32.2 Frozen Shade

General Summary

Day 488

Travel is uneventful as we round the Easternmost edge of the Sea and begin circling around to head West.  

Day 489

Around midday we come upon a village still under construction following the storm. I am quite sure that such a village was never here when the Sea was desolate so it must be entirely new construction, set at the foot of a hill. To our surprise we are hailed by a human boy who calls out for us to be welcome in their shade and asks if Trillium is a Seeker.   He leads us in and hands us over to a middle-aged elf who introduces himself as Whistle. The village itself is built exactly like a Frontier village, from the layout to the details of the houses. If it weren't for the unfamiliar building materials I might be at home. It is mostly humans at work but a few dwarves, and evidently an elf or two.   Whistle tells us that he was guided here by a Fatespinner who bid him to gather folks here. He is weathered and warm and clearly has no idea who I am, and I am in no rush to tell him. It is such a pleasure being here in his sturdy log cabin, drinking chilled tea. I am still not convinced that tea deserves to be chilled but...it would be rude to object.   After telling us a little about their village of Frozen Shade he leads me to the only stone house in the area to meet their Fatespinner, a woman named Ilia. I send the others to explore the village so that I can meet this woman alone at first. Within the home it is dark except for a single candle and Ilia herself is cloaked in a deep hood, unusual to wear indoors. When I enter she kneels immediately.  

I didn't dare believe...but you're here. I can let things go a little.

  I beckon her to rise and offer a brief explanation to Whistle, who looks confused. Ilia tells me that she has been guided in her dreams by her lord, who set her to Seeking and then called her to bring together people in this village with the promise that they would be swept into greater shade in the future. She tells me he speaks as one of the High Ones (long-standing noble families) and granted her a limited amount of sight to aid her since she has been burned by the humans. Beneath her hood she has indeed been burned and blinded, much like some of the Severed. I know that I am strong enough to restore someone's shade by myself now but I am certain that if Thalien picked her up I ought to consult with him before I restore her. I hope he will answer me tonight.   She does feel like she has been Severed, but similarly to Rina she has a faint borrowed shadow about her. From her story I get the sense that she is another gift from Thalien. When I tell her about my lost brother she asks me to thank him and says she knew he must be someone powerful to guide her so clearly from the Dreaming.   Between her and Whistle, neither of them are willing to step forward and be the leader this place needs. It is just - better a reluctant leader than a tyrant. But a community needs pillars and Whistle especially must become someone who can support and be supported by his people.   The two of them bring me out through the village to show me what they have built. Frozen Shade contains 200 humans and two dozen each of elves and dwarves. As we tour the roads I notice an elf scholar teaching a lesson to children of all the races about elvish history and language. Tending to some of them are mothers, and one human woman is diligently taking her own notes.   And we reconvene with Trillium as the two elvish soldiers Ilia told me about return to the town. They walk lightly and wave as they approach, introducing themselves as siblings Traelin and Maesha. It is already remarkable to meet siblings on this side but even more remarkable is the crest on their matched swords. I know it as well as my own house's crest. When I put my arm around Trillium and remark that they fought for my brother, they name their captain, then their general, then look confused until Trillium names Doraal. Being a Hand offers such opportunity for mischief as well as governance of our people...I take what I can.   The rest of the day passes with reports from the siblings. They had been evacuating a Frontier town when they had to flee through the Barrier and they remained together through it, coming out in Dwarven lands far to the South. Since then they have travelled up and down the edge of the Barrier collecting elves and sending them on to safe places. They have maintained a detailed, careful map of their travels and noted safe havens as well as curious or dangerous sites. Amongst their notes are elvish ruins in the hills nearby and radiant trees far to the South.   I am so delighted with their work that it is exactly what I want them to return to once Frozen Shade is safely folded into the Outlands. Skirmishers collecting loose elves is exactly what we need right now.