"What is it?" she asked in a hushed tone, even though it went against her nature to say or do anything quietly. She spoke in reserve so that Serlay, even if he was out of his own world, couldn't hear her. Her husband shook his head, his right hand rubbing his white beard. 

     "What those men told me bothers me," he replied as he looked up at her. "Elves normally aren't belligerent. What made these Crecs attack?"

     "Are you saying they lied? But we heard the rumors; we knew humans were being killed in some large battle in the Western Isles." 

     Terance gave a small chuckle as his blue eyes drifted off his wife's face. "For once, in a longtime I don't know. I don't know why the Crecs are going against their elven way."

     "Magic," Onelle hissed, the word cold on her lips. She rubbed her hands against her skirts as if to rub away all association with the dark magic. "It has to be. But who?" Onelle wondered, biting down on the nail of her index finger.

     "This is too good to give up."

     Onelle snapped her head up. She recognized the glimmer in her husband's eyes; the look of mountains, misty mornings, and starry nights- the look of adventure. She reached out and placed her tiny hands on his arms. "No, my love no." She got his gaze again. "They're in the middle of a battle out there."

     He shook his head. "Not all of the Isles are like that, only three or four of them. I have to know."

     She shook her head as her fingers dug deeper into his red shirt and into his meaty arms. "No!" she gasped with all the love and tenderness she could inflict into her tone. "My love," she spoke softly. "You are older."

     "Only sixty! I have but another century. Don't guard me as if I was a child. I have done many things much more dangerous and have survived. May I remind you my trip to the Great Desert? Even the Sand Dragons couldn't hurt me, just give me a scar on my back; but that doesn't hurt unless the rains come."

     Onelle reached up and yanked a forelock off her forehead. "Do you see these gray hairs? Every handful is dedicated to one of your adventures. You can't do the same things that you did as a youth. Don't do this, you'll get killed."

     He opened his mouth to protest, but when he looked deeper into his wife's eyes and realized how much pain his death would cause, he mutely nodded his head. "For you my love, I will stay." He looked to the door, which swung open with a familiar face. An idea sparked inside of his mind. "But let Illin go," he loudly spoke. 

     The faerie that had just entered turned his head to Terance and Onelle. He was a tall faerie, taller than the tavern owner and his wife, but he had inherited Onelle's fiery red hair and his father's adventuresome lifestyle. His lean body was perfect for his dreams as he could walk any number of leagues without tiring, and he had the strength to pull himself up mountains. His blue eyes opened wider at the mention of his name, as he slung his shoulder pack down off his shoulders. "Where will I go, now that I just walked in?"

     Terance left his wife and headed towards his eldest son. He reached up and placed a weathered hand on his son's shoulder. "I was just telling your mother how perfect it would be for you to find something out for your father." His son's red eyebrows lowered. 

     "I didn't become an adventurer just to find information for you. I do this to explore, not for your whims," Illin replied.

     "Which I find silly, since you didn't apprentice with anyone. Who knows how you're going to make a living being an adventurer? You'll just bring heartache to your poor mother's heart," Onelle said as she crossed her arms in front of her. Illin smiled, leaned over and gave his mother a large hug. 

     "You know that isn't true Mama. Besides, you have Arinelle and Delain to worry about.  Plus, they both live a few minutes from here."

     "Illin, listen to me. You will want to do this one." Illin sighed to his father's words as he stepped back from his mother but kept an arm around her waist as she did the same. 

     "All right, tell me.”

     "Terance!" Onelle said in amazement. He looked to his faerie wife who was standing with her hands on her hips, a small frown on her lips. "You do not swear!"

     He nodded his head. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just impatient. It's been a while since he's left and Brook Village is so quiet nowadays. He should have been back by now. It's only a few days' journey to the Western Isles and back." He opened his mouth to say more when the door burst open with a loud bang. It was such a loud noise it even rocked Serlay out of his thoughts. Terance quickly changed his gaze to see Illin stagger in, his knife sheathed at his side, and leaning on a quarterstaff.

     "Illin! What happened?! Terance!" Onelle screeched. "I knew he would get hurt!" She quickly raced to her son's side, pushing aside chairs in her way.

     Illin widely grinned. "Mama, I'm not hurt." He walked another step inside, the door closing silently behind him. He held the quarterstaff up off the ground and Terance could see strange markings lining the staff. "This was given to me, from the Crecs."

   'Lady, wait, please.' She turned around and I almost swore. By the sight of her pointed ears and almond shaped eyes I knew at once she was an elf; I just didn't know if she was a Crec. I wished I had curbed my tongue.

     'Yes?' she replied. I didn't know what to say so I kinda stuttered for a moment. I couldn't help it Mama so stop smiling. This elf seemed impatient as her free hand went to her hip. I couldn't find words to say. I began to feel the pressure of my knife at my hip. Her impatient look left her as she gave a brief glance towards town. When she looked back at me, she had a small smile on her lips which really confused me. Her brown eyes were also softer. 'No, I'm not a Crec, if that's why you're speechless.' My heart didn't slow its rapid beat though. I didn't know if it was fear that caused it to swiftly beat or the soft pools of her eyes. 

     I finally blinked when I realized I must have looked like a fool. 'I'm sorry for losing my tongue, but you must admit the Crecs have imposed fear in the sight of any elf.' 

     She bowed her head to my words. 'T'is true. My once time brethren have indeed scared many in the Lands.  Now who be you, wearing a knife and leading a mighty warrior steed like that one? Probably another adventurer- we have so many now.'

     'I'm Illin. As for adventurer- slightly true; I'm on a mission of knowledge this time.' 

     She told me her name was Alisa and that she had lived on one of the Isles until being afraid of the Crecs and moving to the mainland some five years ago. She told me the Crecs had come into existence ten years ago. I found it amazing because only recently have people heard about them. I asked her where they came from and she only hung her head and didn't answer me for many moments. We had entered the town by then and I had already stabled Daywing and was following her. She invited me to her father's cottage for knowledge. When Alisa finally spoke again she told me that the Crecs were her relatives; hers and every other elf that lived on the Isles. They all used to belong to the Nariwell Clan. Hundreds of elves belong to that clan. Shocked, I asked her why they had become dangerous and angry and she couldn't answer me. 

     I sat in front of her father, a tall elf like herself, with a white crowned head and a lean body despite his large appetite. He ate more than his family combined. I was graciously received at their table and like a good guest I had waited to ask them their tale. Eventually it tumbled out and everyone told a part. 

     There have only been a few elves throughout the Land and time that have not liked their lot in life and wished war. These few never cause harm though. The tale is that the Crec's leader, an elf by the name of Queril, was such an elf, wanting such horrid things as war. He was shunned and finally exiled from the Isles. With him went followers, fifty by number. Mostly his close family and loved ones who could not bear life without him. As you know, elves have honor and dignity to their family. That is why they went with him, that and the hope they could change him to become peaceful. He traveled on the mainland. One night, while the rest slept, Queril found a leprechaun. Normally a leprechaun would have been ignored as all it does is create havoc with his mischief but this one promised he had magic as he had been blessed by a wizard or some magic-sort. This leprechaun promised one wish if Queril promised to grant him one in return. Queril quickly knew what he wanted. He told the leprechaun that he wanted he and his followers to become great fighters- so good none could beat them; to become dangerous and feared and to forget their peaceful ways. That and his followers would obey him. The leprechaun granted Queril his wish. Swords and bows instantly appeared by the sleeping elves, and chain mail clothed some of their sleeping bodies.

     Queril knew he had gotten his wish. The leprechaun then told him his demand but before he could finish, Queril took out his sword and killed the leprechaun. Queril led his people back to the northen-most Isle and then began his capture of the Western Isles. More elves followed and were granted the unbeatable skills of a warrior. They didn't want to fight but some had no choice but to participate. Not even the humans could stop them, no one has. Even magic can't stop them. No one knows what will. 

     I sat there silently, as everyone was quiet. The dreaded tale caused even me fear. I wondered what would happen if Queril wanted the mainland, and the rest of the Lands. All of the sudden I thought of your friend father, Kuy, your leprechaun friend. The leprechauns couldn't have known that one of their own had done this. I wondered if any of them knew. I hoped Kuy might have some idea as he is one, if not the only, semi- friendly leprechaun. 

     I left Delamer the next day, with Alisa riding behind me. It was thought better if I had an elf go with me to better plead their tale. I found him a week later. It was lucky that you had told me which tree stump he resided in, the one with the star shaped tree rings. Alisa told Kuy what had happened. He pulled on his hat so tightly in frustration and anger than he ripped a hole through the top as his head went through! He said he knew how to fix the problem. Now, even though leprechaun are solitary people, Kuy reeled in ten of them to go with us and to stop the Crecs. 

     It was dangerous traveling in the northern-most Isles. We had but spent one day on an Isle when we were captured. The elves were about to kill us, their arrows poised over my breast, when Alisa cried out, 'Stop! I have to see my cousin Queril! You can't kill your leader's cousin!' The plea stopped them. We were their captives for the next week as we traveled by rift to the isle where Queril lived. The leprechauns were quiet all this time, hiding under a spell to make them look like ordinary faeries. Thanks Mama for that spell and the small gift of magic. 

     Queril was not much of an elf. He was short, like the others, his head coming to my shoulders. But he was a nefarious looking elf. He was clad in a chain mail shirt, with a leather strap running across his chest, strapping on the quiver of arrows on his back. A long silver sword was on his hip. It was stained red. His almond eyes were dark, almost to the shade of black, and caused fear in even my own heart. He cruelly smiled as he said, 'Kill them. They were trespassing in the New Isles.'

     Alisa cried out, 'Cousin! Please listen. Stop this, you're dividing the elves.' He didn't listen and was about to bark orders for our deaths when I released the spell and the leprechauns became free. Not a single eld dared to attack, they were too surprised at the sight. The leprechauns stood side by side, their small eyes closed, and began to chant. Kuy was the only one who stared Queril in the eyes. The elf didn't move an inch. I silently watched and waited.

     'Queril, elf and so-called Crec, you have violated a law of the Lands. All know that a leprechaun shall never face death by blade. You took a leprechaun's life and for that, all powers that he granted you are now taken away.' The elves that surrounded us shook their heads and all wondered why they held bows and swords. Some cursed and threw their weapons on the ground. All of the elves had their natural power returned to them. They didn't have to follow Queril anymore. 'All gifts you have received are gone.' The chain mail disappeared. Every blade disappeared. Queril stood before us without a shirt, blade, and was barefoot. Elves cheered as Alisa tightly held on to my arm, amazement in her eyes. 'For the life you have taken, yours will replace it.' Queril died that next moment. His limp body then sunk into the ground, to replenish the land for the lives he had taken. At least, that's what I think. With their task done, the leprechauns left in silence. Kuy only winked at me and whispered, 

     'Tell your father that we are even.' Then he left.

     The elves that had once been Crecs rejoiced that night as did all elves and humans and faeries as word spread of the Crecs' death. Indeed, even the spirit of the Crecs died. Many could return to their homes now. This band of elves were quickly forgiven and brought back like family for that's what they were: members of a larger clan. That night, around a large bonfire, with the noises and smells of a celebration, I was given this staff by the elves. 

     'This staff will protect you. Even though elves prefer to stay by themselves, every elf will welcome you into his home and by his fire. Thank you Illin, son of the wise Terance.'

     Terance only chuckled as he nodded his head, his hand in his beard again. "That is a tale for another day."