Richard Tuttle - Elvangar

“Why don’t you remove the hood, Axor?” asked the elf. “It must be difficult to enjoy your meal with your face covered. You are among friends here.”

“You have no idea what being a Chula shaman entails,” Axor answered softly. “Even among friends I will remain covered. Besides, I will not embarrass the staff of this inn.”

“Do not pursue it,” Emperor Marak softly advised the elf.

Caldal frowned and stared at the table silently. MistyTrail watched him sulk, and she began to feel sorry for him.

“I think an apology is in order,” she said to Emperor Marak. “Just before we were attacked, you were lecturing Caldal about his attitude. He just made an effort to be sociable, which I believe was very hard for him to do. He does not need to be rebuked at this point.”

Caldal glared at MistyTrail and shook his head. He was about to open his mouth to tell her to be quiet when the Emperor spoke.

“I do apologize,” declared Emperor Marak. “My words were not meant to make you feel apart from us, Caldal. I was merely trying to save Axor from embarrassment. While his looks are revered among his people, other humans might have a hard time accepting him. I suspect that elves would, too. Let’s make a deal this night, Caldal. When I say or do something that you think is wrong, tell me. I will do the same for you and Eltor. If we are willing to communicate with each other, we will not suffer from false impressions. Will you accept?”

“I do accept your offer,” replied Caldal. “I was not really put off by your words. I was attempting to fit in with the group. I just don’t know what to say. I guess I was embarrassed by not knowing what to converse about.”

“I readily accept as well,” interjected Eltor. “Your compassion for the feelings of Caldal makes me respect you more than I do already. Why are you so different from other humans?”

“I am not sure that I am much different in regards to what we are talking about,” answered the Emperor. “There are good people and bad people in this world. I am sure the same is true in Elvangar. I am sorry for what you had to go through in Motanga at the hands of humans, but we are not all like that. You really have no idea how the humans of this land feel towards you.”

“What do you mean?” asked Caldal.

“I have heard many compliments about you from the people at the Imperial Palace in Khadoratung,” stated the Emperor. “While some complained that your attitudes were poor, most expressed admiration for your skills, especially in archery. Many of them would have liked to have gotten to know the two of you better, but you never gave them the chance.”

“That was my fault,” conceded Caldal. “Before you explained to me the truth about humans discovering Elvangar, my attitude was poor. I apologize for it. I wish I could go back and change many things, but that is not possible now.”

“No, it isn’t,” smiled the Emperor, “but you can change the future. Promise yourself that you will give all people a fair chance to be friendly, and you will be surprised how many truly are.”

Caldal’s eyes darted to the hood-covered Chula, but the elf quickly turned away.

“You are right,” purred Axor as he caught the elf’s gaze.

“I am sorry,” apologized Caldal.

“You have no reason to apologize,” replied Axor. “Emperor Marak just spoke words of wisdom to you, and your first thought was that I was ignoring his words. You are correct. I have been hiding under my hood the same way that you have been hiding your feelings inside. I am not giving other people the chance to accept me as the Torak just suggested. His words were the words of a wiser man than me.”

Axor flipped his hood back revealing his long flowing mane. His sparkling eyes sat over a broad snout with whiskers spreading from his split lips. Everyone’s attention was diverted from Axor’s face as one of the serving girls dropped the plates of food she was carrying to the table. The girls turned and ran into the kitchen. Axor sighed and replaced the hood over his face.

“She only saw the back of my head,” Axor said softly. “Perhaps your words were not as wise as I thought they were, Torak.”

“They were wise words,” retorted Caldal. “I, too, was shocked by your appearance, Axor, but that will not make me reject you. Is your appearance typical of all Chula?”

“No,” Axor replied. “Only the strongest in magic can attain such a state. Among my people my appearance is a badge to be worn proudly. Such is not the case among humans.”

Crawford slid two plates onto the table and stared at Axor. The Chula shaman felt the eyes gazing upon him, but he ignored the innkeeper.

“I am sorry for the reaction of my girl,” stated Crawford. “I have heard stories of Chula shaman, but I do not know of anyone who has ever seen one. Feel free to uncover your head in my inn. If it bothers my girls, I will serve you myself. You are a welcome guest here.”

Axor nodded politely at the innkeeper’s words, but he made no move to bare his mane. The innkeeper frowned and walked away. Voices could be heard coming from the kitchen as everyone sat silently at the table. Several minutes later, both young girls came into the common room. The one who had dropped the plates walked nervously to stand behind Axor. He felt her presence and became uncomfortable.

“I am sorry for my reaction,” the girl said nervously. “I have never seen such a sight before, but my father explained that your people are responsible for creating the forests around us and the fields that grow so bountifully. I am ashamed of my actions. Please remove your hood so I may see the face of one so revered in your land.”

“There is nothing for you to apologize for,” Axor said softly. “Let us consider the incident dismissed. You have done nothing wrong.”

It was clear to all that the Chula shaman had just dismissed the serving girl, even if he had done so politely. Still, she did not move. Instead she nervously extended her arms and gently pulled Axor’s hood from his head. Axor’s hands rose to stop her, but the Emperor smiled at the Chula and shook his head. Axor allowed the girl to uncover him. The other girl’s eyes grew wide as she stared at the Chula’s face, but she tried to appear impassive. The girl who had removed the hood walked to the end of the table so she could see the shaman’s face, and Crawford walked up behind her.

Crawford coughed slightly and both girls snapped out of their trance. They bowed respectfully to the shaman.

“We are honored to serve a Chula shaman in our inn,” said one of the girls. “Thank you and your people for the great gift they have given to Fakara.”

The girls bowed again and returned to the kitchen. Their father smiled broadly at the Chula.

“You should be just as proud of your appearance in Fakara as you are in your homeland, shaman,” smiled Crawford. “Our people owe a debt to yours that can never be repaid. Walk proudly among us so that we never forget that debt.”

The innkeeper bowed and retreated to the kitchen. Axor blushed with embarrassment.

“Perhaps your words were wise after all, flatlander,” he said to the Emperor with a smile.

“Flatlander?” echoed the Torak with mock offense. “You must mind your manners, shaman.”

“Indeed I must, Torak,” grinned Axor as he nodded his head in a bow to the Torak. “It appears that Caldal and I share much in common. May your words heal what ails both of us.”

“Well there is one benefit of traveling with a Chula shaman,” chuckled Eltor. “No one has said anything about our ears.”

Everyone laughed at Eltor’s comment, and the conversation turned to lighter topics. They sat for a while after the meal chatting about trivial matters. Crawford and his daughters came out and joined the conversation. After a while, no one paid any particular attention to Axor’s appearance. Finally, Crawford stood up.