Assembly

Delvatath was making his way through a path in the forest. There was a calm tranquility in the air that only got stronger the closer he got to Tierellen. The smell of meat cooking over a fire suddenly distracted him and he turned his attentions to see about finding the source of the smell. He followed his nose and came upon a clearing where a Dwarf with bright red hair was sitting tending to a spit with three rabbits on it. Delvatath stood just outside the clearing watching the Dwarf.

"How long do you plan on standing there?" Xworvan said as he looked up at the Ranger.

"I didn't intend to intrude," replied Delvatath. "I was simply looking for the source of the roast. Hail and well met, friend Dwarf."

Xworvan turned his attention towards Delvatath then stood up. "Hail and well met," Xworvan said in a gruff, but not completely unfriendly tone. He walked up to the ranger and held out his hand. Delvatath took his hand and clasped it firmly. The both of them smiled.

"Join me in my meal?" asked Xworvan as he gestured with his other hand to the fire.

"I would be honored," said Delvatath. "I regret that I do not have any ale with me that we may share. But I do happen to have some wine with me in one of my skins. It is of good quality I assure you."

Xworvan nodded his head before speaking, "Then I am sure that we both shall enjoy it."

Delvatath patted the Dwarf on the back and the both of them turned their attention to the fire. Instantly they both noticed an Elf tending to the spit. Their jaws dropped in unison. "An Elf?" stammered Xworvan.

"All my life," replied Eldirnon with a smile. "I apologize for intruding, but your rabbits were getting a bit too well done on one side."

Delvatath chuckled and patted Xworvan on the shoulder. "Come," he said to the Dwarf. "Let us all keep the other's company."

Xworvan grumbled for a moment, then nodded his head again. He moved away from Delvatath and walked over to Eldirnon. He held out his hand and looked Eldirnon in the face. "Hail and well met," he said.

Eldirnon's smile grew and without any hesitation clasped hands with the Dwarf. "Hail and very well met, good Dwarf."

Elsewhere, Semaj appeared in a bright flash of light. Quietly he looked about, surveying his surroundings. Then he pulled out a map and considered it. Looking towards a series of forested hills he disappeared in another flash of light.

Jinkso was walking along the main road strumming his mandolin when he heard a carriage approaching from behind him. He looked contemplative for a moment and then moved aside so that he wouldn't get run over. However, to his surprise, the carriage stopped right next to him. A priest inside stuck out his head and looked at Jinkso.

"Is this the road to the kingdom of Tierellen?" asked the priest.

"I sure hope so," said Jinkso. "Because that's where I'm headed."

A priestess inside the carriage decided to enter the conversation. She leaned forward so that her face showed in the window. "If you desire, you may ride up in the front with the driver," she said. "All I ask of you is that you keep us entertained with a song."

Jinkso stared for a moment at the woman's very obvious beauty. "But of course, my fairest lady," he said almost stammering. She smiled brightly and Jinkso climbed up to sit next to the driver. As they drove off, Jinkso began playing a love tune written by a priest of Sune.

Kiran was riding his horse along the main road when he heard another rider approaching fast from behind. Discreetly he reached for the hilt of his sword as he turned to look at the approaching rider. To his amazement, the rider held up an open hand and bid him halt. Kiran stopped his horse and turned his full attention to the other rider. The rider had the holy symbol of Tyr around his neck. "Hail and well met, friend," said Kiran as he took his hand off the hilt of his sword.

"Hail and well met," said Verimon. "Tell me, please, is this the way to the kingdom of Tierellen?"

"I sure hope so," said Kiran. "Otherwise, I'll have to go home and speak with the map maker who sold me the map that got me this far."

Verimon smiled at Kiran's obvious jest. "Well, in that case," he said to the Knight. "May I ride with you? It has been a long way, and I have not kept company with another person in many days."

"It would be an honor to travel with one of Tyr's Paladins," said Kiran.

"How did you know that I was a Paladin of Tyr?" asked Verimon.

"You wear his holy symbol about your neck," said Kiran.

Verimon smiled at Kiran's accurate observation. "My name, is Verimon," he said extending his hand to the Knight.

Kiran grasped it firmly. "And I am Kiran."

"So, Eldirnon," said Delvatath. "What brings you from your land to Tierellen?"

"I doubt the two of you would believe me," said the Elf.

"Try us," said Xworvan. "I have heard many far-fetched tales in my time, and I doubt yours could be more outrageous than those."

"Very well," said Eldirnon. "It may be hard to believe, but I was summoned by the god, Helm."

Delvatath and Xworvan looked at one another and then back to Eldirnon. Eldirnon smiled. "I told you you wouldn't believe me."

In unison, Delvatath and Xworvan said, "I, too, was summoned by Helm." Then they looked at one another again when they heard the other's words. Then, in unison again, "You were?"

Eldirnon erupted into laughter. "I think our meeting was more than just chance," he said still laughing. After the shock wore off and the humor of the situation was realized, Delvatath and Xworvan also began to laugh.

"Well," said Xworvan with tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. "It appears that we are now Three."

Elsewhere, Semaj again appeared in a flash of light. Taking in his surroundings, he brought forth his map once again and studied it. When he was satisfied by what he saw, he looked towards the horizon and disappeared in a flash.

"Tell me, Sir Bard," said Deeala from her window at the carriage. "What takes you to Tierellen?"

"Please, Milady," said Jinkso with a smile. "Call me Jinkso. I do not deserve to be called sir."

Deeala smiled at his good-natured humor. "Very well, Jinkso," she said. "What business takes you to Tierellen?"

"Well, Milady," began Jinkso.

"Deeala," Deeala interrupted.

"Pardon?"

"My name is Deeala, not Milady."

"Of course, Mi—I mean Deeala. You will be pleased to know that it is the will of the gods, or rather one of the gods in particular, that bids me come to Tierellen."

Deeala was quiet for a moment. "And tell me, Jinkso," she said with emphasis on his name. "Which of our many gods has bid you come to Tierellen?"

"Well," began Jinkso. "I wish I could tell you that it was Sune."

Deeala blushed despite herself. "Go on," she said.

"It was the god Helm," said Jinkso. "He told me…"

"You spoke with him directly?" interrupted Deeala.

"Oh, I mean no blasphemy," said Jinkso very quickly. "Yes, he himself sought me out. It would seem that Tierellen is very important to him and he wishes it protected at any cost."

Deeala bid the driver stop. Jinkso closed his eyes and readied himself for a possible beating. However, to his actual surprise, he was not beaten, but rather bid by Deeala's aide to enter the carriage and join Deeala.

Once he was seated, Deeala considered his face carefully and very seriously. Jinkso sat nervously, waiting for whatever it was that was to come next. Finally, Deeala leaned back and rested her head upon a pillow. "I, too, was bid come to Tierellen by Helm," she confessed to him. "And it was for the same reason that you just gave me."

"You are not jesting with me, are you Deeala?" asked Jinkso.

"I never jest about the will of the gods," replied Deeala.

Jinkso let out a big sigh of relief and settled into his seat. "This does come as a surprise," he said finally. "I was not aware that I was not the only person he had asked to do this."

"Nor was I aware either," said Deeala. "But I will say this, it does make sense that Helm asked more than one person."

"It does indeed," agreed Jinkso. "I just wonder how many more people he asked."

Deeala said nothing, but rather she smiled and turned her attention to the view outside the window.

A few miles back on the same path, Kiran and Verimon were talking quite a bit to get to know one another.

"…and that was how we were able to defeat the Harbinger Demon," concluded Verimon.

"Did your squire ever recover?" asked Kiran.

"Thankfully, yes," said Verimon. "He is now a full and true Paladin serving in the Dalelands. So, what brings you to Tierellen?"

"I will just say that I was sent for," said Kiran. "How about yourself?"

"I was tasked with a holy crusade," replied Verimon with a chuckle.

"The Church of Tyr has taken an interest in Tierellen?" asked Kiran.

"Not exactly," said the Paladin. "In fact, Tyr has nothing to do with it."

"Then how is it a holy crusade?"

"Believe it or not, I was actually asked by the god Helm to go to Tierellen."

Kiran stopped his horse in its tracks and stared at the Paladin. Verimon, realizing that his traveling companion had suddenly broken off stopped his war-horse and turned about in his saddle to view Kiran. "What is it?" he asked the Knight.

"No, it's just that I believe you, that's all," said Kiran still in a bit of shock.

"Well, I have no reason to lie to you," said Verimon. "Besides, it's against my code of honor to do such a thing."

"Oh," said Kiran with a start. "I never even thought for an instant that you might not be telling me the truth."

"Then what's the matter?" asked Paladin.

Kiran took a deep breath to steady himself. "I, too, was asked by Helm to come to Tierellen."

"Truly?" asked Verimon.

"Truly," answered Kiran. "On the soul of my father truly."

Verimon smiled. "Then it is the will of the god Helm that we met, and not mere fate," he said. "Wouldn't you say?"

"I would indeed," said Kiran. "Come, friend, we should get back to our journey as we still have a long way to go before we arrive in Tierellen."

With that, the two of them spurred their horses on and got back to traveling the open road.

To be continued...