"You are on private ground! Go back the way you came!" The two figures looked at each other and shrugged, but made no move to comply with the demand. Ffffthh! One figure cried out in pain as an arrow tore through his shoulder and pinned it to the bough of a tree behind.

"Hear you not what I say? You will now leave your possessions here as penalty for failing to respond!" The other figure drew out a long sword and waved it at the forest.

"You dare to attack us in such cowardly fashion? Beware if I ever catch you alone!" Ffffthh! Another arrow flew into the clearing and landed directly between the planted feet of the challenging figure.

"Leave now or suffer the consequences!" The figure stood still and raised his hands above his head, dropped the sword, walked over to the pinned figure, pulled the point out of the bark and assisted his companion as they departed the clearing. They slowly became one with the blurs in the night and the hasty camp remained untouched for several minutes before a well groomed figure in a cloak quietly stepped out, his silhouette betraying a long bow at his side. He investigated the clearing, spat at the possessions, stepped up to a furry lump in one corner of the clearing and knelt down to it. The bundle stirred, and a black fox’s head peered up at the figure. Its paw was trapped in a vice grip and the wound was festering. There was blood on the fox’s coat and it looked on its last legs.

"Trappers." the figure snorted in contempt. He leaned down and reached out to the fox, it bared its fangs but the figure murmured something and the fox calmed down and allowed the figure to touch it. He gently pried the trap open and extracted the paw from the rusted teeth. Checking for damage to the paw, he pulled out a pungent smelling pouch. He placed his hand inside the pouch and withdrew a sticky substance, which he began to smear on the fox’s wound. The fox began to growl. It pulled the paw away from the stranger as the poultice began to burn away the infections and begin the healing process. The fox slowly backed away from the healer. The healer remained crouched until the fox turned and hobbled into the forest shades.

"You must be quite wealthy to afford a fox that salve. Baxis, I believe. Was it not?" A tall young elf leaned against a bough of a tall quick-wood tree. He was cleaning his nails with a gleaming hunting knife. His apparel looked decidedly like that of a Woodsman. The healer looked at the new elf.

"An elf’s wealth is judged only on his personal value to himself, not his ability to afford luxuries. Yes?"

"I suppose each man defines wealth in his own different way."

"What brings you to these parts, Kortezz Icerion?" the healer stretched out of the crouch.

"Oh I got bored following a pack of trolls back there and decided it might be a good idea to tell you about them, since you seem to take offence at the forest’s defilers. By the way, greetings Lindelos".

"What! Trolls? Here in this forest right now? Lindelos stared icily at Kortezz. "Time to do some killing!" His eyes gleamed with anticipation of the imminent fighting.

"Steady on there Lindelos. You don’t even know the size of the pack or their reasons for being in the forest." Kortezz cut in.

"What other reason would they have, but to do damage to the season’s new saplings? Any treants they might encounter would be forfeit as well, and you know very well that there are three old ones in this very region of the forest Kortezz. I fail to see a reason for your complacency." Lindelos turned on Kortezz with a grim expression.

"Hey, it’s me." Kortezz shrugged, "Anyway, I figure the trolls ought to be a barrel of laughs. We could really have some fun with them. Oh, by the way, those two trappers are headed right at the pack. They don’t stand a chance."

"That is of no concern to me. They are humans, and scum to boot." Lindelos said, his face flushed with emotion.

"That is a bit intolerant of you, don’t you think? They are going to get killed because of your intolerance Lindelos." Kortezz said earnestly.

"Oh yeah! Well see if I give rocks about any human!" Lindelos shouted at Kortezz.

Kortezz backed off and gave Lindelos a discerning look, "I don’t think I’ve quite seen this side of you before. I wonder where it comes from?" Kortezz began to ponder this, but Lindelos cut him short.

"You’ll never know." Lindelos said it quietly with intense conviction. "Come we must move to catch the pack at its worst, if the humans get in the way that will be even better." Lindelos began to walk into the darkening forest. He quickly disappeared in the shadows. "Well? Come on Kortezz, you said you wanted some excitement. Let’s go."

"I think I’m going to regret this." Kortezz said under his breath and began to follow the other elf. Kortezz himself was a Woodsman of a few years and probably had had more experience at these things than Lindelos. Still, he did not relish the thought of going up against the formidable trolls with an emotionally unstable companion. The problem of Lindelos view of the trappers was slightly more disconcerting. For a Woodsman like Lindelos to have such an unbalanced view was not acceptable. If not pursued, it might destroy the more reasoned part of Lindelos’ demeanour. Kortezz decide to talk to the Rangers about this problem. Later, now he was going to have some fun – with a capital F.

The troll-pack was moving through the forest, ripping branches off trees and stampeding through even the thorniest bushes. As they tried to out-do each other in contests of destruction their coarse laughter began to get louder and permeate deeper into the forest. FFFFFTHH! An arrow hit a troll; it roared in surprise and snapped off the protruding shaft. FFFFFTHH! Another arrow hit the same troll. The trolls began to look at each other and then in the direction of the arrows’ origin. The troll with the arrows stuck into it began to roar as the acid sacs in the arrowheads released their load into the troll’s wounds. The troll charged off towards the hidden archers in frustration. The other trolls looked around curiously and began to charge after the leading troll. As the trolls reached the wall of trees a figure popped up behind them and launched two arrows in quick succession at the wounded troll. The arrows struck with a dull thud and exploded with a huge clap as the flash-oil ignited. The troll began to scream – its regenerative powers nullified by the acid and fire. The troll crashed into the ground, rolling around. More arrows came from the front as the pack of trolls began to stop and looked around in confusion. They began to sniff the air for the presence of more elves. Another troll began to burn brightly and others backed away from it. Two trolls regaining their senses began to run at the new figure, which... had...disappeared...

Lindelos held his breath in the canopy above the sniffing trolls. Thanking his lucky stars for the broken branches and bushes and the strong scents that permeated the surrounding air. A troll crouched at the tree base and began to stare up into the canopy but the failing light nullified any chance of spotting the elf.

"WAAAAAAAAA!" Kortezz came charging out from the side – about a hundred feet away – with two brightly burning branches. The trolls stopped their search and turned their attention towards the lone elf. They stared at him but did not move, advance or retreat; they stood their ground waiting for his onrush. Kortezz slowed and then stopped about ten yards from the nearest troll. He threw a firebrand at it. The troll flailed at the brand but the brand stuck firmly to the troll’s body.

"He, he, snake-man glue!" Kortezz exclaimed. The trolls began to turn towards him. He backed off and began to sprint off back into the forest, whooping and shouting at the top of his voice. The burning troll struggled with the brand as it burned closer and closer to the troll. Eventually the troll began to burn. Suddenly a blur jumped onto the burning troll and smashed another flask of flash-oil on the troll and then jumped back to watch the fireworks display as the troll’s flesh began to burn away. The troll advanced on the elf but he unleashed two arrows at the creature’s head. One missed on one side and the other missed on the other side. The troll continued advancing.

Lindelos turned and ran into the forest. There was virtually no light left in the forest but the flames stood out clearly. The troll tried to follow by scent but the reek of its burning flesh was drowning out any smell of elf. As it was stalking along, two more arrows pierced the night sky, their flaming tips struck the troll and the sacs of flash-oil exploded. The troll fell to the ground flailing around but eventually was still. Lindelos walked up to the body, opened a pouch and poured more fluid on the corpse. The corpse burnt in a fury of yellow and green flames. Lindelos stared on in quiet determination. Lindelos withdrew a gleaming battle-axe; he raised it in the air above the flaming troll and with a mighty blow beheaded the bodies. He picked up the head and tied it to a branch; then he threw another bottle of flash-oil on the head and struck a flint. The head erupted into a mass of burning flesh. After a few minutes Lindelos walked away from the charred remains and made a bird call. An answering call came from a long distance to his left. Lindelos moved in that direction. Eventually he saw Kortezz’s form, circled by the burning bodies of trolls. The few remaining trolls had scattered.

"Still no sign of the trappers. Must’ve holed up somewhere." Kortezz said to Lindelos as he moved through the foliage.

"Maybe they do have intelligence, maybe they’re just lucky."

"The trolls have fled but they are still inside the forest borders."

"Well then, technically they are still a problem."

"Anyway, I think we need to find those trappers and question them."

"Sounds good to me." Lindelos rubbed his hands together.

The trappers moved wearily through the forest gloom trying to make no noise. They had encountered the trolls once already and it was only because the nearby treants posed more of a threat that they had avoided a confrontation. With one wounded man and no weapons, they were sitting ducks if the trolls found them or their trail. They found a large tree with a big canopy and began the arduous process of scaling the tree. The wounded trapper had lost a lot of blood and his shoulder wound prevented the use of his arm. His companion tried as best he could to assist the wounded trapper up the tree. They had used strips of their clothing as a bandage for the shoulder but they were already stained through. After ten minutes, they had made little progress and were barely clinging to the lowest boughs.

"I don’t think I’m going to make it, Sven. Go on with out me. You’ll have a better chance without my hindrance."

"No way. You’re coming with me. These trolls can find their dinner somewhere else."

"But you’ll have a much better chance without me, Sven. Anyway that arrow shot from that stinker was very accurate, if the trolls don’t get you, he will."

"I’m not afraid of him, he had an advantage on us. Next time it will be on my own terms..." The trapper began to look around in the gloom. "I think they heard us. We have to start moving again." There was a crack of a branch and a rustle in the undergrowth. Suddenly there were noises from all directions as the forest came alive with motion.

"RUN!" Sven yelled as he propelled his companion through the forest. The trolls began to follow the two trappers. Suddenly a figure reached out from behind a bough and swung the two trappers around behind him. The trolls continued bounding in the direction of the tree, unaware of the third figure. As the final troll was passing, the figure swung a huge battle-axe into its midriff. It grunted and fell forward. The other trolls were still rushing ahead. The figure yelled at them and they stopped and looked back. They charged back at the trio.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" shouted Sven at the cloaked figure as the trio began to run back into the forest.

"Saving your skins." The figure said calmly from underneath a hood. They ran through the forest. "Follow right behind me and do exactly as I do."

They followed the figure but the wounded trapper began to falter as the blood loss took its toll. The trolls began to close the distance. "They’re gaining on us, why’d you bother any way it’s only a matter of time now." Sven panted.

"There is more to the forest than just what you see." The figure said in a monotone.

They continued to run until the straggling trapper staggered and fell to the ground. Sven stopped to picked up his companion. The third figure slowed and turned around, "It’s him or us. Your choice".

"It’s all of us or it’s none of us." Sven retorted and continued to assist his companion. The trolls closed steadily and were only moments away. The third figure stood watching the two stagger up to his position. He knocked two arrows and pointed them at the trappers. They looked up at him and stared in shock.

"Hey, it’s me." He shrugged and released them... At the trappers...

The arrows zipped past the frozen trappers and plunged into the first two trolls, just coming into view. They both began to flail as acid seeped from the arrowheads. The figure put away his bow. The two trappers looked behind them at the melting trolls, looked at the figure and began to run. The figure ran towards a tree, deftly climbed into it, reached out, grabbed the wounded trapper by the collar and yanked him up. Sven, startled by the manoeuvre, stood there looking into the tree. The figure’s hands came down again and yanked Sven into the tree canopy. The trolls rushed past. Shortly afterwards, the figure clambered down. Sven began to follow.

"No. You stay here. This is my business I don’t need your help."

Sven stayed in the tree. "Thanks for saving our lives, uh…"

"Lindelos". The figure said. "The forest edge is one hour away in that direction. Make sure that you are out of here in that time. My protection ends then."

"Good thing we didn’t meet that crazy bow-man from earlier – huh, Sven?" The wounded trapper grimaced in pain as he attempted to smile at the figure.

The figure lifted his hood and revealed his elven features. In the darkness, they could just see a hint of a smile.

"You just did," he said as he disappeared into the forest.

"Well, I’ll be..." Sven cussed.

"Careful, he’s still around Sven. Let’s get out of here and fast."

"Wonder why he did this for us?" mused Sven.

"We probably ran into his troll trap and decided it would not look good if we got caught in it."

"Then explain why he attracted the trolls towards us?"

"Guess we’ll never know, will we Sven?"

"Guess not. Say, what do you say to hunting some mountain deer up in the hills?"

"After we get out of here. I guess Rodreguez will just have to wait for those fox pelts, huh Sven?"

"Never liked hunting them critters anyway. They got enough problems as it is."

"Let’s go Sven."

The two trappers slowly trudged into the forest. FFFFFThh! An arrow buried itself into the tree. There was a pouch hanging from the shaft.

"Put this on the shoulder would. It will help."

The two trappers looked at each other. Thoughtfully, Sven took the pouch and looked into the forest.

"Thank you. For everything!" The trappers walked away into the forest gloom.

Lindelos watched them go, "Yes. You will never know how much it took." He got up out of his crouching position and walked among the trees and underbrush of the forest. "Now for the rest of those trolls", he said and a gleam came to his eyes again...

"Well, Lindelos. It looks like you had quite a busy night last night?" The elven Minister said to him as they left the communion grounds.

"It is expected of woodsmen to cope with these problems, your grace." Lindelos said.

"Ah, yes. But to which problem are we referring? The intrusions or your own personal dislikes?" The Minister probed.

"I’m sorry, I do not understand your train of thought." Lindelos pursed his lips.

"I do not wish to upset you, Woodsman Lindelos, but your friend Kortezz has spoken to me about your irrational hatred of humans." He placed a reassuring hand on Lindelos’ shoulder as they turned to face each other on the outskirts of the communion clearing.

"I have discussed it with the other Ministers and a decision has been made on your behalf. We feel that your irrational feelings may become too much of a burden for you in a stressful situation. We have therefore decided that you are no longer able to perform your duties in the forest properly. Instead, you will travel in the human lands, where you will learn to balance your feelings about them."

"I don’t believe it! You actually want me to go and live with these – these humans! You are making a grave error, your grace."

"Do not worry, my young Woodsman. Your sabbatical does have a greater purpose: you are to locate a group of adventurers who call themselves the Lords of Rotan. They are on a quest that may change the world forever. They are searching for something. We want to know what it is they are looking for and why. If the rumours are true, your job may also be to get it for us."

"Are you sure that this is not all just rumour? Even if they do have whatever this item may be, how am I supposed to get it away from them?"

"Don’t worry about that. We have taken care of it already." The Minister produced a small crystal hourglass. "This is the material component for a spell. We are assuming that the item – whatever it is – is small enough for one person to carry. At any point when you have the item, you may break the hourglass at the neck. The spell will transport you and whatever it is that you are holding safety back here."

"That sounds very easy. When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow".

"Tomorrow! That hardly leaves me enough time to prepare."

"As I said before, we have taken care of most eventualities. You will have time to say farewell to your family. I have watched your progress carefully and I know that you are capable of this undertaking. Fare thee well, Lindelos. Until next we meet." With that, the Minister shuffled away on his business.

"What was all that about?" Kortezz appeared out from the shadows of the trees.

"I don’t know, but I don’t think that his motivations in this business are entirely open." Lindelos’ eyes followed the Minister as he faded into the throng of people on the edge of the clearing.

"You think that he may be doing something on the side, so to speak?"

"Perhaps. I wonder if the other Ministers are really in on this."

The elven Minister moved through the throng of people in the city streets. He moved towards one of several towers nestled amongst the giant quick-wood trees. He moved behind the chosen tower and spoke a few words under his breath, transporting himself inside. Reaching for the coat-stand in the corner of the study, he removed the Minister’s robe and dismissed his illusory disguise. He donned a more elegant cloak, patterned with glyphs and symbols. He moved towards a bookshelf and selected a volume of spells to peruse. As he settled into a well-padded chair, the tall elven mage mused over the day’s events. "Well, Camanthalar – that was a job well done. Well done indeed".

Lindelos hugged his father, mother and young brother. "Wish me luck. Hopefully this journey won’t take very long."

"Go in peace my son."

"Make sure you are warmly wrapped in your clothes at night and always bank the fire. There’s no telling what’s out there in those barbaric lands."

"Yes mother." Lindelos groaned.

"Lindy? Why are you going away?" Kinross asked quizzically.

"I have an important journey to make Kinross. I’ll be back soon and I’ll bring back a present from the human lands. Maybe a hand or a finger or two". He grinned maniacally. The small child’s eyes opened wide with wonder.

"Would you really?" the young elf asked eagerly.

"Now Lindy. You know you shouldn’t speak that way, that’s what got you into this mess in the first place."

"Yes mother." Lindelos sighed patiently.

"So my friend, you have this trip to prove that you are not the bad apple that that I think you are." Kortezz grinned.

"Thanks for nothing. Now I don’t know when I’m going to see you again."

"Farewell Lindelos, be careful, don’t let on to the Minister that you suspect anything. Just play along until I can find out what is really going on." Kortezz hugged Lindelos and patted him on the back.

"Be sure to contact me. I need to know what is going on. I’m supposed to be going to Rotan. Just send the message there care of these "Lords of Rotan". I have to assume that they are at least that trustworthy of course, or this whole party is going to be for nothing." Lindelos spoke gravely to Kortezz who took on a face of exasperation.

"Will you just get going, you pirate!" Kortezz whacked Lindelos on the back. The elven Woodsman turned, and walked into the forest, beginning his long journey into human lands and towards the City of Rotan.