Ch. 3 The Elders

Jaci led him into a central, giant hall. Detric looked around in wonder...the entire building seemed to have been carved out of a tree, though it was far to large to have been built from a single tree, the craftsmanship was incredible. Everything had a practical purpose, yet everything had a natural beauty about it. Even the floor and the ceiling were crafted in such a way that the appeared to have the rings of a tree. Detric was impressed with the care that was put into the architecture here, the villages and cities of his homeland seemed ugly and cold compared to the architecture of the elfkind.
His Amazement was interrupted by Jaci speaking to five male elves seated at a semi-circle table in the center of the room and a language he had never heard before “Even their speech is more beautiful than ours!” He thought to himself. Jaci, realizing he did not understand the language, translated for him
“I have introduced you to the elders, normally, all official business in these halls are in Sylvian, but they have agreed for your sake to speak the common tongue. You see before you, starting on your left, Arvid, the junior elder; Anshelm, the chief cleric, note his eyes, only clerics of the source have silver eyes, and you should respect all silver eyed elfkind you meet; Pridbjorn, Chief shape shifter: Eilert, Warrior Captain of the forests; and on your far right, Gereon, the head elder, and the oldest and wisest among us”

“Tell us Detric Orlendr” Arvid, an elf with golden hair and green eyes spoke first “How did you come upon our lands, and what is your purpose”
Detric was not sure how he should address such an assembly, but decided that this was an equivalent to a royal court back home, and so spoke accordingly, explaining his past as he had to Jaci, how he had left his homeland feeling unwelcome and out of place, and determined to head north, to the land of legends and myths, to seek a new life, and how Jaci had saved him from an orc ambush, invited him here, and told him of a purpose for his heart for music
The Elders conversed amongst themselves in the language of the elfkind, and after a short time, Arvid spoke again
“You may stay, and welcome. Jaci will introduce you to Aloysuis, he will be your trainer, we shall see if your music is indeed of use to the Source. You are welcome here, but know this, do not leave the village alone, you do not know these lands or our customs, for now, someone shall always be with you, both for your protection and ours.”
With that, Jaci led him out of the central hall, and to another building nearby. Detric's heart jumped. Flowing from this building was some of the finest music he had ever heard! Inside were a gathering of elfkind, all looking jaci's age or younger, though it seemed to Detric, from what he saw and what he had heard of legend, that young for an elfkind was entirely another matter than young for a human. Jaci waited for the song to cease, and led him to the elf in the center of the group
“Aloysuis, I found you a little brother wandering in the forests”
“Oh?” the dark skinned, silver haired elf turned and looked at Detric, seeming to look into his soul with his dark blue eyes
“Younger brother indeed, you have a heart for music Orlendr?”
Jaci explained that Orlendr meant outsider in their tongue
“I am Detric, and I have loved music since birth. My homeland does not see much use for music, outside of amusement, and so I left seeking a new life. Jaci says you can show me a new purpose for my music.”
Aloysuis smiled, “We shall see what the Source has in mind for you, play me a tune”
Detric noticed that Jaci had slipped away, and suddenly felt alone, but proceeded to play.
He played a new song, one he had never played before, a song of hope, of friends, and of joy. He surprised even himself with how beautiful his music sounded
“The Source has a plan for you indeed. You know how to play, but do you know how to control your music?”
“Control?”
“Music, if controlled and used properly, has the power to heal, to instill courage, fear, to increase or to steal strength, music is a magic in and of itself, a weapon, a spell, when you master your true song, you can do powerful deeds.”
“My true song?”
“The source will reveal it to you in time, it is the source of your greatest power, only you can play it, and no-one can teach it to you. You will know it when you find it, but only through training will you be able to truly control it. I shall teach you the ways of a baird, but only through the Source will you learn.”