Mithgar.'
A collective gasp rippled throughout the chamber, and Beau looked at Tip wide-eyed. 'What does this mean?'
Robust Aleen sitting next to them clenched a fist and growled, 'It means Adon has taken up the challenge and Gyphon's invasion will cease.'
Chapter 17
Amid the astonished murmur among the Elves, wide-eyed, Tip asked, 'How can he do that?'
Aleen looked at him. 'Do what, wee one?'
'Sunder the way between.'
'He is Adon,' pronounced Aleen, as if that were enough.
Beau nodded and turned to Tip. 'She's right, you know.'
Tip frowned and shook his head. 'But, I mean, what- how-what power-?'
Tip's unformed question fell unanswered as Talarin called for silence. Once again the Lord of the Hidden Vale turned to Eloran, but it was Rael who asked, 'Is there more, Alor Eloran?'
'Aye,' replied the Dylvana. 'I am also come recently from High King Blaine: Modru of Gron has started a wide war.'
Again a murmur swept through the assembled Elves, this one low and angry, for Eloran's words were from the High King himself and at last directly confirmed what had only been presumed true till now. Yet the undertone quickly subsided as Eloran continued: 'A Horde of Foul Folk has cast down High King Blaine's garrison at Challerain Keep-'
'Oh, my,' exclaimed Beau as shock rippled across the gathering.
'-and King Blaine and his small company now fight in retreat, hoping for others to join in the combat. Ere the garrison fell, the High King lit the balefires himself, and they call for an alliance of Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Mages to oppose this great threat.'
Once more whispered comments purled throughout the hall, but Beau turned to Tip and querulously said, 'Hoy, now, he's left us completely out. I mean, what about Warrowkind? Does the King not know we exist?'
'Ha!' barked Aleen. 'He also left unnamed many others, my friend: the Hidden Ones, Utruni, Children of the Sea, Phaels, and more. Yet fear not, for although ye and they are not named, still all are Free Folk and will count in the end.'
Talarin held up a hand to quell the unrest, and slowly the murmur died. 'Eloran, I would see thee in my chambers. But first thou dost need rest, refreshment, and meal.' Talarin motioned to Vanidor, then turned again to Eloran. 'In eight candlemarks. neh?'
As Vanidor stepped to the Dylvana's side, Eloran canted his head forward in agreement, and then followed Vanidor from the hall.
Talarin called to the gathering: ' 'Tis nought we did not already presuppose; Modru, Gyphon's chief agent, has begun a war for dominion o'er Mithgar. Yet Adon stands with the Free Folk, and we shall prevail. Let us on this turn of the season pledge our hearts unto His cause.' Talarin raised his chalice, and all stood and held their cups aloft. 'For Adon and Mithgar,' he cried.
And as one voice came the collective response, For Adon and Mithgar, Tipperton and Beau joining in.
Now Talarin signaled the harper, and the harp rang out a stirring song, the notes belling across the gathering to kindle hearts aflame. Tone and voice, melody and lyric, voices rose up in accompaniment, Lian unified in harmony. In Sylva they sang, and neither of the two buccen understood a word, yet following Aleen's hurried whispers they sang along as well:
[In Lianion, the First Land, in Adonar so fair…]
And when the song came to an end, with a great shout all raised their cups and quaffed the contents down, and then without a further word, Lian began filing from the hall.
Tip and Beau turned to go, but Rael whispered to Lord Talarin and he in turn called unto them. And when they stepped unto the dais, he said, 'As representatives of thy folk, I would have thee join me in my chambers, for we may have much to discuss and I would have ye advise me.'
Taken aback, Tip glanced at Beau to find that buccan as astounded as he. Tipperton turned once again unto Talarin and said, 'Well, sir, I cannot say we speak for all our folk, yet we would be honored to serve you in any way we can.'
'Indeed, yes,' said Beau, nodding vigorously.
Talarin smiled. 'In eight candlemarks, then, come unto my quarters.'
'… not only the Foul Folk but perhaps the Lakh of Hyree and the Rovers of Kistan as well,' said Faeon.
'Thou art right, my jaian,' said Vanidor, taking a sip of tea.
They sat in a parlor in Talarin's quarters-Talarin, Rael, Faeon, Vanidor, Gildor, Eloran, Tip, and Beau.
Tip looked up at Faeon. 'I don't understand.'
'The Kistanians and Hyrinians-they are under the sway of Black Mages, acolytes of Gyphon,' said Faeon. She turned to Rael. 'Is it not so, Ythir?'
'Aye, 'tis true,' replied Rael, 'or so Aravan tells.'
'Aravan?' asked Beau.
'One of the Lian,' said Rael. 'He sailed the seas when Rwn was yet an isle.'
'Oh.' Beau nodded and looked at Tipperton, who sadly shook his head, for both buccen knew of the destruction of that place. After all, it was a cataclysm marking the end of the First Era and the start of the Second.
'Aye, for thousands of seasons Aravan traveled the world, sailing the seas in his splendid ship, the Eroean. But when Rwn fell, Aravan left the sea behind. And though the destruction was Durlok's doing-Durlok, a Black Mage and votary of Gyphon-Aravan deemed that Gyphon Himself had had a hand in the devastation, though I understand Gyphon humbled Himself before Adon and declared He had nought to do with such-'twas a renegade acolyte, he claimed.'
Tip held out his cup and Gildor refreshed the buccan's tea. As Tip added sweet honey, he asked, 'What has this to do with the Hyrinians or the Kistanians?'
'Aravan tells that these two nations worship Gyphon in their temples and towers,' replied Rael. 'And so, aught concerning a war 'tween Gyphon and Adon will involve them as well.'
'Hmm,' mused Beau. 'So you think they're in this fight, eh?'
All eyes turned to Eloran. He shrugged and set aside his cup, then said, 'Most likely, wee one. Most likely. Though when I left Adonar we had no word on whether or no they were engaged or even on the move.'
'Say now,' said Tip, 'just where is this, uh, in-between crossing you made in coming here?'
Eloran glanced at Talarin and, at a nod from the Alor, said, 'Four days south of here lies the circle of stones… in Lianion, the land thou doth name Rell.'
'Lianion?' Tip turned to Rael. 'Isn't Lianion what we sang about tonight? Lianion, the first land? I thought that was on the High Plane, in Adonar to be precise.'
Rael smiled. 'Aye. Lianion is indeed in Adonar. Yet when first we came unto Mithgar, we made the crossing at the circle of stones, and the realm we came into was called Lianion as well, for it was the first land we trod upon in this world. 'Twas only later it became known as Rell.'
Tip nodded and then turned back to the Dylvana. 'Tell me, Lord Eloran, did you see any Foul Folk on your four-day journey through Rell?'
'Movement in the distance at times,' replied the Elf. 'Yet whether or no 'twas Foul Folk, I cannot say, for my mission unto Arden Vale was urgent, and I did not turn aside to investigate.'
Tip sighed and glanced at Beau, as if to say, We should have gone south and 'round.
But Beau gave a slight shake of his head, wordlessly replying [No, bucco; wait till the thaw].
'When dost thou plan on returning, Eloran?' asked Talarin.
'Mayhap tomorrow.'
Rael shook her head. 'Nay, Eloran. Rest instead. Tarry a day or so.' The Dara took up the small iron container
