Its blade was about two feet long, and its handle was laced in gold and silver. "Only a noble could have a sword like that," Roni thought.

The man smiled at Roni's surprise and said, "You have never seen a sword like this one, eh." It was true. In fact the only sword Roni had ever seen was the one the butcher used to cut large pieces of meat.

"It took me many years to get it, many battles."

"Are, are you a, a…"

"A warrior? Yes. But I bet Fradef is waiting."

Roni could not believe it. A real warrior, the kind told about in tales, was staying in his house. He could wait to tell Yahti about it. But then he remembered. Yahti was going away and he might not see him. He carried the leather bags into the spare room and then walked into the main room and the three of them sat down, the guest sitting in the large rocking chair, for no other chair in the room would fit him.

Fradef began the conversation by saying, "Where have your travels taken you my friend?"

"Mostly in the north, though some in the west. There was border trouble and some fierce fighting with the Arci. But it is over now." He pulled from a bag he was still carrying a long narrow wooden box. Roni could not see exactly what it was but Danri began to turn a handle on one end and press on keys with the other. The music was loud and bright for something so small. Then he began to sing,

"Long ago lived a man His name was The Hunter He shot the straightest in all the land He could hit at 100 yards a lump of butter

Out hunting one day Saw a deer run by His followed that deer they say It never made a cry

But in vain he searched for that stag Many a day he searched Till one day he came home with an empty bag Upon his back was drooped

No one ever found out why No one knows what happened Often that man did sigh Of the one deer he never found."

"There is a northern verse for you," Fradef said. "It has been a long time since I have heard song from there." He had a faraway look in his eye and Roni wondered why he had never asked Fradef about his younger years.

"Yes sir it is," Danri said. "Who is the main leader of this village? I would like to speak to him if I may."

"You want to talk with Beno. He is a carpenter but also the main man in this village. I can show you where he lives."

They both got up and left the house. Roni waited until they had gone out of sight and then he too left. He followed a path through the woods to a place where he and Yahti often met. He hoped maybe Yahti would be there. His heart sank when he did not see anybody when a voice behind him said,

"Hullo."

Roni immediately recognized Yahti's voice and turned around. "Yahti, I am so glad to see you. Guess who is staying at our house."

"The king's son."

"No. A warrior, his name is Danri."

Now Yahti's eyebrows shot up, "You mean a real warrior? In the Rhodhiil?"