[Child of the 7th Age]

"Hold tight to your bow, and keep your sword near at hand, for we may have need of these before this grim night has ended." The tall figure who rode in front hastily pulled his hood over his head, while the others in his party did the same. Anyone watching them from the nearby woods would have seen only the shadowy eyes of the lead rider; the stern look on his face, his features and form, were completely hidden from outside view. This was how he and the others preferred it.

"Come along now. Stop this idle chatter. No time for song or riddle or play." The rider at the head of the small column turned back to the others, urging them forward.

"Can we not rest, make camp for a short spell?" the youngest of the group implored, his body and head weakly sagging. Though all were strong and healthy, the ride had not been easy. They had ridden northward now for a full three days.

"No, impossible! After what happened earlier, you can not possibly suggest this. There is little safety for us in these lands. Indeed, rest is a luxury we can ill afford. We must and will defend our kin. This time I will not hesitate if any cross our path. We must reach the High Pass and cross over the mountain. It is our only hope in these troubled times."

"We should not have come!" came a stern voice from the solitary figure who rode in the back.

"Perhaps not," his companion responded. "But we could not leave without seeing the Edhellond . Too much of my heart is there." He did not add what the others were thinking: that the sight of the rocky promontory and the long-deserted harbors had brought happiness to none of them. Too many ghosts were whistling in the wind, too many folk who had forgotten. What had been even more shocking is that there had been laughs and jeers of disbelief from some of those in town. And then, once they had made their way back along the river, the attackers had come. He had not been prepared. This time, Nilhil vowed, he would be the one to attack first and ask questions later. He owed it to the others, for they had put their trust in him.

"Remember now," he growled. If you see or hear anything, let me know. Believe and trust no one. Even a solitary traveller may only be the lead man in an entire armed company."

With that, the party of six riders, all tall in body and carrying arms of great value and beauty, stepped onto the path again , swiftly making their way northward.