There was heavy breathing. Merwin was tired from running. He stood before the table. Ebin peered over his shoulder. There lay the brown envelope. Sealed with wax.
"I...I saw something. A shadow. That darted across the room. "
The room was brightly lit now.
"I don't know what it wanted. But as soon as I came in, it vanished." said Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA8hHjrVnjBM
393Please respect copyright.PENANA12mjnvg06z
Ebin was silent. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAd1yzu6OLbN
393Please respect copyright.PENANAqX1nKUCFj7
"Should I...open the letter?" asked Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA3M2lNdSWDx
393Please respect copyright.PENANAAeVu2HkzV7
"The letter was meant for you. You were supposed to open it. I am as curious as you are to know what's inside."
Merwin reached out. He removed the seal. The paper felt crisp. He slid his hand into the envelope. He pulled out a brown piece of paper. It was old. It was soiled. It seemed like it was torn out of a book. There was an expression of surprise on their faces.
Merwin carefully unfolded the paper. There was some strange runes on it. Merwin was thoroughly confused by now.
"What do these runes read?" asked Merwin.
"Kahin ali one pome, 393Please respect copyright.PENANAkz5l4vw90t
393Please respect copyright.PENANALYsLVocDed
Tula dapa rime, 393Please respect copyright.PENANAdNCrDFdate
393Please respect copyright.PENANAX3n4qTZmJ9
Nage charyu le, 393Please respect copyright.PENANAH6tfOsCehT
393Please respect copyright.PENANAUmtRVrphr2
Goho le ekole." 393Please respect copyright.PENANAdZwAWpXt9p
393Please respect copyright.PENANA2MpksHmooD
393Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2hv785UtZ
393Please respect copyright.PENANA7MlGmKQQhT
393Please respect copyright.PENANA7NGELH0CXi
Ebin read them aloud. The pitter-patter of the rain could be heard beating against the windows.393Please respect copyright.PENANAhW48it4pi3
393Please respect copyright.PENANANIPOXmtA1h
"Where the red forest lies, there lies the mother bearing the child. 393Please respect copyright.PENANApmRBj5o4H4
393Please respect copyright.PENANA87ryXsczN0
This is written in the old tounge of men of the Lesdail! This language has long lost its people. All that remains now is works by the people. This seems to be from an poem. I can't quite figure out what red forest means. It seems to be some kind of message. But to whom?"393Please respect copyright.PENANAiBvtgp6poX
393Please respect copyright.PENANA4gvmtXRqV9
393Please respect copyright.PENANALc23eAPnnf
393Please respect copyright.PENANAXj6B9J0frT
393Please respect copyright.PENANATgfSyQxLWU
The rain got heavier. A knock could be heard at the door. A soft one. No one responded. It got louder. They heard it. Merwin looked at Ebin. They were not sure who it could be. The knocks got louder. They both moved upstairs.393Please respect copyright.PENANAhjKkpsFUKs
393Please respect copyright.PENANA3kTxVj5nBM
393Please respect copyright.PENANAINU7BVUq9s
393Please respect copyright.PENANAu4eSYF9TqZ
393Please respect copyright.PENANA5IdgNn6XGj
Ebin opened the door. There was a small hooded figure. The rain had drenched it. Water was dripping from the hood. "Why don't you have the candles lit?" it asked. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAOMTloLhpnm
393Please respect copyright.PENANA8vgqSSDKYV
"Moruin! You scared us!" exclaimed Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA6iLbl1D9NU
393Please respect copyright.PENANAG5lGZ6Zwng
"Why? What happened?" demanded Moruin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA5CRk0x66k3
393Please respect copyright.PENANAUw7kxmygkP
393Please respect copyright.PENANARcEFOaBtac
393Please respect copyright.PENANAN7MkcyKBSE
393Please respect copyright.PENANAP47D82uD0q
***393Please respect copyright.PENANAmlRTJtOQ0u
393Please respect copyright.PENANAo5zGrggklr
393Please respect copyright.PENANAiFhs8fa3nE
393Please respect copyright.PENANAtTtpZ3K2so
393Please respect copyright.PENANA0AXOtib0vQ
Later, Moruin had dried himself and all were sitting at the table. Across him sat Ebin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAjwMErKk2Nl
393Please respect copyright.PENANA1GNM9c92T0
"So you received this mysterious letter and saw an shadow which disappeared on seeing you?" asked Moruin. Merwin nodded silently. "Well you are the village gaurd. You must be knowing what comes in and goes out." Merwin did not answer. Moruin took the envelope and started to examine it. As he turned it over, another piece of paper fell out on to the ground. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAVJ5bdK6hmZ
393Please respect copyright.PENANAyeAnU8TUpq
393Please respect copyright.PENANAR4ZjLp8upa
393Please respect copyright.PENANAxEfNNPIQbH
393Please respect copyright.PENANAx2ox94UGZf
This paper was as old as the first one. It seemed that they were both torn from the same book. Moruin picked it up. There were mountains, trees and rivers drawn on it. It was a map. Moruin laid it out on the table. The three of them bent over. Ebin held the lamp over it. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAKLsVyhbfB5
393Please respect copyright.PENANAAI3M4TxbPY
393Please respect copyright.PENANAAsoMCmOnSF
393Please respect copyright.PENANA14dQZxuHpH
393Please respect copyright.PENANA5qCEt6jWJ0
"More of the same language." muttered Merwin. "What does it this read?" 393Please respect copyright.PENANAyYXtKLPLds
393Please respect copyright.PENANAg1jHkSaftn
He pointed to a thicket of trees. "Ali tula - Red forest. Taru namu - The river of Blood. Seventh Septim, year 97. This is a map of the Blood Forest, made during the rule of King Tutain. Here is Dug Balum - Udabet. The land of Galas - The Dwarven home. Once was covered with blood shed in wars. Terrible tales from there.", he turned the paper over. More writings on the back. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAaxg4lHge94
393Please respect copyright.PENANAh1r5xTW9QH
"This is written fresh. 'Find it before it's too late. Before it's hidden for ever!' " 393Please respect copyright.PENANAfVhLd2UQ9m
393Please respect copyright.PENANAv9SQjqseLz
"What is hidden there?" asked Moruin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAftYX2AvHIY
393Please respect copyright.PENANAclf9io1kBi
"Well, if I had known I wouldn't have been wasting time trying to figure out the riddle." replied Ebin.393Please respect copyright.PENANAFOB9KH3pKm
393Please respect copyright.PENANAFLR8Lf0kOR
393Please respect copyright.PENANAWMm8IsPTHp
393Please respect copyright.PENANArEx9jdvkEt
393Please respect copyright.PENANAyaTAC06Wv3
The rain had ceased. The sky was still clouded. But the moon peered through the clouds and lit the ground. It was cold out. As the three sat silently, in deep thought about this mysterious letter and the task it gave them, there blew a wind through the window. It carried the sound of hooves with it. Merwin was first to notice it. He looked out through the window. He could see nothing. Only hear the horse steps. It seemed to be coming from the west. Then a rider on a horse appeared. He slowed down. He stopped in front of a distant house. He knocked on the door. Someone opened the door. The rider seemed to inquire something. The person pointed towards Merwin's house and hastily closed the door. As the rider turned towards Merwin's house, Merwin caught a glimpse of a sword, the metal shining in the moonlight. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAiy03O9G1yM
393Please respect copyright.PENANA1Mj1w1nd5f
393Please respect copyright.PENANADgrOr201eU
393Please respect copyright.PENANAkpbnS4CEMz
393Please respect copyright.PENANAoU3xtFQ0WV
The rider came closer. He became clear now. He had a cloak on. His face was scarred with a big scar on the left side of his face. He knocked on the door. Merwin looked uneasily at Ebin and Moruin. The knock got louder. He went upstairs. Ebin and Moruin followed him. Merwin took a sword and kept it beside the door, in the shadows. He opened the door. The figure stood menacingly above him. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAJX0P1lu9R1
393Please respect copyright.PENANA5o3czr6aJR
393Please respect copyright.PENANACcwzOkGuXi
393Please respect copyright.PENANAZUCDNMVQaf
393Please respect copyright.PENANAnp3Bsq4ZKn
"Prepare to die." he said. He quickly unsheathed his sword and swung it down on to Merwin. But Merwin was ready. He leapt out of the house and into the wet mud, with his sword in hand. The man took another swing. He wanted to sweep the head off, clean. But Merwin's height helped him. He ducked and the sword went woosh above his head. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA5ya5Ti0MAD
393Please respect copyright.PENANAWVSbHtm76O
393Please respect copyright.PENANA9cL0I3qaqU
393Please respect copyright.PENANAjPgbfMAM4F
393Please respect copyright.PENANAuCwaj3kL4U
The man screamed in anger. Merwin tried to hit the man's legs, to incapacitate him. The sword just grazed the man's legs. He was not hurt. He kicked Merwin. Merwin fell down. His sword slid from his hands. The man was on top of him. He saw the sword's tip pointed at his chest. The man raised his arms, ready to execute Merwin, with a sword right through his heart. Merwin was scared. 393Please respect copyright.PENANALCPQjrPQGs
393Please respect copyright.PENANAwXfUReqoiU
393Please respect copyright.PENANA02dojEDK1I
393Please respect copyright.PENANAV94QouAiRY
393Please respect copyright.PENANAtAuXK4HWlx
Then, something hit the man. "Aaaaaaaaah-" the man screamed and he fell down, away from Merwin. The sword flew out of his hands. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAOg7M01Fnff
393Please respect copyright.PENANAdPNogBVNWB
393Please respect copyright.PENANALYg8m1v5mY
393Please respect copyright.PENANACbuBYgFFXT
393Please respect copyright.PENANAxf46NlwT6Y
There was a moment of silence. Merwin got up. He saw Ebin had pointed his wand at the man and casted a spell. Moruin was behind Ebin. He was scared and amazed at the same time. The man lay dead. The spell had quite a powerful blast. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA3JBpKLKm1p
393Please respect copyright.PENANAC7V88gGNYM
393Please respect copyright.PENANAxYQxUIBYuI
393Please respect copyright.PENANAHhFNLz855R
393Please respect copyright.PENANA8lUmDjZmNO
Merwin got back into his house. He closed the door behind him. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAuvuAfF027O
393Please respect copyright.PENANAGuCIiZjz2o
393Please respect copyright.PENANA7Jo9iwp79n
393Please respect copyright.PENANAuM68UukSYw
393Please respect copyright.PENANAYcV8DrG7yV
"This place has become dangerous. The men are after you. We can't stay here anymore. We need to get out - fast!" said Ebin. Merwin and Moruin needed some time to calm down. Then, they were ready to listen. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAIfwSVBMfPv
393Please respect copyright.PENANAphuLvdcK2Q
393Please respect copyright.PENANAwfnUar1t2O
393Please respect copyright.PENANAhy7ZeYczL5
393Please respect copyright.PENANAqdIDNU9AsJ
"Get your things ready. We are leaving at the crack of dawn. Things have gotten awry. We don't have much time. More will be on the way." said Ebin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA7t1WNmIZLQ
393Please respect copyright.PENANAaoZUrXtTzY
393Please respect copyright.PENANAiwpmq7hWyR
393Please respect copyright.PENANAAz9QwkBbp3
393Please respect copyright.PENANAf3XixCTvxC
"But, where are we going?" asked Moruin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA6aZ9MVSyQI
393Please respect copyright.PENANADfkpgwLouS
"To Enshire. I hope to find some information there. Pack your belongings and get some sleep. I am afraid we won't have much time tomorrow."393Please respect copyright.PENANAbB0u54ZtK6
393Please respect copyright.PENANALf8ZG4OV6F
393Please respect copyright.PENANAWVhpO3xAnj
393Please respect copyright.PENANAsQmiGoMyzR
393Please respect copyright.PENANAwWJHAbTlqi
***393Please respect copyright.PENANAEMBekjb43c
393Please respect copyright.PENANAbNAwYt4Ryv
393Please respect copyright.PENANAmk77SeTHv5
393Please respect copyright.PENANAw4Mc5AQtIV
393Please respect copyright.PENANARFqOpthCe8
The clouds had moved. The moon grew paler as the sun's rays started to lighten up the sky. It was barely dawn.393Please respect copyright.PENANApzRGZoJeqq
393Please respect copyright.PENANAODcJzMd2Nk
393Please respect copyright.PENANA3qa4GjDxUK
393Please respect copyright.PENANA3NSq7Vv2lg
393Please respect copyright.PENANACh50FtrAYC
Merwin had packed a backpack full of stuff. Ebin stood over the dead body. He was inspecting it. Merwin walked upto Ebin. "Anything?" he asked. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAcVe51LMAh9
393Please respect copyright.PENANAxPP2bEXU9L
"Actually quite some things. He seems to be a bounty hunter. He has an assortment of weapons. Short sword, a dagger and some throwing knives. Judging from his face, he looks to be an man from the lands of Lesdail. May have been travelling and must have met someone who wanted you dead. I wonder how much were they willing to pay for your demise." replied Ebin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAMsIr0QPLjb
393Please respect copyright.PENANANRcGyTyaB6
He examined the cloak. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAEmdS6gp5dN
393Please respect copyright.PENANAkgH9XX4vIe
"Interesting. This cloak is made from a rare kind of silk. It is very tough. It takes a lot of strength to even slightly scratch the silk." 393Please respect copyright.PENANAYhOD4utp67
393Please respect copyright.PENANA1ho02ROOUJ
"Well, that explains why I couldn't do anything to him last night." said Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA1yn1IQSH9I
393Please respect copyright.PENANAbXJFqR7g91
Just then, Moruin appeared. He carried three bags with him, dragging them all the way. He came upto them and sat on the ground, exhausted. 393Please respect copyright.PENANARLek87nC9R
393Please respect copyright.PENANA1KRfX1XMeI
"What are you carrying in three bags? " asked Ebin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAn4RpcY3eCI
393Please respect copyright.PENANAWdF5cTAQV3
"One contains food and fire starters and pans, one has clothes and the last one has the remaining stuff like some lamps, tent stuff and such." replied Moruin.393Please respect copyright.PENANAGwd03WgIO6
393Please respect copyright.PENANAzfbCn4h37J
"We are not going on a picnic. This is serious business. I fear we will be travelling the entire day and won't find time for comfort. Besides we don't want to attract attention. I don't know what creatures lurk out in the middle of woods at night." said Ebin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA3hFIWmGUGc
393Please respect copyright.PENANAI26IbhaZPv
"I worked so hard carrying them here and you say I need to drop them?" Moruin asked. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAMBzjeGGTnd
393Please respect copyright.PENANAMrbYbd8N50
"You can keep them at my house" offered Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAFYRvPGZ8mN
393Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4enzzJRhk
393Please respect copyright.PENANAAiOvEZpj3C
393Please respect copyright.PENANAWLhGFufQEo
393Please respect copyright.PENANAvyXEHlNrdD
After keeping only the essential stuff, Moruin joined Ebin and Merwin. 393Please respect copyright.PENANA5v2zbafgoq
393Please respect copyright.PENANALs0ilcEHtf
393Please respect copyright.PENANAfnzkvaTEIg
393Please respect copyright.PENANAK6KRSTfhUh
393Please respect copyright.PENANAyoc27fi9pK
The sun had barely started to creep over the horizon. The sky was clear. The wind was cool. There was silence in the air. They started walking towards the path to Enshire. 393Please respect copyright.PENANAjjlcmHNdFC
393Please respect copyright.PENANABuBBDvxPbC
The trio set out on their adventure which would take them to many places of the world. 393Please respect copyright.PENANACMRZf5QhLy
393Please respect copyright.PENANA1DHZgLkTbu
393Please respect copyright.PENANAaId5ze0mrO
393Please respect copyright.PENANAv8kxbg2AvZ
393Please respect copyright.PENANARseaPje0TE
393Please respect copyright.PENANA86EWly3RaK
393Please respect copyright.PENANA3I1ACvL427
393Please respect copyright.PENANAmy4E6ep0KS
393Please respect copyright.PENANApWNGzOGjIG
393Please respect copyright.PENANAQidiqsWvdR
393Please respect copyright.PENANAdlZVzrddsa
393Please respect copyright.PENANAwSdTXyGr8k
393Please respect copyright.PENANAs8l7iu5iZh
393Please respect copyright.PENANA3pkigaDT2V
393Please respect copyright.PENANAbw9ecilkAN
393Please respect copyright.PENANAbix1JUXIy7
393Please respect copyright.PENANAS9HiKtDI2T
393Please respect copyright.PENANA0D6hsFAKss
393Please respect copyright.PENANAHcXMjbBSNU
393Please respect copyright.PENANArcLaU1sMyO
393Please respect copyright.PENANAoqMQtidPN9
393Please respect copyright.PENANAr9mpzlCtzo
393Please respect copyright.PENANA10qFgqeK4N
393Please respect copyright.PENANAVD6t4AkF1X
393Please respect copyright.PENANAkziGUguGUx
393Please respect copyright.PENANAendQpyUSno
393Please respect copyright.PENANAvMjEdZ0zRq
393Please respect copyright.PENANAde5Wk1tHPh
393Please respect copyright.PENANAe48K3WY2FO
393Please respect copyright.PENANAftHW6kLMwM
393Please respect copyright.PENANAHHgu9SC39K
393Please respect copyright.PENANAjV0ACyPdgv
393Please respect copyright.PENANANy4Wrraczx
393Please respect copyright.PENANAzmxAB5zFTS