Chapter 59

The Face That Haunts

~o~

Eldarion recalled the council, this time including the silent guardi man Danzail and Captain Wheymier. Neither of the two junior men had spoken to their liege before but they were not tongue-tied. The King looked around the room and said, "Your progress deserves credit gentlemen. Lord Kath, will you begin?"

"Thank you, Sire. The trip to the river was fruitful. Rellugh-Tur in Osgiliath on the Mercantile Exchange is an operative for Hûk Tulbar who is taking over his western neighbors by force in a fertile strip along Chelkar River just below the Duath mountains. His realm is Gizar and he has already conquered Korb Chelkar to his west. They plan to do the same to Imladrim which gives them access to Chelkar deep-ports. That consolidated, they will seize Harondor.

"I interrogated their main runner between east and west. This Hûk claims powers of old. I would have needed to kill the household to ask anyone else." He continued as the men looked askance. "They have no aims above the Poros but rouse adherents in Gondor for money. That buys arms in Osgiliath which are then sent to the war zone as Tulbar forces the conquered people into his army. That is why they have all three dead dark lords available for local worship. Gondorans can take their pick, for all it gets them.

"The consensus is that the ruler of Imladrim is weak and so is the Khan of Harondor. They also know from our army that we are hardening our positions north of the Poros, but not below. Once established, those are Your Highness' new neighbors."

Everyone in the room was stunned; partly because it was audacious and partly because it was possible. No one worried about harmless Harondor. Assuming he could speak freely, Captain Wheymier said, "The young Lieutenant does not seem to be the traitor. I am sure his old da has an ale with friends who think the general was unfairly treated. Bolstering the militias is not much of a secret."

Danzail continued softly, "We have less on the other two. Perhaps the trader in Osgiliath has alternate sources of information or he could also be someone who also receives and ships goods to the tyrant."

~o~

Templeblan played a royal card, "Consider this; Keprand is on his second wife. The new one is said to be a beauty of the east. The old boy dotes on her. From what everyone said, I have a bad feeling."

King Eldarion had not expected to hear so much so fast. He summarized, "So, unless we do something to intervene, the chances are good that a despot from Sauron's old breeding grounds seizes control of Near Harad and become a threat on our border. The Swertings are right, Harondor cannot protect itself. Umbar can, so this Hûk puts himself between the anvil and the sledge, but only if we raise armies.

"Gentlemen, I want options. General, think first of our borders and then consider what we might do to make Harondor stronger." He turned to his scribe, "Have Minister Franscieth report to me tomorrow as the schedule permits. We are going to talk to our friends in Umbar. Lord Kath, we need a look at this eastern beauty. Then we will explain the fitness of things to these traders in Osgiliath.

"Anything else? Plan to meet again soon, gentlemen."

As they left, Nag Kath said to Danzail, "Your two men were very good. May I borrow them?"

~o~

Inariel knew he was back but reporting to her brother came first. Eldarion would not keep him long and then he was all hers. She had not seen him in action before. As others noticed, when he was on the hunt, he was more like a cat than a man. She wanted to go to the dance club again. Nag Kath did not have to be told twice. This night they stayed longer. There were more couples on the floor. She in her veil, they sat next to a woman she thought she knew with a handsome husband. Inariel was sure she had his attention tonight. In each other arms later she said, "You should grow your hair long."

"Why?"

"I would like to see you as an Elf of old."

He thought about that. Keeping his hair shorter like most southern men had been a disguise he needed many times. But these days, men would not recognize an Elf with long hair and pointy ears. There were no Elves so it didn't matter what they used to look like. He said he would.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The next morning the Elf met Mentier and Selbroune at the lower guardi office. All of their other projects had been cleared. He explained, "It might be Keprand's wife we need. Has anyone gotten a look at her?"

Mentier said, "We don't get much of a look at anyone. The man only ever leaves for lunch, usually by himself and never with anyone we suspect. There are servants who come and go, including the one at the linen store. She hasn't been back and we have no idea how she knew to go that time. Sorry not to be more help, Lord Kath."

Lord Kath said, "Between us, it is just Nag Kath. Now, the woman is said to be a beauty of the east. I do not know if she still is, but we are probably looking for someone shorter than our local girls with very dark hair and olive skin. She might look like a maid if she wants to."

Selbroune observed, "Well now, here's a thought for you; that tall one we followed from the shop, sometimes she goes out with another lass who is half a head shorter, wears modest clothes, always with a hooded cloak."

"Did you get a look at her face?"

Both Guardi shook their heads. Selbroune added, "She did not want to be seen."

Nag Kath said solemnly, "That is going to change. Was there any pattern to when they go out and does the small one ever go alone?

Mentier pulled a small notebook and answered, "Never seen the little one by herself but the last time they went out together was Thursday at the ten-bell and the time before that was the Friday before, also at the ten-bell."

"Where?"

Mentier looked in his book, "Thursday to a baker and then the butcher …" he flipped back a page; "… Friday to a place that sells sweets and spices."

"Dougsh!"

Both Guardi looked at the agitated Lord Kath. Selbroune ventured cautiously, "Spices like you put on that man's fish?"

"Mr. Mentier, I need to stop by that spice shop."

The man did not need his book, "Prohcarie, on the third, little shop that sells kitchen things, just past the north fountain."

The Elf said very gravely, "If this is a witch, she may well have heard of me, and not fondly. And if she can lay on a confusion-spell, anyone in her circle is a potential assassin. These folks are near the royal family. Please tell Minister Templeblan to keep your charges buttoned-up, and if anyone on our list gets near the seventh, kill them first and capture them second."

Nag Kath went out to stock his larder.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The bell over the door rang when he walked in. A young lady came from the back and said with a pleasant smile, "Good afternoon sir. We can make you a fine price on cutlery today."

The customer wore clothes that might have been nice at one point but past that now. He had a pair of spectacles that were not ground for his eyes so he had to keep moving them up and down his nose to focus. The man gathered himself and said, "Oh, and a good day to you ma'am. Just a moment." He rummaged in a pocket for a folded scrap of paper. Fiddling with his specs again he said, "I am sent to get, uhm, let me see; salt, comfrey, tulus and bronego."

She asked, "Borhego?"

He handed her the list and she asked again, "Might that be borhego?"

The tall man shrugged his shoulders. The young lady offered, "We are out of comfrey but have the rest. How much did you have in mind, sir?"

"Oh, not very much. Whatever the normal amount is. My Emaila is not well this week so I am doing what I can."

The lass said with no change in tone, "We get little call for tulus, more of a northern taste. Let me make sure I have enough. It does not keep well here in the White City." She walked to the side of the narrow shop and climbed a folding ladder to fetch a jar from the top shelf. Bringing it down, she took the stopper out and showed him, "Will that do, sir?"

"Oh, dear me, I am not sure. May I ask the price?"

She poured it on the scale and said, "Six groats, the lot."

"Perhaps two groats worth, young lady, and the others, please."

"Certainly, sir."

As she started folding the herbs into paper sleeves the distracted fellow wondered, "I suppose different people eat different things. Is this herb from Rohan?"

"I think so."

Her hapless customer recalled, "I knew a fellow from Rohan, red hair, he had. Does a woman of Rohan buy this, ma'am?"

"It's miss. She is not a northern woman, more southern, I should think. She orders it special. Perhaps she cooks for someone from northern lands."

With more gravitas Nag Kath told her, "Young lady, I need to speak to you about your customer."

She backed towards the door into the storeroom before shouting, "Father!"

Within moments, a stout fellow burst in with a sword and demanded, "You leave now if you know what's good for you!"

"You will hear me out first."

Da asked, "Who are you?!"

"You do not want to know who I am. I am associated with the Guardi and am following someone you want to know even less. Help me and I will help you."

She looked at her father and he nodded. Da stood there with the sword while she hung the closed sign on the window before returning behind the counter. The proprietor looked at the customer and said, "Let's hear it."

"A woman came here to buy one of the same spices I just ordered. She is on the short side, probably very good looking and probably with another, taller woman. I want your daughter to describe her to me so I can draw her picture. Then you are going to go on holiday for a month in Pelargir. Others will manage things here while you see the sights."

The girl was silent. Her father stated, "Expensive place, Pelargir."

Nag Kath set a nipper on the plank. The shopkeeper stared at it for a moment and smiled, "I understand it is lovely this time of year."

The customer had remained hooded, even inside. But the lass got a good look when the lady answered a question about an ingredient Nag Kath had not heard of. It took an hour of sketching and erasing but the girl was sure that was the woman captured exactly.

Nag Kath looked at the picture as if in pain before saying, "I was in jest about Pelargir. Come in tomorrow to teach my man how to run things and go to East Osgiliath …" The tall one wrote an address on one side of a fresh sheet and a note on the other before saying, "... The man there will put you in a nice home with food and a servant free of charge. Take the whole family. Do not use your name, and no one else knows where you really went, not even anyone working for me."

One could tell they thought this had become a very good day.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Inariel had just comforted her man through grief and difficulty, but she had never seen him as lost in his own thoughts as that night. She lay in bed and held him, eventually falling fast asleep.

Listening to her gentle breathing, he thought of the recurring women of his family, ladies of great poise and beauty like the immortal Queen Nepthat. There was a family like that in Khand. Without doubt, the woman under the hood was a great, great granddaughter of Nulvanash the Assured. And she was alive because he saved Chûr.

In the morning, he went down to his house and flipped through the archive drawings until he found the one of Chûrran, holding it against the cloaked woman. Did you get dark powers? Are you here to claim what they could not? There would be no saving her like Chûr, here only to scrounge a meal. No, she was here for more, and she would know who he was. But he was still in Dol Amroth as far as the public knew. This was all very hushed. It would stay that way.

~o~

Inariel was even beautiful when she woke. He kissed her softly and said, "My dearest, you are going for a ride this morning."

"Where are we going, husband?"

"Not we, you. Visit Emyn Arnen and stay in the walls. Take two of your brother's best in ordinary clothes but armed to the teeth. No one knows exactly where you are going, not even your family."

By then she was up on her elbows with half of her penetrating stare. He kissed her again and said, "Keep a sword close."

~o~

A retired guardi deputized for his long-lost second cousin who was visiting their aunt in Pelargir. The tulus spice got an unusual spell before it went back in the jar. Whatever would happen could not rely on her coming by the spice shop. She might have enough for six months. Mentier and Selbroune had help watching the home. The tall woman went out two days later and with a series of whistles and winks, Nag Kath arranged to be on her path when she returned. He felt no residual magic. That did not mean she could not summon it, just that she had not used it lately. This time he did get a good look at her face and it was not of the east.

Most things were delivered to the home. A good-sized man saw to the gate. Sometimes he and/or another fellow went out for heavier items. Nag Kath finally got a look at old Keprand who saw a friend at a restaurant not far from where Tal had her teas. He was under sorcery. The old friend got a minder too. No women left. Mentier reported the hired men went out one night a week on different days. One was Gondoran and ate with his family on the second. The other was probably from the south and he ate food of that land.

The break came days later when old Mr. Keprand was to meet Mr. Suraldan again at the Pelennor Gate restaurant. Mr. Suraldan was delayed. As Keprand was waiting, a blonde stranger sat in the chair across from him and said something yellow. The man was already susceptible so it did not take much. Nag Kath told him that in two nights, members of the Mercantile Exchange would be coming by his home. That was the southern man's night off. The tall, reassuring guest said there was no reason to tell anyone other than the Gondoran gate-keeper since his lady wife already knew.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The lads of the Mercantile Exchange were a hardier lot than usual. There were four of them, well-dressed, carrying weapons against a scare spreading through the city that thieves of Dunland were running amok. They arrived after dinner and were shown to Mr. Keprand's large office. The host began a quiet conversation with one of the guardi about shipping rates. Selbourne and Mentier followed Nag Kath up the stairs towards where Mr. Keprand told them his wife would be after the evening meal.

The maid left the room making them pull into corners as she went downstairs. The trailing member, Selbourne, watched her all the way down before nodding. As arranged, Nag Kath walked in alone. The Guardi swords would not avail them, not at first.

The woman was sitting at a small table reading by a lamp and said without turning, "That was fast. Was my husband still in his room?"

The Elf said, "Yes, still there."

She looked up with flashing eyes and threw a bolt of power at him. It deflected off his ward as his bringing spell slammed her against the wall. She looked unconscious, or worse, but he kept a grip on her throat as he approached. She was not dead. Nag Kath whistled for the others who quickly trussed her in a chair and put a bag over her head before looking at the blackened walls behind them.

~o~

Then they waited. She could not fake being asleep any better than Chûr. Nag Kath kicked her foot and said in Westron, "Now you are going to answer some questions. Do you understand?"

She said in Khandian, "I no speak sir's tongue."

He repeated it in hers. She did not answer.

As Nag Kath told her great grandfather, he had all the time in the world. Downstairs, the fourth guardi had immobilized the maid and whistled that he was watching the door against either of the male servants coming in the main house. Mentier went downstairs to even the odds. Those lads were probably not black servants, but they would only get one chance to be good citizens. There was a cook hiding for her life in the kitchen. With a signal from the window, half a dozen more men came into the house and grounds.

Nag Kath spoke in the Black Speech which, by its very nature, resonates with a foulness that almost sticks to the walls. She did not know it but she knew what it was by the way she tensed. The Guardi tensed too. In Khandian this time, "Young lady, you will tell me what I want to know. We will start with your name."

She decided they would not start at all. Nag Kath threw a confusion spell at her but the bag got in the way so he pulled it off. Yes, that was the face. Her eyes burned fiercely. Chûrran's was a soft, almost pleading gaze. Same face, completely different use.

Nag Kath pulled a chair next to her and said gently, "I am sorry. I really am. Chûr was a friend to me."

She spat, "You are no friend! You stole his heritage and forced him to peddle trinkets to feed his family!"

No, Vanteg Chûr came back to Khand to meet his mother and had a successful business. That was what he wanted in life. If he had wanted his loving da's legacy, that would have been cheaper. Nag Kath leaned back and drawled, "Ah, so you do speak. Good. Now you will tell me why you are here." When she pursed her lips, he hit her with the spell again. It barely took. He did it twice. In a drawing voice he asked again, "Why are you here?" The woman shook her head as if it might keep her from speaking. Nag Kath would not torture her, but there were plenty who would if she threatened the King's Peace.

Her color tested foul. The Elf needed to get rid of that before he would learn anything useful so he walked ten feet from her chair and hit her with the spell to exorcise darkness. The woman leaned forward as far as her bonds allowed and screamed to wake the city. He saw the black mist. It was faint, much less than Ghougash the orc, but it was there, and pure black like the Princess in Miraz.

He walked back and held her beautiful face with one hand. She would be out cold for a day. Nag Kath had the Guardi take her to a special room he prepared at their third-level headquarters. Then he went downstairs to Mr. Keprand's office. The man was still talking to thin air about the difficulties of shipping perishables when the Elf administered a clarity spell against the Lostorin poison. The merchant would sleep like a baby tonight. So would Nag Kath.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The day started clean and bright. Sauron would not have liked it at all. The Elf slept in. Guardi watched his house, everyone else's house and a few other places where minions of the witch might be thinking of rescue or taking hostages. He thought she had been too secretive to have many allies. Colonel Perandorn and trader Olaughdour had official visitors. Hallistrad the firebrand spent the day reciting his list of friends and contacts two rooms over.

Mrs. Keprand was sleeping in a cell with no windows. Her hands were bound behind her and her feet were also constrained. Nag Kath was admitted and watched her in the darkness. It wasn't until late afternoon that he felt her waken. Like Chûr and he himself did, she was absolutely still. The giveaway is breathing. One cannot hide the change in breath.

He took a sip of the cold tea and said, "You had a sound sleep, my lady. I hope you are more interested in pleasant conversation."

Angrily, but not viciously, she responded, "You are the Kath?"

"I am. Now I would like you to tell me who you are."

"You already know."

He held his chin, "No, I know your family. You are the very image of your great, great grandmother."

"What do you want?"

"I told you. I want you to tell me your name. Have no illusions that I will not get that and everything else I need to know. The dark lord has been purged from you. All of your associates are taken. You are alone."

"My name is Chievon Mantouh. My mother was Vanteg Chûreth."

~o~

That could not be right. Nag Kath searched his mind. He had dinner with her thirty-four years ago. She was eighteen then. If the woman wasn't lying, she was at least fifty two. He asked, "Do you recall meeting me in Lhûg?"

"Yes."

"I must say, you are holding-up quite well, Mrs. Keprand. Mantouh was a first husband?"

"Yes."

The Elf asked in his most soothing voice, "How is it you are as you are?"

"My first husband was born of the men you destroyed. He found me through my gifts and encouraged me, taught me how the vile ones sowed rancor and complacence against the rightful rulers."

Nag Kath probed calmly, "And now you are on husband number two?"

"Three."

"Tell me about number two?"

She replied tersely, "No. My cooperation ends here. Do what you will."

He tried another tack. "What do you know of your great grandfather?"

"He was the rightful ruler of Mordor, now disgracefully called Nûrn."

"I met him too."

She said coldly, "You are an old evil."

"Not as old a some. Nulvanash …?"

"The Assured!"

He granted her that, "The Assured did not age either. Neither did his northern version, Varsiig. They had some token of the Angmarach that was beyond their power to control."

Chievon hissed, "You lie and will burn for that!"

"I have seen it. Your great grand-da had a ring of power." That was bait. She would jump on his rightful tool of lordship.

She did, "He had a great ring, given by Sauron to bring our people to the true way!"

"No, my dear. He had a Dwarf Ring. I stole it and destroyed it. The Dwarves have only just forgiven me. It enhanced Nulvanash's cruelty but only made him fat and greedy for gold. Is that what you seek, gold?"

The woman was incensed. "How dare you! Sauron himself made that ring!"

"Elves made the rings, except for The One. Sauron corrupted the nine that went to men who became his servants. Those were destroyed with his own. Seven fouled rings went to the Dwarves. Nulvanash had one that belonged to a Dwarf Lord who perished at the hands of the northern orcs. The Assured would have eventually become a wraith but without a master, a weak, pitiful creature. Here, I have a picture of one."

Nag Kath reached for Frodo's recollection of Gollum. He sat next to her and tried to show her but she turned away. That got her a blaze of yellow followed by a firm twist of her head to the ill-favored River Man. "That is what the rings did to those they didn't kill. They were slaves. I WAS A SLAVE!

"Now, you are going to tell me exactly what I want to know or you will look like this. Do I make myself clear?!"

She looked at him with a combination of hate, fear and a touch of hope that her harsh education was not entirely accurate. The woman nodded meekly.

"Good. Are you thirsty?"

Another meek nod. Nag Kath unbolted her shackles and went to a tray in a dark corner of the room and got her a mug of tea and a Lembas cake. She sat demurely on her bed and nibbled the waybread. It did not make her retch. He sat in his own chair and waited.

When she finished the small biscuit Nag Kath asked, "Now, tell me about your second husband."

With satisfaction she proclaimed, "He is the Hûk Tulbar, High Lord of Chelkar!"

"What happened to Mantouh?"

"He surrendered me to a higher authority in obeisance."

Nag Kath wondered how voluntarily that was but let it lay. She was a proud woman, not as young as she looked, and needed that to salve a conscience littered with regret. The Elf twisted the knife in a different direction, "And now you engage in bodily commerce to pay for his ascension?"

It worked. "I do what is needed! When Harad is reunited and strong, we will deal with you."

The Elf nodded to himself and said, "That's what I figured. It might be a while. You will stay here until we have more questions."

Her fierce conceit showed through again, "It is inevitable!"

Nag Kath said with no trace of emotion, "Tulbar's head was taken twelve days ago by the traitor Wennig-Dûk. That is how we knew where to find you. Rellugh-Tur, Perandorn, everyone here, all dead or wishing they were. As I said, you are alone."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

They let her sit two days in the dark after the lamp burned out. Men slid food through the door slot, just like they had for him. On the second day, she threw the last of her power to break the door. It bounced back off his hidden wards, singeing her eyebrows and the edges of her hair, a fire witch. No man would be allowed in. They did not have the protection. Neither did Inariel. He would not bring her home until he was sure the witch didn't have operatives here to settle scores.

Nag Kath returned the third morning with new lamp and a fresh privy bucket. Breaking her would start in earnest today.

"Good morning, Mrs. Keprand."

There was no response. "Or is it still Mrs. Tulbar?"

As if he was checking off lines on the most routine inventory list, "That's what I thought. We took the Lostorin out of Keprand's blood. I can imagine how you lured him to your service."

"Imagine what you will."

"Oh, so you are speaking today."

Then he was silent until she said, "You know everything then. Why do you not kill me like the others and have done with this spectacle?!"

"Because Vanteg Chûr was my friend. And in a cell just like this one, he convinced me he was redeemable. I thought to give you the same opportunity. You are not doing as well." He shifted and added as an administrative matter, "There is also something I need to know. How were you given the black spirit?"

She said by rote, "I do not know what you speak of."

She probably didn't. "I removed the essence of a dark one from you. How did you get it?"

Her haughty demeanor returned, "Make sense! I was born with my gifts."

Nag Kath came down hard. "You were born with the same weak gifts as Nulvanash. Yours were enhanced by sorcery. Either that was your doing or someone who did not tell you. I will discover this, and you will help me, or I will give you to the Korb Chelkar refugees and they will ask in their own fashion. Do I make myself clear?!"

~o~

She finally broke. He remembered her as a sweet, quiet child. There may have been seething darkness but it had not come to the surface yet. Her family was strong and sufficient and ate dinner together to talk about the children's happiness. It is always possible to turn from that. Dark lords must turn from that completely. Saruman did as well. But for a daughter of man, some element remains, be it as small as a gureeq seed. Only Elf ears could have heard the voice that murmured, "I was twelve. A terrible force passed through me. I kept it to myself. Mother felt something too, perhaps grandfather. I did not tell her." She started crying, "I did not tell anyone! It was my shame.

"After you came, I married Mantouh who knew me for what I was. He taught me, used me, brought me to his purpose. I aged very slowly. When I was thirty-five, he joined the great leader who took me for himself. I was taught and used and remade yet again. When I was forty, another terrible burst of darkness ripped through me. I was nearly dead. Slowly, I was returned and bound to his destiny."

That was as much as she had. She was crying inconsolably now. Nag Kath knew to say nothing, knew that there would be time later for rebuilding. He also did his sums. When she was twelve years-old would have been about when the mithril band was dented in Thân zîrân. He felt the power. Had some escaped to witches and sorcerers as well? That would have been about the time the Seer in Angmar got strong and the small boy was born.

She was forty when the Witch-stone was smashed. The healer said it doubled her over. Others were said to have perished along with thousands of ghosts prowling their graveyards. That which did not kill her and slew her rivals made her stronger still. Powers rising from earth, air and water find a carrier. With fewer creatures to receive, the more survivors get. The changeling had one more question, "Chievon, you must tell me of the powers Tulbar has. Did they combine with yours?"

"Yes. His are not strong. You said my great grandfather had a ring. Tulbar had me. He said I must come here, prepare his way. I came. I did what I had to because his lands have little iron. Others came too, to awaken the weak Gondor and alert them to their doom."

Nag Kath stood and said, "And your sister?

"She had no talent and married well, better than me."

He told her, "I will return soon. Better food will be brought and a change of clothes. Do not harm the bringers. You cannot escape."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

King Eldarion was fuming. He had waited patiently. The rest of the group knew little more. Nag Kath arrived late for his own meeting. After taking a seat the King demanded, "I have questions. The first is; what have you done with my sister?!"

"She is staying with Prince Barahir, My Lord."

"Lovely company. Do you want to explain why?"

"Yes, Sire, I do. It will take quite some time."

The King continued tersely, "There is no time like the present."

Nag Kath offered, "Thank you, sir, gentlemen." The regulars were there in addition to Foreign Minister Franscieth. "The tale begins on the day you were first shown to the public on the anvil. I was with your royal parents and saw the heir to the King of the Mordor Visitors, a man who should have been dead three times. Have you heard that story My Lord?"

Eldarion said more evenly, "The man with the ring, yes?"

"Yes, Sire, his unacknowledged son. Chûr was just another refugee but he had small powers. I took him to Khand to meet his mother who was instrumental in our victory against the Witch-king's adherents. There he was embraced by the Right-living order that weakened dark forces on the Pelennor." Everyone else around the table was enthralled. They may have heard bits and pieces but this was the first time they got it from the horse's mouth.

"Well, Sire, gentlemen, the man married, raised children who raised their own. One of his granddaughters also had power. She was abducted by a dark adherent and eventually made concubine to the Hûk causing all the trouble now. She received a boost of power when Morgoth's mithril band was damaged or melted. I removed his essence from her just as Gandalf removed mine. That was the only thing that saved her when the Witch-stone was destroyed, again, like I was spared when the One Ring was unmade. She only looks half her age of 52."

He passed her picture around the table. The men looked at the remarkable face quite a while. There were a thousand questions ready to blurt-out but the King said nothing so no one else did either. "To get this information I took some liberty with the truth, saying her master was betrayed and dead, along with many we are arresting now." The Elf leaned on his elbows and became graver, "What really matters is that she is his ring. She enhances Tulbar's small strength. I have removed a great deal of it, but she is still a sorceress of the kind we seldom see in the world now. I warded her cell to keep her from escaping. They will not hold long. I suggest to you gentlemen that the woman may offer more use alive than dead for what she can tell us, but I must respect your decision."

~o~

Eldarion, clean-shaven among the bearded men, held his chin and pondered a moment before saying, "Well, that is our first report of the day. Going around the table, what say you?"

Minister Franscieth added, "I spoke to the emissary of Umbar. Without saying as much, they are concerned. Harondor is weak there too but not worth their taking, lest it upset the trading advantages they enjoy with Your Highness' Peace. I did not get the impression they were raising troops to reinforce their borders."

Guardi Chief Duranhir was next. "The men we apprehended are singing like nightingales. We have a sizeable list of those who have given funds for this foul enterprise. Some are more contrite than others. I will leave it in the hands of the Magistry to determine if it is treason or an opportunity to contribute towards a more just and lasting realm. Perhaps that will be based on cooperation?"

Everyone at the table thought that masterfully stated. On the quiet side of the Guardi service, Danzail added, "A few of the higher persons fell on their swords or over switchback rails. One of those was Colonel Perandorn. Mr. Keprand was guilty of lusting after Lord Kath's Khandian morsel, but his mind was disordered by sorcery and he recalls almost nothing of, well, almost anything. He is under house-arrest. A daughter in Pelargir has been summoned for his care."

~o~

It was General Todl's turn, "We have no information about how the Southrons knew of heightened training. It could have come from a hundred men planning their autumn or ordering arrows. Perandorn's son was posted along the Mering, so, not in effective range of the Swertings. I have sent for him. His military career is over.

"Sire, in addition to the company of your royal sister, Prince Barahir was been informed of enemy dispositions only a hundred leagues from his borders. That, I suppose, leads to my colleague …"

He looked at Templeblan who nodded and began, "Lord Kath was good enough to read some of the shipping crates in Osgiliath. Foundries in North Ithilien were well paid by persons claiming to be from our army to make sword blanks and other quality steel. Those were ferried to the city or further south and taken by traders across Harondor. More stayed on ships south to the Harnen River and carried up the Chelkar River to the war.

"As Mr. Duramhir said, they raised a lot of money from your subjects, Sire. We have started discouraging that and asking questions. Like Mr. Duramhir's efforts, most folk are cooperating hoping to salvage their heads. The day after we started, a large shipment arrived at Mr. Rellugh-Tur's warehouse. General Todl said he would find use for it."

Eldarion relented, "Nag Kath, I suppose I deserve what you wrought. What conclusions have you?"

"Thank you, Sire. I suspect that means the Hurms of Mordor would not sell their enemy iron from inside the Nûrnen. We should reward such wisdom. This will greatly help us secure our borders but will not stop Hûk Tulbar from seizing the entire Chelkar River Valley in a year's time. His only possible move from there is Imladrim which gives him access to the navigable Harnen and the sea, and more arms. Sooner or later, you will have to fight him. My Lord has to decide when and where, that or remove him."

Eldarion asked gravely, "And the woman?"

"I have more questions."

~o~

He went to the apartments down the corridor and wrote a letter to Emyn Arnen. Inariel could come home with her escorts and her questions to loving arms. Another quick note would go Gred Ilvest saying that the kitchen vendors were welcome to return early if they wanted. Both would go by courier the moment they left his hand. He had a bath and wondered what to do about Chievon. In the end, he would do what he always did and ask her what she wanted, after he said her lord and master was still his usual, vicious self.

To offset that, he would introduce her to a very brave little girl.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Corporal Hanieru was using his purse of groats judiciously. He was still at the south wall but found an apartment and was now in the business of repairing masonry. Nag Kath found him easily. The man bowed and called his son to help with language. The lass watched from the door in her new blouse and skirt with real shoes. The men sat on a pile of bricks to be moved and placed on the second. Their new donkey was waiting with them. The changeling said, "I am glad to see you are all well. You have every right to refuse, but I would like to borrow your daughter to meet one of those who caused your difficulty. I think this person can be made to help now."

Father and son spoke in their dialect and the son asked for his da, "Is this dangerous, best of sirs?"

"A little. She is in gaol now."

It was unfair. After all his child had been through, asking her to relive any of that horror could only make it worse. On the other side, the tall man kept them from starving. Life has risks. Hanieru looked at his daughter who ran over and told her in their tongue, "Hailu, the sir wants you to go with him. He says it will help our friends. I will leave it to you."

Hailu scanned all three sets of eyes before shyly asking, "Father, would mother want me to?"

"Yes, child. Mother would want you to."

"Then I will go with the sir." She looked at Nag Kath and asked gleefully, "Can we have cane rolls after, best of sirs?"

"Of course."

~o~

The tall Elf and tiny child walked hand-in-hand up the switchback to the Guardi headquarters on the third. He asked Danzail to see the witch in the courtyard.

She had changed to the fresh clothes. Nag Kath said, "Chievon, I have something to tell you and I have someone I want you to meet."

The prisoner sat on a bench positioned at an angle to where her captor and the youngster sat. He added in Khandian, "I lied. Tulbar is not dead. All the others I said are in our hands but the Hûk is still on the Chelkar."

Everything else he said was so believable. She supposed it did not make much difference. He was there and she was here. She had lost much of the power he drew from her, a tiring exchange from this distance. Tulbar had other women. The witch had passed once more to a man for what she brought. She felt very tired.

When she said nothing, Nag Kath said in Westron, "Hailu, this is Chievon. She is a lady from Khand."

The Child bowed her head and said, "Greetings, best of ladies."

Nag Kath used a tone to make children comfortable, "Hailu moved here because bad men killed her mother and hurt her." Chievon had not noticed much in her despondency but now she looked at the girl's mangled hand. She closed her eyes. What good could come of using them?

Hailu asked, "Beautiful lady, why are you sad?"

The sorceress wiped her eyes with her sleeve and said in misery, "Because I have lost so much."

The girl would help, "The sir takes me for cane sweets. Best of sirs, can she come too?"

"Yes, I think that would be lovely."

~o~

The two guardi stayed discretely back walking to a little shop only four doors down. Hailu got a length of sweet cane. The two adults had tea. It was too hot so they kept blowing across the surface as the child made a mess of her good hand. The tea eventually cooled, they drank it, and returned to the Guardi headquarters. As Chievon was led back to her cell, Nag Kath said, "I will take her home. In a bell I need you to tell me what you will make of the rest of your life. That case I will present to the King."

It took almost that long to return Hailu, wash her face and remove a couple wards he had protected her with. Chievon was brought to the courtyard where Nag Kath was already sitting on the bench. She sat next to him this time. "I choose to live. I want no part of this curse. But I will not betray anyone. Both sides must get on without me. Tell that to the Elessar and I will wait."

With that she rose and walked back inside.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

"Thank you for seeing me, Sire."

It was nearing the end of the day. Eldarion was indulging in a goblet of the pale Belfalas after long toil. His guest had tea. The King walked over to the low table and sat knowing the changeling would do the same. He put his goblet down and said gravely, "All decisions come to me. I am glad I do not have to make this one when north Harad is in flames. It seems close. We consider ways to dissuade the Hûk from his ambitions. It will mean war somewhere. Thank you for your service. Now; what of the woman?"

"She said she wants to live but will not fight for either side, wants to be quit of the gift that became a curse. Your father met Chûr before he made his decision. That is open to you, but she is more powerful. Chievon is being held at the Guardi on the third."

"I will consider that. Your wife just returned. Go to her and let her know she is safe."

~o~

Inariel already knew she was safe but it was time for her man to speak. He told her everything. It brought him no succor. Inariel curled up on the couch and he put his arm around her shoulder. Knowing he was mostly listening, she talked about the Prince and Princess, their children and grandchildren, Barahir had finally started on his secret lore project and asked her questions about her mother and father. It was conversation meant to let her husband think.

When he smiled with distraction, she swung her leg over to straddle his lap and held his face, "You have served my brother as you served my father. I am proud of you. This is not solved. We may be called for more." She kissed him. And as long as she was in this position, she kissed him again.

~o~

The King thought long and hard for a day. He had to prosecute exile or execute any number of Shadow traitors in the months ahead. Most would cooperate. Some would flee. Some would be examples. It was a part of kingship he did not enjoy. After long consideration, he did not need to see the sorceress. The Kath's were asked to attend Lord Eldarion after their porridge. He had them sit at the table and said, "I read the notes from when I was a babe. Father Aragorn made you fix the mess. Now you can do so again. On the table sits a pardon. Take it to the Guardi and do what you will with her. And thank you for your service. Know that I never take it lightly, Lord Kath." He winked at his baby sister, "Glad you are back, dear."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

"What are we going to do with a witch?"

"We have three more levels to decide, my love."

Inariel tried to be helpful, "What does she want to do? What can she do?"

"Well, I don't know what she wants to do. She used to cast evil spells. Tal would make a match for her except she has three husbands. The first gave her to the second and the second married her to the third who probably doesn't remember."

The Princess offered, "Can she stay with friends?"

"They are all being arrested."

Guardi are not used to royal Princesses dropping by the station. There was a mad scramble to bow and look useful. Mentier heard the commotion and walked out with a bow of his own. "My dear, this is Mr. Mentier who was very helpful. Mr. Mentier, this is my wife the Princess Inariel."

"Ma'am."

Nag Kath handed him the pardon. He looked it over and said, "Perhaps you could step into Mr. Danzail's office?" He walked them to the only two chairs other than Danzail's and said he would find him on the double. He did and the quiet-side man went through the same round of introductions and read the pardon. This was properly a matter for the magistry, but given the parties involved, he would be glad to forward it to them.

Two Guardi walked Chievon out the front door. She blinked in the sun after the darkness. When her eyes adjusted, she did not bow. Was it possible she had no idea who the defiler of Ûniarra Nûrn married? If so, it should stay that way. He walked up to her and said, "Vanteg Chievon, this is my wife Inara. Inara, this is Chievon."

They ladies gave each other a slight bow. Chievon was still a bit disoriented. The Elf offered, "The King has pardoned you. You are free to go or do what you want. Have you given that any thought?"

"Um, no. I thought I would be executed."

Noblewomen are trained to calm situations, unless they are trying to inflame them. Her Ladyship said, "That would never do. Let us all have tea." They walked up a level to the same respectable restaurant where Nag Kath bounced the drunk off the ceiling. Inariel was wearing one of her plain outfits with no hints of the seventh-level.

Having the spirit of a dark lord dragged out of you takes a while to get over. Nag Kath had the disadvantage of doing it daily for nearly a year but at least he was used to it. Chievon seemed alright when she was walking but unsteady when sitting. The Elf told the server, "Why don't you bring us a large lunch to share?"

It was out quickly and the Khandian lady ate like she hadn't for a week, which was close to the case. Seeing her orc husband trying desperately not to say something stupid, Inariel repeated his question in Westron, "Now that you are free, what would you like to do?"

"I do not know. No one has ever asked me that before. You do not eat?"

Inara answered, "We just had porridge. Have you thought where you might stay?"

That was another question she had not prepared for. All of her things were at the Keprand house. Her welcome there would not be warm, possibly fatal. The beauty said, "No, I cannot go to my old home. I was seldom allowed to leave except to shop for herbs or clothing. Aumpough was my minder. Is he dead?"

Nag Kath asked, "Which one was he?"

"Bodyguard at the gate."

"No, I think he got away. It was his night not to work."

Chievon thought about that for a moment, "He will return to the Chelkar with news of this. They will think I am dead. That is good, I suppose."

Nag Kath thought he would gather information since he had an opening, "And the tall woman?"

"She is the head maid. Aumpough threatened her too."

Inariel had tried. When a guest's best option is being thought dead in the eyes of murderous Swertings, topics familiar to ladies of the court dwindle. Chievon asked, "Did you remove Keprand's anchor spell?"

"I did. It was strong."

The witch said, "Mantouh had me tutored by a woman of Khand before I was offered as tribute to Tulbar. She could throw fire also."

"Is that what the compound Nieutul does?" That was the mixture he hadn't heard of at the kitchen shop.

"Yes … and to hold wards longer if you use the blood pulse.

The Princess listened carefully. Here were two sorcerers talking like they were cooks comparing spices, which they were in their own way. It put them no closer to what the Kath family was going to do with the creature. Her husband saved the day by saying, "Chievon, I know a firm that can put you up for a while."

"Put you up?"

"Find lodgings for you. Let us go there and find you a place to stay."

Still a bit dazed she said, "Yes, thank you, Mr. Kath. Do we go to there now?"

They walked over to the Kathen office not a hundred paces away. Lasthlo was at the desk. As they walked in the door, the Elf, standing behind the two women put his finger to his lips. He young man did bow but that went unnoticed by the Khandian exquisite. The tall friend said, "Good day, Mr. Conath. I was hoping you could recommend a place for Mrs. Chievon to stay, somewhere furnished, and discrete? She is relatively new here."

Lasthlo was nobody's fool. If Uncle Nag was here with his wife, he wasn't trying to cushion the little stunner in a love nest. He also knew the Elf was up to something. "Why yes, Mr. …" and stopped realizing it could be Kath or Solvanth.

"It is Mr. Kath, young man."

"Forgive me, sir. I have a very nice apartment on the south-side fourth." It was the building above Hallistad's.

The Elf said, "I think that would be splendid. Mrs. Chievon, would you like me to have the guardi impound your possessions and have them stored at your new home?"

She brightened, showing the face that haunted, "Oh yes, that would be most appreciate!"

Lasthlo interjected, "That's number 212, Mr. Kath. Mrs. Chievon, if you will follow me."

All four were leaving the little office when Nag Kath gave Lasthlo a signal to wait a moment. He handed the woman a small purse saying, "This may tide you over until you decide your future."

She held it like it could not be real. Tears were close. She whispered, "Why?"

"Because someone did it for me." He kissed her on the forehead and gave a Lasthlo a wink to follow. As they left, the Kaths made one more trip to the Guardi with a repeated comedy of bowing and scraping. The Elf asked Danzail to impound all of Mrs. Keprand's things as evidence and store them in apartment 212 at 418 on the fourth, pending review by the magistry.

Walking back up to the seventh, Inariel asked, "How do you live like this?"

"Just lucky, I guess."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~