Part Sixty-six
Laurel sat upon the couch, cloak and Elven blanket over her shoulders, a piece of tanned hide open before her, and one lantern suspended by a cord from the cleverly arched ceiling. The inner and outer curtains of their ground level chamber were drawn and lashed tight. It was cold, but she was used to cold nights. In the lowlands, it seemed there was always a wind off sea or river and winters meant cold and snow came along with the usual mists. Still, she had a suspicion that the current temperature was unnatural. She breathed upon her hands to warm them and then threw the stones.
As Laurel was reading, Fei untied the curtain over the doorway and entered, sword carried in hand. "I really think she will go after him," he said as he closed the curtain again. He meant Ugarit, and Laurel knew this. Laurel and Fei had discovered some hours ago that Duma had set out after Dale, and Ugarit seemed to have known of his activity, but now, considering the state of things within the Elven settlement, Ugarit was clearly restless.
Since the attack on Lain and Loriol, Gwindor and Denelas had conferred and then begun arming Elves and posting extra sentries and setting patrols. Orc drums had started again, and though Ugarit would not tell others the meaning, the drums said that the Orcs were aware that Elves in the Silver Wood were arming themselves and watching the roads. News brought to the Treeweaver's hearth-share said that the Elves were aware the Orcs were in the northern parts of their wood, and that they did not all stay on the road.
Laurel gave a nod to say she had heard Fei and considered the rune stones a while longer. The lay of the stones did not seem to bode well. "I know not whether my own fears cloud my ability to read."
"A fearful woman you are not." Fei thought about this for a moment. "In my homeland, no woman would take up a staff to battle the Uruk."
"Perhaps they would if they had need," Laurel said, smiling. "Not that one lone staff does much against an Orc, unless it is wielded by one who knows how to draw on magic."
"I think sometimes women know to draw on magic by instinct. What do the stones say?"
"I see that our recent companions will be in great need and that danger will come upon them and that desperation and travel will be involved, and I wish to go to them, but I know not If my going will fulfill this prophesy, or be able to change the fate of my friends."
"I do not believe you can change fate, but perhaps, what you see is not fate, but a possibility, and what you do upon reading will see you to the fated outcome."
"That does not seem a bad way of thinking."
"If fate exists, it cannot be cheated."
"Then I can only follow my heart. I will go after them, to see what help I may be, and to give warning if I am not too late."
"I will go with you."
"I am glad we will be together."
"Shall we tell Ugarit of our plan?"
"No," Laurel said as she wrapped the stones in the skin. "She will see that we go and make her own choice. I am certain she watches us."
Ugarit saw the witch ready their horses and leave. The Elf Tigh spoke to them and then crossed the settlement. Ugarit supposed that he took a message to Lenaduiniel that Laurel was leaving to follow their friends.
Tigh delivered the message, as Ugarit was correct in her suspicions. Galadhiel had been moved from the House of Healing to the hearth of the Lord of the Wood, where Lenaduiniel and Gwindor stayed in their brother's chambers. Lenaduiniel brought the message to the other two.
"I understand, but we must put our trust in them now. Our place is here. There are Elves here which need protection, and we must protect them."
"I believe there is something other than the Orcs threatening this wood, and perhaps some great evil threatening us all. We have suspected foul wizardry for some time now. If this is so, strange as it sounds, then the Orcs may not be our enemies after all. Eventually they must be stopped from their rampaging in the west, but in this, they may prove allies, and with Dale gone, I may be the only one who can speak to them."
"No, My Sister! You need not have any more dealings with Orcs."
Lenaduiniel laughed. "Then that would prevent me from seeing Dale or Duma again, and I must hope we will see them alive before too long. No, I must persuade Ugarit to remain with us and to aid me in convincing Marduk, or whoever now leads these Orcs that we want no war with them."
"At least not here and now," Galadhiel said.
Gwindor laughed, thinking it a rather clever thing to say. They would persuade the Orcs to ally and then…perhaps it was more troubling than funny.
One of the Elves of the Lord's hearth came into the chamber. Seeing that Lord Gwindor and Lady Lenaduiniel listened, he gave his report. "It is the Orc-girl. She is here, walking about the settlement at night, and armed. We took her captive, and she demands to have an audience with the Lady Lenaduiniel."
"Did she injure any of our Elves?" Lenaduiniel asked.
"No. She was captured easily."
"If she meant harm, she would not have been so easily captured. Release her with the instruction that she may find me here. We have things to discuss."
Shortly before dawn, the others set out from the trading post, Kato sitting upon Brethil, lead by Beryl, Tsuki riding, Setsugekka insistently walking briskly alongside, and Dale and Duma leading their horses behind. They went first along the road in a westerly direction, having heard from Kato's Men that there was a sort of inn to be found down the way. Eldsbrige was a rather minor settlement, a crossing of trade roads nearby the ruins of a grand city of ancient days. There were few families, women or children to be found, for it was mainly, traders, Rangers, war veterans and foreign refugees that passed through this place. The inn, called Hart of the Hills was a distinctly Mannish establishment with trophies made of the unused parts of large game animals upon the walls and mix of furnishings from distant regions that were those most cheaply gotten from traders.
Dale felt uneasy just standing inside the door. He had seen and done worse things, but as much as he acknowledged his past and Orcish tendencies, he was Elven as well and had deep personal feelings on proper use and disposal of game. Seeing furs, skulls, and horns hung purposelessly on the walls only made him think of the things he regretted doing. Beryl felt a similar unease, but hid it beneath the hood of his cloak.
Tsuki sought the inn's keeper and made inquiries regarding the prices and availability of meals and rooms. Hearing the Innkeeper's terms, Tsuki said that his Kinswoman and one of their party would remain and want a meal, while the rest of their party, numbering four should return later, and then they may all desire beds. "Do you have rooms that are adjoined, or screens that may be placed to divide the rooms for privacy?"
"It is no business of mine if you have a girl entertaining the lot of those strange Elven folk."
Tsuki sighed. "I do not ask to make a show of propriety. The child is in my care and I wish her to have a measure of privacy, while remaining close enough to protect."
"For another silver I will make certain to provide an extra blanket and length of cordage; you may do what you will with it."
"Acceptable." Tsuki sighed again. He put down coins on the counter. "For the meals, and to hold two rooms for us. I will pay the remainder when we leave here."
The coins were quickly taken, examined and weighed. "I will send the order to the scullery now," the Innkeeper said then.
Tsuki went to the place near the doorway, where the others awaited him. "Duma, you will stay with Setsugekka, here, and protect her for us."
"I must go with you," Setsugekka said, speaking her native language then, as she meant the words for Tsuki.
Tsuki answered her in Elven, then repeated the message in their language, to be certain Setsugekka understood. "If you have placed yourself in my service, you must allow me to determine how you may best serve and whether you are to be protected. For now, stay here among Men and allow me to place Duma as your guard."
"I will do it as a favor," Duma said.
Tsuki smiled slightly. "I did not assume to be your Chieftain."
"It also happens to be the safest place for you now. We hope to be back soon, and safely, but if not, then you should take Setsugekka to the Wood Elves and then, you may do as you like." Duma seemed about to speak, but Dale continued, "And do not get into the sort of trouble you most often do in Mannish settlements. We do not need any of that right now."
"I understand your meaning most clearly," Duma said smartly.
Seeing that Duma and Setsugekka were safe enough, Tsuki and Dale left the Hart of the Hills with Beryl and Kato. They rode then, heading east along the road. They passed the trading post and headed for the Ranger post, where Kato said he meant to head. As they rode, Beryl took a stone charm on a length of woven twine from a pocket of his cloak. He showed it to Kato then and said he would like Kato to wear it.
"It is very beautiful. Perhaps I shall wear it beneath my shirt."
"Yes. Do that. Do not take it off."
Kato let Beryl tie the charm about his neck. "I would not, though I am surprised. When did you get it."
"It is merely another Elvish trinket that was misplaced within your store. Keep the stone against your chest. Remember."
"I will not forget," Kato said as he dropped the charm under the collar of his shirt. The stone felt warm against his skin, and he supposed Beryl had warmed it in his hands.
No sooner than Kato had smoothed his shirt, he noticed figures approaching them, coming west along the road. His people had keen senses, but he was surprised Beryl had not announced sighting the oncoming group.
Beryl had noticed, but chosen not to speak. When Kato announced that he saw the group, Beryl merely agreed and then supplied, "they would seem a squad of Rangers on foot."
"Could this be Kato's contact?" Tsuki asked.
Beryl quickened Brethil's pace to close the distance to the squad on the march and Dale and Tsuki followed by urging on their horses. The Rangers were five in number; one who was a Man lead four Elves. It was true there was no Ranger uniform, but such Men or Elves could be identified by their style of dress, which always of colors to give camouflage in terrain they patrolled and of practical design for those who lived for days off the land and must be prepared to battle.
When Tsuki saw them, something seemed off to his eyes. The Man seemed thoroughly like a Ranger, but the Elves seemed as foreigners unused to wearing particular garments. Tsuki had long know Rangers, even before he became one, and he had known many soldiers, and though those under one command differed from those of another, there were certain things all did, because they were practical. One of these Elves carried a Mannish broadsword hung from his hip, and Tsuki knew such weapons were best hung on the back, so that in the moment they were drawn, the heavy sword could be made to fall down on a foe. Dale had an unusual way of drawing his sword, but Tsuki could understand that Dale had developed a peculiar, but effective way of drawing in stealth, because he prized the opportunity to draw while concealed within his cloak and to prepare defense before enemies noticed his presence. Tsuki could see no advantage to this Elf's adaptation. The others also seemed strange. One had buttons misaligned, which was very strange for an Elf, and yet another had their cloak bunched in the straps of their quiver, as if they had never seen how a cloak was slit to accommodate straps or worn beneath one arm to ease drawing an arrow.
At the same time, Dale and Beryl were noticing other things. These Elven Rangers appeared overall Elven and like Rangers, but they also seemed unnatural. Elves could see many things about other Elves that Men could not. Dale was not most practiced at this, because of his years alone and among Orcs, but he still possessed some natural ability to know his kin. To Beryl and Dale both it seemed the shape of these Elves' ears placed them within Galadhiel's kindred, yet their facial features marked them as a Sylvan people, unlike those that would seem familiar to Dale, Beryl or Gwindor. Some Elves, like Gwindor, whose father was of another line of Elves from that of his mother had a mixed appearance that was apparent to other Elves, but these Elves did not seem mixed to Beryl.
Cinsley ordered the squad with him to halt by a gesture of his hand. He saw the three cloaked riders with the Halfling gazing past him to the altered Rómendar. Their appearance had fooled other Rangers, but there had not been many Elves among those other Rangers.
"There are but four seasons in the calendar of Man," Cinsley recited.
"A lad of fifteen years may be forced to take up the sword."
"A Man of sixty years may be considered wise, if he is not a dotard."
"You may call me Kato. I bear a message."
"I am Cinsley, Captain Cinsley of the Rangers, I will take you to my superior and he will hear your message privately. You may dismiss your guard. We will see to your protection."
"Set me down, Beryl, if you please," Kato said coolly.
Beryl swung from Brethil's back and then lifted Kato into his arms, and placed him on the ground.
"You are dismissed," Kato said.
"Of course," Beryl said. "Call on us again if you have need of an escort."
Kato said nothing and walked toward Cinsley.
Beryl called out a customary Elven farewell as the others turned and walked east.
One of the disguised Rómendar turned but before he could speak Cinsley called out the customary response, in Elven.
"Why did you let him go, Beryl?" Dale asked when the others had distanced themselves. "Those were no Elves. I don't know what they were, but they were no Elves that I know of."
"They were not even Rangers," Tsuki added, "Except perhaps for Cinsley."
"Ay! And what Elven Rangers would follow one whose name is 'kin-slay' in the Common Speech?" Dale demanded, using the Elven term for 'kin-slay'.
"I think you have the accent wrong," Tsuki said quietly, "I do not think his name means Slaying of Kin. It only sounds alike."
"Dale has a point. It is a most foul concept to Elves, and Rangers always speak at least two languages, so I would be surprised to find Elves followed one with such a name without having some other name for him, and surprised such a Man would use the name in their presence."
"That only makes that group seem more strange," Tsuki said, "Why do we not follow them?"
"They will likely watch to see if we follow, if they are a Ranger squad, or only disguised as one, they would have five or six Rangers following a Captain. That means that it is likely two others are assigned some other duty, perhaps to watch our activity. In any case, we do not have to follow ourselves to know where they go." Beryl whistled and within a minute a small brown bird flapped down from above and alighted on his shoulder.
The bird chirped and whistled to Beryl.
"So they will follow for you," Dale observed, understanding the bird. "What shall we do? Our orders are at an end, but I do not like leaving things this way. I truly fear our orders were manipulated in some way. Are we to ever know what message Kato carried? Do you think he may return?"
"He will be released after a spell of compulsion is placed on him to make him forget the message," Beryl said.
"We should be after him! I do not know that we can trust the birds with that. We need to know. For Duma…and Marduk drove all those Orcs into the wood. I do not know that we can rid the wood of them without giving them some enemy to face, even if it be me alone."
"It would not be you alone they would want," Beryl said, "Let me worry about the spell."
"Have you worked some way for Kato to fight the spell?" Tsuki asked. "I know such things can be done, if the will is strong."
"I have done what I can. We shall see what will happen soon, I think. For now, there is one place we might go, to try to learn more. We can go to the Ranger post."
"Yes," Tsuki agreed, "For our mission as it was given is ended, so we may now report to the nearest post and identify ourselves as Rangers and collect news and supplies."
"We should be able to collect our pay, if the Rangers here know of our assignment."
"I have not been a Ranger long, I am not certain how such things are handled. For very dangerous or secret missions, Mercenaries often demand their pay in advance. As our undertaking was secret, we may see no pay until we can return to Stone Keep."
"Then I shall soon be begging from you, or Duma."
"You may order to Duma to give tribute if you wish. I will give you what you need, if you truly are in need, but we only need to devote a few days to gathering and crafting things for trade."
Dale shrugged. "Let's go to the Ranger post. It is in the same direction those others took Kato. We may overtake them, if they stayed to the road."
"If so, pass them casually," Beryl said, "We will learn what they do without seeming to follow."
"Agreed," said Tsuki. He shifted weight and called to Moon-halo to urge his horse along the road.
Cinsley watched the three riders pass his position and supposed they headed for the Ranger post, but he was not worried. When they were just out of sight, he signaled to his escort and left the road, heading north, into the wood, where The Sea had arranged a place of meeting.
The Ranger post nearest Eldsbridge was designated as Woodhenge, and as its name told, it was a simple encampment, upon an old nearly-flattened hilltop, surrounded by a picket line of rough timbers. There were a few wooden structures within, and many tents and tarps pitched over poles and cords. It reminded Dale somewhat of the camp where they had met Fei; it was quite Mannish and transitory, yet this camp was populated only by Males, most of them of the race of Man.
There was a well trodden path leading from the road to an opening in the circle of timbers and Tsuki, with Dale and Beryl following, dismounted and lead their horses up the slightly clopped path. They were challenged at the pickets, and the tone of the Ranger told that he did not recognize any of the three approaching as Rangers.
"Hullo," Tsuki called, "I am a Ranger out of Stone Keep in the north, my name is Tsuki Eru. This is my partner and squadmate, Dale Maple and our recent companion, Beryl, there."
"Do you mean Beryl the huntsman?" the stubble-faced Man asked loudly.
"I am sometimes known by that name," Beryl replied in yet another accent that seemed not his own.
"Rangers you say? You appear strange. Who is your commander at Stone Keep?"
"He is called Lord Barad," Dale answered impatiently, "Will you let us see your own commander? We have long been on assignment and away from any fort and wish to hear news and inquire about the best paths to travel north during this season."
"Our commander is away. You may enter. Tether your mounts there and wait. I shall call for one of our Captains and he will say what we may do for you."
Shortly, a Ranger approached them, a dark-haired Man in dark grey jacket and trousers, wearing worn brown boots and armed with a sword on his back and a knife on his belt. Tsuki thought he looked somewhat familiar.
The approaching Captain strengthened this feeling by calling out Tsuki's name. It had been given to his subordinate, of course, but the name sounded familiar on this Man's lips.
"I am Tsuki, I think perhaps we served together during the war."
"Do not trouble yourself if you do not remember. You have much more uncommon appearance and it is easier to remember the one Easterling that fought for our side."
Tsuki nodded calmly, though he saw that Dale flinched at the careless way 'Easterling' was intoned. When he had served other Lords, like Reif, he had been the only one, but in that time, they had mainly Orcs and Highlanders for enemies. While Serving Royalhill, Tsuki and his companions had often fought against soldiers from the east. Tsuki had even been called to translate intercepted messages.
Tsuki remembered the Man, as he stood looking on him. "Miller. We both served Royalhill. I saw you last when the war was ended and I traveled north."
"I am honored to be remembered." Tsuki did remember now. Miller had already been among the Rangers at that time, when the ranks had been made up mainly of noble Men from the now-united kingdoms of the west, and Tsuki had been counted among mercenaries. Miller was not from any noble house, but among Royalhill's vassals, called to serve his Lord.
Now the Rangers, officers included, were of various races and backgrounds. Miller had been made a Captain. "I am told you and one of your companions identified yourselves as Rangers."
"I am a Ranger now. I traveled north, as many did, after I last saw you. I came to Stone Keep and was trained there and have been on several missions now. One which has been completed recently has brought me here, along with my partner, and I wish to hear news. My standing orders are to return to Stone Keep, but the season seems unusually cold already and I know also that there are a great number of Orcs about. Returning to any fort in the north will require planning. Can you tell me if you have news from other forts?"
Miller nodded, satisfied that Tsuki was who he claimed, thought his attired seemed strange, rather like Easterling garments. When Tsuki had been a mercenary known to Miller, he had worn western clothing, and sometimes the livery of Royalhill's service. "I hoped you were bringing news here. To my knowledge, Woodhenge has not received news or regular requests or transfers from posts north, though we have had communication with Lord Royalhill and from some posts west of the river. We have heard most recently that many Orcs were about in the west and some traveling east and strangely, giving no contest, but only running on their way. We have not heard from the Elves, either. Previously their Lord sent news to us and gave our couriers leave to travel through the Silver Wood."
"Consider me a messenger from the Silver Wood," Beryl said. He pushed his hood back somewhat, so that Miller might see his Elven features. "The north of the wood is overrun with Orcs that crossed the river, and though they have given little contest thus far, they remain and recent attacks against Elves and Orcs both have increased tension between Orc and Elf kind. It would seem there is some force within the wood apart from Orcs or Elves and that they make stealthy attacks against both, though we do not yet understand their purpose in this, or know quite what manner of creatures they may be."
"We heard some drums, but we knew not what to make of it, without hearing from the Wood. Of these others you suspect, I know nothing."
"For the time being, the Elves and Orcs resist outright war with each other, but already in the west, we believe Men and Orcs battle."
"Winter is traditionally a season for Orc Raids," Dale offered, "They are not overall good with planning and will be driven to pillage and steal when game and vegetation are not so abundant. But, these recent movements began in summer."
"My partner, Ranger Maple, has made a study of Orcs and I often find his wisdom in such areas useful," Tsuki told Miller. He did not think it was necessary for Miller to know more about Dale. "We were on a mission until recently, and in our journey have learned of some most queer current events. There is already conflict between Rangers and Orcs to the West, but it is insignificant compared to the war that may come if all Orcs are pressed into war. They have multiplied greatly since the war and have no masters to control them. In coming days, we will see the truest nature of the Orcs."
"I will send summons to my Lord and to the King for aid."
"You may," Tsuki told Miller, "But my advice is to watch the Orcs and to not be the first to strike. There is the more mysterious force to consider. If we were drawn into war with the Orcs, the devastation to Orcs, Men and Elves may create opportunity for some other force to seize power. That is my most recent suspicion."
Dale nodded. "Then perhaps…perhaps it was always a matter of a struggle for power between east and west."
"The defeat of the Dark Lord created a…a void if you will, an empty throne," Beryl said.
"I hear you. There must be much we do not yet see or understand, but it is true that the hand of evil stretched far into the west and brought destruction and death to many. We have our king, but the kingdom is not yet as strong as it may be. If there were any force that had remained hidden, waiting, during the war, they might now attempt to seize power over many kingdoms."
"Precisely my fear," Tsuki said to Miller. "In the east, many peoples and kingdoms there were overlorded by Darkness and now put their strength into rebuilding homes and defense as we do in the west. It is not only the western realms that may be threatened."
"It is strange they have not had news from other posts," Beryl said quietly.
"Do you not have pigeons here?"
"We have for sending. We dispatched a cage of homing birds north with some Elven Rangers a few months ago. I fear, that cage must have been lost. This is why I hoped, when I was informed Rangers from a northern fort had arrived, that you rode with a message or orders."
"It is more likely someone is shooting down the birds," Dale said, "If the posts had no other way of contacting you, they would send messengers until they heard news from you."
"Unless news from here was sent out, falsely," Beryl said quietly.
"Who is your commander? We were told he was out."
"Cinsley."
"Captain Cinsley?" Tsuki asked.
"Aye, this post is considered minor. Officers here report to Lord Royalhill, but daily dispatching of duties is left to a selected Captain, and this is Cinsley. Is he known to you then?"
Tsuki glanced to Dale before answering; he lied, "No, we only heard his rank in passing, when we came to Eldsbridge. I only suggest, that as he is away, it must become your duty to investigate any breech of communication. I warn you, as one who has served as your fellow in the past, that you best do this in haste, or rather quickly, and beginning as soon as is possible, for there is conflict to come, and we Rangers cannot afford to have even one post cut off from the others. My companions and I will report all we know to you."
On the road to the north, Laurel and Fei road at a cautious pace, watching the road and surrounding for danger, or signs of their companions. Laurel had determined only that she was not skilled enough a tracker to know for certain what persons or horses had lately traveled this road. There were various places where tracks led between lightly pebbled road and leaf-strewn wood, but she doubted her ability to distinguish the tracks of her friends from any others. Sometimes she thought she saw Nightmare's hoof prints, large and unshod, but thus far they had been found at the edge of the wood and she had lost them in the damp leaves.
Fei also scouted, but his expertise was in reading, writing and lore…and also in cooking. He suspected they had little choice but to find the town of Eldsbridge and ask after their friends.
"A dead bird," Fei said as he saw it. "Is it like others here? I do not think so."
"A pigeon. They sometimes are used to carry messages," Laurel said as she saw it. She dismounted then from Moon-shadow and lifted her skirts as she walked nearer to the carcass.
"Do not touch it. It is a rotting thing."
"Some rotting things can cause disease, but this is freshly dead. It does have a small message canister." Laurel stooped and picked the twine from the pigeon leg to loose the small metal container. Fei dismounted and held his horse's reins as he looked down over Laurel's shoulder. Moon-shadow was more docile and would not leave Laurel.
"Is there a message?"
Laurel stood and examined the canister, to determine how it might be opened. "It is a delicate thing, perhaps Dwarf-made, or Elvish." Laurel pulled at each end and the small canister came open, revealing a small scroll of paper within. "It is paper, not parchment," Laurel said, meaning she supposed Elves had more to do with this than Dwarves.
"The Dwarves do not leave their writings for others to see."
"The script is Elvish, but I only know its usage to spell out words in the Common Speech, and a few words of the Elvish tongue. I cannot read it."
Fei extended a hand and took the slip of paper. He had studied Elvish letters among other writing systems and since Laurel had regained the scrolls and tomes from the old man in the Wizard shop, Fei had renewed his study, and even had some lessons from Tsuki and Beryl. Fei began to slowly sound out the words.
"What does it mean?"
"I can give the reading, but I do not know the meaning of all the words. The message I think is from one Ranger to another. This here, and here, is a title. Captain it says. Here, this is the word Elves use to speak of the 'Rangers'. These I think are proper names and would not be translated. It is from Captain Anto, sent to Cinsley. I recognize a few other words. This is 'rider' and…Laurel, here are the names Tsuki and Dale as they would be rendered in Elven. And here, this is a word for negation. I think the message instructs that something should not be done."
Laurel turned and stooped again to study the pigeon carcass. "It appears to me it was struck in the head. Perhaps a stone was slung, it would seem it was felled while in flight and landed here."
Fei did not look at the bird Laurel pointed at, but at the black creature that alighted in the tree above. "Let us be off."
Laurel looked up and then stood. "I think that is one of Dale's. It is a Raven, that one."
Fei agreed.
"I think you may be right. Let us go. We must show this message to Tsuki or Dale as soon as is possible." Laurel climbed upon Moon-shadow and when Fei was seated on his horse again, they rode.
The Halfling had finally arrived. The Sea wrung his golden-nailed hands rapturously as the small pale-haired creature was led into the clearing. There were charms and spells in place to insure they could not be overheard. The Sea waved a hand in gesture for the others to leave. Cinsley hesitated, but finally backed away, leaving Kato with the Wizard.
"Now," The Sea said, his voice echoing slightly, "Deliver the message to me."
"Yes," Kato said flatly. He was barely aware of his surroundings and felt as if some great dry heat threatened to smother him. He began to sing, adding some merry steps and flourishes of his hands, which he had added to the memorized song. It was such a horrible song, he felt he should liven it a bit.
The Sea took ink, quill and paper from compartments of his robes and recorded the lyrics and notes for later reference. "Again," he said.
Kato began the song again, singing words he did not know.
When he had finished singing, Kato stood looking up at the tall, bald Wizard and he thought, this is one of the people who has manipulated me into drawing my friends into danger. I have been under spells, he thought.
The Sea approached Kato, moved close enough to touch him and bent to look Kato in the eyes. He recited an incantation that Kato did not understand, but in his mind, Kato felt as if a voice was suggesting he forget this meeting. A voice suggested he forget and return to his friends.
The Sea then departed from the clearing. He called to Hwesta, leader of the group of altered Romendar and to Cinsley. When they were assembled The Sea said, "Make certain this body is not discovered."
"You mean us to kill the Halfling, then why…?" Cinsley began, but he never finished, as Hwesta's knife slit his throat.
Kato stood in a clearing within the southern areas of the Silver Wood, alone. He thought, that was a most strange meeting. He was not certain which way he had come, and so he decided, maybe the best thing to do was to look for something to eat. There might be a few berries left, if he could find some.
Kato set off to look for something edible. He came through some dense shrubbery and saw a bird perched on the thin branch of a nearby bush. There were red berries upon the bush. "Holly," Kato said, "it is not good for eating, I am afraid. Only good for decorating on Elven feast days. I should remind the Men to get some holly before the Winter Solstice."
The little brown bird fluttered from the branch to Kato's shoulder. It chirped at him.
"I do not suppose you know where we might find some food?"
The little bird tweeted and then flapped over to a nearby tree. Kato followed, and the bird moved again, flying a longer distance and alighting on another bush. Kato kept following, until he came to the road.