburg the eggs, diamonds set in gold, incense, and reptile skin belts. They shared the wealth with the family and marketplace. Nix kept her camel cloak, a silver necklace with blue stones, a gold and silver swirled bracelet, a deer leather coat, a basket of green beans, and a jewelry box with a red phoenix painted on the lid. Alaric kept a chest of green fruit, deer leather boots, a pair of camel pants, a wool tunic, a jar of incense, and a gold armband with silver coils around it. Petrie’s festival day on the horizon, they painted eggs to offer the statue of Petrie in the marketplace. They continued on home after Ricky and his woman left for the giant towns. Alaric told wild tales to the elves during the twilight. A bard put his descriptions into songs. He sent Alani and Alexis messages describing the leprechauns and cliff dwellers. Then, everything returned to normal with planting and nurturing the future harvests. Alaric took Alani hunting upon a visit and managed to kill a goblin in the treetops. The sprites and mermaids again traded for weapons, food, blankets, and jeweled sashes.
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