The first thing Lara did on arrival in Loc'atal' was paying a snap visit to the leader of the city - Lierr Encreigh. He filled her in on why he had sought her help. She learned that over the past year five she-elves had gone missing. Disappeared along with their belongings, not having left a hint of their whereabouts. Two of them were married, one engaged. None of them had children. Their names were: Leigh Litte, Sha'rde, Om H'in, Cersa and Mindaal'.
The first thought was to look for them among dh'oine. The local mages directed their magic eyes to the nearest dh'oine settlements to find nothing. The adjacent woods were scoured too - with no result.
Accompanied by Lierr, Lara was taking a stroll in the Alders' garden.
- So, no bodies have been found as yet.
- Nothing of the kind.
- Perhaps they left and do not wish to be found.
- This is how it looks but what's the point? Have they forgotten their homes and their loved ones?
- Maybe they don't wish to remember.
Lierr Encreigh was an excellent warrior but had a one-track mind.
"What happens to a people whose leader walks around with a sword?" - Lara thought.
- I couldn't believe it. I have never heard of an elf abandoning home of their own free will.
"Then you obviously missed an important portion of our history."
- However, I am very much counting on your help, Lara. Where my mages have failed, you...
- To tell the truth, this all sounds immensely intriguing, - she interrupted him, wishing to get rid of his company as soon as possible. With her hand she gently touched a graceful statue of a young she-elf who seemed to be lost in thought watching the splashing water of a fountain nearby.
- We have prettier sights than in Tir Na Lia, wouldn't you agree? - he asked flashing a smile at her.
"What a coax. Or is it him flirting with me?"
- Hm... It is hard to tell. We are just not at the height of our splendor yet.
- We have richer heritage.
- I can't but agree.
- We just need some patching up to do.
Lara grinned a galvanic smile.
By the evening of the following day she had already visited the families of the missing she-elves and had not found out anything out of the ordinary. The she-elves had not been acquainted with one another. Some went missing in broad daylight, some in the dark of night. The only thing they had in common was that every now and then each of them left town and returned after a day or two..
"There's literally no place to go here. The nearest Aen Seidhe town is over a hundred miles away. However, within a halfday ride there is a Dh'oine stronghold Tsutfuul'. The she-elves are not there, that is certain."
Lara made up her mind that she would start from there. Maybe her shrewd green eyes would be able to see what the magical ones had missed. She could have asked Lierr's people to accompany her but her intuition was telling her not to. She spent the night in Loc'atal' and set off at dawn. Once outside the gates, she stepped into thick cedar woodland. Among high trees snaked a wide road to Tsutfuul'. The rising sun sliced the cool air into gleaming stripes. Lara would dive in and out of shadows, would narrow her eyes and blink. It looked like her steed knew the way and trod down the road with no haste, sniffing the air and snorting contently.
At noon something peculiar caught her eye. A patch of trodden grass at the roadside. It even looked as if it continued farther into the woods. One could doubt if it was there at all. Lara laughed at herself amused at the thought that she was actually on a rescue mission and it seemed that she was getting somewhere. How could it be that she just found something that Lierr's mages had missed?
Lara turned her steed to follow the trail. She barely stepped off the road and into the woods when she heard a rider approaching. Measured clatter of hoofs. Whoever it was, the rider was not in a hurry. Perhaps if she stayed still, she would not be spotted. However, having reached the place where Lara had turned, the rider stopped.
Too late. The rider noticed her. Silence.
- I believe, I'm going your way, - she heard a melodic voice.
Dh'oine. A male.
Suddenly Lara went numb. It seemed, for an eternity she was standing there paralyzed without a slightest hint what to do. To run for her life? Definitely not. Pretend not be there or to be deaf? Silly. Collecting herself, she turned her steed a second time and, scrunching the bushes made her way back onto the road.
She spotted a man on a black horse. By his expression she could tell that he hadn't expected to see what he saw now.
- Are you lost? Or did you hear me approach and wish to avoid our meeting?
Lara had not decided yet if she should lie or not, so she was faking shyness.
- But no, I see, you're not lost. In a place like that one wouldn't fail to notice a road under one's feet. So, I presume, you got scared. Which is not the case either. Elven sorceresses don't easily get intimidated.
He watched her, his eyes narrowed in amusement, a corner of his mouth about to crack into a mocking smile.
- I'm forced to conclude that you are going my way. The question is: have you any idea where you're going at all?
Lara decided to act on the defensive.
- Who are you?
- Cregennan of Lod. I live nearby, in Tsutfuul', - he waved his hand in the direction of the stronghold, as yet invisible beyond the trees. - And you're from... Loc'atal'?
- Yes and no. I've been there on a visit but my homeland is much farther.
Cregennan paused as if hoping that the she-elf would find silence uncomfortable and speak out.
- I am Lara of the Aen Elle.
- I've noticed that, - he smiled showing his white human fangs. He had pale skin and pitch-black hair that reached his shoulders, and his face had a triangular shape, similar to Crevan's, with balanced and slightly rounded features.
"Why do dh'oine men have more manliness about them than our males?"
- To be honest, I am willing to hear a thrilling story about elven sorceress Lara and her adventures. Curious to know what she's doing on a road leading to a human stronghold.
Struck by his impudence, Lara could not make herself utter a word.
- Let me guess. Along the way something peculiar caught her eye... Don't get mad at me. We both understand that I was not making for the elven town. So, where do we stand? I'm bound to turn now and here you are - blocking my way. I can't move on or turn around without enquiring about your intentions. From what I see you're eager to follow the trail.
At that Cregennan's face saddened.
- I can sense a knowing one with my eyes and ears shut. I can't just let you go.
Lara tried to listen to what her intuition was telling her and it seemed like its silence was a good sign. She dismounted. So did Cregennan. He was shorter than she but that was to be expected. He was thin and well-shaped, wearing a black leather cloak. A mage. Or a cultist. Which is almost the same.
- In Loc'atal' a few elves have gone missing. I'm looking for them.
- Then you're headed in the right direction, - confessed the mage.
- They're alive?
- Alive and kicking.
- So, if I follow the trail, I'm going to find them?
- Possibly, - he paused before he spoke again. - But I would ask you not to do that right now.
- Why not?
- I don't know if I can trust you. If we can trust you.
- Who are "we"?
- "We" are myself and... those lost elves.
- And what if I were to ignore your request?
- I would have to go with you.
- So, what's your proposition?
Cregennan slowly mounted his horse.
- I propose that you have a ride to Tsutfuul' with me. We'll come back here later. Today. Or perhaps tomorrow.
"What a strange plan" - thought Lara, leaping gracefully into the saddle.