[Child of the 7th Age]

Child remained on the ship at Mithadan's command, pacing back and forth. It had been a long time since the departure of her friends in the small pony cart. Nor was there any sign of Pio or Rose. Perhaps they had chosen to join up with the sightseeing party or to strike out on their own.

To be truthful, it was not Pio or Bird or Rose or Veritas who were at the center of Child's concerns. It was Kali who most tugged at her heart. The hobbrim had been fearful and disapproving upon merely seeing a sword strapped on the waist of one of the hobbits. She had questions about his ability to defend himself should the need arise.

Child sincerely hoped that Birdland was being careful and exercising discretion, but somehow she had doubt.

"Find them, Mith, find them," she pleaded inside her head. "Before they run into someone who is suspicious and wants to pry into our affairs."

"And Ulmo, he is your child. Please protect the hobbrim."

Child did not know what their next step would be, but, the more she studied this puzzle, the more certain she was that they were involved in something both wide and deep, something that went far beyond her own limited world and concerns.

It would not surprise Child in the slightest if she discovered that there were others about them who were keeping an eye on their activities. Certainly, the mysterious Elf fell in this category. But she wondered if there were others.