Days passed by. Hellrien had made quite a speedy progress in her training of elite Gondorian arts. She had learned to understand the value of lightning fast movements and strikes that Ranesora taught her in his less than patient manner. Often she had to almost crawl back to Thorin's Hall Inn after a hard sparring match, but the next day she kept going as if nothing. She learned how important it was to remain in constant motion, not just dance around, but cover and close in. She learned the importance of remaining aggressive and audacious and keeping the initiative to herself. She learned how it was practically suicidal for a fighter to try and block the adversary. Instead she learned to displace herr opponent's blows with counter-strikes timed in the middle of their action. At first Hellrien thought it was impossible, but training and practice made it easy in time. Not like that, lower - if you want to live!
After she had returned to the stronghold after her apprenticeship under Burwod she had found the place all but abandoned with all the vanguards gone somewhere. She performed the tasks Burwod had instructed her with. She did inventory of their weapon stocks. Every day she saw members and prospects leave and return to the stronghold. Some were wounded, some exhausted, others never returned...
One day in early fall Hellrien and Burwod got summoned in the Great Hall. When she got the missive, she guessed what was awaiting.
Her first mission.
”You took your time, did you have problems with your horse?”, Ranesora asked dryly. Burwod had only just returned from a long mission somewhere far.
”It's not exactly a...” Burwod started to object, but Ranesora made an impatient gesture, indicating he was not really interested in hearing about it. He didn't ask them to sit down, so everyone remained standing.
”Do you think Hellrien is ready?”
”Of course, didn't you get my letter?” Burwod countered.
”I received nothing.” Ranesora shifted his weight from one leg to another and Hellrien more like felt than saw that he was a bit troubled about something.
”Hellrien, tell me everything you know about your father Geoffray”, Ranesora shot suddenly.
The question took Hellrien by surprise. ”Geoffray? What is there to tell that you don't already know? He's a commander of a shore garrison and a minor lord in Pelargir. He never acknowledged me as his daughter, so we were not exactly close. I was brought up as a servant's bastard daughter. Not really very privileged life, you see.”
Ranesora went over a large map of Gondor hanging from the wall and beckoned Hellrien and Burwod to come closer. He poked his index finger on the spot of the shore garrison and mansion which was Geoffray's dominion.
”Did your father dislike Dorvairse?”
”I really can't remember, I... Geoffray disliked a lot of people, especially those who were above him in rank. But he never said it to their face, he...”
”Do you remember any fights?”
”N-no... nothing like that comes to mind.”
Ranesora turned his back at the map, looking very disappointed at Hellrien, as if she had screwed up some vital sparring move yet again. ”Dorvairse has gone missing. For the past couple of months I, Jorgon, Theodvan and Korgaano have been in Gondor trying to find them, with no luck. There's no sign of him. We have three alternatives. Either he was captured by the Haradrim south of Pelargir - unlikely, but still a possibilty - or he's being held hostage by one of the lords in Pelargir, of whom Geoffray is our prime suspect. Or he's dead.”
Hellrien saw how Ranesora's blunt words struck Burwod like a knife to his heart, but Ranesora remained completely unemotional and indifferent by the impact his words had upon him.
”Missing?” Burwod said, stunned. ”My father is missing? Why didn't anyone tell me?”
”I'm telling you now”, Ranesora grunted. ”Korgaano even talked to his parents, but they have not seen Dorvairse since he left for Eriador years ago.”
”I... have grandparents?” Burwod stammered. ”But... I didn't know that. Why wouldn't he tell me that...”
”Yes, and they are alive and well and live in Gondor”, Ranesora said, making another impatient gesture to show he was not interested in anyone's family business. He glanced at Hellrien.
”Do you have any questions about this?”
”What would you have me do? If it's Geoffray, he won't tell me anything”, said Hellrien.
”That's right. I wouldn't expect him to. And I don't want you in Gondor. You're going to the Lone-Lands.”
”Lone-Lands?”
”You heard me the first time, so don't parrot me. Before he left to Gondor, Dorvairse hid three pieces of an ancient artifact in various places in Lone-Lands and Bree-land, instructing us to recover the artifacts in case anything happened to him while he was away. We believe they might shed some light into the issue around his disappearance.”
Ranesora purchased a map from the pocket of his cloak and gave it to Hellrien. ”This map tells that the location of the first piece is in a valley of trolls. Mountain and hill trolls. Wild at that. He hid the artifact in a location where it would be difficult to be retrieved. Once you find it, it will direct you to the location of another piece. The map is with it and will direct you north into Garth Agarwen. That half is located directly in the middle, which makes it very dangerous. With that piece you will uncover yet another map. It will lead you to the final location which is in Archet. However, the exact location of where it's buried is unknown to me. Retrieve the artifacts, all three pieces and bring them back here. Under no circumstance do not allow them to be taken or stolen. Do you understand what I'm asking of you?”
”Yes, sir.”
”You may well refuse.”
”I would like to try”, she said without hesitation and found herself shaking as she thought about the dangers that awaited her.
Ranesora still wouldn't smile.
”Good. Do not disappoint me. You have trained for this. I must pour cold water down your neck, Hellrien. You may claim one other of our order to assist you in your quest, in fact I must insist on it. Too much is at stake here, and I will not allow some tenderfoot to screw it all up out of inexperience.”
Hellrien thought about it. They had worked well with Burwod back when Hellrien had trained as his apprentice in Bree-land. ”I would glady have Burwod, if he wants to come.”
”Well all right”, said Ranesora. ”Unless you have more questions I expect you to start your mission at your earliest convenience.”
Hellrien put the map scroll in her pocket. The excitement was tingling in her ever stronger. Suddenly she felt strongly that this was exactly what she had been awaiting for for many years now.
Suspense... adventure... experiences!
She understood she required those three things, for her nature couldn't possibly adjust to a regular lifestyle. That's why she had escaped her safe but boring life as a housemaid in Archet, that's why she had kept wandering and looking for something - something that always eluded her, something far beyond the horizon. She smiled to herself. A strange creature in a strange land.
