As it happened, I was invited to a gathering at the home of a cousin.
It is a custom for unmarried elven women to spend time together discussing the possible marriages of themselves and every female relative they have.
We also played a game while we gathered, a game that seemed perfectly in keeping with our culture when I was girl but now that I have travelled and known other races I have found that it is also played in other forms by Humans, Dwarves, and Centaurs.
The game, among elves, is called Qyllas (pronounced Quills), each player has 5 wooden tiles which they place facing them. Each tile has a specific value according to the picture engraved on it, the object of the game being to convince the other players that you have the best tiles.
Elves play this game partly for entertainment and partly to sharpen our mental calculation skills, which is very important when nine tenths of magical education involves memorising incantations, each player calculates the value of the tiles in his/her hand against the number of players, how many of each tile there are, and the number of tiles not in play.
Humans, however, play using 'cards' and attempt to trick each other into believing they have the best hand with no regard for the logic of the game - it makes them remarkable easy to beat at the game.
As for Dwarves and Centaurs they each play their own variation of Qyllas, but again they don't rely on logic as elves do, therefore a young child of 16 could defeat the average non-elven player.
I left as soon as the game - which consists of ten to twenty rounds - concluded. Knowing my mother, or anyone to whom it was a concern, was not expecting me to be home until morning, I made my way to a far side of the forest.
(Elves use a magical transport system, Lheora doesnt mention it in her narrative because it is so common place. - Ani'ca L'key)
As I wandered directionlessly, through the untamed forest, I heard raised voices.
I was surprised, Elves never raise their voices in emotion, only to be heard over crowds and the silence in this part of the forest was near overwhelming.
I crept closer, shielded by the thick shrubs, I peeked into a small clearing.
There were two men in there, I couldn't see their faces clearly, but I could hear them talking.
"Are you insane? Walking around barefoot in the middle of the day!"
"Well I hardly expected to meet a young woman as I approached one of our most Sacred places, now did I?"
As soon as the second one spoke I realised he was Lord Galeorhin Galues Shalarhi!
"And who was this young woman? You haven't mentioned that yet."
Clearly, he was talking about our meeting today, but what Sacred place could he possibly mean? All of our temples are in the trees among the cities. I was confused, and I like to think that's why I didn't run for the nearest Priest as quickly as I could.
"A Daughter of Matriarch Nikaria, one Lheora Yhanni."
"And why was this young female there in the first place?"
"She was there because she felt close to the elements there, I suspected a trap but here I am so clearly she has told noone of what happened."
"She actually admitted that to you?" He sounded shocked.
"Yes, Rhialhin, she said 'I feel close to the elements here'. Obviously a sensitive young woman."
"Wait, isn't she the one who has been punished about eight times for breaking religious laws?"
At that point, I wondered if there was anyone who didn't know about that, then his name struck me with rather the same effect as a heavy object.
Rhialhin Sharlarhi, the King's younger brother, was having a near blasphemous discussion with the Kings Heir!
I believe I must have made some sound at that point because they both turned and Galeorhin called out "Who is there?"
"Would you believe that I'm lost?" I asked stepping forward and cursing my fatalistic sense of obscure humour - as if an elf could get lost.
('Tis true they don't. - AL)
"No," replied Lord Rhialhin humourlessly, blessed Gods that man was frightening!
"Greetings again, Lheora Yhanni, isn't a bit late for little kittens to out of their beds?"
It may have sounded like he was teasing or taunting me... but if you had seen the look in his eyes... I shuddered ever so slightly.
"Almost as late as it is for two esteemed members of the First House to be abroad." I made a belated curtsey, a gesture that perhaps seems somewhat at odds with my sarcastic reply.
"We are grown men, we do not need to answer to you, Lady," he replied, equally sarcastically.
"So this is the young woman?" said Lord Rhialhin. "And how much did you overhear, hmm?"
"Just the part about a temple in the middle of nowhere," I replied hastily, "and Lord Shalarhi telling you about meeting me."
"I see."
"And what were you intending to do about it?"
"About what, my Lords?" I replied, I had no intention of reporting them to the Priests, on the contrary I wanted to know more!
"The young woman has a good point, what court would believe the word of an unmarried female of the second House over two males of the First?" Lord Rhialhin interpreted my reply exactly the way I hoped he would, Galeorhin however looked at me rather shrewdly.
"Is that your point,Lady?"
"Yes and no, my Lord. I confess I was worried that you were going to report me to the Priests, but after hearing your conversation, I have to ask what was the temple you spoke of?"
"You might as well tell her."
"The place where we met, is a temple, Sacred to the Elemental Gods of Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Death."
"There's a human Gods' temple in elven lands, how is that possible?" I wondered, more comment than question really.
Yes, i know any other elf would be crying blasphemy and here i was asking questions.
Galeorhin and Lord Rhialhin both looked somewhat shocked.
"Most people don't make the conection that quickly but yes they are the Gods revered by the humans and by a number of the Elven kind."
It all made so much sense, I was shocked, not by the revelation that they worshipped Heathen Gods but by the fact the idea had never occurred to me!
I had studied the human culture, of course, we all do, but I presumed that I had missed the subtleties of their religion.
A fact that is not surprising when you consider some of the wretched things they do; burning trees, cutting down trees, killing animals so they can burn their flesh and eat it, wearing the animals skins - I knew they didn't have magic as we do, but there are other ways to get food and clothing.
"Lheora Yhanni, are you alright?" Galeorhin asked, sounding concerned.
"What? Oh yes, I'm fine, my Lord. I was just a little bit surprised."
"Noone could expect you to react overwise to the news that two Scions of the First House are blasphemous heathens," said Lord Rhialhin drily.
"Oh no, it wasn't that," I replied, with a smile at the look of surprise and confusion on their faces. "All these years I've been walking barefoot, singing to the forest, and questioning the religious laws, it never occurred to me that there were other Gods I might revere."
Rather unexpectedly, Galeorhin laughed in genuine amusement.
"Rhialhin if you could see your face right now!" he spluttered.
"Well I didn't realise I was so amusing," I snapped at him, offended that he didn't seem to be taking my revelation seriously.
"I can see why you call her a kitten," he said to Galeorhin, sounding almost amused,"I almost expected her to pounce on you."
"I do believe you are the most infuriating males I have ever spoken to in my life!" I paused for a moment. "With the possible exception of the Lord High-Priest during his Tidyule sermon."
Lord Rhialhin looked at me and blinked, Galeorhin looked at me with an odd expression - I think he was trying not to laugh. I glared at both of them.
"Well," said Galeorhin, "you certainly are more spirited than most young women."
"How old are you, young Lady?"
"One hundred and thirty," I glanced at the stars through the trees, "as of about an hour ago."
(Once elves reach their First Majority at 100 they don't celebrate individual birthdays. - AL)
"She's barely more than a child, Galeorhin, when you told me you met a young woman who was a good candidate I thought she'd be at least Two Hundred."
"Pardon me, my Lord, but good candidate for what?"
"Well done, Rhialhin, now we'll have to tell her anyway."
"Tell me what?" I persisted. "Please, my Lords, who could I tell your secrets to? I'd be implicating myself as well."
"A good point. Very well," agreed Lord Rhialhin, "my nephew and I are High Priests of a group of followers of the True Gods."
"Who are named; Salya, Lyari, Hyjora, Electis, and Riax," added Galeorhin.
"Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Death," I half whispered, "I remember them being mentioned in human studies."
"She hasn't run screaming into the night," said Galeorhin, "that has to be a good sign."
"Indeed."
"Kindly don't talk about me like I'm not here, My Lords," I snarled at them, I was trying to think, to take in the information properly, they both apologised quietly.
Rather abruptly, I sat down. My head was spinning, I closed my eyes.
"Lheora Yhanni, are you alright?" Galeorhin sounded concerned, I was, naturally, my usual well spoken and charming self..
"No, I am not alright, do you have any idea how hard it is to think when people keep telling you things that should be impossible?!"
"He does actually," said Lord Rhialhin in Galeorhins defense, "he had that exact same look of stunned confusion on his face when I told him what we have just told you."
I giggled, I couldn't help and stopped as soon as I realised, but the thought of Galeorhin the serious self-assured Shalarhi Lord looking stunned was just so funny!
"I believe she has recovered," said Rhialhin, who was definitely amused this time, I smiled and opened my eyes.
"Yes, she has recovered," I agreed. "Do you have any idea how far beyond being a 'proper' elf Lady this is for me, it's just so... so... unbelievable!"
A sudden epiphany, I didn't really care if they were the 'True' Gods or not, what they represented to me was freedom from the restrictions of life amoung my people.
"So," I said lightly, "where do I sign up?"
In fact I think my tone of voice was such that it took them a moment to catch on to what I was saying.
"We meet each month at the full moon, if you wish to see and learn about our religion then Galeorhin will escort you to the next meeting."
"Of course," agreed Galeorhin, "anyone who is genuinely intersted is welcome."
"Where would you like me to meet you?" I asked, already formulating a plan for getting out of the house.
"Here, five hours after sunset, on the day of the next full moon."
"I'll be here."
"If you change your mind, all we ask is that you keep the secret."
Lord Rhialhins words fluttered through my mind like confused birds - don't know where that image came from!
"I won't," I replied confidently.
"Perhaps Galeorhin should escort you home?"
"If he doesn't mind, I still feel a bit blurry."
"My Honour and privilege, my Lady."
I bid Goodnight to Lord Rhialhin and Galeorhin accompanied me to the nearest transport.
"Until next time, Fare-well."
"My thanks, My Lord."
"Galeorhin," he corrected me with a smile, as if i didn't know his name. I nodded and returned to my home.