He was facing a young man with sandy hair and freckles and an eager face. The young man was wearing working clothes and carrying a wooden box of tools.

“Just happened to be passing by and saw the open door. You looking for Pogue?”

The ragpicker shook his head. “I’m not from here. I just arrived this morning. I sell odds and ends. Who is Pogue?”

“Pogue Kray, the council chairman. He pretty much runs things in Glensk Wood. Which town are you from?”

“Sunny Rise, way to the east. Do you know of it?”

The young man shook his head. “Can’t say that I do. I don’t get over that way much. Not at all, matter of fact. This is my home.” He smiled some more. “Anyway, I just wanted to see if I could help. Pogue is out gathering up men to attend to the defenses up at Declan Reach. Been out since sometime yesterday, making the rounds. So you won’t find him, if that’s who you’re looking for.”

The ragpicker cocked his head. “Who I’m really looking for is a man who carries a black staff. Do you know of such a man?”

His new friend nodded eagerly. “Everyone knows about him. That’s the one they call the Gray Man. Sider Ament. Patrols the valley rim, checks the passes to see if the wards are still in place. They’re not anymore, you know. Down, all of them. The way out—or in—is open to anyone.”

He leaned forward conspiratorially. “Word is, there’s an army out there. Trolls. They’re camped on the flats beyond Aphalion Pass, waiting on something. Word is, they want to take our valley away from us and make a home of it for themselves. Throw us to the wolves or whatever. But we won’t stand for that. You heard about this?”

“I did hear something. No details, though. Are there a lot of these Trolls out there? Enough to do what they say they’re going to do?” The ragpicker gave the young man his most concerned look. “Do you think our people are in any real danger?”

The young man shrugged. “Could be. I put my faith in the teachings of the Seraphic. I belong to the Children of the Hawk. We believe that we will be saved no matter what the danger, once the valley opens up again. Like it has now. We believe the Hawk will return for us and keep us safe from whatever threatens.”

The ragpicker nodded sagely. Do you, now? Safe from anything at all? Safe from me? The words burned like a cleansing fire in his heart. “Tell me something of your order,” he asked the other. “All of this is new to me. Who are the Children of the Hawk?”