Elflord #9 Nightwynd, Jul 1981, b&w.
R Elflord #9 cover Meadows stretch far to the south and beyond the mountains. For ten years, Windblade and Hawk grew up side by side as warrior and squire. Now Windblade is leaving. A tear trickles down his freckled cheek. Windblade was reunited with his father four years ago and Hue wanted him to come rule in Blackmon Keep far away. To improve ElfñSidhe relations, Windblade is going to his father and whatever strange adventures lay ahead. Boy Sparrow tells Hawk that General Springstorm is here to see Hawk, who has been watching Windblade leave. Springstorm tells Hawk it is harder and harder to get to see him these days, he is either locked up in his chambers with guards at the doors or up in the towers surrounded by blasted pages. One is holding onto Springstorm's arm and Springstorm tells him to push off. Hawk sneers at this in silent laughter. Hawk tells Sparrow to leave them and to take the twin pages Tim and Tam (an obvious LOST IN SPACE ON SPACE STATION ONE reference) with him. Sparrow is Hawk's squire now. Hawk knew Windblade before anyone else and he can't get used to it without Windblade. Hawk tells Springstorm sometimes he wishes he never took over the kingdom. Springstorm says, "Balls." He will take Hawk to a tavern tonight. Miles away, Windblade plays his guitar under a tree with Purebreeze. They talk about how Windblade is a part of Hawk and Hawk a part of Windblade. Purebreeze recognizes they are like one being, taking power from each other and returning love. Windblade feels like he will never see Hawk again. Hawk tells Springstorm that this tavern reminds him of the tavern outside the dwarf kingdom and will tell Springstorm later as Sparrow is listening (although Hawk doesn't tell Springstorm that Sparrow is the reason he will tell him later). The owner of the tavern and his daughter watch Springstorm enter and the owner is not amused: Springstorm always gets in a brawl and wrecks everything. The tavern keeper is about to tell Springstorm off but then he recognizes the friend of Springstorm as the king and goes down to the cellar for some wine. There, he finds three masked Ninja types with pointed ears. the daughter who went down to get the wine is tied up. Shurikens fly at Springstorm and deflects them with his iron hand. The Ninja assassins tells ErickñSan that they are of the same blood that slew his father: the feud shall not end until he dies. The tavern keeper says, "Oh horrible day," always saying things like "Oh, glorious day," when he saw the king or something or other following by "day." Hawk punches and kicks two Ninja while Springstorm punches one's face and his iron hand goes through it and out the back of the wall! Hawk never really knew when his father died...only that he never returned from one of his journeys.