[alaklondewen]

The villa of the general of the Pashtian army was silent but for the soft melody that floated from the formal living area. A young servant busily dusted the heavy furniture. Her light mood was reflected in the tune she hummed. Kashana had not served the Avari family until very recently and was still very much intimidated, and awed, by the ageless Elves, but her father thought it was an honorable opportunity to work for a family of this status in Kanak. The young girl added a little bounce to her step as she continued to sing. She had seen the General leave a little while ago, so she felt more comfortable in the house. He was so serious and stuffy that she tried to distance herself from him. Although lately, that had not been a problem as he spent days at a time locked up in his library. Kashana cared not what the General did…she was just glad she did not have to directly talk to him very often. His wife was kind, to a point, but she was so beautiful that the young girl always felt like she was staring…and then she would become nervous and a little clumsy. She felt the most comfortable around Evrathol. He had been kind to her when she started, and he was terribly handsome. Kashana giggled when the thought crossed her mind, and then she quickly covered her mouth to stifle the sound.

Just as she put her heavy cloth back down on the dark wood a knock reverberated down the hallway of the main entrance. Kashana dropped her rag on the table and started toward the door. She then thought that if whoever was at the door came into the living area…he or she would see the rag, so she quickly turned on her heels and grabbed the fallen cloth before scrambling for the door. Her hurriedness caused her to lose her breath by the time she reached the entrance, and another resounding knock occurred just as she swung the heavy door open.

Kashana suppressed a surprised squeal when she saw who it was that graced the doorstep…the Emissary. The young girl had only seen the man once, when he and his guard arrived a month ago. It had been so exciting, and now he stood before her. She stared, wide-eyed, at his smooth face and light eyes. She was so in shock, in fact, that she forgot to greet the man, and only after he cleared his throat, did she remember her duty. “Oh! I am so sorry, sir…Emissary, sir.” She stumbled. “I am afraid the General is not at home today. Would you like me to tell him that…” The Emissary motioned with his hand for her to stop talking, and she obeyed. “I have come to speak with the Lady Arlomë.” Kashana’s eyes widened again. “Oh, I apologize, sir. I will tell her you are here.” The servant, then, stepped away from the door and started to close it, before realizing the Emissary was still on the step. Quickly, she swung the door open again, and while profusely apologizing, she invited the Emissary into the villa.

Cursing herself as she went for being so childish, the young servant hurried through the hallways of the estate until she reached the General’s library. Earlier she had seen Lady Arlomë enter the room, and Kashana hoped she would still be there. Knocking softly on the door, Kashana slowly opened it and called the Lady’s name.

“Yes, Kashana?” Arlomë answered distractedly. She sat at her husband’s desk carefully studying the sketches that filled the book that was sprawled open on the desktop.

“I am sorry to interrupt, my lady, but you have a visitor.” Kashana stepped through the door of the library, but only barely, and she kept her head lowered, not looking at the Elven lady.

“A visitor?” Arlomë questioned softly, almost to herself. “Who is it, Kashana?”

Kashana looked up and answered with an expression of wonderment. “The Emissary, my lady. He asks for you.”

Arlomë was quite surprised and her shock momentarily flashed across her face before she caught herself. “Thank you, Kashana. Ensure his comfort and I will arrive shortly.” The young servant nodded and slipped out of the library. Why the Emissary would call for her, Arlomë knew not, and she felt her spirit troubled by the situation. After closing the Morgôs’ book, the Elf straightened her silk robe and strode to the large sitting room that set near the home’s entrance.

The Emissary rose when she entered the room. “Lady Arlomë, it is a pleasure to see you again.” The man wore a charming smile, but Arlomë could see hesitancy in his eyes as he stepped forward and took her hand in greeting. “And you, Emissary.” She nodded her head to him.

“I apologize for not sending a messenger before my arrival.”

Shaking her head, Arlomë answered, “There is no need for apologies. What can I do for you this morning?”

“I have been told that many of the plants, here in Pashtia, are used for medicinal purposes, and when I inquired about their properties, I was told that you, my lady, have more knowledge on the subject than anyone in Kanak.”

Arlomë looked curiously at the Emissary, studying his face as he spoke. He was very charming, but something told her he was not keen on the idea of dealing with her. “I have studied the plants of Pashtia for many years. If you are interested, please join me in my personal gardens, and I will tell you what you wish to know.”