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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAyxBgYvaRYe
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Ebin was silent. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAuDfeoPCuFx
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"Should I...open the letter?" asked Merwin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANALhEvD9MD9p
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"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, 396Please respect copyright.PENANAMrFzh2a497
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Tula dapa rime, 396Please respect copyright.PENANAQU2T5K8UWd
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Nage charyu le, 396Please respect copyright.PENANAYFkSlzErWN
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Goho le ekole." 396Please respect copyright.PENANABh7lXGbgHK
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Ebin read them aloud. The pitter-patter of the rain could be heard beating against the windows.396Please respect copyright.PENANAFLigT5tdyK
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"Where the red forest lies, there lies the mother bearing the child. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAQa8WDr2IRw
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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?"396Please respect copyright.PENANA0w1Hk2MXDj
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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.396Please respect copyright.PENANAVQw6WnauhD
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA54B60f8q8K
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"Moruin! You scared us!" exclaimed Merwin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA0Kne8euloe
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"Why? What happened?" demanded Moruin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAw9La0uhEjj
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Later, Moruin had dried himself and all were sitting at the table. Across him sat Ebin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAwHIpAmwgvn
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAIF3ziDyLJ4
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANABKZb57ZJn2
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"More of the same language." muttered Merwin. "What does it this read?" 396Please respect copyright.PENANAlLyP4qai6d
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAddLsaWgcrh
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"This is written fresh. 'Find it before it's too late. Before it's hidden for ever!' " 396Please respect copyright.PENANA4WAzvLNeWd
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"What is hidden there?" asked Moruin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAtpP3S4JW3j
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"Well, if I had known I wouldn't have been wasting time trying to figure out the riddle." replied Ebin.396Please respect copyright.PENANAf6Q4OMdNox
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANArwH2FXanwO
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAwPnCrwzoFN
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANADALajA6gWN
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAtxVn3RkYJO
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Then, something hit the man. "Aaaaaaaaah-" the man screamed and he fell down, away from Merwin. The sword flew out of his hands. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAyGk8NRtwdE
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAB3ZtLAycKs
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Merwin got back into his house. He closed the door behind him. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA9sBzcFGDBG
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANApyjmvNcxRX
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAyNRzEOkLEd
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"But, where are we going?" asked Moruin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAkH7dgAnQ8X
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"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."396Please respect copyright.PENANA6INfSGzs91
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The clouds had moved. The moon grew paler as the sun's rays started to lighten up the sky. It was barely dawn.396Please respect copyright.PENANAunQrrzDIAQ
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAr3kMtI4gJe
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAxUPgu6mxTa
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He examined the cloak. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAnEmGocn1D2
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"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." 396Please respect copyright.PENANADSOZUpXOhe
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"Well, that explains why I couldn't do anything to him last night." said Merwin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAVen74rUf6S
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA5V8syGZQwO
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"What are you carrying in three bags? " asked Ebin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAlQiW0tenZE
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"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.396Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3U9MGcuoW
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"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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANARXBwUfAham
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"I worked so hard carrying them here and you say I need to drop them?" Moruin asked. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA2qrJsOppqU
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"You can keep them at my house" offered Merwin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAjzsOzK8LaN
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After keeping only the essential stuff, Moruin joined Ebin and Merwin. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAZUIgVyWfwQ
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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. 396Please respect copyright.PENANAkvCuNhKJuv
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The trio set out on their adventure which would take them to many places of the world. 396Please respect copyright.PENANA4Yq8fxd6L9
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