[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

**** Harad ****

The city was fairly bathed in steam as Gramil wiped his brow, returning from a comfortable lunch. The market sellers, noisy as birds at first light and sunset, peacefully sipped cooling joices and wafted fans at this hour. Gramil dodged through a string of strapping lads who carried crates of squawking chickens, brushing away the loose feathers that filled the air. Chickens clearly didn't like to be disturbed this time of day either.

A smart tradesman would barter now, Gramil thought glancing about, when they were too tired to argue. But he was tired himself, and smiled at the lost opportunity, where both sides were equally defeated by the sun. He turned - and that was how he missed the first collision. From the cursing, scattering explosion of chicken feathers, and the oliphaunt dancing backwards in the street, it was clear exactly what had happened. The next crate was directly behind the oliphaunt and collapsed with a dull crack as her foot went right through it. The strange careless rider on the oliphaunt's back shouted over the din: "So-ray! So-Ray!" He was pallid as an albino. Then the man switched to a strangely accented declaration of "Pardons! Mistake!" which made more sense, and regained control of his beast.

He waved cheerfully to Gramil, "should I offer to pay for the damage?"

Gramil shaded his eyes as he looked up, "No, they will catch the chickens."

"The Mumak is not easy to ride, but the seller says I have a natural seat. Ha!" Gramil dodged a little off the road out of the way, but the beast did not respond to the command to charge: Mumak were smart, and she was already learning to ignore him. At closer range it was true, the stranger did seat well. But he clearly did not know a thing about oliphaunts.

"How much did you pay for this Mumak?" Gramil asked.

"Nothing yet."

"Then continue to pay nothing. If she makes it to the end of the street, we will call it lucky. She is very old."

The stranger dismounted from the oliphaunt and offered his hand. "I am Jarl of Dale."

Gramil took it, and smiled. "That I know. Your face is famous here."

"But it is not proof against being cheated," Jarl grimaced.

"Far from it. Who can resist the chance to cheat someone famous?" His smile flashed, "They will brag for a week."

Jarl sighed, "I thought the time of day would help me." And Gramil laughed, deciding he liked this stranger who saw so quickly Harad's greatest weakness: the sun.

*********

Gramil had nearly forgotten the encounter when a month later he was summoned to the King.

[ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]