Beau held up a hand. "But someone also said that to his ear Agron sounded Dwarvish, and I know of no Dwarves living to the east-"

" 'Cept those they say what live beyond the Grimwall," interjected Gaman. "South, now, that's a different matter, what with the Black Hole and the Red Hills and all. Are you certain, Tipperton, the man who gave you the coin and told you to warn all said to go east?"

At Tip's confirming nod, Tessa said, "Regardless, even if half of what I hear of Elves is true-what with their knowledge and all-if you do reach them with the warning ' and tell them of the call to arms, they in turn should be able to tell you just who or what or where an Agron is as well as who flies a black banner bearing a ring of fire."

At her words, Prell seemed to come to a conclusion. He turned to Tipperton. "As you pointed out, miller, I said it myself: the warning must go through. And since none of the Kingsmen themselves survived to carry the tidings on eastward, it's a task someone else must take on. But just who should go in their stead-"

"Huah!" Tessa burst out. "Come, come, Prell, I can think of no one who can move as quietly, as stealthily as a Warrow; and so I ask you, who better to sneak past the foe?"

"Sneak?" Prell raised an eyebrow.

"Well, surely you don't expect to send a large force of arms, what with the muster needed at Stonehill and all these Spawn lurking about, to say nothing about needing to make certain that the signal makes it through the Dellins," replied Tessa.

"A small force skirting 'round Drearwood, I was thinking," said Prell smugly, "with my boy Arth in command."

"But a small force has already failed," said Tessa. "Six Kingsmen lie dead as proof."

At these words, Prell sucked in a deep breath, finally connecting the facts.

"Oh, no, Mayor," continued Tessa, "I think this mission calls for stealth, and who better than a Warrow?"

Gaman and Trake nodded in agreement, for it was common knowledge that Warrow feet were light on the land-lighter than Elves, said some.

"Especially if he's going through Drearwood," Trake added. All eyes turned to Tipperton.

"Say, now," declared Gaman, "couldn't you go east by traveling south first? I mean, down to Rhone and across and up? Skirt Drearwood altogether?"

"Hrara," said Trake, again laying his thumb against the map to gauge distances. "By travelin' down and 'round, it'd be some three hundred miles altogether, while going straight through would be, uh, right at two hundred." He looked across at Tipperton. "What I would do in your place, Thistledown, is-"

In that moment the door opened and some eight or ten men trooped in. Prell gestured at a large table across the common room and called out, "Over by the big table, men. We've a deal of planning to do."

As the men assembled 'round the long table, the mayor stood and fixed Tipperton with his gaze. "Miller, you can do as you please. Choose as you will-to march with the muster to the west, or to go east as the Kingsman bade. If you choose the latter, take whatever you need. As for me, I've got some important planning to do." Prell then turned on his heel and went to join his squad leaders.

"Hmph," grunted Beau, cocking an eyebrow at Tipperton, "as if what you're preparing to do, Tip, is completely inconsequential. I take it we've all been dismissed."

Gaman snorted and shook his head. "Prell, he's busy being commander, and if he doesn't watch out, likely soon he'll be swelled up as big as a toad."

Tipperton giggled at the image, but Beau just glared at Prell.

"Well," said Trake, gesturing at the map, "back to business. Which way will it be, Tipperton: straight through Drearwood, or down and 'round and up?"

"Aye," said Gaman. "Short and direct or long and roundabout."

"Well," said Tipperton, eyeing the chart, "it seems to me that-"

"Boy!" came Prell's call. "You. Darby. Run that map over here."

Beau's mouth dropped open.

"That's an order, boy."

Beau did not move.

Exasperated, Prell stormed to the table, glaring at Beau, and reached down and snatched up the map. "I'll deal with you later," he growled and turned on his heel.

"Hoy," protested Beau, "we need that to lay out our route." But the mayor paid Beau no heed and bore the map away. Incensed, Beau started to hop down, but Tip grabbed him by the arm and stopped him and turned the buccan face to face and mouthed, [Our route?]

"Never mind about the map," said Tessa, standing, "I've another. Use it to direct my traveling guests as to how to get to where they're wanting to go."

As Tessa stepped toward the bar, Beau looked at Tipperton, fire in his eye. "That settles it, Tip. I'll not serve under him. Instead, I'm coming with you."

"Coming with-? But the muster-they'll need your healing skills."

"Look, Tip, he said it himself: Garven the barber is going with them, and he knows stitching as well as I do. And as to herblore, there's Finch. Between them they can deal with the healing." Beau glared across the room at Prell. "Make a runner out of me, would he? Well he can just go pee up a rope." Beau turned back to Tip. "Besides, he said take whatever you need, and you need me, for with the two of us, one can stand watch while the other sleeps and, of course, conversely."

Tip raised a hand. "But you said that even if some fool went with me, and we took turns guarding and sleeping, still we're not likely to make it through."

"Look, Tip, I truly believe that one alone can't make it through, and since two are needed, as Tessa would say- and it's true-who better to sneak past the foe than two stealthy Warrows? Besides, if I want to be the fool who goes with you, that's my decision to make… if you'll have me, that is."

"But the peril-"

"Hang the peril, Tip. I can't let you go alone and that's that."

Tip's eyes glistered as he gazed at his friend, and he reached out and touched the buccan's hand. "Well then, Beau, if it's someone I need to take with me, I could choose none better than you."

"Heh!" cackled Trake, slapping Gaman on the arm, "I don't know who it is the High King is fighting, who's behind all this mess with the Rucks and such, but if them what aid High King Blaine are like these two, well, the foe doesn't stand even half a chance."

In that moment Tessa returned with her map.

They pored over the chart and discussed alternatives, and in the end at Beau's behest Tipperton finally chose: "All right. It's long and perhaps safer against short and perhaps swifter." Tip fell into thought, his gaze on the map. At last he said, "Given that war has begun and the Foul Folk are on the move, as we have said, they could be anywhere and so no route is known to be safe. Too, it seems imperative that we carry the warning eastward as swift as we can. And since going 'round Drearwood adds at least a hundred miles to our journey just to find the Elves, it means delaying the alarm by a sevenday or more. So I choose to go straight through Drearwood, the most direct and swiftest way, even though the peril may be greater."

Beau let out his pent-up breath and nodded in agreement, while Gaman sighed and said, "Although I reck' the other way safer, so be it, Thistledown. But remember, build no fires and travel only after the sun comes up and hole up before it goes down, for even in dark Drearwood, things tend to avoid the light of day… or so they say.

"But look here, you two come down to my stables and take three of my best ponies, one each to ride, and the third one to carry supplies. That should shorten the time you are in the wood and get the alarm to the Elves all the faster."

"Ponies?" exclaimed Beau. "But then we can't go in stealth."

"True," said Tessa. "But Gaman is right: you will go faster."