<em>"Your Grace, I humbly request a chance to explain our presence….”</em><br/><br/>The matriarch inclined her head slightly and remained in a relaxed pose, as if to say that she was open to the words of the human who had just entered her village, but was not worried nor closed to his thoughts.<br/><br/><em>“... stage of a project her father worked on.”</em><br/><br/>The matriarch nodded, her blossom bedecked locks flowing about her shoulders as she said,<strong>“Yes, the loss of Alher Wanderspirit was felt deeply to our village.  Far too few years for any elf to live, especially one as powerful a guardian as he.”</strong>Nirael caught a sad tone in her voice, one that suggested that Alher, Lunari's father, may have been more than just a lost member of their tribe to the matriarch.  But more interesting was the way her voice went up slightly on the word 'elf' when she spoke.  What that might entail wasn't clear, but there was more history here than was immediately obvious.<br/><br/>Nonetheless Nirael continued,<em>“Finding myself approached so…” </em>Though the Matriarch arched an elegant eyebrow when Nirael mentioned the encounter with the elven merchant,<em>“...we were lead to a familiar face. A traveller from these lands, who possessed a scroll to send Lunari close to her home, along with her companions....”</em><br/><br/>As Nirael took a short breath and sighed, she looked to Lunari who supplied the name,<strong>“Rassamin Desisasilin.” </strong>Nirael having not known the merchant mage’s name previously, but knowing a fair amount of the elven language made the connection.  Desisasilin sounded much like the elven phrase ‘deasis ilis asilin’ which meant ‘the ashes from a hearth fire’.  Fitting considering the elven man’s grey colored skin.  But it also made him realize that the elven people seemed to have descriptive family names as opposed to inherited ones.  Though the family name of the matriarch ‘Nameer’ was not one that immediately connected with him as having a similar sounding elvish word.<br/><br/>The matriarch nodded at Lunari and Nirael continued,<em>"We knew not how things had changed…” </em>She listened to his words and it seemed for a moment that her eyes seemed to light up slightly when he mentioned Shoni, though her face remained calm.  But having seen a similar reaction in Lunari, especially in mid coitus, you recognize the slight brightening glow of the matriarch’s eyes as one of excitement or heightened emotion.  Since there didn't seem to be any combat or danger about, Nirael doubted that it was anger or fear, but a definite reaction of excitement or possibly lust at the mention of Shoni's name.<br/><br/>Nirael finished his empassioned speech and all was quiet for the space of three long breaths before the matriarch nodded her head and spoke,<strong>“I sense honesty in your words and young Lunari has always been a good judge of character.  Much wisdom in one so young, and so I find that I am willing to take you at your word.  I shall allow you to stay here in Liain Miala.” </strong>Nirael recognized that the words must be the name of their village, and also were a formalized variation on the elvish words for ‘fresh water’.  Considering the clear spring that fed the river, which burbled behind her, it was clear where the name of the village came from.<br/><br/><strong>“However I shall hold you to your honor.  We have very little trouble in our humble village, as our people all look out for each other or risk banishment.  Cause no trouble and you shall be welcome.  We have a small inn, for the occasional traveler or merchant in town, The River’s End.  You and your companion,”</strong>she gestured regally towards Mara,<strong> “may find rooms there.  However, I must request that you keep one of our guardswomen with you at any time that you are in public.”</strong>Turning to Lunari then she said,<strong> “I’m sure if Lunari wishes to rejoin our fold, she would serve in that capacity, but I’d like to assign at least one other as well.”</strong>She looked to Anju the druid and Nilari, Lunari’s mother, and asked,<strong>“Would either of you care for this task?”</strong><br/><br/>Anju spoke first, a slight grimace on her face,<strong>“Matron, you know my distaste for the noise of the villiage, but the diggers have been quiet lately, and if you wish it, I shall remain close to the home spring for a while.” </strong>The matriarch nodded, accepting Anju’s not quite yes, not quite no, answer.<br/><br/>But Nilari spoke then after a long pause,<strong>“Matron, I will accept this task, and further, allow the three humans to quarter in my humble home.  But I also request that you allow me the rite of Lisani issi teres.” </strong>Nirael again had a slightly difficult time placing the elven words, but they were similar to words he knew in the elvish language, and resembled something along the lines of ‘a mother’s right to question’.<br/><br/>The matriarch quirked one eyebrow upwards and said,<strong>“Unusual, Lunari is a recognized adult, even for one so young.  Are you sure of this?”</strong>Nilari nodded and the matriarch asked,<strong>“Formal rites then?”</strong><br/><br/>But then Nilari shook her head.<strong>“No, I wish to question this man in private, in my own home, with only my daughter as ventes.”</strong>Nirael did know that word in elvish, it meant both one who was a witness and also a suspect in a crime.  Though the way it was used did not sound accusitory.  Truly these elves of the southern lands had a slightly different language than the northern elves that he had learned from.<br/><br/>The matriarch nodded her head and asked,<strong>“and if he completes the rites to your satisfaction, you will assist him in his quest?”</strong><br/><br/>Nilari nodded,<strong> “I will stand guard on his person and make sure that none of our sisters grow too overzealous in his presence.”</strong><br/><br/>The matriarch considered for a moment and then turned to Sirana and asked,<strong>“The other two humans will stay here then.  Will you return to your studies in the ruins?”</strong><br/><br/>Sirana bowed at the waist and said,<strong>“If it pleases you Matriarch Raihna Nameer, this man has a form of magic I have never seen before.  He has offered to instruct me in some of it, and I feel that it may be why I was called here several months ago.  With your blessing I would stay and learn.” </strong>She saw the barest ghost of a frown cross the matriarch’s lips and hastened to add,<strong>“My guardians are still in place to the south.  I will know if any of them fall, and they keep an ever present vigil.  I swear to return to my agreed upon post the moment you wish if something happens to any of my guards.”</strong><br/><br/>The matriarch considered for another moment and then turned to Nirael,<strong>“Very well young mage, the choice is yours.  You and Lunari may go with Nilari to her home and conduct the Lisani issi teres, and should you pass her questioning to her satisfaction, you may stay either under her protection, or at the inn.  Or if you wish, you may refuse the rite of questioning.  But I should tell you that doing so is an insult to her, and you may find the people of the viliage cool to you for doing so.  It is a voluntary rite, and the choice is yours.  But you will be welcome to stay regardless.”  </strong>Turning to Mara and Sirana she gestured,<strong>“You two shall stay and tell me more.  I wish to hear your side of the story, and an update from you about the humans.”</strong><br/><br/>Lunari touched Nirael’s arm and drew him away with a bow at the waist to the Matriarch, then whispered into his ear,<strong>“The rite is very personal, and she may ask you questions until she is satisfied, but she may not harm you.  I would suggest it if you do not fear telling her everything about yourself… and about us.  For her approval can only help us.”</strong><br/><br/>Nilari stood nearby as Mara and Sirana moved up to take Nirael’s vacated spot, but everyone was holding, waiting to see what it was that Nirael would decide.<br/>