this periapt?"
"There's naught left of him save a few rags," replied the dwarf. "The moment I struck him, he seemed to melt away into the ground. I thought at first I'd slain a demon, but I saw his face. It was the face of a man, I think."
"I told you it was a wight!" said Amrhost to the dwarf. He held up his own blade which was notched. "I believe the smiths at Brador make the proper tools for such work. Mine was heavy enough as broadswords go, and a fine piece of craftsmanship. But the owner of that sword turned it aside like a toy."
Taking his staff, Belloc brought the Vhurd-Aq to life, holding it a few inches from the evil sword. With an eerie wail it seemed to come to life, writhing to escape the eyes of the ancient serpent's head. For an instant, it seemed to resemble a ghastly skeletal creature. Then it crumbled away, turning to soot. There were exclamations of disgust as the smell of the thing was like a pyre.
Uttering an elvish oath, Celedhan spat upon the ashes of the destroyed thing. The elves nearby were stone-faced, angry. "Ai!" on of them exclaimed! "Who would dare make such a thing?"
"Let the soldiers be concerned for these smaller matters while they may," muttered Celedhan privately to Belloc. "For ourselves, we must now be wary of what else stands between ourselves and the gates of Lund. It is in my heart that greater evil yet lies before us." He surveyed the carnage around them, as if accusing Morlock of his crimes. "Let us depart this place, and see what we shall see."