12 Chapter 12. Absence and Isolation

The elf used magic to fix the damage to the tavern and had sat down at a table so that Hiro and she could talk. William had brought them both a hot meal and cider.

"That'll be two coppers for you elf. We're thankful for what Hiro has done for us but his guest won't get the same treatment not that I think you are a guest."

The elf pulls out a coin pouch and hands William a small silver coin.

"I'm sure this will cover my meal and a room if you have one available.'

"We have an extra room next to the storage cellar you can take it for the night"

"Thank you, kind sir."

Hiro stares at the elf curious about what she wants but still trying to hold back his anger.

"What do you want from me?"

"I suppose I should start with my name is Angelica Ta'fferel. There is much that I must say and I don't know where to start."

"Then start with that symbol on your necklace. Where did you get it?"

"It's a family crest. The necklace was a gift from my father Nasir Ta'fferel."

"Ta'fferel? That name sounds oddly familiar."

"It should my father was the one that had put up the barrier that protected your village."

"What's that supposed to mean? Should I be grateful that his barrier failed and everyone I'd ever loved died!"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to say it like that. Have you heard the story of that barrier?"

"Yeah, something something our village saved an elf blah blah blah magic barrier blah blah blah everyone died."

Angelica sighed trying to hold back her frustration and Hiro's disregard of her father.

"My father told me he was nearly killed in a battle against the Yakioni. Bloodied and beaten he made his way to a village in the forest of everlasting moss. He said that the village was wary of him because he was an elf but the village elder had taken him in and treated his wounds. The people embraced him and gave him food and clothes and they had a party to celebrate his recovery. He was deeply moved by the kindness he was shown by the village that he put every bit of magic he had into a magic item like this."

Angelica shows Hiro the magic item again.

"It's called the Protecting Heart of the Forest and depending on how much magic is in it the longer the barrier spell lasts."

"Okay thanks for the history lesson but outside of this I don't understand why this is so important to me."

"This item is normally enough to protect a single person for a month with little magic but he had put enough in the one he had given your city to fuel it for hundreds of years and protect the whole village it took so much magic that he couldn't use any for almost 15 human years. He loved your village and all the people in it. He met my mom from your village. Her name was Kaiya Kurokumo."

"Kaiya Kurokumo that's my aunt's name!"

"Exactly, I'm half-elf and half-human and I'm your cousin."

"Where were you? Why aren't you dead? Why have I never met you before?"

"My father had gained enough magic to redo the spell that protected the village but the crystal that was used for the magical protection wasn't meant to last as long as it did or to hold so much magic. My father knew this and sent me to Griamore to gather another crystal so it could keep protecting everyone. When I arrived at Griamore I had overheard that the Yakioni and High Bloods were fighting in the Forest of Everlasting Moss. So I had bought the crystal and was going to ride straight back to the village. They said a traitor had been captured near the forest. I had rushed back to the village to find out I was too late the village was in shambles, my mother was dead and my father was gone."

"Is your father still alive?"

"I don't know I was sneaking around Griamore looking for information about him when I had heard a rumor that some powerful being had defeated the Yakioni single-handedly. I thought maybe I could sway that warrior to help rescue my father. It turned out to be you and I was so happy to see you were alive but I wasn't sure it was you because of how powerful you had gotten."

"Okay I'm following all of this so far but how do I know you're related to me or that you aren't some spy sent to bring me back to Griamore so that the High Blood elves can try to kill me"

Angelica pulls out a picture of Hiro's mom and Her mom with a picture of a baby elf.

"You might not trust me but I'm telling you the truth I really am your cousin."

"Say I believe you. What do you want from me? I'm not going to help you save an elf especially not one that was involved in the destruction of my village. Why wasn't he in the village to protect everyone as he did with the crystal?"

"He wanted to but after the last village chief died the new one wouldn't allow him into the village. He said that some of the villagers wouldn't be comfortable having a demihuman living amongst them so he just wanted to protect the village in any way he could from the outside."

"I'm sure if my father wasn't taken by the High Bloods he wouldn't have stopped trying to protect the village even if it cost him his own life."

"So you're telling me those damn High Bloods are the cause of all of this!"

"Yes, but I know how to get in and out of Griamore and I'll help you do it if you help me save my father."

"What makes you think I need your help? I could just storm Griamore and kill everyone in there."

"Griamore is protected by a powerful protection spell that doesn't allow anyone but elves in unless specially summoned by the nobility of Griamore."

"Seeing that you had to sneak around Griamore I don't see how you can help me."

'Before my father was protecting your village he was nobility in Griamore. That makes me part elven nobility thus meaning I could sneak you in."

"Even if I get into Griamore what I'm going to do won't be pretty. I'll be fully letting my rage run free and there is no guarantee I won't accidentally kill you and your father ."

"That's okay to leave the rescue to me and all I need you to do is do what you were going to do anyway."

"Very well cousin but we have to stop by Dwarvenguard first there is someone there I must meet up with."

"THERE'S NO TIME!!!! The more we wait the less time my father has I've heard that the High Bloods execute traitors when found guilty by the elven high council!"

"I've not headed anywhere until I meet up with a very special person in Dwarvenguard."

"Who is the person that's more important than your own family."

"The one that gave me enough power to avenge it."

"Fine but we're taking my elk it'll cut our journey by a day."

"No offense but I think I can travel faster with my own body just try to keep up we leave in the morning."

Hiro and Angelica go to sleep in their rooms after eating and talking. Hiro stays awake for a little bit thinking about Angelica.

If she really is my family and her father is live that means I still have a family. A cousin and an Uncle. I should try to protect them and with the power, I have now I won't have to lose anyone else. I hope whatever Theo has in mind is worth the trip to Dwarvenguard when I could be saving my uncle. Maybe I don't have to be a weapon if I have a family maybe...

Hiro falls asleep a little me relaxed than normal. In the morning they'll head to Dwarvenguard. Then onto save his uncle from the executioner's blade.