Of Wraiths and Kings, and Friends and Rings (Calling All Nazgul)

[Serenoli]

Two men sat in a smoky corner of the Red Herring, playing cards. Thats not uncommon... but Mrs. Miggin, the landlady did not approve of them at all, because they were both hooded and cloaked. Her inn was supposed to be respectable... folk that were ashamed of how they looked like should of tried the Rotten Cod, where they would have been considered strange if they hadn't been hooded and cloaked! And the King was there, too, what would he think? But Mrs. Miggins had no idea how to be politely strict to customers. So she just served their drinks and went about her way.

Completely oblivious of the occasional glares sent their way by her, Tolvadok and the Dwarf went on playing. They both had their own reasons for hiding their faces... for Tolvadok it was become a habit, and as for the Dwarf, he had seen too many lands not to know of the prejudice of people against dwarves... And somwhow this desire to remain incognito had served as a bond between the two, and although they had hardly spoken a word to each other, they had spent the last two hours together... playing and drinking in silence.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tolvadok watched Valandil sitting moodily at his table. He resisted the urge to probe the king's mind, find out what worried him. The Morgul Lord had warned him that the king's mind was not totally unprepared for such an assault. He turned his thoughts instead on the Elf- Mahtaliel, and shuddered at the thought that her filthy hands had grasped his neck. If he didn't hate water more than Elves, he would have been bathing in copious amounts of soap and water, to get the Elvish stench off.

The Dwarf (whose name was Ragin Darkave, but Tolvadok didn't know that) played his card- The King. Tolvadok smiled grimly, and played his- The Usurper. He knew he had the Dwarf stymied. There were only two other cards that could have deafeated his, and they were both in his hands... The Three Good Witches, and The Rebel.

He left Ragin to scratch his head over it, and wondered how successful he had been with Mahtaliel. He knew he had rather bungled the job... she was a sharp old lady, all right, and though he hadn't tried mind-reading any more, any mortal could have told she was slightly suspicious of him all the same.

The inn-door opened to let in Lily and Buz. They didn't notice him, but went straight on to Valandil. He could see Lily bowing to the King, and the King going red, and he remembered all at once the first time he had seen her when she arrived at Mordor. He had been very young, then... in years as well as in looks, and Lily had had a lot of fun making him blush at every possible oppurtunity. He wondered if Valandil would be getting the full treatment... that would be worth watching!

In a fit of inspiration, Ragin played The Fool. When Tolvadok arched his eyebrows at him, Ragin hastily said... "Well, haven't you heard of any stories where its the faithful Fool who saves the kingdom from the evil Usurper? I could tell you dozens!"

It was that which clinched it for the Dwarf. Tolvadok was by nature a warrior, and listening to a dwarf telling him fairy tales of a Fool and a Usurper with the occasional witches thrown in, was not his cup of tea. Besides, he was now too busy watching the three Elves at whom Valandil was waving, and enjoying the shocked expression on Lily's face. She had certainly not bargained for Elves when she set out to allure the King!

"All right, you win this round. Lets play another, shall we?" he told Ragin.The dwarf nodded, and began dealing. Tolvadok took a long sip of the white wine before him... he didn't like drinking much, but it seemed strange to be in an inn and not drink anything... and watched the curious mixture of men, elves and nazgul. He liked watching people... he didn't mind even Elves much from the distance... he just hated joining in, himself.

[Earniel]

The Red Herring
Monday, 9 PM

When Eärniel saw Valandil wave, rather eagerly so, she politely waved back.

"It won't be polite to just leave now," she said to her friend, "shall we go over there and say goodbye?"

"I'm not sure, Eärniel, look whom the King has for company." RÃ*an said quietly, having spotted Lilaenwen.

"I did notice, but don't let that deter you. After all, it won't be the last time you'll run into her and her family in Tharbad or at the university. You are in nobody's service now and avoiding them will be precisely what they'd want."

"And I dare say the King wouldn't mind at all to be spared from her sole company," Eärniel added in amused, whispered tones as she linked her arm to RÃ*an's to go to the table where Valandil and his company was seated, " judging from that rather desperate wave he just gave us. Not that I can blame him for that."

[Grey_Wolf]

Following in the foot-steps of the martens, the weasels Fleet, Speedy and Swift snuck in through a crack in the wall, curious as to what they were up to, near the abandoned house where the wolves had briefly stayed.

[Valandil]

Valandil was gratified to see the trio of Elves coming his way. He scooted over on the bench. There was room for one more beside Lilaenwen and her brother Pengolod.

As they approached, he noticed Earniel's simple green dress, and thought how well the color suited her. Rian was lovely as well, but who was the guy?

He smiled and invited the Elves to be seated and join them, "Please join us, won't you?" then standing and extending his hand to the unknown Elf he continued, "I am Valandil. I know these two ladies whom you are escorting, but I have not had the pleasure..."

[CrazySquirrel]

Lilly was preparing the next sweet sentence, hiding the predatory gleam in her green eyes by thick golden lashes, when the King suddenly beamed and waved enthusiastically to somebody near the door. His grin suddenly faded, however, when he had a better view of the approaching group.

Lilly turned to follow his gaze and could hardly refrain from swearing loudly. She did so mentally, though, elaborately and profusely.

Golug! Bloody stinking Golug! And none other than her former housekeeper Rian with another cutthroat male Elf at her elbow. The third, more distinguished-looking female, Lilly didn't know, but all three were the same who argued with Khamûl on the doorstep of Orrodel this morning.

Glaring at the approaching Elves, Lilly felt a familiar presence somewhere in the other corner of the room. She received a wave of cold amusement coming from that direction. One of the Nine was in the Inn, laughing at her silently!

But she had no time to use her senses to identify him further. The Elves were already at the table. The King moved into the corner along his bench, and Lilly and Buz had no option as to do likewise, letting the newcomers sit at their table. After introducing himself to the King, the male, Alagos, sat alongside Buz at the end of their bench, while the green dressed goluglob and Rian sat opposite her, alongside the King.

Buz sat quietly between Lilly and Alagos, his face blank and non-committal. Lilly smiled sweetly at the Elves opposite her, but her eyes communicated about as much warmth as those of a stalking leopard. They were huge and green and angry.

[Rían]

The Red Herring
Monday, 9 PM


"I am Valandil. I know these two ladies whom you are escorting, but I have not had the pleasure..."

Alagos flashed a quick look at his sister, and seeing the expression on her face, it made him wonder if THIS was the man "with the blood of the elves in his veins" that she had mentioned last night ...

He bowed with just a touch more formality than he would have normally done. "I am Alagos, of Gondolin-that-was. I am RÃ*an's brother," and he looked at Valandil with a piercing gaze.

Valandil winced inwardly just a bit as he remembered his dance with this man's sister - just how much would a young lady tell her brother, anyway, he wondered - but his face showed nothing but politeness as he returned the bow.

Alagos' face relaxed into a smile as he added, "And I won't say it's a pleasure to meet you, for we have already met, although I doubt that you would remember, for you were quite young." He paused for a brief moment, examining Valandil's features, as Valandil tried to recall Elves from Gondolin that he had met as a child. "As a child, you favored your mother, but now that I see you grown to your manhood, you remind me of your brother, Elendur ... he was a noble man, and his death was mourned by the Eldar as well as your own people."

"We met in Imladris, then, I assume?" said Valandil.

"Yes, we did - you shot an arrow at me there!" said Alagos merrily.

"Too bad he missed!" thought Lilly with disgust.

Valandil smiled and said, "I think I am starting to remember you now, but I am being remiss - let me introduce my other companions."

[Gordis]

University, Monday, after 6.30 PM.

After leaving Minas Aran, the Chancellor walked briskly towards the Palace. Presumably, Aiwendis still awaited him for the dinner. He reminded himself again that he should eat regularly, as mortals do. There were too many eyes around and too many tongues to start the gossip, should he miss more than one meal at a time.

However, upon entering the Palace, his feet took him not to the Dining Room on the ground floor, not to his magnificent apartments on the first floor, but to the third floor, to the empty servants rooms above his own quarters. There was only one man lodged there, Sapthân, the Library assistant, the only mortal in Tharbad whom the Morgul Lord trusted.

Sapthân came with the Chancellor from the University of Osgiliath; for three years he had been Assistant Librarian and the head of several spies that the Chancellor had in Tharbad. Now the Morgul Lord was eager to hear the latest reports. He knocked on the door and entered, without waiting for reply.

[Butterbeer]

word had come via the University mice to the squirrels and hence to the butterflies ... the old admiral fluttered into the watch tower through the upper windows and finding Boom, woke him ...

whispering he reported the news ...

ahh! thought Beautiful boomerang .... so it was indeed Sapthân as they had thought ...

[Udukhaturz]

....

[Valandil]

Valandil smiled and said, "I think I am starting to remember you now, but I am being remiss - let me introduce my other companions."

"This is Pengolod, and his sister Lilaenwen. Pengolod and Lilaenwen, may I present to you Alagos... his sister Rian, and... Earniel." continued the King.

"Yes," said Rian, somewhat sharply, "We have met." and she paused now that she saw the faces and heard the names of Valandil's companions, rather than just seeing them from behind. She seemed hesitant about whether or not to sit down.

'The High King sure has lousy taste in friends' thought Rian - but just then, Alagos sat down next to Pengolod, and that decided it for her. Rian slipped around the table and began to sit next to the King. She caught herself though, her mind awhirl... and she looked at Earniel. Did Earniel wish to take the place nearest the King? The end seat would also leave her across from her brother, and furthest from the siblings from Orrodel. And besides... she suddenly remembered last night and wasn't sure if she could properly sit right up against him again now.

All this whirled through her head in just an instant, and she caught a particularly hateful glance from Lilaenwen.

"Now Alagos," said the King with a grin, as he returned to his own seat, "Let's make sure everyone here gets the full story on that archery lesson. It wasn't as bad as you make it sound after all."

[Valandil]

While Alagos, sitting diagonally from the King, began to recount the complete story, Valandil signalled the serving girl for drinks all around - and called for a bit of bread and cheese when she brought those.

What was that on his leg? He looked up and saw Lilaenwen looking at him coyly... was that her foot gently rubbing up and down his leg?

[Rían]

The Red Herring
Monday, 9 PM and later

Alagos rubbed his foot on the table leg - apparently he had picked up a bit of a stick or something in his shoe, and it was itching! Finally it shifted and stopped bothering him.

"So, you see," continued Alagos, "after I finished my business in Imladris for Master Elrond, I had a week or so before I was able to head back (for I had to wait for one other person), and I decided to meet this young prince of the house of Eärendil the blessed, and perhaps teach him the right way to shoot a bow, though you were but a lad of 6 at the time." He looked at Valandil to see how he was taking this, and was relieved to see that Valandil, like the true warrior he was, knew when a fellow warrior was offering a good-natured teasing. The best fighters, in Alagos's experience, were very good at this art. He wondered for an instant what the Númenorean archers and swordsmen had to say about each other, and then continued in response to Valandil's smile and ascenting nod of his head.

"You men of Númenor are fierce fighters, and your bowmen are rightly feared in battle, but yet a bow should sing to its handler, and your hollow-steel bows do not have any song, at least to my ears. And besides," he said in a mock-serious tone, "if one is in the wilderness and suffers a lost or damaged bow, it's hard to find steel-trees!" Valandil and the elves laughed, and Alagos continued. "So I found a piece of wood that had some heart and voice to it from the stores in Imladris, and started making you a bow. I sat out in an open place where I knew you liked to walk, and soon, as I had thought, your curious mind drew you to me, and we met." Alagos smiled at the memory - the young boy, with the confidence and bearing of a much older man, coming up to the seasoned fighter, and his courteous but curious enquiries about the bow, for Alagos was making a bow in the style of Gondolin, which the young prince hadn't seen yet.

"I remember the look on your face when I said I was making it for you - you clearly didn't want it, but were too polite to say so. You told me about the bows of your people and why they were superior - but I spoke to you about the song and feel of a bow, and you grew quiet, and then finally sat down to watch."

"I remember now," said Valandil quietly, a thoughtful smile on his handsome face.

"I guided your hands as we finished shaping and tillering the bow together, teaching you how to feel how the wood wanted to move. I remember your hands on the wood - I could tell as you gradually came to feel it. Then when we finished, we went to the storerooms, strung the bow and got some arrows for a boy your size, and were just heading out to the range when Erestor found us and called me over for a moment." Alagos grinned his crooked smile and raised an eyebrow. "You were decidedly not happy about waiting - your courtesy kept your lips from saying so, but your face spoke plainly! You nocked an arrow, and although you were experienced enough to turn away from us, yet you didn't know that I had strung it to a greater draw-weight than usual, and as you gave it just a little test-pull ..."

"It slipped off," groaned Valandil.

"And now I must confess to an artistic exaggeration about you shooting an arrow at me, for in reality, the arrow came nowhere near me! Even at that young age, you had a proper respect for weapons, and had turned away from us and towards a safe target. Yet I still have you a hard time about it," said Alagos, "for I had told you to wait for me. But no harm done! and I would much rather have a young man be eager to try and learn new things, like you were, than to be a dullard."

"You certainly did put quite a bit of draw-weight on that bow, didn't you!" recalled Valandil.

"Well, you were a slender lad, but strong and hardy, and I thought you could learn to handle it," replied the archer. "And you did, and quite well, too, by the time I left!"

"I still have that bow at home somewhere," mused Valandil, "although the string, of course, has perished by now. How wonderful to meet you again after all these years!"

"And I am happy to see that you have kept the promise of your boyhood - my instinct tells me that you are an excellent warrior, and I have heard good things about how you have ruled your people."

Lilly had had enough of this ridiculous elf-talk - and the stench of these elves! - she cleared her throat in obvious annoyance, then threw back some of her lovely hair which had had the audacity to hide her ample bosom from general admiration.

The message was unmistakeable, and it brought Alagos back to the present. He looked at his sister, who had turned her face away from Lilly, and then said to the King, "I'm afraid I was over-long in my pleasant reminiscences, and my sister, I can tell, is not feeling well, although she would not say so. And I know the Lady Eärniel did not want to tarry here long, out of consideration of our courteous hosts who await us. We only came to pick up my sister's things - we meant to go straight back until the ladies saw your friendly gesture to join you. Would you please excuse us? It has been a true pleasure to meet you again, and I hope we can talk more in the near future."

Valandil stood up. "Of course, of course! Don't let me detain the you anymore - it IS rather late. I should be going myself, in fact, if you would excuse me," he added formally (and hopefully) to Buz and Lilly. Lilly's eyes flashed in anger, but she could hardly ask the King to stay on her account - things were not that forward with him yet.

The party gathered up their things and left the Red Herring. Many eyes followed their departure with interest.

[Rían]

The three elves walked quietly through the streets, Eärniel softly humming a tune from Gondolin. They entered the house and looked around for their hosts, but Itazel and Danor, like most of the regular residents of Tharbad, retired early (the decision probably aided by the amount of gin that Danor had consumed, and by their knowledge of the Elvish need for less sleep than humans, and their penchant for walking under the stars). They found a note (Itazel prided herself on knowing her letters), urging them to help themselves to anything they wanted.

RÃ*an yawned and stretched. "Well, I guess I'll just have to braid your hair tomorrow, brother," she said sleepily. "Not that you'll be too upset about that!"

"I'll have my hair unbraided and washed by dawn, all ready for you," he said kindly to his sister, and they all headed upstairs, Alagos bringing up the rear with RÃ*an's bags.

He put them in her room, and they gave each other a good-night embrace and kiss. RÃ*an breathed in her brother's scent deeply - clean, fresh and masculine - she hadn't realized how much she had missed it. "One of the things about working with humans, " she had once told Eärniel, wrinkling up her nose, "is that all too often you can smell them before you see them!" Her father, of course, had been different, but he was different in many ways.

Alagos closed RÃ*an's door softly, and turned to face Eärniel, who was still in the hall. "Goodnight ... and thank you for what you said this afternoon. I appreciate it very much, and I appreciate your frankness with me."

Eärniel inclined her head slightly. "Thank you for listening," she said, "and I look forward to seeing your hair in the morning!" She smiled at him, and they went into their rooms.

[Valandil]

On his way out of the Red Herring, Valandil stopped to get things squared away on his tab, dismissing efforts by the Elves to cover 'their share' ("Little do they know I get a twenty percent discount here anyway" thought the High King). Being in a bit of a hurry, the Elves went on ahead. Just as he had settled up and turned toward the door, Valandil saw someone standing directly before him, blocking his path. But it was a familiar face.

"Greetings, Oreturion!" Valandil said with a big smile. "Have you come out to get yourself a bite to eat, or something to drink, here at the Red Herring?" knowing full well that this was not what had brought him there.

"I thought that I should find you here, Sire." replied Oreturion - his deadpan voice indicating that he had either missed Valandil's jocular manner, or was ignoring it. "I came to remind you that you have an early start tomorrow, and a long day of classes. It wouldn't do at all to go with too little sleep your very first week of schooling here - before things have even begun to get difficult."

"And..." he added, his eyes searching about the room, even as his head remained, as if locked, directly facing the King, and perhaps a bit of worry - or even compassion - entered into his tone, "I wondered if Master Marthalion might be with you?"

"Marty?" said Valandil - and his own face became grave. "Someone else just asked me about him. No - I haven't seen him all day. Could he just be studying someplace?"

"Your Highness, this IS Marthalion we're talking about." answered Oreturion.

"Yes..." and Valandil paused. "We should be getting back to our little home here, but let us split up and take separate routes, that we may increase our chances of finding him. Here... you go this way," said Valandil, pointing up one street, for they had walked on toward the door and begun to come outside, "and I'll go that way." indicating another.

It didn't seem wise to Oreturion for them to split up, for he was concerned about what might befall his King as well - but Valandil would not be dissuaded. So off they each went on their appointed pathways.

[sun-star]

Oreturion followed the street which the King had indicated, not without the occasional glance behind him. He suspected that Valandil’s reason for separating them was not solely concern for Marthalion’s welfare, and he hoped that the King was not wearied by his advisor’s repeated cautions about his safety. It was certainly unwise, in Oreturion’s opinion, for the King to walk alone at night – but he had learnt a long time ago to concede small points of disagreement on the principle that the more often counsel is given, the less it will be heeded. Oreturion did not want the King to feel that his activities were too much curtailed by those who aimed to protect him. While his sense of unease remained so vague, he could have little reason to argue too insistently for Valandil to take precautions. “Perhaps the King has some other business in this area which made him lose his taste for my company,� Oreturion thought briefly, but he soon turned his mind to other matters.

[Udukhaturz]

The clock on the mantel struck half-past six. Sapthân looked at its face and then down at the burning logs in the grate. His apartment in the palace was a comfortable one. Though he was content with his position as assistant librarian, he was ambitious and had great hopes that he would be appointed to fill the vacancy of head librarian.

Books and libraries were Sapthân’s life, the reason for his existence. How he marveled when he watched scribes patiently copying old manuscripts, delighting in their work. Often the margins of parchments were decorated by fantastic art of real and imagined creatures.

Ancient copies of lore were preserved, as well as new works on history, lore, geography, mathematics, science and philosophy. The library was a link to the past and the hope for the future. What marvelous wonders of learning were often hidden behind the commonplace binding! What secrets of esoteric knowledge could be delved in the ancient works?

He stroked his neatly trimmed black beard, tinged here and there with a few flecks of gray. For the past few moments, he had been pondering the four elements as he studied the fire. He remembered a magician that he had known years ago, who by the mere intoning of a few words, could make the dancing flames of the fire turn to the shapes of serpents, dragons and many other wondrous things. The Black Numenoreans knew many of the arcane arts. He would have to read that section of one of his books on magic once again. “It is actually more a trick of the mind of both the magician and the ones who behold the phenomena than it is actually a change of the fire,� he mused. Whatever the case, he was eager to attempt to duplicate the spell.

Sapthân set his tea cup on a low table beside the chair and went to answer a knocking at the door. He was surprised to see that his caller was none other than the Chancellor. “Your Excellency,� he said, welcoming him. “Come in. Would you care for a cup of tea?�

When the Chancellor declined his offer, Sapthân had a disappointed look upon his face. “Well, sit down on a chair and be comfortable,� he said as he returned to his own chair and waited. “What could he want with me tonight?� he wondered.

Possibly the Chancellor was bringing him good news, news he had hoped to hear for a long time. “An appointment to be head librarian of the venerable library of the University,� he thought, seeing himself already in the position.

“I have appointed a new librarian,� the Chancellor said.

“Ahh, the news I have been waiting for!� Sapthân thought. “He is going to announce my appointment to the position.� Sapthân did not say that to the Chancellor, of course, but waited respectfully to hear the good news. “At last, at last,� he thought, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“Yes, Your Excellency,� Sapthân said, leaning forward, eager hopes written on his face.

“I have named Professor Galadannun as head librarian. You will need to assist him.�

“He has named another to the position of head librarian!� Sapthân thought with resentment and a feeling of betrayal. His pride was hurt and he was more than a little angry that he had not been appointed.

“But, Your Excellency, does the man know anything about the library? Does he appreciate all of its many virtues... the secret places below?�

“I gave him the position to avoid a situation,� the Chancellor explained. You do not really want to create confusion by protesting, do you?� the Captain asked in a cold voice.

“I have always been loyal to you... for many years. I would not betray this trust now. My only concern is for the library. You know it is the love of my life. I would not want those... who did not share a love for books to be awarded such a high position... and there are places in the library...� he looked toward the floor, “that intruders and the uninitiated should not see!�

“Then be reassured, Sapthân, that Professor Galadannun will do all that I ask of him in regard to the library.�

Sapthân was somewhat satisfied with that response. The Black Numenorean truly did appreciate books, especially those that held certain secrets that he wished to explore more fully.

“I want you to help Professor Galadannun with the running of the library... and watch him for me. If the Professor should do anything... shall we say.... out of the ordinary... let me know it as soon as possible.�

“Certainly,� replied Sapthân, still feeling disappointed, but the idea of keeping watch over his rival and reporting things of interest to the Chancellor did have a certain appeal. Perhaps if Sapthân were cunning enough, he could undermine Professor Galadannun’s position of head librarian.

The Chancellor smiled at Sapthân. “I know you have many sources, friends, who drop by to talk with you. What is the news about Tharbad?�

When the Chancellor used that tone of voice on Sapthân, it had a certain calming quality to it that made him eager to tell him all he knew in spite of any old resentments or doubts. Sapthân was jealous of Professor Galadannun, and now was his opportunity, he thought, to cast any doubts of aspersion on his rival’s character that he could.

“Chancellor,� he said, his eyes calculating, “there are certain rumors that have come to my notice about the sister of Professor Galadannun, the Lady Lilaenwen. She has been conducting herself most indecorously lately.�

“That should do for a beginning to cast doubts upon the reputation of Professor Galadannun’s family,� Sapthân thought.

“A man in my employ, who frequents the taverns from time to time, was at the Singing Swan Inn this afternoon around 5 or so. He left shortly before you arrived. He is an uneducated man, but for a price, he is very loyal. He reported to me that the scene he saw there was almost unbelievable. It appears that the sister of Professor Galadannun, the Lady Lilaenwen, in the brief time that the family has been here, only about three weeks, has been spending money as though she is a potentate from the East. The gossips are buzzing, the man tells me, all the way from the Rotten Cod to the Singing Swan! The talk is not good, Chancellor,� Sapthân said, hoping to impress the other man with his knowledge of the doings of the town.

“Go on, go on,� the Chancellor said quietly.

Warming up to his topic, Sapthân said eagerly, “An associate of this man told him that shortly before the lady arrived in the Swan, when she was still in the jewelry store on the Street of Hours, that he saw through the window of the store the lady performing a most brazen exotic dance! Decent women do not such things, Chancellor!�

The Chancellor nodded and smiled encouragingly.

“That is not all,� he said excitedly. “She was showing affection publicly to that new professor, Maethor, I believe is his name. You know no modest lady behaves that way in the view of everyone. Scandalous, shameful, the man told me, and when he uses such descriptions, I can conclude that the scene must have been quite bizarre!�

The Chancellor nodded again. “Is there more, Sapthân?�

“Yes,� he said happily. “Lady Lilaenwen was most affectionate to Professor Maethor in the Singing Swan Inn. She is quite a little number, I hear, fond of wearing quite revealing gowns,� he said, grinning knowingly at the Chancellor. “We know that no reputable woman does that sort of thing... and keeps her reputation intact.�

Sapthân looked at the Chancellor, who seemed to be nodding in approval. Sapthân was almost beside himself with the contemplation of how the Chancellor would be impressed with his knowledge.

“For that matter, my informant tells me that the wags say that Professor Maethor himself is quite the sot. It simply seems strange for the Lady Lilaenwen and Professor Maethor to be on such... close terms, when I understand he arrived in the city only yesterday. Perhaps they have known each other from the past?� he asked.

He looked at the Chancellor for a reaction, but he could see little except that the other man seemed interested in this information. “That is not all, Chancellor,� he said with great eagerness. “The man was sitting right across from Lady Lilaenwen’s party. Suddenly, the lady had some sort of fit... strange, he said. Then, I could hardly believe my ears when I heard this, Professor Maethor poured several bottles of wine right down her throat! My informant said that he saw at least two bottles going down her throat, but a friend of his said he saw three! We know, Professor,� the man said dramatically, for effect, “no normal woman can consume such a vast quantity of wine in such a short time!�

“There,� Sapthân thought, “that should be enough to cast doubts on the sister of Professor Galadannun.� How much of a blow would this be against his rival, Sapthân could not ascertain. After that information, Sapthân felt that his next information might be considered almost trivial.

“Is there any more, Sapthân?� the Chancellor asked.

“Is that not enough, Chancellor?� he asked. “Think what such gossip will do to the reputation of the library! My concern is more with the library than it is with the local gossip. I fear that there are those who are too interested in the library... and in what it contains. I will watch all, as you have said. I think we agree on the relevance of keeping the library and its secrets safe.� The two men exchanged looks of understanding.

There was no time for Sapthân to find the book on fire magic that he was so eager to read, nor was there time to drink another cup of tea. “Now is as good an opportunity as any,� the Chancellor said, “to meet the new head librarian.�

“Your Excellency, if that is what you wish... but I trust that all those things I have said to you in confidence will remain between the two of us?� Sapthân replied warily.

“Of course,� the Chancellor replied, “in the strictest of confidences.�

For some reason, that remark vaguely bothered Sapthân, but the Chancellor was already going through the door and there was nothing to do except follow him.

[CrazySquirrel]

Red Herring, after 9 PM, Monday.

Lilly gently glided her foot along the King’s leg, down, down, then up again, higher and higher. Concealing the gleam in her eyes by long golden lashes, she watched her prey shift uneasily.

"I wonder if he is going to scream and run", thought Lilly. "Those Faithful… A shame, really."

The King’s eyes bulged, he shot a suspicious look at Lilaenwen across the table, then turned his head to Earniel and Rian on his side, and, finally, to Alagos. The elf was noticeably rubbing his boot on something under the table. When done, an expression of relief appeared on his face. Alagos’s relief was mirrored on Valandil face, when he looked at Lilly again and smiled apologetically.

Lilly was inwardly dying from laughter. She pressed her advantage and used her time to look coyly at the King, while the stinking Elf on Buz’s left was telling an incredibly dull long story, of no interest to anyone, as is the way with Elven stories.

Finally he was done. Lilly cleared her throat to bring up a topic of some interest to the King, about his friends, but she was rudely interrupted by the Elves who decided to leave. That reminded Valandil of the time, so he started to say farewells as well. So they left, leaving Penny and Lilly behind. Lilly was angry and frustrated. Buz ordered chicken with vegetables and a bottle of wine, and they had supper and a few drinks. At this time, Buz noticed a news-sheet, left by the King. He scanned it and asked:

"Lilly, have you put in this notice about a housekeeper needed in Orrodel?"

"No, not I. Perhaps it was Kh-Galadannun". Lilly was still smarting from the King’s departure.

"Perhaps", replied Buz.

They left the room, trying not to look at the hooded Tolvadok in the corner. By now, they clearly recognised his cold poisonous mind touching theirs.

When they left, Tolvadok stopped his card game for a moment, crossed the room and took the newsletter, left on the empty table.

"A housekeeper urgently needed in Orrodel. Generous salary."

[Serenoli]

"A housekeeper urgently needed in Orrodel. Generous salary."

He smiled. Perfect.

He went back over to the dwarf. "Well, master dwarf, how much do I owe you?"

Ragin seemed quite disappointed to learn that the game was over... but he set to calculating his winnings with relish. Paying him in big gold pieces which made the dwarf's eyes glint in the darkness, Tolvadok left his companion, and walked over to the counter. Mrs. Miggins wasn't there, but he spotted a young girl messing about around there, and called her over.

He shook off his cloak, revealing the pale-golden hair, and young face, which somehow always made women take a maternal stance towards him. He could see Annawen, who had looked startled at first, was smiling at him approvingly.

"I have come to pay for my drinks. How much is it?"

"I'm sure I couldn't say. You'd have to ask Mrs. Miggins over there." replied Annawen, with the tiniest hint of annoyance at not being able to prolong the conversation. She had turned back, when he said, in a lower voice, "Listen, could I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Girithron, and I was looking for some kind of a job here, in Tharbad, and I noticed this advertisement in the newsletter."

He handed her the paper, which she took puzzled. He could see her slowly spell out the word Orrodel. Then she looked up:

"You mean, you want to take this job?"

Her surprise was evident... he seemed such a gentleman, why would he want to be a housekeeper?

"I am actually a student at the University, and I need a job to pay for my classes. I didn't want to bother you about it... just wanted to ask if you know anything about this house at Orrodel."

Annawen was all ears now. "Why, yes. In fact, just two days ago, my friend Rian herself applied for this same post! She is also studying at the Uni, you know and so am I! Maybe I'll see you there! Anyway, I found the advertisement and told her about it."

"You mean, the post is already filled?"

"Oh no... what I mean is, she did get the job. But I've heard from Juni, who works in the house next door, that there was some kind of row, and there were lots of Elves around... Rian is a half-elf, you know. And the upshot of it all is she is already fired. I haven't seen her yet. I mean, she did come in just now, I don't know if you noticed? But she was with all these other elves, so I didn't go over to her. Anyway, Mrs. Miggins says that she's living at Itzael's place now. Maybe you should go ask her about it."

Tolvadok smiled gratefully. "You have been most helpful, my dear lady. May I ask what your name is?... Annawen... its a lovely name. I hope I shall be seeing more of you soon. But now I must go, do excuse me."

He left Annawen in a bit of a glow at being called a 'dear lady', and getting hold of the bustling Mrs. Miggins, he paid for his drinks. He also managed to get some directions to the house where this Rian was staying. Tomorrow, he would go visit her, as Annawen had suggested. It was very unpleasant, of course, but after all, she was half-human, it seemed. And this was a perfect oppurtunity to meet her. The King had seemed very intimate with these Elves, and he wanted to know more about them.

He walked out into the night, and headed back to Tharbad University.

[The last sane person]

Marty walked to the palace after the race and quickly changed, rubbing his sore chest where he managed to get clothes lined by an over hanging branch.

"Owww.....Damnit, that was stupid of me, how'd I fail to see that!?" He growled and climbed out of his sullied garments and drew himself a bath. Looking at his schedule he laughed aloud at his luck. "Ha! One class today! And no classes on Friday either, what splendid luck!" He finished his bath and got dressed for swordsmithing. He had hoped that he would be able to test one of the blades he made against one of Ray's... In a friendly sort of duel. After all, that is how the class judges the worth of a weapon.. Who better to try it out than those who made it, it's what the elves do too, so professor Mahtaliel probably wont refuse....

He grinned and got out his work book, immeditaly going over the types of swords and underlining all the types they would probably make in the comming few classes. More than likely a few short swords and perhaps a longsword for the first 6 or so classes. Nothing too fancy... Marty immeresed himself in all the books for the classes this quarter, reading ahead.

Getting C's and passes werent good enough for him this time around. I gotta brush myself up after all, got to give the folks a good impression of me. For all Marty's debonaire flirting with other girls, there was one whom he was very smitten with back home, whose parents were hoping for no less than an elf to marry her. Or so it seemed to Marty. Needless to say, its Marty after all, he weaseled around the parents and met and made friends with the young woman first.

At least she favors me. But still, got to clear my act up. For the next few hours he was reading and taking notes, soon it was time to head for class. He went to the stables and mounted the now rested Ithilion, and headed off. He met Ray by the door and grinned.

"Good race. You won more than that bag of gold. How does Viv like you now?"

Ray grinned at him, "Well enough my friend, well enough!" They both bowed to the professor once she let them in, and true to Marty's studying, they started on making simple sparring short swords. Most of what they made would go straight to the armory, if it passed the grade. With out further ado, the material was gotten and molten steel was being pounded and shaped.

It was a good 3 hours for Marty and Ray, and they had gotten further than Mahtaliel expected which pleased her. She looked over what they had gotten done thus far. "Well done gentlemen, the armory will be pleased to recieve what you make. Next class we will resume what we have started and go over the finer points of balancing a smaller blade. Should you finish sooner, we will go on to longswords, and perhaps even horseman's blades." Her eyes had not missed the pairs still stained riding boots. Both Marty and Ray had forgotten to clean them.

"Thank you professor!" Ray waved over to Marty and zoomed off to his next class. Marty hung back and approached Mahtaliel. "Um, professor, how are we to be graded on the quaility of our blades? Are they to be tested?"

"Why, of course, they have to be, before being taken to the armory." She had a feeling she knew where this was going and smiled.

"Ah, well, may I please ask that Master Raendil and I be allowed to test our own blades?" Marty was pretty sure he had been polite about it. And he knew that elves and other smith's did test their blades before sending it off to the armories.

"Well, it requires experienced warrirors to push a blade and find its limits though."

That tweaked his tail! But he kept it under control, "And I assure you, both Raendil and I are experience in that quite a bit! Both of us have fought for many years on border patrols and know good weapons when we swing them! Indeed, I have also experienced weaker weapons as well, i've had swords break on me mid-pari before."

Mahtaliel realized she had tweaked the young man's pride, and said no more, and also took into account their alleged skills in battle, pleased to note, no tone of bragging or exageration in Marty's voice, but merely down to business facts. "I will consider it, and should I approve, the tests would have to be on an extra day, and not on a class day, would that be suitable?"

Marty smiled and bowed, "Yes Professor, it would, I will go tell Raendil and we will find a few days that we both have the time adn then present them to you, if that is well?"

"That is perfectly well, and keep in mind I am still merely thinking on it, no promises!" She added with a smile and Marty took his leave, much happier.

This isn't a bad day at all! Hmm, perhaps i'll go visit Captian Shah, if he is to be found He made his way down the main street and passed the Red Herring, mere minutes before Valandil showed up. He took a left, a right, went a few blocks and found himself staring at the front door of the Guardsman's Ale House. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see good old Cap'n Shah.

"Well met Master Marthalion, beat me to it today!" The old Vet laughed and clapped the younger man on the back, leading into the pub, to a warm greeting by all the occupants. He steered Marty to a table with Barli and Karin, and two other watchmen. Marty ordered a round for those at the table and asked for cheese and bread to be bought.

They fell into some companiable laughter and story telling, and Marty had to stifle a laugh at Shah's recount of the ghostly figure he had seen for a second on the watch. While Barli, Karin and the other watch memebers argued back and forth over the odd apperation, Shah threw him a knowing look and they bothe chuckled.

Clearing his throat, Marty spoke up, "Ah, aye Shah, I too saw that ghost rider in the mist. I was waaay over, 'bout a league away, waiting for Raendil and another rider to show up for our little race, then I heard this queer jingle of tack. So help me I thought it was Ray, but as I peered into the mist, I saw this rider, ghostly as you pleased, looked like a part of the mist." He solomly touched his forehead with his beerstien and the others did the like.

"I looked hard and soon it came not even a horselength from me! Twas some noble or somethin, on a horse no less than 18 hands if it was an inch! He was wreathed in mist and totally see through though there was nothing but mist around so it was hard to say. He was wearing a coronet of sorts, and looked at me, then dissapeared into the mist once more, uncanny I tell ye!"

This brought fresh uproar, the room clearly divided on who this appiration was. Some say it was one of the Nobles at Gladden, the others say that it was a local Tharbard Noble, and the argument was helped on both sides by both Shah and Marty. Shah was nigh laughing over this, and gave Marty a happy look, which clearly said "You young scallywag! Shah cleared his throat and went to the aid of the Gladden proposers, "Well, if it was a noble of Tharbad, explain the horse! That is obviously a beast of supierior quality than those found in Tharbad!"

Those who favored some doomed Gladden Noble roared in approval. Marty shot Shah a look and grinned I'm not the only scallywag, you'da done this yourself!" Marty spoke up, "Then why was he hanging around the walls? Gladden was a good deal away and the skirmish didnt come straight up to the walls and wood surrounding it!" Those supporting that it was a noble of Tharbad roared in approval.

It was amid this cheery debate that Oreturion found Marty, and invited him for a bit of a drink.

[Rían]

Monday night, Itazel and Danor's house

RÃ*an sat by the window in her nightclothes, looking out at the stars playing hide-and-seek with the tree branches that moved gently in the breeze. In her hands, she held a small book - very old, and often read - even more often just held and looked at, because the words inside were memorized long ago.

Alagos was also looking out of his window, but he had not undressed yet, nor was he sitting. He was standing still - a rare attitude for him. Not even his hands were moving. Finally he turned and noiselessly left his room. He paused for a moment by his sister's door, then touched the wood softly with his fingertips in a little in absentia caress, before quietly going downstairs and out the door.