Page 60 of Potions & Pints
“The truth is that my father had Idrulo — his own son, my brother, and your future chieftain — assassinated for his own means.”
The reaction of the crowd far surpassed a murmur this time, and Pili had to call for order to continue.
“I know this is a grave accusation, but my father has admitted it in the presence of the Librarian, many of our soldiers, and the newcomers, Tan’ith’ril the elf and Vir the orc. There is no doubt — my father is guilty and for this heinous betrayal, he is henceforth exiled.”
Sinifris began to protest but his cries were quickly drowned out by the boos of the crowd. They kept booing until the soldiers had taken him away.
Tan watched until the last, feeling something well up inside him as Sinifris was taken away. It was a feeling of pride — not just in what he had done, but perhaps in who he was becoming. A year ago he would never have thought he’d be able to act so nobly and it came as both a shock and a reassurance. Perhaps his heart wasn’t as black as he’d thought.
As the noise of the crowd died down, the Librarian stepped forward to join Pili in the center of the steps. He held up a hand that quieted the last murmurs of the assembly.
“Water elves of Laeve Taesi — Piliphre, son of the disgraced Chieftain Sinifris, has proven his loyalty to our tribe. He acted to broker an alliance while Sinifris murdered his own flesh and blood. It is clear who is the real leader of our tribe!”
The citizens of the underwater city cried out, raising their fists in celebration of Pili and Tan smiled at the reception. Not that he didn’t have concerns, but he was happy to see Pili once again embraced by his people.
“Do you accept the chieftainship of Laeve Taesi?” the Librarian asked, turning to Pili.
Pili turned back and Tan thought he saw a look of pride in the water elf’s eyes.
“I do,” replied Pili and the crowd erupted into applause again.
“Then repeat after me,” the Librarian said, reciting an oath.
Pili’s voice rang true and clear across the square as he spoke the same words.
“I, Piliphre, son of Sinifris and Madelia, of the water elves of Laeve Taesi, do pledge myself to the good of my people,” he said. Tan thought he spoke both humbly and with pride.
“I will set aside my own wellbeing if it means ensuring the well-being of the tribe. I will serve selflessly and loyally. And I will do everything in my power to ensure the safety, harmony, and prosperity of Laeve Taesi and its citizens. On my honor, on my word.”
Once more, the crowd erupted into cheers and as Pili turned to the crowd, he bowed, as if in their service. It was a far cry from how his father had treated his people.
As the people celebrated, Pili turned back to Tan and Vir.
“Would you play something for the occasion?” the new chieftain asked, turning to Vir with a smile.
The orc grinned broadly and pulled his water harp from where he now kept it — permanently strapped to his back.
As Vir played a lively song, the people danced and cheered, but Tan was frozen in place for the time being. Pili’s oath had struck something in him and the words played over and over in his head. He had the feeling they would stay there for a long time.
His reverie was broken when other citizens began to come in with their own instruments, apparently having run back to their homes to fetch them and turn the celebration into a real party.
Finally, Tan thought, a smile breaking out over his face. He’d been wondering what a water elf celebration might look like and was glad he got to see it in action. As the party came into full swing, Vir took a break from playing and rejoined Tan before they both made their way down the steps to the party proper.
“Tan! Vir!” came a voice through the crowd and Tan recognized it as his sister’s. As they found Dania, someone passed them a bottle and they drank a strange sweet wine in celebration, passing it between them.
“Wine!” came a voice and Tan looked over his shoulder to see Garu, Sori, and Ogen come running towards them, brandishing a few bottles of land wine.
“Where did you get those?” Tan asked and the orcs grinned mischievously in return.
“We found a shipwreck!” Sori answered, before taking a swig. “Somehow we managed to get there before the antiques dealers did!”
The orcs passed the bottles around and soon they were all talking, laughing and drinking, joining in with the water elves who were clearly ecstatic at Pili’s inauguration as chieftain.
All around them citizens of Laeve Taesi were dancing, laughing, cheering, singing and blowing bubbles with a kind of brewing excitement. Tan looked up to see the entire city square was practically boiling with masses of bubbles rocketing towards the surface from the hundreds of revelers and it made him smile. He’d never seen anything like it.
As best he could he breathed out of his gills sending a small spray of bubbles shooting out and joining the mass. Soon he couldn’t tell which bubbles were his and which belonged to those around him and something about that made him feel warm inside.
As he stared up into the shimmering ocean, he caught sight of Vir out of the corner of his eye and realized the orc had been watching him.Tan suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious but Vir only smiled, as he always did. Another wave of warmth rushed through Tan’s chest at the sight of it.
