bluff high in the north central peaks, and as he approached he
could see a knot of four men standing at the bluff’s center,
waiting. They were out in the open and not trying to hide, and
it did not appear that there were any others about or any places
that they might be hiding. A good sign, the Wing Rider
thought. But he would be careful anyway.
He settled Spirit onto the bluff, alert for any deception. The
giant Roc came to rest at the edge, well away from the four.
Tiger Ty sat where he was for a moment, studying the terrain.
The men across from him waited patiently. Tiger Ty satisfied
himself, loosened the retaining straps, and climbed down. He
spoke a word of caution to Spirit, then ambled forward across
a stretch of dried saw grass and broken rock. Two of the four
came to meet him, one tall and lean and chiseled like stone,
the other black-bearded and ferocious. The tall one limped.
When they were less than six paces from each other. Tiger
Ty stopped. The two men did the same.
“That was your signal? ” Tiger Ty asked.
The tall one nodded. “You’ve been flying past for two days
now, searching for something. We decided it was time to find
out what. Legend has it that only Wing Riders fly the giant
Rocs. Is that so? Have you come from the Elves? ”
Tiger Ty folded his arms. “Depends on who’s asking.
There’s a lot of people not to be trusted these days. Are you
one of them? ”
The black-bearded man flushed and started forward a step,
but a glance from the other stopped him in his tracks. “No,” he
answered, lifting an eyebrow quizzically. “Are you? ”
Tiger Ty smiled. “Guess this game could go on awhile,
couldn’t it? Are you free-born? ”
“Now and forever,” said the tall man.
The Talismans of Shannara 313
“Then you’re who I’m looking for. I’m called Tiger Ty. I’ve
been sent by Wren Elessedil, Queen of the Land Elves.”
“Then the Elves are truly back? ”
Tiger Ty nodded.
The tall man smiled in satisfaction. “I’m Padishar Creel,
leader of the free-bom. My friend is called Chandos. Welcome
back to the Four Lands, Tiger Ty. We need you.”
Tiger Ty grunted. “We need you worse. Where’s your
army?”
Padishar Creel looked confused. “My army? ”
“The one that’s supposed to be marching to our rescue!
We’re under attack by a Federation force ten times our size—
cavalry, foot soldiers, archers, siege equipment—well, not so
much of that anymore, but enough armor and weapons to roll
us up like ants under a broom. The boy said you were on your
way to help us with five thousand men. Not enough by half,
but any help would be welcome.”
Chandos frowned darkly, rubbing at his beard. “Just a min-
ute. What boy are you talking about? ”
Tiger Ty stared. “The one with the war shrike.” A sudden
uneasiness gripped the Wing Rider. ‘Tib Ame.” He looked
from one face to’the other. “Blue eyes, towheaded, kind of
small. You did send him, didn’t you? ”
The men across from him exchanged a hurried glance. “We
sent a man who was forty if he was a day. His name was
Sennepon Kipp,” Chandos said carefully. “I should know. I
made the choice myself.”
Tiger Ty went cold all the way through. “But the boy? You
don’t know the boy at all? ”
Padishar Creel’s hard eyes fixed him. “Not before this. Tiger
Ty. But I’d be willing to bet we know him now.”
Bright light seared the slits of Wren’s eyes as she regained
consciousness, and she turned her head away, blinking. A fist
knotted in her hair and jerked her upright, and the voice that
whispered in her ear was filled with hatred and disdain.
“Awake, awake. Queen of the Elves.”
The hand released, letting her slump forward on her knees,
her head aching from the blow that had felled her. A gag filled
her mouth, secured so tightly that she could only breathe
314 The Talismans of Shannara
through her nose. Her hands were tied behind her back, her