Velverdyva!'
As Melf turned to pay his reckoning, the curly-headed girl smiled warmly at him. 'My thanks, sir, for intervening. That one isn't right, you know, and I was afraid. Were it not for a bold and decent person such as yourself, I fear he might have made a lot of trouble, and who's there here to resist such a one?'
'No matter now,' Melf replied casually, 'for he has gone abed, and you may likewise retire behind a locked door, safe and sound.'
'Oh, that's just it, sir! I sleep alone in the loft just at the end of the hall above, and I believe that maniac will creep into my bed when it is quiet. Locks wouldn't prevent his type from entering, you know,' the girl concluded in conspiratorial tones. As she leaned close to whisper thus, a good part of her bosom was displayed to Melf’s view.
'Delightful…' he mumbled.
'What was that, sir?'
'Frightful, I said. Frightful indeed!' Melf said quickly. 'But perhaps I could…'
'Thank you, sir… may I call you Sir Melf? I overheard you tell the other your name,' she added apologetically. 'And my name is Silyoni.'
'Silyoni? Yes, a pretty name for a beautiful girl. It is Melf, Silyoni, without the honorific. Just Melf…'
With Keak and his lunatic presence forgotten, Melf sipped wine and chatted with the young country girl until the last patrons left and the place closed for the night. He and Silyoni walked hand in hand up the stairs, then, and he guarded her until dawn. There were no undesired intrusions, and no one came unannounced. When morning came, the girl pronounced him both a hero and an upright protector.
Unfortunately, he fell asleep just about then, and it was near forenoon when Melf finally arrived downstairs to greet his companions where they sat waiting, their morning meal long finished. As he came down, Silyoni gave him a smile and a wink, then bustled away to serve a trio of traders demanding an early dinner.
'You look worn,' said Lizard with a concerned voice.
'The girl yonder looks chipper enough,' Biff the halfling said, staring innocently at the ceiling. 'She must be a witch who used energy transference to sap our leader's strength in fashion vampiric!'
All three burst out in gales of laughter as Melf turned crimson at the jest. Although he was old by human standards, to be celebrating his 165th birthday soon, this was still young by elven standards. Simply put, Melf was shy and not a little awkward and prudish about certain things.
'Enough of that!' said Melf, breaking the mood. 'Biff, see to the payment for our stay. Chert, you and Lizard get our coursers ready — and make certain that they have clean hooves and that there is grain in the saddlebags.'
Still grinning, they three went to carry out their leader's orders. Melf broke his fast with some gruel of groat clusters, crisp herbs, and oatcakes and bumblebee honey, washed down with a mug of blackberry tea. He gulped his food, hardly tasting it, blaming himself for making them late. How could he tarry so when the fate of mankind and elves might hang on his actions! Silyoni tried to be pleasant, but Melf was too worried to notice.
'Ah, Sir Melf, will you be returning again soon?'
'Fate knows, not I!' he snapped. 'What of Keak?'
'That wretched stick? Why do I care if he ever returns?' the girl replied crossly.
'When did he and his dwarven companion leave?' demanded Melf.
Silyoni slammed his mug of tea down. 'They left an hour after dawn, the evil bandy grinning, and Keak with his awful giggling — he even pinched me on the bottom as he left, not that you'd care!' With that the girl flounced off. Melf didn't notice, for he was thinking hard about the strange elf. Something he couldn't quite identify was gnawing at the back of his consciousness. 'Damn!' he said aloud, but there was nobody close enough to notice. Silyoni was nowhere to be seen, so he slipped a gleaming lucky under his tea mug, knowing that the lass would find it there when she cleared the table. Tightening his sword belt, he walked outside to where his fellows waited with the horses.
Despite the late start, they continued to make good time. The weather was fair, and Furyondy kept its roads in excellent repair. They camped under a starry sky that night, and the next as well. Arriving at the town of Littleberg late the next night, they took shelter in a tavern. The fine weather had turned rainy, and the horses were worn. Much to the surprise of all, a priest of Celestian found them there the next morning and gave them further news. Their quarry was reported to be traveling northward not more than a day's distance from the broad ford of the Alt River. As this was only a few hours' ride upstream, Melf decided that they should risk rain and high water in order to pursue hotly the vile crew they sought. This was exactly what the high priest desired, and to assist their journey, he had extra steeds and fresh supplies ready. They left Littleberg behind, obscured in sheets of blowing drizzle, and made the broad ford by high noon.
By riding hard, switching mounts, and sleeping seldom, the four managed to eat up the leagues with great rapidity. Before long they had come to where the rutted track leading north toward the dark realm of the Hierarchs split away from the highroad northeast to Willip Town on the shores of the Nyr Dyv. This portion of the kingdom was far wilder and more lawless than that region where trade between Furyondy and the west flourished. Far above lay the sole crossing place of the Veng River — the Panggate, as it was called. Unscrupulous merchants and evil traders used this place to bring their wares to the lands of the Horned Ones, the domain of Molag. The four must travel this way too, looking for the marauders.
Rain continued for the next two days. Unlike the showers they had experienced when departing Littleberg, this precipitation came in torrential bursts, making all miserable and the track a quagmire. Nevertheless they pressed onward, soaking, muddy, and exhausted. Finally the clouds broke into ragged tatters and a pale sun shone through.
'This is better,' Biff observed, basking in the warmth of the sunlight, 'but how much longer do we go on? Aside from wild creatures, we have seen nothing living since we took this accursed path!'
Melf smiled at the lazy little thief, for he knew full well how Biff preferred to spend his time. 'Excellent, isn't it? No sightings means that we are undoubtedly ahead of those we seek. The foul conditions we have experienced will certainly have affected their train worse than it did us. When we come to a likely spot, we will establish an ambuscade and fall upon them when they come up!'
'Four ambush more than a score?' Chert said with incredulity.
Lizard laughed. 'But think of how puissant a quartet we are!'
Biff looked nervous, and both mercenaries laughed at his expression. They had seen him practice his craft, including sword play and dagger throwing. Chert and Lizard knew that the halfling, despite his size and appearance, was a foe to be reckoned with.
'Less chatter, there,' Melf said sourly. 'We must be positive and decisive.'
'I am positively ready for close combat,' Chert exclaimed with a bellow that rang with assurance. 'Cold steel is preferable to saddle sores and horse dung!'
Melf turned haughtily and rode away, leaving his companions to follow. 'He doesn't always take such japes well,' Biff told the others in a confidential tone. 'But he is the most loyal and capable master a poor halfling such as I could ask.' The sincerity of the statement was sufficient to stiffen both men, and they whistled and joked as they rode for the next few days, despite the hardships of the inhospitable countryside.
Chapter 13
'There is the Veng at last!' exclaimed Biff.
'And the Boulderford, which leads to Molag,' added Lizard.
'We are ahead of those we seek, for nobody has come this way for days,' Chert said as he studied the track.
'What twinkles so there, across the river?” asked Melf as he peered at the bluffs on the far side of the waterway that marked the beginning of the Horned Society, the lands of the dreaded Hierarchs and their unwholesome subjects. 'Quick! Our horses to the hollow there,' he commanded, pointing to a small dell to the left. 'Stay with them while I scout ahead.'
The others made no comment or objection, for they knew that the elven swordsman was also a spell-worker
