Benia listened to Silvanis' warnings with a somber face. Her dark amber eyes looked troubled. "Thank you, Silvanis," she said when he had finished. "Yet again, I find myself in your debt. Both Lady Lespheria and my friend Gilly have expressed similar warnings, but none so specific as yours." For a moment, she appeared lost in thought, as she reached for the sheathed sword that had once belonged to her father. She placed it alongside the left armrest of her chair so that it could be drawn easily should the necessity arise. When she allowed her attention to return to Silvanis, she looked as though she had come to some kind of a decision.
"I know there is a bounty on my head," she explained quietly. "Just as there is for all of my tribe... or what is left of it. It goes back to the war and before."
She gestured to the chair opposite hers. "Please sit." She waited silently as Silvanis took his seat. When he had settled in, she continued, "Of late, I have been careless and too quick to trust, but my instincts tell me you are a man of honor."
SIlvanis inclined his head in acknowledgement of her words. "I try to do what is right, m'lady," he answered. Judging by his demeanor, Benia was pleased to see that he seemed intrigued by the direction the conversation was taking. She interpretted it encouragingly.
"While I feel I have intruded on your kindness too much already, I find I have no choice but to ask one more favor of you." Her eyes studied his. When she was certain she saw nothing wicked flickering behind his gaze, no sign of deviousness or self-interest, she continued. "As you probably know, before I fell on the stairs, I was preparing to depart the Shire on a rather urgent journey. It seems that one of my uncles, someone we had thought long dead, still lives. My mother's eldest brother, Sahlman, is still being held by a renegade group of tribesmen who remain loyal to the memory of the Eye. My uncle is old now and not in his right mind, from what they say, but he is still my kinsman."
Silvanis nodded, taking her story in. "I understand, m'lady," he said after a moment. "But what is it you wish me to do?"
"Merely deliver a message." Benia leaned forward in her chair. "I was to meet a small party of my fellow tribesmen. We intended to journey south to the desert and locate this tribe of renegades. We had hoped to attempt a rescue, but now..." she gestured helplessly to her broken ankle. "Now such a journey is beyond me."
"And you wish me to find your tribesmen and let them know that you cannot accompany them," finished Silvanis. He looked both troubled and doubtful. "While I have a familiarity and, indeed, a fondness for the desertlands, the desert is quite a long way from The Shire. You ask quite a lot of an old Ranger."
"Oh, no," Benia objected, smiling. "That would be a favor indeed! Actually, my father's people are Breefolk. All I ask is that a message be delivered to them in Bree. They know how to contact my mother's people. If I do not appear as expected and send no word of my delay, they will fear me lost as well. You see my situation."
"That I do," Silvanis replied. "But what of the Ranger downstairs?"
"He wouldn't dare harm me in the middle of a crowded common room. So long as I keep myself surrounded by Shirefolk and the good people of the Inn, I should be able to keep him at bay." She paused. "At least for a time."
She cast Silvanis a hopeful look. "Will you help me?"
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