How I Learned to Speak Faendryl

Quick Note: To understand the situations below, a larger knowledge of my past must be told. After having been abducted by bandits while returning to Ta'Nalfein after the death of my parents, I was sold into slavery. During the attack on us, I had fallen from the carriage, and when I woke I could not remember anything. The amnesia didn't fade until many years later, and to this day I am still remembering odd bits and pieces. The "man" who bought me was a fat pig of an innkeeper whose wenches served a dual purpose. I was put to work as one of those wenches, even though I was not more than twelve. Luckily, I spent only a year or two there before Oort was slain by the piratess Liteik, who later adopted me.

When I was young and in the "care" of the Oort the Horrible, working tables and preparing food, there were wretched long nights and tiring days in the Shrieking Maid Tavern. Although they were undesirable circumstances, I still had some fun during those years, being raised by twelve or so beautiful women, only one or two of which had any intelligence. Well, that's not entirely fair, the others were quite adept at what they did, and passed on invaluable knowledge to me, such as how to apply kohl and rouge, where to get more food when my allotted portion wasn't enough, the art of love, how to sneak out without anyone seeing, how to spot a thief, how to be one and many other things I couldn't have survived without.

One night I had trouble sleeping. I tiptoed downstairs looking for a flask of milk I could warm. I snuck down quietly, in case any customers were about, and saw dark shapes huddled in the common room. At first I figured they were drunken guests fallen asleep at a table, but then one stood up, motioning to the others with her hands. I recognized her to be Zimis, the most silent of Oort's girls. I snuck into a corner and strained to listen. They were speaking in an odd tongue, almost musical, it reminded me vaguely of the crude Elven we spoke. After many hours the strangers became quiet, I had almost fallen asleep as they went out. I looked up to see Zimis slumped over a table, sobbing quietly. I stood up slowly, and without lifting her head she motioned for me to come to her.

"Its all right, Little Pie." (Little Pie was the girls' affectionate name for me.) I sat next to her and she ran her hands through my hair, sniffling now and again. Never being one for tact, I asked her about the visitors, and the language she spoke. I told her how beautiful it was. She smiled then, and turned me to face her. "I cannot tell you about those men, dearest, but I can tell you about the language." With that she began to talk about the intricacies of the Elven nations, their history and how they split. She told me tales of horrible undead minions and the pain that squabbling among houses had caused. She then unfolded the present situation of the former Faendryl elves. It was not until the dawn began to come that she had finished. She told me that if I wanted to learn more that she would teach me for a few hours each night.

I had always been interested in knowledge and the going-ons outside the tavern, but never had I such an opportunity to learn such great things. Of course I went the next night, and every night after that either her or myself were not working with guests. She taught me what is was to be an elf, not just a country peasant. She told me of the delicacies of the royal court and Elven nobility. She also told me of the gods and the greatness they had. Story after story fell from her rouged lips. I tried to retain as much information as I could, always looking forward to the night so I might learn more. In those dark nights she taught me more than to speak the language of the Faendryl elves, she taught me more of life and my heritage than I have learnt since.

The last time I saw her was after Liteik came and slew Oort. She had some quiet words with the piratess, and gave her a box. She kissed me on the forehead, and told me that I must find happiness and seek knowledge for her wherever I went. In return for her kind words I gave her a bracelet that had taken me months to aquire. She promised me she would wear it always, then disappeared in a flurry of veils and sailors.

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