When Tera looked up she saw a human looking down at her. She quickly stood up and brushed her self off. Looking at the creature she asked, "Is it ………dead?". "No", the man said, pulling out his blade from the animal, "its just unconscious….it will come to in a few hours. We better leave or it will hunt us down when it awakes". Even though Palin had been hunting the Takuta bird for years, he decided not to kill it in front of the girl. "Who are you", she asked? "I am Palin, son of Shandon, from Tobek Island. So, who are you, and where am I", he asked? "As for your first question, Tara started, "I am Tara, daughter of Sharn. I am an Elf, and you are in Elvenor."
"Where is that"?
"What?"
Tera did not understand. Everyone knew about Elvenor! It is the Southwest quarter of Barador.
"And what's an Elf", he asked?
Tara felt like a two year old was standing in front of her.
"I will explain on our way back", she replied.
"To where?"
"The city I live in…let's go!"
Palin's mind was overflowing with questions. All that he has ever been taught about was about his own Island and everything on it. So he listened closely to everything Tara said.
"Barador," Tara explained, "is the land we live on. It was divided into four parts, divided by magic barriers, Elvenor, Phoenexen, Dragonak, and Griffion. The only way to get to each part of the island is through the Gate of Nor. Elven sorcerers made the gate so they could travel throughout the land. Then for some reason, the sorcerers were locked out for about one hundred years. Eventually the sorcerers died, and no one knew how to open the gate. Many years later, the gate began to open for certain people. Not everyone, but for Kings and Queens and important people.
Anyway, Elves are much like humans but paler, magical and, of course, we have pointy ears! Dragons are like giant lizards, Gryphons are a mix between eagles and lions and Phoenix's are like giant orange hawks. That's about it."
When the two finally got to Teverat, Tara's hometown, Palin soon found out that Elves were much different than Humans after all. For one thing, their buildings were huge….twice the size of the homes on Tobek Island. Two, the city was the size of Tobek Island itself. Three, since it was dark, the buildings were glowing with a strange blue light.
They dashed into a library where they easily found a map of Barador. Palin studied it for a while then put in his pocket and left.
"We should leave quickly." said Tera hurriedly. "Where are we going?"
"Why the rush?" Palin asked.
Tera blushed and looked down. "Everyone here thinks I'm a wimp. So I ran away from home."
"You're not that wimpy." Palin said.
"Really?"
"Well, yeah. I'd be surprised if you didn't run from the Takuta Bird."
"Thanks"
"No problem. Anyway, I'm heading off to Griffion."
"Why?"
"There's something I have to get there."
"Can I come?"
"Uh…sure." So they started walking to the Gate of Nor. After about an hour they started talking again. "So what are we going to get?" asked Tera.
"It's a long story." Palin replied.
"Well we have all day, I mind as well hear it."
Palin sighed "Fine." and told her about his Katin Stick.
"Wow," she said, "even elven magic isn't that powerful." said Tera amazingly.
"So tell me about this elven magic. What can it do?" Palin asked.
"Lots of things. From lighting candles to making people fly. I haven't mastered it yet. The best thing I can do is heal things. Watch!" she put her hand on the scar on Palin's arm and muttered something under her breath. When she lifted her hand the wound was gone! But it was still dusty. Palin stared at his arm in amazement. Then he said, "Wow, cool!"
They camped out in a clearing beside the forest path. There was a spring where they filled their water jugs. When Palin checked the map, he figured they were about halfway to the gate. After a while they said good night they went to sleep.
To be continued…