[To the north?] said Tipperton, looking at his chart. [I see no ford there.]
[Nevertheless there is one,] said Farrix, striding across the map and placing his finger on the sketch of the Iron-water just north of Bridgeton. [Though quite deep-I would think not passable at all when the river is in spring flood-this is where they crossed.]
[Hmm.] Tipperton marked his map tentatively as he mused, [Perhaps this is what they did when marching the other direction to set siege on Mineholt North. They bypassed Bridgeton then as well.]
[They could have crossed on ice at that time,] said Beau, [for I think it was winter then. Regardless, this time they went 'round Bridgeton again, and it is safe.] He turned to Linnet. [They have some of the best mulled wine there.]
On the map, Tip wrote, Deep Ford Here with an arrow to where Farrix pointed.
Farrix cocked his head 'round to read the words in Common and laughed. [Deep indeed. Even using the spanning ropes, the Rucha and Loka were just able to keep their noses above the water. The Trolls were the last to cross, and only under threat by the Ghulka, though what a corpse-foe might do to a Troll, I have not even a hint.]
Dinly frowned. [Why would Ogrus be afraid of a river?]
[They sink like a rock in water,] said Jinnarin, grinning at Farrix, [completely unable to float or swim. Or so we discovered some long years bacjt in a hidden cavern.]
[Bones like stones,] said Farrix.
[Ah,] said Dinly, enlightened.
Tipperton frowned. [It bothers me that they bypassed Bridgeton. -Oh, I'm certainly glad they did. It's just that it seems such a tempting target. What is the goal of a maggot-folk army if not to plunder cities?]
Beau held up a finger. [Hoy now, Tip, you said it yourself: the Riicken army went 'round it on the way to Mine-holt North.]
[Yes, but the Dwarvenholt was their goal, and so they had good reason to skirt it then, just as they disregarded Dael.]
Beau nodded, but added: [When the Mineholt siege was broken, they bypassed Bridgeton again as they fled.]
[They were running from an army of angry Dwarves, to say nothing of the Elves and Men.]
Beau laughed. [Angry Dwarves: nothing better to flee, eh?] As the others smiled, Beau sobered. [All I'm saying, Tip, is that every time the maggot-folk go past Bridgeton, they leave it alone.]
[Regardless as to their motives,] said Aylissa, [they marched to the Skarpals and within.]
[Retreating like the others, eh?] said Alver, looking at Beau.
Beau glanced at Tip and turned up his hands.
[Did you see any more maggot-folk?] asked Rynna. [The Spawn on the wold and those in the Rimmen Spur seem to have vanished.]
[Ah, so that's who they were,] said Farrix. [A belated group heading east as well.]
[They hie for the Skarpals, too,] said Aylissa, [or so we believe.]
[Fleeing to hide in the mountains,] said Dinly. [All of them run away.]
[Say, I wonder if this has to do with the High King breaking the siege at Gunarring Gap?] said Beau. [Perhaps the reason they head for the Skarpals is that they think the war lost and they run for cover, just as Alver and Dinly say.]
Tip looked up from the map and shook his head. [Perhaps you are right, Beau, and the Skarpals is their final goal. But then again perhaps you are wrong and Modru has something else altogether in mi-]
"Hiyo! Hiyo!" came a shout.
They all glanced up from the table to see Farly come racing into camp.
"The Dylvana are here!" he cried as he galloped across the sward.
As Tip rolled his maps, Farly haled his pony up short and swung his leg across his saddle and leapt down. "The Dylvana are here and are setting up camp at Eryn Ford."
Rynna scooped up Lark and held onto her tightly, and Tipperton put his arms about both.
Dressed in their leathers and bearing their weaponry, eight Warrows came riding into the Elven camp, Rynna and Tipperton in the lead, Dinly and Alver coming last. And as Tipperton rode past, Dylvana hailed him… and hailed Beau following after.
Her blue eyes sparkling, Dara Vail came and walked alongside Tip as he rode toward the central tent, where Coron Ruar was said to be. "I was glad to hear thee yet lived, Tipperton, thou and Beau."
"Beau and I have come through some scrapes since I rode scout with you on the way to Mineholt North, Lady Vail," said Tip. "Scrapes: ah but what a gentle name for those dire dealings; nevertheless, they seemed to seek us out, as I imagine they did you."
"Aye. The Spaunen in Crestan Pass were stubborn, yet we prevailed in the end." Vail looked across at Rynna. "Is this-?"
"Oh, my pardon," blurted Tip. "Lady Vail, may I present Rynna Fenrush-er, that is, Rynna Fenrush Thistledown. Rynna, Lady Vail."
Vail's eyes widened, then she laughed merrily. "Oh but what splendid news."
Rynna smiled tentatively. "News?"
"That thou didst not die at the fall of Caer Lindor."
Rynna grinned widely. "Nay, lady, I did not." Then Ryn-na's smile vanished and she added, "Though many others did."
"Beau! Tipperton!" hailed a familiar voice.
Tip turned to see just as Beau exclaimed, "Melor!"
"Come sup with me this eve," called Melor, as he curry-combed his horse, "and tell me what all has befallen."
"I will," replied Beau, then he gestured toward Linnet. "We will, and that's a promise."
Beau turned to Linnet. "A splendid healer. He taught me much."
Tip waved at Melor, turning to Vail as she said, "I wouldst that thou rejoin the scouts, Tipperton, for we need all to aid."
"Rynna is our leader," replied Tip. "But if she has no other plans for me, and if Lord Eilor requests, then so shall it be."
Vail's face fell. "Alor Eilor was slain in Crestan Pass. I am now chief scout."
"Oh my," said Tipperton…
… and they fared the rest of the way to Coron Ruar's tent in silence.
Two days later the Baeron came riding to Eryn Ford-huge men on huge horses, massive wagons drawn in their wake-and alongside their company was a band of Lian from Arden Vale, come down from Crestan Pass at the summons of High King Blaine. In addition among the Baeron also rode Dara Riatha's company, all of whom had been on the northern wold nigh Landover Ford at the time of the calling.
Everywhere Tip and Beau turned, it seemed, they found another friend; many were the reunions of the buccen with sundry of these warriors. Old acquaintances were renewed, and new acquaintances made, as Rynna and Linnet and the others were introduced to these comrades of old… though as Alver said, "Whoo, my head is spinning with names."
Among the Lian were the twins Gildor and Vanidor, along with Talar, Riatha, Ruar, Alaria, Arandar, and lovely, dark-haired Elissan-who smiled at Tip and winked, the buccan blushing furiously in remembrance of a particular exposed bath. And among the Baeron they found Wag-onmaster Bwen and Braec and Durul, who now was chieftain, for Gara had been slain in the Grimwalls nigh Crestan Pass. And Bwen laughed hugely to see the buccen, and she called out, "Thuas seasim me agus sios cnag me, Beau, Tip, hum!"
And so many of the reunions were bittersweet, for Tip and Beau learned of folk who had fallen in the war, folk they had come to cherish, folk they held in their hearts.
Yet there was little time to mourn and no time to celebrate, for on the morrow they would begin the march from Eryn Ford to Caer Pendwyr.
Dawn came to shadows slipping away after saying goodbye to the Warrows. Fires were quenched as Elven and Baeron and Waerlinga warriors broke camp. Horses and ponies were saddled, pack animals laden with goods, dray horses hitched to wagons, as all was made ready for the trek unto Pellar.