Seek the place called Haven Jaris and Mara did, and as the season turned to sweat-dampened summer at last firm knowledge of it was in their grasp.

Thus did they set out, traveling throughout the summer and into the harvest season, along the winding path of a river with no name as it crawled through dark northern forests and between rock-studded hills and beneath warrens of boulders, until finally the river lead them to a valley, secluded and green, hidden between high peaks of the Hob mountains. At the bottom of this valley lay a village, almost a town, protected by a stone wall the height of a man, through which the river flowed southward.

To the gates they went, where they found two Hob warriors dressed in armor like that made by Man, who bared pikes and set themselves at arms, and said, “Halt, traveler, and state your business in Haven.” This, though the affect was strong, they said in the common tongue of the Realm.

“Stay your weapons, guards, for we come as refugees seeking the place where Hob and Man live in company with one another.”

As Jaris said this Mara pulled back her cloak and un-wrapped the cloths that enrobed her face, revealing herself as one of them.

At the sight of the girl, the guards let their pikes stand and one of them spoke words in the Hob tongue to her, to which she replied, “I am sorry, but it has been many years since I heard the Hob tongue, and I do not remember it well.”

At her speech, without affect, the Hob guards were struck with surprise, but bid the two enter, in peace, asking only in return that their blades be left in the charge of the stout gate-keeper. This, the two did, and entered.

The town was a poor one, for there was little but hard winter-wheat and chestnuts that grew in the valley, and a few fish of the river and rare beast of the hills for meat. On its streets were Hob and Man, walking openly together, wearing clothing one who had traveled far would recognize as common to the Northlanders, and Myr, and the Realm, and many tribes of Hob, and even places so far afield as the wanderers of the great plains of the Eastfields and the ports of misty Visali to the west.

The two were much awed at this place, and sought out the town-chief, Arak, who was of Man, swarthy, and with proud beard.

“Welcome,” said he and, upon hearing their tale told them of the history of Haven. “This town was laid here not so many years past by Hob, and Men who once lived in the northern reaches of Myr as you did, but were cast out upon its fall to the Realm, and found themselves without home. Of late it has grown, as we have sought out and added to our number many who felt unwanted elsewhere. I myself was a sailor, who plied the seas from Visali, and have been selected to act as town-head while the one who usually bears the title travels. But truly, you are unique, young Mara, for never have I heard a Hob who spoke the tongue of the Realm so fluidly as you.”

At this, Mara hung her head, and said “’Tis blessing and curse, for it would seem that nowhere do any like me remain.”

“Fret not,” said he. “Many have found a home here in Haven, so perhaps you shall as well. I shall find you a hut in which to make your bed. And work, as well.”

“Tell me,” said Jaris, “how it is that this town came to be laid here? Is this not land claimed by the Hob?”

“Aye,” said the town-chief, “’tis, and the King of the Hob granted its building here, in this isolated place, that those who could not find home among his people might have one here.”

This surprised Jaris greatly, for little had he heard of the one who called himself King of the Hob, save for his warlike ways. But such was the shock of all else about Haven that he took the words to mean no more than they appeared.

And so it was that the wayward Knight and his young charge came to live in Haven, among both Hob and Man, for a time. A place to live was built for them, and their skill with the blade quickly won them favor in the town guard, where they found work training others and standing watch over the people.

As the gods of winter breathed the first snows upon the hills, the true chief of the town returned from his travels, and he was one of those who Gareth had sent with orders to construct the town, as one might build a den in order to lure the wild beast one seeks to trap, and tame.

Quickly the word of Mara reached his ears, and immediately he sent a messenger to the court of Gareth to report that the one his Liege sought had at last come to lay in the den.

Gareth took great joy in this, but, having learned the details of the girl’s life, he knew he must not haste in tightening the snare, lest the beast turn upon him. Being one who had suffered greatly at the hands of Man, and knowing that she had as well, he knew that the ember of hatred burned within her, and need only be inflamed.

Thus he crafted a plan both circuitous and evil. Through his spies, he would send word of Haven and its location to the Duke of the Northlands, who was certain to set his men upon it without delay, and destroy it utterly. But before their arrival, an agent of his would cause the sought-after girl to leave the town on some urgent errand, that she would be spared the slaughter.

Upon her return to the place, her remaining bonds to Man would be severed, and, knowing that it was Men who had done the deed, her hatred of them would burn fiercely. Only then would his agents guide her to his keep, where he would greet her warmly, and offer her a place at his side, and the means to seek revenge upon those who had so wronged her. With sufficient training under his care, she would be shaped into a spy the likes of which no Man, loyalty bought with coins of gold and silver, could ever equal.

Greater still became his joy with the knowledge that, already, she was a swordswoman of notable skill, with manners and mien learned from a Knight of the Realm. This, truly, was the one his scryers had spoken of, ordained by the gods to become the dagger with which he would cut into the heart of the domains of Men.

Of this foul plan taking shape, Mara and Jaris had no ken. Preparation for the harsh winter and affiliation with their new home filled their days.