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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAVp0FuzTDEA
397Please respect copyright.PENANA0sub716ieU
Ebin was silent. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAtGA05SvxGR
397Please respect copyright.PENANAUOD3YcDPZ5
"Should I...open the letter?" asked Merwin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAfDYG5bvq5L
397Please respect copyright.PENANASxTgjBsTtj
"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, 397Please respect copyright.PENANACNe7LmqgsD
397Please respect copyright.PENANAIbXxfzg3Gt
Tula dapa rime, 397Please respect copyright.PENANAtE0VURNnA7
397Please respect copyright.PENANA1Yym0hBJJe
Nage charyu le, 397Please respect copyright.PENANA1HSwnNp7bX
397Please respect copyright.PENANA0xf5kb5ig7
Goho le ekole." 397Please respect copyright.PENANAqNQpRbQv4h
397Please respect copyright.PENANAPBLaUGnslZ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAGwUVG7rTP9
397Please respect copyright.PENANAogRwKgeBpZ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAPbeldVSPes
Ebin read them aloud. The pitter-patter of the rain could be heard beating against the windows.397Please respect copyright.PENANAgaQCs8989n
397Please respect copyright.PENANAmjSwkoNLDO
"Where the red forest lies, there lies the mother bearing the child. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAzr0tfQWweB
397Please respect copyright.PENANAG6VIYT3086
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?"397Please respect copyright.PENANANIc0UaLcfh
397Please respect copyright.PENANATp1zUtZ2FM
397Please respect copyright.PENANAK1uMTHYUMb
397Please respect copyright.PENANABwezptMXxv
397Please respect copyright.PENANAnto5k8trno
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.397Please respect copyright.PENANAcSYn9z4SpE
397Please respect copyright.PENANAz7TT2RYDC2
397Please respect copyright.PENANA5buzuZcFfU
397Please respect copyright.PENANAv6ZPR2PHpV
397Please respect copyright.PENANAfrcsvBNQNV
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAtQfz5MjE3k
397Please respect copyright.PENANABfOlI6E5Ns
"Moruin! You scared us!" exclaimed Merwin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAoGMnbFEEsl
397Please respect copyright.PENANA4tO01sTBXN
"Why? What happened?" demanded Moruin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANA8288jpxLQw
397Please respect copyright.PENANA52Lg9t2KM7
397Please respect copyright.PENANAQMJOIaltp7
397Please respect copyright.PENANATiy48R4pPJ
397Please respect copyright.PENANApFCXtOyXGL
***397Please respect copyright.PENANA6NvKutk6To
397Please respect copyright.PENANARniXxoehMW
397Please respect copyright.PENANAoW9ZJzbQqj
397Please respect copyright.PENANAR2zrrMPqWj
397Please respect copyright.PENANABq5m8qmKrr
Later, Moruin had dried himself and all were sitting at the table. Across him sat Ebin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANADIgAxQHhWa
397Please respect copyright.PENANAA1SKUgh8Zv
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANABGRRzkDUeo
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3AhfBMZNgY
397Please respect copyright.PENANAmY1EuJAqaQ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAkAdPhTSiWL
397Please respect copyright.PENANAuL5NeA75Yc
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAcsmdvEE2db
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxqPaJtgtr9
397Please respect copyright.PENANAcrQplxcTCr
397Please respect copyright.PENANALLbhTTh4qv
397Please respect copyright.PENANAZl2p9UdXh3
"More of the same language." muttered Merwin. "What does it this read?" 397Please respect copyright.PENANAwhbKsgGX2z
397Please respect copyright.PENANA1FNgUjMPI4
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAOYdZYXrKDz
397Please respect copyright.PENANApSxsI9kLUu
"This is written fresh. 'Find it before it's too late. Before it's hidden for ever!' " 397Please respect copyright.PENANAecF9H50NEZ
397Please respect copyright.PENANACkQpSs4MuD
"What is hidden there?" asked Moruin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAF9nUNCCcFM
397Please respect copyright.PENANA5FD9mIFC9h
"Well, if I had known I wouldn't have been wasting time trying to figure out the riddle." replied Ebin.397Please respect copyright.PENANA6P4zLN5mLh
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3eEKHvt0Ye
397Please respect copyright.PENANA7ml361vBrX
397Please respect copyright.PENANAELXqmTNvu4
397Please respect copyright.PENANA5efF1kZAJc
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAsi7BGYh99V
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxC4LyaGPwQ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxi1uDeN5YV
397Please respect copyright.PENANADsgOYw7T2h
397Please respect copyright.PENANAFgtydcpcFk
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAeJzm2r967k
397Please respect copyright.PENANA6EfKUIN5FA
397Please respect copyright.PENANAYj78R3PTnS
397Please respect copyright.PENANADFPopASz6S
397Please respect copyright.PENANAEZLFmUWkJQ
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAEUfLot97J2
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxRGDlkfMmX
397Please respect copyright.PENANAolqUgEjYri
397Please respect copyright.PENANA9V4wxvc4o9
397Please respect copyright.PENANAKm6tOE9U29
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANALATorDvtxL
397Please respect copyright.PENANAp3aTDFiwDV
397Please respect copyright.PENANAwaQUHttxGw
397Please respect copyright.PENANAwzAtbecUyO
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxSMD2OOWsk
Then, something hit the man. "Aaaaaaaaah-" the man screamed and he fell down, away from Merwin. The sword flew out of his hands. 397Please respect copyright.PENANA6kuX0Nvl7O
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxek1YuGWna
397Please respect copyright.PENANAEX1P6M7Vrk
397Please respect copyright.PENANABSJwVz8vUI
397Please respect copyright.PENANA7mV9CHDJD8
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAJFNclf8Bzr
397Please respect copyright.PENANAcbz6Gti6yG
397Please respect copyright.PENANAz7fEkDAopa
397Please respect copyright.PENANAgTmEeiHhOm
397Please respect copyright.PENANASm5eMRWHrv
Merwin got back into his house. He closed the door behind him. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAlhNzJ9bwDd
397Please respect copyright.PENANAKck4t9vHjZ
397Please respect copyright.PENANACw6zWZioQc
397Please respect copyright.PENANARHgjmko2Ll
397Please respect copyright.PENANAwVQ5m6cZmv
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAiflXnMnK99
397Please respect copyright.PENANA6tbQI1mr0C
397Please respect copyright.PENANAu8cAGH3B9q
397Please respect copyright.PENANAxpJ73eVWcw
397Please respect copyright.PENANAwqZ36bFR7T
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAlamJ9umfeJ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAdFqFad8wKs
397Please respect copyright.PENANAiEHpgpaLYL
397Please respect copyright.PENANAnrdt5SvR8n
397Please respect copyright.PENANA2aVKSvwcu7
"But, where are we going?" asked Moruin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAfsMActa4CC
397Please respect copyright.PENANA8HDTl0rRb9
"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."397Please respect copyright.PENANA5hGqGi64EM
397Please respect copyright.PENANAN1EezUdL7d
397Please respect copyright.PENANAeFi4dH5WTk
397Please respect copyright.PENANATtNwmrgPDN
397Please respect copyright.PENANAfxVoelMBb9
***397Please respect copyright.PENANAYSrpmEzQKN
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q2obDbU7S
397Please respect copyright.PENANArZhWH0CxjM
397Please respect copyright.PENANAk4XLQ1jtM8
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3df2FrLuaP
The clouds had moved. The moon grew paler as the sun's rays started to lighten up the sky. It was barely dawn.397Please respect copyright.PENANA7YNz8RDJuR
397Please respect copyright.PENANAIDmbbp53pp
397Please respect copyright.PENANAjb0ZLqGrbQ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAz5KzZyMY9e
397Please respect copyright.PENANAYiH0XXz5GN
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAytnpBCWBEm
397Please respect copyright.PENANAg0XUko17MF
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAPYxoHlqdtG
397Please respect copyright.PENANArOTl4bWUfB
He examined the cloak. 397Please respect copyright.PENANA5ErKc2i5tr
397Please respect copyright.PENANA10c05bvnFX
"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." 397Please respect copyright.PENANAUAyAzfhGpt
397Please respect copyright.PENANAKgtf5oPK3t
"Well, that explains why I couldn't do anything to him last night." said Merwin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAWI3AAeewuW
397Please respect copyright.PENANApgipeka4Ki
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAStXdpfLAce
397Please respect copyright.PENANAH0LdKC2jP7
"What are you carrying in three bags? " asked Ebin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAh3CvKILH8M
397Please respect copyright.PENANAAVN7W68CXX
"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.397Please respect copyright.PENANA2QktuX7jk1
397Please respect copyright.PENANAJWYhREihxF
"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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANA7C9yuQsihf
397Please respect copyright.PENANAYgqZYFulOn
"I worked so hard carrying them here and you say I need to drop them?" Moruin asked. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAYEYa7lbssW
397Please respect copyright.PENANAX42wTYQIUU
"You can keep them at my house" offered Merwin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAcJwyqpzAcV
397Please respect copyright.PENANASHOGvGVxRc
397Please respect copyright.PENANAr7IqX94ypM
397Please respect copyright.PENANAJt53bSuPfm
397Please respect copyright.PENANAmwWsLI9kIv
After keeping only the essential stuff, Moruin joined Ebin and Merwin. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAithuN3UCcs
397Please respect copyright.PENANAjXoH2IJvr9
397Please respect copyright.PENANAWyMORHAjQi
397Please respect copyright.PENANA8JeASqMK9O
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3QSeNjOZXK
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. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAFcVbwK1X2u
397Please respect copyright.PENANAcSRjBZhAap
The trio set out on their adventure which would take them to many places of the world. 397Please respect copyright.PENANAdxdDRqDUFo
397Please respect copyright.PENANARsF8XUDgzq
397Please respect copyright.PENANAAfDexr3QbH
397Please respect copyright.PENANAIJcdyo36QZ
397Please respect copyright.PENANAVH7HsMa1qm
397Please respect copyright.PENANANXu3qczM2S
397Please respect copyright.PENANAJyZVCsTRdN
397Please respect copyright.PENANARP25wGxQWj
397Please respect copyright.PENANAs79LHMOcHy
397Please respect copyright.PENANA4imHwK4nY7
397Please respect copyright.PENANAaDRMkoxQng
397Please respect copyright.PENANAAo6wlKq4nr
397Please respect copyright.PENANAbxUF4frFRz
397Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qu7TtKvtY
397Please respect copyright.PENANAvIo5Pu4MSd
397Please respect copyright.PENANAPnePkbfulx
397Please respect copyright.PENANAqszhbnJxAj
397Please respect copyright.PENANAbZXbCGHup2
397Please respect copyright.PENANA9pmpAuip3p
397Please respect copyright.PENANATSjxS8t9fc
397Please respect copyright.PENANAssV3YgzKdG
397Please respect copyright.PENANAOHvjMtJhPz
397Please respect copyright.PENANAXaP6oV2Ybx
397Please respect copyright.PENANA1Pf17yCGPp
397Please respect copyright.PENANAlKl2ASvdIq
397Please respect copyright.PENANAyUEY587geS
397Please respect copyright.PENANAcfdI2qvBNd
397Please respect copyright.PENANAUIb8qB1ONC
397Please respect copyright.PENANAO9etLPFAor
397Please respect copyright.PENANAgv1VNlr9B0
397Please respect copyright.PENANACz3iYWENsv
397Please respect copyright.PENANAUST0gzQkEj
397Please respect copyright.PENANAri5wO4ILAA
397Please respect copyright.PENANASD3lpsHE7j