Elven Roses

To the residents of this dwelling,

It has been decided by unanimous decision of the Lusea city council, that for wanton civil disturbance, your claims to this property are forthwith revoked, and you are evicted from your home and from the city proper. Final movements are to be completed by the week after the posting of this letter. Refusal of this order can and will be met with legal action.

Signed,

The Lusea city council.

To the residents of this dwelling,

It has been decided by unanimous decision of the Lusea city council, that for wanton civil disturbance, your claims to this property are forthwith revoked, and you are evicted from your home and from the city proper. Final movements are to be completed by the week after the posting of this letter. Refusal of this order can and will be met with legal action.

Signed,

The Lusea city council.

"It was to be expected," Aldrec said, and thanked Krako.

"This is even further proof of our need to leave," Jenius said, a far greater sense of urgency was in his voice as he finally wrenched himself from his fascination. "The council of Lusea is elven, but humans have far more direct ways of expressing their disapproval. We have to leave at once. You're not safe here."

"It's too late," Tescadji said, glancing out the window, and quickly throwing the drapes back into place. "They're here."

His warning was immediately adjoined by a startling sound of shattering glass through the hallway. One shock abated was replaced with more, as other windows shattered all around the house, including the den, where a lead brick appeared at Aldrec's feet, surrounded by a confetti of glass shards Mericlou's fingers dug deep into her husband's shoulders as shouts and jeers flowed from outside into the den, and all about the house.

"How did they get here?" Sedriil said, as Alaema clung to him from behind as tightly as Noroa was to Garen. "I didn't even hear them coming."

"None of us did," Skori replied, his eyes dancing back and forth across the den, assessing the situation. "But if this entire commotion has been going on as long as Tescadji and the chief say, then our house was already found out. That letter the dragon found is proof enough of that. Someone might have been staking this place out, and told others that we'd returned. As for how quietly they arrived, it might have been a silencing talisman; who knows?"

"Come out here!" A coarse-sounding voice yelled from outside, joined immediately by a discordant chorus of taunts.

Krako snarled, baring his canines. It was the first time Mericlou had heard the dragon's true voice, and it sounded more like an animal than any civilized being, as deep and guttural as a dog or a bear.

"Look, we'll make it real simple," the voice bellowed once again. "If the 'droid and her pervert elf lover don't come out in about a minute, we'll send about a dozen Molotovs to make you come out! Understand?"