Chapter 13: Preparing for winter

While I’m eager to understand how the wilderness elves manage to survive the bitterly cold Thurnian winters, I wasn’t intending to discover the secret by spending the whole winter with them. However the four Elf Maidens who arrived with us regard it as the best solution to our dilemma. The leather-craft and metalwork skills that the two Definas possess are valuable skills to this elven community, even though there is currently a lack of both leather and metal to use.

The early arrival of winter snow decides the issue for us. The storm that brings the snow soon passes, but the much colder temperatures linger. It’s enough to discourage us from travelling as far as Reak. Akenehi proposes a further trade expedition to Fallowfield for a few supplies to see the elven community through the winter months. The Thurnian village has traded with other elven communities for several years, but our expedition will be only the second visit from this commune. Akenehi asks that I accompany the expedition, which Makareta will lead. I’m not sure whether I’m being asked to go in my capacity as trade envoy, or whether it is simply to give me a chance to purchase whatever items Cassandra and I need to see us through winter. I suppose it doesn’t matter about Akenehi’s reason for including me in the expedition.

The expedition is much smaller that the previous one. There are only four of us in the party, which consists of Makareta, her younger sister, Aputa and another adolescent elf called Cosima. We don’t take any of the mules, which adds weight to my suspicion that this trip is merely to provide an opportunity for me to obtain supplies that Cassandra and I may need for a prolonged stay. Cassandra initially wants to come, but the Definas persuaded her to stay and rest. Our journey here, coupled with her morning sickness, has tired Cassandra more than she is willing to admit, and a few days rest will do her some good.

“I don’t recall seeing any animals living with the other elven communities,” I say to Makareta as we pass the corral where the mules are kept. “Don’t the mules dislike being near elves?”

“Like Thurnian men, the mules have learned to overcome their natural dislike of our body odour. However, we need to be careful and calm our emotions when we are near them. If an elf becomes too agitated then her body odour becomes more pungent. It’s a natural defence mechanism that we can’t always control. It’s the reason why Aputa had difficulty with her mule the other day. Aputa wanted to please our mother, and she became frustrated when she started losing control of her mule. Mules are stubborn beasts at the best of times.”

“Are other communities starting to use pack animals for trade?” I ask.

“Not that I’m aware. Constantly protecting mules from wolves and bears is a time consuming task that doesn’t justify the benefit the mules provide when we trade. Besides, the mules leave trails through the forests that even the most incompetent tracker could follow. We want to live in peace, but that isn’t a sentiment shared by all Thurnians. Our elven ancestors’ arrival in Thurn was the result of an expedition taking captives. We live in fear of a repeat, and we do all that we can to avoid provoking a Thurnian incursion.”