The Humans are coming! The Humans are coming!Ibid turned and looked at her companion. “Are we there yet?” she whined with a grin on her face.
Em turned and stuck her tongue out at the caravan driver. “No and every time you ask adds another hour.”
“What? Don't tell me that last stream you had us detouring around was just because of the last time I asked.” said Ibid with her best mock-frown.
Em laughed, “No but the chasm before that sure was!”
“Crazy pointy eared wench. Just how did you talk me into this anyway?” said Ibid.
Em did a little swaying dance, “By seducing you of course! Its well known that you humans can't resist elven maids like little ol' me.”
Ibid nearly fell off the wagon laughing. “Oh please, no. Whatever am I to do against your boyish good looks?”
“Boyish!? Your just envious of my slender frame.” Em said with a pout.
“And you are envious of the fact that my chest and hips are bigger than your entire body so I suppose we are even.” replied Ibid grinning from ear to ear. “Seriously though, shouldn't we be about to this fort of yours by now?”
Em nodded, “We should be seeing signs of it fairly soon if these dwarves hold the forests in the same regards as the rest of their race. Unfortunately, the directions I managed to get out of that rather drunk grove of elves were somewhat vague and this place doesn't appear to be on any of the main routes.”
Ibid shook her head, “Yea they were out of it. They really should have known better than to eat dwarven made roasts like that. Some of those roasts are basically just concentrated booze with more kick than drinking a whole barrel of sewer brew.”
Em placed her hand over her heart and gave an exaggerated sigh, “I so weep for the depths that my poor people have sunk to. We were once a proud and noble race but now we lay about stoned out of our gourds by foul dwarven cooking.”
“Oh stop it, you are almost worse than dwarves are when it comes to caring about other elves.” said Ibid chuckling.
Em put her hand over her head, “Alas that is the fault of my tragic upbringing, raised as I was by hairy beasts.”
“What you were raised by wolves now?” said Ibid.
“Worse, humans.” replied Em.
“Hey, at least it wasn't dwarves.” said Ibid “And I think we have arrived.” she added noticing the disappearance of the woods and the appearance of a field of stumps with a wooden wall at the far side.
(The human caravan and their Elf o.O representative.)
Mandy peered over the pond at the caravan heading their way. She had spotted them on her way to get an empty barrel from the pile by the wagon. It looked like they were a human caravan but they had an elf with them. What in the earth was an elf doing with the humans?
“Hey, you there!” Called out the lead wagon driver.
Mandy looked back at the carts with a start. She had been so focused on the elf she hadn't noticed that they were now practically on the other side of the pond. “Yes?” asked Mandy.
“Where is your trade depot? Oh and tell whomever is in charge that a trade caravan from Kolobbehal has arrived if you would.” responded the driver.
“Actually, I'm in charge.” responded Mandy. “The depot is on the other side of the fort, I'll go meet you there.”
The driver nodded and turned the cart to the south to go around. The elf however walked right up to the door and let herself in much to Mandy's shock. “Nice little place you have here. Reminds me a bit of back home actually. I didn't know dwarves built with wood.” the elf commented.
Mandy just gaped, “Er... what?”
The elf looked down at Mandy and grinned. “Sorry, I should introduce myself. I am Em Añusamo representative for the human civilization of Kolobbehal.”
“What is an elf doing representing the humans?” asked Mandy.
Em shrugged, “Hard work and perseverance. That and my ancestors got captured in some war sparing me from growing up hugging trees and eating grass.”
“And the wood doesn't offend you?” asked Mandy trying to wrap her mind around the idea of an elf who didn't go into hysterics over trees being cut down.
Em laughed, “Fraid not. This place has a certain rustic charm to it actually. Though like I said, I'm surprised to see you building with wood instead of stone.”
Mandy frowned, “We would have used stone if we could. Heck we wouldn't even have built above ground. Truth is we don't have any picks due to … an oversight.”
“Ah, we might be able to help you there Miss.... ?” Em said with a raise of her delicate eyebrow.
“Mandy” replied Mandy. “Though if you do have picks you could call me a Kobold's aunt and I'd still be willing to trade.”