Dagon left Helsop with Tandor early the day after Deimos returned from Henge with the exploding powders. They had been on the road to Fernland for a day and a night. Dagon was sound asleep at their campsite when some small outside noise crept into his dream. He jerked awake and reached for his sword. Some noise unnatural to the forest must have reached through to his consciousness. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and saw the distant form of a man on horseback coming through the trees. Even though the sun had not risen past the horizon, the sky had the first pink traces of light.
As the man drew within shouting distance, he dismounted.
"Hello, the camp," he called out. "I come in friendship."
Dagon stood up, sword in hand, watching the tall, broad-shouldered man with long dark hair.
"I am El Grande. I saw the fresh tracks off the road and was hopeful I could find some breakfast here. I've ridden through the night and have further to go. I have a little coin—not much."
"Leave your weapons with your horse then, and come join us." Dagon noticed Tandor's empty sleeping blanket. He looked around and saw Tandor emerge cautiously from behind a tree, bow and arrow at the ready.
Tandor kept his eyes on the stranger while he spoke to Dagon. "I was just on my way to scout for some breakfast when I heard the horseman. Shall I stay?" Tandor kept his eyes on the stranger as he spoke.
"No, go. I'll get a fire started." Dagon stretched his arms and his back as El Grande walked closer.
Dagon, still holding his sword in his left hand, shook hands with El Grande. "I am called Dagon. Help me gather some wood and we will make some water for tea."
By the time Tandor returned with three freshly-caught trout, the fire was burning and the water boiling. Dagon took some flat bread from his saddle bag to add to their breakfast.
Tandor cleaned the fish and put them into a skillet to cook. He sprinkled tea leaves into cups of hot water and handed one to El Grande.
"You say you rode through the night?" Dagon asked.
"Aye, and I've the aches to prove it. I had no choice. I'm on a mission for the Princess of Henge. She used to be a sorceress, you know."
Dagon and Tandor nodded their understanding. As Dagon took a cup of tea from Tandor he glanced at El Grande from the corner of his eye.
"I do not envy you your livelihood if you are in Serafina's employ."
"No, luckily I do not work for her. Or anyone for that matter. I belong to that group called Travelers, more commonly known as Gypsies."
"Gypsies," Tandor echoed. "I've heard stories about the Gypsies."
El Grande looked at him expectantly and saw the blush spread to Tandor's face.
"Not stories you wish to relate, I gather."
"I never believe half the stories I hear and that's a fact." Tandor tested the fillets for doneness and began to dish them out onto squares of flat bread.
Dagon was curious about El Grande's mission but decided not to press the man with too many questions. The stranger seemed eager enough to talk in exchange for food.
"The Gypsies generally travel as a group, do they not?" Dagon asked.
"Always. My fellow Travelers are still in Henge. I hope as a result of this errand we will be granted sanctuary in Henge. We certainly got no welcome in Fernland."
Dagon blew on his fish to cool it. "You must have passed by Helsop on your way to Henge. No one told me of any Gypsies seeking sanctuary."
El Grande's mouth dropped a little in surprise as he took a closer look at Dagon and Tandor. "You two are from Henge?"
Dagon supposed he was surprised to find men from Helsop dressed reasonably well with healthy horses and food to eat.
"You should not believe all the stories you hear either. Helsop has had a small wave of prosperity of late."
Now it was El Grande's turn to blush. "You are correct. My apologies. I am happy for your prosperity. How did it come about?"
"It is a tangled tale at best, but our prosperity lies mainly in a new treaty with Fernland—the result of my engagement to King Geoffrey's daughter, the Princess Electra."
El Grande's surprise turned to shock. He carefully set his cup on the ground to keep it from spilling. His expression turned skeptical. "You are engaged to Princess Electra?"
Tandor turned a grim face to El Grande. "Why would you question our Headman's word?"
El Grande's hands flew up, palms out. "I do not question it. Why would I? It is just that I am sent on this journey to warn your Electra of a possible threat."
Now Dagon put his cup down with a clatter. His voice was low and controlled.
"Quickly now—what threat?"
"It may be nothing, truly. We have one man, his name is Shandor, and he loves wine too much. His daughter, Angelica, went missing about the same time Electra and Serafina left Chase Bound. He believes Electra knows something concerning his daughter's whereabouts. So he stayed behind to try to find out what she knows. As I say, it may amount to nothing. He does get belligerent when he drinks and Serafina knows this about him. That is why she insisted I go at once to warn Electra. An abundance of caution, I call it."
"You should not have left him behind, knowing his character." Dagon finished his breakfast in two bites and drank down his tea in one long swallow. "Your work is done. You may continue on or return to Henge, as you wish. I will be warning this Shandor that he'd best not go near Electra for any reason."
El Grande stood up, shaken by Dagon's sudden change in demeanor.
"I...I suppose I will return to Henge, then. I see I can trust you with my errand."
Dagon did not bother to reply. He was already gathering up his belongings and saddling his horse.
Tandor quickly stomped out the campfire and poured water in the skillet to cool it down. Within minutes they were ready to go.
El Grande had just reached the King's Road when Dagon and Tandor overtook him at a gallop. El Grande sat on his horse in the middle of the road, deciding which direction to take. Finally he turned north and headed back toward Henge.