The Silken Key

Prologue Part 3

"Mr Fallowfield, you're going to have to slow down," Boso said. It was clear from his tone that his patience was being tested. "Tell me again why you think you need a priest to help you with this?"

Mr Fallowfield was a hobbit. Detlef was used to seeing hobbits around the town. They usually came across from their village to buy seeds and the types of food they weren't able to grow themselves. But it was very unusual to see a group of them so far from home this late at night.

There were six of them in total. Fallowfield was a stocky halfling obviously burdened by terrible worry. The others were all adults, with the exception of one scruffy haired youth.

"It's like I told you!" Mr Fallowfield pleaded. "My daughter has been playing in some caves. She thinks she's found something ancient and magical. I've told her again and again to stay away, but this time she's not returned."

"Yes," Boso was speaking through his teeth now, "I understand very well that your daughter is missing and you are worried. What I don't understand is why you have not simply gone to the cave to look for her. How did you think you improved your chances of finding her by coming all the way to town and seeking out a priest? Given your family's history, I would not have thought you one to seek the help of the temple."

"Well..." Fallowfield gulped and looked around at the other hobbits, as if hoping they would give him sensible words to answer with. "...as you know, us folk don't have holy men of our own. We leave the gods alone and they return the favour. But if Tabitha has truly uncovered something...unholy..."

Detlef wrapped his arms around himself, wondering - but not brave enough to ask - what Boso meant about Fallowfield's 'family history'. The night was dark and cold now. He'd always thought hobbits were cheerful, practical people who just got on with things. To see an adult halfling on the verge of tears and lost for words made Detlef's heart feel like a lead weight in his chest.

"We should go and look with them," he said without thinking. Rector Boso fired a sharp look at him. Detlef quickly added, "Or I suppose we could go back to the dais and make a supplication prayer for Tabitha to be found safely?"

That seemed to change Boso's mind. The Rector obviously didn't want to risk another disaster at the altar.

"Very well," Boso said. "We will go with you. I think it unlikely that your daughter has followed in her ancestors' footsteps and awoken an ancient evil. Yet if there is a kernel of truth to it, God's blessing is with me."

One of the other adult halflings nudged the child halfling. "Alright Milo, it's up to you now. Show us where this cave is."

"But it's dark! I'm tired." Milo complained through a yawn.

"You little toerag!" The adult chided him. "Aren't you worried about your friend lost out there all by herself?"

"Tabitha's not my friend. She's weird. She tricked us into going to the cave."

"Milo, please." Mr Fallowfield sobbed. "You managed to find your way back. So you must know how to get there. I'm begging you. Try."

It took a little longer to persuade the tired, belligerent young hobbit to do as he was being asked. Soon enough, the group was making their way out of town and towards the rocky hills to the north.

Nobody asked Detlef to come. Boso neither tried to make him stay behind nor told him he had to help. But in seven years of assisting the priest, this was the most interesting type of service Detlef had the chance to give. Even though he was tired and cold - and even though he was sure Boso would still expect him to be up early the next day - he wasn't going to miss out on this chance for a little excitement.