when she looked in the crystal, though at the time she said it, she spoke in the Elven tongue; Dara Faeon rendered it into Common.'
Farrin canted his head. 'For whom was the rede intended?'
'That's just it,' said Beau. 'We don't know. A number of Elves were in the room at the time, along with two ragtag Warrows-Tip and me-and Rael said it could be meant for any one of us.'
Farrin nodded, then said, 'And what does this have to do with your dismay?'
'Well, you see, if the rede is indeed meant for either Tip or me-though I don't think it likely-then Tip has gone off with King Agron, you see, and his entire army, and I am soon to follow.'
Farrin turned up a hand. 'And…?'
'And they're all men,' replied Beau.
'Ah,' said Farrin, nodding. 'And the rede says to seek the aid of those not men. I see your concern. Of course, that assumes the rede was not meant for the Elves but for you or him or both.'
Beau sighed, and he faintly smiled up at the Mage. 'Not likely, eh?'
Farrin turned up both hands. 'With wild magic, one can never say.'
Silence fell between them, but finally Beau asked, 'Do you think he is in any danger?'
'Who?'
'Tip.'
'Why would you say that?'
'Well if he's with men instead of not-men…' Beau looked at Farrin and shrugged.
'He was with men at the battle of Dendor, wasn't he?'
Beau nodded, then said, 'Yes, but with Mages, too. And aren't you not-men? Uh, er, I mean, well, that is- Oh, barn rats, you know what I mean.'
Farrin laughed. 'Yes, Sir Beau, we Mages indeed are not men but another race altogether. Yet, hear me: I would think Sir Tipperton is in no more danger than anyone else marching with an army into the wastes of Gron, even though there are no not-men from whom he can seek aid.'
Before Beau could answer, a gong sounded. At Farrin's raised eyebrow, Beau said, 'Dinner. Would you join me? You can tell me all about the Stone Giants.'
As they stood and stepped from the room and strolled down the hall, Farrin said, 'Well, there's not that much to tell. I found them under the Grimwall north of the Skog-'
'The most ancient forest?'
'Aye, though how did you- Oh, the Elves?'
Beau nodded. 'Phais and Loric spoke of it. But what about the Stone Giants?'
'They spoke in a tongue most peculiar, like rocks sliding over one another. I managed to teach three or four of the younger ones an old form of Common. When I explained to them why I had come, and they in turn told the elders, well, the elders replied that they wanted no part of a war among surface dwellers.'
'Surface dwellers?'
'Aye, that's what they call those of us who live on the land and not within it.'
'What about the Dwarves? They are in this fight, and although they live on the land, they live in it as well.'
Farrin smiled. 'The very point I made to them, Beau. Yet though they admire the work of the Dwarves and revile that of the Rupt, still the elders refused. On the other hand, a few of the younger ones seemed somewhat reluctant to say yea or nay.'
'Did you tell 'em about Gyphon and what it might mean should he be victorious?'
'I did. Even so, they were not swayed.'
'Hmm,' mused Beau, and he turned from the hallway and entered a common room, Farrin coming after. Taking up trenchers and knives and spoons from a side stand and taking up earthenware mugs as well, they filled their plates from an array of food on a central table and filled their cups with tea. As they moved to a bench and settled in to eat, Beau asked, 'What do they look like? -The Stone Giants, I mean.'
'Tall. Some even taller than Trolls. Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen feet and more they stand. And they have gemstones for eyes.'
'Real gemstones?' asked Beau, tearing off a hunk of bread.
'So it appears,' said Farrin, nodding and sipping his tea, then adding, 'Glittering eyes, much like those of your folk.'
'How do they dress?' Beau managed to say around a mouthful.
'They don't. Clothes would turn to tatters where they dwell, where they work, down along the grinding seams of the living stone itself.'
'Oh my, no clothes; weren't you embarrassed?'
Farrin exploded in laughter.
They ate in silence for a while, and finally Farrin said, 'When do you plan on starting out for Gron?'
'Tomorrow should see me declared fit to travel,' replied Beau. 'Though I am not quite up to my old self, still I can climb several times to the top of the stairs before becoming too winded to continue.'
Farrin smiled. 'The stairs are your measure?'
'Not mine. Halga's.' Beau nodded toward where Halga sat a table away.
'It is a rough gauge of fitness,' said Halga. 'Yester-week he couldn't make it from bottom to top without stopping at least twice. Still, he would have left had I not stopped him.'
As Farrin looked askance at Beau, the buccan said, 'She was right, even though it cost me a sevenday delay. In the long run I think I'll reach Agron's army sooner by leaving later than later had I left sooner.'
Farrin laughed aloud, then said, 'I know how you feel, Beau, wanting to rejoin your comrade. I, too, go to join my companions; I may have failed with the Utruni, but when I find my colleagues the circle of seven will be whole again.'
'Oh my,' said Beau, his face falling, 'didn't anyone tell you?'
Farrin canted his head, puzzled, faintly smiling, a spoonful of beans lifted partway to his mouth. 'Tell me what?'
Beau reached out to touch Farrin's free hand. 'One of your circle-Alvaron by name-the Gargon slew him in its death throes.'
The wind went out of Farrin's lungs and he dropped his spoon with a clatter. 'Alvaron?'
Beau nodded.
'Dead?'
Again Beau nodded.
Farrin pushed his trencher away and stood. 'I need to be alone.'
Beau watched as the Mage stepped through the doorway and was gone. Sighing, the buccan, too, pushed his own trencher away. Turning to Halga, he said, 'I think I'm going for a walk, Halga. Out to the city walls, if I might.'
She looked at him long and finally nodded, saying, 'Dress warmly, Beau.'
Beau trudged to his room and took up his quilted jacket and gloves and cloak, and moments later stepped out through the front gate. A light snow drifted down through stillness to settle on the town, and Beau pulled his collar 'round and looked up through the drifting flakes at the grey sky overhead. As he took a deep breath of chill air, he suddenly realized that this was the first time in over two months he had been free of the prison behind. Yet even though he should have felt joy at his deliverance he did not, for his wee buccan heart was heavily weighed with an old grief again made new.
The next day, as Beau returned from an early-morning walk, a grim Farrin came riding toward the prison, a pack animal in tow behind. Beau stopped at the gate and waited, and Farrin rode to him and drew up. Without dismounting, the Mage looked down at the Warrow. 'I'm going now to seek the remainder of my circle. In Pellar, I am told, they might be found, and find them I will. I hope you find your own friend, wherever he may be. Yet, heed, Beau Darby, and heed me well, for I came to tell you this: where you intend to go is a place of a most ill nature, for Gron is Modru's realm, and the land follows his lead. To go alone toward that dire place is certainly risk enough, but to enter alone is madness. You must seek aid to find your friend, and another comes who may help.'
Beau's eyes widened. 'Another?'
Farrin nodded. 'Aye. I met him as I rode from the Skog. When I told him I was bound for Dendor, he said
