As the Undead advance upon Sealvach and Valdo, the two adversaries stand uncertain, side by side to face this new threat. Valdo steps back, swearing and calling out the man's name: "Meaden? Soldier!!" His voice has no effect on the withered creature coming on towards them. "What manner of foul sorcery is this? No, they cannot be alive, surely. Can they?"

Sealvach doesn't answer however, for he sees beyond the pitiful shapes shambling towards him, he sees into the realms beyond them, to the strength of the force that guides their mechanical actions, and he shudders. Taking a further step back as the sickly grinning faces of the militia men twist as they raise weapons to strike at him, Sealvach mumbles, "This is what Arekhel saw, I see it... A force of ancients... not even the Blessed Quendi can escape from it. A hand that defies even Mandos! How can that be? There is doom for even us to fear."

At the same moment, Coru leaps down the last steps from the floor above, closely followed by Billy. "By my toasty frumblies! The dead live!" says the little man.

Readying his war spear, the Gargath Tracker maneuvers behind the second of the Undead and thrusts his spear with all his might into the creature's back. It doesn't seem to notice although the tip bursts through its shoulder, getting caught in the material of the armour. Coru cannot retrieve it so drops the weapon and pulls forth his sabre.

"Good blow Master Coru," shouts Billy from the stairs.

For a short moment, a blink of the eye only, Relg seems to step back. He raises his shield in defence but does not attack. "Get back. You are dead. You cannot move!" His voice fills the room. "Sealvach, what is happening here?" Relg looks for the Gambler, as if he could explain what seems to be a nightmare.

<During all the years of fighting not only the Szreldor, but enemies of many different kinds, the Gargath warrior never faced a situation like this. Death is definite, and there is no way of returning back to life, except for those who reach the other side of the Great River, who gather among other brave warriors, waiting for the Day of Return on which they will fight at the side of Kher'Res. But these militia men never had the chance to follow that path.>

Relg grips his sabre tighter and moves swiftly in to aid Sealvach who stands shocked and incredulous as the first of the creatures takes a slow swing at him. Only just in time, the Gambler snaps out of his inner thoughts, hearing a shout from Billy: "Don't let him hit you like that, Lord Sealvach?" and the Elf ducks, deflecting the blow with his own weapon.

"Ohh, great show!" adds the Hobbit.

Gwalchmai appears from the opening, unsheathing his Northman Axe and muttering: "I don't like fighting my own men!" but he nevertheless tries to assist the Guard Captain.

Relg steps in to one side, delivering a deep two-handed slash across the second creature's thigh. Blood immediately streams from the wound and Relg grimaces as, with Coru beside him, the Gargath quickly cut the man down.

Valdo shouts at them to stop the carnage but his voice betrays his own emotions and he continues to back away from the monstrous sight of the withered soldier before him. Sealvach does the same, deflecting each of the blows aimed at him but does not seem willing to attack himself. Seeing the strange predicament, Coru and Relg come to aid the man and the Elf and strike at the creature from both sides, severely damaging it. 

With a final brief cry of remorse and pity for the doomed man, Sealvach drives his weapon into its hollow gut. The monster crumples to the floor before him, dragging the Elf's longsword with it. The Gambler steps back and pulls and in that instant a loud crack is heard throughout the room. The blade snaps cleanly just before the hilt, leaving the rest in the figure on the floor.

The Gambler stares at the broken tip, as a loud gasp is heard from near the stairs. As if this is the retribution that he was expecting, Sealvach tosses the handle of his Elven sword to the floor, turns and walks out of the tower.

Relg watches him go, a look of understanding on his weatherbeaten face. He turns to Coru:
"Well done, my friend, but there is no  honour to gain by fighting those who are already dead. This is an evil place, let's get out of here. We should have listened to Arekhel." With his voice lowered, he adds:
"I should have listened, I should trust her."

Seeing Valdo staring at the dismembered corpses the War Seeker says:
"We should take our dead out of the tower quickly and bury them as soon as possible. We must not let this happen again! Their souls must have peace. We owe them that."

Without a word, the Gaurd Captain nods and turns to Gwalchmai and Ohmar, who is nearby. See to the dead, men! I'm getting us all out of here right now." He marches up the stairs, Billy having to leap out of the way to avoid him.

.....
 

Valdo returns to the upper room and strides towards the now, reclothed form of the traitor Urmahd. He is still hanging his head, not wishing to look at the angry faces of the guards around him but has presently stopped snivelling. "You may stand down, men," barks the Guard Captain before halting in front of the pathetic individual on the floor. "Right, Traitor. Let us get some things straight from the outset. You stand on a very fine line. Your actions in the next few minutes might just save your worthless life! I have not yet decided whether you are more useful to us alive or indeed to be dead. It is up to you to decide that for us. We know that you have directly caused death and suffering to the people of Buhr Criocha," Urmahd looks up and sniffs, wiping his nose and mouth on one grotty sleeve, "and that you aided the Szreldor by opening the postern gate. We know, we have the proof of the key and of the note. Now, you..."

Urmahd breaks in to Valdo's words with his own higher pitched but nonetheless forceful voice. "Ha! A key, a note. They may tell you something but they cannot tell you all things. You have no clue what you talk about. I shall say nothing!"

Valdo is taken aback by the outburst and the sneer that follows it. Before he can answer, Urmahd continues in a more controlled voice:
"Don't think me a fool, Valdo of Buhr Croicha. I am glad that your folk have rescued me and I thank you all from my own heart but you cannot brand me with treachery when you know so little. The world spins in far greater circles than your little populace of Buhr Criocha could know about. I am no traitor! I shall only be condemned for my actions after I have been properly found guilty and you cannot do that here. You have no authority."

"I have the authority of my sword!" snarls Valdo taking a step forward.

The crouching form of Urmahd backs off, suddenly fearful, and holding up a hand to ward off the intended blow. But Relg's timely appearance distracts Valdo and he returns his partly drawn blade to its sheath.

Froin watches a few steps away as the others interrogate Urmahd. Eyes dart from speaker to speaker. Waiting, watching for the right time to intervene.

Relg steps near and talks with the Guard Captain, making sure that although ignored, Urmahd can hear every word:
"I suggest, he tells us what he knows about these Szreldor and then we kill him quickly. Or you leave it to us..." <Relg indicates he means the Gargath,> "...to question him. In that case he will wish he would have never been rescued from the Goblins." Relg laughs out loud, turning to Urmahd who looks clearly fearful of this Easterling warrior and backs up flush with the hard stone wall behind:
"Believe me, we know how to get the information we need. And if you don't talk, well, at least we will have our fun," says Relg.

"But, but..." the other man splutters. "How can this be? Easterlings in league with..., no no no. This cannot do." He mutters almost to himself. "You are surely not Szreldor... you have said so yourself, then from where...Ah-h-h," his face changes with recognition. "You must be one of the freedom-fighters of the subjugated tribes. The rabble-uh-scattered folk from the vales round the Folyavuld basin. I see now."

"You see now? You see now?" Froin walks from behind Relg and Valdo and looks into the prisoner's eyes. "What do you see now Urmahd as you look into the eyes of those who would rather see you dead than alive?"  Froin looks up at Relg, almost reassuring himself of something before continuing:
"You have seen what your decisions that day have brought you. You cannot change the outcome of what little life you are still holding on to, but you can set things right by telling us what you know of the Szreldor attack and what part you took in it."

Strangly, Relg stays calm, looking at the prisoner in front of him. A faint smile appears on his lips, but his eyes do not change, the smile stays like a mask on his face. "Watch your words, man. So, you know me. Interesting. What else do you know about me, about my people, except that we were subjugated." Relg's right hand plays with the large knife on his belt. "If you know little more, then you must be aware, that the time will come, when you will wish, you would still be up there on the wall, and it would still be the goblins torturing you, not me."

Valdo, cuts across the prisoner's reply:
"Yes, we have allies little man. And you better believe that out here on the borders of Wilderland, the Law is how we make it! I have the full authority of Raigorn MacGarht, Watch Commander of Buhr Criocha to make my own choices in this matter and even now, a council is being held there with the other Thegn of the Northern Buhrs where your treachery to them all will be rightly revealed. You will have no future here!"

His words sink in and Urmahd recoils with swift looks to the assembled faces around him, seeking a way of escape from his tightening predicament.

Meraina looks at Urmahd intently.  "This is indeed the man who hid the chest I found at Buhr Criocha," she says, her voice full of contempt. Sneering, she adds, "and then he hides himself in a relative's coffin to escape.  He has no honour and deserves to be treated as such.  I will not interfere with any 'justice' you feel necessary, Valdo."  She then sniffs haughtily at the cringing traitor and turns her back on him.

"What!? You found my chest? But that is..." the man shouts. "...no, that is understood...the key," he adds, muttering low before raising his voice accusingly at the woman once more. "But where are my goods now? Tell me that! I demand to know. They are private property and not for sale!"

"Your 'goods' traitor, are with the Watch Commander in Buhr Criocha and there they shall stay until the hearing is ended and you are tried for treason and the death of our people!" snarls Valdo, but Urmahd doesn't hear him as his train of thought bounds on.

"...and for that matter," Urmahd looks wildy about at the floor, "Where is my chest? The one that was here? What have you done with it? My wealth!!" He wails, then:
"You!!" He looks at the assembled group with a grimace of hatred. "You! You have taken it all. You are nothing but Vagabonds and Thieves! Dressed in the fake military tabards of a fool Lord! You will get no help from me, until all my belongings are returned. Each and every one."

Lochan makes a growling sound and Valdo barely succeeds in restraining the young man before he can strike the traitor down. Urmahd sees how dangerous his words can be here and backs off, dropping his defiant look, becoming one of acquiescence and capitulation and says in a suddenly soothing tone:
"I...I spoke rashly. I appologise. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement? Yes, I see that I could help you all but not if my life will 
soon end, before even I leave this ruin. I must have some surety of my safety. You want to know about the Szreldor, Dwarf? I can help you there. Yes indeed. I know much of the ways of those accursed Easterlings. You wish to learn of their motives? Uhuh, then return to me my goods and we shall talk. A mutual deal if you will."

Upon hearing his words, Meraina turns back from where she is looking and stares menacingly at Urmahd. "How dare you make demands of us. You are a traitor and a murderer, not to mention a coward. You make many demands for one in such a delicate position. What exactly is in your things that you want so badly?"  She glances at Urmahd suspiciously and appraisingly before
continuing: "There is something he wants to get his hands on and very badly." With obvious malice she draws one of her long daggers and starts manicuring her nails in obviously feigned disinterest. "You have a choice it would seem. You talk or you die, truly simple even for one such as yourself."

With a sorrowful shake of his head and a 'sympathetic' look on his face, Heladil says:
"Urmahd, you have forfeited anything which you may have. Barter for your life, for I fear that is in much greater risk than your
'wealth."  

With a slight pause, the Elf adds:
"I may not hold with torture, but my companions, Dwarven, Easterling and your own townsmen are something else. I for one will not interfere and neither will any of my folk if you continue on your present course because this is their grievance with you and their laws. If you agree to speak to us in exchange for your life I will do what is within my power to see that that deal is honoured."

Heladil studies the man before him closely and speaks again just before the other can reply:
"I would advise you to consider that before you spew any more false bravado, for once my companions start, I doubt there will be any stopping them."

Relg looks at Valdo, then looks back to Urmahd. "A mutual deal... well, we may return your belongings if you tell us what you know. And if we like what we hear, and if you are lucky, we may even spare your life. It seems that you suffered more than it looks like, it seems you have lost your mind. Don't be foolish, we know more about our enemy than you may imagine. What we don't know is why someone like you collaborates with them."

Lochan, who up till now has been assessing the situation from afar, comes forward to face his adversary once more. Looking directly at him he says sarcastically: "Urmahd the 'Worldly' is mistaken in his confidence." <Speaking aside to Valdo> "You have a number of options, Sir. You can employ the skills of our allies, or you can allow me to use my craft upon our 'Noble Friend'. There are some herbs which can awaken a man's tongue to speak against his will. They take but a moment to effect, then you will be able to ask all of your questions. Such herbs are rarely used because they have many serious and permanent side-effects."

He looks pointedly at Urmahd once more but the traitor stares back, then feigns a forced laugh. "Ha! Hahaha. Don't think I don't know about your pathetic skills, Lochan for Yes! I know you."

Lochan, slightly surprised, keeps his temper in check and turns back to Valdo. "I see it as my duty to use such means upon this TRAITOR and I'd welcome the opportunity to do so Sir".

Valdo nods but says nothing as yet, scratching the stubble upon his face in thought.

But Urmahd continues to taunt the Ranger. "Yes, by all means Lochan. Try your tricks on me. I know of the preparations you speak and they cost more than you could ever own. Haha! You have lost all that you hold dear to me already, so what could I possibly fear from you?" He sniggers before goading the young man further:
"Come on, let the anger roll you over. Strike me! Go on! Just feel it. The other's won't stop you. Just think of your precious Beriwen in my arms...hahahaha! But, ah ah... remember," he holds up a narrow finger as Lochan steps towards him. "Just remember dear boy, that if you strike me, I will have cause for 'D'athra-dhiol', for recompense from your Lord when I go to trial, for a trial it must be. I could be useful to your Lord Mahrdhricks and for all the fool Thegn of the North. Yes!"

"Enough!!" shouts Valdo. "Lochan, I need to speak with you. And another word out of place from you, traitor and we will hang you from the tower walls. Urmahd backs away but still sniggering and watching Lochan. The young Ranger tries hard to control his rage and steps to one side with the Gaurd Captain. They whisper heatedly.

Raddish steps out to the space before the traitor and says:
Yet, you see Urmahd, the sandbank that you stand upon even now is rapidly crumbling and there are treacherous waters all around. Perhaps you are in need of a friendly Willow tree, eh?"

The furtive eyes of the prisoner peer closely at the little figure before him as Raddish continues:
"I bet if the wood was right, you would take it, no? Hmm. Perhaps if you could find someone to support you? Someone to stand up on your behalf, maybe? Hmm. That might be difficult. You see, I would imagine that you have tricked and double-crossed many folk that you have come across in the past. Am I right?"

Urmahd is immediately on his feet once more and reaching for the Ambassador but Raddish is not surprised and steps back as the four guards move forward to protect him. Urmahd fumes and balls his fists by his sides. Spitting froth from the thin line of his mouth, the traitor demands:
"What? What do you know? You know nothing about me! How dare you accuse me! I..." He looks again a little closer at the Hobbit, who stares back in turn. The man leans back against the rough wall and in a more normal voice enquires:
"So... What do you really know, little man?"