Chapter 10: Investigations into missing adolescent elves

Two months later, I’m once again presenting my findings to the Chief Procurator and his advisers. Much to the disappointment of the Chief Procurator, my mission didn’t result in a fatal misadventure befalling me. His growing antagonism towards me is obvious for all to see. The more I get to understand the issues affecting the elven population, the closer I am to finding a solution to the so-called Elf Maiden problem. Even the Emperor is impressed with my work so far, although Cassandra probably deserves most of the credit for fuelling the Emperor’s interest.

“You will recall that the disappearance of scores of adolescent elves each year while travelling back to the city at the end of the season has resulted in speculation that some are being kidnapped and sold into slavery,” I say as I begin my presentation. “There is no logical reason why anyone would want to enslave a young elf as she has little monetary value. Being unskilled and incapable of sexual activity, it would be cheaper to hire an elf for whatever task is required rather than feeding and housing a slave. Nevertheless, the rumours have persisted for several years. Sea captains report an abnormal increase in economic activity in the western cities of Thurn, but the local leaders deny any connection to the missing elves.

“As we know, when winter approaches, adolescent elves are discharged from their seasonal jobs. For their own protection, they must make their way back to the city ghettoes to shelter over the worst of the winter weather. Each year, dozens of elves simply disappear on their journey. Some are reputedly killed by wild animals while passing through forests. Others are believed to become trapped in early winter snows and perish. And then there are the rumours that some are being captured by illegal slave traders and transported to distant cities. My investigations discovered some young elves working in cities that officially prohibit elves from residing. Apart from being thin and poorly clothed, most elves I encountered appeared to be healthy. They denied being slaves, but refused to say how they arrived in the city.

“I believe that several distant cities now have unregistered populations of adolescent elves. Unlike adult Elf Maidens, young elves have no legal rights and are classified as animals under outdated Thurnian law. Consequently, it is impossible to label the elves as slaves, although in practise that is what they are. When I questioned the city leaders, they say the elves are the wards of the city and are rented out to factory and mine owners as and when required. Since factories operate all year, the elves are provided with food, clothing and shelter throughout the year in exchange for their labours. According to the city leaders, an elf is transported to an elven ghetto in an eastern city when she reaches adulthood. Unfortunately, I could find no evidence that this occurs. It seems likely that on reaching adulthood, the elf is taken into the forest and abandoned to fend for herself.

“During my travels through the western regions of Thurn, I and my assistants talked with several groups of adolescent elves working in mines and factories. Most of the elves are poorly fed, and many are without a full set of clothing. The elves all tell a similar story of being rounded up while travelling back to their home city at the end of their season’s work. Unaware of the reason for this diversion, and mindful of their duty to obey Thurnian citizens, the young elves simply allowed themselves to be transported. The mines in western Thurn are very deep, and the air temperature is constant all year round. That may explain how groups of young elven mineworkers survive through the bitterly cold winter.

“As usual, work accidents are common among the poorly trained young elves, particularly as they are often given the dangerous tasks that Thurnian citizens shun. An injured elf must seek help from other elves since no medical services are wasted on elves. If the injury is serious, then the elf is discharged from work and left abandoned in a nearby forest. Employers admit that in such cases, nearly all the discharged elves are likely to perish. However, there have been persistent reports of elves who have recovered and now live wild in the deep forests. Those reports are usually dismissed as fanciful rumours, since wolves and bears are common in the forests, and elves aren’t taught how to use weapons. Nevertheless, such rumours are widespread in the regions close to the huge forests of the west.

“Not all kidnapped adolescent elves accept their new duties without resistance. Although they have no legal rights, the young elves can nevertheless fuel discontent among the other enslaved elves. The city wardens round up the ringleaders and put them in tiny underground cells while a decision is made about their future. Those elves who show remorse for causing trouble are re-educated and assigned to duties requiring long hours of hard labour. Any who still resist are taken deep into the wilderness and, like injured elves, are abandoned to fend for themselves against the wolves and bears that roam the forests. Popular Thurnian folk tales often delight in telling of the misfortunes of young elves devoured by wild animals.