but he had spoken and that was enough.
In truth he’d done much more. Not just understanding Erienne’s feelings but defusing the whole stupid argument. Now, Denser and Hirad were chatting away like it had never happened and Ilkar looked at them across the fire and shook his head.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ said The Unknown next to him.
Ilkar had noticed him studying the ants that swarmed over the fish bones at his feet, breaking down anything useful and carrying it off. It was the way of the rainforest. Everything was used.
‘I don’t understand those two and I probably never will,’ said Ilkar. ‘What is it with them? Put them round a campfire and they’re at each other’s throats about something trivial.’
‘It wasn’t trivial, though, was it?’ said The Unknown. ‘Hirad’s right.’
‘But he can’t communicate it, can he?’
‘And Denser should know that by now and stop rising to the bait. You should have a word.’
‘And do you think he’s got the right attitude?’ asked Ilkar.
‘Who, Denser?’
‘Who else?’
The Unknown shrugged. ‘Hard to say. He was only trying to protect Erienne, I think. He’s just looking for an outlet. He’ll be fine when we get back to Balaia and he can feel more useful.’
They fell silent, watching Thraun and Darrick. Since his first utterance, Thraun had said very little and much of his confusion seemed to have returned. But they were all working on him now in turn and Darrick was once again trying to get him to accept a sword. It was looking a lot simpler this time.
‘What brought it on, do you think?’ asked Ilkar.
‘Erienne,’ said The Unknown. ‘Or, more precisely, what she said. His words came from very deep, didn’t they?’
‘I’m amazed he can remember what happened to Will.’
‘Like I say, it came from very deep. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at what he retains from before he was a wolf those five years.’
‘Maybe not.’ Ilkar stretched out his legs. ‘Any more tea on the go?’
‘Just some muck you’re boiling down,’ said Hirad from across the fire. ‘Is it really all necessary?’
Ilkar smiled. ‘You’ll be glad of that muck tomorrow.’
But he had to admit he and Ren were monopolising the fire. Three pots hung from Kayloor’s spit. Hirad was already clutching cloth balls steeped in rubiac fruit and there was more boiling away for Darrick, who had suffered similar blistering. Next to it, Aeb’s legumia was infusing and the last pot held a dozen mashed gentian plants that Ren was boiling to a paste to dry out and use as an insect repellent. It wasn’t a perfect solution but it was the best they had.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Yes, Hirad, you can,’ said Ilkar. ‘And I say that with a due sense of foreboding.’
‘You keep going on about us not understanding how elves live over here, and according to Captain Miserable snoring in his hammock over there we even cut the brush down wrong. Are we upsetting something by just being here, is that it?’
Ilkar couldn’t hide his surprise. ‘How unusually perceptive of you. Let’s make some more tea and I’ll fill you in on some useful detail. It might stop you getting yourselves hurt.’
‘I’ve got a better idea,’ said Hirad, reaching into his sack. He threw a sealed pouch over to Ilkar. ‘I’ve been saving it.’
Ilkar unclasped the pouch and sniffed. He smiled. ‘Coffee.’
‘That comes under critical equipment, does it?’ Darrick’s head had snapped up at the word.
‘Indeed not, General, but any that think I shouldn’t have it can relieve themselves of the trouble of drinking any.’
Ilkar laughed into the silence. ‘Is there room for one more pot on there, I wonder?’
They made room, and soon, with the smell of the grounds pervading every nostril and steaming mugs in every hand, Ilkar spoke.
‘At the core of elven life on Calaius is their belief in the balance of life. The closest translation is “harmony”. They believe that all elements - air, earth, fire, water and mana - exist in this state of perpetual harmony and that it is a delicate balance that must be protected. I can’t emphasise enough how deeply these beliefs are ingrained in the elves who live here and the energy with which they uphold them. To this end, every elf believes him- or herself to be a guardian of the harmony to a greater or lesser degree and that is why you should be mindful of loose comments or careless actions.’
‘And what happens if this harmony is disturbed?’ asked Denser.
‘Well, that depends what you believe. There