Chapter 3 The Unicorn

Then Iris arrived out of nowhere while Alaric was collecting wood to make bows in the cold winter air. She came riding upon a unicorn named Kalulah. She then changed the unicorn into a little girl, his daughter. They both came to the bark lodge. He showed her the new bow he had finished and wanted to try it out. Since they were present, he would like to show them both something special. He took them to the caves of Glacier Mountain where he played as a boy. A recent earthquake shook rocks down in the caves and a wall collapsed to reveal a great cavern he thought they might like to see. So, up the mountain side they walked to encounter an altar to the cave goddess Maya. Alaric lifted Kalulah upon the altar and lit a candle. He spoke loudly so Maya could hear him in the depths of the chasms. He prayed that this proof of love for another being would relieve Maya of any grudges towards Iris. He brought Kalulah down and the trio walked inside the cave. A torch to light the way to the center of the stone dwelling, they cautiously stepped through columns. The air was warm compared the cold outside. Finally, they found the surprise Alaric had found: Walls of paintings of animals and stick people. Elephants, elk, horses, and boars covered the ceiling and walls. They continued on to another cavern where mermaids were fighting griffins on the ceiling. Alaric had them lie down and gaze upon this wonder. A mermaid with a gold crown points a harpoon at a griffin flying above her. Below the warrior mermaids, are the sandstone hills the griffins were turned into when the hit the ground, just like the stories he heard since a boy. They left the cave and returned to the bark lodge. Alexis had returned from Crowleigh after healing a child with scarlet fever. He was mixing an elk stew with berries and beans. Alaric introduced his daughter to him. The next morning, he introduced them to his family explaining they were to guide them to the Black Forest where Daxus resides. Gilda wished to know everything about the forest where the first elves were made. Iris explained how beautiful it is between the sea and the mountains. Mermaids settle along the beaches and swim up the river to the caves. There is a staircase from the cave river to Daxus’s great hall. His mother cooked wild rice in her new bronze cauldron he helped his father make. He etched in the metal cast agriculture god Daxus and soon to be goddess Gilda making the Brightsburg plants grow. She roasted boar next to the fire and set crabcakes on the fire pit bricks. Lastly, she opened a jar of applesauce for the holy guests to enjoy. She was most happy to meet her holy granddaughter. Iris, not so much. Alaric had to explain to Kalulah her mother’s decline of a betrothal to Alaric and the fact she still refuses to marry Alaric because her family would disapprove. The Sorceress has not forgiven Iris for the rejection, even though Iris does care for him. They ate into the night and enjoyed the fireflies lighting up the darkness. Kalulah asked for a story about Lotan. Her father recited his mentor’s story.

“It was just an ordinary day. Nothing wrong in that. Some live predictable lives where they know what will happen the next day, the next week, and the next year. A peaceful life can be a good life where people can thrive. And there are others who thirve in chaos to be called heroes. Such was a man named Cossus the Dragonslayer. Just as a said, it was ordinary day. Wheat was growing, grapes were ripening, and everyone was practicing for the Harvest Games when the dragon came out of the mountains. What a dragon was doing beyond the hills is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it was looking for its mate they lost, perhaps it was chased out while looking for food, but whatever the reason it left the mountains of its youth to attack an elf village in the hills. Then it gobbled up what it could to move on to a human village that kept livestock. Once gobbled up what it could, it continued on to find the lord’s fortress of Evandale. It burned the fields of wheat and grapes. It scorched the walls with its fiery breath. Spears were hurled to bounce off the thick scales of the dragon. The warning bell had been rung and beacons were lit to call to arms any who might defeat this foe. Once Cossus saw the beacon of his village lit up, he inquired where it started. To the west, the guard said. A group of men assembled to travel west to the source of the beacon. They arrived to find a dragon sleeping upon a hill. Within the gate opened a human sized door. They whispered to the guard that they were responding to the beacon. Soon people were gasping in fear as they walked through the gate house arch.

“It is him,” some whispered as they passed down the street toward the open courtyard of the marketplace.

Confused, the Chief of Brightsburg asked why people seem awkward at their arrival. The head guard replied the high priest made a prophecy of the one who would defeat the dragon: The man with a boar helmet. They were guided to the great hall of the Lord of Evandale. He asked the identity of the soldier with the boar helmet. Cossus stepped forward to give his name: Athar, son of Balder. He explained he wore the leather helmet covered in pieces of boar tusks with two uncut tusks at the bottom because he had won it last year during the Harvest Games spear throw contest. The Lord was intrigued. He asked if Athar would be so kind to go defeat the dragon for him. He will be rewarded with suit of bronze armor, his own. Athar accepted the challenge and asked for a long rope and a set of spears. He demand was met. The Lord had his armor removed and set on Athar to see how well it fit. The straps were tied and Athar knotted the rope given to him. He twisted his arm left and right to swing the noose around. He examined the spears and rejected one that was crooked. He jumped up on his horse and paraded out of town. He approached the sleeping dragon that suddenly awoken at the sound of his horse’s gallop coming near. It rose upon its feet and wings spread out to block the sun. He twirled his rope and the dragon dodged. The roped fell upon its spike. Athar was holding the rope was lifted off his horse as the dragon thrashed to remove the irritant. He landed on the neck of the beast. The dragon used its wing hand to scratch off the loop, but Athar was holding on to it while slipping the rope around its neck to tie a knot. The loop was scratched off the dragon’s spike. Athar gazed at the wing to see it was a then membrane of skin like a fish fin. He got an idea as the dragon thrashed again to remove the rope off its neck and Athar flew off to hit the ground. He jumped upon his horse and began hurling spears into the wings of the dragon. Now, this did not kill the dragon, but it lost its ability to fly well into the wind with holes in its wings. It stormed off back into the mountains where it came from. Athar followed for two days to reach the ice-topped mountains. There he found the dragon had gotten so fat from its feasting, it needed to shed its skin. In doing this, it also grew new undamaged wings. He also noticed the rope he had tied had been cut off and he collected it. The dragon twitched and turned as scales came off. What a heavy price people would pay for this armor, he thought. The dragon emerged in all its splendour and flew up to a nest on a ledge. Two baby dragons peeked out and the mother dragon fed them half a deer. Soon a screech echoed other dragons appeared flying above them. The mother dragon joined the dragons in the sky. He figured it simply left to find food for its babies and blowed off course. He gave up killing the dragon to collect all the scales. He returned to Evandale a hero for vanquishing the dragon. He added dragon scale padding to go under his bronze armor. Most men and elves wear a feather stuffed jacket underneath to keep the metal from rubbing against the body. That armor was his most prized possession. Upon returning to his village of Brightsburg, he was given the name Cossus the Dragonslayer. Cossus is a type of moth and Athar was a moth compared to the dragon. Then he married a slave that hid in his barn that night. Life was good and they began harvesting crops as a wedded couple.”

That night as Alexis and Kalulah were sound asleep, Iris awoke Alaric to return to the cave where he brought her before. An important ceremony must be done. Alaric lit a torch and took her to the cave. He left a candle offering to Maya upon the altar and entered the warm cave. They walked inside until the cold night air disappeared. Alaric inquired what ceremony was necessary in the middle of the night. She answered the servitude ceremony he must do in the cave of Maya. Every warrior serves someone as a champion on their behalf. She removed his clothing for he must be vulnerable for this part of the ritual. Alaric could not hide his emotions standing so close to her. Iris then struck Alaric with willow branches as she asked if he was willingly enter her service and obey all her commands. He agreed. She further asked if he would protect her from all enemies and all children she cares for. Again he agreed. She demanded he have no other master and forever be at her service when summoned. He agreed. She asked if he would accept severe consequences if he disobeyed, possibly even the removal of his magic crystal that makes him immortal. He agreed. She announced in a loud voice to goddess Maya and god Eris as witnesses that this elf is worthy of her service. Any magic injury inflicted upon him will receive a response by her. One final slap with the willow branches and she drops them. Iris made a stone altar appear and ordered Alaric to give the submission oath upon it. He knelt on his hands and knees to swear servitude to the goddess Iris. His kissed her hand to prove his submission. He was allowed to stand on the cave floor. With a conjured pot, she anointed him with milk and honey on his forehead. She places a laurel wreath on his head as a symbol of her favor. She commands the ritual bath to complete the ceremony so he will always smell like rain. A stone tub and rain cloud appear to fill the tub with water. She washes him with lavender soaps and conjures a needle to give him a tattoo on his cheek to mark him as her servant. It contains an arc with circles on the end to represent the rainbow. Alexis said it resembles a horseshoe. He is dressed again in new clothes and given a set of bronze armor. She warned to be careful of the helmet, for it will make him invisible to mortal creatures. They return to his lodge to drift back into sleep.

The next day, a party was hastily prepared for that evening. Dressed in her finest clothing, unicorn mane strands in her hair, and decorations from Daxus, Gilda greeted her villagers and stood at the center of the market place to receive gifts. Alaric presented scrolls of his adventures in Brightsburg. Iris presented a magic mirror made of black stone for her to see anything in the world that she wishes. The chief presented his youngest son, Alexis to be at her service and be her guard on the ride to the Black Forest. The bride graciously thanked the chief for his gift, all the while glaring at Alexis. Bouquets of flowers, baskets of food, belts, jewelry, a highly decorated chest, and a hawk were given to Gilda. Throughout the celebration, Alexis remained close to an elf maiden from another valley who came to visit a relative. The celebration went well into the night. At the end, Gilda took Alexis into Maya’s cave to do the servitude ceremony. Alexis came back out with bronze armor and a tattoo of three arcs resembling a wheat grass bloom. Gilda thought of how she will remember this day forever. By the Winter Solstice, she will be married and live forever in the Black Forest. An entourage formed the next morning. Alaric mounted a unicorn Iris brought from the mountains. A furious earthquake shook the valley and rumbling was heard as the sky lit up like a candle. The Sorceress believed a volcano far away erupted. Upon their return, they learned several villages were covered up forever to the west. The wedding party took the trail between mountains towards the northern Plains of Julia in Lotan when it began to snow. The snow was ash that failed to melt to make their horses struggle through it. The Olin Mountains stood within sight for days. Their first village stop was at Oakleigh where woodland elves settled and now busy brushing away the drifts of ash. They washed off in the tavern and enjoyed a meal. The woodland elves enjoy hearing tales from faraway lands as they wove their linen threads. Iris recited a grand tale of the Queen Aurora.

“Once upon a time, along the beaches of the Narva coral reef, there was born a mermaid so beautiful and enchanting that she captured the heart of the Sea Horse King who transports sea creatures to the Happy Sea afterlife ruled by his father Gwyn. They married and she became Queen of Narva mermaids with her magical locket from her husband. Many times she returned to guard the birthing mermaids and had a few children herself. Then, one day griffins attacked a camp of mermaids and took them to their nests. Queen Aurora declared war on the griffins. Elves joined their army and sprites joined the griffins. Feasts of mermaids continued as did massacres of griffin eggs pushed out of their nests. Nobody was really winning these battles, just burying a lot of souls. And finally, Queen Aurora lost her sister after a great battle and found her bones by a tree. In her anguish, her magical necklace emitted such a deadly force that a flock of griffins fell from the sky and landed on sandy marshes to create sandstone hills that grow flax for the elves to make linen. Next was griffin King Hades hit with the magic from her golden harpoon while he was leading an attack on Aurora’s beach and the surviving griffins buried him and his gold treasures under Hades Mountain to be guarded by the volcano goddess Maya. Legend says the mystical Cup of Hades in the cave treasures grants rebirth to a mortal drinker of the cup. Finally, the griffins left Lotan forever and flew away to the northern Drak Mountains.”

“Good story, Iris.” applauded Alaric.

Sad to say this tiny village that gave us such a mighty warm welcome was destroyed during the Elf War. It was burned to the ground right before Leesville was attacked. They were good farmers and ice fishermen. The built a temple out of clay bricks with altars of stone. Beautiful murals painted along the walls depicting the gods and goddesses being born. They spent the night in the temple while the guard slept off their ale in the tavern. They unloaded their sleighs and spent time in the sweat lodge next door to purify themselves before entering the sacred sanctuary part. Inside the temple, they prayed in the pool of cool water for a successful journey. Iris got into the pool and took a bath to wash off all that sweat from the lodge. She is not accustomed to such mortal feelings. She beckoned for Alaric to join her and wash her as he had done before when he was an apprentice. He grabbed a sponge and soap from his knapsack. She rejected the sponge and requested he wash her with hands. He cleaned her off and scrubbed her hair until it squeaked. He got out of the pool to dry himself before holding out a towel for Iris. She thanked him for his service and magically changed clothes. She revealed a knife and cut off a lock of Alaric’s hair declaring Kalulah needed a sibling. They relaxed on their blanket mats and drifted off to sleep. Alaric woke up to Iris singing in the pool. She stopped only to tell him that the potion is finished. She requested the drink sitting in a cauldron on an altar to the creator god Alano. Alaric filled a cup with her potion and gave it her.

“Come into this pool and finish the ritual like last time,” demanded Iris.

“No,” answered Alaric. “I promised Nix I wouldn’t pleasure you anymore.”

“You also promised Cossus the Dragonslayer not to lay with Nix before your wedding. You are accomplished in breaking promises.”

“Please let me keep this promise or I will feel guilty for breaking it,” replied Alaric.

“Did you forget your servitude ceremony? You pledged to obey my commands or accept severe consequences.” asserted Iris.

“Whatever your magic does will not be as severe as loosing Nix’s betrothal,” replied Alaric.

Iris rose from the pool and sat beside him. She ran her fingers through his straggly blond hair. The water from her hair dripped onto his feet.

“Tell me you don’t love me, right now, and I will never bother you again.” demanded Iris staring deep into his eyes.

“I can’t,” whispered Alaric as he stared straight back into her blue eyes.

“Then get into the pool, Alaric, and let me love you just for a moment.” replied Iris to kiss him.

Iris got her way and soon was pregnant with another god or goddess. He spent as much time with Iris as he could along the journey. Gilda questioned their relationship and Alaric defended he must make the goddess happy. Iris’s curses would be far worse than what Gilda could conjure. Kalulah overhearing asked her father what the worst curse that her mother could inflict upon him. Never seeing her again during his whole immortal life was his answer. Kalulah spoke to her mother about making an amulet for Alaric to summon her when he needs her. Days went on in the grassland and they next stopped at a human community without any view of the far off mountains. In this sea of snow hills sits a wood fortress upon a grand hill. Tree logs held together created a wall separating the fields and the town. It is obvious that inhabitants are frequently attacked. The villagers are silent towards the strangers and the chief greets them with wariness. Once given the explanation of being a wedding party and showing the marriage contract to the chief, the family is welcomed. The chief begged for understanding of his suspicious demeanor. Spies are often in the form of travelers. The chief welcomed the party to bed within his home made of solid log walls. He was joyous of the birth of his grandson and invited the strangers to the feast. The entourage stuffed themselves with candied apples, vegetable stews, bread and butter, and one huge animal Alaric was unsure of the name. The chief requested his grandson’s future predicted by his soothsayer. Music halted and everyone sat in awe of the dark cloaked man coming forward. He said the child will become of great warrior and savior for is people. This pleased the chief. Dancing continued around the great hall when the music resumed. Many inhabitants, drunk on wine, stumbled in odd dances as onlookers giggled. Suddenly, Gilda’s hawk squawked irritably and a witch appeared in the center of the room. Most of the sober dancers stepped aside. The chief stood up to welcome the witch, but she simply waved a hand to decline the invitation. Her face hidden from view by a cloaked hood, she asked where the goddess in the room is. The guests turned to peer at the strangers. Iris stood up and demanded her business there. The witch pulled back her hood to reveal an old woman covered in warts.

“To take the little one to Lord Andos for her betrothal,” replied the witch.

A flash of light brightens the whole room and all the humans awkwardly covered their eyes. A fireball spoofed from the floor and a cackle echoed throughout the fortress. When it was safe again, the humans saw the witch lying face down on the wooden plank floor. Iris announces how the witch prepared to conjure magic and struck a magic spell first. The witch killed with the magic had her soul rise and a demon came to take her to the afterlife to leave spouting fire. The chief ordered the witch burned in a funeral pyre outside the city. No one came to mourn the witch. The night sky began to snow as the party continued inside. A great snowstorm blew that night and many blamed the death of the witch for it. Iris announced it was sky god Andos giving the villagers grace for the snow will melt in the spring and water their seeds. Now that the villagers know Iris is a goddess, they all want souvenirs of cloth or hair from her. Iris placed a curse that anything taken from her will have misfortune until the stolen item is returned to her. She slept in the temple while the rest slept in the chief’s rooms. Alaric came out to keep her company. The following morning, the elves received many baskets of food to carry on their journey. The chief boasted a great harvest was reaped this year. This city too fell during the Elf War and the chief tried to bargain for his subjects’ freedom but being an ally. An ally the city was and guarded by the enemy. At the end of the war, it became part of the conquered territory until a great queen reunited her countrymen. Gilda and Lanie were inseparable until they arrived at the next resting place by giant towns. The family slept outdoors on blankets near a forest edge. A river could be heard from the dark shadows of the trees. The next day, they crossed a large yellow brick bridge. They reached a village of giant humans by mid-afternoon.

Their colossal houses were of painted wood and large flowers hung around the window boxes. Gardens circumscribed their homes and colored stepping stones created paths through the flowers. Giants are large human Lotans with larger pointed noses, freckles, and tied back blond hair. They dressed similar to Brightsburg humans, but lacked the painted tattoos. A child giant is the size of Alaric. The weary wedding party settles down at an inn. Their unicorns placed in a stable and fed, the elves listen to the innkeeper brag how he had smaller rooms for elves and leprechauns who often come to trade. Soon, snow fell and the wind whipped their cloaks. The giants and humans came inside to swap tales by the fireplace. Warm mead drinks were passed around. Some humans came from the Black Hills where they just came from. Other tales were told of the giants celebrating the harvest festival too much and many became sick. During the harvest festival contests, an athlete won a fascinating chariot race and was given a golden sword by the chief of the village. Alaric felt he was watching the race by the way the winner told the story. The evening meal was fit for royalty, with a stuffed pig, candied fruit, cakes, biscuits the size of Alaric’s mouth, heated milk, and cookies the size of a pie. One giant offered flowers for the wedding party. He traveled around Lotan selling seeds, perfumes, and flower blossoms. Elves are fond of his rose water. Alaric accepted the flowers and asked if he had lavender oil for his friend. The trader left the inn and returned with a small flask in the shape of a deer. Alaric lifted the stopper and declared it soothing. He paid the giant in shell beads and invited him to come to the elf town Leesville in the Olin Mountains. Ricky the Giant said he would be delighted to see his village next summer. In fact, he was one of his dearest friends until humans burned his village in Elf War and then refused to speak to Alaric anymore. Alaric presented the oil to Iris as his Winter Solstice gift to her. Flattered, she promised a gift for him. The elves had a pleasant night sleep before repacking their bags at dawn. Alaric grabbed some of the large biscuits for later eating. The bags back on the cart, the elves waved farewell to the giants. Once out of the town, Alaric took out Nix’s handkerchief and missed her all the more. No one really realizes how much he longs for her, not that they would care if they did. Many of the elves refuse to accept Nix as his betrothed and believed to bring misfortune to them being a human. Alaric asserted her mother was part elf. His family did not wish for Nix to join the entourage, so he left her where he found her. He did send her a letter through his sprite cousin Leander who lives on the mountainside.

The food in his stomach weighed Alaric down in his saddle. He pondered what he should do for the rest of his life now that his training is over and house is built. He was a trained warrior, but there is not always someone or something to fight. His mother recommended being a healer like herself. Alaric wanted more adventure. As they ride on to the Black Forest, Alaric’s thoughts keep getting interrupted by Alexis’s black fox he got from his brother. First, it whined. Then, it chased a squirrel up a tree. Alaric felt peace when it decided to nap across Alexis’s saddle. Alaric dreamed about the Black Forest. Courtesy of Daxus, the elves learned how strange the creatures living there were. Pegasus (flying horses), centaurs, griffins, mermaids, werewolves, lizards, insects the size of elf hands, tree frogs, giant turtles, huge snails, dragons, unicorns, draghorns (half unicorn, half dragon), fauns (half man, half goat), sprites (winged humans), and faeries all lived within the Black Forest. Various servants came to Leesville during Gilda’s betrothal to Daxus. Their mother taught some elf recipes and customs. One pet ferret for Gilda died and was buried in the elf cemetery. Great elves are not buried, but placed on high scaffolds and their bones are enshrined later. Alaric’s great-grandfather Euric was enshrined for learning to make metal objects. He decided that when the time comes for his adult rite of passage, he will give offerings and prayers to his great-grandfather’s shrine. The adult ritual celebrates an elf transition from childhood to adulthood. The elf gives offerings and says prayers to a shrine. He or she sits at the shrine until a vision occurs. Then a celebration occurs after the vision. Both Flax and Gilda had chosen their grandmother Lanie’s shrine. She married a sprite and taught new ways to the elves and her daughters, The Sorceress and Tatiana the Great.

“You are so quiet, Alaric,” interrupted Gilda.

“I’m pondering my future with Nix. I can’t decide on a profession to support a family. You and Flax had your futures chosen for you. I don’t have that luxury.” responded Alaric waking up from his thoughts.

“Luxury,” scolded Gilda. “What luxury? I wish I could have chosen my future as you can now. I never asked to marry a god. I wanted to be a judge and stop elves destroying each other. But I can have my wish within my circumstances of marrying Daxus. My vision told me to be careful what I wished for, I might get it. I wanted to break the betrothal, become chieftess of Leesville, and never leave home. But then, my love for Daxus overpowered my objections and I decided I could be a judge in the Black Forest. Isn’t that what you are thinking of, your adult ceremony? You should be since it is coming now that you starting shaving your face.”

“Yes, I thought of that. I almost fear it. What if my vision says to do something other than what I want?” Alaric thought out loud.

“Your vision will reveal how to exploit your gifts and joys. Look into your heart Alaric, and find your destiny.” finished Gilda.

Alaric looked into his heart and only saw Nix. How could her happy when so many oppose a marriage? He remembered tales of his grandmother marrying a sprite and many thought it wrong. All was forgiven when Leesville was hit with a plague that had no effect on sprites, but grandmother withheld sprite medicines from those who objected to her marriage. Perhaps, he would consult with the gods when he reaches the Black Forest. Days later the entourage arrived at their destination. Gilda’s hawk leaped to chase birds calling out of the arrival of the elves. Every creature peeked out of the shadows at their new queen. Most had never seen an elf before that day since the elves left the Black Forest when the ice world melted long ago. Gilda’s procession fascinated the animals. Half way through the forest, it began to sleet. They took shelter in centaurs’ homes. These centaurs live inside wooden shelters and sleep on piles of reeds. There are only two rooms, so it was quite crowded. The creatures heated a stone fireplace and gave the elves warm milk to drink. One young centaur handed out blankets. The female centaurs are grand weavers. Gilda begged to keep her blanket for her new home. The mother centaur was thrilled at the request. Once it stopped sprinkling mermaids came up to play. Next, Gilda’s unicorn acted peculiar. It refused to eat and became quite restless. It finally stepped into the icy tributary stream and disappeared. A darman appeared from the water and clapped his hands above his head. Servants rushed to him with robes and leather boots. In the master’s absence, the Queen Mermaid tended the guardian dragon Medusa flying around the sky. It landed on a snowy slope to give its master a ride to the palace gazing from a mountain. Daxus praises how everything seems to be in order compared as to when he left. Daxus flew away and the elves followed it to the fortress. They arrived at the front entrance and were welcomed by fauns. Their wet cloaks were taken to dry. Evergreen decorations were everywhere. Trees decorated with spiced apples. Garlands and wreathes were decorated with red ribbons and berries. Alaric was impressed by the foyer. Chandeliers hung high from the ceiling. Tapestries and murals decorated the walls. Statues and armor decorated the corners. Further in, stone staircases were ornate with figures of plants and creatures. Alaric saw a sprite installing a tile mosaic of Gilda in the wall. Light was reflected by huge brass mirrors. They are guided to a room with many chairs, stools, and cupboards. A large fireplace made from yellow brick warmed the room. Next, the elves are guided to a terrace where many creatures came to see the new queen. Gilda waves to her subjects. The subjects’ cheers are deafening.

They return inside and eat an early evening meal. Some wedding guests have arrived before the bride. The host invites the guests to the meal. The elves observe a different protocol when gods and goddesses get together. The dining tables along the walls surround a group of musicians and dancers. Every table has stone figures of symbols for all the guests to sit in the correct seat. The gods and goddesses sit at one table and the elves at another. Four courses are presented one at a time by odd servants. Alaric eyes Iris at a distance. She sits next to a god that Alaric guessed is her brother Rurik who changed him into a bear. He recognizes Elmo sitting on the other side of Iris. He cannot see Elexi or his sister. After the meal, the guests walk to the sitting room again. The elves are introduced to the underworld goddess Isis. Alaric thought her pale complexion and obsidian black hair made her appear like a ghost. Her husband, the phoenix afterlife soul judge, Hato sits perched on her shoulder. Their daughters Manda and Charise, looking like their mother except for red phoenix wings, listen quietly to the godly conversation. Eris’s son, the god of fire Devon, whisper thoughts to Charise, his betrothed. Next, the earth god Eridu is introduced to the elves. His wife, the sphinx hunt goddess Diana, chats away with fate goddess Freya by the window. Their son, the war god Eris, with a dashing smile of lion’s teeth, sits up properly next to his human wife, the volcano goddess Maya appearing as dreary as Isis. Their son Ryan who looks like a Lotan human placed himself across from Iris. Iris’s sprite brother Rurik holds hands with his wife, the music goddess Callisto, to interrupt their daughter Freya’s conversation. Iris’s half-brother her father had with moon goddess Seline shows off his levitating skills to the young Kalulah. It was for Nabu that Andos sent the witch to kidnap Lanie. Eridu comments how the wisdom goddess Athena first scorned her daughters for wanting to attend the wedding ceremony. Her husband, the centaur craftsmen god Talin, debated her grudge. He heard that Ishtar, the love goddess, and her family will arrive tomorrow with the Idun, the Holly King.

Iris left her elf body and transformed to her natural sprite body resembling an elf with large wings. Eris comments how it is sad the whole godly family would not attend the ceremony. Iris announces her pregnancy and again Alaric is changed into a black bear. Iris demands Rurik return Alaric to his elf form. Ryan, whom has recently come of age, soon announces his new godly post of god of chaos and mischief laughs heartedly at the argument. Rurik changes Alaric back and storms out of the room with his wife following him. Ryan’s mother remains oddly silent during the conversation as it is announced Ryan had a bride in mind. As the moon shined high in the sky, the elves retire to their bed chambers. They walk by drapes hiding the room-height windows. Alaric and Iris talk alone in her bed chamber. A faun gives them hot punch to drink. Upon hearing about Alaric’s engagement to Nix, Iris promises to give him a fine wedding present. She will start on it when she returns home. Iris speaks on creatures hunting pots of gold in her realm. One sprite actually took off with the treasure. Baskets were laid upon many windowsills in the fortress in hope the Holly King will bring gifts. Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Iris gives Alaric an Idun’s Eve gift of an amulet he can call her by. Alaric swings the embroidered pouched smelling of herbs around his neck. Finally, bids her good night with a kiss. When Alaric reaches his bed chamber, a faun there announces that the master has ordered baths drawn for all guests before settling into bed.

Alaric follows the faun into an adjoining room. Fresh clean towels hang on a chair. Steaming water filled a stone tub. The servant points out the soap, sponges, towels, and wooden sandals. He tells Alaric to leave his clothes in the bathtub room. The mermaids will wash them. He then leaves. It was the best bath Alaric had ever had, even better than his bath with Iris in the temple. He washes himself in the tub until the water grew cold. He slips on the sandals and wrapped himself in the towels. He enters his bed chamber where his bags sit near his bed. He changes into a soft wool shirt and woolen pants, tying them closed. He hears a door and the servant faun comes in to grab the towels. He bids the elf a pleasant sleep. The feather bed and pillows gave the amazed elf pleasant dreams. He thought he could live life like this forever, but then he thought he would get bored after a while. As usual, Iris came into his chamber because she couldn’t sleep. They talked into the night.

“My mother says you are just using my feelings to get children and that servitude ceremony to keep me from marrying Nix. I know you never marry me.” began Alaric.

“Alaric, now is not a good time to start a debate on the servitude ceremony.” replied Iris.

“You failed to answer to the first part. Do you love me at all or just using me to gratify yourself?” asserted Alaric.

“You know why I cannot marry you. My family would frighten you away like Eris and I cannot bear loosing you too. I know your mother resents my rejection, but you would be miserable living in my realm. A future hero belongs on Lotan, not in the sky.” responded Iris in tears.

“Are you planning to tell me how you feel about me in this conversation or fooling me to misunderstand you?” reacted Alaric.

“I am not fooling you and I would never drink a potion to help produce an immortal holy being with your help if I did not love you,” recited Iris with kiss. “Yes, I love you very much.”

The bed chamber began to shake and Iris tossed out a beam of light from her fingers.

“Quiet, Rurik!” shouted Iris.

“I do not think that was Rurik who became angry,” asserted Alaric.

“Quiet, Eris!” shouted Iris. “Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes, I am satisfied.” replied Alaric. “Good night, Iris.”

“Good night, Alaric.” whispered Iris with a kiss and wrapped her sprite wings around him.