The Adventure Tournament by Nicholas Andrews

Author:Nicholas Andrews [Andrews, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stray Publishing
Published: 2013-11-29T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIV: The Monsterest Monster of All

THEY SAID THEIR goodbyes to Gildy, Gorgomar and the others, though Gorgomar still seemed somewhat offended by their generosity. As they approached the outskirts of Bowhaven, Bleg instinctively started to slow down. "What's up?" Remy asked.

"Something's not right," he replied. "What do we know about Bowhaven anyway? I've never been here."

"It's an elf village," Artesia said, "and they don't really welcome other races very often. You just don't hear a lot of news about them."

"Is that why the roads were so empty on the way here?" Remy asked. Indeed, in contrast to their qualifying mission, there had not been a trace of the spectators that had lined the roads on their way to Lanava.

"The mission was deemed too dangerous to involve commonfolk, I suspect," Artesia said. "We're still being watched by visagers, though. We'll be broadcast to every pub in Bolognia for public viewing. Those who paid their fees to the EAS, that is."

"So it's elves, huh?" Fosher asked. "Don't they have a reputation for being a little snooty?"

"You try living for a thousand years and suffering generations of fools," Artesia said. "We must all seem like infants to them."

"Actually, elves mature at the same rate we do," Bleg interjected, "just over a longer period of time. You might meet an elf who's two hundred, but he'll most likely look and act like an adolescent."

The village was set against a snowcapped mountain, and a thin trail led up from the last of the houses and into the foothills. They reined in Sweets just as a lone figure appeared out of the shadows. His wrinkly skin hung in folds, and his ears drooped down so far they were almost touching his hunched shoulders. He had long, white hair, a beard to match, and leaned on a polished walking stick.

"Is it a monster?" Remy asked, keeping one hand on Smacker.

"No, it's a really ancient elf," Fosher said. "This guy must have been around when the Celsian emperor rose to power."

"That's not very nice, you two," Artesia whispered.

The elf greeted them in his own tongue. Remy and his team all exchanged glances, but quickly realized no one had understood him. "Revered elder, none of us speak Elvis," Artesia said.

"What?" Remy said. "Isn't it pronounced Elvish?"

"No, the H is silent," Fosher told him.

The old elf held up one hand. "I do apologize. I must warn ye, travelers, that the village of Bowhaven is under a dreadful curse. Do not pass through, lest you bear the brunt of our terrible affliction."

"That must be why we're here," Bleg said. "Tell me, elder, have you been told about the Adventure Tournament?"

The elf's slanted eyes widened somewhat. "Ah. Yes, there were some travelers who came by earlier this morning and mentioned those same words. I was not told there would be two groups."

"Yeah, it's a contest," Remy said. "So what's this affliction you're talking about and how can we help?"

The elder gestured toward the village. "It was some months ago that it began.

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