[u]Laakari[/u]

Eira was in an uproar. Word had reached the city of a supposed uprising in Jabari, just rumors, but serious rumors. So serious in fact that the fae had begun assembling the Eirian army in preparation for retaliation. Several elf traders had already been arrested on the accusation of being spies or covert agents. The population was in a state of unrest and unease. Nobody trusted the elves anymore, even Laakari was treated with suspicion and for his own sake he had avoided the city ever since word of a war between elves and fae had been uttered. He didn't not for certain if these events may really lead to a war. It did not make sense that the elves, who had always been a peaceful and pacifist race, would orchestrate these unprovoked attacks. The whole affair seemed very unnatural to him, and he wanted to go to Jabari to find out for himself what was going on, but he couldn't abandon Novell and neither could he take her along on such a dangerous mission.

In fact, there was much about it that he had not told her yet, since it was all rumor to him as well. That is, until today. Laakari was tending to the greenhouse late one morning when an insistent knock came at his door. Novell jumped up hurriedly to answer it, hoping one of Eira's children had come to play with her. None had been allowed to leave their homes without their parents as of late and the girl had been very lonely. Instead she opened the door to find a figure doubled over in agony, clinging to the doorpost in order to remain on his feet. He was an elf, long white hair dirty and tangled, the white wolfskin draped around his shoulders--his only clothing--was grimy and stained with old and new blood. He was wounded, though the gashes were old and already scabbed over. A particularly long cut across his ribs had reopened however, accounting for the bright red stains on the white fur. He was covered in bruises and his face looked badly beaten. All in all, he was in very poor shape indeed, and encountering all this at once frightened Novell so that she screamed and ran to Laakari. 

The white elf fell through the open doorway, too exhausted to stand anymore. Laakari hurried to see what was the matter. Novell hid behind him, covering her eyes. "Bromelian!" he exclaimed, "How the devil did you get here, what happened?" Obviously the poor man was in no state to answer any of these queries. Thinking quickly, he turned to the little girl. "Novell, fetch the Lembari solution, clean cloths, and fresh bandages." She hesitated, still shaken by what had just happened. "Now." The strict command snapped her out of her daze and she quickly ran off to do as he said. Laakari helped the elf named Bromelian to lie on his back. The elf moaned pitifully. A quick examination revealed that though he was suffering from multiple wounds his life was not currently in danger, unless he happened to catch infection. Elf immunity was extremely high, so while this was not likely to happen Laakari decided that taking the necessary preventative cautions would do no harm. Fortunately the kettle was on, and Laakari set about pouring the boiling water into a basin, and using one of the clean rags Novell brought him began to clean the white elf's wounds.

It took some time to clean and dress each abrasion, and Laakari found it necessary to stitch up the cut across his ribs. He applied the Lembari, a thick green paste, generously before bandaging it up. Now that the excess blood had been washed away he didn't look nearly as frightening, only weak and pale. Laakari brewed a strong herbal tea and made him drink all of it before attempting to speak. He put the wolf skin in a large basin of soapy water to soak, and wrapped a soft linen blanket around Bromelian's naked body, seating him in a chair near the hearth. Though it was not cold the white elf shivered, promoting Laakari to bring him a second blanket, which he refused. 

"I am fine," he murmured tiredly, resting his face in his hands. By this time Novell had gotten her courage back and came closer to get a better look at him. The only elf she'd ever met was Laakari, and then he was only half elf. The two were very different, almost opposites. Laakari with his charcoal skin and ebony hair made Bromelian appear very white indeed. Not only was his hair white but his skin was pale, the color of ash. There were other differences too. Bromelian's ears were longer and his face more angled, with slanted eyes, straight nose, and a thin line for a mouth. Unlike Laakari who always tied his hair back, or held it back with a bandana, Bromelian's hair fell freely around his face, often obscuring his features though it didn't seem to bother him. 

He gripped the tea cup with long white fingers and rocked slightly back and forth. He drew his feet up onto the chair and sat in a crouched position, it gave him a feral animal look. "I owe you my life, Laakari," he whispered, but not in a thankful way, sort of derisively, as if he didn't like the thought of being indebted to someone else. 

"Think nothing of it," the darker elf said, dismissing it with a wave of his hand, "You are my cousin after all, it's no good to charge a family member." 

Bromelian snorted derisively, "We are hardly related." When Laakari asked him again what had happened he let out a great sight and recounted the tale to them. "I was passing through Tariq on my way to Haneul. Overnight word reached us of the bloody murder of the fae ambassador in Jabari, his whole family save the youngest daughter, who was witness to the crime. And who did they accuse? None other than an elf, some high-and-mighty's butler who was apparently involved in a plot to exterminate the fae in the city. And that's not all. Riots broke out in the streets, they got violent… many died by the sword and an entire district was burned by fire. This was the first I had heard of any unrest, but apparently it is somehow related to some supposed poisoning of some important nobodies. Of course everyone in Tariq was outraged and a mob set out to eradicate every elf in the city. They dragged me out of my bed in the middle of the night and beat me senseless, then tied me to a lashing post out in the street to be jeered at. I managed to escape with the aid of a friend, though she was not so lucky as I was…" he paused for a moment as the image of the she-elf being crushed beneath the angry feet of several dozen fae returned to him. Literally crushed. 

"I took the high road along the Dorian Cliffs but misjudged my footings and fell into the lake. I thought I would die but a fisherman saw me floundering and offered to let me into his boat. He took me to the far shore and from there I knew not where to go. Then I remembered you lived outside of Eira, so here I am." He finished his story, placing the empty teacup on the floor. He seemed to notice Novell for the first time and frowned. "I do not remember you having children. Has it been so long since we have seen each other?"

Laakari shook his head. "Novell is my apprentice. She is young but very gifted."

"Hmm." Bromelian never understood the concept of alchemy or the natural sciences. The elves relied on their magic for such things, and he saw this as Laakari's way of trying to make up for the fact that he could not use magic. 

Laakari asked him several more questions surrounding the circumstances of the other elf's ordeal. When he could learn nothing else he excused himself, and left Bromelian to rest. While Novell started preparing a light meal for them, he went to his writing desk and took up the quill. He thought carefully about his words before inscribing them on a small, thin piece of paper. He wrote this in old runes that very few people could read today, the message roughly translated to:

[center][i]Trouble in Jabari is spreading,
fae and elves are no longer
friends. The cause is unknown
but I fear an old enemy. I must
know what you know of the 
prophecy. Make haste.
~L.M.[/i][/center]

He blew on the delicate parchment to dry the ink, then carefully rolled and slid it into a small carrying tube. Stepping out the back door he whistled a shrill note four times. Within minutes a sleek raven flapped into sight and alit on his outstretched arm. "Listen carefully, Luka." The bird cocked its head at the sound of its name. It looked like and ordinary raven save for the ring to royal blue feathers around its neck. Laakari securely fastened the message to its leg. "You must find Ada Lovelace, she must get this letter as soon as possible. It is very important. Understand?" The raven clicked its beak twice, stretching out its wings. Laakari tossed it into the air and watched it circle twice before turning its course to the west. Soon the messenger was out of sight. Laakari only prayed that it would arrive safely.