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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA3rjTNYJqBm
401Please respect copyright.PENANA83l8QEiR0h
Ebin was silent. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA5oSj7O0OEX
401Please respect copyright.PENANAwkJhCEv8MI
"Should I...open the letter?" asked Merwin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAgn1EssxI0P
401Please respect copyright.PENANAblKVZVLtTj
"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, 401Please respect copyright.PENANAZPtzVaWG0L
401Please respect copyright.PENANA6Esn0kX0Nu
Tula dapa rime, 401Please respect copyright.PENANA35uVzvXscz
401Please respect copyright.PENANA3cfUFsC6hF
Nage charyu le, 401Please respect copyright.PENANAgXnECPqIdF
401Please respect copyright.PENANA1EIl7DFQsH
Goho le ekole." 401Please respect copyright.PENANALl8z6vlpL9
401Please respect copyright.PENANAsyr0L9XrUa
401Please respect copyright.PENANAtI7uOD4eE8
401Please respect copyright.PENANAsQsnrCLEXx
401Please respect copyright.PENANABmrpWlJJkm
Ebin read them aloud. The pitter-patter of the rain could be heard beating against the windows.401Please respect copyright.PENANAr4LgG42HSq
401Please respect copyright.PENANAjbCmLlLQ09
"Where the red forest lies, there lies the mother bearing the child. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAC2JDFWfhSr
401Please respect copyright.PENANATKIiwFG7n1
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?"401Please respect copyright.PENANA5EnHuLoCdP
401Please respect copyright.PENANAmGSE6dc4Ht
401Please respect copyright.PENANAGLiqWCavth
401Please respect copyright.PENANAA31wAVB751
401Please respect copyright.PENANA608NpU7aJa
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.401Please respect copyright.PENANAnfpLAPv2hD
401Please respect copyright.PENANAtr3CemezwQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANA5jKu3kqFIb
401Please respect copyright.PENANAujvE3a2app
401Please respect copyright.PENANAF1rKfn65sb
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA8z72r9UQNR
401Please respect copyright.PENANAD0XgRlUJs2
"Moruin! You scared us!" exclaimed Merwin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANArjpA5LCmgP
401Please respect copyright.PENANAr16SB3CgmJ
"Why? What happened?" demanded Moruin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAw3eTqEsiQV
401Please respect copyright.PENANAS76NfXOA8w
401Please respect copyright.PENANAwR5u7YMVjA
401Please respect copyright.PENANA3mY72mVXgZ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAX7li4a0tOQ
***401Please respect copyright.PENANAm0vG1ZQiVs
401Please respect copyright.PENANA5atcJzT3j3
401Please respect copyright.PENANAZb7xHajrAc
401Please respect copyright.PENANAbwKDAPoOdj
401Please respect copyright.PENANA92qntqLmto
Later, Moruin had dried himself and all were sitting at the table. Across him sat Ebin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAvH12Jf9YdL
401Please respect copyright.PENANA6nVvtjd0Oc
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAnGL0T0crSx
401Please respect copyright.PENANAh6alXDPipz
401Please respect copyright.PENANAZJBhEGGuOQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAUmyt8CaMwT
401Please respect copyright.PENANA7LTRXCgTIM
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA9vuIFv5r1t
401Please respect copyright.PENANAUOc6Ado1OD
401Please respect copyright.PENANAhH8yx3fqEq
401Please respect copyright.PENANAy2sXyGZZKg
401Please respect copyright.PENANAP2Y9PbqmFP
"More of the same language." muttered Merwin. "What does it this read?" 401Please respect copyright.PENANAoHw76BdO7z
401Please respect copyright.PENANAiGKKgkkasd
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANASatNu752PE
401Please respect copyright.PENANADEuzKVDuoy
"This is written fresh. 'Find it before it's too late. Before it's hidden for ever!' " 401Please respect copyright.PENANAJzI9EPrqpZ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAwotuUFVqYy
"What is hidden there?" asked Moruin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAqzNHoA1PQW
401Please respect copyright.PENANAe78nZSmcke
"Well, if I had known I wouldn't have been wasting time trying to figure out the riddle." replied Ebin.401Please respect copyright.PENANAE7GW04q2Um
401Please respect copyright.PENANAuQIHoPz8n7
401Please respect copyright.PENANA1NfxzSd5Yv
401Please respect copyright.PENANAAh2CfNvbtt
401Please respect copyright.PENANA6BpgkbS27D
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAwP5h9QkgLC
401Please respect copyright.PENANA3QQ9b7jS2S
401Please respect copyright.PENANASvu51vpkHX
401Please respect copyright.PENANAHgQbsJKIQn
401Please respect copyright.PENANATbtQ4AAAFf
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAxrwCQUefLn
401Please respect copyright.PENANAHRQLVeByoM
401Please respect copyright.PENANAY7s1GhPgef
401Please respect copyright.PENANAYqZDP0p7R1
401Please respect copyright.PENANAmhybQtc0CV
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA7ifAFJww4O
401Please respect copyright.PENANAGZJincSrpv
401Please respect copyright.PENANAA2V00rAb2R
401Please respect copyright.PENANAiOzG104fGs
401Please respect copyright.PENANAOJ11VB4WMT
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAOs8F8KB8TO
401Please respect copyright.PENANA8LexpDiyyv
401Please respect copyright.PENANAquNhOa0tRV
401Please respect copyright.PENANANhqeYJ8x1P
401Please respect copyright.PENANAOaElc9SSZU
Then, something hit the man. "Aaaaaaaaah-" the man screamed and he fell down, away from Merwin. The sword flew out of his hands. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAydjGT3ByZB
401Please respect copyright.PENANAvQA7Szl7b4
401Please respect copyright.PENANAS5X2e7CzjP
401Please respect copyright.PENANASxbsGrJZIQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAKefToAMMSK
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6LvpAYhZ6
401Please respect copyright.PENANA7WCkOSkBVl
401Please respect copyright.PENANAS5AG2NlB5W
401Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ei4jAv3QD
401Please respect copyright.PENANAnkJ84tMFvq
Merwin got back into his house. He closed the door behind him. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAWV5epaASPg
401Please respect copyright.PENANAdvJjyXIam3
401Please respect copyright.PENANA8QEesawkfR
401Please respect copyright.PENANA9d90uTmwvA
401Please respect copyright.PENANALvZ8zQ9le5
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA1Zc9DKHeM6
401Please respect copyright.PENANA5snuJHFwjN
401Please respect copyright.PENANADTzIVGDaig
401Please respect copyright.PENANAGAvjWK8z1l
401Please respect copyright.PENANAe1mtCnyjHG
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANABBCZYPUVmp
401Please respect copyright.PENANAPvUklEg6yC
401Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ5CJw1s1I
401Please respect copyright.PENANATqvEzdaIlS
401Please respect copyright.PENANAbTjVp0NtQH
"But, where are we going?" asked Moruin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAuzoRNDtz7P
401Please respect copyright.PENANAFCYkwydaAK
"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."401Please respect copyright.PENANA3dSj5IQLnq
401Please respect copyright.PENANAxrdLUbuzYo
401Please respect copyright.PENANA26prQcTM6S
401Please respect copyright.PENANASf6jaGoaTc
401Please respect copyright.PENANAVLdi78QS4e
***401Please respect copyright.PENANAm7VFMb25cY
401Please respect copyright.PENANAXao016aIyY
401Please respect copyright.PENANATw49sI776A
401Please respect copyright.PENANA2xAdQ3713O
401Please respect copyright.PENANAE2nUJNlxqO
The clouds had moved. The moon grew paler as the sun's rays started to lighten up the sky. It was barely dawn.401Please respect copyright.PENANAfjN4muKi9q
401Please respect copyright.PENANABM29nDFFD7
401Please respect copyright.PENANAFr2f4TlDb0
401Please respect copyright.PENANAR5uoc6vnJu
401Please respect copyright.PENANAoIBRggvYw5
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAkUvx1ECRIV
401Please respect copyright.PENANAYkMQILejS6
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANADjJ9C1ZGdx
401Please respect copyright.PENANACbR8pNPz31
He examined the cloak. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAjA5LkB7m7O
401Please respect copyright.PENANA24B0OeaJrb
"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." 401Please respect copyright.PENANAp2ZpdGVI3y
401Please respect copyright.PENANAVuSopEZW39
"Well, that explains why I couldn't do anything to him last night." said Merwin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAHsMvvhpyZU
401Please respect copyright.PENANAEgqxbCw4eJ
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAsqYgH4Qvgr
401Please respect copyright.PENANAu1ihvNyLgX
"What are you carrying in three bags? " asked Ebin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAS4dXrwPyRO
401Please respect copyright.PENANAa4iMDlZUvK
"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.401Please respect copyright.PENANAT2dd3TB3UA
401Please respect copyright.PENANArX0Es5l9xM
"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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9nouXdWMS
401Please respect copyright.PENANAWk9ITxhc1P
"I worked so hard carrying them here and you say I need to drop them?" Moruin asked. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAOEtGpKQD7F
401Please respect copyright.PENANAkppRxE1Hel
"You can keep them at my house" offered Merwin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANATVDhr2WXwm
401Please respect copyright.PENANAxAeSlPjteZ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAYjrCVRjA6K
401Please respect copyright.PENANAmdk3v4NCWE
401Please respect copyright.PENANADXWAyPAbgT
After keeping only the essential stuff, Moruin joined Ebin and Merwin. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA7eI8fkXuJH
401Please respect copyright.PENANAQcrDVA27zM
401Please respect copyright.PENANAUHqU43SW6S
401Please respect copyright.PENANAQtsZ2EDMKQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAPEldpBQcZC
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. 401Please respect copyright.PENANAQRILSPTaN2
401Please respect copyright.PENANAhVQSFkriVA
The trio set out on their adventure which would take them to many places of the world. 401Please respect copyright.PENANA0XACzmHkeR
401Please respect copyright.PENANAykPStQSrnD
401Please respect copyright.PENANARjH6RSpFLl
401Please respect copyright.PENANAdY08DhE2Ar
401Please respect copyright.PENANAHPXWWhLYVC
401Please respect copyright.PENANAeqpe5vKJs0
401Please respect copyright.PENANAUAHyrn8Doq
401Please respect copyright.PENANA6AJhCKZIID
401Please respect copyright.PENANAJL7t5xRPfA
401Please respect copyright.PENANALP0SNfjpTm
401Please respect copyright.PENANAkWkKMINKYD
401Please respect copyright.PENANA6PWoUGSj0N
401Please respect copyright.PENANAmfzoxpyLtp
401Please respect copyright.PENANANm172yBOvQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAO23o1bagJY
401Please respect copyright.PENANACVrZFKXSHi
401Please respect copyright.PENANAs75ichPzqk
401Please respect copyright.PENANAjVneR20wUB
401Please respect copyright.PENANAG0OncTApWQ
401Please respect copyright.PENANAJMxruYC51w
401Please respect copyright.PENANAQWo9zNnvAC
401Please respect copyright.PENANAWdk0x4Kco6
401Please respect copyright.PENANAbY9BtYvU85
401Please respect copyright.PENANA1WOMOIctsK
401Please respect copyright.PENANAQraZxTtaV6
401Please respect copyright.PENANAaR5MqrAp0r
401Please respect copyright.PENANAFAJg9oJG03
401Please respect copyright.PENANAtnU8wMDOBi
401Please respect copyright.PENANAyTHRMg0tpk
401Please respect copyright.PENANALaYnKyHmv1
401Please respect copyright.PENANAAPyOC84EWt
401Please respect copyright.PENANAuM6yEAEvS3
401Please respect copyright.PENANAgtmOm3FKIG
401Please respect copyright.PENANAvMx38lM1aj