Reunion Alduin shook his head. He kept digging, pulling out scroll tubes, quills, and other oddments. The pack soon was empty and the little man's face fairly shrivelled. "It's gone." His voice was hoarse. "I don't have it." Mea looked at the pile of papers and pens, and wondered to herself what the queer man *didn't* have. He seemed set to write for weeks on end...except for-- "I've lost my last ink-jar." Alduin continued to stare at his empty pack, willing the small cube of crystal to pop forth from the fabric. The dusty cloud that was the Hunters was now close at hand, and there was a thin figure at the head. It was waving its arm. "Alduin! You unscrupulous old badger! How many ears have you bent red now? Must have been one too many to be dumped here!" At the sound of the musical voice, Alduin dropped the leather tube he was holding. J'layah saw his face do a complicated bit of gymnastics, weaving from anxiety through confusion to surprise and quickly coming to rest on joy. He stumbled to his feet just in time to be nearly bowled over by a speeding khajiit. "Loriella! You rag-tag piece of tail! I see I haven't bent your ear enough just yet." The two old friends laughed, locked in a fierce embrace. It lasted until the Werre troupe arrived. They were arrayed as a square, with K'tarin on the right corner and the to'khar on the left. Though the leader did not shirk his position, he was uneasy. Alduin pulled himself from Loriella's arms and looked at her at arm's length. "Now where is that thundercloud? One would think wet weather followed him everywhere!" The old man walked past the khajiit, slowly serveying the dark men. He was looking at the second man when the to'khar turned his black eyes on him. "Master scribe." Loriella was trying to control her giggling as Alduin's face opened up into a broad smile as if seeing the man for the first time. Of course, he had immediately known where the Thundercloud was. He strode over and clapped the dark man on the shoulder. Alduin's face grew stern. For a moment, the two were squared off, the broad dark warrior against the thin pale scribe. The other Werre were tense. Alduin nodded. "Yep. The same as memory serves. Nice to know some things haven't changed!" He laughed again, clapping the shoulder. The tension melted away from the men when their to'khar almost smiled. This man was not to be killed. Turning, he saw the many quizzical faces. However, K'tarin beat him to introductions. "These are Werre like myself," he explained. "They were Watchers who keep Thoth Durghanti free from intruders. The post is more ceremonial than real. The desert kills most who enter. "This is To'Khar K'than. A To'Khar is high among the Werre. These are his cell." The To'Khar stepped forward. "This is Holm'ka, Talnan, Joran," he said, pointing to each in turn, the boy last. "When your group survived the storms, he had cause to wonder at your motives. Though the desert beat at you, you did not turn aside and were but slowed. When it became clear of your course, motives became of greatest importance. We became Hunters and entered in. If you be in league with the evil within the Guardian Citadel, then we would stop you or die. K'tarin here was a surprise to us. For now, he has convinced us to withhold our hand." K'than turned to Balefire and openly stared at him, searching the black face and red eyes. A sort of longing was in the Werre's face, but it was gone before the archmage could be sure it was ever there. "K'tarin. Will your charge stay?" Alduin's smile faded and turning from Loriella, looked at each member of the people he had been proud to name companions and friends. He rested on J'layah longest. There was a vague fear in his eyes. The Werre waited patiently. Alduin sighed. "I--" He stopped. Then a mischeavious gleam appeared in his eyes. "Need you ask? I've lost an ink-jar! I cannot part part with it, and so must stay." Under the steady gaze of K'tarin, his shoulders slumped, then rose again as he drew himself up. His humour left him. "Yes I will continue. And if we fade away, maybe my scripts will not." K'than remained impassive, but within, he was quivering. If the next few days with the old scribe are anything like their last encounter, he would go mad. K'than nodded. "Then K'tarin! We lost a man in the storm. You shall join the cell as we join your group." K'tarin bowed, his fist over his left breast, then took up position in the square of Werre. To'Khar K'than faced Balefire again. "We are with you." ++++++++++++++++++ Alduin dor Lammoth