The Second Servant

"...and she came like a Fury, down from the north, and the land quailed at her coming" - Tome VII "The Legends of the Ironfists", Azanulimbar-dum II 2805

Froin looks Relg over with a suspicious eye. Then looking hard into the eastern man's eyes, Froin's expression eventually softens. "Well met Relg of the Fist. I am Froin, and this brute here is my friend." He gestures towards Gwalchmai with a slight grin. "And I further believe that the two of us may be able to help you. There may be others...we were just on our way to see the Lord to what actions were being taken by him, would you care to join us? But I must warn you...these people are not as open as I am to your wearing that of the Szreldor. They will probably attack on first sight. I will try my best to talk with them but the outcome is not mine to decide. If you can accept this then I would gladly let you accompany us. Isn't that right?" He nudges Gwalchmai in the thigh.

"Yes, you have your 'brute' friend's blessing, Froin" replies the broad northman and he gives the Dwarf a strong slap on his back, making Froin stagger forward, almost unbalancing him and making the Dwarf cough - just enough to show how much of a 'brute' he is...

Relg answers Froin directly, after the Dwarf has recovered his composure: "I am well aware that these cowards look similar to me and my people. As far as I can see, all Szreldor have left this village, therefore I hope people will be able to calm down. But I think I can handle any situation." After a pause, Relg adds: "However, thank you for your offer".

Gwalchmai, still sizing up the merits of having this new warrior along, turns and speaks again to his companion:
"Well, he seems different from the other Szreldor.... OK, let's go back into the inn and have a small talk, all together. Maybe we can learn something from him about all this."

"Have you gathered more men in the inn?" asks the Gargath, hearing Gwalchmai's comments. "Are they willing to fight the Szreldor? Well, let's go in and talk. Then we should go for Mahrdricks, the head of this village." Saying this, Relg points to the large building at the center of Buhr Criocha. "I think he can be found there."

*******

Seeing the others leaving and thinking that Sealvach's idea has merit, and no less intrigued by this non-Elvish Elf, Heladil follows Sealvach out. "Sealvach, I think your plan has merit and I would go with you in search of this Valdo & Lochan. Let me get my horse and we shall go."

"Very well," answers the Gambler. "Another pair of eyes and ears is no hindrance in these matters." He walks towards the stable, not waiting for the Elf to follow. The horses are busy with Galgwen's plants and for now are quiet so Sealvach first retrieves his saddle and bridles from inside the stable building and returns across the courtyard.
Uttering soothing words, the tall man carefully approaches one of the horses, a mid-sized black mare bred for endurance rather than speed. After several minutes he has the riding gear fitted in place and swings himself into the saddle, sliding the ash bow through a leather strap down one flank of the beast.

Heladil goes towards his own horse. "I may be able to provide more than just one pair of eyes to help us out my friend." He then saddles and puts his gear on the small dappled gray horse, which like Sealvach's, looks to be made more for endurance than speed. With a small trilling noise escaping his lips, Heladil moves his mount forward as a white owl lands on his outstretched arm. He smiles.

Arekhel hears what Sealvach and Heladil are planning. She looks after them with tired eyes and eventually decides to follow them into the yard as there are few others left in the commonroom.

"Lets be off then," shouts Sealvach and firmly urges his mount forward.

As Heladil rides out of the yard with the Gambler, he bends his head towards the owl as if he were deep in conversation uttering strange syllables out of hearing to all but the bird.

Arekhel shouts after them, but too late for them to hear over the sounds of their mounts hooves on the cobbles of the street:
"Wait! Why do you run like this after some supposed help?! How do you know you will find this Valdo and this Lochan person? We should take council!" Seeing no reaction she adds: "You might be killed!"
She waves at them to stop but realises it is too late anyway and soon gives up.

After a few further moments, the barn owl flies off and Heladil continues to ride, a wrinkle of thought on his high brow..

Arekhel shrugs and walks slowly towards the remaining horses. Patting the nearest one, as if to befriend him, she seems lost in her thoughts, hesitating. Then suddenly she changes her mind and enters the inn again, crosses it upon hearing conversation close buy and peers out from the open front door, towards the group. She steps into the street and pointing at Relg, says in a mocking way:
"Ah?! Another tramp warrior! Who are you Sir?! Are you ready to join our troop of wounded?" She points at Gwalchmai, "Do you also require the help of a qualified healer?!"
Then realising her mocking tone suddenly, she stops herself then says in a softer, tired voice:
"I'm Arekhel...who are you?!"

Relg seems to be slightly irritated at first with the Elven woman's words. As she mentions her name however, his face shows signs of recognition. He stares at her for a few seconds, then he bursts out laughing loudly. He finally says: "If your knife is as sharp as your tongue you can certainly defend yourself. My name is Relg of the Fist and if you want to call me 'tramp warrior' just go ahead. No, I don't need a healer. Do I look as if I would?"
In fact, although he seems to have been in recent combat, neither his body nor equipment show any signs of damage, not even a scratch.

Boldor look's up from his empty beer mug, which he has been looking at mournfully, occasionally glaring at the Gambler and ignoring the others about him but slowly realises that the room is almost empty. Wondering where everyone has gone to he remembers a snatch of conversation from a few moments before - something about fighting the Szreldor:
"Did someone say killing the Szreldor?" he booms, his drunken stupor fading as quickly as his mood. "Count me in!" he adds, grabbing his Mattock and storming towards the front door, knocking over a stool that Balneg has just righted. The barman swears and bends to pick it up once more.

As the group return into the common room, Boldor sees Relg and suddenly comes to a stop. "Whu... who's this damned Szreldor?"

Following Arekhel inside, the Gargath stays close to the entrance allowing his eyes to become accustomed to the dim light. Still standing by the door, he regards the scene inside the inn, specifically the Dwarf infront of him as he slowly puts his shield and bow down, leaning them against the wall. Finally, he ascertains that for now, the Dwarf is not going to brain him with his oversized weapon and Relg answers, making his voice clear to all in the tavern room:
"I am Relg of the Fist and am no more Szreldor than you are, Dwarf. My people have been overthrown and are now controlled by the same Szreldor that have attacked this village. I hunt them every moment of my waking life and will not stop until my people are freed."

Without making any move further into the common room, the Gargath then turns to Arekhel nearby, looks at her for a second, puzzled, and then says: "Do we know each other?"

********

Meraina watches and waits for the five Szreldor to move out of sight towards the river. The horses hooves churn up the ploughed earth and are soon lost beneath the morning mist by the waters edge. Meraina sighs quietly with relief and then makes her way back to the Village, entering the town through the same postern door that she left earlier. She is not observed.
With a choice of two streets to follow, the woman is indecisive for a moment before finally choosing the left hand way. Her horse's iron-shod hooves repeat a steady clicking on the stones as she finds herself within a few minutes near once more to the tavern that she left earlier in such a hurry.

<The building seems to have survived the fires surprisingly well although the roof beams are badly scorched and appears to be inhabited by evidence of the open door and shutters over each of the downstairs windows thrown back to admit the morning light.>

********

As Raddish and Billy reach the edge of the woodland, they look carefully around for signs of the soldiers. There appears to be nobody nearby, and the way to the village looks open.

Raddish is the first to whisper:
"Billy, I think it is better if you lead. You're more adept than me in sneaking into the houses of other people... aren't you?".
Raddish grins while saying these words, then adds:
"Let's try and be quiet, we'll listen to the sounds of the village."

Sneaking carefully to the very edge of the forest, Billy examines his surroundings and the open way between the forest and the nearby settlement. He takes a few minutes to listen to the sounds of the
forest and to observe the open space of grass, heather and tilled furrows but sees nothing un-toward. Satisfied that there is no-one nearby, he steps forward then swaggers down through the long grass towards the small fields around the settlement. He walks as if he owned the world, but makes sure that Raddish also accompanies him.

"No use looking suspicious when we don't have any cover at all," he says. "Might as well just walk like we owned the place..." He smiles over his shoulder at the more cautious Raddish following.

As soon as they reach the open postern door of the village, Billy pauses then immediately dashes through to seek the darkest and smallest place within reach, where people will not seek him. With Raddish quickly following, he finds a dark overhang of a building and shelters against the wall beneath, recovering his breath.
"OK. And now?" he says.

********

Even as Sealvach and Heladil leave the town gates, a few miles to the south...

"Szreldor!" exclaims Lochan. "Why would they be here and in some numbers too..." he pauses for a moment before adding "maybe twenty or more?".

"Eighteen by my count," agrees Valdo, his horse stiring beneath him.

Lochan glances around. "Perhaps we could make it to the cover of those pine trees. They do not seem to have noticed us yet".

"No. It seems that the cover of wind is fortunate. Let's get out of here before that band comes upon us. We cannot move fast with this cart anyway. Let's go for the trees."

Valdo pulls his horses head around and rides swiftly but carefully over the marshy ground towards the dark line of trees. Lochan does likewise with the cart. After a few minutes of tense nerves the two soldiers get to the trees without raising any alarm, the Szreldor being so intent on what they are watching that none of them look round.

Once Lochan is satisfied that the cart is out of sight, he jumps down and taking his crossbow from the cart, moves back to the edge of the woodland as carefully as his skill allows. Valdo dismounts and creeps forward with him.
Turning to the guardcaptain the Ranger explains in a hushed voice, "Our foreboding was not without reason. Let see what they're up to. I know naught of these people save the bloody stories told in Inns".
He pauses but mutters under his breath:
"What could they be doing so close to Buhr Criocha I wonder?".

"I do not know Ranger, but it cannot be good for our people. The Szreldor are a vicious and uncouth race from the lands by the Inland Sea. I would wish that they had stayed on the east side of the Celduin but I had heard that roving bands would occasionally attack further afield. I cannot tell why they are here. Let us find out more of what they are doing. Wait! I see something."

As the two men watch, a new group of Szreldor begin to arrive from the north, <the direction that the others were looking> climbing the path from the valley beyond the hill. The new warriors are like the old in aspect and could even be part of the same warband.

Within five minutes, the two watchers give up counting the number appearing as the rear group spread outwards to give them room on the top of the hill. There must be near sixty and all seem mounted. Valdo involuntarily swears as a break in the amassing ranks suddenly shows a ragged bunch of prisoners tied by the hands to the rear of various mounts. Mostly women and young teenagers, the guardcaptain swears again as he recognises some of them, "Damn! I...I don't believe it! Those people are from Buhr Criocha!"

As the forlorn group of figures stand in a bunch amongst their conquerors, Lochan is first to spot a new addition to the unfolding events. Three boxcarts with large cages upon them appear from just over the edge of the slope. Pulled by sturdy horses, these wagons must be present to take the prisoners to their destination - wherever that may be.

"Ah. I see why this group were awaiting the arrival of the others. The poor people must be destined for the slave-pens in Szrel Arkasa, if I have heard the tales aright," whispers the Ranger.

Valdo doesn't appear to hear him as he mutters to himself:
"What has happened to the village? Can these be the only survivors?
But surely Raigorn would have seen them coming? What about all the prepared defenses and contingency plans? How would they get into the village anyway...with the wall? No! It must have been by stealth and treachery."

"Valdo...Valdo!" whispers Lochan urgently, nudging the other man's arm where he lies in the grass. "We must find out what has happened to the village. If it still stands, there will be survivors and with them we can organise some sort of plan. Come on. I don't see Maelwhin or Beriwen with them so perhaps they are still alive and if so then Raigorn will be there too. Come on!" and with this, the Ranger slinks back under the shadows of the silent trees.

Valdo takes one more calculating look at the enemy before he too follows the Ranger into the woods.