E'darin and his patrol of ten soldiers rode quietly into Tir - the village he knew his best friend:  Kate would be resting with her escort coming from the Mage Guild.  It was late evening...later than he had intended on arriving, but there had been a brief skirmish with a couple of bandits at a farmhouse down the road.  The bandits had not caused them much trouble, but it had taken longer to calm the poor single mother and her children down afterwards than E'darin would have cared.  The night was colder than it felt like it should have been...something E'darin had noticed rather quickly after they had left the farmhouse.  Something about the strange extra chill in the air registered to E'darin badly...as if more was going on than he could pick up with his normal senses.  Perhaps it had to do with his keen sense of the weather, and the chill in the air - despite it being winter - felt off to the young Half-elf Warden.  Not that the cold bothered him...he actually enjoyed it better than summer.  Even the extra cold in the air did not bother E'darin overly much other than to trouble his heart and mind.<br/><br/>Like most of the Wardens; E'darin wore the dark evergreen studded leather armor over his body for protection.  Yet, where other Wardens wore no emblem - E'darin wore two such.  The first clasped his emerald cloak - a simple bronze star showing his rank to command others.  Such items were worn by those in authority at the lowest levels.  The second emblem he wore was in memory of his parents:  a golden harp with a silver sword behind it.  This was worn around his neck as a medallion, and marked him as a member of House Songblade.  Of course, each member of the small company displayed the emblem of Lord Lyons on the back of their cloaks:  a golden lion facing a scarlet fox.  It was said the lion represented House Lyons, but the scarlet fox represented his dead wife:  Lady Katelynn.  Indeed, Katheryn had taken on some of her mother's appearance with her red fox ears and tail...attributes E'darin always found adorable on her.  The rest of his gear was as one might expect from a Warden on patrol:  a longbow finely crafted personally by his teacher - Chief Warden Kemensil, a longsword at his left hip in a black and silver scabbard inherited from his father, a black quiver for twenty-five arrows...three of which were missing, a dagger on his right hip, weapons belt, money pouch, and so forth...including supplies for the journey.  The longbow he always held ready in his left hand or across his legs while riding, and this was no different as he entered the village.<br/><br/>The cold grew and made E'darin frown up at the sky.  There was no sign of moon or stars, but this did not overly concern him since they had no been visible since nightfall.  Still, something about it all made E'darin a bit on edge.  Into the village the small troop rode, and he soon spotted Lady Katheryn's carriage and her escort of a dozen soldiers...Lord Lyons' elite guard.  Among them were six more Wardens and six knights...not including their commander.  The man he noticed with the gold edged cloak was someone he rarely encountered:  Knight-Commander Alexander Borson...a tough man, but always fair.  He had once seen the Knight-Commander take on five Orcs at the same time without aid.  The Orcs never had a prayer.  Thus, after he approached, he dismounted and saluted with fist to heart to Alexander.<br/><br/>"Cold night, Knight-Commander," E'darin noted as he bowed.  "I trust all is well here, and that Lady Katheryn is still up."<br/><br/>"I had heard you made Knight recently, E'darin!  Well done!!  I dare say it was a boon to your wages and fortunes.  Yes, all has been well enough I suppose.  Not sure I like the weather.  Looks and feels like it could snow anytime, but the cold feels...more so.  In any case, Lady Katheryn is staying in the inn they have here under guard.  I know you haven't seen her in a few years.  She may not be asleep yet, but I would not disturb her if I were you.  She was restless earlier...most likely from being in the Mage Guild tower for so long," Alexander said as he clasped arms with E'darin.  "Come, warm yourself by the fire.  Your troop can rest over there on the left," he added pointing to the camp area open for any patrols that came by.<br/><br/>E'darin joined the Knight-Commander while signaling to the rest to take care of themselves and his mount.