Free Esra by Nicole Burr Page B

are used in basic defensive and offensive maneuvers.  The Unni also have a covering of dark, coarse hair all over their bodies, which when paired with the horns make them appear quite menacing.  They also can live to be around a thousand years old.”
           “A thousand!  Unbelievable.  Have ye ever met one?”
           “Yes, I have in fact. Although unlike the mountains and The Veiled City, Fira Nadim is not generally a welcoming place fer visitors.  The Unni are not a murderous people, as I have said, but they do not enjoy outsiders.  The few times a brave soul ventured into the south Forest, they were…forcibly removed.”
           “So how did ye meet an Unni?”
           “Actually, I am…” Cane took a long moment to light his pipe, puffing gently with his mouth formed in a perfect circle, “familiar with their leader, a chief referred to as the Unni-se.  He is a great warrior named Zakai, who carries a flail into battle and is a formidable foe.  He is known far and wide fer his skill in battle tactics.  Zakai is a strategist unlike any I have ever seen, and absolutely frightening to meet.  The Unni-se is not one to be trifled with but can also be an extremely loyal ally and is known to be a fair ruler fer his people.”
           “Ye know the Unni-se?” Esra exclaimed, astonished that he had never revealed such unbelievable information before. “Wait a minute…what is a flail?”
           “A flail is a special kind of weapon with a long handle that has a chain and spiked metal ball attached to the end.  It’s a rather deadly, messy thing.”
           “Oh dear.” She pictured Zakai, the massive Unni-se letting out a deep roar as he swung the weapon of death around his horned head, smashing in his opponents’ skulls.  It was a terrifying picture.  “They are definitely a people I would want on my side and not against me.”
           “I couldn’t agree more,” Cane laughed, sputtering smoke.  “Lastly, there are the Shendari, the Water people.  They live on Ember Isle on the south corner of Fire Lake.  Fire Lake, as ye have studied in yer geography lessons, is the enormous body of Water on the northeast border of the Kingdom, and although some of the lake in principle resides in King Keridon’s realm, no King had ever actively sought to lay claim to this territory.  It is an unspoken rule that Fire Lake is off limits to Humans, especially Ember Isle.
           “The Shendari are small, probably only three to four feet in height, and although they resemble Humans in their structure, they are covered in a hardened, porous flesh that allows them to breathe under Water.  They are an orange color when newly hatched, and grow darker red with age. Although they are extremely talkative, their language is indecipherable to the Human ear, and so they are the most mysterious of the races, as communication is very limited.”
           “So no one has ever spoken to them?” Esra asked.
           “Not exactly.  There was a time long ago when the Shendari aided the Elves in battle, and the Elves seemed to understand their language as a result, but the two races no longer mingle.  And I have heard rumors that once in a while a Human is born who can understand them, but I do not know if that is true.  Some of the Keepers can communicate with them, and the Shendari are quite capable of understanding Human speech when taught properly.”
           “So who is their leader? Is he as fierce as the Unni-se?”
           “They do not usually have leaders, but when they do it is a woman, and she is more than fierce,” Cane reached up and scratched his half bald head.  “They function and make decisions as a community, except in times of war.  The Shendari are extremely playful creatures and need no sleep to regain strength.  Although they can be underwater fer hours they prefer to reside on Ember Isle.  Ye can see their