Kerothi the Ar-tel-quessir.

[Kiori]

The elf sat by the fire with a blank parchment in her hands. Slowly and gracefully she began to draw lines. Lines formed into letters, letters into words and words into whole phrases. Full moon shone brightly from the cloudless sky, so elf’s confession could be seen clearly.

“ My name is Kerothi and I am writing this because I can’t trust the living with my secrets. But perhaps I will feel better if I tell the paper everything…
I guess my mother was unlucky. Unlucky enough to fall in love with my father, a sun elf and a member of High Forest cell of Eldreth Veluuthra. Father dreamt of a son, a great champion of the elvish people, who will save us all from our miseries and will rid Faerun of humans. That wish didn’t come true, for a daughter, me, was born. And I never took interest in quarrels neither with humans living nearby, nor with Zentharim prying in our forest. It was much more fun to read books brought from Evereskah or to study magical trinkets. My mother gave birth to two more children, daughters again, Eärwen and the youngest, Faelwen. Can’t say that Father was happy about that, but he still loved us, he was a parent after all. My younger sisters took after him, both in appearance and character. They accepted the Eldreth Veluuthra dogma with all their hearts, for they didn’t have much alternative.
That was my youth – talks about the future of the Elves, agreements with Albino Oaks, reports from Hellgate Keep… And the lessons of an old wizard Istthârdon. He was a translator from Sylvan and saw me as a fine successor to his knowledge. He was strict, but kind, he taught me magic and made me write the spells in my book, though most pages had caricature drawings of the old mage. I liked this life. But the day of my coming of age was drawing near, and I dreaded that day.

Everyone was celebrating; I was an adult now, a full-fledged member of Eldreth Veluuthra. Which meant tasks, more responsibility, the end of easy life. I was quite grim, to say the least. Father’s speech about me being useless but good-looking, and therefore being good only for bearing strong children didn’t help at all. I slipped away from the party at the first possibility. I had a plan. I will ask my superior for an easy assignment, like searching for portals in Cloakwood. The forest was far away, the task will take time, I could get lost in distant lands for a couple of centuries or so. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice how a figure jumped me. A figure with a gloating smile and cunning green eyes. Father.
- Well, it seems someone thinks she’s very smart but she’s too predictable. No need to look for an assignment, your dear father already has one for you.
Still smiling he gave me a book. It looked like a dictionary of some sort.
- It is a dictionary. – He said as if having read my thoughts. – Old Istthârdon spoke quite highly about your knack for foreign languages. Take it and travel to the place, which I’ll mark on your map. There you will meet someone. Let’s call him a… short elf. Follow his orders.
- But, Father. – I replied, stunned. – Why do you trust such a task to me? Sisters are much more capable and dedicated.
- No-no-no. They are too young and of another talents. Faelwen is a brilliant archer, she will be a great Justice of Weald and Woe. No need to distract her from her training. Eärwen follows call of Nature and will do better in the woods.
Still smirking he disappeared in forest shadows.
My plan to escape was destroyed. Noone of Father’s superiors was close enough to talk to. And knowing him, this assignment will end badly for me. Seldarine, can my life be any worse?
Full backpack, new shoes, clean robe – it seemed I was ready to travel. But abrupt knocking at my door made me forget all my grim thoughts. A woman entered, with bright orange eyes and a warm smile. It was Mother.
- Someone thinks he’s very smart, but Vel'Nikeryma knows him too well. What we didn’t know though, is that he will send his own daughter. Maybe my husband and your father is really losing his mind if he thinks his ambitions are more important than your life.
My knees trembled and I sat on the bed.
- Do you know what this book is? – Mother continued. – A dictionary. With it and some time given you’ll be able to translate Undercommon. He wants to send you to the Drow. Apparently your father is making some deal with these darkskinned monsters. But the only way he will send you there is over my dead body. I have a gift for you, which will surely spoil his plans.
She put an envelope in my hand. “Tellynnan” was written on it. Our leader himself…
- This is your new assignment. It will keep you far from Eldreth Veluuthra, as you always wanted. You are to assume a role of an adventurer and an explorer. See the world, send reports about anything you deem important enough, gather relics and artifacts that will help our cause. Just don’t do anything stupid, I don’t want our family to be sent to Urlingwood. – She hugged me. – Say goodbye to your sisters. If they didn’t see you with your father, we wouldn’t know he chose you for his schemes.

Next morning I stood at the road leading from the woods to the human village. I was scared, lonely and confused. It drizzled. I looked at Father’s dictionary, not knowing what to do with it. Should I throw it away? Or maybe I should learn this language, you never know what life will throw at you. My thoughts were interrupted by a human on a cart full of vegetables. The cart was pulled by an old tired horse.
- ‘Ey there, lass. Ye shouldn’t be standing ‘ere like that, ye’ll get all soaked and get sick. Get in the cart, I’ll give ya a lift to town. And ye can entertain an old man with a story about how ye got ‘ere.
I got in the cart and leaned on a huge pumpkin. I couldn’t tell him my “story”. But I could lie. I guessed I’d have to lie a lot, might as well train on peasants.
That’s how my journey began, though I don’t know how it will continue.”

The elf finished her writing. She skimmed over the text, tore the parchment into little pieces, and burnt everything to the last letter in the fire. “Maybe it’s not so bad,” – she thought with a faint smile on her face.


// and again i must say sorry for my bad english =) if you find some mistakes, let me know.