The dark tower was far behind the jester when next he met a fellow traveller on the road. It was a man who seemed intent on getting there he had just come from. He was riding a white horse, and had a large round silvered shield. His red cloak flicked at the world behind the mans horse.

The jester rode up to him, because on the road greetings your fellow travellers often breeds good will and favour in desolate places. He watched as the white horse approached and hailed the rider to stop. With a flourish of his cloak and an unnecessary stamping of his horses feet the man pulled up beside the jester.

‘Good morrow, sir,’ said the jester.

‘It may well be that. Greetings, I am Finre Braesh.’

‘You an no other. Are you in a great hurry, or do would you see fit to stay a while and hear a tale in exchange for a little food, mayhap?’

‘It is my honour bound duty to do good by men, so I shall stay. I have heard many tales in my life, and always they have lent some light on the life I led thereof.’

‘May it be so with mine also.’

The two men dismounted and led their horses from the road. They sat side by side on the grassy bank of the road, looking at the blue sky above and the green woods surrounding them. The hill in which the dark tower hid were a grim line of rock to the left of the travellers. The jester clouded his eyes, and no light was cast from the high sun beneath his hood. Finre looked upon him in silence, wondering if this darks stranger was a practitioner of the dark arts. He relaxed when the jester started to speak.

‘Imprisoned for a time in a great prison, three men planned their escape. The place was such that no mean could escape and live. They looked from the barred windows and saw the hills in the distance, and they dreamt and plotted for the time when they should be able to go there and find their freedom on those distant ridges. They had been taken hostage a time ago and they could no longer remember why they were being held for such am time, but they did all they could make escape, because the treatment of that dark place was demeaning and painful to any man. Their escape fills a whole story by it’s self., Suffice to say they made hence from that dark place with little bloodshed. Upon the distant hill they had watched from within the walls of their incarceration they saw nothing more than more hills in the distance, They decided to go there, to those distance hills and fins what lay beyond.; this they did, but nothing made itself know there either. They walked from much time, always topping at night and lighting a fire on whichever hill they happened to be on. There regularity was their downfall, for a time later, months maybe, they were caught by a patrol from the prison who had tracked them far across the country by the trail of dead fires they left in their wake. They were caught on a warm moonlit night when no need was made for a fire, and yet still they lit one on the hilltop. They were surprised by the patrol and dragged back to the prison. They never told anyone from that day on was when the patrol came over the crest of the hill they were relived because it meant they would no longer have to search for the hills they had dreamt of. Never again did they look from the windows of their prison, and never again did they dream of the distant hill because they knew all hills were the same and to find one was to find them all.’

The jester stopped speaking and let Finre ponder his words.

‘What you say has naught in’t that I find surprising, because it is well known that men who light fires at night will be seen. When pursuers see them from a prison they will get caught. It was a self-fulfilling tale you told sand had all but slight reason on what I shall do now. It happens that I am in search of a prison much like the one of which you speak of in your tale. I heave learnt that an evil man is holding in bondage make innocents, and that these men die from the treatment.’

‘Ay, it is so. I have been there, to that place. I warn you, though, do you go in search of freedom?’

‘Nay, I go to give freedom to those men.’

‘Those same men who could not hold onto freedom when they had it?’

‘Against forces of capture man can only withstand so long, and then he must give in. Given a second chance, though, all men may be free.’

‘I wish you luck, but I remained you not to let them get into the habit of lighting fires, or their freedom will be forfeit. And yours will be in jeopardy. Can I ask you a questions, good sir?’

‘Indeed, I am your servant.’

‘As are all men. I wonder, if this cause was to be removed, if, or instance, the prison was no longer there when you arrived after an undoubtedly long journey, what would you do then?’

‘Why, I would return home and seek to right a different wrong.’

‘How long have you spent in search of this prison, sir?’

‘Many months I have searched for this hellish place. From hearing word of battles long fought and dark chariots taking prisoners of those who still walked I followed the trail of destruction across many countries and battlefields, seeing the weeping women of the men who had been taken, and more distressingly to my mind, the weeping men of the those women taken by the foul servants of the dark master of the tower. My resolve was hardened and I went hence until I had direction to this place. I have been long on the road, and I would be most despondent if the place I seek were not where it is professed to be.’

‘Even if this movement might mean the prisoners had been release from that place?’

‘That would be most incongruous to my cause, and yet with the devotion I have searched I would feel a loss of purpose for a time. You are most incisive for a fool.’

‘often fools see clearly were others see fools. I shall, then, remind you of what you have said, and yet once more give good warning against setting yourself against the nature with which all men are born. Try as you might, for I see no persuasion will change your mind, but take heed and find direction other than that which you have followed with the devotion of the rapid stream for so long.’

‘I see no purpose in doing so, fool, and I shall go to the place I have searched for and I will free the people entrapped there. This is what I shall do, and nothing you may say can change this.’

‘I seek not to change you actions, just change your mind. I have said my piece and you have cast judgement upon it. For your time I will present you with this token which, should you make escape from the prison and all who were held there, you may discard without fear. Should you stay for a time with any of those whom you may rescue I ask you to listen to the music and be reminded of my words. This may encourage you to exit swiftly from their company because their follow catches them up. You may think that the man who rules these poor wretches is evil, although I can tell you true that he is not, and there is no thing evil in the world just as you may only be good as long as your intentions last in this world. I shall leave your company now, with these warning I have issued.’

The jester produced one of his bells and pressed it into the palm of the man sitting beside him who was looking ever so confused. He raised his eyebrows in thanks and the jester stood and took his horse.

‘If you take that dark road to the abode of expected evil I warn thee that you will bring more evil upon men by your actions than your actions will spare men of.’

‘Your words are spoken more by your dress and manner than your voice,’ replied Finre, standing and taking his own horse. ‘I am to rescue those poor souls, and there is no man in the world who may stop me from doing so.’

‘So be it.’

With that, the jester rode away quickly, cursing at the stupidity of men.