Tolbold Tatersfield almost swaggered as he walked into the ‘Elbow’s Bend’, nodding greetings to familiar faces, and noting with a hint of pride how most of the others stood back for him to approach the bar.
He winked at Henepa, ‘A tall glass fer me, and one fer Sarno, if yer don’t mind.”
Henepa rolled her eyes. She couldn’t have heard the latest yet, Tolbold thought. She didn’t yet know just how brave he was. Well that would change.
“That’ll be five glasses.” Sarno was already sitting further inside the Inn, with a group of gawping and curious folk around him.
Tolbold gave his friend a withering look.
“Well yer told that Elf Lord yer had five Bounders hidden in the bushes, when it was only me moving about. I think I earnt me beer?”
The group sitting with Sarno all chuckled, so that Tolbold had no recourse but to keep his word.
“A tall glass fer me, and five fer Sarno, please,” he announced. Brave and generous. My, he was on form today. But he would be having a word with Sarno later.
Carrying two beers, he walked over to the table and took a seat.
“Tell us again, Sarno, about the demon with all the swords, “ a ginger haired lad urged. “Do yer reckon he had more than two arms?”
Sarno nodded ‘thanks’ to Tolbold, then sank back into his seat and told again for the upteenth time how, three nights past, when he had been out lamping, he had seen the great massacre.
“It was tall and broad across the shoulders. Wild black hair everywhere, and shouting in it’s strange language, first on a massive black horse, then on foot. All the animals fell silent at its approach, and the men….the men ran and howled as it was upon them. So many swords it had, one in each hand, ‘cause the men were falling half a dozen at a time.”
Those others gathered at the table nodded sagely, as if they all knew what it was. But none really did.
Tolbold took out his pipe, stuffed it with some tobacco from his pouch, and lit it.
He knew!
“Just one?” the fairest haired asked. “I have heard there were six of ‘em. We can’t stop just one, let alone a bunch of ‘em.”
There was nodding and general agreement. Had half the village not spent the past two days trying to bury the mess on the nearby fields. They knew what the demon could do.
“There were three,” Tolbold thought it time to speak up, and not let Sarno get carried away. “An Elf Lord of some nobility, a Lady almost as lovely as Henepa (He said her name loudly, but she did not turn), an A Star Fin.
The group turned to face him, looking amazed.
“Three of them?”
“Oh, the noble Lord and the Lady only did what was needful. They knew the men to be brigands. It was the Star Fin that did most of the killing.”
Sarno, who was now on his second beer, was confused. “How do yer know? Yer weren’t speaking with ‘em for long.”
All the table gasped, and now others stood around wondering what their assistant helper Shirriff had been up to.
“What is a Star Fin?” a few asked. ‘Is it an elf demon?”
Tolbold now had the audience he had hoped for. Was Henepa listening? From the corner of his eye he could see she was watching.
“Well it’s hard ter say, right enough. It is very dangerous. In fact the elf Lord and Lady returned ter warn us. “ He tapped his pipe on the table edge, “Them’s who I was talking with earlier!”
True to form, the loyal Sarno nodded confirmation. “Two of ‘em, and he was riding a big black horse and spoke with much authority. She was shining like moonlight, and had all these red curls falling down her back. ‘Where’s the other one’, the boss here asked? ‘The one all in black, with hands like swords.’ And the great Elf Lord turned to the Lady and spoke in their language. I think he was offended.”
Tolbold raised a hand, signaling it was his tale to tell, and that Sarno may not get his third beer unless he was silent.
“That’s about the truth of it,” he said casually. “I told them that if they had the demon with them, they were not to come ter the village, and I had five Bounders all with arrows aimed at them. But then the Lady spoke up, with a voice like the sighing of the river, first in their language, then in the common tongue to her companion. “He means A Star Fin” she said. Then the Lord gasped, as he understood.
“Unless you caused more mayhem than I thought?” she added to the Lord.
Now that Lord close up was a real High Born, yer could see it in his restraint. And in his voice. “He spoke like them well-ter-do folk, each word just so, And he said ter me, “Tolbold Tatersfield, my good fellow (I had given me name at the start) we were unfortunately attacked by that ‘mess’ as we rode by, on our way to clear the woods of some very wild and vicious boar. It was necessary to sully the green grass. And, not wishing to make more alarm than we did, we left at once.”
The Lady was nodding in agreement. I felt I could trust her, though the Lord himself was convincing.
“The ‘mess’ is A Star Fin’s doing. He would not hurt you though,” the Lord commented.
This time the Lady drew a deep breath, and I took a step back.
“Not deliberately, no. But he cannot always tell the innocent from the guilty when in a blood rage.”
Now I was convinced we had a demon on our hands, even if it was an Elf one.
“Does this demon, Star Fin belong to you?” I ventured to ask. The Lady looked sad of a sudden, but the Lord said “That’s close enough. No, he is not a demon. He is our friend. Our friend and companion. He would never hurt a hair on your…toes.” Then the Lord laughed merrily, looking to the Lady for agreement. “Do not fear us. I know we seem formidable …” He flexed an arm.
The Lady leant forward on her dappled horse, and spoke softly, “He belongs to none save himself, Master Tatersfield, and he can be as a flame in mood, but I have never known him to harm any of your kind. In truth, seeing him among your folk, I do deem he almost has a fondness for those who so love their land.”
“He does?” the Lord asked her, obviously not aware of that aspect.
“As near as I have seen a fondness for any other race. Estarfin is no demon, save to the race of Men. He will not harm any in your village.”
And I think I understood. Not a Star Fin, but an elf with a name and though dark of nature, one she at least trusted.
The Lord did not seem convinced, but he spoke further “Are you in charge here, Tolbold?”
Tolbold halted his tale to look at the growing circle of faces about him. “Now as yer all know, I am but an assistant to the Deputy Shirriff, so the answer is ‘no’, but I wanted ter clear up the matter while them elves were talking with me.”
“So it’s not a demon?” That was Henepa.
I smiled at her. "No, only ter Men, and we have few enough of them sort here save brigands.”
She nodded and went back to cleaning glasses. But she was listening to him, so he continued his tale.
“So I says ter the Lord, ‘Sort of’, and he answered ‘I do not normally do business in the middle of the road, but I suppose I must, in this case.”
“I am the assistant Shirriff” I said, and called back ter Sarno, ‘Stand down lads.”
Sarno nodded, and took up his next beer. “I was mighty handy there, no? And I laughed when yer said ter me ’No, don’t shoot thems ears off.”
Tolbold grinned a bit sheepishly at the folk gathered round him. “An then I said, ‘I am not the Thane, but I can speak fer this place.’”
“Yer also said 'beers all round when we get back ter the ‘Elbow.’”
“So I did Sarno. And yer have five glasses there now. Anyway, that Elf Lord looked just a little surprised, and he said “Well thank you for not doing that. I did not think I would be shot full of arrows while talking to a …Tolbold.”
And I looked long at him, and saw he was little different from those other elves that occasionally pass by. He at least was no killer. Maybe a defender of sorts, but not one to hire for help. Neither was the Lady a killer, though there was just a hint of darkness about her that told me she would be terrible at need. It was the third one, Estarfin, who we could do with.
“I must say, that was one almighty mess of blood and bodies your Estarfin left by the village,” I stated.
“Did you expect us to bury the dead?” the Lord replied. “Let the crows see to it. There are plenty in this area, I have noticed. And wolves. I can hear them howling.”
“He had a point. And had there been less bodies we would likely have just left things as they were.” Tolbold again addressed the group.
“But it’s an ugly sight and smell ter wake up to.” It was the fair haired one again.
“And we don’t want wolves coming closer ter Tighfield,”
No indeed. Tolbold thanked them all again for their efforts of the past days in burying remains, and watering the blood into the soil.
“We can make a good enough job of the clearing up. Better than of killing them brigands. To be honest them elves have done us a favour.”
“Can we hire the demon elf ter clear the rest of the brigands”, Old Tollo asked.
“Hims not a demon, “ Tolbold replied to his uncle. “but a dark Elf of sorts. And I’m coming ter that. So I told the elf Lord that right enough, them had done us a favour. But also that we wanted no trouble. And then the Lady said, “We do not seek to harm any, save to keep our own travellers safe, and you also if we may.” She looked to the Lord and said “Parnard, please explain the danger.”
The Lord, Parnard, cleared his throat, then continued, “The travellers, ah yes. The Lady Danel and I wish to let your people know that Estarfin, who indeed wears black and rides a black horse as do I, is not a demon.”
I said to him. “I can see yer not a demon, Lord.”
“Indeed, I am not.” he replied.
“Neither is the Lady,”
She smiled slightly, and the Lord said “Mercy, no!”
“And for now, I reserve comment on this Estarfin. Though if you and the Lady speak for him, I hold he is not all bad?”
“You are an intelligent lad. A clever lad,” the Lord said in a honeyed tone. “Now listen carefully. If you see any Men…the better kind….passing by this way, kindly let them know to stay out of Estarfin’s way as they value their lives. As mentioned before, he cannot tell friend from foe when it comes to Men.”
And Tolbold thought for a minute or two. He was forming a very conflicting view of the dark Elf.
“Though I am no Man, I wouldn’t like to be on the wrong side of him, and that’s a fact.”
The Lord looked briefly to the Lady then said, “I have been on his wrong side, and let me tell you, it is a place I never wish to be again.”
Tolbold gulped, as he considered any able elf feeling scared, but he looked to the Lady himself, beginning to see that her face told the truth of matters. It was as the Lord had said, he had been afraid. And she…..not fear as such….she was not afraid for herself ….he thought a good meat pudding might settle her?
The Lord continued, “We know this is a remote village, far from most help. We offer our help and once offered you cannot deny it. You know what happens if you deny an elf’s help? Bad things.”
“I don’t deny anything, Lord” Tolbold replied, sticking his hands in his pockets to stop them from trembling. He couldn’t let this meeting turn bad now.
“And kind of you elves to offer. Our trouble comes from a nest of brigands and thieves.” He pointed south east, to the small range of hills. “On the hill top, but a short ride away.”
The Lord turned, “Eh? That ruined castle?”
“Aye. Those you slew came from there, but there are more than those we buried. It’s a hide out for dishonest men, living off others.”
The Lady looked to Tolbold with interest.
“Thank you. Tell us more,” the Lord said, with equal interest.
“They steal our cattle at times, and our cakes.”
“Cakes and cattle, very interesting.”
“And even washing off our lines, though we haven’t a clue why.” Tolbold put a hand on top of his head, indicating a height problem.
“We do not care about linen, Tolbold.” Was the Lord losing his diplomatic edge?
“They threatened some at knife point to hand over dinner and supper!”
“Suppertime bandits! How many men?” There was a definite edge to the questions now.
They steal our food, our livestock..they have threatened our people with knives..that’s why I have Bounders hiding in bushes.” Tolbold tried to convince the elf of the urgency of the situation.
“Yes. I saw them,” The Elf Lord said, even though he couldn’t have.
“Well there were around sixty men, and a few women. Though we buried over twenty five. They wander here from the Breelands when they find the going too tough there.”
“Breelands” The elf said, “The name sounds familiar, though I have never seen the Breelands.”
“Please” said the Lady,” never mention Bree to Estarfin! It is a town full of Men. We passed close by when we rode here.”
The Lord looked to her knowingly, then turned to Tolbold.
“Fear them not. We shall help you. Be sure to tell everyone who travels this way, to avoid our friend if possible.”
“Please tell your friend we are all Hobbits here.”
The Lady nodded, and smiled just a little. Tolbold wished she was not so sad. Maybe a venison pie would help? “It has been a pleasure meeting you, Tolbold Tatersfield,” she said. “Think not too badly of our friend. He has his reasons.” She leant over from her horse again and handed Tolbold a package wrapped in sewn leaves. “May Tintalle watch over your village.”
“Good fortune to your village, Tolbold.” said the Lord, as he inclined his head in thanks. “At the least, no men will trouble you now.”
Putting down his pipe, Tolbold folded his hands over his chest and waited for the applause.
“So It isn’t a demon, only a mad Dark Elf with a grudge?” Asked Mindo, sitting to the left, and finishing a bowl of salted nuts.
“No ‘only’ about it.” Tolbold replied. “From what those elves told me without words, once this Estarfin starts, there be no stopping him. Our brigand problems may finally be over.”
“What was in the package?” Sarno asked.
“Elf cake, and I ate it!”
