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guards, all
without mercy in their usual vile fashion. Over one hundred people died that
day. There were no survivors. After everyone was dead, they heaped the corpses
into a pile and set fire to them. They say the smoke hung over the forest for
weeks afterwards. By the time the King’s guards arrived, there was nothing left
but a pile of smoking ashes. The Turog, encouraged by their success, went on to
sack Ravenshold - left only lightly defended. They rampaged through it, killing
everyone, stealing and pillaging. They even tried to set fire to it, but it
wouldn’t burn. Then they disappeared into the forest again. The King sent his
best trackers to find them, but to no avail. Those vermin can disappear like
mist when they wish to.” He sighed. “For many years Ravenshold lay empty,
inhabited only by ghosts. Then Celedorn and his band of cut-throats emerged out
of the forest and took it over, using its position in the Westrin mountains to
raid the trade routes through the great valleys. They steal, pillage and
destroy, little better than the Turog. Their only redeeming feature is that
they hunt the Turog ruthlessly. It is almost sport with them. I believe Celedorn
has thought up ways of slaughtering captured Turog that I would not dare repeat
to you. But he has achieved what few men have done - he has made them afraid of
him. They even have their own name for him. In their barbarous tongue they call
him Zardes-kur - the Executioner, the Bringer of Death.”
     Despite the warmth of the autumn sun still falling
on the courtyard, Elorin shivered.
     
     However, on their arrival at Relisar’s tower, her
anxious mood vanished. When they had ascended the stairs to his study, he suddenly
halted in the doorway, giving vent to an exclamation of horror. She peered over
his shoulder to see what was the matter, to discover that his study was
immaculately tidy. The chaos had been replaced by order. Every book was back in
its appointed space on the shelves, all his jars and potions were arranged
neatly according to size or colour, and the huge oak table was polished until
it gleamed.
      “Oh, no!” he repeated in the voice of doom. “Keesha
has been tidying!” He shook his head sadly. “I won’t be able to find a thing
now.”

Chapter Four
The lynching Party
     
     
      
     
      Over the next few weeks Relisar’s tower became home
for Elorin. She found him generous, cheerful, forgetful and more than a little
chaotic to live with. However, his unfailing kindness and sympathy won in
response from her a firm liking and respect. Her partiality was such, that it
hurt her, on the rare occasions when they met Prince Sarrick, that he held the
old Sage in such open contempt. Fortunately it was otherwise with his brother.
Andarion was all a prince should be - handsome, gracious and brave. Whatever
his private opinion of Relisar’s incompetence, he was unfailingly courteous to
him and went out of his way to be kind to Elorin. Only a few days after her
arrival in Addania, a parcel arrived at the tower accompanied by a note
addressed to her. It was from Andarion and explained that as her abrupt and
unexpected arrival in the kingdom meant that she had no possessions, he had
taken the liberty of asking his sister to obtain clothes and other necessities
for her. As the clothes she had been wearing had been tunic and breeches, he
had procured a similar style of dress for her and hoped that she would find
this acceptable.
     Acceptable was hardly the word. When Elorin opened
the parcel, she found clothes that she was quite certain she had never
possessed in her life. The tunics were of the richest materials and the most
beautiful colours - deep blue, amethyst and forest-green - all colours except
royal red. Moreover they were embroidered at the cuffs and collar with
intricate designs in gold and silver thread. Silver hairbrushes, scent bottles
of crystal and boots of the softest, finest leather were but few of the other
treasures in the