The village lay below the adventurers and their escorts. As they approached, they could see the townspeople and some soldiers gathered in the central road. Those villagers with sharp eyes waved and pointed at Tato. The group of pegasi and effereet (again led by Tara) made one complete descending circle and landed on the West Road on the opposite side from the river. The group then walked their beasts through the gate and into the small street. A number of cheers accompanied much applause as the townspeople beheld the majestic site of the pegasi and effereet together. The villagers; however, began to get curious, and their questions poured forth.
"Are you all elves?" asked one young farmer of Tara.
"Tato, are you all right?" asked another.
"Have you found Dingle?" called another still.
The soldiers eyed Grimheld. The burly, rugged Captain gave no one a chance to answer. "Prepare to evacuate!!" he barked. "To arms! To arms!!" he shouted. "Everyone except the fighting men prepare to leave Trader's Nest for Toridar City! Karwe groups C and D assist as you can!! Meet at the Vivar Bridge in one tzon!!!"
"Hmm, that certainly ends my hope of acquiring the things I wanted to buy and trade!" thought Rollvag to himself as he watched the townspeople and soldiers scurry about the village. The crowd had in fact dispersed rapidly, save for one girl: an adult, but small and pretty one at that. Tato recognized her at once.
"Pripple!" called Tato. She started to cry and ran up to him. "Where's Daddy, Tato; where is he???" "I don't know, Pripple. There, there- don't cry!" Just then the lookout cried "Four approach by foot!!!"
Grimheld ordered his dozen to take positions along either side of the street beside the gate. "And get your bows ready!!!" he called after them.
"Now what do we do?" asked Byc. "I can't help you openly here!" he added.
"Quick!" shouted Rollvag, "Use the Pegasi as cavalry! Set your spears!!" Rollvag then told the eagle on his shoulder to scout them out: "Aloft Rhap! Scout, boy, scout!" The eagle screamed and flapped himself forward. A minute of tense waiting followed the exit of the eagle. They did not have to wait long, because the eagle swooped down past them. Rollvag translated for it: "Scry! Cry! Four walkers by! Scry! None hide!" The soldiers relaxed and then the lookout cried: "Wait! It's Dingle!!!"
As the foursome approached, Grimheld ordered the dozen to stand at ease on each side of the gate. Suddenly, the walkers strode into view. All could see the tall Gvin the Forester, the smallish Dingle, and two elves. Dingle had lost his riding hat and looked very dirty. The elves and Gvin had their bows in their hands, but their quivers were half empty. The four of them entered through the gate as Pripple ran to her father. This time, Grimheld was silent and watchful. As Pripple reached them, they stopped in the road.
Tato dismounted and spoke before the others: "What happened, Dingle?" Dingle's deep voice hooted out. "I was waylaid by a group of Toridar Brigands camping out north of the Arbor hills. I stopped to enquire of them, but they captured me. These Elves and Gvin rescued me. They ended the lives of several of their number."
"Hooray!" said the adventurers together.
Dingle glanced at Grimheld and said: "Have you started the evacuation yet?"
"Yes, we have, Sir." "Very good." said Dingle.
Then Dingle called Tato, Pripple, the two Fairies, and the other adventurers for a conference across the street and away from the others. "Come here, come closer, all of you." Tato started to speak "Dingle, what's goin.." before Dingle put a hand over his mouth. He eyed each one of them in turn. "I can not explain everything, and not all at once, but the scroll I carry bears important news for Tato, and thereby all of you. I want you to read it SILENTLY now, and one at a time."
With that, Dingle handed a scroll to Tato. It had a golden edge. Each of you read it in turn:
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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