The fairest gift of strength is clemency
If the weak offend;
So kindly do not punish me
For having the fault of a friend.
At first I thought of intoning these lines, but as I stood before the Lord Veryacano, it occurred to me that the tall Hammer Lord was likely not a great appreciator of poetry, neither did any understanding of friendship exist between us, and he may decide to punish me anyway. And for what? Leaving the safety of the Valley to seek him out? Am I not Ambassador of the House, appointed by Lord Anglachelm himself, a position that allowed me to wander at will? I have a thing to say, thought I, and have come so far, and yet dare not say it! The Lord Veryacano was gazing steadily at me, his face clouding over with impatience. I felt a sudden panic of doubt, and I realized that I best speak, and say what I had come to say, before I lost heart completely.
“It is related in the Valley, O mighty Lord,” I stammered out, “that you and your companions have met with some Men on the road, and have dealt with them - harshly.” I paused, unwilling to say anything more, and peered round the campfire at the others.
“Is that all you have come to tell us? Send him away!” was Nirhen’s vicious reply. Always speaking out of place, that one, but I was not speaking to her, and pretended to hear nothing. What care I for scornful speech? I must suffer with the best possible grace all her antics, even if she shoves me and nips my flesh with her nails again, or be called a coward, or worse. Then I noticed Lord Veryacano looking at Nirhen with distaste. He, too, must disapprove of Nirhen’s insolence, yet I imagined a small smile hovering about the corners of his mouth. Curse it all! I hoped he would draw me aside to speak privately, but instead I was obliged to explain myself in front of all of them - even the disagreeable Nirhen - who was now laughing with all her white teeth and glaring at me. Lord Estarfin stood close behind the Hammer Lord, his eyes blank and his face expressionless, as usual. Did I expect something more from these dark-faced elves – perhaps patient and attentive discourse?
I am not a fool; but I do have the fault of having too strong feelings for folk who lack them. I do not wish to see my kin in trouble; so I undertook a journey into a long forsaken country for nothing else; I did not come for money, I did not come for gossip, I did not come for anything, only that which I had come so far to find – my kindred, who have fallen into evil. From the Hammers’ dark looks and contemptuous remarks, I have sadly concluded that the rumours are indeed true; these elves have done acts deeply to be deplored. Now the great reputation of our House is at stake, and because its improvement is the cause which I have most at heart, I did not wish to carry away this bad impression back to the Valley, by no means a favorable one of Bar-en-Vanimar’s manners and dealings with foreign peoples: not without persuading my brethren from the path of ruin. Of course, I did not venture to tell them this, and risk being driven out of camp; I merely said that I had come searching for news of our Lord Anglachelm. Then I stood silent, feeling somewhat foolish.
I was put to hard questioning by Lord Veryacano, who was suspicious and doubtful of me. I suppose it was strange for anyone not of his Order to seek him out willingly, and he was unused to this notion. He seemed to think someone had sent me to spy upon him, and demanded to know who sent me. “No one!” I cried out, but I am not certain if he believed me. By this time, it was now nearly sunup; I was sore tired and famished from my long journey, and almost fainting on my feet, but no offer of rest or refreshment was made.
“You have done well to have found us, and you are welcome to join our cause; but, I can make no promises that you will be taken care of, as you were before when you last journeyed with us.” I snorted to myself, knowing too well the sort of protection the Hammer Lord offered - I would have felt safer among a den of savage wolves! I would do without any such flimsy assurances, and bowed deeply before him. His next words fell heavy upon my heart; a black cloud of failure and disgrace seemed to gather and swirl around me as he proclaimed,
“If you truly wished to help us, you would have done it sooner. Your actions lack conviction. Now go with Lord Tindir’s group.”
Not knowing what to say I knelt on one knee, offering wordless obeisance, and went with hanging head to Lord Tindir, glad to be away from the imperious Lord Veryacano and his hundred thousand questions. I took refuge underneath a low crumbling wall and hastily partook of a meal of dried beef and fruit, for we were to set out southwest to investigate some smoke-fires. The wind moaned through the chinks in the ruins, and flinging myself down upon my bedroll, I tried to rest, but each time my mind drifted away, it was snatched back to the present by a horrid music breaking out. It seemed to assault the ear from every direction, yet when I opened my eyes and sat up, it immediately ceased. I perceived that I was dreaming, for the music was the very same I had heard issuing from a variety of barbarous instruments of the woodmen of the East Bight. I can still see them now, brandishing their weapons and capering around their campfire in a wild dance. The recalled scene attracted my attention for a while, but fatigue overcame me at last and I slept, until I was roused for the next step of our journey.
