There were few things that Lyfrid enjoyed more than a good game of cat and mouse, as long as she was the cat. A new game had started with a black bearded mouse one early day in Bree. The Seer loved giving nicknames to persons and this round dwarf she dubbed Onyx Beard.
Lyfrid pulled her horse to a stop when she saw her prey cut around her and pass her heading north on the wide cobblestones near the south of Bree proper. When Onyx Beard was about four lengths ahead of her she clucked her tongue once, her spotted horse's ears shot up and he moved forward. All the while keeping her distance and weaving side to side to avoid it looking as if she was following the dwarf. As they neared the Prancing Pony he veered to one of the hitching posts and the young woman saw him climb the back stairs and enter the Inn from the rear door.
Reining her horse into one of the hitching posts in the front of the Pony, Lyfrid quickly slipped off her horse and walked swiftly into the front door. By the time she entered the dimly light main hall of the seedy tavern, Onyx Beard had already found a seat at one of the long tables near the fireplace. Casually, the blonde woman, Lyfrid, wandered around inside the Pony then took a seat off to the mouse's side and watched.
After fifteen minutes or so, she decided that she wanted to get a closer look at this dwarf so she devised a ruse. While at her table she opened her coin purse and removed a few coppers then slipped them into her pocket. She stood up and just in front of the dwarf's table, she reached into her pocket and 'accidentally' dropped the coins. Lyfrid took her time collecting the coins, all the while taking good long looks at this dwarf's face. She never forgot a face and now this quarry was firmly etched in her mind. There was no particular reason for making him her mark, she just enjoyed a good game.
Satisfied, she had gotten what she wanted, she left the Pony, collected her horse then wandered toward the middle of the town. Her intent was to head into Three Farrow hall to finish preparing the poultice for Brulk.
While stopped at the Boar Fountain to allow her horse a drink, from behind her, she heard some heavy footfalls, which in a busy town like Bree, would be common. What was not common was the voice that followed, a mumbling voice sounding like he was having some kind of debate with himself. A moment later, she heard, "Excuse me miss, I think this is your coin, I think you are the one that dropped this at the Pony?" She turned to face the voice and there he was, good ole Onyx Beard himself. Her simple ploy had a payoff, but this was a bonus!
They began a very civil conversation as strangers, the young woman commenting on how most people would have slipped the coin into a pocket and the dwarf commenting he had, in honesty, thought about doing the same. As they conversed she learned the name of her mouse, Arnbur. She also learned of the names of the two other dwarves she had seen that day in the mountains, Hilfar the potions maker and his father Ullfar. And much to her delight, she learned that Hilfar and Ullfar were in Bree and would be there for some time. More games ahead! Triple bonus!
Just before the two new 'friends' were about to part and go on about their day, Arnbur commented to Lyfrid that he felt he knew her before this meeting. The Witch assured him that they have never 'met' before and she hadn't lied. It was true they never met until that moment, she didn't tell him, however, that she had seen him before. Onyx Beard looked perplexed and again commented that he was sure he'd met her before. Lyfird quipped that "All her kind probably look alike" to dwarves. Arnbur responded with a friendly chuckle then said, "It isn't your appearance, it's your voice I think I've heard before."
Poker faced Lyfrid simply smiled and again told him he was mistaken. It was then that Arnbur did the worst thing he could have done. The kindly dwarf raised the stakes in the game by telling Lyfrid how frightening 'her' laugh and curses had been that day she followed those fellows. She pretended to be horrified by the ordeal but inside it make her nearly giggle. They finally parted company, but not before she learned Onyx Beard was returning to his mountain and leaving the other two behind. This, too, delighted Lyfrid. She was sure now they had no idea it had been her in the mountains. Three mice, who might as well be sightless, with which she could play her game.
New game, game on...
