There was Jashan Leaflaughter, looking as weary as his Lady. Perhaps he had cause; he had once held off a human army in a narrow pass for more than two hours before help arrived. He had lost an arm for his troubles, and rode awkwardly, controlling his horse more with knees than hands.
--Honor's Keeper.
The Lord Jashan was born the son of the Lord Sydordan Leaflaughter, and for a time overshadowed by the prominence of his great father. Indeed, some would argue that he did almost nothing noteworthy until the War of Acceptance, despite the fact that his lis was speaking eloquently at his father's trial for treason and sparing the rest of the family his father's fate.
When the War of Acceptance came, Jashan answered the call to arms; it never seems to have occurred to him to do otherwise. He served well and patiently with the Lady Eleriad, never far from her side. Though she did not trust him as she did the Lord Dorren, she relied on him for many things, including supplies for the army. The Leaflaughters had achieved a friendship with a small Clan of wyverns. They flew the food from the busy Leaflaughter farms out to where it was most needed.
When Eleriad went to the south to prepare for what eventually turned into the Echeo Tor, she left the Lord Jashan in the north, confident that he could handle himself.
There, as Jashan watched the only path leading to the land Elwen camp, on regular sentry duty, a force of humans approached on the sly. They had heard that the Lady was no longer present, and, with the Running Stag far to the south, had dared to try and take the camp.
Jashan stood up and challenged them.
He fought, as had his ancestor the Lady Vindia, in a narrow pass, and held off the humans for more than two hours, until the change of sentries arrived and saw the trouble. He lost an arm for it, but he never surrendered.
That was the hour of his highest glory. The Lady Eleriad took him into her service soon after, and he served in honor until the end of his days.
When the War of Acceptance ended, however, he turned the Leaflaughter title and lands over to his daughter, Vindia, and turned his horse north. Some said that he went to find healing for his wound, which still troubled him, in the Forbge Forest.
There was only one song ever made of his heroic defense, but that song says enough. Entíl Maldedi it was called, the Battle in the Pass, by Oriel Goatleap, and the first and last lines may be quoted here:
Vyalryr rolande dalda sul haeñallit losor
Heroes do not always dwell where you expect to find them...
...Elrhyr rolande curedi ia fanedi alas
Some things, in light or in shadows, shine forever.
