Saturday Excerpt, "Quest"

With all the commotion of daily commerce, the sounds of pounding hooves from a galloping horse entering town went unnoticed.  The steed’s pace had become erratic.  It had a loose shoe and was foaming at the mouth.  The animal was ready to collapse.  Pausing for a moment upon reaching the ~ center of town, the rider produced a scroll.  He did not open it, but merely read what was written on the outside and then tried to find his bearings in the unfamiliar place.

After turning his horse around several times, the rider determined the route he must take and headed down a street.  Soon, he stopped before a great redwood and checked the inscription on the door against the writing on the scroll.  The door read, Linvin Grithinshield -# 7 Spruce Lane.  Convinced he had found his destination, the rider dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby post.  He briskly approached the door and rang the bell.

Sounds of a chair sliding across a floor could be heard from inside.  The echo of footsteps was heard coming ever nearer to the door.  It swung open, to bring the resident and rider face-to-face.

Linvin stood in the doorway, wearing a scarlet robe and a confused expression.  Outside, an exhausted young human boy was bent down with his hands on his knees in an effort to regain his breath.  He lifted only his eyes as the door opened.

“It’s quite early to be running around like this,” Linvin said with a sympathetic smile.  “What brings you to my door in such a state?”

The boy held out the scroll and said between deep breaths, “I come from the town of Fraylic; in the Human County.  An old elf there told me to deliver this to Mr. Linvin Grithinshield of Missandor by this morning at the latest.  Are you he, sir?”

“He and Iare the same,” Linvin laughed.  He took the scroll and noted the seal on the outside.  He was very familiar with the symbol impressed in the wax as it matched his own family ring.  Opening the note he found the following words:

Greetings and Salutations My Dear Nephew,

If all has gone as planned, you should be reading this on the morning of the ninth day of this month.  I shall be arriving in Missandor sometime in the evening of that day.

I need to speak with you in person about some urgent matters which will have a serious bearing on our futures.

I send this message, in advance, in order for you to prepare.  First, tell those in town and at your store that you are going away on a long trading expedition for the company.  Tell them you may be gone for as much as a year.  Pack a mule with equipment and provisions for a long journey.

I know this makes no sense right now, my Boy, but do what I say and trust in me.  The time is at hand for the moon to come out from behind the clouds.

I never have and never would lead you astray.

Your Loving Uncle,

Anvar