"Well then," said Rynna, "if Modru knows of your mission, then he will do all to stop you."
Both Aravan and Galarun nodded, and Rynna went on to say, "And to prevent Modru from stopping you at the marge of Darda Erynian, what I would advise is for you to let us guide you through the Greatwood and to the plains of Riamon south of where the Spaunen lie in wait. That way you can skirt entirely 'round them, and a spur of the Rimmens will stand across their way and thwart them from pursuit."
Galarun grinned at Rynna and exclaimed, "Done and done!"
In the morn at break of fast, Galarun said, "Sorry, Beau, but of bacon we have none. Mian, yes, for we travel light."
"Wull, then," said Beau, "as for travelling light, on this trip the Warrows do not, even though we were expecting to go just to Caer Lindor and then back again. And so, I'll share out what bacon we have with you and yours as far as it will go, returning your favor of months past, if you please."
As he cut slices off the slab Melli had put in his saddlebag, Beau asked, "How goes the war at Drimmen-deeve?"
" Tis done. The siege broken not a month past. And although they took grievous losses, the Drimma now harry the Rupt, fighting in the Grimwall-in this they are aided by Baeron and Lian. As soon as the rage of the Drimma is spent, they will be ready to aid the High King."
"If I know anything of Dwarves," said Tip, "it is this: long will it be ere a Dwarven rage is satisfied."
Galarun laughed. "Ah, Waerling, thou dost know them well."
"Speaking of the High King," said Beau, "does anyone know of his whereabouts?"
Galarun shook his head. "Talar said-"
"Talar-that's the one who survived the destruction of Atala?" asked Beau.
"Aye. He was saved by passing ship and borne to a Go-thon port. In that port there are rumors the High King fights to the west of the Grimwall-in Rian and Wellen and Dalara and Trellinath-though how any came by this news, neither Talar nor his sources could say. But the Go-thonians had been constructing ships to join with a mighty fleet, for the Straits of Kistan are blockaded, and it will take such a fleet to break through. But the great waves from the destruction of Atala destroyed the ships and much of the sheltered port as well. Yet the Gothonians have started anew and are laying keels again, the ships huge and many decked, to carry both men and horses. With all the ways across the Grimwalls held by the Rupt, we believe the High King plans to sail with that fleet to come unto Pellar."
"But all the ways are not blocked," said Tip. "You told us yourself that Drimmen-deeve is free."
"Aye, but the High King may know it not, though Coron Eiron has now sent messengers across Quadran Pass to find King Blaine and tell him that way is now unfettered."
As they rode among the trees of the Greatwood-"Aye, Tipperton, a Pysk did slay a Draedan," said Aravan. "I was there when 'twas done."
"How did this come about?" asked Tip. "And how can a tiny Pysk slay a mighty Gargon?"
"Jinnarin, a Pysk, and Alamar, a Mage, came asking for my help to find her mate Farrix. Across the world we voyaged, and when we found him at last, 'twas then she slew the Mandrak, though not in a corporeal state."
"Not in a what?" asked Tip.
"Corporeal state," answered Beau. "Not in a physical form." Then Beau frowned and looked at Aravan. "Not in a physical form?"
Aravan nodded. "It was as she dreamwalked, and she slew the Draedan's spirit therein but not its body, though its body did die as well."
"When was this and where?" asked Tip.
A look of pain flared deep in Aravan's eyes. "It was on a small isle in the Sindhu Sea in the time of the destruction of Rwn…"
On the sixth day of May Galarun looked out on the open plain, empty for as far as the eye could see, though a hawk circled in the distant sky. To the left a spur of the Rimmen Mountains guarded the north. Galarun turned to the Waer-linga. "I thank ye all for the warning and for guiding us here. That we would have fallen into a Ruptish trap is mayhap certain. Yet now ye have steered us 'round their flank, and 'tis on to Xian we ride. Long will it take to reach there, and long will be the journey back.
"Yet heed, as ye have guided us, I would have ye keep track of the whereabouts of the Spaunen and lead other folk safely past them as well."
"But we were thinking of going to Pellar and aiding the High King," said Tip.
Rynna looked startled.
Tip turned to Rynna. "It is war, love, and as well we know, in war loves and lovers are parted, though I would dwell with you awhile."
Rynna nodded in anguish but said, "I understand."
"I say, though," exclaimed Beau, "in the meantime, if we can get the Drimmen-deeve Dwarves to come to Darda Erynian, then we can destroy the remnants of the Foul Folk who wait at Eryn Ford, and then we won't have to worry about them at all."
Aravan shook his head. "Nay, Beau, 'tis better those Spaunen be left alone, for where they are they do little good in Modru's cause, and little harm in ours."
"But they slew nearly all the Vanadurin," protested Beau, "and if that's little harm, then I don't know what harm is."
"Aye, that was indeed harm. Yet heed, as Galarun says, we would have ye Waerlinga keep track of the Rupt and guide others past them as ye have guided us. And in that way they will be ineffective, a waste of Modru's power."
Galarun nodded. "The Horde is best set along a margin where they are doing no good whatsoever, though Modru knows it not. Mayhap it will lead him to believe we have not set out at all, and are yet to fall into his trap. If so, then mayhap our mission to Black Mountain will go forth unmolested. Hence, leave them be, and this I promise, when we return we will lay the Rupt by the heels. And when the time to go to Pellar comes, we will proudly ride with ye.
"But now our mission is not to aid the High King, but to fetch a sword instead, and I would have Modru think we are yet to come."
Rynna nodded, as did Tip, though his assent came reluctantly.
Galarun smiled and then said, "Fare ye well, my friends, and may Adon ward each and every one of ye."
And Galarun signed to his company, and with Aravan at his side, out into the plains they all rode, packhorses and remounts trailing, the Lian on an enigmatic mission to receive a silver sword from Mages and bear it back to war.
"Farewell," cried Rynna. "May Elwydd keep you all."
As they watched the Elven company ride away, Tipper-ton sighed and said, "I suppose they're right, though leaving two segments of Foul Folk on our very doorstone sits askew with me. Nevertheless, if keeping track of the Spawn and guiding others past will serve the needs of all best, well then, I suppose it'll have to do."
Rynna nodded, then said, "We have done well these six days, steering Galarun and his company 'round a danger lying in wait. Let us go back to Darda Erynian and see how to best carry out the mission he has charged us with."
The four Warrows set out for Caer Lindor, where they would cross back over into the Blackwood once more. And as they rode, Beau said, "Well, Tip, with Warrows and Pysks and Groaning Stones, with Living Mounds and Woodwers, there's not a man among them. We couldn't find a better group of not-men."
"Not-men they are, that I agree, but I ask you this: are we using their aid to quench the fires of war or simply to avoid strife?"
Beau frowned and did not answer Tipperton's question as into the Greatwood they rode.
Chapter 29
Summer came at last, though it seemed more chill than summers before. "I wouldn't doubt that it's all the fault of Gyphon," said Beau, his back to a boulder as he watched the slope behind.