Chapter 4 - Nyla’s story

The three travelers left Traazon Keep quickly behindthem, riding into the endless prairie that made up muchof the Eastern Marches. A few cattle wandered by as theyheaded onto the road for Redwatch; in this area the herdsmay have been large, but the land was endless. Loganlooked around. “Back home these cows would be fenced in.Here they seem to roam free.” Tarn looked around and swept a hand dismissivelyacross the landscape. “Why not? Around here there aren’tall that many people, in case you hadn’t noticed. Theranchers let their herds roam free most of the year. Exceptat calving time and for the fall roundup, the herds have freereign. The animals know enough to protect themselves fromthe weather, and for the rest of the year, they go where thebest grazing and waterholes are.”“What about orcs?” Nyla asked. Tarn snorted. “Orcs don’t like beef. They feel there’ssomething

unnatural

about domesticated animals. Theyprefer to hunt their meat down. While they may raid cattleherds during a time of war, they never do otherwise.” Hechuckled softly. “They know we humans depend on feedanimals, but they themselves never eat ‘tame’ animals.Wolves, on the other hand… Wolves can be a problem,but not a terrible one. In fact, as long as all they do is cullthe herd of weaker animals, they tend to be a manageableproblem - useful, in fact. Men have hunted the wolvesdown for leagues around the Keep, though, so they aren’ta problem here at all. Farther from the city… Well, if theranchers lose too many cattle, they call in trackers ordruids and hunt down the packs.”

Logan shuddered. “I’ve never liked wolves. Fear themmore ‘en orcs.”Nyla looked surprised. “Why? I’ve always thought thatthe call of a wolf was….beautiful. Primal, but peaceful. Theytake better care of their young than most people. At least inmy experience they do.”Logan raised an eyebrow. “Why would you say that?”

“You never met my father.” She icked her hair off from

her ears as she pointed at them, and then gave Logan a wrysmile as she shrugged dismissively. “For that matter,

I’ve

never met my father.”Logan looked away at that, and for a few moments, was silent. He turned back to Nyla and asked quietly. “But you’re a half-elf. I thought half-elves were usually elven ontheir mother’s side...”“You mean that most of us are bastards on account of the fact that human soldiers rape elven women to makeus?” Nyla’s laugh held no humor as it echoed across theplains. “Normally, you’re right, priest. But not always. No,my mother was the daughter of a prosperous merchantfrom the city of Eldane.”“The highlands to the south of Averim?”Nyla nodded as she continued. “My grandfather wasthe kind of man who made money in spite of himself. Hecould make just about anything you wanted out of cowhide,

and sell it for a prot because the quality of his work was

so good. He had one little problem, though —he had nobusiness sense whatsoever. If he made two gold crowns,he’d spend three. After a while, my Grandmother got sickof his wasteful ways, and insisted that he take on a partnerto help him balance the books and manage his money.

Grandmother could be very persistent.” She smiled softly,“Eventually, Grandfather gave in.“His new partner was good with money. So good, in fact,that he got grandfather to agree to expand his business.At that time, the elves and the Empire were at peace, andgoods of my Grandfather’s quality were in high demand.Elves, I’m told, prize human leather-work because elvescan’t raise cattle in their forests.“So early one spring nineteen years ago, he joined atrade caravan heading south. My mother was the sameage I am now, and having not yet married, went south with him to help with the domestic chores —as well as tokeep her out of Grandmother’s hair and away from all hermany suitors.” Nyla laughed softly. “Well, to make a longstory short, they arrived at the elven trade city of Marathas

to nd Grandfather’s goods in high demand. Grandfather

made a fortune, but my mother was having a bit of aproblem. It seems that a member of the elven constabularyhad taken a fancy to her— and her to him. My mother wasquite the beautiful girl, and with her red hair and greeneyes, was viewed as quite exotic by certain members of thatelvish city. Their relationship went on for the whole summer —right under Grandfather’s nose, and he never suspected athing.“Then, the night before they were to leave in the earlyfall, Mother begged Grandfather to let her stay. She toldhim she loved my father, and wanted to stay with him. Herefused, telling her that the ancient folk would never takeher in, that the “boy” she loved was actually old enough tobe

his

father, and that the he was only suffering from whatthe long-lived call “

wanthaleomnos,”

or “wander-lust” in ourtongue, and that he would tire of her before long.