Dantor

Over in Dantor, a meeting was taking place. Elphin, a respected citizen, Dorus, his son and Urdoc, an old and extremely wise Molok were huddled around a small table in The Horseshoe, one of the quieter Inns. They were discussing recent events concerning the thefts and had been sat there for over three hours without arriving at a final solution.

‘I wish I’d never set eyes on the child!’ muttered Elphin frustratedly, gulping down another mouthful of dandelion ale.

‘Stop blaming yourself, dad, it’s not your fault,’ said Dorus, looking to Urdoc for encouragement.

‘He’s right,’ Urdoc said sternly. ‘None of us could have predicted that it would come to this. You knew when you found the child in the forest it was your duty to bring it here. None questioned it. She had no home and her father, well the less said about him the better. The blame does not lie with you, only with the one who deserted her.’ Urdoc’s face hardened and he retorted back to his silent composure.

‘If I ever come face to face with....’ Elphin fumed.

‘No!’ Dorus said, throwing down his drink and leaning over the table, grabbing Elphin’s arm. ‘You can’t out-match the old Wizard, you know you can’t. Besides, the moment he knows we exist he would be all over us like a rash. We wouldn’t stand a chance against him!’

Elphin raised his pitiful eyes and gazed into those of his son’s, which glowed with fire. He nodded. They both then turned to Urdoc, who after a long pause, spoke in firm but reassuring tones, without lifting his eyes, as if deep in thought.

‘Tribanon is of no use to us. He left his child to die,’ he said angrily. ‘Let him not concern us...’ The old Molok looked to Elphin who remained unconvinced that this whole episode was not his fault. ‘...Our only mistake,’ Urdoc admitted, ‘lies in keeping the note which he left with her, we should have destroyed it as he intended to destroy his daughter.’

‘And like his daughter succeeded in destroying Biffleworth, the foolish fellow!’ said Dorus, signalling for more drinks.

‘Now, now,’ said Urdoc harshly, ‘never blame someone for falling in love.’ As the drinks arrived, no-one saw the look of sadness and grief which, for a brief moment, swept over Urdoc’s face.