[Thenamir]

Thenamir wandered down the mud track that served as the village main street. It was now late in the evening. Some high mackerel clouds scudding across the moon were a portent of rain tne next day, but for now there was plenty of moonlight to do some impromptu tracking. Something not best done alone.

He stopped in at the small tent camp near the hut where Aspida was tending the wounded. He tossed back the flap of the tent he recognized as Baranthol's and looked in. Baranthol was musing nervously over his pack.

"Baranthol! Good to see you up and about. Aspida finally let you out of her sight?" Baranthol stuffed the items back into his pack and turned slightly ashen-faced to Thenamir. "Oh!...yes, she let me go this evening after I had finished helping her with the dinner preparations."

"Excellent. I am going to do some scouting north of here. Find Ulfwine and come with me. It chafes me to have to wait restless while we tend the wounded. The Dunlendings who passed here may have left some token or hint of their purpose. If so, I intend to find it. Meet me at Aspida's hut in half an hour."

Baranthol/Haleth had been looking forward to some sleep, but warriors, she thought, sleep at the oddest times, and least when they need it most. She stuffed the soft items back into her pack more securely and went off in search of Ulfwine.