Finally, after many hugs, kisses, and words of caution, the three set forth along one of the many trails in the Selva. Namuk struggled along behind as Tarvis bounced ahead, singing an ancient traveler’s song.

“Tarvis?” Syrac asked. He whirled around to face her.

“Yes, darling?”

“Shut up, go to hell, and don’t call me darling.” She growled.

“Whatever you say, dear.” He replied, spinning around to face forward again and beginning his song anew. Syrac groaned and shook her head.

“What’s the use of having an obnoxious suitor when he doesn’t even obey you?” She asked Namuk. He shook his head, breathless from the pace the two Selvans were causally setting.

“Oh, come on, Syrac.” Tarvis complained, rotating to face her and walking backward. “Describe your ideal suitor.”

“Well, when I tell him to stop singing a stupid song, he obeys me. And he’s polite, and he defers to my wisdom in all things. He’s capable, but understands that I’m better than he is. And he’s good with kids.”

“Sounds like your father.” Tarvis mused. Syrac lunged and smacked him hard upside the head. He just grinned at her. “You know I’m right. Do you really want to be mated to a pushover like Jared?”

“Shut your mouth before I close it permanently.” Syrac growled at him. He shrugged.

“All right, but think about it.” Just then, he walked backwards into a tree, slamming his head against the unyielding truck. Syrac burst out laughing. “Ow.” He muttered, rubbing the back of his head. She doubled over and screamed with laughter, holding onto a nearby tree truck for balance. Namuk caught up to them and also doubled over, wheezing and sucking in air. Tarvis stood there glaring.

“Oh, that was good.” Syrac sighed, standing up finally and wiping away a tear. “That was excellent.” Tarvis tried to glare her into submission, but she just stood there chuckling.

“Could we…stop…for a minute?” Namuk gasped. They forgot their differences and looked at him concernedly.

“Certainly.” Syrac hastened to say, laying a friendly hand on his back. “Take all the time you need.” Namuk slumped down into a heap where he stood. Tarvis sat down cross-legged. Syrac folded herself up comfortably and eyed the local vegetation.

“Something wrong?” Namuk asked her, also turning to stare out into the bushes. It was obvious he didn’t see anything.

“I’ll deal with it later.” Syrac muttered. “Are you ready to go yet?”

“Not quite.” He told her. “In a moment.” After a few minutes, in which Tarvis didn’t notice that Syrac was pointedly not speaking to him, Namuk stood up. Tarvis bounded up and sprung ahead, singing his silly traveler’s song. Syrac sighed and followed more sedately and gracefully.

They traveled this way for a few hours, as night fell and more and more animals could be heard prowling the undergrowth. The Selvans took no notice of this, but the elf glanced around nervously every time he heard something. At long last, they reached the edge of the Selva. Syrac spun around to face the trees.

“You can go home now.” She told a large hickory tree. A squirrel chittered angrily and soon there was a naked, pale, barely pubescent girl sitting on one of the branches. Namuk hastily averted his eyes.

“Come on, Syrac! Let me come with you.” Matha begged.

“No. Go home.”

“Why not?” She whined.

“First of all, you have no clothes.” The little girl looked confused.

“So?” She asked.

“So we’re going to Asiembleh, and elves are prudish about that kind of thing.” Syrac told her.

“Oh.” Matha said. She thought for a quick moment and then smiled. “I’ll borrow Tarvis’ vest.”

“That would work, until we could find her some other clothes.” Tarvis put in.

“Second of all,” Syrac overrode him, “Does Ma know where you are?” Now Matha looked guilty.

“Well…no.”

“She and Father have got to be worried sick right now. I’m not keeping you away from them for a month. Now go home.”

“Syrac! You can’t send her through the Selva at night! She’ll get eaten!” Tarvis exclaimed. The maiden looked frustrated, as Namuk gulped, probably thinking of their all too recent journey at night.

“Fine.” Syrac sighed. “We’ll make camp here, and in the morning, Matha goes home.” Tarvis handed over his vest, and Syrac affected not to notice his muscular, tanned torso. Namuk finally allowed himself to look at Matha, as she was somewhat dressed. The vest hit her at mid-thigh, but the elf pretended not to notice.

Syrac built a fire just beyond the forest’s limits, and Tarvis disappeared into the Selva, to return with a young deer. He laid the carcass in front of Syrac proudly. She glanced up from where she was tending the insubstantial flames.

“You didn’t skin it.” She pointed out, and returned to her work. Tarvis’ face fell. Matha noticed this and hugged him.

“It’s nice and young, so it’ll be tender. Yummy!” She assured him, patting his arm. Tarvis smiled at her, and then sat down and pulled out his hunting knife. He proceeded to skin the deer and stick a spit through it. Tarvis laid the deer across the fire on the two forked sticks Matha had found. He then poked Syrac.

“What?” She asked, looking around. He pointed to the deer. She rolled her eyes.

“Very nice.” She told him, with just a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Tarvis chose to take this at face value and smiled happily. They ate the deer, which was unevenly cooked at best. Then Syrac scraped ashes over the coals and curled up near the fire with Matha. The Gladius Ignium was on the ground nearby. Tarvis stretched out on the ground, his hunting knives near to hand, and fell asleep almost instantly. Namuk tried to get comfortable without a bedroll or pillow, but the ground was rough and stony, and he was used to feather mattresses and silk sheets.

Tarvis was jolted awake during the night by the sound of something prowling around their campsite. He scooped up his knives and kicked Syrac in one fluid motion. She sat up instantly and Tarvis heard the sound of steel on steel as she drew the magic sword.

“Oh, calm down, you lot. I just wanted to be sure Matha was safe.” A familiar voice said in exasperation.

“Mother?” Syrac asked.

“Of course it’s your mother, who did you think it was?” She growled. Syrac stood up and hugged her. Sianna hugged her back and eyed Matha, who was hanging back a bit. “Your father and I talked, and we decided it’d be good for Matha to see the world a bit. She’s fine to come with you.”

“Yay!” Matha exclaimed, throwing her arms around what she could reach of her mother.

“That is, if Syrac says it’s okay.” Sianna added. Matha turned her wide, soulful eyes on her older sister.

“Fine.” Syrac growled.

“Um, are you sure that it’s a good idea to bring a little one to Asiembleh?” Namuk asked cautiously, having just woken up.

“Don’t elves have younglings? I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Syrac said dismissively. She turned to Tarvis. “That means I don’t need you anymore.”

“Of course you do, dear heart. You’re going to be fighting battles against these goblin creatures. Are you really going to trust your back to an elf?”

“A miserable bag of scum like you is not much better.” She grumbled.

“But it is better.” He smiled at her.

“Fine. Fine! Bring the whole Selva, see if I care. Now I’m getting some sleep. I love you, Ma.” She gave Sianna another quick hug and lay down by the fire. Matha pranced over and curled up in her arms, though Tarvis was sure she’d be a while getting to sleep. He bowed slightly to Sianna, who was turning to leave, and lay back down. Namuk tried to get back to sleep, despite the rough ground, and soon silence reigned throughout the campsite.