For a moment, Hyran wasn’t sure if his eyes were open or not. A painful blink told him they were, which meant he was in a dark room. Where was the question now.
He sat up, hoping to see something, but the darkness was still complete. Around him, others breathed, and somewhere outside was the sound of merrymaking. He felt what he was sitting on— a nice soft pallet of oak leaves. So despite his last memories, he was not in a dungeon somewhere. But who were—
“You should lie down, Hyran,” came a whisper. “You need your sleep.”
Hyran didn’t reply, but followed the suggestion, and fell asleep.
The morning brought very little light to the room, windowless as it was. Neither was there much furniture- just the bed he lay on. He sat again, and looked around at all the members of the traveling party lying on the floor. He felt a bit guilty about getting the bed.
Some of them were moving around, and getting up; someone lit a lamp. A few noticed Hyran awake. “Hey, you know, you oughta do that more often!”
“No, thank you!” And then, the incongruence of the phrase hit him. “Wait a minute— what I did is hardly a loving thing to do, even if it is in defense of—”
“No, no, no, it’s too early for philosophy. I just meant that, because of you, we got this room and a nice, warm meal without having to sell anything. True, it’s cramped, but...” The cult member smiled broadly.
“At least we’re inside, yes, I agree. Sorry I ended up hogging the bed-”
“Nonsense! You earned it, I guess you could say.”
The conversation was waking more, and pretty soon everything was all packed away. Hyran still sat on the bed, not really feeling energetic enough to actually stand, and checked himself over. There was at least one bruise on every part of his body that he could see.
Valph came over and sat beside him. “You’re looking lively this morning. How do you feel?”
“Fine, but really slow. With all these bruises, shouldn’t I ache more?”
“It’s one of our Love potions, Hyran. That’s why you feel so slow. It’s kinda blocking your mind from feeling the pain.”
“Oh. I thought pain was healthy.”
“The Humans don’t seem to think so. They use this stuff a lot.”
Another member, helping to move the groups stuff out of the room, said, “Too often, if you ask me, and too much of it at a time. They use it like some people drink beer. And they do that, too.”
“But this isn’t alcohol I’ve got in me?”
“No, it’s a spirit of a flower called the bahbi. It’s a pretty flower, really.”
“Well, thank you for giving it to me, but I really don’t feel energetic enough to walk today.”
“That’s okay. You shouldn’t walk anyway. We’ve got a litter, and we’re going to take turns carrying it.”
“Oh, come now—”
“Would you rather be left behind?”
“Well, yes, rather than burden two of you with my body weight. Your only other option would be to stay around, but I know you can’t do that, so—”
At that moment, two young men with the litter entered. “Ready, Hyran?” asked the lead.
“Well, I’m not sure...”
“Yes, he is,” said Valph. “Come on, Hyran, we wouldn’t feel right leaving you behind, and anyway, we love you.”
“Hmph! Means a lot coming from someone who loves everyone,” replied Hyran, smiling broadly.
Valph just gestured to the litter, which the two young men held right by the bed.
“You’re being insistent?’
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll get on that on one condition: That I can pay you all back someday.”
“But your companionship is payment enough—”
Hyran didn’t see it that way, but he got on the litter anyway. How, indeed, could he pay them back for all this trouble?
The path downstairs was a twisty one, through the relatively spacious house. It belonged, explained Valph, to an Elder of the town who had been very charitable. He, too, belonged to the Love cult, though not very openly.
Just as they got out onto the platform, the Vle began to panic, fleeing inside. Various screams of “Humans!” could be heard over the din of so many feet, and then came the sound of the warhost itself.
“Well, maybe we’ll be staying another night,” observed Hyran.
“Don’t be so sure,” replied Valph, smiling. “These are Humans, after all. They ought to let us through. In the meantime, inside would probably be better.”
“With haste,” Hyran agreed. So, they returned to the house where they had awakened, gathering with the Elder’s family in the front room. The atmosphere was one of nervousness, of course, and Hyran began to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to have more of that bahbi spirit right then.
Hyran had never seen a Human before, but here were a whole troop of the round-eared, coming up and taking over the town. One placed himself near the Elder’s house, and made an announcement in remarkably good Elvish to anyone who could hear:
“Hear now a message from the Emperor Marianus of the Humans: ‘This troop which has taken over your town is in Larmania at the express request of the Kings of the Light Vle nations. We Humans have always been committed to the freedom of all peoples, much as in your Church of the Great Master, and do now take this action as part of that commitment. But we can also guarantee that your lives will go on as usual, for as long as you can live peaceably with us, so we will live peaceably with you.’ So ends the message of His Illustriousness the Emperor Marianus.
“Our first action will be to come around and count the residents. Please, remain in your homes. None may leave town before we are finished. Those who attempt to do so will be captured and tried as a spy.” With that, he moved on to another spot; those in the Elder’s house could faintly hear the message repeated.
And so, the traveling troupe waited, and waited, and waited, while the troops went about counting. The Elder’s house, visibly full of people, appeared to give the men pause, worried about a counter attack. However, the Elder himself bravely stood in front of the window with his arms crossed so that his fists were at his shoulders.
“What’s he doing?” asked Hyran.
“That’s the international Love signal. Since Humans originated our religion, most of them recognize it. See? They’re much more relaxed now.”
Hyran read the body language of the troops, but he didn’t know enough about Humans to be sure. They still looked quite tense.
Their armor was rather strange looking, as well. It shone like metal, but appeared to move like cloth. Of course, it was rumored that the Humans, though utterly inept at manipulating the tiny trees that grew on their island, were masters at manipulating metal. Here appeared to be the proof such mastery.
Their weapons were also unfamiliar: they resembled horns (the musical kind), only with a wooden attachment. They didn’t look very dangerous, but since the Humans used them so exclusively, Hyran decided he didn’t want to find out if they were.
The four men entered, and while three kept their strange horns trained on those gathered, the fourth counted. One of Valph’s closer friends spoke to the men in Human.
That surprised the four, and the counter replied. Hyran looked to Valph. “Can you understand what they’re saying?”
“No idea, but I doubt Flann will get us in any trouble.”
The Human conversation continued, but more slowly, as the man appeared to be stalling, shrugging a lot. Finally, the four men left, letting their horns hang to their sides, and smiling at something.
Once the door closed, twenty-some heads turned to the Vle who had removed the tension. He seemed shocked to find the attention on him. “What?!”
“What did you say to him?” asked Valph.
“Oh, I just asked him if they would be allowing Vle to go once they’re done counting. He said, only in certain circumstances. So then I explained who we were and where we were going and why, but he said he couldn’t guarantee anything. We’ll have to talk to the captain as soon as they announce the count is done.”
“I doubt we’ll be the only ones who want to speak to him,” observed Hyran.
The Elder stood, self importantly. “But he will have to talk to an Elder.”
“That was a big risk you took, sir,” said Valph. “They might have shot you, and how many Vle saw you make that sign?”
“I’m not an Elder for the power, brother. I’m an Elder to make a difference.”
The cult members raised their hands and made quick waving motions in silent applause. Hyran imitated them.

The man who had made the original announcements came around again, calling that the count was over and that life was to return to normal. Hyran wondered if the man seriously thought that was possible. But he couldn’t think long, since there was a near stampede for the door. At the head was the Elder himself, and Hyran followed the group as they searched for the captain.
It turned out that the most important Human they sought was down on the ground, which was presumably the duty of his position. Or, as was rumored, Humans simply feared heights, and to stay down was a privilege.
The announcer was there as well, apparently the official translator for the troop. He gathered the names of all the Vle who were there to speak with the captain, and at the Elder’s insistence, moved the group up front. With a salute, he made the introduction. Hyran wished he could have understood it.
“Yes, Elder,” said the captain through the translator. “What concern of yours might I address?”
The Elder crossed his arms again. “I only ask that you allow our brothers to continue along their journey.”
“Oh, dear. I’m not sure I can allow that. My orders are clear, regardless of origin. It’s really for safety’s sake.”
“You might be interested to hear the purpose of the journey.”
“Pray tell, brother.”
“They intend to at least try to convince the King to repeal his Proclamation.”
“Hmph! An admirable goal. Since I don’t know your country very well, I don’t know their chances of success.”
“Still, if they succeed, your job would be easier.”
“Your raise an intelligent argument. Very well. Since these are my brothers as well, and they hardly appear to be mercenaries of any type, I shall release them.” The captain nodded, and the group was escorted out the door of the tent.
Just like that, they were traveling once more.