The feast went well into the evening. By the time it was all said and done, Enoki was pretty sure ze was going to have to be rolled out of the hall. Honestly, all ze wanted was to climb into bed and deal with the melomel in the morning. 

Of course En’suril came up, her red dress flowing behind her as it lightly sparkled in the various floating orbs of light that decorated the hall. “Now that the current phase of the feast is done, I require Enoki to come with me.”

“Woman.” Daikon stood up, slightly off balance. He had dared to drink a second glass of the wine, against En’mat’s insistence. He walked up and looked up to En’suril’s steely gaze. “You will not separate us. Do you know the trouble my eternal stretch of fighting spirit gets into the moment ze is separated from hir flock?”

En’mat gently put her hands on Daikon’s shoulders, steadying him as she looked down at the two smaller companions. “While a bit drunk, he speaks the truth, Mother. I do not wish to be separated at this time. And Enoki will need help explaining all the tools I require.”

An exasperated sigh escaped the Lady’s mouth as she turned and started to walk slowly down the hallway, her hips swaying slightly. Enoki was just tipsy enough to wonder how someone could swing hips like that and not have it look weird. It was a skill ze never picked up hirself. 

“Let’s go, you two. Mother won’t cause any harm. And she will want to know exactly what it is we are going to do.” En’mat gently pushed Daikon forward and Enoki followed along.

“At least I didn’t have to run this time.” Enoki mumbled as they made their way to the end of the hallway, coming to a large ornate white wooden door. Enoki was impressed at the carvings and how the animals and plants in it seemed to move slightly in some unseen wind. 

En’suril glanced down at Enoki. “That would be because I have traveled long distances before, and have seen your kind. Although for a shapeshifter you are rather small.”

“Eh-heh. Shapeshifter?” Enoki ran hir fingers through the center chunk of hair, wondering how bad this was going to be.

“Don’t worry. I know you are no demon. Now, inside.” 

She stepped aside, showing 2 smaller chairs and two elf sized ones. Enoki carefully went in and sat down in the smallest one. En’mat and Daikon each chose their own chair. All 4 had matching gray leather backs and cushions upon gold painted wood. The room itself was covered top to bottom in bookcases. Even the ceiling had hanging racks designed for large scrolls. And in the corner a small fire crackled away, giving the room just the right amount of warmth.

En’mat looked around in awe. “Mother, you never let me into your study.”

“That, my dear, is because it has many old secrets. Dating back to about two generations after the heaven tree established itself and the Sinners Bound Wood started taking over the fields. “ She leaned back. “More importantly, this was the room where we met the last chick that was sent.”

Enoki sat up a bit straighter. “Really?”

“Yes, truly. I was but a mere 15 at the time. But I still remember it. The being claimed to be a shapeshifter, but was of an extinct race called a troll. And sometimes they would slip and call themselves a human. Which did not come to the elves’ notice until after the shapeshifters died out themselves.”

Enoki frowned. “So, they took the form of the last race who failed.”

En’suril arched a brow. “That is an interesting way to put it. Care to explain?”

With a heavy sigh ze reached into hir bag, having made sure it didn’t leave hir sight since the bath, and pulled out the dark blue paper. “I have to make a feast for the gods that represents each race. Using cursed and blessed items. I got all sorts of stuff to help age or keep ingredients fresh, but everything else is vague until I get nearby. Like this paper will tell me what I need but it only changes if-”

Enoki paused, looking at the paper. A strange yellow and green glowing circle was now next to the two needed items for the elves. En’mat peered over the now half-passed out Daikon to see what was on it. 

“That was not there before. That is the icon for representing elves in holy texts and places.” En’mat lightly traced the symbol with her finger. “See our ears, the trees we rely on and apparently can become. The standard style of our hair… it’s all there.”

Handing the paper over to En’suril, she gave a small smile. “Good. Don’t lose this paper. This seal means that you got the correct items. Even if you don’t know what to make with them yet.”

“But I do. I need to make a melomel. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Honey, fruit, and wood for a barrel.” Ze sighed. “But there’s hardly any time.”

“Mmm. A proper one should be allowed to ferment and age over three years. It is one of our faster spirits, but I believe my daughter mentioned just one year.” She glanced to En’mat who was giving a slight nod.

“Yes, mother. But with my skills I can help Enoki make a proper one that should be good enough for the gods.” En’mat gently took the paper and handed it to Enoki. “But what should we do with the seal?”

“Tap it, little shapeshifter.” 

With a shrug, Enoki tapped it and watched as it glowed brighter, suddenly shooting a beam of light out and up to a scroll hanging from above. En’suril carefully pulled it down, the beam of light following the scroll as it was slowly opened. Enoki looked at the carefully revealed map, showing a place on the other side of the mountains. 

“There. You are to go to the centaurs’ territory. To their primary trade city, Kissla.” As soon as the Lady spoke the name of the city, the beam of light disappeared.

Enoki sighed. “That looks really far.”

“Then it’s a good thing I have some people who owe me favors. We can teleport you there, to the other side of the mountains. With enough supplies to help you survive some of the harshness of the desert.” She lightly tapped an area north of the mentioned city, on the other side of a gulf that nearly split the desert in two.

“No other way, huh?” Enoki sighed. “Ok. When you get the supplies tomorrow, will we have time to start the melomel process?”

En’mat grinned. “I am not tired after the wine, so I can start gathering and cleaning my old brewing supplies tonight.”

“Daughter, you will be traveling by midday tomorrow.” her mother shook her head, as if wondering where she went wrong teaching common sense. “When will you rest?”

“Well I, ah-”

“In my magic store rooms! There is space in there and she’d be safe. We tried it with my fairnot Noodles already.”

“Oh. That thing.” En’suril wrinkled her nose a bit. “Well, I suppose if you feel it is safe. But I am going to ask you make sure to take that thing with you. Fairnots are nothing but trouble.”

Enoki shrugged. “Eh, so am I but that doesn’t stop En’mat from hanging out with me.”

“Very well. Tomorrow we will give you enough water for one week. As well as some food supplies and my daughter's tools for making barrels and brewing. I would suggest trying to take a short cut across the gulf so you do not waste time. There should be at least a few ships in the area.”

A yawn escaped Enoki’s lips as ze tried to argue. Daikon’s soft snoring was making it harder to convince hir body ze needed to stay awake. “Fine. Too bad we can’t go someplace closer.”

“The gods want you to go that way. It’s best to follow their advice unless you have good reason not to. Now. Go rest. Daughter, once they are tucked away, come with me. I need to give you a few things that will help since you had the temple’s blessings stripped from you.”

“Ah, yes mother.” With that the door slammed open on its own, allowing them to leave quickly.

Once Enoki was reasonably sure they were out of elven earshot, ze quietly spoke up to En’mat. “When she said stripped of the church’s blessings…?”

“They ripped my cape out. I can grow it new with renewed faith but it protected me from many a cursed thing in the past. With it gone I was vulnerable in those woods.” She lightly touched the back of her neck. “It hurt quite a bit.”

Enoki gently hugged En’mat’s arm. “I’m sorry. I cost you so much. Why didn’t you just say you were tricked or something?”

En’mat didn’t even hesitate. “Because as insane as you are, I believe in you. I know you mean well. I know you care about us.” She looked at Enoki. “And I get the feeling you are not used to others caring much about you.”

There was an uncomfortable silence with that statement. Enoki wasn’t sure how to respond. Ze never felt unloved by family. Maybe a disappointment careerwise. But not unloved. Ze was sure people would miss hir back home. Just like ze missed them. But in the greater area of the world, there weren’t a whole lot of people who felt like they backed Enoki up.

“Maybe.” Hir somber expression quickly perked back up. “But! I’m here now. And you guys back me up. So that’s something.”

“Well, we are a flock.” En’mat smiled as they walked back to the bedroom, and a nice long rest for Enoki.