The children laughed at what had happened. Noor smiled and patted their heads, then he and Tulkas set off for the wells. Noor marveled at Tulkas's speed and kept wondering about the secret of his power, and how he could defeat him if it came to that. He had cut a Franks lieutenant to pieces in moments when he first met him. It was as if he had appeared from nowhere.
"Don't you dare draw attention to us with these foolish actions, like making kites," Tulkas scolded him. "We don't want the Franks to know we're here, or we'll be in trouble, and the situation will get worse."
Noor turned his face away from him and looked at the horizon defiantly. "I left them plenty of surprises all over the village while you were asleep."
"Then why didn't you escape? You had the perfect chance to slip away and go to your friend."
"True. But... the children. I should have run, but I didn't. And here I am."
Tulkas resumed walking without another word.
