"It was actually at the request of Dorain of the King of Normandon's Northern Guard," said Belloc, indicating Dorain with a nod.
Triel cocked an eyebrow at Dorain. "You?"
Dorain said nothing.
Triel gave Brogan a speculative look as Dorain carefully studied the tabletop.
"I see," Triel said quietly and succinctly in a tone of voice that caused the insides of the two to feel curdled with anxiety. "I was unaware that the Northern Guard of the Elven Kingdom of Angorain had given you leave to be here. What is your purpose?"
"I have taken the initiative upon myself," she rejoined, looking him in the eye though her cheeks had coloured. "We elves do not require it of ourselves that we ask for leave when going about our business."
Triel's eyes shifted to Brogan, like those of an archer choosing a new target. "And I am to understand that the two of you are straightaway proceeding to Alin? How did this come about?"
Before Brogan could answer, Belloc discretely intervened. "Brogan will bear any correspondence you may have to Alin, where he will give a full report upon his arrival. He will be accompanied by Dorain, a representative of elvenkind."
Triel gave Belloc a look which said eloquently that he took the wizard's words with a grain of salt. "A task any messenger could accomplish! As it stands, the Northern Guard has lost one of its finest, and as you well know, we could have used Brogan here. But," he said, giving first Brogan, then Dorain, a tired, exasperated look, "I suppose the two of you have more important things to attend to.