General Summary
Day 411
As we continue towards the Northern Grove we find ourselves amongst the foothills surrounding the mountains. A few hours later we are on the outskirts of the eldritch forest and it is like nothing I have ever seen before. The enormous trees are dotted with huge, soft white blossoms that open to reveal delicate mint green that deepens as it slides to the centre of the flower. They are spectacular.
We approach a settlement that Alec calls Shaelie. It's quite a ways from the Grove itself and thus hopefully safe enough from the Court that I can lay low. Andstella tells me that she is waiting on Haze and Alder to be ready to fetch seeds from our tree and in the meantime has asked the Vanguard not to return to the Northern Grove. She doesn't mind my being here and potentially causing some rumours so that her appearance isn't a complete shock but both of us would like to avoid my interacting directly with the Court itself.
But Shaelie should be safe, perfect even. It is a place where fae gather before stepping out into the larger world or pause to rest before returning home. It's home to several thousand people including humans, dwarves, and trolls. And it's beautiful, of course. Like all the fae settlements in my mind it is bright and colourful with banners, painted buildings, and worn paths beneath walkways and ladders.
We find ourselves in a cheerful restaurant packed with people, all talking happily. Despite the few curious and concerned glances at me and at Kaide when she appears, it's a lovely spot. The food is tasty and widely varied - soft sheep's cheese, nuts, a rich meat curry with wild boar, all distinctly dwarven.
After a little while and some idle observation I notice that Kaide and I are the only ones carrying weapons. Her sword stands out under any circumstances, of course, but even my sword, staff, and dagger are unique here. Alec assures us that weapons are perfectly allowed here but simply...not necessary. When I reach out to touch the magic I find it thick and heavy over us, and completely natural! As I immerse myself in it I struggle to find a reason why I might need to reach for my weapons...it just seems so unlikely. The magic here is simply siphoning off any sense of anger or violence in a wonderful way.
From the table next to us a man leans over and comments on it - "This place doesn't get attacked. Ever."
He introduces himself and his compatriots as merchants and we slide our tables together to chat. Jovially he remarks that Shaelie survived the storm so well because even the weather couldn't bear to be violent here!
Conversation flows easily amongst us - a dyeing artisan who suggests that we reclothe ourselves more like natives (billowy, colourful clothing), a reformed banker with three wives, an armament dealer who knows Spindle, and someone who peddles in preserved foods. Uniformly they all have some aspect to their trade that brings a smile to my face, so unlike other human businesses I've seen. Van stores valuables for sleeping fae and loans them the tools they need for their new professions when they wake. Tor does the same with his tools, Eldrick is starting his business from scratch again as he refused to profit from his business over the winter.
Missing from their number is Anna, a woman who practices in the arcane. There's laughter as they blame Van for this (she is pregnant with triplets and thus on bed rest) and are eager to introduce us. To my quiet delight they seem especially pleased to have located an elvish wizard because they think their friend will really appreciate the conversation. It promises to be a good visit tomorrow.
And in the meantime...Brandon and the other gentlemen show us around the town and we find ourselves in taverns and bars all across Shaelie.
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