In their Absence, part 3: Warming up...
This town is a worthless pile of sticks... Aye... That is what I equated this town when I finally returned. Perhaps I ought to take back those words... Not all the local folk are as dull and as backwards as the few miscreants I have encountered at the inn. Many of them are good folk and while they may be simple and untrusting of me, that does not by any means make them dull. Simple folk will be simple... And if I have to bleed and fight to hold back dangers that are within a day's march of this quiet little town that would freeze their hearts in order for them to remain simple and safe... So be it. I shall have it no other way.
In fact not all of the Bree Folk are dirt poor either... I have came across one living here of noble stock. One by the name of Nex...
But more on that encounter later, I have good news, my good friend Garram has returned. By chance we met for he did not initially notice me loitering about beside the fire at the Prancing Pony, though when I made my presence clear, he was glad enough to see me if not a bit surprised...
I knew still that the ears of the locals would hear us so we took to the back rooms in order to discuss matters... It turned out that he also left the company on other matters, he also managed to bag quite a hunting prize on his way here.
I warned her of Ruevir's plot to hunt down Ulfey, and he gave me reassurance that our company shall travel on paths much unknown and very seldom trod. It gives me hope to know that even our Dwarf friend knows very well that our folk are so elusive that they could pass from the Midgewater to Nen Harn without being seen at all. For Garram of all Dwarves understood our need for secrecy more than most...
I have mixed feelings about this Nex woman... I had met her briefly before in the Prancing Pony, and after a few hard drinks I accidentally let slip of my heritage... This is a fact that I have sworn to keep secret to the Bree folk so I regret it still for it could have spelt doom for my kin if the wrong ears had listened in on the conversation. Though my fears are mitigated somewhat knowing that this woman is no local fool... She seemed rather well spoken if a bit too upper class for my liking. She had taken keen interest in me after I revealed my age of fifty one and a half years old yet according to her I still looked very young...
For the Middle Folk do not have such a long lifespan and of course, anything rather out of the ordinary is of much interest to the locals of Bree... Perhaps when I enter the twilight years of my life a hundered and thirty perhaps older... And after I've seen several generations of the Bree Folk pass, will they realize I am far older than I look then?
She equated me to a “little gem.”, rather surprised my folk are still about... Clearly she knew somewhat of the Dunedain. Though perhaps one loitering around the Prancing Pony as a spy of sorts was outright unheard of.
I left quickly afterwards making sure as not to be followed at all... I did not feel safe in such nosey company...
I thought when I left the woman as swiftly as I did that I would not see her again, for I was intending to check upon the Fortress of Nen Harn, but I found myself coming back to the Prancing Pony the next day on a whim... Perhaps that was my first mistake... It only sealed my fate to be in her company when we encountered some local drama among several of the somewhat more shadier characters of Bree. I have no time to bother myself in such gossip and nonsense, for my intention was to learn of real dangers surrounding Bree... Not to gossip among women and strange men...
Nex and I swiftly departed from the Prancing Pony, we walked together for a while through the bustling streets of Bree, she invited me into her abode... Instantly I thought suspiciously that something was not quite right... This woman has only seen me once before and already she wishes me to come into her house and have a drink. For a moment I was going to say no, but something about Nex's polite gesture and subtle charms made me say otherwise... I suppose this was my last mistake of the day... Though in all fairness, it did not go as bad as I thought.
As I stepped into this elaborately decorated and rather upper class house, I was astonished in how clean and rather charming the place was, many decorations and ornate designs did I gaze upon, as the woman invited me down to sit by the warm fire, I felt relaxed... For a body like me does not often get to enjoy such comforts.
What caught me by surprise was when another entered the room. A dark skinned lad from the east perhaps... He seemed to be under the very command of Nex, that of a servant... Though she was very polite to him and spoke highly of his service.
A servant... I never thought I'd see the day when someone living in Bree would be able to enjoy the qualities that of Gondorian noble stock... Then it hit me... This woman clearly was not from Bree in the first place! A fool was I for thinking otherwise.
This changed the situation quite a bit, as this servant poured us both a drink, I recalled that Nex had initially been present during my “talk” with Ruevir when I overheard him talk about Ulfey. She knew the lad well and perhaps I could convince her that the fool boy was getting up to no good.
Nex was keenly interested in Ulfey, which of course raised suspicions... I still am unsure whether to call this woman trustworthy or not, and naturally my instincts told me that as she knew Ruevir well, she may very well be working for him...
That said, the very prospect of working for such a fool with only money on one's mind would be insulting to such a noble. So I have only one conclusion to make, she is but an acquaintance of the lad and wishes not for bloodshed.
I gave her a task to do, for Ruevir trusts her I suppose... She was to learn as much as she may about the lad's plans and perhaps if she can, convince him to not carry out any hunt.
Whether Nex succeeds or not is perhaps irrelevant now... For I have received news by a Crow friend that figures walk about silently under the shadow of Nen Harn... I shall return there post haste!
