Emily > Recent Status Updates

Additionally, we get told she is the youngest individual to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the history of her tribe. This creates an image of her being a great tactician, having experience of creative thinking and military genius. In the next breath she must only ever follow orders someone else has thought of exactly to the letter or has the most severe punishment. What is the point of her being promoted?

I was thinking about this but, I must have missed where she got her elf ears damaged or where it is introduced that she values them as a symbol of her elfish heritage.