After the usual morning shenanigans, our preparations to leave went quickly. We didn't bring much. I brought literally nothing but myself. Just outside the door we found Daphne. Looks like she got the morning shift.
"Thank you very much for your hospitality," I said. "But, I think it's time for us to go. I would hate to wear out our welcome."
Daphne looked flustered, but she composed herself quicker, this time.
"I understand. I'll escort you to the gate."
"Thank you."
We walked back to the gate in an awkward silence. Yeah, I'm pretty sure the elves dislike me. Just like when I entered the elf village, I was getting the same looks from the other elves. Every time our eyes met, they would avert their eyes, looking perturbed.
"Thanks again for having us. Let me know if there is anything I can do to return the favor." I said as a final farewell at the gate.
Daphne returned to the elf queen who was, again, meeting with her advisors. They were speculating about how Titus might alter his terms and deciding how they would respond.
"Titus and his entourage left the village."
"He left!?" Queen Sera shouted in dismay. "Did he say anything?"
Daphne explained what happened in detail.
"Why didn't you ask him to stay?" asked one of the advisors.
"I'll remind you, her instructions were to act as if she didn't care. We can't exactly beg him to stay and then keep him waiting, indefinitely." said another advisor.
"Did he deduce our strategy?"
Queen Sera let out a long sigh.
"So be it." said Sera. "We will make him our king, come what may. Go and get the king's crown."
We decided to run to the amazon village, partly to keep Lily and Iris from getting too bored, but mostly because Emily and Enna have already been gone from their village for longer than expected. Emily and Enna went on their hunting trip days ago.
I asked Lily and Iris to search for large game animals from above. Emily and Enna are also expected to return with some kind of quarry.
Emily and Enna run very fast. I decided to try to keep up with the amazons until I run out of stamina. After that, maybe they could take turns carrying me, but my stamina is holding up just fine. I feel like I could keep this pace all day long.
Queen Sera and two of her guards hurriedly prepared to leave in pursuit of Titus and his party. Based on the direction he was heading as he left and the information they gleaned from tracking, they thought it most likely that he was going to the amazon village.
"Why would he be going to the amazon village? I'm fairly certain they don't allow men inside their walls." said Sera
"Perhaps his amazon companions will be going in alone to collect supplies." said Daphne
"It could be. But, I get the sense that he is plotting something." said Sera. "Regardless, we need to hurry to catch up with him."