Lysette was strangely quiet as the gnomes and the two taller riders descended the western slope of the Glooming Mountains. Finally she spoke directing her words to Thoren. "Why do you do that, Thoren?"
"Do what?" he responded confused by the question.
"Bring every conflict to some kind of brutal conclusion. Did the elf have to be killed?"
"He threatened you."
"So he threatened me. He never really harmed me. And he was helpless after you hit him on the side of the head... yes, Thoren, I saw all that you did, and your handiwork with the knife."
"He needed to be taught a lesson."
"Sure, Thoren, so that he can correct his ways in his next chance. Well, Thoren, he had no second chance. You took that opportunity away with one swipe of your knife. Judge and executioner you were. Couldn't you have found a way to let him live?
"That would not be Ragnhild's way," said Thoren defensively.
"Are you like Ragnhild?" retorted Lysette. "Sometimes you frighten me, beloved. You simply frighten me."
So taken aback was Thoren he could say nothing meaningful and so said nothing at all until they reached the bottom of the sloping path. There the gnome named Gurri reined in his pony and motioned to Thoren and Lysette.
"We must leave you here," began the gnome. "You are west of the Glooming Mountains and musn't attempt for now to go east."
"Why?" asked Thoren.
"Because," continued the Elf, "the Dark Elves control the plains of Torvald and are laying siege to Torvgold. We gnomes, as you remember, defend the mountains but not the plains. We have skirmished with goblins already. Dark elves leave us alone as they know we know these mountains intimately whereas they do not. The goblins aren't as smart and venture forth periodically, falling into our traps. When they do they don't return to tell."
"Where are we to go, Gurri?"
"Our elders told me to say to you should we find you, 'Go to Madrigold and the tavern. The Minstrel awaits you."
"Jayhawk's there? How do the elders know this?"
"We call the Minstrel the Great One for a reason, Norseman." A sudden noise in the mountains caught their collective ears - metal objects bumping together, distant, yet not so far as to be easily dismissed. "Hurry, Thoren. We are still safe, but not for long. We must all leave. Farewell Thoren; farewell, Lysette." Without further ceremony Gurri motioned to the others and they put spur to pony and headed northeast back into the mountains.
Thoren took only a moment to watch the gnomes leave. He turned in his saddle to face Lysette. "I shall remember what you said and think on it, but now it's to Madrigold we must go, Lysette. There's the road." She said nothing in reply. Her point had been made. To press further was to invite needless anger, she suspected.
The bright light of the full moon lit their way as they hurried their horses west towards Madrigold and their expected rendezvous with Jayhawk.