FSE

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I step out of the Hunter 'house' with an apple in my hand early in the morning, a year after our arrival at Hope Point. {It was a busy year}, I reflect internally. A few months after our arrival a trader group appeared that we had not expected, it wasn't our first trading group; that had been a group of humans passing through who needed to exchange items for food. This one group was memorable, and they should be back next week.

They were minotaurs, and they were traveling like the gypsies use to via vardos. They were also effectively hippies, Alberich had been at the gate that day with Cassie. Her job at the gate was to ensure anyone who wanted entry into the city was disease free. It had been decided since she was also a truth teller that on court days Gilorndir would take her position.

December 2030:

I hear Alberich in my mind, {umm Gwen; you might wish to come to the gate and see the new group approaching.} I let him know I would come and head to the gate, I had been watching the city children spar with Shadow. Starburst was watching as well, "go on Gwen;" he starts chuckling. "You will be amused by these people." I shrug and head to the gate quickly.

I reach the gate and Alberich indicates a grouping of wagons approaching the city about a mile away. "Take a good look, I've asked Tammy to send extra gate guards." I peer into the distance Alberich lending me his vision for a moment and I see cattle headed people, I blink. "Those look like minotaurs," he nods his head and comments. "Yes, I had heard a long time ago that the stories from Crete weren't all that mythical."

We watch as they approach a few guards joining us and milling about to not appear as if they were called out just for the new group. The wagons themselves pull off our road close by the gate and form a circle like the old tales from the America's past. One of the males, a rather large one approaches the gates in a vary linguine walk. He had multiple braids and dreadlocks in his hair and waves his hand like he was trying to get our attention. Which he already had of course, his pants; he was shirtless. Well, you could probably see them from Teacher John's space station. They were cloth of some unknown type and vivid bright orange, with pastel flowers scattered over them.

He stands in front of us with what I could only guess was a smile, I then noticed his horns were capped with pieces of cork that looked like stars but pink color. He starts talking, very excitedly; the inner tone of his voice wasn't quite rumbly like Starburst's. However, it certainly was close.

"Hey there DUUUUDESSSSS, me and my compadre's were wondering if you cool folks would let us crash here till spring. We can trade some fun stuff to you for some awesome vegan foods!" I blink at the words the guy used and recall my mother talking about the 1960's and the 1990's. This was either a hippie or a 'surfer dude'.

I hear Gilorndir's voice behind me, "we'd love to see this 'stuff' you have to trade; can you tell us your name?" I didn't flinch even though the guards had, I heard him approach; but the guards still couldn't hear an elf that walked silent as yet.

The minotaur scratches between his horns a moment, "aw DUDE did I forget to do that again? My name is Moonbeam and my group is called the Flower wagons, we picked up the wagon idea from gypsies years ago; aren't they just cool?"

I nod in agreement, "nice to meet you Moonbeam. I am Gwen the main Hunter here at Hope Point. We don't know anything about your people except for of course myth based on the maze from Crete." Moonbean nods his head so fast I thought it might fly off his head.

"Not surprised Dudette, we of the Flower wagons are all about inner calm and peace for all." He gives a knowing look to Alberich, "we have a few oddballs in our family tree just like anyone. We have this knarly problem when we hit puberty, and we can't control our emotions. Especially the Dudes, and we go off on a quest of inner peace away from the wagons till we achieve our inner calm. That silly human caught one of our little Dudes and he never learned about inner calm. Our Dudettes almost never have the same problem, but when they do they are worse."

I nod my head, "so you would prefer to stay outside the city for your lodgings?" I wave at his wagons and the people who were scurrying around setting up their camp. He nods his head, "that's right Dudette, it's easier to keep inner peace without the walls oppressing us." I blink again, "um; alright. Do you mind if we keep a few extra guards outside to make sure no one coming to the city bother's your people?"

Moonbeam grins bigger, "aw DUUUUDESSSS thank you!" Gilorndir steps forward and touches my shoulder as he passes, "Hunter Gwen. I will handle the trade with these folks, I know their dietary requirements and they might have some pain killers they can trade to me." I nod my head and wave my hand. I was still watching the rest of the man's group, it seems the larger of the minotaurs would harness themselves to the wagons to pull them so they wouldn't use any beasts of burden. I found that impressive and also worrying as if one of them did 'lose control' it could be a problem for us.

I then walk to the main guard house and look for either Tammy or Samuel, and oddly find both eating in their mess hall. They both spot me and go to stand and I wave them back to their seats and sit across from them. One of their recruits giving me a mug of tea, "so guys our newest 'guests' could potentially cause problems. However, it is very unlikely they would intentionally." They both give me a look, and I explain my observations of the minotaurs. Tammy thinks a moment before responding, "good on the healer to do the trading. We'll need to keep the youngster's away from that camp, so we'll have the older guards as well as ones with families do the watches. We don't want any 'fun' substances in the hands of the children. I'll also ask for Cassie to 'scan' them once a day to see if there is any issue with their normal thought patterns." Samuel nods in agreement, "and I'll explain in detail to the other's what will happen to them if any of our children recruits goes out for fun at night. Seeing as how the ones we normally have guarding the recruit barracks will be watching our guests." I thank them both and finish my tea and head back to my own work.

September 2031:

Those minotaurs were definitely a surprise, and they informed us if they are in the area they will camp for winter again here. Thankfully we spent the warm months having the people who wished to trade for their taxes help prepare a new camp spot along the wall just for the Flower wagons. We had acquired some fast growing short grass seeds that had also the added benefit that if something repeatedly crushed it it wouldn't die.

We put in a small apple orchard of a type that doesn't get picked till mid December, just for their use. If they aren't here by then, our ale maker or our soon to arrive wine maker get first pick of them. Our wine maker is due to arrive today with our Arms Master, he was apparently guarding the young woman on her parent's say so. They also demanded they travel overland, as they were one of the few elves who had stayed out of the dwarven homes during the time they were in hiding. She's the reason the Arms Master wasn't here as yet.

Harriet has been enjoying her now one year old grandson, her and Gilorndir were married on the Spring Solstice. Amusingly, she is also now pregnant; to both her and her husband's amusement. He knew it was possible, and he also has been giving her things to extend her life and to return some of the strength that is lost over the years in humans. She'll live another one hundred years and be capable of having children for another fifty of those years.

She is due in midwinter, so with his first child on the way Gilorndir has been trying to make sure everything is prefect for the baby. To annoy her husband Harriet told him to not predict the gender of it, it's her payback to not warning her she could now get pregnant. Seeing as how he will do anything she asks. It seems elves have a unique way of finding a life partner, they start dreaming of their perfect partner once they hit puberty until either they find them or the person in question dies. They can marry other people, but it apparently isn't as satisfying as the person they are meant to pair up with.

After giving birth to her son Calliope was bed ridden for three days, based on what Gilorndir said it was just for show. After that third day she found a way out of the city, at least in her mind without anyone seeing her. We have not heard of her since she left, we're hoping we won't ever again.

We did have another group of memorable traders come through not long after Harriet and Gilorndir's wedding.

April 2031:

Jose finds me sparing with Alberich in our training ring, "Hunter Gwen; we need you at the gate now Jake is awaiting you." Jose sees that I heard and rushes back to the city proper. I hand my sword to Shadow and give Alberich a look and he looks angry, I tilt my head. "What is it Alberich?" He stamps a hoof, "there is an 'animal' trader at the gate with 'things' he shouldn't have." Strongheart who had been talking with Starburst on the outer wall glides down into the ring. She starts ripping at the ground with her talon's. The female hippogryph was just as agitated as Alberich. "Yes, can we hurry Hunter. I'd like to shred this trader before my Hunter wakes from his nap please."

I nod my head and hurry towards the gate, Alberich speaks to me in my mind to save time. {I asked Sir Iron to join us, and he is very unhappy}. Sir Iron is another 'strong' unicorn the leader of a group who joined the city back in January. They are all of the war horse type and all want to work on farms. So they spend all their time helping out our farmers. Sir Iron is called that because he is twice Alberich's name and was a general in an army and his horn is half missing due to the fighting he did in his past. When he met Cassie he was livid that someone would have cut her horn off, and would have rampaged had both Tammy and Alberich not informed him that the person who did it was dead by Alberich's hoofs.

We get to the gate with dread filling my mind at the thought of the old unicorn coming and unhappy to boot. I reach the gate to hear shouting and I stop dead in my tracks when I see why. There was a human arguing with Tammy, Cassie standing behind her shaking from anger. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT THESE ARE MY ANIMALS THEY BELONG TO ME. I WAS TOLD I COULD TRADE HERE YOU ARE ROBBING ME!"

I see the 'animals' he had, Gilorndir was looking over a mixed group of beings. Three young war horse unicorns, all with whip marks on their flanks. Two young gryphons their flight feathers plucked and what looked like the remains of hoods on their heads. Also next to Tammy was three Dragon eggs. I see Jake trying to reason with the human, and I shove Jake out of the way as I pull out a dagger and hold it to the human's throat.

"You human, are in violation of our LAWS! I place you under arrest." The man gives me a look, "by whose authority?" I put my face right up against his, "BY THE RIGHT OF ME BEING A HUNTER!" The man makes a rude noise, "yeah right. I heard you 'Hunters' can't defend against a human, so try me."

I grin wickedly as Shadow steps behind me, "see the man behind me? He's my bodyguard, the unicorn I showed up with is another of my body guards. Take this 'human' to the center square." I step back as the man pales upon hearing I had guards. Jake takes a deep breath, "thank you for coming so swiftly; as you are required for these official notices." I nod my head and make a mental note to alter things so if another 'animal trader' arrives the guard can just arrest them straight out.

They take the man away and I approach the wagon the man had, it was covered. Tammy seeing where I was going and says, "I already looked it over; Hunter that's why the eggs are here." I shake my head, "something tells me I need to look inside it."

I climb into the wagon and I look it over carefully noting that the inside bottom wasn't the same size as the way it looked on the outside. I discover an odd panel and I pull it back and yell, "Gilorndir get in here NOW! Cassie and the other unicorns can help the younglings I NEED YOU HERE!" The healer rushes over to me and I start pulling human children out of the cramped compartment. There was three young girls about the age of five and a boy about eleven. Then I pull out a young female minotaur, Gilorndir looks livid.

I tell him to take the children to his clinic and I would check on them later after dealing with the 'trader'. When I get out of the wagon Sir Iron and StrongWing were both present and fuming. "Easy both of you, take them to a member of your group who can help them. If they need medicine Gilorndir will send it to you, Strongheart, please dispose of the eggs please." Strongheart waited while Tammy placed the eggs in a carrier for her to take, and she took off. We learned that dropping them from a great height will work just as good as breaking them by hand. The two leaders rush the younglings away and I slowly walk to the center square trying to calm down.

I could hear the child who was this week's day crier announcing a public trial was about to occur. People were coming out of their homes and those who saw me gave me a wide berth after seeing my face and Alberich's.

I reach the square and stand on the dais that is used for pubic punishments Shadow holding the man whom he has temporarily gagged. I close my eyes and wait thirty minutes for the crowd to gather, the council members standing in the front. Jake standing with a portable desk to take down the account.

I open my eyes and I clear my throat and the people go silent except for the bound man. I adjust my voice so it will project and I turn to the man, "I suggest you calm yourself if you wish to speak at all on your behalf." The man gives me an angry look and quiets down, I indicate to Shadow to ungag the man.

I speak to the group, "this man is accused of torture and slavery. To whom do you ask? To three unicorn children, two gryphon children, four human children, and one teen-aged minotaur. The unicorns have whip marks on their flanks, the gryphons were hooded and their flight feathers plucked out. I do not know what he has done to the humanoid children, we await Gilorndir to find out." I turn to the man, "speak if you have anything that could defend your actions."

The man stands more upright, "I own those animals and slaves. They were sold to me so they are mine! You have no right to take them from me." The crowd starts talking angrily, and the man notices some of the speakers are not human and pales. Gilorndir is approaching the eleven year old that was in the wagon is with him limping.

When they arrive at the dais Gilorndir nudges the boy who starts speaking quietly. The man tries to yell at the boy and Shadow gags the man again. "This man beat us, he broke my leg a week ago. He was hoping to sell us to a brothel for a lot of money, even the minotaur; said there was a market for 'that thing'." The boy cringes as if he was going to be beat I turn to my healer, "have him stay at my compound till you can talk to the orphan mom. He can at least have some quiet then." Gilorndir nods his head and leaves with the boy.

I turn to the man and speak to the crowd, "all who think he is guilty say aye." The crowd erupts as they in unison spoke aye. "any who think he is not at fault speak." Aside from the man trying to make noise there was dead silence. I smile wickedly and nod to Tammy who had a few of the parent guards step forward. They grabbed the man leaving him gagged tied him to the whipping structure, then the three of them picked up the lash with the glass tips. "Mr Trader, for your crime; You will be whipped. You shall receive forty lashes, your money in your wagon will be confiscated to be used towards those children's healing process. Then you will be banished from this city, if you return. I shall send the unicorns, and gryphons after you; they want blood." I then stand watching the punishment delivered.

September 2031:

I shake my head at the memory, all of the children were well now. The young minotaur, whose name is Flower has asked to not be returned to her people. She feels more connected to our city than her people seeing as how they didn't try to find her. She's wanting to apprentice with the ale maker once she finishes schooling, she couldn't read when she arrived. The young man his name is Timothy is hoping to gain entrance to the guard when he is done with school. Gilorndir and Atsuko had to re-break his leg to set it correctly. The other children quietly joined their respective communities within the city with no issues of yet.

As I approach the gate, so I could meet the Arms Master when he arrives I hear some voices talking. "Well Ullothsell (there's and accent above the u), we have made it to the city. Now I have the unpleasant task of meeting this female Hunter, and hoping that I can train her to be a real Hunter. Why couldn't she have been the one to die instead of her brother. It would have made things much easier for everyone." I was furious, Alberich stills next to me.

I stride out of the gate and surprise a young female elf and the large built male elf next to her. I bow to the female, "greetings Ullothsell. I welcome you to our fine city, I hope you enjoy living here." I then turn to the male who looks like he was pole axed. "As for you feel free to ask about, on how 'unreal' of a Hunter I am. Don't worry about sullying your pristine hands by training me," I pat Alberich's shoulder. "I am certain my friend here and my human body guard can do what ever you thought was necessary to turn me into a 'real Hunter'. So please move into the guards camp as I know they need a trainer too, this way you won't even have to look at me."

I then turn around and stalk off towards the school to take the kids out for the morning.