They all glanced up from the table to see Farly come racing into camp.

"The Dylvana are here!" he cried as he galloped across the sward.

As Tip rolled his maps, Farly haled his pony up short and swung his leg across his saddle and leapt down. "The Dylvana are here and are setting up camp at Eryn Ford."

Rynna scooped up Lark and held onto her tightly, and Tipperton put his arms about both.

Dressed in their leathers and bearing their weaponry, eight Warrows came riding into the Elven camp, Rynna and Tipperton in the lead, Dinly and Alver coming last. And as Tipperton rode past, Dylvana hailed him… and hailed Beau following after.

Her blue eyes sparkling, Dara Vail came and walked alongside Tip as he rode toward the central tent, where Coron Ruar was said to be. "I was glad to hear thee yet lived, Tipperton, thou and Beau."

"Beau and I have come through some scrapes since I rode scout with you on the way to Mineholt North, Lady Vail," said Tip. "Scrapes: ah but what a gentle name for those dire dealings; nevertheless, they seemed to seek us out, as I imagine they did you."

"Aye. The Spaunen in Crestan Pass were stubborn, yet we prevailed in the end." Vail looked across at Rynna. "Is this-?"

"Oh, my pardon," blurted Tip. "Lady Vail, may I present Rynna Fenrush-er, that is, Rynna Fenrush Thistledown. Rynna, Lady Vail."

Vail's eyes widened, then she laughed merrily. "Oh but what splendid news."

Rynna smiled tentatively. "News?"

"That thou didst not die at the fall of Caer Lindor."

Rynna grinned widely. "Nay, lady, I did not." Then Ryn-na's smile vanished and she added, "Though many others did."

"Beau! Tipperton!" hailed a familiar voice.

Tip turned to see just as Beau exclaimed, "Melor!"

"Come sup with me this eve," called Melor, as he curry-combed his horse, "and tell me what all has befallen."

"I will," replied Beau, then he gestured toward Linnet. "We will, and that's a promise."

Beau turned to Linnet. "A splendid healer. He taught me much."

Tip waved at Melor, turning to Vail as she said, "I wouldst that thou rejoin the scouts, Tipperton, for we need all to aid."

"Rynna is our leader," replied Tip. "But if she has no other plans for me, and if Lord Eilor requests, then so shall it be."

Vail's face fell. "Alor Eilor was slain in Crestan Pass. I am now chief scout."

"Oh my," said Tipperton…

… and they fared the rest of the way to Coron Ruar's tent in silence.

Two days later the Baeron came riding to Eryn Ford-huge men on huge horses, massive wagons drawn in their wake-and alongside their company was a band of Lian from Arden Vale, come down from Crestan Pass at the summons of High King Blaine. In addition among the Baeron also rode Dara Riatha's company, all of whom had been on the northern wold nigh Landover Ford at the time of the calling.

Everywhere Tip and Beau turned, it seemed, they found another friend; many were the reunions of the buccen with sundry of these warriors. Old acquaintances were renewed, and new acquaintances made, as Rynna and Linnet and the others were introduced to these comrades of old… though as Alver said, "Whoo, my head is spinning with names."

Among the Lian were the twins Gildor and Vanidor, along with Talar, Riatha, Ruar, Alaria, Arandar, and lovely, dark-haired Elissan-who smiled at Tip and winked, the buccan blushing furiously in remembrance of a particular exposed bath. And among the Baeron they found Wag-onmaster Bwen and Braec and Durul, who now was chieftain, for Gara had been slain in the Grimwalls nigh Crestan Pass. And Bwen laughed hugely to see the buccen, and she called out, "Thuas seasim me agus sios cnag me, Beau, Tip, hum!"

And so many of the reunions were bittersweet, for Tip and Beau learned of folk who had fallen in the war, folk they had come to cherish, folk they held in their hearts.

Yet there was little time to mourn and no time to celebrate, for on the morrow they would begin the march from Eryn Ford to Caer Pendwyr.

Dawn came to shadows slipping away after saying goodbye to the Warrows. Fires were quenched as Elven and Baeron and Waerlinga warriors broke camp. Horses and ponies were saddled, pack animals laden with goods, dray horses hitched to wagons, as all was made ready for the trek unto Pellar.

With tears running down her face, Rynna kissed Lark one last time and whispered, "I love you, my sweet one, I love you," then handed her over to Melli. Tipperton, his own cheeks wet, sat astride his pony, his good-byes already said.

Nix and Linnet and Beau all kissed Melli on the cheek, and kissed little Lark as well, and then they turned to their ponies and mounted and fell in line after Rynna and Tip and rode forward two by two.

Vail spied the oncoming group of Waerlinga, and she summoned them to the fore, for all would be scouts but Beau, and he a healer in the vanguard.

Finally, at a signal from Coron Ruar, Dara Lyra raised a horn to her lips and blew a ringing call, and it echoed from limb and stone and hill on the cool October morn.

And slowly the column began to move forward, horses and ponies splashing into Eryn Ford and across, wagons rumbling after, all following the trail of the Elven scouts who were now some leagues ahead.

And as he rode into the water, Tipperton turned to take one long last look at his beloved Lark, and he raised his black-oxen horn and blew a ringing cry. And the hearts of all were lifted, wee Lark laughing in weeping Melli's arms. And away rode the Warrows, eight strong, eight warriors riding unto war midst a thousand Dylvana and twelve hundred Baeron and a hundred or so Lian, but Melli's tear-laden eyes saw only the precious eight.

Chapter 34

Under a high blue October sky, the army of Dylvana, Baeron, and Lian, along with eight Warrows, rode down the marge of the Greatwood. East-southeast they fared overland, the Rimmen Spur off to their left, Darda Stor to their right.

Tipperton, Beau, Alver, and Dinly rode together within the vanguard, while Rynna, Linnet, Nix, and Farly-being the most familiar with the territory-rode at the fore of the column to help lead the way.

On the morrow, all of the Warrows but two would ride scout, for the previous eve at the riverside camp, Vail had called them all together and had said…

"This will be the way of it: all but Sir Beau and Commander Rynna will ride scout-"

"What?" objected Rynna. "I am not to patrol? Look, I understand why Beau will not ride scout, for he is a healer and-"

"Hoy, now!" interjected Beau. "For a year and a half I have ridden scout along the marge of the Blackwood and up in the Rimmen Spur. Right?"

Linnet vigorously nodded. "Yes, and a better scout you could not-"

"Hold!" barked Vail. Then more softly, "Hold." She turned to Beau. "Healers are rarer than scouts, and Alor Melor has asked for thine aid. Is it not so?"

Beau sighed and reluctantly nodded, and Linnet put an arm about him and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"But what about me?" asked Rynna. "I am no healer."

Vail looked at the damman. "Nay, thou art not. Yet heed, thou art the commander of the Waerlinga, and as such thy place is with the other captains of this band and not out riding scout."

Rynna's jaw jutted out, and she glanced at Tip, fire glinting in her eye.

But Vail took in a deep breath and let it out and looked from Rynna to Beau. "I understand how ye both feel, for I, too, would rather be riding scout as in the days of yore"-she smiled at Tipperton, her partner of past-"yet as chief scout my place is with the vanguard, as is thy place, commander, just as it is with Beau."

Rynna glanced at Beau and looked at Tip and then turned to Vail and reluctantly agreed as well. But even as she did so a Dylvana runner came. "Commander Rynna, Chief Scout Vail, ye are requested to attend the council of captains in four candlemarks."