The 15th day we left the Gravenwood, crossing through it not far from where I was caught in the accursed orc mangling trap. It was to the Gap of Rohan that we were bound, to recover Lord Anglachelm, at least, that was the idea. My ankle pained me greatly, and I was still sick and feverish from the poison, but forced to scamper along faster than I would have liked, for Lord Veryacano would brook no delay. Indeed, he became wroth when I lagged behind, and upbraided me for not following closer. Laurelindo gave me a root with a milky white sap to chew upon, and this helped to dull the pain, but did not relieve it entire. As we neared the Great River, I was reminded of shell-fish, and so I pretended I was chewing on an oyster, and that the bitter fiber was the sweetest meat, from the smallest ones which I like the best. But it did not help much.
It is strange how arid and fallow the land is here, when it is very well watered by the River nearby. This tells me that these backward, ignorant Men do not know proper farming and how to irrigate their lands. I saw a few snakes, brown skinny rabbits, and some roaming boar, which are all the animals that I know here. The ground was leading up and up, until finally we halted. Lord Veryacano declared this our new camp, much to my unhappiness. The air was dry, and the wind was lonesome, blowing through the cracks in the barren hills, and in this high, sere place, the sun beat unmercifully down upon us. There was no shelter from its powerful rays, or rain, should it ever rain in this dusty land.
Down in the valley we saw many huts thatched, and many scores of Wildmen roaming about them, clad only in crude furs from their waists down, and a great many were shaking their weapons aloft, hooting and jabbering in their barbarous tongue, and beating upon big skin drums. They were straight bodied, and well limbed, but of a mean height, and their hair was black, and long, and very dirty, and they had small eyes, and big noses, and were thick-jawed, and hard-eyed, and very ill-looking Men they were, and their skin was of a dark copper color, and smeared with blue markings. There were many bonfires alight, all sending up a thick greasy smoke. I counted at least twenty fires, and a few fowl and pigs were roaming about, but I saw no gardens or greenery, for meat is their chieftest food, because they are poor farmsteaders, and have not the skill, nor, I dare say, the patience.
To get any closer, we would be risking notice. All the country around was barren of tree, and studying the map sent by Rainith, we saw no way further through the Gap of Rohan but by skirting this hulking shambles, and rowing down the River; and if any who are enemies to the White Hand attempt this, they must all the way be exposed to the arrows and spears of those who would lie purposefully in ambush. We made camp, and one of us found a wild hog feeding in some thorn bushes, that must have escaped from her pen, and she was shot quickly through the gullet, and then we dressed the meat presently, and set it to burn upon two sticks thrust into the ground. Too close was the meat set over our little cooking fire, and because our attention was diverted by the close presence of the men, and the ensuing talk, it did not get turned as it should have, and so it was burned to a cinder on one side.
The others turned up their noses at these poorly cooked victuals, but I held them extraordinary dear, not having eaten anything since two days before that was not horse feed, and I did not know when we would have fresh meat again, even if it was burnt to a crisp. So I carved a bit of meat from the tough and blackened joint with my knife, freshly sharpened by Lord Estarfin, and set to eating on it, while the rest of the company nibbled on cold dry bread and morsels of cheese. Telpenaro creeping up desired to share his food with me, but I coldly bid him take it away, along with himself too, for I will not have a cracker-eating varlet play his tricks on me again! Then I stretched out on the ground, in turns mopping the sweat from my clammy brow and willing the charred meat to stay where I put it, as my stomach was still unsettled from the poison, and I tried to ignore the smarting pain in my ankle, while I considered the letter from Rainith. She had made a note of caution to us, warning her friends to be very careful, and that I, in particular, should pay close attention, and collect as much information as I could about the southern lands. I fear she will be very disappointed by my account: there is not much of lore nor interest to be found amongst the rude hill forts and louse-ridden furs of the Wildmen.
And as I lay there, deep in thought, very wary did I become, and afraid for us. For the Lords Veryacano and Estarfin spoke of their chances of victory against the army of Men below us, and I could not believe my ears when I heard Lord Estarfin begin to entertain such thoughts in earnest! – but Lord Veryacano said he durst not attempt it, having such dreadful apprehensions of their numbers, if not their fierceness, and thought we should rather steal up closer, for a better look, only that it might endanger ourselves, and reveal our purpose to the Men, and then Lord Anglachelm would have no chance of rescue whatsoever. And then Lord Tindir thought we should send someone down to scout, someone “small and stealthy” as he said, and perceiving that I might be chosen for this task, I very quickly suggested that the Lord Veryacano might consider sending Hwesta for a look, if he dared to risk his neck; for the little falcon could dart in and out of the smoke from the cooking-fires, and it was likely that none of the Men would see him. But Lord Veryacano did not wish it, else his prized falcon come to hurt, and then the stranger-elf that had recently joined our company in the Gravenwood, clad all in white with the tiniest feet I have ever laid eyes on, wielding a finely crafted longbow volunteered herself; but Lord Veryacano did not wish that, either. What they finally decided to do I know not; being very weary in body and spirit, I threw my cloak over my face, and wishing myself to be far away, as far as my uneasy mind would let me, I closed my eyes and fell into dream.
