The Dryad 39 Drinking Money

"It is ok, I really don't mind," I said, but this little girl, Sharlin, had already gotten down from my lap. I was thinking that she was going to sit by herself, but instead she just moved on to Leafia and climbed right up. I guess to her, 'don't bother the guests' just meant she needed to not bother that particular guest and move on to the next one. I could only smile at her behavior. I really did like children. Until I met Emily, I never thought it was possible to have children. There were no male spirits, after all.

Sharlin quickly sat sideways on Leafia's lap to look at her face. Leafia did not know how to handle this little girl. By the look of how nervous she was she had probably never spent any time around young children.

"You are also so pretty. I love you hair, it is so straight and s.h.i.+ny. Why are you wearing a hood? It is harder to see you." As she looked a little deeper she said, "Your ears look funny."

Leafia looked even more startled and did not know what to do, so I decided to intervene, "That is because she is not human." I was glared at a little by Istan and Leafia gave me a shocked look to which I let out a laugh. "There is no point in hiding it now, just go lower your hoods already."

Leafia cautiously lowered her hood, letting the whole room see her face. I did have to admit that even for an elf she was quite attractive. She had a slender face with fair skin and thin eyebrows with clear light brown eyes. Her whole face was nicely framed with her long dark hair. The point of her ears just stuck out from between sections of her hair.

Istan also lowered his hood. For an elf his figure was very rugged but was still very handsome by human standards. His barely blond hair was about a hand long and parted neatly on one side.

The old man at the back of the room that was talking to me earlier spoke up again. "I have never heard of elves in these parts. Why would you be here?"

Istan was the one to answer this question, "Part of the reason that Miss Laurel is making this trip is on the request of the elves. We are accompanying her to ensure her safety as she tries to find a medicine for our patriarch's sick child." I was very impressed with Istan's ability to lie. At least to my knowledge, none of this cover story was planed.

"I want to go on an adventure and learn magic and meet more elves!" Sharlin said with excitement that only children can obtain.

"Maybe you can when you are older, but now you need to eat your dinner," Sharlin's Grandfather said, carrying out a large pot from the kitchen. "Sorry for the delay, I will begin serving the dinner now." He set the pot on the counter, grabbed some bowls from under it and started to dish out the soup. I was starting to wonder what we should do when some of the younger men in the room started to distribute the soup to everyone, including us.

By my standards the soup was not all that good, but my companions seemed to be enjoying it. I guess it was nice to eat something that you did not have to prepare yourself.

During dinner, the conversation was very casual. They told us a little about things here in the village and asked some simple questions about where we came from. It seemed like they were trying to let us eat in peace. After I had finished my food, I found Sharlin on my lap again. I gently patted her hair as I listened to the conversation.

Everyone else had just finished eating dinner when a slightly larger lady in her 30's said from the door, "Sharlin, it is time for you to get heading to bed."

"But mom, I don't feel tired yet! Can't I stay up a little longer?" she complained back to her mom.

"We go through this every time visitors come to town. If I let you stay here any longer you will fall asleep in their lap, and then I have to carry you home." It seemed like Sharlin could not say anything to counter that. Being able to admit that this was true showed a lot of restraint for a girl only eight years old. I would not have been surprised if she started to cry to see if she could get her way. Did human children change that much in the last 1000 years? I don't think that is right. In the few villages we had been to I could still find the tantrums I had learned to expect from young children.

"Fine," she said rather grumpily. Maybe she was not that much different from other children her age. She twisted around on my lap and gave me a hug. "I will see you off in the morning."

"I look forward to it." I said while giving her a hug in return. "But we are planning on leaving early so keep that in mind." As I said that I patted her head. She nodded in response and then hurried to the door.

"Did you say thank you to the lady?" the mom asked as Sharlin got to the door.

"Thank you so much for showing me magic. I really want to learn how to do it myself."

After the girl left we only stayed for a little bit before I said, "I think we have taken up enough of your time. We should probably head to our camp."

"Nonsense," one of the men said. "Stay and drink with us a little longer. We get so little news of what is going on beyond this small village."

But then I let out a sigh. I hope my acting skills are enough for me to seem like a lady in desperate need of help. "Unfortunately, we are running low on funds, due to some unforeseen circ.u.mstances. Unless I can sell some medicines there will only be water to drink until we reach the capital."