”Good”, Burwod said once everyone had gathered around the command table. ”Let's begin.”
”Burwod”, Theawynn started. ” We must march to Fornost.”
Burwod nodded. ”Indeed, Theawynn. But not blindly. We must gather as many men as we can, as well as provisions. Food. Weapons.”
Fidgit took a flask of something from his cloak pocket, maybe brandy, and took a nip.
”Fidgit, not here!” warned Alecost, another ally and a military leader who had joined the meeting.
”Alecost, are your men ready?” Burwod asked.
”As much as I would like to say yes, we are still mapping the area to stage our skirmish.”
”Good, because I will need you in Trestlebridge.”
”Noted, sir.”
”Hold on, Burwod!” Serathil interrupted. ”I don't think head on assault to Fornost is the right way to go about this. There might be another way in, though only a small fellowship can make their way through from there. The hills behind the highest tower... one of them reaches high enough to a crack in the wall. But I must admit... that it would lead straight in the midst of the enemy.”
A young, adolescent girl with mischievous, feisty flicker in her eyes wandered inside the room. Theawynn got up and took her hand, beginning to lead her out of the room. ”Sister, come with me, please.”
”What is it?” the girl pouted, annoyed because she was not allowed to stay and participate in the adult talk. Hellrien couldn't help but smile. ”How are we going to slay the wizard once we have found him?” she asked.
”Our goal is to rescue my parents”, Burwod said, ”not to slay the wizard because there's none here who can do it.”
Fidgit put something in his mouth and started munching, quite loudly. Serathil lost his temper and jumped up.
”Stop it, you halfling! Have you no respect?” Collecting himself, he addressed Burwod. ”We can't just march in there without a proper plan! You will get us all killed, your parents with the rest of us! We're playing straight to our enemy's hand!”
Burwod sighed. ”We don't have much options here. Ranesora and Jorgon are already there with their men. It will take us about a week to get there, give or take.”
”Listen, friends!” Serathil raised his hands. ”We are worrying about the sorcerer, when we might not even have to deal with him at all!”
”I don't”, Lythy said. ”I worry about Dorvairse and his wife.”
”Dorvairse's wife might be dead!” Serathil snapped. ”And Dorvairse...”
”We've got company”, Lythy interrupted, pointing at a large shield that seemed to be moving towards the table on it's own. At Lythy's words, the shield dropped down and the adolescent girl of about twelve stormed towards the table.
”Lythela!” Kerberrus snapped. Lythela stuck her tongue out at him.
”Lythela, you will respect the Marshal!” Theawynn yelled, entering the hall as well.
”Go to that room”, Kerberrus pointed. ”Now.”
”Now!” Theawynn echoed the First Marshal.
”Fine!” Lythela screeched as Kerberrus grabbed her by the arms and started dragging her towards the room she had come from.
Theawynn sighed. ”That was my sister, Lythhela”, she explained. ”She was supposed to be staying with my father, but stubborn as she is, she defied her. And myself. What's happening here so far?”
Lythela kept struggling, sending a kick at Kerberrus' feet in order to knock him down, but Kerberrus blocked it easily. Lythela scrambled out of Kerberrus' hold and stumbled, falling down on the floor. ”I have come to help, why can't anyone just accept that?” she yelled in frustration. Hellrien started to feel bad about the little lass - Lythela reminded her a bit of herself at that age.
”I pity the Marshal”, Lythy said, raising his eyebrows.
”He's used to it”, Theawynn sighed. ”Let us carry on.”
”Hold on”, Serathil said. ”What's eating your sister, Theawynn? She seems... frustrated.”
”It's a long story. She's a young one who wants to fight. But she's too young and untrained. It is father's decision, and mine. And it was the Marshal's task to keep her in Rohan until she comes of age.”
Suddenly Ranesora walked into the room. Silence fell upon the room over his sudden and unanticipated arrival.
”Ranesora!” Burwod exclaimed. ”Welcome back!”
”I have ill tidings”, Ranesora said, looking even more grim than usual. ”Jorgon and I have returned and we have much information. The sorcerer is indeed in Fornost. We located him in his lair. He has one thousand men, catapults, ballista and a large host of archers, pikemen and lancers. I was able to get inside, see their battle plans, the prisoners... everything. I helped some escaoe myself.”
”And my father?”
”Dorvairse? He's on his way back from Imladris, is he not?”
Burwod shook his head. ”According to Aaverie, my mother was ambushed on her way back to Rivendell. She may well be...” Burwod swallowed. ”Dead. And my father? He was captured looking for her.”
”When was this?” Ranesora questioned.
”Four days ago”, said Aaverie.
”I was there six days ago. So it's possible. If he's there, I know a way in. I used the sewers to get in the fortress. A small group of people can get in and handle the guards. Let's get on with it then. Get provisions and horses ready. Take all who's available and march. We know where Dorvairse is, so we can get him out too.”
Burwod nodded. ”Alright then. Let's get going, everyone has work to do before we depart.”
Everyone stood up and rushed to the atrium to collect their weapons. While there, Ranesora suddenly spoke in such a velvety voice Hellrien just had to stop what she was doing and turn to look. Others were doing the same.
”Burwod.”
Burwod turned around. ”What is it, Ranesora?”
Suddenly and very unexpectedly Ranesora shoved Burwod against the shelves. ”Where is your authority? Where is your clarity? Why do you act blindly? Do you realize that your father would have an army and provisions set up and ready now? And you call yourself a Númenorean? You are nothing but a child! You have no experience!”
Raneshora shoved Burwod again. Serathil chuckled, nervous and unsure what was happening. Hellrien winced as Ranesora carried on relentlessly: ”Your father is taken prisoner, and your mother, presumed dead? You are as hard and unfeeling as a stone! You show no emotion! And even now, there you stand, taking a beating from me like the weak boy in the yard everyone bullies. You weakling!”
Burwod stared coldly at Ranesora. Hellrien grimaced - it was getting serious. If Ranesora didn't quit soon, things would surely get bad. Aaverie stood closer to Ranesora, eyes brimming with contempt. ”You should learn to watch your mouth, old man. Burwod, with your permission...?”
Ranesora ignored Aaverie and everyone else in the room. He kept staring Burwod in the eyes and carried on relentlessly: ”You are a disgrace to your family. You lack all confidence...”
Lythela stepped forward and grabbed Ranesora's arm, trying to pull it behind him while simultaneously placing her leg behind his kneecap, trying to pull him down. Ranesora shook her off easily, paying no attention to the little lass. Kerberrus entered the hallway and saw what was happening. ”What's going on?” he demanded.
Ranesora ignored him too, shoving Burwod again. ”You are an ill fit to lead this Order...”
Kerberrus grabbed Ranesora's shoulder. ”Stop this at once!”
”You stand there in the corner like a sniveling coward...” Ranesora continued as if he and Burwod were the only ones present. Kerberrus pulled him backwards.
”Don't let my calmness mislead you”, Burwod said in a quiet, yet menacing, voice.
”Stop this at once!” Kerberrus commanded. ”Do you not realize Dorvairse is being held prisoner this very moment? Stop wasting all our times.”
”No”, said Ranesora. ”I am protesting that this man should be removed from the leadership. Dorvairse would have done so much better.”
”There's a time and place for everything”, Kerberrus argued.
”He is a disgrace!”
”Ranesora!” Kerberrus rumbled. ”You are threatening Dorvairse's son. In his house. You have no authority to do this, so step down and go back to your business.”
”If Dorvaise was here”, Ranesora carried on stubbornly, ”and Burwod the one being held captive we would be marching already, making plans on the way!”
”Then stop wasting time. People! Begin your preparations!”
”Ranesora...” Burwod's hand moved like a flashing lightning through the air, faster than eye could see. A fraction of a second later Ranesora was dangling in the air, gasping for breath as Burwod squeezed his throat. Kerberrus grabbed Burwod's hand and tried to pull it back, but Burwod stood there like a statue, not moving an inch.
”Drop him down!” Kerberrus shouted. ”Now!”
”You don't know what I'm going through”, Burwod said in a quiet, menacing voice, and squeezed harder. Ranesora's face was turning purple.
”Stop this madness, guys!” Hellrien protested.
”Let them fight, I say”, Lythy said. ”Bring them outside and let a duel settle their differences.”
Kerberrus hit Burwod's hand forcefully, making him drop Ranesora on the floor seconds before he lost consciousness. Ranesora groped at his throat, gasping and gagging for air on the floor, like a fish stranded on dry land.
”I am the leader of this Order now”, Burwod said. ”I am the one who gives orders, and you will obey me. We will march to Fornost to rescue my father.”
Ranesora staggered back to his feet, face slowly returning to it's normal coloring. ”March as you will. You will march into failure. Do not handle me again or it will be the last thing you ever do.”
”You!” Burwod rumbled. ”How dare you threaten me!?”
”I've had enough of your childish games”, Ranesora muttered.
”As if your ranting was anything but that!” Serathil snapped at Ranesora, who picked up his sword from the floor and walked over to a corner.
”That man over there is no leader”, he sulked. ”He will get everyone killed. Go on, then! March! Jorgon and I will stay behind. I will not be lead to my death by a charlatan.”
Kerberrus shook his head, disappointed. ”This was a disgrace to your father's name, Deputy Burwod”, he said. ”A true leader would not act like you just did. Get your men prepared, and stop the silly power games! All of you! We have a rescue mission to accomplish, and we shall bring death to all who harm our kin! Go on, start preparing! Let none of this buffoonery interrupt! Go!”
And so the meeting was over. Hellrien rushed outside, relieved that they had managed the night with no more unnecessary deaths.
