It is one of the paradoxical truths of life that the most beautiful times of the day are morning and night, neither of which is really day. It is the same in Aeral, specifically in Havillah. The mornings are pale and misty like a pearl just pulled from the sea. The sweet anticipation of the entire world is born anew in the fresh morning. The nights are even more beautiful. The mornings are full of fresh potential of what could be. The nights are the realization of the dream, the award for a hard day's work.

In the night all of the sins and evils of the day sink into the ground and disappear. Fears are swallowed up in the breathless silence. Over Havillah the twilight is enchanting, and the final moment when darkness falls is unbearably lovely. The night breeze dances over the tents, now closed against the chill, setting bells to tinkling softly. Ever present is the soft moaning of the sea, almost inaudible during the day, but a gentle lullaby to soothe the night. For an hour after the sun sets the whole of the Bedouin village, it is alight with the glow of lanterns and the drowsy laughter and songs of after-dinner festivities. But all of that soon fades away as the lamps are blown out and peace settles in. Night in Havillah is like the moment between breaths when you hear and see everything with perfect clarity. All of creation is holding its breath for the beauty of the night... the brilliant stars overheard so bright, so remote, yet friendly.

There is a short time of this perfect silence, which seem impossible to improve upon, until the stars begin singing. There is nothing on this earth that compares to this wonderful sound. The only way I can describe it to you is to have you to think of the most beautiful music you have ever heard, sung in the most angelic voices in the world. Then imagine that instead of hearing these voices over the radio or from a choir loft, you are hearing them coming from the sky, on a perfectly clear and lovely night in Aeral, with the sounds of the sea and the tinkling of bells and the groaning noises of trees keeping in perfect harmony. Even then, as wonderful as you can imagine that to be, it cannot come even close because the voices of the stars themselves are so different from human voices and the melody they sing so complicated for human ears, that it is really impossible to imagine. You just have to hear it for yourself.

The particular night in which I am interested started just the same as any other night. Once the Thurrim had eaten their evening meal and told all of the stories and sang all of the songs that they could for one night, they went their separate ways to their own tents, let down the curtains, and extinguished their lanterns. For an hour it was completely silent, and it was during the time that every person in Havillah fell into a deep sleep. Then the stars began their song and the jewel-like butterflies that Miriam had seen before appeared from who knows where and began filling the night sky. Anyone who would have awakened and come from his tent would have been caught up in the wild beauty. He would never have guessed that something evil was entering Havillah.

The woods that were Havillah's border had magical powers to protect the city, but there were limits to what the trees could do. An army moving through the forest would send the trees into a frenzy that would catch the attention of every living being for miles, and a single creature entering unauthorized would be dealt with quickly. There were, though, ways of defeating the trees, especially since they were asleep. For instance, if the infiltrator passed through the woods carefully absent of feelings of hate, the trees would be unable to recognize the threat. They still would not allow him to enter Havillah, but they would merely crowd together until the stranger was forced to turn back, rather than – well - perhaps it is best not to say what the trees would do to anyone who entered the woods bent on destruction. Trees can be fearfully unforgiving, I am afraid, even trees who are asleep. The river that ran through Havillah was a defense of its own, so wild and terrifying it was, but as an added security there were guards posted all along the shore, especially near the bridge. All things considered it was very safe, and it needed to be in these sorts of times, but guards cannot see everywhere, and even the best of them is subject to weakness.

On this night a group of guards was posted at the point where the river first enters the woods of Havillah. The trees grew straight up from the bank here, close to the river, arching over it, able to slam down like a wall if any unfriendly persons tried to cross. This night, though, they were more deeply asleep than ever. The tops of the trees drooped low and limp, so that some of the branches hung in the water, like a lazy boy trailing his fingers through the ripples. The guards were vigilant, and even on this peaceful night they stood alert, silent as shadows, not speaking to each other and not moving unless it was necessary. This was considered the weakest part of their country, so only the best guards were sent to watch here. They were so intent on listening for anything out of the ordinary that they never noticed how strangely the trees were acting. They didn't notice the thick grey fog rolling in until it had lessened visibility so much that they could only see a few feet past their own posts. The fog made them nervous. It was unusual for a fog to roll down the river in this way. They strained their eyes and ears, starting at every rustle of the leaves. After a few minutes the fog rapidly lifted and they found themselves staring at each other again with wide frightened eyes.

"What was that?" one of them mouthed. But none of the others knew. They had not seen the strange creature riding the current down the river. It floated with the swift water, not fighting the current at all except to keep its mottled greeny-grey head above the water. Its large fish eyes glowed a little in the moonlight as it lifted its flat paddle-like hands one at a time out of the water and then pushed the down again. The paddling was meant the keep the creature in control of the situation, not to break away from the current. On the creature rushed, sometimes swirling in the eddies, and sometimes being lifted up out of the water when the main current hit a cross current. It would have been a terrifying ride for most creatures, but this little creature was too focused on his goal. He was busy watching the landmarks that passed by. He was waiting for one moment when he would use all of his strength… now! All six limbs rose from the water and came crashing down at once, the impact tossing him several feet in the air, but instead of smacking back against the water he appeared to float in mid-air. The creature grinned toothily. He had done it perfectly. His limbs were entangled in the bridge of Tar Nesh.

The guards posted at the end of the bridge had sprung into action the moment they heard the loud splash. It might have been just a log, but then again, it might not have been. They drew their weapons and advanced toward the bridge, making no noise as they moved. Their eyes strained in the dark, but they saw nothing. There were no further strange sounds, and no movement except for the water. The guards looked uneasily at their leader who was watching the river with his jaw clenched. He stood on, saying nothing as the minutes ticked away. They stood there, motionless in the moonlight for an hour before the leader let out a short breath and glided away. The others took their cue from him and melted back into the shadows. They would still be alert, but evidently the noise had been nothing unusual. On the bridge the little creature grinned his wolfish grin again. Patience always won out, and now he was free to enter Havillah. He slunk across the swaying bridge and jumped lightly to the side where the shadows could keep him hidden. His flat feet made no sound as he landed in the mud, still, he remained frozen until he was sure that the guards had noticed nothing. Nodding in satisfaction to himself he lowered his other sets of limbs to the ground and loped off. He needed somewhere to hide while he carried out his mission.