The Great Quest

In the outskirts of Rohan, in the dark of night, a clandestine meeting took place. Soldiers of Rohan, one by one, drifted into a small, abandoned building. Within, only a small candle burned in one corner, and the rest of the building lay dark.

Soon, all had gathered. Their captain came forward, surveying them silently. He finally spoke, his voice the sound of the wind whispering through tombstones. "We have delivered the captivess safely, and I believe the one we sent them to is none the wiser. The masster will be pleased."

One spoke up, boldly, "Then why do we yet remain?"

"Our orderss stand! The master commanded, and we shall yet fulfill his purpose!" The captains eyes flashed, as he stared dreadfully at the one who spoke out.

Yet the questioner asked on, unaware of his danger. "Sso why do we sstay here? Ssurely elssewhere we could find thosse we ssseek."

The captain took a step forward, and then lunged, suddenly, catching the other by the throat, and snapping his neck with one sharp notion. "Sso is the fate of those who dissobey. As for hiss foolishness, those we delivered may be of no concern to uss, but they may draw the one we yet seek here, where we lay in ambush!" He looked around, as if daring another to speak out. When none did, he strode from the building, and slowly, one by one, the others left as well.