Into the fire

They all glanced up from the table to see Farly come racing into camp.

"The Dylvana are here!" he cried as he galloped across the sward.

As Tip rolled his maps, Farly haled his pony up short and swung his leg across his saddle and leapt down. "The Dylvana are here and are setting up camp at Eryn Ford."

Ry

Dressed in their leathers and bearing their weaponry, eight Warrows came riding into the Elven camp, Ry

Her blue eyes sparkling, Dara Vail came and walked alongside Tip as he rode toward the central tent, where Coron Ruar was said to be. "I was glad to hear thee yet lived, Tipperton, thou and Beau."

"Beau and I have come through some scrapes since I rode scout with you on the way to Mineholt North, Lady Vail," said Tip. "Scrapes: ah but what a gentle name for those dire dealings; nevertheless, they seemed to seek us out, as I imagine they did you."

"Aye. The Spaunen in Crestan Pass were stubborn, yet we prevailed in the end." Vail looked across at Ry

"Oh, my pardon," blurted Tip. "Lady Vail, may I present Ry

Vail's eyes widened, then she laughed merrily. "Oh but what splendid news."

Ry

"That thou didst not die at the fall of Caer Lindor."

Ry

"Beau! Tipperton!" hailed a familiar voice.

Tip turned to see just as Beau exclaimed, "Melor!"

"Come sup with me this eve," called Melor, as he curry-combed his horse, "and tell me what all has befallen."

"I will," replied Beau, then he gestured toward Li

Beau turned to Li

Tip waved at Melor, turning to Vail as she said, "I wouldst that thou rejoin the scouts, Tipperton, for we need all to aid."

"Ry

Vail's face fell. "Alor Eilor was slain in Crestan Pass. I am now chief scout."

"Oh my," said Tipperton…

… and they fared the rest of the way to Coron Ruar's tent in silence.

Two days later the Baeron came riding to Eryn Ford-huge men on huge horses, massive wagons drawn in their wake-and alongside their company was a band of Lian from Arden Vale, come down from Crestan Pass at the summons of High King Blaine. In addition among the Baeron also rode Dara Riatha's company, all of whom had been on the northern wold nigh Landover Ford at the time of the calling.

Everywhere Tip and Beau turned, it seemed, they found another friend; many were the reunions of the buccen with sundry of these warriors. Old acquaintances were renewed, and new acquaintances made, as Ry

Among the Lian were the twins Gildor and Vanidor, along with Talar, Riatha, Ruar, Alaria, Arandar, and lovely, dark-haired Elissan-who smiled at Tip and winked, the buccan blushing furiously in remembrance of a particular exposed bath. And among the Baeron they found Wag-onmaster Bwen and Braec and Durul, who now was chieftain, for Gara had been slain in the Grimwalls nigh Crestan Pass. And Bwen laughed hugely to see the buccen, and she called out, "Thuas seasim me agus sios cnag me, Beau, Tip, hum!"

And so many of the reunions were bittersweet, for Tip and Beau learned of folk who had fallen in the war, folk they had come to cherish, folk they held in their hearts.

Yet there was little time to mourn and no time to celebrate, for on the morrow they would begin the march from Eryn Ford to Caer Pendwyr.

Dawn came to shadows slipping away after saying goodbye to the Warrows. Fires were quenched as Elven and Baeron and Waerlinga warriors broke camp. Horses and ponies were saddled, pack animals laden with goods, dray horses hitched to wagons, as all was made ready for the trek unto Pellar.

With tears ru

Nix and Li

Vail spied the oncoming group of Waerlinga, and she summoned them to the fore, for all would be scouts but Beau, and he a healer in the vanguard.

Finally, at a signal from Coron Ruar, Dara Lyra raised a horn to her lips and blew a ringing call, and it echoed from limb and stone and hill on the cool October morn.

And slowly the column began to move forward, horses and ponies splashing into Eryn Ford and across, wagons rumbling after, all following the trail of the Elven scouts who were now some leagues ahead.

And as he rode into the water, Tipperton turned to take one long last look at his beloved Lark, and he raised his black-oxen horn and blew a ringing cry. And the hearts of all were lifted, wee Lark laughing in weeping Melli's arms. And away rode the Warrows, eight strong, eight warriors riding unto war midst a thousand Dylvana and twelve hundred Baeron and a hundred or so Lian, but Melli's tear-laden eyes saw only the precious eight.

Chapter 34

Under a high blue October sky, the army of Dylvana, Baeron, and Lian, along with eight Warrows, rode down the marge of the Greatwood. East-southeast they fared overland, the Rimmen Spur off to their left, Darda Stor to their right.

Tipperton, Beau, Alver, and Dinly rode together within the vanguard, while Ry

On the morrow, all of the Warrows but two would ride scout, for the previous eve at the riverside camp, Vail had called them all together and had said…

"This will be the way of it: all but Sir Beau and Commander Ry

"What?" objected Ry

"Hoy, now!" interjected Beau. "For a year and a half I have ridden scout along the marge of the Blackwood and up in the Rimmen Spur. Right?"

Li

"Hold!" barked Vail. Then more softly, "Hold." She turned to Beau. "Healers are rarer than scouts, and Alor Melor has asked for thine aid. Is it not so?"

Beau sighed and reluctantly nodded, and Li

"But what about me?" asked Ry

Vail looked at the damman. "Nay, thou art not. Yet heed, thou art the commander of the Waerlinga, and as such thy place is with the other captains of this band and not out riding scout."

Ry

But Vail took in a deep breath and let it out and looked from Ry

Ry