I spent a few more days under the oak in my shelter, making leather clothes out of elk’s skin and willow strings. After the first night, goblins never showed up again, I was glad that they forgot about me. Also, I kept my bonfire burning at all times, so wild predators won’t have courage to approach me.

It was the first time when I had to make clothes on my own. Last time I tried to make a leather jacket, Nimrod was always near and could answer all my questions. My outfit wasn’t a masterpiece and I couldn’t sell it even to a homeless man, but at least I had something covering my body. Even goblin’s leather clothes looked better, compared to what I did here, nonetheless it was warmer at night and now I won’t scratch myself in the bushes while hunting. Also, I made an item bag from rabbit hides where I could put food and a water flask that I carved out of elk’s antlers. The only thing that I couldn’t make were boots, Nimrod never taught me to make them.

I’ve gathered and cooked enough meet to be able to wander for a few days without worrying about food supplies. My flask was filled up to the top with fresh water and I was ready to begin my adventure to the unknow lands of Seven Kingdoms. I started my journey early in the morning, the moss was still wet and I could feel it on my bare feet. It felt so good wandering alone in the forest, you don’t need to worry about someone else, you have the full freedom in actions. Now I felt glad for that moment, when Senka and Wido left me alone in the caverns,

‘Maybe, I should have gone here alone in the first place…’ were my thoughts; Then I smiled and started studying the world around me.

I saw racoons running down the bushes, trying to catch field rats. Then I saw squirrels gathering acorns from oaks and taking them to their hollow tree shelters. After that I noticed how birds were feeding their newborn nestlings with pulp made from worms. I was like a newborn animal, observing the nature and trying to be a part of it. After a few hours of wandering I stopped and asked myself,

‘How could anyone want to get away from such a wonderful world?’

I was referring to Stoyans that decided to never leave their safe villages, but then I heard someone rushing through the bushes on the left side of me. I swiftly hid myself behind the tree that was nearby and started listening carefully. Someone stopped in a few yards distance from me and I heard a familiar sound; It appeared to be the sound of horse hooves hitting the ground. Then I heard a deep and gentle voice starting the conversation,

‘Yesterday someone told me that they found a dead elk in this area…’

Then the second voice joined, it was also pleasantly gentle and sounded like the little summer spring flowing through the forest,

‘Not a big deal, it’s the beginning of summertime. Predators are also starting to be more aggressive these days…’

‘They say that it was a wild one… and they found arrows near him…’ then the first voice exhaled deeply.

‘Oh…’ exhaled the second voice, ‘and today we found that place under the oak, where dozens of goblins’ spears were stuck in the ground…’

‘Do you think it was a declaration of war?’ first voice sounded more serious than before.

Trying to hold my breath, I reckoned, that they were talking about my shelter and apparently, I was lucky today to leave it in time.

‘I don’t know,’ continued the second voice, ‘but we have to report everything to our Jarl immediately. Yah!’

‘Yah!’ repeated the first voice.

After that I heard reins clapping in the air and hooves hitting the ground with the full force. I sneaked out of the tree and saw two creatures in leather armour riding on magnificent elks. These creatures had grey skin and pointy ears, they seemed much higher than usual people. They had gorgeous long bows on their shoulders, their quivers were made of thick leather and fringed with golden strings. After a few seconds, elks disappeared behind the bushes.

‘So, these creatures are the natives here… I reckon elks are very important for them,’

I started putting everything in order,

‘Damn… I need to tell them that goblins were after me, so they won’t start a war for nothing… but I can’t tell them that I killed the wild elk. Yeah… From their words, I suppose, no one is allowed to kill wild elks in their territory… and even if I lie about the elk, they will understand it from my clothes anyway! Argh! Do I even care about this war? They mean nothing for me! Also, goblins almost killed me and that would teach them a lesson! Hah!’

I started laughing, imagining forest people killing the goblins right in their caverns.

‘Anyway, I would like to know more about these creatures…’

After these words, I started walking in the direction where elks disappeared. Now I was glad, that I didn’t have any shoes. Walking on the moss barefoot made steps almost silent and I didn’t want them to notice me. When I stepped into the bushes, I heard branches cracking everywhere around me.

‘Stop right there!’

Low and gentle voice appeared somewhere above me and I immediately ceased my movement. I turned my head up and saw two gigantic elk heads above me. Then the voice continued,

‘You are trespassing the territory of Altwidus Forest, that is under the control of Ferran Elves! Announce yourself, intruder!’

My legs began shaking and a cold sweat started dripping from my back,

‘I’m… I’m a… My name is Tariq and I’m a Stoyan that ran away from the Cold Valley, that is located behind the Eastern Montserrat…’

I figured that these two were the same ones that I overheard a few moments ago.

‘Hmm… Remarkable… Call me Moriko,’ first voice introduced himself.

‘Yeah… Truly remarkable… Call me Vipin,’ the second voice also introduced himself.

They jumped off their elks and surrounded me. I wasn’t mistaken, they were much higher than the average human being. They had long faces, pointy ears, and yellow eyes; They had long grey, sleek hair that was so long that falled from their shoulders. They both looked so similar that I would call them brothers, the only major difference in their appearance was clothing. Moriko had a small golden tiara on his head, that resembled a snake and Vipin had earrings made of brown metal, that looked like oak leaves. Moriko was a little bit higher and had iron shoulder-straps; Vipin’s armor was fully made of leather.

They started inspecting me and my appearance. Moriko stretched out his hand and began touching the shoulders of my jacket with his fingers, trying to feel the texture of leather,

‘This is elk… Definitely…’ he said.

‘Yes, it is,’ confirmed Vipin.

From the differences in their clothes and how they talked, I figured that Moriko had a higher rank than Vipin.

‘Look at these arrows on his waist,’ pointed out Moriko.

‘Yes, I think we found our elk killer,’ Vipin replied.

‘When you don’t know what to say, just tell the truth,’ was my moto after it worked with Nimrod when we wanted to ask him to teach us to hunt, so I decided to explain everything as it is.

‘Yes, you are correct, I made these clothes from elk hide by myself…’ both elves exhaled deeply.

I saw how rage started raising in Vipin’s eyes, he grabbed the arc of his bow and wanted to draw the string, but Moriko saw my lips moving silently and stopped him,

‘Wait, I think he has something else to say…’

Then I told them everything that happened to me before and after goblin caverns. Vipin’s rage disappeared after he realized that I have no clue about this world and the rules that creatures obey to live peacefully in Seven Kingdoms. When I stopped talking Moriko grinned,

‘If everything that you say is true, I think we can forgive you killing the elk after you told us about how you made ruckus in goblins’ caves. We, Ferran Elves of Altwidus forest, despise them.’

‘Absolutely,’ confirmed Vipin.

‘But you still must report everything to our Jarl and apologize for your offence against the wild elks, the ancient defenders our forests!’

‘Now, follow us!’ commanded Vipin.

After these words, they jumped back on their elks and started walking slowly towards the east.