That evening, as the elves gathered and began settling in for the night, Lemnor drew near the Ferlians to confront Torben.

"Well, Anthr, we're stopped for the evenin'. I want you and yer family gone."

"Do you not think it would be wise to consult your fellow travelers, first?"

"I'm the one what's in charge 'round here, in place of Jich. I don't need others tellin' me what to do."

"Of course not. But assuming my family refused to leave, would you not prefer to make certain that they would join you; that you would not be standing alone?"

"They wouldn't dare defy me; not after everythin' that me and Jich has done for protectin' them."

Joenek felt someone brush past him.

"You've done nothing to protect them; it's all been for yourselves."

Edileth stood as tense and agitated as ever.

"You." Lemnor glared at the rothnak. "You're the one what's such a trouble-maker. Ain't you lost your parents, or somethin'? It's probably 'cause of you they died."

Edileth flinched, her face contorting into one of grief. Joenek nearly believed her display of fighting back tears.

"No; it was because of vermin of your ilk that my dear parents lost their lives."

With that, Edileth stormed off, wiping tears from her cheeks. Celik moved to 'comfort' her and Joenek felt jealousy stir within him.

"Let's just see how wrong you are." Lemnor turned to the elves that had gathered around to listen. "What say you; shall we get rid of these Ferlians?"

Silence permeated the evening. Lemnor's smug expression shifted to one of anger.

"Well?" he nearly roared.

An elf with a rat-ish face took a timid step forward.

"The thing is, Lemnor – and I don't mean to speak for everyone – but the thing is; I certainly wouldn't want to stand against a hannorim. You never quite know what he may do to you. He might just decide to disintegrate us all if we try to kill them or send them away. Mightn't it be better for us to accept them until Filne-Semmit, where we can then take our leave of their company and decide upon our own course of action?"

Joenek heard murmurs of agreement and saw many heads bobbing up and down. He also heard Torben grumbling under his breath.

"Preposterous...disintegrate them? What sort of rumors are they spreading about hannorim, these days?"

"Besides," a small she-elf squeaked, "they've done nothing but help us, so far. Why risk invoking their wrath?"

"So, that's how you lot are going to be? After all we've done for you; you're going to side with some dodderin', old hannorim."

"It certainly be the wiser choice." Kidh squinted at his elder brother with arms crossed. "Please, brother, put aside yer folly and be reasonable."

"Yer no brother of mine." Lemnor looked away from the younger roth, turning to the others. "Very well, if you want to be foolish enough to follow these...Ferlians, then so be it. But don't come cryin' to me when somethin' goes wrong."

Like a petulant child, Lemnor stomped away from those gathered.

"I thank you for your support." Torben placed a hand upon Kidh's shoulder. "And I assure you, I have no intention of using my hannolle against you. It is not the way of Feridh to use one's Gift for personal gain or to lord over others."

"Speaking of; I should like to hear more about this Feridh, if it's not too much to ask."

"It is naught but joy to share what knowledge I have of my Creator."

The hannorim smiled with warmth, motioning for Kidh to join the Ferlians. A few of the other elves followed behind, expressions of open curiosity in their features. After everyone had taken a place in the small circle, Torben began to speak.

"I suppose the first thing you ought to know is who Feridh is.

"When one looks at nature, he can plainly see the handiwork of Feridh, if he is honest in his heart. However, simply knowing that a Creator exists is different from knowing who that Creator is. Therefore, we must look to the writings that Feridh has provided us in Aór Mírnen.

"In studying His teachings, we find that all of Naine Mithale was created, not of its own accord or by some indiscriminate force, but by someone who – like us – has an awareness of who He is and what He's doing. Indeed, all of elf-kind was made in the image of Feridh; we were made to resemble and be like to Him.

"Now, obviously, any methods of comparison that we may use to attempt understanding exactly who Feridh is will never quite answer all our questions; He is beyond our own understanding. However, going back to Aór Mírnen, Feridh has given us many insights as to what He is like, what He wants of us, and how He expects us to live our lives."

The hannorim looked from one elf to the next, making certain they understood. Joenek, like Kidh and his companions, was listening intently.

"Feridh...He is love, itself. He is the creator, eternal, holy, merciful, just, all-knowing, and present everywhere – in all things, at all times."

"How can that be?" Kidh looked to the hannorim in wonderment.

"As I said, we are limited in our knowledge of Feridh. As the Holy writings say, 'Can you search out the deep things of Feridh? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty One?' He is so far beyond our own intelligence and wisdom that we will never truly know Him until we have entered His Kingdom in Faedhmíl.

"However, Aór Mírnen also says that Feridh watches from Faedhmíl; He sees all of elf-kind. 'From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of Naine Mithale.' It also tells us that 'The eyes of Feridh are in all places, keeping watch on the evil and good.' So too, this passage shows us that Feridh sees all things: 'Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?' says Feridh; 'Do I not fill Faedhmíl and Naine Mithale?'

"Furthermore, 'For not a word upon my tongue, behold, Mighty Feridh, You know it altogether...Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?' And, finally, this: there is no creature hidden from His sight; but all things are bared and opened to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Everyone sat in silence, contemplating the words of the hannorim. After a long lull, Kidh spoke again.

"You said that we were all created for a purpose, and later you refused to leave our company. Does this mean that you have accompanied us by the command of yer god?"

"Oh, tut-tut, I hardly refused to leave; it was simply a hypothetical statement. However, to answer your question, I do believe that Feridh guided us that we would join you; perhaps for no other reason than to give you aid with those bandits and to speak with you, now."

"And you would do that so willingly? After the way Jich and Lemnor have treated yer family?"

Joenek nodded his head in absent-minded agreement. He could not understand why they hadn't left the refugees and carried on alone. He was certain that Edileth would have preferred that option, rather than dallying with Jich's group.

"Indeed, we would; for that is the way Ferlians ought to live. We are called to love and forgive others, as we have been given love and forgiveness. There is a passage in Aór Mírnen that says, 'For you were once darkness, but now light in Feridh. Walk as children of the light (for the fruit of light is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to Feridh.'

"Two others that come to mind are, 'Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the light of Feridh' and 'He who does not love does not know Feridh, for Feridh is love.'"

Again, a quiet fell over the group of elves. Torben ate a few mouthfuls of vaile, waiting for any questions that may arise. When none did, the roth looked from one elf to the next.

"If anyone should have questions, please feel free to ask. I shall answer to the best of my abilities."

But no one spoke. Each was absorbed in his own thoughts, contemplating such strange beliefs and methods for living. Joenek glanced to his companions, still unsure of his own beliefs. As his eyes rested on Edileth, he felt a frown grow in his features.

The rothnak sat beside Sheem and the two blonde elves sent glances to one another. No words were spoken, and yet they looked as though they were in deep discussion. At one point, after having looked off into the distance, Edileth's head jerked to look at Sheem. After a moment of looking at him in perplexity, the female's face broke into a grin and Joenek saw her fighting back laughter.

"Are ye gettin' jealous o' thet wee sprite?" Arun whispered in his ear.

"What? Jealous, no; no, not at all," Joenek mumbled.

"They be gettin' quite close, woul'na you say?"

The flustered roth grunted, still watching the two elves that sat to his right.

"It's mighty good for Edileth, eh? Someone to keep 'er comp'ny; not t' mention make 'er less...ahem...cantank'rous."

"Oh, yes; it's just great."

Before Arun could tease Joenek further, Torben spoke to those in the small circle.

"Well, my friends, I think it's about time we get some rest. Benorelt, would you care to set up the watch for to-night? That's a good lad. We still have some distance to go before we reach Filne-Semmit, so a good night's sleep is what we need."

With that everyone set to making a place to lie. After the fog had dissipated earlier in the day and allowed the wane sun to cast some small warmth upon the plains, most of the clothes and blankets were fairly dry.

Now, as Joenek lay upon his barely-damp bedding, he continued thinking of Edileth. For quite some time he tossed and turned, unable to think of anything but the young rothnak, and finding his heart beating ever faster. He pulled the strange ring out of his pocket and fiddled with it until, at last, he fell into a restless sleep filled with unnerving dreams that he would not remember upon waking.

*                        *                        *

As a watery sun peeped above the horizon, the Ferlians and their refugee companions rode across the final stretch of the Fdhellin Plains. The previous two days had passed without incident. The moment of most excitement came the evening before when Yena proclaimed that Marrik's wound had finally ceased its sloughing leakage.

Kidh had spent much of the two days in Torben and Yena's company, asking questions and gaining what knowledge he could of Feridh.

Both nights included further discussions concerning the deity. Joenek had listened in silence as Torben spoke of the will of Feridh and His great love for all of elf-kind. He had to admit that Torben was certainly well-versed in giving explanations to the questions that were lobbed at him. However, Joenek continued to have his doubts despite how wonderful it all sounded.

Now the young roth rode his sorrel mare – which he was much improved at – and growing excited to reach Filne-Semmit. The lengthy blades of the plains were gradually shortening and turning into scrubby grasses with clusters of heath intermixed hither and thither.

So caught up was he in his thoughts that Joenek failed to notice the presence of a rider beside him.

"Good morning, brodzer."

Joenek glanced to his right and took in the sight of Rikku upon her grulla stallion. A low nickering came from the mare beneath him and Joenek felt anxiety stir as she tossed her head and danced forward a few paces.

"'ere, let me 'elp."

Rikku nudged her mount ahead and reached over. She then laid her hand upon the copper neck until the mare dropped her head and slowed to a fast walk.

"Thank you."

"You are quite welcome."

Rikku beamed and then looked about to say something further before pausing.

"What?"

The small rothnak glanced about. After a moment, she leaned close.

"You fancy Ediles, don't you?"

Joenek stared in surprise, his face growing warm with embarrassment. After stumbling over his words briefly, he mumbled a response.

"Why would you think that?"

"It is rather obvious; even to me. I am not typically good at understanding elf-kind as I am more accustomed to conversing wis animals. But a certain look crosses your face whenever she is near; one of...admiration? I don't quite know how to explain it."

Joenek was dumbfounded. Was it so obvious that he was beginning to have feelings for Edileth? Even Arun had jested of such things the morning they had departed Gallimna.

Rikku chortled at his befuddled expression.

"Don't worry; she fancies you, too."
At that, the roth burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. The idea seemed so impossible to him, that he could do nothing else.

"Why do you laugh so?"

"Edileth liking me; we are talking about the same rothnak, right?"

The animal-keeper smiled and glanced ahead, where the subject of their conversation rode the large, gray mule in solitude. Joenek swallowed as his gaze lingered upon the blonde. She had truly become quite beautiful to him in the past two weeks.

"I know it might not seem like it, but she does 'ave feelings for you."

"Yah, feelings of hatred and despising."

"No, no...I assure you; Ediles is growing very fond of you. She will not admit it, even to 'erself, but I can tell."

"Hmm..."

Joenek looked to the distant rothnak, once more.

I wonder...

A plan was beginning to form in his mind.