"Why wait until the Celebration ends? Can't you give it to me now?"
"I'm afraid not..."
"Can you at least give me a hint?" Annan persisted.
"I'll say this: it's something you treasure."
Treasure, purchase orders... Annan was already looking forward to it.
And so the first day of the Celebration ended.
The Elves hadn't caught the culprit. On the second day, a large group of them moved into the cluster of wooden cottages and watched everyone.
It was a clumsy solution, but also the simplest.
Only outsiders would cause trouble. If the Elves watched everyone, they would catch anyone who tried something again.
As for whether that might offend the powers behind the Envoys... the Elves had always been like this. Even if the High King came in person, he would receive no special treatment.
Since Annan couldn't change it, he said nothing more. He even felt a little smug. The Ratfolk High Priest, the Dwarf King, the High King, the Ancient Dragon... whatever power stood behind the others, they still had to stay put, while he could go wherever he liked.
"Annan Reeves, please return to your quarters."
Then an Elven Guard Officer stopped Annan at the intersection.
Fine. If he couldn't leave, he wouldn't. He had things to do in Envoy Village anyway.
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