Bretwald turns to Sten. "This is not the first time I have set out to discover the tomb. I hoped that with the treasure recovered from Vallandr's tomb, the work of the Church might be furthered.."
He gestures to you all to gather round as he tells his story.
"About a year ago I found a suitable band of adventurers – at least, I thought they were suitable. Agnar Wolfeye and his men turned out to be the most bloodthirsty cutthroats one could hope not to meet? We entered Fenring Forest, and while we were searching for the exact location of the tomb, one of Agnar’s ruffians spied an Elf nearby. The damned fool shot it with his crossbow."
“That was the start of our troubles. The next day two of the men took sick, poisoned by bad water from a spring. A man we sent out scouting failed to return. At dawn we awoke to find his severed head set on a pole by the camp fire!"
“Most of the men were for turning back then, but Agnar was a mad dog and I – for my sins, I was too proud and greedy to abandon the search. We went deeper into the forest, keeping our scouts closer now. At last one of them called out to us – ‘Here I’ve found it! Here!’ We rushed though the trees and came into the clearing where the colossal stone portal of the tomb stands. But the man who had called out was lashed upside-down to a frame, and Elves stood all around with bows.
“Agnar bellowed crazily and charged them, swinging his axe. A tall faerie lord strode forward, spoke a word. Agnar fell dead in his tracks. Then the Elf-lord came to me and I held my cross in trembling hands. I looked right into his pale cold eyes. He said ‘You are not one of them. You did not desire this madness, and we shall spare you our retribution. Go now; take my cloak and the wolves shall let you pass.’
Sure enough, he gave me the cloak from his shoulders. I could see a circle of red-eyed wolves about the clearing now. Agnar’s men were pleading with me to help them, but I could do nothing. I went to the edge of the clearing, and though the wolves snarled they parted to let me go. I walked at first, then began to run, Behind me, the men began to scream.
“It was bitter to know I had found the tomb and lost it. Then a wily thought came to me. I snagged the Elf-lord’s cloak on a briar and began to unravel it as I went. When I reached the forest’s edge, I had used up all the thread. I went quickly to Saxton and lay in a fever there three days. When I went back, I could not find the thread, though I had marked the tree where I had wound the end of it. Abbot Adrian , whom I later consulted in a circumspect manner, was of the opinion that a fine faerie thread might only show in strong moonlight, for the Elves make garments to keep themselves hidden. I believe him to be a considerable authority in such matters. The first full moon of Michaelmas falls twelve days from now, so if you wish to join me we shall depart in just over a week.”
He turns to Bohemond. "Forgive me for not sharing this tale with you before, Brother. It is only with the coming of these adventurers, that I have grasped the opportunity to set out once more."
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