Chapter 32

Desolation

Only one day after they returned to Sancre Tor, Telepe was on the road once again, riding beside Perrif along the stony mountain road east of the city. Perrif had suggested that Telepe could remain behind and rest, but Telepe had insisted on joining her on the expedition to find Pelinal. Of course, he certainly had no fondness for the knight, and he was well aware of the fact that if they encountered Pelinal while he was still enraged, Telepe was likely to be his first target. Even so, since Morihaus was nowhere to be seen, he wanted to ensure she at least had someone she trusted accompanying her on her journey.

"Is your wound troubling you?" Perrif asked, giving Telepe a sidelong glance as they rode side-by-side. "I don't wish for you to suffer…."

Telepe glanced down at his wounded arm, then shook his head stubbornly. "It's no trouble, I assure you," he assured her. "Tari did an excellent job treating my wound, so I'm hardly feeling any pain right now."

Privately, he admitted to himself that his assertion was only partially true. Before they left to find Pelinal, Tari had tightly bound Telepe's arm and set it in a sling to prevent it from being jostled too much while they were riding. Telepe was also grateful that Emero was a palfrey, which meant that he had a particularly smooth stride for a horse, and Telepe was still able to direct him with only his left hand. However, no matter how gently Emero walked, each step made Telepe rock on the horse's back, and the mountainous terrain would have been uncomfortable even if he was uninjured. He was gritting his teeth with every step. However, he had no intention of telling Perrif that.

"If you're certain…." Perrif murmured, clearly unconvinced. Telepe flashed her a slight smile in a weak attempt to reassure her.

"I'm pleased to see that you've learned to ride, come to think of it," he remarked, trying to change the subject. "Was it Morihaus who taught you?"

"Actually, once we were able to acquire horses, I learned from some of our keptu brethren," Perrif replied easily. "Four of them were born in the desert, and they claimed to have grown up on horseback, as it's the only way to cross the Great Western Desert… or so they claim," she added with a slightly embarrassed grin.

"Come to think of it, how were you able to obtain horses?" Telepe asked. "I recall Morihaus mentioning that they bred horses near the city of Kemen…."

"They do," Perrif nodded. "In fact, that's where our horses came from. I negotiated a trade with them after you left."

Telepe stared at her, then chuckled and leaned back slightly. "Would you indulge me by explaining how the campaign in the east has progressed?" he asked. "It seems as though much has changed in the past few months."

"Of course," Perrif smiled, glancing up at the sky. "After you all left for Sancre Tor, the remainder of the army remained in Nenalata for a week or so to train and help the king fortify his city in case the other kingdoms chose to attack, once they heard of his alliance with us. In the meantime, Morihaus and I traveled to the nearby city of Ondo, which is located along the same branch river that Nenalata dominates. The king there immediately recognized that he had been isolated from the rest of Cyrod, and capitulated without a fight, forging an alliance with us and pledging his army to our cause. Even further east, the High Fane of Malada, declared its neutrality, claiming that it was only interested in spiritual matters, and that it had no quarrel with us. Morihaus wished to assault it, but I saw little point in attacking a citadel that was willing to refrain from fighting, so we agreed to honor their neutrality.

"From there, we traveled north. Our next opponent was the city of Mackamentain, a city built beside a large lake. We briefly engaged them in a short battle, but when it became clear that our hoplites were superior to their warriors and that there were no nearby cities that would ally with them, the king called for a parley. He asked that he retain his sovereignty and requested that we not occupy his city, and while Morihaus felt those terms were too generous, I agreed. In exchange, he abolished slavery and signed a trade agreement with us. He contributed part of his army to ours as well." Perrif let out a soft chuckle as she added, "In truth, I was surprised by how swiftly we were pressing north. We'd managed to force five kingdoms to capitulate in some way in just over a month."

"It is remarkable, yes," Telepe agreed as he maneuvered Emero around a small boulder. A cold wind swept over them, and he drew his cloak tighter around his body while Perrif pulled the hood of her heavy robes over her head again.

"Unfortunately, we finally encountered a far more stubborn obstacle when we pushed past Mackamentain and attempted to cross another branch river off the Niben. The bridge there was guarded by the combined forces of the kingdoms of Nornal and Culotte. Though our army outnumbered theirs, they had the positional advantage, and Morihaus was unwilling to sacrifice men with a needless river crossing. Worse, Culotte's navy had allied with the cities of Bawn and Anutwyll on the other side of the Niben River. Their combined navies have since proven too powerful for Nenalata and Veyond. Though our army is superior, they still control the seas. Thus, our advance was finally halted."

"So that's as far as we've progressed?" Telepe asked with a frown.

"Not quite," Perrif smiled, nudging her horse around a scattered pile of snow that was strewn across the path. "While Morihaus was unwilling to risk lives with a bridge crossing, he was not inclined to allow our march north to cease altogether. Thus, he left a few centuries to guard the bridge against a counter-crossing, and then proceeded to march the army north along the branch river. Nornal and Culotte's forces shadowed us the entire way, though we never met in battle. It took us a few weeks of travel, but we finally reached the end of the branch river… only to find that it was guarded by yet another Ayleid city-state, the Kingdom of Vahtache. And yes, unfortunately they too were allied with Nornal and Culotte," she added with a bitter smile.

"I see," Telepe remarked grimly. "Were you unable to send an envoy to negotiate with them?"

"I had sent a few messengers ahead, as Morihaus did mention Vahtache before we arrived. I was hoping we could ally with them before Nornal and Culotte did," Perrif confirmed. "However, it seems that the other kingdoms reached Vahtache first. When our army reached the gates of the city and we requested an audience, he presented us with the severed head of our envoy."

Telepe winced. "You have my apologies," he murmured. "Though most kingdoms do respect the rules of diplomacy, messengers are sometimes executed. It does send a rather poignant message, I must admit."

"I suspected they wouldn't be open to negotiations anyways," Perrif admitted. "Vahtache is another particularly cruel settlement, and Morihaus believes that they were communicating with Culotte and Nornal long before we arrived." She then smiled and glanced at him. "Though I also feel that if I had sent you to speak with them, you could have succeeded in persuading them to at least avoid hostilities with us."

"You flatter me. And you give me far too much credit," Telepe replied with a slight, sheepish smile. "I've had my share of diplomatic failures. Grievous ones, in fact," he added, his smile fading as he recalled how Pelinal had savagely murdered Haromir.

Perrif gave Telepe a curious look, but when she noticed the regret on his face, she decided not to press the matter. "In any case, once we received Vahtache's… response, our only option was to engage them in battle," Perrif said, pausing for a moment to check the road ahead for obstacles before returning her attention to Telepe's face. "However, Vahtache refused to face us in a pitched battle, and instead barred their gates and readied for a siege."

"Indeed?" Telepe asked, raising an eyebrow. "That seems foolish, considering that you have a winged man-bull who can simply fly over city walls. To say nothing of the Ayleid mages in your army who can cast levitation spells…."

"Indeed. However, Vahtache abandoned the city above-ground, and instead chose to barricade themselves in their underground citadel," Perrif sighed.

"Ah. Even so, while that's certainly a more secure position, surely it's only a matter of time before they capitulate," Telepe said optimistically. "After all, it's not as though their supplies are infinite."

"We thought the same at first. However, it quickly became apparent that they are receiving supplies from Nornal and Culotte," Perrif replied. When Telepe gave her a curious look, she explained, "The branch river seems to flow into an underground cave that we have been unable to access, partially due to the fact that we have no ships on the river ourselves, and partially because of a heavy set of gates that we have been unable to breach. Vahtache's fortress possesses the sturdiest defenses we've yet seen, and every attempt to breach even their initial set of gates has proven futile. While Vahtache cannot escape, we also cannot successfully starve them out. At this rate, we may be forced to lift the siege."

"Especially now that we're in the winter months," Telepe added grimly, letting out a soft sigh. "I don't see how you can maintain a siege like that without supplies."

"Oh, our army is very well-supplied," Perrif assured him with a smile. "Not only are the southern kingdoms in Cyrod providing us with sufficient food and arms, we have also received aid from the Barsaebic Ayleids in Argonia. What's more, even in the deepest parts of the winter, the weather that far south is never so cold as to be unbearable. Even if this siege extends into the deepest parts of winter, we could maintain it. In fact, it would be easier than trying to besiege them in the summer, when the storms are at their most violent and diseases are the most virulent." Her smile faded as she added, "However, I have no intention of wasting time and resources on a fruitless siege. The longer we remain, the more time Umaril has to marshal his forces to move against us. That is actually part of the reason why I chose to travel to Sancre Tor in the first place."

"To retrieve Pelinal?" Telepe asked.

"Indeed. To break the siege by force if we must," Perrif sighed. Then she turned to him and smiled. "However, since we only needed to watch for an assault from Vahtache and their allies, we were able to travel a bit further north to the Kingdom of Kemen while the majority of our army maintained the siege. Morihaus had long wished to speak with Kemen about trading for horses, as he's longed for cavalrymen to supplement the phalanx."

"And you were successful?" Telepe prompted her.

"Quite," Perrif replied with a slight, proud smile. "I personally negotiated with their king, who was quite willing to treat with us. Though he was hesitant to ally with us, we were able to come to an agreement where we would trade goods from southern Nibenay – especially food – for their horses and cattle. Apparently, the area around Kemen is excellent pastureland for livestock, but poor for growing fruit and grain. Thus, he was happy to enter into an agreement with us, so long as we respected his kingdom's sovereignty."

Telepe stared at her silently, his amazement plain on his face. "You negotiated all of that?" he asked, not bothering to hide how impressed he was.

"Well… I have been observing how to conduct negotiations," Perrif said modestly, grinning at him sheepishly. "So I simply applied what I learned. I've concluded that it's a matter of determining what your opposite wants, and then determining what you are both willing to exchange. If both parties possess something the other desires, there's little reason not to trade, yes?"

Telepe shook his head, letting out a soft chuckle. "You make it sound so simple," he remarked, smiling at her warmly. "In truth, most envoys must have that process explained to them. To gather all of that simply by observing…."

"I did have Morihaus with me as well," Perrif said modestly. "He was advising me throughout the negotiations."

"Yet you were the one who finalized the negotiations, yes?" Telepe countered. When Perrif nodded with a slightly embarrassed smile, he chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. "Truly remarkable."

"You flatter me," Perrif said with a shy grin.

Telepe shook his head and glanced away, still smiling to himself. Privately, he had to admit that he was a touch envious of Perrif's natural charisma… and perhaps a bit worried. If she could conduct diplomacy herself, he wondered if there was a true reason for him to remain in Cyrod for much longer. After all, he had promised to remain so long as her envoys required training. While he could continue to assist with teaching other emissaries, there was little need for him to continue to negotiate on Perrif's behalf if she could do so herself… was there?

"Telepe?" Perrif asked, her smile fading slightly as she noticed his distant look.

"My apologies!" Telepe said quickly, turning back around and grinning sheepishly. "Merely considering something. Nevertheless, I'm quite pleased you were so successful. Though… I imagine that obtaining the horses was the simplest part, yes?"

"Indeed," Perrif confirmed. "Once we had traded for our first score of horses, Morihaus took it upon himself to gather the most impetuous and daring of our men and begin teaching them to ride on horseback. Fortunately, as I said, we did have a few keptu tribesmen in our ranks who had a great deal of experience riding in the desert before the Ayleids abducted them. Once Morihaus had selected the Nedes that he felt would make the best cavalrymen, he set them to work in pairs, with a keptu rider teaching their Nedic apprentice. He also busied himself devising new tactics that would incorporate cavalry into our existing phalanx maneuvers." A fond smile crossed her lips as she added, "Several nights, I had to remind him that he needed to retire and rest. He seemed almost obsessed for a time."

Telepe blinked as he noticed that Perrif's expression was particularly tender as she spoke of Morihaus. When she finished speaking, she was silent for several long moments, seemingly lost in thought. Only when he cleared his throat did she shake her head slightly and turn back to him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and Telepe was uncertain if she had turned that rosy because of the cold, or for another reason.

"So… then these men are the products of your training?" Telepe asked, nodding to the warriors following behind them.

Perrif smiled as she followed his gaze to the cavalrymen trailing behind them. Eight mounted warriors were clad in heavy bronze cuirasses, bracers, and greaves, with their upper bodies wrapped in thick fur cloaks to ward off the cold, and their thighs protected by long wool skirts. Their helmets differed from the standard infantry helm, as they were capped with a crest of black horsehair that distinguished them from the average hoplite. Each carried a long, two-handed spear, a short bow, and a sword or a mace as a sidearm.

Their horses were among the largest that Telepe had ever seen. Even the smallest was far more muscular than Emero, and stood at least a hand and a half taller at the shoulder. They were evidently well-trained too, as they moved sure-footedly over the hard terrain, and even when they stumbled, they quickly regained their footing and continued blithely along the icy path, wholly undeterred by the interruption. Watching them made Telepe briefly scowl down at his own stubborn mount, who studiously ignored his rider glowering down at him.

"They are," Perrif nodded, pulling Telepe out of his thoughts as she motioned to the men riding behind him. "As Morihaus wanted, they are more independent than the standard hoplite. They can accomplish the tasks of a scout, a hoplite, and a cavalryman, depending on where they're needed. To that end, they've taken the title of 'equite,' or 'knights,' after Pelinal's fierce independence and flexibility on the battlefield."

"Indeed?" Telepe asked absently, glancing over his shoulder warily at the men. "Do they also share his zealous hatred of elves?"

"Only if they are our enemies," Perrif assured him with a soft smile.

"Good," Telepe sighed. "Considering how often Pelinal's blind hatred has been as much of a hindrance as a help during our campaign, I don't think I could endure any more mindless rage from our men."

Perrif gazed at Telepe quietly for several long moments, but when he didn't say any more, she continued, "In any case, while our new knights shall undoubtedly prove most useful in a pitched battle, there is little use for them during a protracted siege, save to ensure that enemy scouts are not harassing our foragers and supply lines. As such, I requested that Morihaus maintain the siege of Vahtache while I travel to Sancre Tor to retrieve Pelinal and some additional reinforcements, and to discover how the western campaign has fared."

"So that's why Morihaus didn't accompany you?" Telepe asked.

"Indeed. I felt it was more important to leave him in command of our army in case of a counterattack," Perrif nodded.

"You could have simply sent a falcon with a message," Telepe pointed out.

"And you didn't have to accompany me to find Pelinal," Perrif countered with a sly smile. When Telepe winced, she chuckled and added, "It seems that we both wish to personally see that certain tasks are completed successfully, yes?"

"I suppose I cannot argue with that," Telepe admitted with a sheepish grin. "And it is good to see you again. Though it's a pity you didn't bring Morihaus with you. If there's anyone that I would expect to be able to bear the brunt of Whitestrake's rage, it's him."

"Perhaps he might. But from what you told me of this last battle, even Morihaus would be hard-pressed to contain Pelinal when he's so enraged and grief-stricken," Perrif replied grimly.

"Well… I suppose it's wishful thinking on my part," Telepe admitted. "Rather, I was hoping Morihaus might contain him. While Pelinal has been an invaluable asset throughout this campaign, there are times when he has done as much damage to us as to the Ayleids."

Perrif looked away and let out a soft sigh, her breath misting in the cold mountain air. "I have shared our progress in the east with you," she said, turning back towards him. "Would you please tell me how this campaign has fared?"

Telepe briefly closed his eyes to gather his thoughts, and then told Perrif everything that had happened from the time they had parted ways in Nenalata – the journey to Sancre Tor, his meeting with Haromir and the king's duel with Pelinal, their discovery of the veil around the White-Gold City, their journey to Ninendava and their confrontation with Gordhaur, and finally, all had transpired before and during their campaign to take Ceya-Tar. When he finished several minutes later, Perrif remained quiet, before nodding and exhaling slowly.

"Well… first, I'm pleased that you all captured Sancre Tor almost bloodlessly. Well done on that count. And I'm also very pleased that you all took the initiative to uncover the nature of the veil around the White-Gold City. We had been wondering about that as well, actually," Perrif said. A slight smile flickered across her lips. "Though to think that Tari could read an Elder Scroll…."

"I was amazed as well," Telepe agreed, smiling fondly. "And I'm happy for her. Despite all she's done, for the past several months, she's felt as though she hasn't done enough for the rebellion. Between reading the Elder Scroll and mastering modification magic, I believe that she's finally satisfied now that she has something tangible to work towards."

"And it's fortuitous for us," Perrif agreed. "Though… you have not yet received word from the Nords, have you?"

"I have not. Though perhaps their correspondence arrived after we departed. I didn't have the opportunity to check," Telepe pointed out. "Did you hear anything?"

"In truth, I only arrived two days ago myself, and I did not think to inquire with anyone else," Perrif admitted. "You were the only one I've asked."

Telepe nodded once and looked up again. "Then we must speak with the falconers once we return."

"Indeed. Even so, all you have managed to accomplish is… remarkable," Perrif said.

"Yes, Pelinal and Edanu both did a magnificent job," Telepe agreed easily. "In fact, when we have some time later, I would like to speak with you about perhaps officially conferring greater honors onto Edanu for all he's done. I have an idea about restructuring of our army that I would also like to speak with Morihaus about."

"Is that so? I shall be glad to consider it, and I'm certain Morihaus will entertain your suggestion," Perrif nodded. She then smiled and added, "But I was not simply praising those two."

"No, I agree," Telepe nodded. "The men you sent with Pelinal deserve much of the credit as well."

Perrif stared at him for several long moments, and then a slow smile began to creep across her face. "You're doing this on purpose," she chided him.

"Perhaps," Telepe replied easily, then grinned and ducked out of the way as Perrif playfully swatted at him.

"Cheeky. In any case, well done, Telepe," she praised him, settling back on her horse.

"Not at all," Telepe replied graciously, inclining his head. "Nevertheless, while we've accomplished a great deal, there's still much for us to do. Cyrod has not yet been liberated, and Umaril remains a threat. Furthermore, until we can retrieve Pelinal, I fear that we are dangerously vulnerable. Much as I hate to admit how much we must rely upon him," he added bitterly.

Perrif laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Well… I'm pleased that you're maintaining a sober perspective at least." A shiver ran down her body and she added, "Come along then. Let's find our wayward knight swiftly so that we might be free of this cursed cold as soon as possible. Why did I obey the gods when they suggested such a frigid region for our capital…?"

The small entourage traveled swiftly through the mountains, covering more than twice as much ground each day than the caravan had. Telepe had nearly forgotten how swiftly a rider could move when they weren't slowed by a wagon train and dozens of hoplites. In less than two days, they had left the foothills of the Jerall Mountains and had once again crossed into Hrotanda Vale.

The initial plan that Perrif laid out was to travel south and retrace the path that they had taken to reach Ceya-Tar, where she hoped that they would find some trace of where Pelinal had gone. Telepe was skeptical of the plan, as he worried it would take weeks to find Pelinal, especially without any sort of lead, but Perrif pointed out that they had no other ideas about where the knight had even gone. As it happened, however, they didn't need to venture far before they found a lead.

As they neared an isolated farm early one morning, Telepe was surprised to see an Ayleid woman waving her arms at them, a panicked look on her face. Telepe and Perrif traded looks as they approached the elven woman, who stared up at them with a terrified expression.

"You fools! Have you not heard?! Stay off the roads, lest you draw the attention of the Ruby Butcher!" the woman exclaimed.

"The… Ruby Butcher?" Telepe repeated slowly.

The woman gaped at them, then shook her head in disbelief. "So you truly have not heard? Two days ago, a rumor came on the wind that a figure cloaked in blood was ravaging the countryside to the east! They say that this… monster is impervious to all weapons. It has a blade and a cudgel for arms, and when it screams, it belches forth a hideous light that sears all that it touches! If it sees you, it shall slay you, no matter if you are man, mer, or beast! I for one have no desire to draw its attention! So stay off the road!"

Telepe glanced over at Perrif, who nodded grimly, then leaned closer to the woman. "To the east, you said?" she asked gently.

The Ayleid woman's eyes widened at the question, her mouth falling open. "You… wish to avoid it, yes?! Surely you don't intend to trail it?!"

"Of course we have no intention of pursuing something so dangerous," Telepe said quickly, shooting a pointed glance at Perrif. "We would have to be mad to do so." Perrif responded by narrowing her eyes at him, though she didn't say anything in return. "Again, however… to the east?"

The farmer glanced between the pair, then shook her head again. "Yes, the rumors claim that the nearest region to suffer an attack from here was about a day's ride to the east. Along the road past Moranda, the rumors claim that you shall see where it attacked." She paused, then added ominously, "Moranda itself was not razed, but it is said that other kingdoms have fallen to this… fiend's attacks. All perish in its wake, and if you hear its scream, it is already too late to save yourself."

"We shall remain vigilant if we travel in that direction, then," Perrif assured the woman with a warm smile. "Thank you for informing us."

The elven woman stared at them, then shrugged, muttering under her breath, "They're not going to heed my warning, are they? Very well. If they wish to perish, it's no concern of mine…."

Telepe raised an eyebrow at Perrif, who blithely ignored his pointed look and wheeled her horse around, then set off down the road at a quick pace. Telepe hesitated, then glanced over his shoulder at her knights. He noticed that they looked similarly uneasy, but no one protested, and shortly afterwards, all of them were following after her.

It had been early in the morning when the Ayleid had warned them of the trouble on the road ahead, and the small group was able to make swift progress along the eastern road throughout the day. They spotted one Ayleid patrol on the road ahead, and managed to step off the path and hide in the trees before they were noticed, but when they saw how the elves were galloping west as quickly as their horses could take them, Telepe wondered if they would have been accosted at all. The elves' apparent fright was a lingering worry for Telepe as they continued their journey east. It was only when dusk was approaching that they crested a hill and finally saw what had the elves so terrified.

As they stood at the top of the hill, they gazed down into a valley that had been scorched beyond recognition. The trees were charred and blackened, and much of the grass had been reduced to ash. By the side of the road was a pile of soot-covered rubble, though as Telepe looked closer, he began to make out the broken shapes of fluted columns, and after a few moments, he realized that the ruin must have once been a small farmhouse. His dread turned to horror as his eyes trailed along the interior of the house, and he saw a blackened, skeletal hand reaching out through the rubble, its fingers open and grasping futilely for salvation. In the distance, plumes of black smoke drifted lazily into the air, suggesting that other dwellings had suffered the same fate.

Bile rose in Telepe's throat as he looked away, only turning around again when Perrif slowly rode past him. Her face was as pale as snow, and her bright blue eyes were wide with shock and disgust. She began to descend into the valley, and though Telepe at first thought to stop her, he eventually reluctantly followed her.

"This was all wrought by Pelinal?" Perrif whispered, her eyes raking back and forth over the desolate landscape. Her eyes fell on the blackened hand sticking out through the remains of the farmhouse, and a shudder ran through her small body. "How did he inflict so much damage?"

"It might be possible if he were using his scorching light," Telepe suggested quietly. "That's what the rumors seemed to suggest. Though I thought he claimed that it was dangerous for him to use…."

"This… this goes beyond simple vengeance," Perrif murmured. "His rage and fury were justified, but this? This is… madness."

"Madness?!" a shrill voice cackled suddenly, causing both Telepe and Perrif to jump. "Aye, I suppose madness is a fittin' word for what happened here!"

Perrif and Telepe both snapped their heads to the right towards the source of the voice. A figure neither one of them had noticed casually strolled out from behind one of the charred trees. The being seemed to be an elderly human male with a trimmed, full beard and short grey hair. His manner of dress, however, was utterly bizarre. He was clad in a deep purple chiton, though one of the shoulders was undone, exposing part of his bare chest. One half of the lower part of the chiton fell below his knees, while the other was hiked most of the way up his thigh, making him appear even more asymmetrical. He wore a sandal on one foot, while the other was bare, though Telepe also noticed that neither of his feet were covered in soot, as they should have been if he was walking along the burned grass. The old man leaned lightly on a crooked staff, capped by what Telepe thought at first to be a white stone, though when the man rotated it slightly, Telepe was shocked to realize that it was actually a staring, bloody eyeball.

"What… happened here?" Perrif repeated, seeming equally shaken by the strange man's sudden appearance. "Did you bear witness to what transpired?"

"I suppose I did!" the man replied cheerfully. "Or did I?" he suddenly asked, frowning thoughtfully. "Who can really say? What about you?" he added, turning the staff around and staring at the eyeball on top of it. "Of course you did!" he cackled. "But then, you're not really in a position to tell us what you saw, now, are you?!"

"So… did you?" Telepe asked tentatively.

"Hold your tongue, boy, before I cut it out and feed it to you!" the man suddenly barked, swinging around and glaring furiously at Telepe, who reflexively flinched at the sudden outburst. "Don't you know it's rude to interrupt when someone is havin' a conversation?!" Telepe stared at the man warily for several seconds, and then the elderly gentlemen abruptly asked in a pleasant tone, "I'm sorry, were we discussin' somethin'?"

Telepe shot a wary glance over at Perrif, silently asking her if she was certain she wished to continue questioning this strange man. Perrif, however, straightened her shoulders and nodded. "Do you know what happened here?" she repeated.

"All of this? Yes, yes, of course," the man replied irritably, waving one hand. "Some sort of warrior in blessed armor – or was it cursed, I wonder? – came runnin' through here like he was chased by the Daedra themselves. 'Course, he wasn't. I should know!" the man giggled, and then abruptly straightened up again. "Family of elves lived here, y'know. Lovely little idyllic farmhouse life they were livin', all peaceful. Kind to their slaves, even! And what'd he do to 'em?! Tore 'em apart like they was made of papyrus! Burned down their house, screamin' to the heavens all the while! And then he went chargin' on his merry way to the next farm down the road! It was quite a sight, actually. Not that I'm actually sayin' that I saw it myself," the man concluded with a shrug.

Perrif let out a long, slow breath, placing her hand over her eyes. "By the Divines," she whispered to herself.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you survive?" Telepe asked, turning his gaze towards the odd man.

"Me? Who's to say I was even here at the time? Makin' a lot of assumptions. Both about where I was… and who I am," the man pointed out, his voice trailing off into a low growl. As he stepped closer, Telepe suddenly noticed how unusual his eyes were. One had a bright gold iris, and the other was a deep, sinister green, though what struck him the most was that both had slitted pupils like a reptile's, and the whites of his eyes were ink-black.

"Then… if I might ask… who are you?" Telepe pressed.

The man threw his head back and laughed. "That isn't important!" the man crowed. "Though that's not to say that I'm not important," he added, his mirth again abruptly dissolving into a sinister growl. "I suppose you could call me a stranger to this land… much as you are, aren't you?" he added, tilting his head thoughtfully at Telepe.

A shiver ran down Telepe's spine, but he found himself morbidly intrigued by the man's strange demeanor. "Where might you be from, then?" he asked conversationally.

"The Isles, of course!" the man replied cheerfully, gazing at the sky with a far-off expression. "Though I'm afraid they're in somethin' of a state right now. My servants are currently rebuildin' my capital. Happens every so often. But this one shall be a most capital capital! Where my citizens shall be free to earn capital as they please, and my capitol building shall have capital columns, capped with silver caps at their capitals!" His cheerful mood abruptly swung again, and he added thoughtfully, "Though I may ban capital letters. To write with them shall be a capital offense!" Then his face darkened once more and he growled, "And no one would dare offend me in my capital."

Telepe stared at the man in stunned silence, but before he could ask more questions, Perrif interjected, "You know of the one who did this, yes?"

"I know of him, yes, though I don't know him. And I suspect that he doesn't even really know himself," the man shrugged. "Of course, who can?! He's wrapped in myth and shrouded in enigma! Is the name he wears even his own?! Who could say?! So, how can I know a man who is a mystery even to himself?"

"…Do you know where he went?" Perrif pressed.

"Perhaps," the man answered evasively. There was a long pause as Perrif and Telepe both stared at him, and he added, "I can tell you with absolute certainty where he's been. Just follow the trail he's blazed! Quite literally, in fact!" he cackled. "He started at Narlemae, of course, and then he ran north for a while, before makin' his way east. I'm fairly certain he passed by Celediil at some point. Not that those names mean anything anymore. What good is a name for a place that no longer exists?" he added in a dark tone.

Telepe felt a chill run through his body, and he and Perrif traded wary looks as the stranger shifted against the wall he was leaning against. He reached behind himself, and when his hand appeared again, he was holding a turnip, which he seemed to have pulled from nowhere. As Telepe stared, he eagerly bit into the top of the turnip and began chewing on it happily, before tossing away the bulb, as though it was garbage. Telepe blinked, baffled, as Perrif cleared her throat and took a few steps closer to the stranger.

"Will you tell us where he went, then?" she asked, her voice taking on a harder edge.

The stranger tilted his chin up slightly, appraising her, and then he let out a soft, sinister chuckle. "You're not really in a position to be makin' demands, are you?" he asked in a dangerously quiet voice. "Especially not with that mad dog of a knight runnin' around the countryside." He seemed about to continue, but then he paused and added thoughtfully, "'Course, anyone would be mad with a dragon lookin' over their shoulder, wouldn't they? How could anyone think straight with a dragon ridin' 'em?! Ever had a dragon ride you? Wouldn't recommend it. They're big creatures, y'know. Heavy, sharp claws, lots of teeth. Though I suppose if it were the other way around, you'd still be mad! Only a madman would try to ride a dragon!"

"If you know, then where did Pelinal go?" Perrif repeated, keeping her voice remarkably steady despite the infuriating manner of the stranger.

"Hah! A rhyme! Lovely!" the stranger cackled. "I suppose I might be able to help you… though it's customary to offer a gift if you're askin' a favor. Especially of my kind," he added, his voice again dropping into a threatening growl.

"Then what would you like?" Telepe chimed in.

"Hm… a light salad isn't very filling, is it?" the stranger asked, glancing over his shoulder at the discarded turnip with an indifferent shrug. He then turned back around and asked, "I suppose… do you have anythin' to eat?"

Telepe hesitated, then walked over to Emero's saddlebags and began poking through them while the strange man watched him curiously, but patiently. After a few moments, Telepe walked back over, holding his hands out. "If you'd like, we have dried meat, some nuts, and a bit of goat cheese-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the stranger's mismatched eyes lit up with glee. He suddenly lunged forward, and seemingly in the space it took Telepe to blink, the man was in front of him, gazing greedily down at the cheese. He snatched the white block from Telepe's hands and bit into it, then let out a laugh.

"Wonderful! I must say, I like what you're offerin' me, so I won't be offin' you! Ah, perhaps I was wrong about you, boy!" the man crowed. "Not the first time, though hopefully the last. And when it happens, it's rarer than a diamond, come to think of it! Pity I don't have a diamond to give you in exchange. Perhaps something of equal value? This stick?" he asked, and upon waving his hand, a strange, crooked staff appeared in his hand. Though, a moment later, he added, "Actually, no, you wouldn't like that. Horrible gift, now that I think about it. A gallbladder, then, perhaps?"

Telepe swallowed, then replied gently, "The information that we requested will more than suffice, thank you."

"Are you sure? Well, I don't mind," the man shrugged. "While I don't have a diamond to give you, I can tell you that you should be on the lookout for a ruby. That's what the locals in the east know your wayward knight by, after all. Yes, by now he's developed quite the reputation for himself, and that symbol is what you should watch for. I suspect that by the time you find him, his rage will have cooled somewhat… though just because a volcano has stopped eruptin' doesn't mean the magma is no longer dangerous." He shot a glance at Perrif as he paused to take another bite of the cheese. "You've got the ear of eight of his handlers, don't you? Perhaps you should speak with them about settlin' your dog down before you try to leash him and bring him home. Otherwise, he may even try to bite your hand. That said, once he's calmed himself a bit, you might try to find a cave marked by a bloody ruby. Perchance, that might be where you find your lost knight."

Perrif considered his words quietly, while Telepe folded his hands behind his back. "If… I might ask you a question?"

"You might. Or you might not," the man snickered. "And even if you might ask, I might not answer it. But you might as well."

"How… do you know all of this?" Telepe asked slowly.

The old man snorted, shaking his head. "You don't strike me as dull, boy. In that case, are you bein' willfully blind? If so, then you're sayin' you have no further need for your eyes, yes? I can take 'em from you if you're not usin' 'em," he snarled threateningly.

Telepe swallowed, then glanced away. He already had his suspicions as to the stranger's identity, though he didn't want to voice them aloud… partially because he feared that his suspicions would be confirmed if he asked. Somehow, that was even more terrifying than not knowing who the stranger was. Either way, if he was unwilling to ask Pelinal about his origins, then he certainly wasn't going to ask this stranger if he was the Prince of Madness. "Then… why are you aiding us?" Telepe asked. "Does offering us your assistance not also weaken you? If the Ayleids were to fall…."

"Are you truly questionin' my motives, boy?" the man snapped, though he sounded almost as amused as he did angry. "Am I not inscrutable enough as it is? Try to understand me, and you'll drive yourself mad! Though then we'll have all the time in the world to discuss it, if you wish!" he chortled. "Ah… but to answer your question… perhaps it amuses me. Perhaps I'm playin' a far longer game than you realize. Perhaps I simply don't like over-ambitious harlots stickin' their noses into realms where they don't belong," he added, turning his head to glare to the south – in the direction of the Temple of the Ancestors, Telepe realized. The man's face then turned bright red, and he shrieked in an increasingly hysterical tone, "Perhaps even if I'm harmin' myself a bit, I'm also gainin' a bit of revenge on fifteen treacherous snakes that dared to break and humiliate me!" Telepe flinched as the man's slitted eyes fell on him. For just a moment, he was even more afraid than when Pelinal had glared at him while in the depths of his rage. An instant later, however, the man straightened up and added pleasantly, "Or perhaps I've no reason at all. Who knows? I might, true. You certainly don't, so don't worry your little silver head about it."

Telepe tilted his head back as Perrif nodded. "I see. If what you say is true, then we should thank you for your assistance."

"Ah, there's nothin' to thank me for," the stranger replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Could be that I'm wrong, after all. Could even be I'm lyin' to you. But then, you won't know until you go see, will you? He might be there, or he might not be. Or he might be both at the same time! I believe there's an allegory about a cat in there somewhere… somethin' about lettin' it out of the bag? No… that's not right… bah." The stranger shook his head, then motioned them along the road. "All this talk is makin' my throat dry. Run along now, before I decide to wet it with your blood!" he added with a vicious smile. "Shoo!"

At this, the man turned and began merrily skipping away from the farmhouse. Perrif stared after him for a moment before turning to her knights. "Galvis, Baru, and Evazi… I would like to ask you all to continue east, as he said. If what he claims is true, then we shall find Pelinal within a cave marked by a ruby."

"My lady… do you trust him?" one of the knights asked skeptically, staring over his shoulder at the man, who was happily rolling down the hill like a child.

"Of course not. Especially considering who he is," Perrif said, shooting a wary look after the man. "However, I do not believe that he was lying to us." When the knights still seemed uncertain, she added, "It would be wise of us to investigate, at the very least. So, can I trust you three to complete this task?"

The trio of knights traded glances, and then the lone female of the group placed her fist to her breast. "As you command, my lady."

"Thank you," Perrif smiled, before turning back to the others. "The rest of us shall return to Sancre Tor for now."

"What if he was wrong?" Telepe asked as the knights immediately followed her command and nudged their horses down the road to the east.

"When we return to the city, I shall send scouts out to follow Pelinal's trail," Perrif replied simply. She swept her hand around at the blackened landscape, adding dryly, "It's not as though it should be difficult for them to follow, after all. Regardless of whether what we were told was true or not, we shall undoubtedly find Pelinal at the end of this… desolation."

"And what if they find him and he's still enraged?" Telepe asked softly. He shot a wary glance at the burned remains of the farmhouse. "If what we were told was true and Pelinal is capable of destroying entire cities in this state – and is doing so indiscriminately – then three knights shall not be sufficient to retrieve him."

Perrif considered Telepe for a long moment, then nodded and slipped off of her horse. As he watched, she knelt in the middle of the road and clasped her hands together, closing her eyes. The others gazed at one another silently as they waited, until Perrif abruptly opened her eyes and heaved a deep sigh.

"The gods… are not pleased with Pelinal's actions," she murmured despondently as she climbed back onto her horse. "In fact, they are utterly disgusted with the destruction he's wrought. He was sent to Nirn to fight the Ayleids, not to leave the world in ruin. Worse… they are contemplating whether they erred by sending him to our aid."

"Does that mean that they would recall him?" Telepe asked uneasily. Privately, he was uncertain that Pelinal even had divine origins – he personally thought Pelinal was more Daedric, given his destructive nature – but Perrif seemed so certain that he wasn't willing to question her conviction.

"In truth, I believe they are so horrified by Pelinal's actions that they may even consider Nirn itself unworthy of saving. They may abandon our world altogether," Perrif replied in a dire tone. Telepe felt his stomach drop as he stared at Perrif in disbelief. Shaking her head, she added, "I must commune with them further when we have the opportunity. Perhaps there is some way that we might offer restitution and appease the gods' anger."

Telepe swallowed as he nudged Emero along the path, riding beside her. "Do you have any suggestions?" he asked softly.

"Likely we shall need to sacrifice something of great value, or perform some act to show our contrition," Perrif replied, shaking her head again. "However, I am presently uncertain of what the gods desire. As I said, I must meditate upon it when we return to Sancre Tor." She let out a slow sigh, then added, "In the meantime, let us make haste back to the city. I also believe that a heavy snow shall soon fall, which shall prevent us from warring against the Ayleids for a time, but which shall also provide a temporary respite from our enemies' designs."

"Did the gods unveil that to you as well when you were speaking with them?" Telepe asked, giving her a sidelong glance.

Perrif glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then began laughing softly to herself. "No. I'm simply observing the weather," she replied, pointing up at the sky, where bright grey stormclouds loomed overhead.

Telepe scowled at her, leaning forward on Emero's back and raising an eyebrow. "Cheeky," he remarked drily.

"Come now, I needn't ask the gods about everything," Perrif laughed. She spurred her horse ahead, still giggling, as Telepe smiled to himself and let out a tolerant sigh before nudging Emero into a trot to follow her.