Telli, Setisia and Rhyll stood for a while gazing out over Lake Tallian as the sun sank below its western horizon. Rhyll explained details of the big ships anchored in the harbour before them, then asked the others if they were hungry.

"Is this a Mendai tavern you are taking us to?" asked Setisia.

"No, although some of us frequent it. This fine hostelry is run by northerners, the Treochim themselves, of whom you must have heard, even you, Telli, as Tellimakis the First, of whom Setisia has told us so much today, was one of them."

"So you take us to eat with wild warriors like yourself. That should be fun. Lead on, brave crewman, for the Treochim seldom come to Bhuin, and like Telli, I have never seen them." Setisia and Telli followed their friend to the tavern.

Rhyll pushed open the door and led the others into a large room decorated with stags antlers, bearskins, spears, and other artefacts reflecting the hunter/warrior culture of the Kingdom's northernmost tribes. He was greeted by cries of recognition from several of the room's occupants. 'Fiddler Rhyll', 'Red Rhyll' and, to his young friends' amusement, 'Mad Rhyll', seemed to be his nicknames here. The tavern's owner came forward and embraced the Mendai. While they talked, Telli and Setisia examined the room, its exotic decor and its occupants.

The northerners, like the Mendai, were very visibly a race apart in the Kingdom. They were dark, their skin a yellowish brown and their hair black. Their noses were small and broad, and their eyes narrow and slanted slightly upwards at the outside. As the Mendai were the newest of the tribes to populate the area between the high mountain ranges now known as the Kingdom, these northerners claimed to be descendants of the oldest. Unlike the gypsies, these tribes were settled, but like Mendai, had little taste for farming, living by hunting and gathering the plentiful fruits of their wild northern forests. They were another group to guard their own ancient tongue for use amongst themselves.

Outside their own territory, they were usually soldiers, and known as the fiercest and most loyal of the King's troops. Young Mendai often served in the King's forces also, and Rhyll had told Setisia and Telli many stories about the two years he had spent as a soldier. It was during this time that he had formed close ties with some of his Treochim companions in arms, and he had come here now to meet a man he considered his closest friend outside the Mendai clans. This friend was expecting him, as Rhyll had made use of a system of communication known as the four-penny post.

Telli found this clever way of sending messages fascinating. People would leave letters in the care of the captains of fast boats, giving them one penny for their troubles. The captain would deliver these to the 'post shop' at the relevant port, receiving another penny for each letter passed on, which, as he could be carrying tens or even hundreds of messages, provided him with a considerable source of income for very little work. The post shop would then deliver the letters to the addressees, receiving four pence for each one, hence the name of this generally very reliable system. Rhyll had asked Setisia to write him a letter to this tavern some days before, and had passed it to the captain of the first fast boat they had encountered headed for Kellmarsh. On arrival that morning, he had sent another note, already prepared by Setisia, by one of the city messenger boys. These patrolled the market wearing a blue cap and white sash to identify themselves as post-boys, and would also receive four pence on delivery of the message. Rhyll now learnt that his friend awaited him in a room upstairs, and he reimbursed the tavern owner his eight pennies, and ordered food and wine to be sent up, before leading his companions up three flights of stairs.

They entered a large room at the front of the building, with two bay windows overlooking the harbour and offering fine views of the lake. Two men were sitting at a table by one of the windows, a carafe of wine before them, and both rose to greet Rhyll, all three of them showing obvious pleasure at the reunion. One, about Rhyll's age, and equally fierce and tough looking, was of the Treochim, and the other a young Mendai, who looked like a slightly taller version of Rhyll, without the scars. Telli and Setisia were not surprised when Rhyll introduced the young gypsy as his youngest brother, Mhyfait, a serving soldier. The other was Keoch, who had served the King with Rhyll, and was now a merchant of sorts, his family owning several boats which traded goods between Kellmarsh and their own lands in the far north.

Rhyll asked the others to make a space for his young companions closest to the window.

"It is their first day here, and they must see all that goes on around them, especially Tellimakis, who had seen no other settlement but his own village until this summer," he explained. Rhyll had arranged to see his friend Keoch for pleasure, but also had serious business in mind, and asked Setisia if she would not mind telling the story of the conspiracy she had witnessed, and of the attack on her cottage. She did this, and while the two men listened, Telli felt thankful towards Rhyll, who had obviously taken the attack on his new half-Mendai friend, along with the murder of her father, as something the clan Dullai should deal with. He was now involving a Treochim friend, and Telli sensed that he wished to find the man Grenwald, and to do so quickly.

When Setisia had finished her story, Rhyll told the men of the young girl at Madam Feartha's in Rislet, and the scars she bore from the attack by Setisia's enemy, saying he would give them details later, as they were not for young ears. It was Mhyfait who spoke first when his brother was finished.

"The elders here got your message from Rislet some days ago. All Mendai in Kellmarsh will have had it read to them by now. When Keoch told me yesterday that you would soon be here, I checked with Papa Abhyll, who takes charge of such searches, and he said this one was easy, as the subject had such unusual features. Your man has been seen in Kellmarsh a number of times over the past few years, and Abhyll knows of two places he has used as lodgings, both being whorehouses with fronts of respectability. He has not been seen in town recently, and the last time he was known to stay here was about three months ago. The houses he uses are both being checked out regularly, and there are a number of 'keller' street urchins going around with their eyes peeled, as Abhyll has offered a reward of several silver crowns for a confirmed sighting of the villain. If he comes to Kellmarsh, he will need to be cleverly disguised to avoid Papa Abhyll's net for long."

Setisia was clearly impressed by the work the Mendai were doing on her behalf, also by the obvious efficiency with which they went about it. She thanked the brothers profusely. Keoch now spoke for the first time.

"Mendai princess, can you describe to me in as much detail as you can remember the features of the fat merchant who was party to this conspiracy." Setisia did so, emphasising the man's piggy little brown eyes and huge double chin as his most unusual features. Keoch said he would ask around, as this man could either be a Kellmarsh merchant, or one who passed through regularly.

"However, do not hold out to much hope," he laughed, "there are many fat merchants amongst these lazy southerners. You will not see any of my people with two chins. We would rather drown in the river than be seen in such a state. But you say he was wearing white gloves, and I have not seen many with this affectation, so it is possible we may find someone who can put a name to your description. There is, of course, a good chance that this conspiracy you chanced upon is based here in the city. Little can go on in the politics of the Kingdom without having some connection to Kellmarsh."

"Do you think such a conspiracy could threaten the Kingdom's peace?" Setisia asked.

"Most probably not, but if it is well organised, it could cause trouble in certain areas. The Kingdom is large, and should the conspirators have the means to raise an army of mercenaries, they might cause trouble if concentrating their efforts in one place. But as a whole, the Kingdom is well governed, and its people prosper, which leads to great support for the King. The involvement of your red robed priest is worrying, however, and this may be the secret of the plotters' confidence. He represents a growing cult of fanatics, and I believe they have a power base not too far north of your home in Bhuin. Fanatics do not behave with reason, and may not fear death. You told your story well, pretty half-gypsy, and I was interested that the words you heard from this priest indicated that he did not believe in the cult he pretends to represent. I have heard that these priests ask for great gifts of money from their followers. As they have been doing this for some years, it may be that their order is very rich, and could finance a dangerous army, as well as bribing corrupt officials around the Kingdom to help their cause."

Keoch was clearly a man who involved himself with the politics of the Kingdom. Rhyll teased him, saying that he had grown away from his roots as a hunter in the Treochim homelands, becoming a city sophisticate and dandy, the gypsy knowing that to one from these northern tribes there could hardly be a greater insult. Keoch moved so quickly that he had Rhyll in a headlock before the others had realised what was happening. He grinned as his friend struggled, and they began a mock wrestling match.

"You will apologise, gypsy scum, or I shall scalp that red mane of yours, and stick it over the door of my family's home up north when I return. I can think of no more frightening mask to ward off the evil spirits, can you?" He winked at Setisia and Telli as he held Rhyll in an iron grip, which the other could not escape.

"Now, boys, this is no way to behave before a lady who is also a ship's captain," said Mhyfait, throwing a cup of wine over the others. Rhyll apologised after a moment, saying that his friend still moved like a hunter, and that it was he who had grown soft in the last ten days of easy down river sailing. The arrival of the landlord with a tray of food and bottles of beer and wine interrupted them. As their table was laid, Mhyfait confided to Telli that, although he was the largest of the three men, he would not attempt to wrestle with either of the others, as he knew they were too quick and strong.

Keoch, for all his fierce looks, the hunter's skins he wore, and the knives in his belt, was a handsome and charming man. He wished the youngsters a good welcome to the city.

"Rhyll will stay with me and I have plenty of space in my apartments for friends of his, as they must also be friends of mine. Where had you planned to stay?"

"We still have possessions on our boat, and had planned to sleep there," Setisia explained.

"It is moored in the east dock," Rhyll said to the others, "and is well guarded. Normally, this is a safe enough place to sleep, but I had thought that I might stay with you, Setisia, if you insisted on sleeping there. This was only because of the chance that you might meet the enemies we have just been discussing while in Kellmarsh. I prefer to think of my little captain being safe within four walls, and wish that you would take up Keoch's offer for the time being."

"It would be a pleasure for me to accommodate you," Keoch encouraged them, and Setisia agreed to stay with him that night, and thanked him for such kindness shown to complete strangers.

As the party sat eating and drinking, Rhyll mentioned to Keoch that Telli was also a hunter at heart, 'living wild in great forests like you Treochim, but west of the Great Western Range,' as he put it. Keoch was interested, and this led to Telli telling his own story. Rhyll warned the other men that they were about to listen to a tale stranger than any they had ever heard, as Telli started to speak of Elneside and his departure from it. He avoided any mention of his flying, as usual. When he had finished, the pair questioned him at length on the Khrelling, as Rhyll had done.

"Well, Rhyll is right," said Keoch after they had discussed the cave creatures for some time. "It is a strange tale, but you speak as if it is truth, fellow hunter, and if this sly gypsy believes you, then so do I. There are ancient tales recounted amongst my people, told now to frighten children into good behaviour, of goblins who live in dark caves and will snatch away infants who wander too far from home. Perhaps our forebears had some contact with these Khrelling of yours. How do you plan to bring this story to the attention of the King?"

"We shall go tomorrow to the King's offices, try to convince his officials of the importance of my experiences, and hope to gain an audience with the King himself by this means," Telli explained. The Treoch merchant looked thoughtful.

"You are right to do that, but may find it difficult because some of the King's officials think it their job to protect their monarch from the many supplications he receives each day. Try this, and I shall try to think of other ways to get your message through. We three are not powerful men, but we may be able to find a way to get your story heard by those who are, as it surely deserves to be."

It had been a long day for the three travellers, and they chose to pass the evening quietly in the upstairs room, talking with Keoch and Mhyfait, and enjoying good food and wine while looking out at the lake with its dots of torchlight marking boats that moved at night. Mhyfait said goodnight as all five left the tavern together, but Keoch walked with them to the boat, where they collected Rhyll's fiddle and a few other things of value, before making their way to the Treoch's house. Here they met his charming and hospitable young wife, Hellioch, known as Helli, and settled for the night.

In the morning both Rhyll and Keoch left early on business, after making sure that Telli and Setisia knew the easiest way to the King's offices, and wishing them luck in their affairs. The youngsters ate a leisurely morning meal with Helli and her two children, and fell in love with all three. Helli proved to be the brains behind her husband's merchant business, running it from her home since she had had the two babies. She was the partner who understood the facts and figures of commerce, and claimed, with a smile, that Keoch would almost certainly have stayed a soldier had he not married. Telli thought her a truly beautiful woman, the fine features of her race seemingly perfected in her oval face, and her obvious intelligence showing clearly through them as she talked and laughed with her guests and her children. The younger of these two, both girls, was a babe in arms, and the elder, Tseochy, a lively toddler of three years, already capable of chatting away in Allenth as well as her mother tongue. She fell for Setisia immediately, loving her wavy red locks, in such contrast to the dark, straight hair of her own people, and soon the cries of 'Setti, Setti', that Telli had first heard from the infants of West Hartlett, were ringing through her mother's finely decorated apartments.

Helli revealed that she had been told the stories behind her guests' arrival in Kellmarsh, and wished them luck, as Setisia managed to extricate herself from Tseochy's clutches, and they set off to try and gain access to the Kingdom's rulers.

"What a beautiful family," Setisia commented as they walked through the cobbled streets. Telli agreed, and suggested that if they found time that afternoon, they might find 'Papa Keller' at the market, and offer to take Helli and her babes around the town wherever they wished to go.

"With us to help look after the young ones, Helli may find some welcome freedom," he said.

"You are a kind and thoughtful goblin at times. Here we are, we must ask the doorman for access to a clerk, so shall I do it or will you?" They had reached the wall surrounding the offices where the King's business in the city was conducted, and stood outside impressive iron gates with tall ornamental pillars on either side.

"You are the one with the witching charm, so let us see if it works."

"Thank you, Tellimakis. I suppose you could always fly over the wall if I fail to gain entrance." With this Setisia approached a lone guard standing beside a small portal in one of the gates.

"Kind sir, we come with important news for the King, and must ask you for your advice as to how we may achieve serious conversation with one of his senior officers." Setisia removed her hat as she spoke, letting her fine red locks fall to her shoulders, and smiling her sweetest smile up at the tall guardsman. He replied after looking her up and down for a moment.

"Young miss, it is my duty to say to you that there are severe penalties for those who seek to waste the time of the King's workers."

"And so it should be, so it should be. If these workers were distracted by such behaviour, how ever could they bring serious business, such as ours, to the attention of their master?" The pretty green eyes looked sincerely up into the soldier's.

"If you are clearly aware that penalties can be imposed for time wasting, then I can let you enter, but you must leave any weapons you might be carrying here with me."

Setisia and Telli left the hunting knives they wore by habit in the guard house just inside the gate, and crossed a small courtyard to an open door, which the guardsman had indicated as the entrance used for their kind of business. Another guard stood just inside this, and a clerk, who wrote down their names, was seated beside him.

"You are numbers fourteen and fifteen, and should not have to wait too long, as number nine is currently with the interview officers," the clerk said, pointing to a row of wooden chairs on which several other supplicants were seated, waiting their turns. The pair sat down, pleased to have got this far so easily. They were in a high-ceilinged room, the walls covered in carved wooden panels with a number of marble busts set on shelves projecting from them. Both felt the nervous anticipation common in people when waiting for something that they know will be a new experience. Numbers ten to thirteen were called over a period of about an hour, by a voice that came through an open doorway opposite the one through which they had entered. At the same time, several other people arrived from outside to wait beside them.

"Fourteen, if you please."

Setisia got up, and went through the doorway, as number thirteen made for the building's exit. She found herself in a plain, white walled room, much smaller than the one she had left. Two men sat on the far side of a desk placed near the far wall, one scribbling with a quill on parchment before him. The other, an expensively dressed man of middle age, indicated a chair opposite them, and Setisia sat down.

"What is your business, miss?" He asked the question in the manner of one who was tired with repeating it, day in, day out, every week of the year.

"I come to inform our noble and revered monarch, King Beranis, of a devilish plot against his rule and his person," Setisia stated, grandly, then waited for the other to speak. She was lucky, and the middle-aged father came to the fore in his personality, pushing the cold official into the background, the man surprising himself as he smiled at the very pretty young woman before him.

"My dear, there are perhaps many misguided souls who speak against my Lord and Master. What is it that makes you think that your conspiracy is of such importance as to be worthy of the time of his officers of state?"

Setisia told her story clearly and precisely, using her bewitching charm to the full. The man with the quill scribbled notes at speed as she did so. She finished by stating that she knew well that it would be possible for stupid men to conspire against the King, while posing no real threat. However, she was convinced that the conspirators she had overheard were far from stupid, and were confident in their ability to attempt a bid for power in the Kingdom. She said that their organisation must be widespread. She had been so concerned by this as to leave her comfortable home, in a village whose inhabitants were like family to her, and undertake the dangerous voyage down the Great River in a tiny boat, accompanied only by one faithful friend of her own age.

"I felt that I must warn the faithful servants of our King, such as the two I now find myself seated before in earnest discussion, of the grave threat these men might be to the peace enjoyed by all good citizens of the Kingdom." She finished by asking if she might read over the notes made by the clerk, to see if there were any points she could help clarify for him, deliberately meaning to impress the men with her knowledge of letters, something far from universal in the land. The clerk looked at his superior, seeing if he would permit this unusual break with their rules of procedure. The official nodded his assent, still recovering from the effects of meeting the little fountain of wisdom and beauty seated opposite him, a feeling Telli would have sympathised with had he been there. Setisia read over the notes, and politely suggested one or two corrections, while complimenting the clerk on his ability to write down so much with such speed and in such detail.

The official asked her a few questions when he felt up to it. Then he ordered his clerk to write out a chit on a piece of blue coloured parchment, which he signed and handed to Setisia.

"You must come here in four days' time, bringing this to show the doorman. The King's Lieutenant of Supplications comes here from Tellui on that day. You must be here before noon, and he will hear you. Do you have a safe place to stay in the city, my dear?" He surprised his clerk by reaching beyond the call of duty with this last question. Setisia replied that she had been fortunate enough to find friends to stay with, and thanked him for his concern and for his help in enabling her to see the King's Lieutenant. Bowing politely to the two men, she left the room.

The King's official looked at his clerk, and chuckled quietly, shaking his head.

"I do not think we shall be in trouble for sending the young lady on up the ladder. Even if her story proves to be of no importance, the Lieutenant will undergo an unusual, and rather pleasant, experience in its telling. Call the next." The pair were unaware that their own unusual experiences of the morning had only just started as the clerk called, "fifteen, if you please."

Telli entered the room, and took the seat indicated, as Setisia had done.

"What is your business, young man?" The questioner had reverted to his tone of bored officialdom, but was soon to lose it, as this supplicant had his own weapons with which to disarm the interviewers.

"I am not of this Kingdom, but have come a long way to see its noble ruler on a matter of great importance to him, and to his subjects," Telli began. He spoke slowly and clearly in his Elneside dialect, instead of imitating the speech of the easterners as he often did now in order to be easily understood. He gained the attention of the men, neither of whom had met a foreigner before, let alone interviewed one.

"Where are you from, then?"

"A land we call Drakisland, which is unknown to all I have met here. My reason for requesting an audience with your King concerns a group of his subjects who are now imprisoned as slaves in the Western Mountain Range, beyond which lies my own land." Telli told his tale, once again, leaving out only all related to his 'flying'. The official listened and the clerk scribbled away.

"How do I tell if this tale of yours is the truth, or, what seems more likely, the ravings of a mad child?" The interviewer spoke having sat for a full minute in silence after Telli had finished.

"You cannot, except by thinking why someone should make up such a tale. But if you choose to pass my message on to your superiors, I shall be prepared to state to them that if any time taken up by this is considered to be wasted, then the responsibility lies with me, not with you, his majesty's loyal servants. I shall serve one year in the city dungeons for every minute wasted, without protest, if the King is not satisfied with my honesty and good intentions."

The official thought for a moment, before ordering his clerk to write out another blue chit, and instructing Telli to return in four days' time. When the boy had left, after thanking him politely for his time, the man turned to his clerk, and said.

"If I am to be reprimanded for sending a mad girl to the Lieutenant, then I may as well be told off for sending a mad boy at the same time. Hopefully, we can now return to our normal business of dealing with broken merchants who ask for simple things, like money. Call the next supplicant."