Into the fire

Volki cleared his throat and pointed to the place on the map where lay the city of Rhondor at the northwestern end of the rift. "Nevertheless, there are days when the wind blows the great cleft and its pockets sufficiently clear for the miners of Rhondor to quarry the worthy minerals within: white foran, yellow siarka, many-colored solas-"

"They are not afraid of the deadly air?" asked Ry

Volki shook his head. "Just as we Chakka do in some of our mines, they too bear yellow-wings in cages to warn them of such. And the ores and rocks and crystals of Rhondor are of value dear."

Ry

"Aye, little one, you have the right of it," said Voren, "and that's why the foe stands at siege."

"I take it the King has no floats at hand," said Urel.

"A few, chieftain, yet Blaine will not use them in that small number, for to throw his host a handful at a time against a waiting foe guarantees nought but defeat, and he will not do so. Hence, for the moment, he holds siege on this side, for there is no food where the enemy awaits, and their supplies are ru

Silverleaf, who had been standing at the high window and looking down into the harbor below, turned about and said, "If he could win across with few losses, would King Blaine engage the foe?"

"Indeed, Lord Vanidar, he would."

Silverleaf smiled and said, "Well then, if thou wilt but lend me all thy shipwrights and all thy lumber and a few warriors from the host at camp before thy door, I have a plan."

"… And so, that's how it came about," concluded Ry

She looked about at the others and took a sip of tea.

"And a good plan it is," said Alver. "Right, Dinly?"

But that buccan-the one who had requested Ry

A sevenday passed and then another, yet Silverleaf and Aravan had not reappeared, and the army on the plains merely waited. The shipyards, however, were a hive of activity, the wrights working throughout the nights as well as the days: fifty of the Dragonships were measured and fitted thwartwise with wide, raftlike sections of heavy planks pi

Too, sixteen of the huge Gothonian ships were made ready for sailing, the crews of the chosen vessels glad of something to do.

And even though not engaged in this work, the time fled swiftly for the Warrows, for on each of these days, by their commander's leave, they explored the city of Pendwyr, marvelling over the wonder of it all, Ry

"We have heard they do not get along," said Ry

"Not get along is putting it mildly, miss. If it weren't for the city watch, it'd come to murther, if you ask me. Though I am glad they are here, they need something to do beside stand ward at the city."

Ry

"Oh, that's easy, miss: music. The playing of harps and flutes and lutes and drums. And the singing of songs. With war raging across the land, minstrels and bards are hard to come by, most having joined in the fight."

That night, the seventh after Silverleaf's army had arrived, and for the next nine nights as well, the Red Moon was filled with song, Tipperton and Ry

And the i

During one of the pauses for rest, as Tipperton and Beau quaffed an ale at the bar, Jaith and Ry

As Tip blushed furiously and glanced at Elissan, Ry

Three days later a page came riding into the encampment, seeking Commander Ry

Dinly gri

Ry

Li

Tip frowned. "And I was hoping that you and I, Ry

"Wull, me now, I'd like to join the feast at the caer," said Nix, Dinly and Alver and Farly all nodding their agreement.

Ry

In the evening candlemarks of Winterday, as snow fell upon the land, and Warrows and Lian and Dylvana and Baeron and Dwarves made their way to the caer, muted singing could be heard drifting down from dwellings above the shops and from taverns and i

Through the streets and past the second stone wall they rode, the looming facades of government staring coldly down as they fared by. Finally, across the swing-bridge they rode and into the courtyard beyond, where pages took charge of their mounts.

They were guided to a great banquet hall, a majordomo a