said to the crowd, 'These four were the key to the victory; without them all would have been lost, and Gyphon would now rule the Planes. Without them Mithgar would now be crushed under the heel of Modru. Yet Gyphon does not rule the Planes, nor does Modru rule this world, for these four conceived the plan which swept the foe away.'
Now Blaine looked again at the four and said, 'I have given away lands and titles and honors fitting the deeds done, yet I cannot conceive of anything in all of my power to bestow which would properly reward you for that which you did, for the whole of Mithgar, the whole of creation, owes you a debt none can ever repay. Yet this will I grant if it is within my power: name you your own reward, be it lands, titles, castles, riches, whatever it is you desire.'
There was an indrawn gasp from all in the hall, for never had they heard of such a boon, and then a quietness descended, so utterly still that waves in the ocean far below could be heard through the very thick stone castle walls.
Beau shrugged and turned to Linnet, and she looked to Rynna. But Rynna stepped to Tipperton and whispered, 'Name it, my love.'
Tipperton looked out over the sea of faces, all folk waiting with bated breath, and finally he turned to High King Blaine and said, 'There is but a single thing I would ask, my lord, and I ask it for all Warrowkind, and it is this: I would that we Warrows be excused from kneeling, for we are too short to see aught of pageantry when we are on our knees, especially when among or behind folk larger than ourselves. And if you would, a place up front would be nice, for when Big Folk stand before us, again we cannot see, kneeling, standing, or not.'
Dead silence yet filled the hall, for had they heard rightly? The Warrow had requested virtually nought, the whole kingdom at his beck? And then the High King laughed, and called out, 'Done and done.' And as the King's laughter was echoed by all within, Tipperton embraced Rynna and winked at Beau.
Then Blaine raised his hands and when quietness fell, he said, 'Let the word spread across the lands that I do here and now decree that for services rendered, never again shall any Warrow kneel in the presence of kings, queens, emperors, DelfLords, corons, chieftains, lords, ladies, dukes, earls, barons, or aught else of so-called royalty. Nought but a slight bow or curtsey will entirely suffice. Too, let the Wee Folk be given places of honor, where they may see and be seen.'
Blaine glanced from lord to lady, coron to chieftain, king to queen, and when his eye swept across the Dwarves, Bekki stepped forward and proclaimed, 'So you have said; so shall it be,' and a shout of affirmation rose up from all.
Blaine then turned to Tipperton, and Lord Steward Voren stepped to the dais and handed the High King a small packet. And from it Blaine took a small pewter coin on a thong through a hole in its center. He signalled Tipperton to step forward, and he placed the dull token over Tipperton's head and about his neck and said, 'Should there ever be a need, send this coin and I will come in all haste with all the force at my command.'
With tears in his eyes, Tipperton looked up at Blaine and said, 'My lord, should you ever have the need, send such a coin to us, and we will do the same.'
Now there came a call for a speech, and Tipperton looked to the other Warrows. Linnet smiled and Beau said, 'They want to hear from you, bucco. Go on, tell 'em, Tip.'
Tipperton looked at Rynna, and her eyes glistened as she nodded.
And he turned to the gathering, and a hush fell over them all. And then he said, 'The King has told you of the terrible cost of the war-lost comrades, lost friends, lost brothers and cousins and fathers and mothers and daughters and sons.' Tipperton held the pewter coin between finger and thumb and looked down at it on its thong, and then he looked up at the faces of the lords and ladies and honored guests waiting and said, 'Know this, my friends: freedom is not free, for in times of darkness, in the fires of war, freedom is forged of iron, iron oft quenched by the blood of the innocent, a terrible price to pay. Yet to let evil rule is even more costly. No, my friends, freedom is not free, so cherish it and know its true value, for it is paid for by the highest coin of all.'
Tipperton fell silent, and a hush filled the air. And then Bekki stepped forward and dropped to one knee and cried, 'Chakka atnonu, Tipperton Thistledown, ko ka ska!'
And the hall rang with cheers.
Two days later in the dawn, Tipperton and Rynna and Beau and Linnet rode out from Caer Pendwyr, a string of pack animals behind, Darda Erynian their goal. It was the sixth of February; four years ago on this very same day, Tip and Beau had set out from Twoforks bearing a coin toward an unknown end, and as Tipperton said to High King Blaine, 'It just seems fitting that on this day we should start for home, our mission finally done.' And so they rode away.
But they did not ride alone, for with them fared a cavalcade of others, heroes all, Phais and Loric and Bekki not the least of these. Men and Baeron and Dwarves and Lian and Dylvana all rode with the Warrows, each and every one heading for northerly homes: Kings Ranor and Loden; Chieftains Urel and Durul, DelfLord Volki, Corons Eiron and Ruar, and Prince Brandt and Hrosmarshal Linde, Vail and Arylin and Riatha and Talar, Talarin and Gildor and Vanidor and Vanidar and Aravan, and many others as well. And a crowd cheered as they rode through the streets of Caer Pendwyr and beyond, their loudest huzzahs for the Wee Folk riding in the midst. Out from the city they went, following Pendwyr Road, finally to depart that tradeway and strike out northerly.
And as they rode, King Loden laughed aloud, and when Beau asked, Loden said, 'Lord Bekki just now apologized for cheating me of my king's justice.'
'Apologized?'
'Aye. For killing Lord Tain at H?l's Crucible.'
'Bekki slew the surrogate?'
'Split him with a thrown axe.'
Rynna sighed and murmured to Tipperton, 'I felt sorry for Lord Tain, mad as he was, for he knew nought of his role.'
Tipperton nodded in agreement, but then shuddered, the memory of Jolet in his mind. He reached for his lute and said to Rynna, 'What say we have a happy tune and drive these phantoms away.'
A month and twelve days did they ride through snow and rain and sunny days warm and chill ere coming unto the wreck of Caer Lindor, sitting in ruins on its isle in the flow of the River Rissanin. And here came the parting of ways:
Coron Eiron, Vanidar Silverleaf, Riatha, Talar, Aravan, and other Lian turned west for Darda Galion. West as well rode DelfLord Volki and a cadre of Chakka, all heading for Kraggen-cor in the Grimwalls beyond.
Kings Ranor and Loden, Prince Brandt, and DelfLord Bekki and their retinues turned northeasterly to follow the river through the Greatwood and to the open wold, aiming for Jord and Riamon and Mineholt North. And with them fared Linde, the Warrior Maiden now acknowledged as King Ranor's only daughter, issue of an unsanctioned love. And she rode beside King Loden of Dael, a marriage-sealed alliance between Jord and Riamon perhaps in the offing, though the Warrior Maiden, free to choose, had neither said yea nor nay.
Turning back south to head for The Clearing went Chieftain Urel and a handful of Baeron, for they had guided all through the Greatwood to the Caer Lindor ruins.
Across the Rissanin and into Darda Erynian rode Chieftain Durul and Coron Ruar and Dara Vail and other Dyl-vana, along with Talarin of Arden Vale and Arylin, Aris, Gildor and Vanidor, Elissan, Jaith, and Loric and Phais. And with them rode Tipperton and Rynna and Beau and Linnet, all now heading for the holding of the Springwa-ter Warrows.
But ere they went their own separate ways, DelfLord Bekki spoke softly unto Dara Phais, yet what he said was known only by them.
Crying out good-byes and farewells and wishing good fortunes to all, the small alliance parted, vowing one day to see one another again.
And away to the four winds they rode.
In midmorn of Springday, into the Springwater holding they came, Warrows calling out in gladness as among the withy-woven dwellings they fared.
With Lark in her arms Melli rushed out from her bower. 'Oh, you're back, you're back,' she joyfully cried. 'Linnet, Rynna, Beau, Tipperton, Nix…' Melli frowned and looked among the Dylvana and Baeron and Lian and back
