An there we ‘ave it! All our plans come ter naught. Them got Henepa last night, took her from her bed and were away without a sound. Her Elf knife be on the floor, with blood on it. She would have given ‘em a fight if she could. Them happen ter get me brother, Gaisarix, as well, and again. He be caught twice now.
So what ter do?
Tolbold be beside himself with anger. “I knew we had ter go; I knew we had ter go,” he keeps saying.
Well too late fer knowin’ anything now. What do we do?
We let it be known ter the village. Most couldn’t believe someone would take our Henepa. What sort of person takes a Tavern Keep? What sort takes a Lass? But them all, even the Chief’s Bounders, say them be on the lookout fer bad sorts.
Me brother be another matter. He asks fer trouble an that. Well not really ‘asks’, but he likes ter help folk. So we do think he maybe heard a sound an tried ter rescue Henepa an got himself caught? If he be given’ chase he would 'ave woken others. But then he be the only one who lived in The Crooked Elbow, save Miss Hazil and Miss Lithea. Now she be a help this morning. She help our Hazil sort First an Second breakfast, fer the customers, an then some. She have a goodly stew cookin' now, and loaves a-baking. An what’s more, she tell Tolbold ter ‘get a grip’. She say ter him "Get a grip there, Tolbold. Yer need ter use yer head not just whine.”
I know Miss Lithea from days back in Glenwood. Ha! We be needing more like her.
Folks be a looking fer Henepa an me brother. Them other Bounders have questions about what Guy were doin' in the Tavern, right enough. He supposed ter be lost. No news, an no sign o’ news. It be really bad, an no mistake.
