| Meanwhile, in yet another location......
The little elfin boy's name was Hathar'ruil. He is one of four brothers
and five sisters how been conceived on the Night of Joining. Of course,
the shocked parents, upon learning the number of children that were growing
within the proud mother, knew that drastic means were needed. The ordinary,
time honored tradition of natural childbirth would not do. Either the mother
would die giving birth to so many, and/or the unborn children would die.
Thus, they enlisted, with some qualms, the aid of the Outsiders (Military
Medicine)....and where shocked and thrilled to learn just how much they
were aided. Instant converts, the parents had become close friends and
advocates for the integration of the New Ways into elfin culture. After
all, look what the New Ways had done for them! All their dear little ones
carried to term and delivered safe and sound!
Being of high station (of rank equal that of Duke and Duchess), the
proud and happy mother and father made sure that their little ones got
the best education.....and of everything. But also keeping them from being
"spoiled" by reminding them of their obligations of their station in life.
Thus, not in want of anything but not pampered to the point of turning
him into a brat, Hathar'ruil and his kin grew and generally had a good
life.
Something of a diplomat, also, meant that their parents also had many
parties with foreign dignitaries and outside cultures....and as such each
and every child was exposed to a vast array of customs, ideas, and such
outside the Elfin Nation. Hathar'ruil had several good human friends from
Hindu Kush (what would have been called India on another world), the Nippon
Empire (which was still only now just recovering from the devastating nuclear
attack that had scorched their capitol city, Hiroshima, and a total area
amounting to five hundred miles across. He also counted several children
from the American Coalition of Indian Nations (a political organization
that had initially formed to repel and unite against the horrid Vikings
of centuries ago but stayed united and grown afterwards) as his friends,
also.
All in all, Hathar'ruil had a broad expanse of which to draw from in
learning throughout his life.
Also, he had surprised his parents at a very early age.
Like several other elfin children born from the Night of Joining, had
shown an aptitude for magical talent, and thus his parents had joyfully
placed him in the Institute of Magery. The parents were proud at how well
their little russet haired, amethyst eyed boy excelled in a craft that
no prior ancestor of theirs had ever shown even a drop of talent in (not
even a hint of drop).
By and large, the parents succeeded and thus things were going well
indeed.
That was, until the day of their son's eighth birthday.....
He'd been cloistered away with his brothers and sisters, in reflection
of what this day meant to the rest of his life before leaving the meditation
room to participate in the joyous activities planned for this special day.....when
he gasped.
The other's name was Scouter; elfin hunter, brother of a long lost daughter,
son of One-Eye and Clearbrook. He'd been present on that ill fated day
when Rayek, in what he could only call a fit of madness, had flown his
version of the Palace up to merge with the newer....just emerging Palace
of the High Ones.....and had destroyed everything.
Scouter had been named for being the keenest of eye of all his tribe
and was also almost overly protective of those he loved. Thus, when he
saw the fire coming at him, he'd dove to protect his loved ones with his
very body. Of course the very nature of the Chaos wave made such a gesture,
while brave, totally futile.
"Wha....?" he muttered, dizzy, and having two lives dancing around in
his skull.
That's when he sensed by way of a stray Sending by his unconscious mother
(who's Sending will reach Xanth something like hours in the past and bring
Jenny Elf forth) and father from the World of Two Moons, Clearbrook and
One-Eye (!?) were in terrible distress. While he could Feel his other loves
(Dewshine, not Tyleet, since that would have happened later if things had
stayed as they should have) was also confused and frightened......his parents
were in more in need of him....whatever his name was (Scouter?......Hathar'ruil?).
Head still spinning and not exactly thinking clearly, he rushed out
the door, past his confused and babbling brothers and sisters (!) and went
running on his way through the streets.....with only a general idea which
way the distress calls had come from!
The young boy groans, but his need to protect his loved ones keeps him
focused enough (and on his feet!) to continue on instead of laying down
and passing out, like he feels like doing right now!
But, that aside, it was enough for the desperate elfin lad to be stopped
twenty minutes later as he tries to run past the guards to the Military
Base...in search of his father, One-Eye.
The guards, after collaring the frantically babbling (in an elfin
tongue not spoken on this world) child, they began to place some calls.....
-
 Meanwhile,
back to Jenny Elf and friends!
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