Page 22 of War Bound

Bertie finally squirmed out of Paige’s grasp and off her lap. “My present?”

“Yes, it’s time for presents for you and Finn.” Essie set the two gifts on her lap and patted the space in front of her.

Averett set Finn on the ground, and both nephews hurried closer, though they halted just out of arm’s reach, staring at Farrendel. He was a stranger to them, and they were wary of strangers. Especially one with long, flowing hair and pointed ears. At least he wasn’t wearing his swords. That would just make him even more intimidating.

Essie gave them both a smile, trying to put them at ease. “It’s all right. The presents are from both me and Uncle Farrendel.”

Farrendel was sitting still, doing an admirable job of not looking too scary. If anything, his eyes had a soft, longing look to them. Did he perhaps like children? She’d never asked him. How much would he put up with? “His hair is very soft. And his ears feel just like our ears.”

Farrendel glanced at her, his mouth tilted in a hint of his smile, and leaned forward, sweeping his hair behind his ear.

Essie held a hand out to Bertie. “Do you want to feel his ears and hair? He doesn’t bite.”

Now she was making Farrendel sound like an animal in a zoological park. But Farrendel seemed like he was going to oblige her nephews. At three and one, it would help them understand. Hopefully.

Bertie inched forward, still staring wide-eyed.

Essie touched her own ear. “Here, feel your ear.”

Bertie patted his ear with his hand.

“Now touch his ear.” Essie traced a finger over the point of Farrendel’s ear. He froze. She tried to remain casual. “See, Bertie. Farrendel’s ear might be shaped differently, but he’s still a person like us.”

The others in the room had taken to quietly talking about their gifts, though Essie could still feel plenty of gazes focused on them. She kept her focus on the nephews and Farrendel.

Bertie poked Farrendel’s ear, then patted a lock of Farrendel’s hair. “You are nice.”

“Yes, he is. I like him very much.” Essie patted Farrendel’s arm, feeling him relax as he straightened. “Now would you like to open your gifts?”

“Yes!” Bertie plopped down and, as soon as Essie handed his gift over, yanked at the strings tying the canvas wrapping closed.

Essie held out a hand to Finn. “Do you want me to help you open your present?”

Finn gave Farrendel a wide berth before he plopped into Essie’s lap. She tugged on the bow she’d tied back in Estyra. The string loosened and the wrapping fell apart, revealing a carved wooden figurine about two inches tall of an elf warrior that looked a lot like Farrendel, with two swords raised and his hair flying behind him. Finn snatched it up, grinning. “Army guy!”

“Yes, it’s an army guy. An elf army guy.”

Bertie glanced over at it, made a whining noise, and shook his package. He’d managed to get the string tangled, rather than loosed. He held the sad-looking bundle out to Farrendel. “Uncle Farrendel, can you do it?” Bertie stretched out Farrendel’s name, as if trying to figure out exactly how to say it. It was an awful lot of syllables for a three-year-old to tackle in a single name.

Farrendel took the bundle and picked at the string, trying to untangle the knot Bertie had made.

After a moment, Averett held out his new dagger, gripping it by the blade with the hilt toward Farrendel. “Here. This will make it easier.”

With a glance at Averett, Farrendel took the knife and sliced the string in a single swipe. Just how sharp were those daggers he’d gifted her brothers?

“Elf guy.” Finn clutched the figurine in a fist, waving it about. He stood, as if to leave, but Essie reeled him back in, tugging him back onto her lap. “You still have another present.”

She was just as curious as Finn was to find out what Farrendel might have decided to give her nephews. Hopefully nothing sharp. After untying the string, she unwrapped the canvas and revealed...a second figurine. This one looked like Essie. The figurine had a rifle strapped across her back, making her look warlike without being in a fighting pose.

Essie laughed and glanced at Farrendel. “Now I know why Fingol gave me such a strange look when I picked up my order. I thought it was because wooden figurine toys weren’t something you had in Tarenhiel. But apparently, we had the same idea.”

“I did not know what to give them, and he mentioned your gift. So I asked him to make another one.” Farrendel returned the dagger to Averett as Bertie hopped to his feet, a figurine clutched in each fist, as he raced around the room to show everyone his new toys.

Finn joined him a moment later, waving around his own figurines. Once their new toys had been admired by everyone, the boys raced to the corner where they dumped out baskets filled with their toy soldiers.

“So, Farrendel...” Averett swiveled in his chair to face them better. “Essie has sent us a lot of letters, but I’d like to hear it from you. Tell us about yourself. What’s your role in Tarenhiel? What sort of accommodations do you have in the elven palace?”

Farrendel shifted, staring at his hands.

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