The History of Alliliel
Part V
The spring festival was upon them. Banners flew from all the parapets, and bards were singing throughout the city. The gates were open and the whole city of Felwithe was in celebration. Many of the merchants were selling treats for little elf children and laughter was the only sound to be heard.
Up in the Temple, the Clerics of Tunare were preparing for celebrations of their own. For since the days of Takish-Hiz, during spring festival, the Acolytes of 10 seasons became Clerics on this day.
Alliliel looked at her tunic and pulled a small thread away. Straightening up, she looked once again in the mirror. Everything seemed in order.
"Alli, will you be ready in time? Stop fussing, will you and let’s go!" Savinae seemed to delight in pestering Alliliel at the precise moment when she wanted to be left alone.
"Savinae, I want to look nice, in case mother and father come for the ceremony. I made sure to send them invitations."
Savinae frowned and stood next to her childhood friend. "Alli, don’t get your hopes up, alright? You haven’t spoken with them in what, 7 or 8 years? You are own your own, forget about them! Who cares if they come or not?"
The young Acolyte pulled her hair back and tied it off with a light blue tie, the required color for new cleric.
"Well they might come, and besides, being presentable is always appropriate! What is Master Tynkale teaching you over there anyway? I thought Paladins were supposed to be charismatic as well as valorous."
"Yes he teaches us those things, but mostly we learn lessons in how to annoy Clerics like you!" Savinae reached up, took Alliliel’s training club and ran to the other side of the bed. Holding the club out in front of her and with high and mighty attitude she said "Behold! I am a Cleric of Tunare and you don’t like it, I’ll bonk you with my silly club!"
Alliliel spun around and her eyes narrowed on her friend. "Give me that! Don’t take my things!"
The squire rolled her eyes and put the club back in the rack on the table. "At least I get to use a sword! What a ridiculous idea that you can’t."
"Spilling the blood of our foes is an offense against Tunare for her clerics, Savinae. You know that. I’ll leave the foe slashing to you! But anyway, it is getting time for the ceremony. I had best get downstairs with the others. Look for me, I’ll be in the second row!"
The two elves walked out of Alliliel’s tiny room and down the hall to the large temple below.
---
Master Yeolarn was certainly in his element. Of all the High Holy Days, this was the one he most looked forward to each year. He looked out on the crowd in the Temple, awaiting his word. In days past, when the elves lived in Takish-Hiz, the Temple was almost three times as big, but Felwithe, with all its towers and squares was but a shadow of that place.
"Who comes to Tunare’s house?"
The Acolytes each took a step forward.
"We come."
"What purpose have you here?"
"Tunare calls to us. We hear her songs."
"It is well. Let us begin!"
The High Priest began the incantations and prayers, but Alliliel was restless. The other Acolytes had their heads down but she itched to turn around and look for her parents. Elmarn was next to her and he eyed her disapprovingly.
"Stop fidgeting!" he whispered.
Alliliel’s ears turned red and she looked down.
---
"Next comes Alliliel, also chosen of Tunare, Acolyte of this Temple and Exemplar of the Faithful." said Chancellor Terran.
Alliliel stepped out of the line and in front of the Master. She bowed deeply. Master Yeolarn smiled down upon her.
"Alliliel, will you be the vessel of Tunare’s wondrous powers and heal the ill? Will you be merciful to any that ask it? Will you show compassion to the poor and strangers, and defend those who have no helper? Will you smite those who would have Tunare thrown down? Will you be strong in war and gentle in peace?"
In the ways of Elvish clerics, she made the sacred signs of Tunare. "Master, in all these things, yes."
"Will you go amongst the people, and carry Tunare’s star in your eyes, her song upon your lips and her goodness in your heart?"
"Master, in all these things, yes."
"It is well." Laying his hands upon her head for a moment, he closed his eyes.
Taking a breath, the Master spoke again. "Rise now, Alliliel, Cleric of Tunare, and be vested according to the Order of Clerics!"
Alliliel rose and with one last bow, exited to the left to receive her vestments.
Chancellor Terran waited for Alliliel to exit before continuing, "Next comes Elmarn, also chosen of Tunare, Acolyte of this Temple and Exemplar of the Faithful."
---
Alliliel looked at the scroll the Chancellor offered her. With a deep breath, she accepted it and held it in her hands without opening it. Chancellor Terran just gave her a wink and walked off to give out the rest of the scrolls.
Before she could open it, Savinae came bounding over.
"Alli! It was so beautiful! Oh I’m so proud of you!" Savinae hugged Alli tightly.
"It so good to have you there! Did you see Elligor or Allieya there? Elmarn, that wretch, was getting mad at me so I didn’t want to look for them."
"I didn’t see them, Alli, I’m sorry, but it was crowded, I easily could have missed them."
The cleric looked down at the scroll in her hands for a moment and there was an awkward silence.
"Yes, well. I guess so."
Savinae looked at her friend, wanting to cheer her up. Alliliel always got sulky whenever the issue of her parents came up.
"What do you have there?"
"It’s my instructions on where I’m to be sent"
"Well what are you waiting for? Let’s see!"
Alliliel broke the seal on the scroll and unrolled it. She read it not once, but twice. Disbelief was in her eyes.
"I... I can’t believe this."
"What? What does it say? Give me that you silly elf!" Savinae grabbed the scroll and read it.
"My goodness! Alliliel, what an opportunity! Freeport? I can’t even imagine what it would be like! What’s wrong?"
"I was rather hoping to stay here in the Temple with the Master and maybe get a training position. I don’t want to leave Felwithe. Much less go to Freeport."
"Oh but Alli, think about it, Freeport is huge! All kinds of people and things going on! Doesn’t it sound so exciting?"
Alliliel gave half-shrug. "Not really."
"Well if you’re going to be all sulky I’ll be happy enough for us both!" Savinae hugged her childhood friend and hoped that she got over her bad humor soon.
---
The gruff looking human Captain called out loudly, stirring her out of a light sleep.
"East Freeport in 5 minutes! East Freeport in 5 minutes!"
Alliliel picked up her small bag and headed up to the main deck. The air smelled of salt. She could make out the docks in the distance getting closer.
From what she could see, Freeport mostly looked like a bunch of squat irregularly constructed stone buildings. There were a few towers, but it wasn’t at all as pretty as Felwithe. As the boat moved into the slip, the smell of sewage overtook the clean, salty smell of the sea.
"Oh my goodness! What is that smell?"
She felt something on her elbow, she turned and a thin human stood besides her. "Ah lass, ‘tis the waste from the city, it dumps here at the docks into the river."
"It’s disgusting!"
The man shifted his eyes from the dock to the elven lady. "Aye. ‘Tis a shame! Welcome to Freeport, heh. I’m from Qeynos myself. New here are ye?"
"I’ve come from Felwithe. I’m to study with the Clerics of Marr."
"Ah, well that’s in North Freeport. Be sure to ask directions once in town, someone will show ye." The man smiled once as he jumped off the boat onto the docking brow and into the crowd.
Alliliel walked down the dock through the Port Building. She had never seen so many different races all at once. Humans and Dwarves were fairly common in Felwithe. Many half-elves also lived there. Sometimes there would be an occasional gnome. Halflings, men, dwarves, half-elves, ogres and foul dark elves all in the same city was in incredible thought.
Hoping to find a helpful person to point the way to the Temple of Marr, she looked around. Seeing a guard in a red tunic, she thought he might be able to help.
"Excuse me, please. Can you point me in the direction of the Temple of Marr? I’m very lost, I’m afraid."
Even through his steel helmet. Alliliel could feel the burning eyes upon her.
"Temple of Marr? Those pigs! You’ll find’em selling out the new Freeport, that’s where you’ll find’em." Leaning close to her, he continued, "Perhaps if your coin purse were a bit lighter, the walk there would be easier on your little elf feets! Har!"
Alliliel was dumbstruck for a moment. After closing her mouth, she made a small bow.
"Thank you, sir. I think I can find the way."
"Suit yerself, princess."
The Cleric backed up and then turned to leave the port building when she felt something wasn’t right. Reaching to her belt, she discovered that her coin purse was gone!
"The man on the boat!" she muttered, as she headed into the bustling streets of Freeport.
---
Dear Savinae,
I miss Felwithe so much. It was much more peaceful than this place. I miss the Faydark too. This place is surrounded by dirt and desert, it’s horrible!
The only bright spot has been my stay with the Clerics of Marr. They have been very kind to me and I have a small room to myself with a table, chair and bed. It’s very different from the Temple there, especially these Erollisi worshippers. They are a little too friendly and forward with me, I think. I try not to let it bother me. After all, I can hardly expect proper elven decorum from humans!
My studies are progressing well. I am learning new magic and sharing the skills I learned from Master Yeolarn. I have made some friends, too! (You’re still my best friend, don’t worry!) Sometimes we leave the Temple and go out into the city, but I learned quickly that Freeport is not friendly after dark, especially for non-humans. The farther you get from the Temple, into the West and East portions of the city, the less friendly it becomes even in the daytime. I’ve even seen some Tier’Dals slithering about.
By the Bards get this mail to you, it will probably close to your time to leave the Temple as well with the Paladins. Have you heard anything on where they might place you? You could try to come to Freeport with me! Imagine the trouble you and I could get in! (I won’t tell any stories to anyone about you, I’ll let them see what trouble you are on their own!)
Please do write soon, and ask after my mother and father will you?
Your friend,
Alliliel
---
Alli!
I was so good to hear from you! That was a great idea you had about asking for assignment to Freeport! I asked Jyleel about it and he said I could easily get those orders!
It’s all been arranged. I’ll be arriving Tuesday the 18th on the boat from Faydwer. Meet me if you can, if not I’ll see you at the Temple!
Sav
---
Alliliel had never been so excited! After two years away she was finally going to see Savinae again! All this time with the humans had made her lonely for other elves to speak with, but now everything was going to be great!
"Boat! The boat is coming!" shouted the lookout on the roof of the Port Building.
Alliliel was not as tall as the humans were, so she couldn’t see over their heads, but soon the masts of the ship come into view and the Stormbreaker pulled smoothly into port.
Travelers and pilgrims came ashore in waves. Alli strained to look through the crowds to see if she could find her friend.
Eventually the crowd cleared and they started to let the travelers to Faydwer board the ship.
"Pardon me Bo’sun. Are there more passengers getting off in a bit?"
"Naw. We clear the ship. No one else is coming off. We check fer stowaways and everythin. Iffn’ they ain’t here, they wasn’t on this ship."
Alliliel wondered where could Savinae have gone?
---
Dearest Daughter,
Your father and I have not written you, even though we are aware of your assignment in Freeport. We have monitored your progress from afar, for we have many friends there, as you are no doubt aware.
While we have many things we might say in a letter, much unfinished business between us, this letter does not concern our familial issues. This letter is about much darker stuff, I’m afraid.
In spring the last, the Faydark was assaulted by a small Teir’dal war party. Savinae and a suitor of hers were walking through the woods when the party fell upon them and she was slain. The young man lived long enough after the attack to report what had happened before he succumbed to his wounds.
He said that even though she was overmatched, Savinae fought bravely and died a death worthy of a Paladin of Tunare. Two of the attackers will not return home. The rest fled when a guard on patrol came and heard the commotion.
We know that you will have great sorrow over this, and we offer our comforts to you. There will be a memorial at the Temple, and should your studies allow it, you should come back to Felwithe and be at the memorial ceremony. If you wish to stay with us during your time of sadness, we would have a place for you.
It is probably of little comfort to you, we will be attending the ceremony in any event, as Savinae was put to the test, and was found to be someone high and excellent, and her memory is worthy of respect.
Please send word through the Academy of Arcane Science if you will be returning, so we may make preparations.
Mother