<span class="mu-i"> "Then we are in agreement." </span> You declared, and the rest of the day you spent writing up a formal agreement. A provisional agreement, but an agreement nonetheless. The covenant of Tarmalossë, as it would formally be known, wouldn't be formally ratified at the end of the successful campaign.
After the provisional agreement had been signed and sealed. The two of you, human king and elven prince both, got along somewhat. Haldanáro wasn't as stiff or formal as Artuileno. Livelier, more open and simply more open in personality, you got along with him a lot more.
With more formal business out of the way, came the time for carousing. The two of you shared stories and laughter over drinks. It eventually devolved into telling each other riddles and guessing the answer.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Only one colour, but not one size, Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies. Present in sun, but not in rain, doing no harm, and feeling no pain. 'What is it?'' </span> You asked.
<span class="mu-i"> "Uhh, a shadow!" </span> Haldanáro replied.
Now it was Haldanáro's turn to give you a riddle.
<span class="mu-i"> "Ripped from my mother's womb, beaten and burnt, I become a bloodthirsty slayer, bane of life both flesh and wood. What am I?'' </span>
<span class="mu-i"> ''Stee-no, iron!'' </span> You exclaimed, while the elf nodded in the affirmative.
This went on for a while, until the subject changed yet again.
<span class="mu-i"> ''So there I was chasing down this so-called king, this would-be usurper of a piece of Mithras; in the end, he was a snivelling coward, not a true king, and his would-be crusader state dissolved as soon as it had popped up. What a pathetic man he was. </span> You were by now telling Haldanáro about your time in the crusade in Mithras. Though the evening by now was getting late, Sophia had retired earlier, though not before speaking with some of the local court mages and their apprentices. As you continued your story, Haldanáro listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions or comments. But eventually, you too had to withdraw to your guest quarters. Tomorrow will be an important day in planning how exactly the two of you would prosecute this war.
