Without another word, Aravan rose and walked away, and all watched him go, Aylissa with tears in her eyes.
Only that day did Galarun and company rest in the safety of Darda Erynian, and the very next morning they prepared to set forth on fresh horses borrowed from the Dylvana. Galarun mounted up, the silver sword scabbarded across his back, and he called out to alclass="underline" "We were sent to fetch a sword to be borne unto Adonar, where last we knew war raged. Modru has striven mightily to thwart us from doing so, yet thanks to ye all and the Hidden Ones he has failed once again. Would that we could bide awhile, yet we cannot, for our mission is most urgent. Fare ye well, my friends, and now we must go."
At a signal from Galarun, Larana sounded her silver trump and, as the argent notes faded into the shadowed galleries of the Great Greenhall, forth spurred Galarun, Aravan at his side, a column of Lian following.
And so, amid shouted farewells and good-byes, Waer-linga, Pyska, Baeron, and Dylvana watched the Silver Sword Company ride westward, angling for the Landover Road. They would follow that route to the ford across the Argon and the wide wold beyond, the river and rolling plain some fifty-five leagues hence, where they would turn for Darda Galion, another eighty leagues south, the only appreciable barrier the Dalgor Fens halfway between.
And as they went from sight, Rynna turned to Tipperton and said, "Oh, I do hope they have taken the best way." And then she shuddered, as if the icy breath of the Dark One himself had whispered in her ear.
Chapter 31
A full sevenday after Galarun and Aravan and the remainder of Galarun's company had ridden westerly, the Warrows prepared to depart the campsite and head down along the wold. The Warrows were the last to go, for the Dylvana, Baeron, and Pysks had left days before, the Elves of northern Darda Erynian taking all weary horses with them, for their journey was but a short one. Hence, only Tip, Rynna, Beau, Linnet, Farly, and Nix were left in the camp, and they had waited until the ponies were ready to travel before they set out, for the little steeds had been utterly spent, having trod one hundred forty miles in but two days. The Warrows, too, had been wearied, yet they had recovered first.
But now all were well rested, Warrows and ponies alike, and so south they fared, crossing the Landover Road and passing down through the eastern fringe of Darda Galion, aiming for their camp within the wood nigh Eryn Ford, some hundred fifty miles in all by the route they would take, following along the arc of the forest eave. They set out in a cold winter drizzle, for although it was but mid-November, the chill season itself was upon them more than a month early. And the woods were drear and silent but for the rain falling through brown leaves, carrying them down from the limbs to the ground to add to the humus below. Not voles nor hares nor limb runners nor beasts of any kind did scurry among the trees, nor did birds flit among the branches, for they had long past sensed the onset of winter and had flown away to warmer climes, taking their bright songs with them.
Through the edge of this dismal and stark wood did the Warrows ride, speaking little among themselves, their spirits dampened as well.
Five chill days they rode southerly, the nights frigid in camp, and although they kept watch on the eastern wold as they fared down its west flank, no sign did they see of the Foul Folk, those who had survived.
Late in the eve of the eighteenth of November and through a falling snow, the Warrows came unto the glade where the Eryn Ford watchers encamped. As they dismounted before their bowers, Tynvyr came riding her fox, and she stopped and sprang to the ground and looked up at them.
[Know you what passed nigh Rimmen Gape?] asked Rynna.
[Aye, the Eio Wa Suk carried the news,] replied Tynvyr.
[The Foul Folk, we have not seen them since. Are they back at Eryn Ford?] asked Tipperton.
Tynvyr shook her head.
"Barn rats!" exclaimed Beau, and then speaking Fey, added, [Where have they gotten to, I wonder?]
"No matter where," said Linnet in Common, "they can be up to no good"
"No matter where," agreed Farly, the look on his face glum.
[I would think that if they've not returned to the ford,] said Tip, in the Fey tongue, [then it is most likely they are somewhere in the Rimmens licking their wounds.]
[That, or waiting for another surrogate,] said Beau.
Rynna sighed. [Well, there's nought we can do for the moment, and I am tired and cold and hungry. Tip, you and the others see to the ponies, and I will see to a good fire and a meal.]
[I will help,] said Linnet, handing the reins of her pony to Beau.
Rynna looked at Linnet in some surprise, for as far as Rynna knew, her cousin would rather care for a pony than to help prepare a meal.
As the buccen and Tynvyr returned from the makeshift stables westerly in the woods, Rynna looked at Beau and grinned, while Linnet turned away in some haste and busied herself at things already done, color high in her cheeks. That night Linnet drew Beau into her bower, her mother Melli away at the Springwater holding and the last thing on the young damman's mind.
"Oh, Tip," said Beau. "I've loved her ever since the first moment I saw her, but I am so plain and she is so beautiful, and yet she feels the same. Isn't that marvelous?"
"Indeed, Beau, indeed. But I knew it all along, what with you mooning about and watching her every move and her casting sly eyes at you."
"Rather like you and Rynna, eh?"
Tip laughed and slapped a hand over his heart. "Argh, bucco, sling bullets are not all you throw."
Beau grinned, then turned serious. "I say, Tip, what say we get married?"
"Married?"
"Aye. Not to each other, of course, but you to Rynna and me to Linnet."
"But Beau, there's a war on."
"In spite of the war, Tip, life goes on," declared Beau. "What better time to plight troth?"
Tipperton frowned and looked eastward, where stood the eaves of Darda Erynian some five miles away through the forest.
"Look," said Beau, "I think we'll have a bit of respite while the Foul Folk are off licking their wounds, and so we ought to take the time to have a wedding or two. Besides, Linnet is my heartmate."
"Have you asked her?"
"Well, not exactly, but I will. And you should think on asking Rynna, too, what with Lark and all. A child needs a father, you know."
"But Beau, she has a father. Me! Or did you think Lark fell out of a nest on one of those branches above?"
"Of course not, Tip. But I just think you ought to get married, and we can make it a double."
"Oh, Beau, don't you think Rynna and I want to be married? We've talked about it often, but there's no mayor or Adonite cleric or Elwyddian priestess about."
"What about up in Bircehyll, or over in Darda Galion for that matter? In Wood's-heart. Surely there's a cleric or priestess in one of the two."
"Married by the Elves?"
Beau nodded.
Tip smiled. "When?"
"How about Winterday?"
"Year's Long Night?"
Again Beau nodded.
"All right, Beau. Let's get the Pysks to ask the Groaning Stones to see if a cleric or priestess is available."
[Is something amiss?] asked Tynvyr, sitting before a wee fire outside her tiny bower.
[Oh no,] replied Tipperton, [we've come on another matter altogether.]
[Would you like a small cup of tea,] said Tynvyr, laughing as she held up an acorn-sized mug. As both buccen declined, Tynvyr canted her head and said, [Well then, what is this-how did you put it? Oh yes-this another matter altogether?]
Tip glanced at Beau and then said to Tynvyr, [Would you ask the Eio Wa Suk to send a message to Bircehyll and to Wood's-heart to see if a priestess or cleric is among the Elves? If so, we'd ask that they come to the holding of the Springwater Warrows to perform a wedding ceremony, and if they cannot, then we'd travel to wherever they might be.]