Once Ambrose had shown Marius a clearing not too far from the fire where he could set up, he had left him to it while he finished saying good bye to Reabeck and Shigrock.

  "Careful with that one." The older dwarf said as their cart began to pull away. "I ain't ever met an elf who I would trust."

  Once they had left the boundaries of his land and were back on the path Ambrose returned to check on his new guest. As he approached the camp, he found Trelen sitting alone by the fire.

  "The rest gone to bed?" He asked.

  The Slovèi looked up at him, a severe look on their face. "Gro-lag offered to help Marius put up the tent he bought, they made it very clear they didn't want his help." They said, quietly.

  He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I will go check on them."

  The area where they were setting up had just enough tree cover that it couldn't be seen clearly from the main camp. So, as Marius came into view Ambrose was caught rather by surprise. The last section of their tent was slowly levitating itself into place. A small table and chairs had been placed just outside of it and the ball of light that had been following them as they entered his land was now floating still just above it.

  Once the tent was done Marius lowered his hands and turned to him. "Wood?"

  "…Sorry?" He responded to the word.

  "Do. You. Have. Firewood?" They repeated, emphasising each word.

  "Oh, yeah there is a pile back by the main fire."

  The elf just staired at him for a moment. "Well, get me some then?"

  Ambrose nodded curtly at the instruction and moved to follow it, his patients for his new guest already starting to run short. He returned with the wood and placed it in the circle of rocks Marius had already made.

  "Do you need a-"

  Before he could finish the elf gave a lazy gesture with one hand and the logs burst into flames.

  "Never mind then. Is there anything else you need?"

  "I have already eaten but I like to have my breakfast at first light." They said, rummaging in their bag and not looking at him.

  Ambrose pushed his lips together and nodded. "Ok then, I will see you in the morning." He turned and tried his hardest not to stomp as he made his way to his bed.

  The next morning, once he had been done complaining about the blandness of his breakfast of venison and water, Marius took about his task, asking for a tour of the land from Ambrose.

  Trying to put their best foot forward, he started by showing him the recently completed workshop.

  "This is the only building you have on your land besides that mud hut?" He asked, an unimpressed tone in his voice.

  "That mud hut is my current home." Ros said from where she was tending her growing farm.

  The two look over to her. "Ah yes, I have been meaning to ask you about you... Residents?" The elf said, looking down his nose at her. "What is your… arrangement?"

  Something about how he asked that question gave Ambrose a small flair of anger. "This is as much Ros and her families land as it is mine, they are under my protection." He said, the last part more firmly than he maybe meant to.

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  "I see." Marius replied. "Is this all the development you have made then?"

  "I will show you the smelting area." He said, gesturing in its directions.

  They started towards it, as they did Ambrose turned back and looked at the workshop. Through the open doorway he could see Gro-lag standing, glaring at the elf as he walked away. Giving a small hand gesture to show it was ok he kept walking towards the kiln.

  As they reached the kiln, they found Trelen working away shaping more bricks around the fire pit to dry. As they saw them, they gave a half smile and a small wave.

  "Ah." Marius said as he saw them.

  Ambrose looked at the elf. "Is there a problem?"

  They didn't answer but continued to look at Trelen.

  Sensing the anxiety coming from his friend and the stabbing frustration that was growing within him Ambrose quickly tried to move on.

  "As you can see, we are working to create more materials to develop our infrastructure." He said, gesturing to the bricks, surprised at how proper he was sounding.

  "Some flimsy brick building hardly make a settlement." Marius said, dismissively.

  "They are not flimsy." Trelen said, their voice shaky.

  The elf turned the them, cocking his head slightly. "Slovèi are not common in this country, may I enquire how this… individual, came to reside here?"

  Trelen's eye widened at the question and for some reason he wasn't sure of, Ambrose's hand moved to his hunting knife.

  "What does it matter how they came to be here?"

  Marius looked at him, a disdainful scowl on his face. "It matters because I have asked."

  He was about to protest when Trelen spoke up. "I was in a ship wreck, Ambrose rescued me from the water." They said, quickly.

  "So.” He said rising his brow to Ambrose. “You just happened to be by the coast, over a day's walk away?"

  "I was checking to make sure there was no settlements along the river." He replied, struggling to keep his jaw loose.

  Marius gave an exaggerated nod. "And you just so happened to arrive just at the right time to save a damsel in distress." The elf threw up his hands. "I am honestly getting sick of this redisclose story that you have somehow managed to convince so many of."

  "What story? Everything I have said is what happened." With a few details omitted. He thought.

  "And what details are those then?"

  Ambrose went to reply but stuttered as he realised what had just happened. "Are you reading my thoughts?"

  The elf stiffened slightly. "It is my responsibility to properly access the validity of your claim. As such I am… I must, use all of the abilities I have at my disposal."

  "Have you been reading everyone's thoughts?"

  Seeing how Ambrose was looking at him, Marius took a tentative step back. "I needed to, otherwise I wouldn't know that the Slovèi was a runaway slave that you have failed to report, or that the creatures you have living with you are breeding." He barked out a laugh. "I am not sure what you have going on her but I do not believe for a second that you of all people could have some kind of dominion over this forest that a mage like me cannot even tame!"

  Ambrose had his hand on his knife and had almost pulled it at the 'creatures' comment but a better idea came to mind. "You know Marius, I think I have changed my mind. You're not welcome here."

  The elf moved to say something when his eyes suddenly bulged in pain. He dropped to the ground and started to twitch.

  "Leave." Ambrose commanded.

  He had assumed that he would start to be pulled out of the boundaries of his land, though he hadn't thought about it enough to realise that the closest one was on the other side of the river.

  The elf dug his fingers into the dirt as he began to be pulled towards the river. After a moment his shot one of his hands into the air towards Ambrose, in what he assumed was an attempt to use some kind of magic. When nothing happened, they began to look between the two people standing before in, desperation contorting his face.

  "Ambrose, Ambrose maybe you should...?"

  He looked at Trelen and then back to the man being painful pulled from his land. He hesitated for a moment, before letting out a frustrated sigh. "Fine, you are welcome again."

  The force that had been inflicted on the elf relented, they rolled onto their back and breathed heavily.

  Walking over, the lord of the land lent over him. "So, you were saying about me lying about my control?"

  "What… What are you?" Marius said, though his panting.

  He offered him his hand and after a moment the elf took it and got to his feet.

  "I have never experienced magic like that before, how did you learn to do that?"

  "Trial and error mostly." Ambrose shrugged. "Now, if you are going to remain on my land, you need to show respect for the people on it." He lent in slightly closers to him. "Have I made myself clear?"

  Marius swallowed and nodded. "Yes." He turned to Trelen. "I am sorry."

  The Slovèi looked very uncomfortable and more than a little scared but nodded in acknowledgement of the apology.

  "Good. Keep that in mind and you can stay as long as you need to make your decision."

  "Thank you. I think I will go back to my tent for now, if that’s ok?"

  Marius started to leave but Ambrose raised his hand to stop him.

  "Oh, if you're going to stay. No Magic."

  The elf gave a small laugh and went to speak but suddenly seemed to notice something. They raise their hand and seemed to tense it slightly. When nothing happened, they looked back to Ambrose. "You… are fascinating."