Thieves in the Temple

Aulendil smoothed off the last seam in the wood. He had set himself to the task upon the discovery of evil committed within the Silver Arrow. A noble beast had been slaughtered and left as a defilement. Its blood, scattered on the floor, had seeped into many of the stools and tables. And the mayhem which wrought this foul deed had left behind a countertop soaked with fey and bruised by rough handling. Helping with the clean-up and repairing some of the damage was the least he could do.

He himself had seen an ice barbarian; watched it ruin the simple peace of the Silver Arrow; witnessed it slip past the combined skills of some of Tel'Ruid's best warriors. And it had given him a message directly: there were more like him to come.

Then there was Kiravel who had reported a tower of dark omen and foul spirit not far to the west of the Glade. On one of her recent solo hunts, she had come across it where not long ago a clearing had existed. The sudden onrush of pitilessness and contempt had almost overcome her at first. But her training in the elven ways had helped her and now she was vigilant of the forests for other such signs and clues.

Presently, she was returning from patrolling the near woods while the council of Tel'Mithrim met in the Guild Hall. It was her father's idea. Aulos did not wish for her to believe that it was up to her alone to fend off any attackers. With the wisest minds and strongest warriors in debate over strategy, father and daughter saw the need for an extra set of eyes and ears on the perimeter.

The perimeter. Aulos had only just explained to Kiri that Tel'Ruid was a place of joy behind a strong defense. Now that outer protection - the shield-wall as he had described it to her - was in jeopardy. The enemy was without and within. It was a call to action. The carpenter and his family would answer.