Elf Maidens of Thurn

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Chapter 41 - Difficult Decisions

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The indecision of the Atenex leadership is a recipe for disaster. The neighbours around Atene's small enclave are in turmoil. The dangers posed by the ambitious leaders of Merope and Thurn need the Atenex people uniting and preparing. While military invasion may not be imminent, subjugation can come in other forms. Elves descended from Atene's pioneers already provide cheap labour for Thurnian factories and mines. Those same factories and mines supply the Thurnian war machine currently locked in a civil war. The Merope senate has dreams of territorial gains at the expense of its neighbours. Even if those threats don't directly endanger Atene, the risk of scores of refugees arriving in Atene is higher now than at any time since our peoples emerged from their Potiora hibernation chambers.

It's three weeks since our exploration party of ten arrived back in Atene. We've received indirect news about the troubles in Thurn. That news is thanks to a message relayed from Tewhanga by Marianne. She travelled to the Merope Potiora to use the ability of the strange Potiora machines to send messages to each other. When I visited the machine called Dioxippe in the Atene Potiora, I discovered Marianne's message waiting for me.

"Marianne says that Captain Ortolan returned to Tewhanga a week or so after we left," I tell Cassandra, Ikaroa and Nyree while they work in the Halls of Ancestors. "However, he wasn't there to pick up the banished Elf Maidens and return them to Thurn. He delivered another twenty two adolescent elves expelled from Thur. The other news he carried wasn't any more promising. The Chief Procurator's coup has secured control of Thur, but those loyal to the Emperor still roam the surrounding countryside. The captain could only repeat rumours about the Emperor's whereabouts, although it seems as though he's still alive. Meanwhile in the east, Isbjerg and the settlements east of the Reakie river have declared independence."

Akenehi has taken my earlier warning more seriously than the Atenex council. From her group of Thurnian Elf Maidens, she has sent Horowai and Cena42 southwest to Makaziyamto to assess the situation in Merope. It's unlikely that the two elves can do more than offer token support to Jalene and her people. However, anything they can do to delay the Merope's senate's dreams of conquest will buy us valuable time. At worst, the elves presence may provide us with an advanced warning of any invasion.

The risk to Atene from the southeast is more manageable. Kahu belatedly admits that the Atenex and Phebes have always had occasional contact for trade. Usually the trade is conducted by a Phebe's merchant braving the difficult route through the mountains to Atene. The steep winding path between Atene and Phebe travels through dense forests, making it an effective barrier against military invasion. However, the Phebes have other means of weakening the Atenex. Like the Merope, they claim to have a cure for the poor fertility of Atenex males. Whether it is true or not is anybody's guess. It appears the Phebes have lured around thirty male Atenex to their city, supposedly to receive treatment. Their absence further distorts the gender balance among the elves in Atene. I would be very wary of accepting any form of medication from the Phebes after witnessing the problematic side effects of their potions on the Tribu.

"What are we going to do?" I muse to Cassandra, Ikaroa and Makareta. "The elves and Thurnians need to unite if we are to counter the threat posed by the Merope senate. Instead we see Thurn fragmenting into warring groups, and nothing but indecision from the Atenex."

"That's perhaps a reflection of those who have lead the Thurnian and Atenex people until now," replies Cassandra. "Even my father has never truly ruled all of Thurn. Kahu and the Rangatira are doing the best they can but they lack the skills to rule large numbers of people. Perhaps that's what Marianne and Dioxippe meant when they said that Atene's intended leaders were supposed to be roused in a second awakening from hibernation. We've witnessed the difference in how the Merope are ruled by their designated leaders."

"But waking the rest of the Atenex population is a two-edged sword," says Makareta. "How will the newly roused people assimilate into the Atene society? Our forebears are long dead. They were the ones who were educated and trained alongside those we intend to awaken now. The new arrivals will expect to be in the majority, only to discover they are a minority. We could end up fanning the flames of our own civil war."

"Yes, but something needs to be done," adds Ikaroa, who continues to spend time doing research with Cassandra. "Kahu is out of her depth with all this, and the rest of the Rangatira simply go along with whatever she decides. Dioxippe says that the failure of the pioneers to awaken the rest of our population was entirely our own forebears' decision. Maybe that choice needs to be reconsidered."

"We are assuming that Dioxippe can rouse the remainder of the Atenex population after all this time," says Cassandra.

Cassandra and Ikaroa take it upon themselves to research whether Dioxippe is able to awaken those still in hibernation, and if so, how. Meanwhile I go to help Drew and Seamus in the 'pussy den'. The departure of nearly half of the Atenex males for the Phebe's settlement, has left many more elven women in need of a source of sex. The rampant sexual needs of female Atenex is at complete odds with the response they receive from their males. Atenex males are more interested in possession and control over their females, whereas females simply want sex.

In addition to the Atene elves, the Thurnian Elf Maidens belonging to Akenehi's group have also started frequenting the pussy den. Sex with so many eager elven women is a pleasant but demanding task. At least keeps everyone happy. That's more than can be said for Kahu when she emerges from the latest meeting of the Rangatira.

"A gathering of all Atenex leaders is to be held here in three week's time," says Kahu. "A decision about our response to the threat from the Merope must be decided by all."

While I understand Kahu's desire to canvass opinion from all the Atenex settlements, a further three week delay could be crucial. Kahu's time-frame is unnecessarily slow. It would take less than a week to get a message to even the most remote Atenex settlement, and for its leader to travel here.

"What about Akenehi and the Thurnian Elf Maidens?" I ask. "Are they going to be invited to your gathering?"

"No," replies Kahu. "Only Atenex conceived by an Atenex male will be represented at the gathering. The Rangatira is concerned that our racial purity is being put at risk."

Although Kahu makes her decision to exclude Akenehi sound reasonable, she knows that the racial purity of Atenex is never at risk. The biology of all Potiora races prevents any cross-breeding. Reproduction between a man and a woman of different Potiora races always results in a clone of the mother.

Kahu enlists Nyree's and Ikaroa's help in determining how to go about awakening the hibernating people deep below us. To some extent Cassandra and Ikaroa have already established the means of doing so. Kahu doesn't prohibit Cassandra's or my involvement in Ikaroa's and Nyree's research, but we are deliberately excluded when they present their findings to the Rangatira. The four of us know that any awakening is going to be fraught with problems.

Removing the stone sleeve around the Atene Potiora tower will be a major job in itself. However, Dioxippe believes that simply removing a segment near the metal door half way up the tower will be sufficient. Reaching that section will be difficult, and the stone wall above the hole will need stabilising. Fortunately, FY33, one of the late additions to Akenehi's group before we left Thurn, has previously worked for a stone mason, and Kahu agrees that we may consult with her. It's a fortuitous decision as FY33 is able to suggest a means of carrying out the work.

We are all kept busy over the next three weeks as the Atenex gathering draws near. I have my first indirect encounter with a member of the Phebes race. Although I never get a chance to talk to him, he is well known to the Atene elves. He has braved the difficult route over the mountains from the Phebe's settlement to trade with the Atenex. The goods he trades are unremarkable, but the Atenex seem content to buy them in exchange for elven made products. His biggest impact on the Atenex community is when another five Atenex males leave with him to receive treatment for their poor fertility. At this rate there will be no elven males left in Atene before long. Kahu is clearly displeased at the elven men's departure, but she has no authority to detain them.

"The Dioxippe machine confirms that the Potiora is in full working order," I say to Cassandra, Ikaroa and Nyree. "However, until the segment of the stone wall is removed, Dioxippe cannot complete a final check of the awakening process."

"Are we sure we know what to do to awaken those hibernating below?" asks Cassandra.

"The instructions are contained on one of the murals in the Hall of Ancestors," replies Nyree. "Providing we have interpreted the pictures correctly, then it should work."

I recall the earlier difficulties everyone had in correctly interpreting the murals. While we have collectively made huge progress in piecing together what the murals say, there are still several pictures that are open to different interpretations. The one we name 'the awakening' is one of those. For the moment, we must wait for the Atenex gathering to decide what to do. Any further preparatory work could trigger the reawakening process, and set off a chain reaction that might be impossible to stop.

Once we have done all we can in the Halls of Ancestors and the tower, I go to take my turn in the pussy den. Fortunately both Defina35 and Defina36 are sexually active once more, so they help me keep Cassandra sexually satisfied at other times. In any case, the Rutting Season can only be a few weeks away. During that time Drew and I will be focussing our attentions on satisfying Egbertha and Cassandra respectively, leaving Seamus to service the pussy den.

I'm delighted to find BH632 waiting for me in the pussy den. Like many newly matured Elf Maidens, she didn't become pregnant during her first time in heat. Her tight passage is a wonder to plough and we waste no time in getting down to business. Although BH632 grew up in Thur, she has been adopted as a member of Akenehi's group of rural Thurnian elves. Akenehi and her followers fled a cruel, and certainly illegal, enslavement on a Thurnian lord's remote estate. Their experiences are very different from those of BH632 and the other city-bred elves we encountered at Tewhanga.

Four more elves, two Atenex, and two of Thurnian origin, visit me during my shift in the pussy den. The difference in mannerisms and behaviour between the two pairs of elves make me appreciate the subtle differences between their respective groups. It's a divide that persists despite the elves' biological similarity. The time spent by Akenehi's group in Atene has done nothing to break down those differences. If anything, the two sets of elves are as far apart from each other as they were at the outset.

The Atenex gathering draws over thirty leaders from their scattered settlements. Half of the settlements are located deep in the forests to the east of us, stretching as far as the coast of what the Atenex call the White Sea. Others come from settlements to the north of Atene, the farthest bordering on the territory occupied by Thurn's wilderness elves. To the west of Atene, the east bank of the river is home the two Atenex settlements we saw on our expedition. Beyond the river the land between there and the sea to the west is unclaimed by anybody. The rugged hills and mountains to the south and southeast of us discourage any permanent settlement in that region, and beyond the mountains lie the Merope and Phebes territories.

Cassandra and I aren't allowed entry into the Hall of Ancestors while the gathering is in progress. None of Akenehi's group are either. If Akenehi feels snubbed, then she does an excellent job at hiding any offence.

"What do you think the gathering will decide?" I muse to Cassandra while we are sat with Makareta, Ihapera and Defina35.

"I don't know," replies Cassandra, showing the typical signs of bodily discomfort that signal the Thurnian Rutting Season is due to begin soon.

"They won't decide anything," says Ihapera. "As usual, they will leave the decision to Kahu. This gathering is simply for show in order to keep up the pretence that the Atenex are a unified race."

The formal proceedings finish later that afternoon. Whatever decision was made, and by who, is not for public knowledge. However, the very fact that Kahu instructs FY33 to commence work on removing the stonework over the tower's upper door, confirms the decision has been made to rouse the hibernating population.

With the formal part of the gathering over, the elves begin to party. There are many criticisms that can be directed at elves, but not knowing how to throw a good party isn't one of them. Everyone's worries are put to one side for six hours of fun and debauchery.

"How are you?" asks Cassandra of me when we finally crawl into our bed that night.

"Tired," I sigh, having spent a reasonable percentage of the last few hours satisfying one horny elf after another.

"Have you got anything left in your tank?" teases Cassandra.

"Why? You want sex now?"

"Yup! It's Rutting Season. Can you not tell?"

I mentally slap myself. Of course! After a long evening of being subjected to the abundant odour of elves in heat, I overlooked the distinctive smell of a fertile Thurnian woman. My manhood responds immediately, despite the gruelling exercise it has been put through over the last few hours. My ability to respond to Cassandra's pheromones once again destroys the myth that Thurnian men are too busy fucking Elf Maidens to bother with sex with a Thurnian woman. Men like the Chief Procurator peddle the myth as an explanation for the decline in the population of native Thurnians. No matter how much proof is presented to refute the lie, the myth persists. I feel truly drained by the time Cassandra decides that she's had enough. We have another three weeks of this delightful pastime ahead of us.

With Rutting Season underway, it's hardly surprising that Cassandra and I are up late the next morning. Some of the Atenex guests have already left on their homeward journey, while others intend to leave later this morning. The spectacle of FY33 and her team demolishing a square hole in the tower's stonework is what is delaying peoples journey. FY33 and her team have been working throughout the night, and they have already installed a stout wooden lintel into the stonework above the intended hole. Now they are slowly removing the selected stones. The stones are winched to the ground and are carefully stacked nearby.

By late morning the hole is complete. Ikaroa and Nyree are placed in charge of the next step. Cassandra and I are politely pushed away from the proceedings. We don't object since, after all, it's the Rutting Season. Besides, nobody can see what is going on inside the tower. The spectators gradually drift away. The remaining visitors to the Atenex gathering begin their return journey.

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Chapter 42 - New Arrivals

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I can blame the distraction of repeated romps with Cassandra in our bedroom for not noticing the first new arrivals emerge from the Potiora. Makareta apologies for disturbing us, but she urges us to follow her. We do so as quickly as we can, and join the gathering of Atenex and Elf Maidens near the Potiora. Kahu and the Rangatira are busy talking to a group of the new arrivals. The newcomers are recognisable by their noticeably shorter stature. Designated Atenex females escort the other new arrivals into the Halls of Ancestors, where Ikaroa and Nyree are in charge.

We offer to help with the proceedings but we are politely turned away. Consequently, Cassandra and I return to our room and resume where we left off earlier. It's early evening when a deputation consisting of Ikaroa, Ihapera and Makareta join us.

"Five hundred and seventy one Atenex were roused," says Ikaroa. "Just over half of them are male. Unfortunately, gaining access to the Potiora at the moment is impossible. The leaders of the new arrivals have taken control of the tower and the Halls of Ancestors."

"I thought Dioxippe said the chambers held six hundred and fifty hibernating people," says Cassandra.

"Yes. Some of the hibernation pods failed to open," says Ikaroa. "It's unclear whether the occupants are alive or dead. Also, one of the sub-chambers didn't respond to Dioxippe's instructions. The fifty occupants in there remain in hibernation for now. I'm not sure what is going to be done about them."

"I suppose after all this time, the outcome is as good as can be expected," I say.

"I'm not sure the leaders of the new arrivals will agree," says Ikaroa. "They're still very confused about the time gap between the awakening of our forebears, and now. We'll need to wait a few days before anybody can make any serious plans."

Accommodation is hastily prepared for the new arrivals. Fortunately the Halls of Ancestors has plenty of space for a temporary camp. The leaders of the new arrivals accept use of the vacant housing in Atene.

Ikaroa's estimate of a few days to assimilate the new arrivals turns out to be wildly optimistic. The three week Rutting Season is over before any serious outcomes emerge from numerous meetings between the Rangatira and the leaders of the new arrivals. Nyree meets with us periodically to let us know what is happening.

"They have spent their lives living and training in a sheltered artificial environment, preparing for this event," says Nyree. "Now they are suddenly faced with a different reality. All their education and training will count for nothing if they can't make the transition into a real world that our ancient ancestors could only imagine. We are doing our best to help, but we have no common experiences."

"Are they all shorter than us?" I ask.

"Yes, although there are a few exceptions. It seems that we have become taller as a race over the generations since our forebears emerged with the pioneer group."

Most of the new arrivals are eager to merge into the Atenex society. The presence of Thurnians in their midst is initially received with barely hidden disgust. However, when Kahu explained the problem with elven male fertility, and our role in alleviating the immediate crisis, our presence is at least tolerated. Over recent weeks, Cassandra and I have had two meetings with representatives of the new arrivals. So far we have only been allowed to speak in general terms about the wider issues facing our respective races.

What starts to become clear is that Kahu is expected to step aside as leader of the Atenex at the appropriate moment, and allow Karaka, one of the new arrivals, to take charge. The Rangatira remains the leadership council, but some of its authority is to be delegated to Karaka. Four of the new arrivals, in addition to Karaka, are being added to the Rangatira, expanding its size to nine members. Now the new arrivals outnumber Kahu and her group on the Rangatira.

All the new arrivals are about eighteen years old, which was their age when they entered hibernation. Most, if not all, will have had specialist training in one discipline or another. Those with military training are easy to spot. Others, like Karaka, are excellent speakers and diplomats. Some of his closest followers have the traits of wily politicians, who probably devote much of their time to scheming and plotting. They remind me of the Chief Procurator back in Thurn.