"Rallyn has the right of it, Lyrique," Palasant says. "While these guards aren't supposed to help translate the book, they will certainly do all within their power to keep it from falling into the wrong hands."
At Rallyn's mention of more food, another Crimson guard enters with more stew and bread.
"When the troops arrived, it solved the food shortage problem we'd been having."
* * * * *
At the library, Travellios and Mortimer begin returning the books to their proper places. It doesn't seem as if any of the manuscripts, scrolls or tomes were damaged, just removed and opened, then tossed onto the floor. After a few minutes it becomes clear the disruption was done in a pattern, left to right, clockwise, level by level, so it's fairly easy to figure out which books go where.
None seem to be missing but it appears as if it will take several hours even with two working diligently to get all the books returned to their proper places.
* * * * *
Marin waves farewell from the back of his wardog and trots south from the glade. Sildarin makes the trip to Serbanas's cottage in just a few minutes. There's no sign of the earlier fight between Serbanas and the invading orcs. All the bodies have been removed, although there are a few suspicious patches of snow that might be covered bloodstains.
The fire is roaring in Serbanas's workshop. The door is open and his immense form can be seen forging a weapon. His feet run a bellows pump and he hammers in a complex rhythym on some intricate blade....
