[Child of the 7th Age]

Despite Loremaster's announcement and the strange arrival of Bird, the two hobbits, Mika and Kima, doggedly continued to compete at Candlestones. It was too soon to halt the game. Somehow, someway, the guards needed to be kept inside the room a little longer. A few more hobbits slipped out on secret errands, but most remained within the cavern, their attention directed to the contest at hand.

The guards were in a decidedly foul mood. Loremaster's actions and the appearance of Bird seemed like a subtle challenge to their authority. They cursed the contestents and, at one point, ran over and cuffed Azra across the face when she failed to set up the candles as quickly as they demanded.

The twins continued to match each other, candle for candle, stone for stone. Bids and money were exchanged back and forth between the guards as the stakes ran ever higher. Then, when the suspense could last no longer, Mika outdid Kima by a single point, and the game was suddenly over.

The hobbits glanced at each other with apprehension. They had stretched the competition to its furthest limits, but still it was not enough. This was the critical moment, before the general alarm, when all must be done in secrecy and silence. A hoard of guards pouring into the main passageway would be disastrous for the rescue.

The guards were paying off their bets, and standing up, searching on the ground for their swords and other weapons. They were about to go off and leave the main cavern.

Mika and Kima eyed each other nervously, unsure of what to do. Corby leaned over to them and muttered, "We've got to hold them here. Any way we can. Any way. Just play along."

He strutted out on the floor, trying to get the attention of one of the retreating figures. Though accounted tall by hobbit standards, Corby barely came to the middle point of the guards' chests. Tall or not, he intended to challenge them to a game of Candlestones. He knew he'd have to make it interesting. He nabbed the nearest guard.

"If you're a betting man, I have a challenge for you. Mika and I are the two champions. We've been in the winner's circle more than all." That's actually a lie, Corby thought. Gamba was the one who'd accomplished that feat. But if he mentioned that name, it would only stir up anger.

He calmly continued. "So we figure we'd challenge you to a game ourselves."

The Man roared with laughter, "You, pipsqueak, what's in it for me? What have you possibly got that would have any value? To say nothing of the fact that I'm twice as big as you are. No rat is going to beat a Man at anything."

"Maybe not," Corby agreed, "but you'll never know for sure till we play. Or maybe you're afraid to try." Corby measured out his last words very, very carefully. The worst they could do was to lead to a general riot. Even that was better than having all the guards walk out into the hall.

"Hey, Makil, are you afraid?" roared his companion.

The guard clenched the hilt of his sword till his knuckles showed through white. "Afraid? You must be joking. I could pin this annoyance against the wall."

His hand went out to grab Corby by the collar as he began raising him up from the ground."

Mika suddenly sprang forward and opened his mouth. "That's not the question, whether or not you could pin him down. The question was if you could beat him."

"And believe me, we'll make it worth your while to play."

"Really?" the guard raised his eyebrows and seemed about to dismiss Corby, but since he couldn't help being curious, waited for the hobbit's response.

"Yes, we'll go against you and any other Man that you pick. If the hobbits win, the two of us get six months with no work duty."

"And if I and my friend win?" the Man queried.

"Then you get to take us in the selection." He said it in an even, still voice.

"I could take you in the selection tomorrow and not take part in this ridiculous contest."

"Maybe so," shrugged Corby. "But then your friends will say that you turned down a challenge."

The Man turned around. His face was red with anger. He had been caught in his own trap. "Alright, little rat, have your wish. But I'll make one change. That will be four months with no work, and, if you lose, your wives will be invited for the selection."

The men turned towards each other and hesitated. Then they looked towards the crowd where Glena and Keli sat together. The two women stood up and nodded yes in their husbands' direction.

"You have it," said Corby.

They went to the line and got ready to compete.

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When Nitir stepped ouside the study, she was not surprised to see the guard slouched against the wall. As Ruby had reported, he looked bored and half asleep. Maybe this would not be difficult if they kept their heads ad used their wits. She muttered a few words to him about taking her grandchildren out for a breath of air. The guard shrugged his shoulders and motioned her through. After several evasive moves, she and Pearl managed to lead the group round about to the mouth of the tunnel. Once safely out of view, they raced quickly down the passage, half dragging and pushing the children along.

When they reached the banks of the river. everything looked empty and still. For one moment, Nitir feared there'd been some horrible mistake. But then came a welcome sight. A single hand glided up from under the water to grab onto the rocky beach. A hobbrim body soon followed. Within a moment, Nitir was staring into the eyes of Andril.

"All is quiet yet," the wise woman recounted.

"On our end too. Though I suspect things have begun deeper in the tombs."

Andril pushed several air bladders to the front, and began helping the children into the water. Each child was propped up on a device, with a hobbrim swimming beside him. The hobbrim propelled the small craft forward and kept one hand positioned on the youngster's back. Before Nitir could open her mouth, the children were quickly disappearing up the river, one-by-one, with their escorts.

"What about this one? She's too small." Nitir gently handed the babe over to the hobbrim.

Andril smiled, "We thought of that. While Mithadan was making air bladders, our people worked on rush baskets and small rafts that can float in the water. The outside is covered with pitch to keep them water tight. We use them ourselves when we wade into the shallows and wish to keep our babies or toddlers near us."

"What is this child's name?" Andril asked.

"She has none. Nor any living family."

"Then we will fix that." She tucked the child into the tiny floating cradle. "You are Estel, child of hope. And before the night is through, you will have no shortage of mothers who will raise you and honor you as your own blood kin would have wished." Andril kissed the babe and sent her off with an escort in the same direction as the others.

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Haldad, the single guard who stood outside the study, was a newcomer. Captain Tarcil had hastily assigned him to the post to replace the Man who'd been dragged off earlier that night. The new guard did not know one hobbit from another, and paid scant attention to those who left the study, ostensibly wanting to take a stroll.

Haldad's mind was frankly on other things. This was the last place he wanted to be. He'd already petitioned for a transfer. A spy, a mounted warrior, even a temple accolyte. Anything had to be better than this!

The guard could see hobbit families who seemed to be wandering in aimless circles. Some towards the kitchen caves or the Candlestones arena, others walking in the direction of the small side caverns or the annex where the Elders slept. Like rabbits, he thought! So many children. He shook his head in dismay.

Yet, for all his keen observations, Haldad failed to note one thing. No matter where the groups started or where they ambled off to, they all wound up in the exact same spot, disappearing down a long dark tunnel away from the cavern and the guards.

Nitir and Pearl stood midway in that tunnel, conveying group after group back to the river as quickly as they could, working together with the hobbrim. If truth be told, Nitir felt a bit guilty. Her friends were inside battling, probably facing horrendous odds. Yet she had the happy duty of seeing the young and old swim towards the ships, the last step before freedom. Nitir thought with a laugh that, if she survived this night, those happy faces in the water would be one of her sweetest delights and memories.

[ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]