Chapter 19

The waggons trundled slowly across the miles as the sun climbed into the winter sky. Though their steeds had returned safely to camp in the company of Airi, Falco’s broken arm made the waggon a more attractive option than riding, at least while the caravan was headed in the general direction of home. To keep him company the other Elflings rode along in the waggon with him.
      South they went through Enediad and then east across Malindor. As the days dragged on, the Elflings passed much of the time recounting parts of their eight-month adventure. They found that many of the events which had transpired during that period were now more easily explained, or at least seemed to make more sense, now that they had seen their quest through to its conclusion. And though they all would continue to mourn the loss of Fifin for years to come, they could at least now see that in some way even Fifin’s sacrifice had its part in the grand scheme that ended with the destruction of Silgoth. That at least made them feel a little better inside.
      They also could see that Entira was a safer place for its many inhabitants and that the attainment of that security had passed through quite a number of contingencies both seen and unseen. For any of those to have come out unfavourably may indeed have resulted in a very different ending, though it was clear that even Raavan could not have predicted any of those outcomes with certainty.
      ‘There is one thing that I should still like to know,’ said Dannadar thoughtfully.
      ‘And what is that?’ asked Falco.
      ‘The Thread,’ replied Dannadar, ‘—is it still intact, so to speak, or did the destruction of Silgoth during the Unsundering render it powerless as Raavan had hoped?’
      ‘Who knows?’ said Falco. ‘Silgoth is dead. That’s all that matters for now. I suppose in a thousand years or so it will become obvious if another Deathlord arises to threaten the land, but in the meantime I think we can safely put the question to rest. I’m not counting on being around then anyway!’
      ‘That’s true,’ said Dannadar with a grin. ‘Just think of poor Raavan, though. He’s been through a number of these Great Wars. The poor fellow must be getting rather tired of them.’
      ‘He must indeed,’ agreed Talen. ‘Hey—do you remember what he said to Cirithren at the tower above the pass? About joining his master across the sea?’
      ‘Yes, now I do,’ said Falco. ‘He said he had one more task to perform before he could do that.’
      ‘He was obviously referring to Silgoth,’ said Talen. ‘Though I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I wonder now if he is planning to leave Entira to return to his homeland.’
      ‘I hope not,’ said Dannadar. ‘I will certainly miss the old chap if he goes.’
      ‘As will we all,’ said Falco.
       
       
      On the tenth day out from Tath they finally reached the eastern end of Malindor. Here the waggons bound for Pilinon would turn to head south while the others continued on for Penyandil and the lands beyond. Here the Elflings would part ways with all their friends headed toward the southern lands.
      Yet as they were breaking camp Alatar sought out the Elflings and asked if they would instead accompany him to Pencairn. Though he would not give them a reason for making the request, he indicated that it was a favour he was most keen to have from them and that should they agree he would personally escort them back to Laurelindor within days of their arrival at Pencairn.
      The Elflings were of course eager to return to their homes and families in Laurelindor, but they agreed to the man’s curious request, though they spent quite a bit of time speculating on his possible motives. A favoured theory involved the warrior-woman Karian from western Arenya. This was the woman with whom Alatar had often been observed walking in the gardens at Valassea, and now the pair were seen with notable frequency riding together at the head of the train. Yet the Elflings kept their speculations to themselves and accepted that they would just have to wait and see what would unfold when they arrived in Pencairn.
      Another nine days saw the caravan pass through Koronandor into Pilinon and then finally to the capital city of Pencairn. There Telurin was welcomed home by his people as a hero, for the young king had proven his worth many times over in battle and already was widely regarded as a promising leader. His chief general, Kelenir, had been badly wounded while battling a Dredgion, but it was expected that he would survive and possibly even return to military service, which pleased the king greatly.
      The companions were again given lodgings in the Palurinan for the duration of their stay, which they were told would not extend much over a week. They spent time with Prince Kiliimar, who having been left behind to see to Telurin’s domestic duties during the king’s absence was eager to hear all they could tell him of the war.
      They also spent some time with Raavan, Burak, and Valainis, though much of that time was spent simply relaxing together in the comfortable common rooms of the Palurinan. Rarely did they discuss anything of even remote importance, and much of the time they did not speak at all, for they still were as drained mentally as physically by their recently completed quest. The quiet days were passed in comfort, often gazing through the wide windows that looked out to sea. They watched the waves wash incessantly toward the shore as they had done for millennia and would continue to do long after the companions all had passed out of this world. Slowly they regained some measure of that peace-of-mind which somehow allows a person to live sanely in a world that the truly wise know is anything but sane.
      After a week had passed the announcement was made throughout the kingdom of Pilinon that King Telurin was to take an Elven bride as his queen, and that they would be married in just three days’ time. The bride was none other than King Caelebrin’s daughter, Princess Laurealas, whom the Elflings had seen in the company of Telurin at Valassea. This was of course a very happy development.
      Yet there was more to come, for on the following day it was additionally announced that King Alatar of Aresse would be married during that same ceremony to the lady Karian. This was of course exactly what the Elfling had suspected and they liberally congratulated themselves on their cleverness.
      Finally the day of the twin weddings arrived. The companions all would be participating in the royal ceremony as best men to the kings. The brides were of course stunningly beautiful and the grooms strikingly handsome, and all in attendance were filled with joy at the happy affair.
      The wedding was followed by a day of celebration, during which there were games and other entertainment, and also much feasting and drinking. It was during the extended dinner that evening that Talen approached Raavan with a question that had been gnawing at his mind for some days now.
      ‘What do you plan to do now, Raavan?’ asked the Elfling.
      ‘Well,’ said the wizard thoughtfully, ‘after I finish this pudding I plan to go back for some more of that tender ham.’
      ‘You know what he means,’ scolded Dannadar. ‘What are your plans for the future?’
      ‘Well, if you’re about to propose another adventure, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pass,’ replied the wizard.
      ‘Then you don’t have any plans for sailing away to join your old master overseas?’ asked Dannadar.
      ‘O, that’ said the wizard. ‘Yes, I have been turning that over in my mind a lot lately.’
      ‘And?’ said Falco anxiously.
      ‘I think I will stick around here a bit longer,’ replied the wizard. ‘There are many changes now taking place and the younger generations will perhaps require some guidance from those of us who have been around longer than a spring chicken. Also, I have some odds and ends to finish up.’
      ‘Good choice,’ said Dannadar approvingly.
      ‘My dear Elfling,’ said the wizard with the greatest sincerity, ‘I am so pleased that my plans meet with your approval. I had so feared that in the greatness of your wisdom you would find some fault in them.’
      ‘Well, I haven’t so far, but I will let you know if I do,’ said Dannadar.
      ‘I am eternally grateful,’ said Raavan.
      ‘You’re quite welcome,’ replied the Elfling.
       
       
      At long last the day came for the Elflings to depart for home. They already had said their good-byes to Valainis the day before when he sailed out on a ship bound for Avalesse. Now they rode out with Alatar and his new bride, and Raavan and Burak as well. Toward the north-east they rode, and they went at a very comfortable pace.
      On the fifth day out they halted to say good-bye to Burak as he turned south for the Belling Hills. The Elflings embraced the Dwarf, who seemed almost as teary eyed as they. He assured the Elflings that there was no need for sadness at this parting, for he planned to visit them quite often in Laurelindor. He stipulated, however, that he would do so only if they agreed to perform for him The Little Men of Brechinairn whenever he did visit. To this they gladly agreed.
      After another round of handshakes they once again were on their way. Soon they were riding across the wide grasslands of Aresse where the harriers and the kestrels were hard at work keeping the rodent populations in check. Airi of course did his best to help out as they passed, though his efforts were not universally appreciated by the locals.
      The green grasses of Aresse were now brown again with winter, yet there was a feeling among the riders that spring might come early this year, an idea which was favoured by all. Yet even if it did not, still it was only a few short months away and none of them could justify spending their time being impatient. They had the rest of the winter to make their plans, and then there would be all summer to carry them out. There was no rush, no deadline, but only the delightfully measured current of life that began always at the present and wound ever onward.
      In under a week they had arrived at the southern margin of Laurelindor. Here they would part company, but only for a while, for their paths would surely cross again. This they knew, and from this they took comfort.
      When they had said their good-byes and were ready to part ways for a time Raavan turned back and asked: ‘Did you indeed find it, my friends?’
      ‘Find what?’ asked Talen.
      ‘High adventure, of course,’ supplied the wizard.
      ‘We surely did,’ they replied with a laugh. Then Talen added, ‘And I’m sure we will again.’
      ‘Not too soon, though, I hope’ said the wizard.
      ‘Of course,’ replied Talen with a smile. ‘Indeed, not for a very long time, I should think.’
      ‘O, obviously!’ agreed Dannadar with characteristic enthusiasm. ‘I mean, not for several weeks at least!’