“I hope you did not forget to bring me some cakes, to comfort me for waiting for my dinner till I am half starved."
“I forgot it, indeed, Sogadan,” Parnard said in a low voice. The pallor of his face, and its somber expression, made Sogadan curious. The private talk with the Lady Danel had affected him, and with an eagerness to learn what oppressed Parnard, he poured out a generous glass of wine, and pushing it across the marble-topped table, said kindly, “I perceive that the visit from the lady has caused apprehensions. Perhaps you have learned news beyond even your worst fears?”
Parnard sighed and expressed the deepest regret at not having come forward and spoken more firmly on the subject to Lord Vorongwe sooner. “Nay, nothing we have not heard already, friend Sogadan. My brethren should leave the wicked Men be. After all, did not the sage say, 'Do not associate to thyself the wicked Man, nor visit him for conversation...lest a terror carry thee off'?"
Sogadan looked up at Parnard, wide-eyed. “I have most certainly never heard this terrible saying – it makes my blood run cold! Perhaps your brethren were thinking instead of another saying: 'When the iron is hot, strike.'”
Parnard rolled wine around on his tongue before replying. “And yet there is another old saying, ‘It is a dirty bird that fouleth its own nest.'" He fell silent.
“Oh dear!” said Sogadan petulantly. “Why do you sit there stupidly staring? Talk and amuse me, and tell me something besides musty old proverbs.”
“If only I had amusement to share - alas! Deprived of any real duty, Sogadan, with only trifling matters to attend, I have naught to do, and it is dulling my brains. Some plan for the House must be formed without delay, and instant steps taken to ascertain the justice of the many rumours we have heard, and determine what is real, and what is false.”
“Oh, to be sure,” answered Sogadan complaisantly, raising the bottle to his eye to peer inside.
“I have conquered my sorrow for our fallen Lord,” Parnard announced, not seeming to notice Sogadan’s apparent lack of interest, “and will now properly attend to his memory by seeing to the welfare of those whom he loved most, and, by the most gracious assistance of the Lady Danel, I will endeavor to perform my duty, and do what is in my power to avert the threatening evil, and find proof of the difficulties and embarrassments of the House, which may not perhaps be so serious as we apprehend, but all shall be found out by myself. Instead of yielding to weak fears, I swear to venture forth to learn the truth of these stories, and, if I can, persuade those who follow the Lord Veryacano to return to the Valley, and give up this hopeless pursuit of the evil Hill-Men. Somehow, I must banish these delusive hopes from Lord Veryacano’s imagination, else his travails end by some greater misery.”
“Well, no one likes to lose his money, but we are all subject to troubles in life, and I am no exception. I have not the least doubt you will make good with your promise, and will soon return to the Valley with your brethren.”
Parnard thanked Sogadan by smiling upon him and squeezing his hand, and said with great simplicity of manner that he scarcely dared to hope or expect to return to the Valley, and although he would miss Sogadan severely, it was a necessary task that he must immediately undertake; even though there was not so much hospitality nor goodness in the world as there was when he was young, for times have changed, and not for the better; however, no matter how unreliable and changeable the world, Sogadan never failed to do his part therein, and always made him feel welcome, and entertained him like a lord, serving him the best wines, which Parnard would never forget, and it was his great hope to return to him, one day, with another tale or two to tell him! And, after many similar proclamations, innumerable toasts, and wine-fumed professions of undying friendship, Parnard found his head too full of Sogadan’s best to speak intelligently on any subject. He rose from his chair, and steadied himself with one last hasty embrace of the Vintner, declaring in melancholy slurs, “Some day you and I will go out into the world together.” Sogadan looked horrified at this suggestion, but managed a tight-lipped smile. Contenting himself with this, Parnard left the Hall of Fire.
A gloomy and morose silence descended around the Vintner; except for Parnard, Sogadan had few late-night visitors to keep him company. Once again, thought he, has the unpolished wood-elf entangled himself in a dangerous maze running after high company, and would, no doubt, regret his involvement.
