Talking with Baeowin is higher on Tric’s priority list than visiting the troublesome druid Fenowin. Upon tracking her down, he updates the scout leader about the saurians and dwarves, and then asks, “Do you know if Lintanir is sending a group? The Great Forest seemed already aware of some undead trouble in the east.” It is possible that the orcs the grand alliance will be fighting were pressed south by the threats around Lintanir, so the elves from up there might pursue them.
“High Lord Volas has been in communication with Wesmere. Diclon carried messages west when she went to her new assignment in the Grey Woods. Since Wesmere was already planning to support Lintanir’s efforts, he requested they also support Estbryn’s efforts. We do not know if any elvish forces will be sent down from the Great Forest, but there will definitely be a martial contingent from Wesmere. Part of their forces will first be coming down through here and then fighting their way north to Lintanir’s aid.”
Baeowin rattles this all off, trusting that Tric knows the relevant geography and the political forces well enough to follow along. Fortunately, he is able to keep up even without having his cousin’s map for reference. Baeowin then provides information on the forces they expect from Wesmere: sharpshooters and avengers led by the elvish lord Cleomithir. I bet Ash is coming, and he’s going to hate that! Tric thinks. Aloud he says, “Ah, yes, Cleomithir. I know him—he’s my grandfather.”
Baeowin looks confused at this. Tric drops his voice a bit and confides, “Nasir is my dad, right?” Baeowin nods at this. “And he raised me. But he was partnered with Anador for a long time. You might remember him? I never knew him, obviously.” Baeowin is older than Tric and Heppa, but not of an age with Nasir. She was not stationed down at Hisenham, so it is news to her that Tric is Anador’s offspring. With a shrug, Tric explains that events back then upset Thrandolil, so the topic is not discussed around him.
“Hunh. So you do have the bloodline for nobility,” Baeowin says. She has seen some great potential in Tric.
“The blood’s really not the important part of it,” Tric insists.
In Estbryn Forest, though, lineage does have weight, regardless of how other elvish forests might handle their councils. Tric tries to play this down, but then he does share that he has spent some time getting magic lessons from his cousin Quaemilya. Baeowin is happy to hear this and encourages him to pursue more leadership roles.
“Phew, faerie fire is really hard to pull off,” Tric comments. “I don’t know if you ever studied any before you went down the scouting path…?”
“I’ve been on the iron road my whole life,” Baeowin tells him, patting her sword hilt.
Tric nods in understanding, then beseeches her not to mention any of this around Thrandolil or Penna. “It might make them upset. It brings up sad memories for them.” Baeowin assures him that she understands discretion. “Oh, one more thing,” Tric says. “One of the human commanders is coming to visit our forest to help coordinate… and other things. I thought it would be good for you to meet with her. She’s a knight, another type of mounted warrior, so I thought you’d be a good person to coordinate with. What was her name? Let’s see… oh, yes, Dame Terwaen. Terwaen of the Plains.” Secretly, he hopes Baeowin and Terwaen will hit it off on a far more personal level. It would be nice for his sister to have another excuse for visiting the forest more often.