We set out from the Tauremorna, and ventured past the doomed hill-top village, the wind blowing very hard across the grasses. Here the land is exceeding good, but the people run great risks in settling on account of the Enemy: which we avoided, and our passing went unnoticed. We walked about five miles farther, where we came to a large grassy plain. We saw several wild beasts, which I went up to as near as possible without danger, and I counted six bears, and we found the remains of several cows something had killed and half-eaten. By the tooth-marks, and the befouling of the grass around, it was apparent that Warg had been there. Lord Veryacano led us on to a wood in the distance, and journeying through it, we came upon an open pine barren, where we encamped to refresh ourselves, making a fire and eating what little provisions remained to us, which were not much, and I had nothing but water. The Lord Veryacano wished to espy on a man-village nearby, so he set out from our camp, telling Lord Tindir to wait for his return, and that he would not be long.
Telpenaro went out with an intent to hunt some deer, and had the good fortune to kill a large buck; so that we had provisions sufficient for a day or two, and roasting the meat over the fire, we spent the evening very pleasantly; and finding Lord Estarfin too weary to eat his portion, I helped myself to it, as is the custom with feasting, for if anyone cannot eat his part of the dish, he passes it to his neighbor, and he eats it. But this was noted by my companions, and Lord Estarfin, being waked by their commotion, was mightily annoyed, and asked me if I were so hungry that I would take his food, to which I did not know how to answer; but it is not customary to leave food untouched on the grass for the insects to crawl upon. Then Lord Tindir said that I must be greatly refreshed from my meal, having had a double-portion, and bid me to stand guard as the others rested.
During the night, we had a very odd thing happen. The Swordsman was swinging high overhead in the winter sky, when I heard a cry, cut off all of a sudden. I was very much afraid lest Lord Veryacano had met with some unhappy accident, though he went the other way, and I thought to have a look and see if any threat was nearby, remembering the old proverb, nothing ventured, nothing gained; and sentinels should keep themselves on the alert, observing every thing that takes place near their post. So I set out alone, and journeying through the woods, saw a thin little path winding its way up the side of a hill, and there was a ramshackle cabin, which looked quite forgotten. Going up to it, I saw two Horse-men lying pale and unmoving on the ground. I thought they might have come to blows, and killed each other, as Men are wont to do, but coming closer, I saw the unmistakable signs of a sword-battle. So I turned about, and fled back into the woods, where I met the Lord Estarfin, who was surprised by my story; and he desiring to see the cabin of dead Men, followed me to the place I pointed to, which I judged to be about a mile from our encampment. We reached the place presently, and creeping up the path, were able to make out a wooden structure – a miner’s scaffold, Lord Estarfin told me, and on a pole above was hoisted a flag. It was black, with a white hand in the center - the Enemy was close! We were left with the question of what to do: should we return to our camp, or see how many foes we faced? After a whispered discussion, we took up our weapons, and jumped forward, determined to kill anything that opposed us, rather than spend another hour huddling in the mud, uncertain.
I think I never in my life saw such a hideous Orc as the one inside the mining camp. Standing tall, it towered over us, and the thing leered at our approach, seeming to grin a warm welcome. Before I could react, it launched its weapon at me, easily hurling an enormous cudgel at my head, and I thought I should have been brained, but for the valour of Lord Estarfin, who pushed me aside, and drove the creature back with his shield. I heard a splintering sound, and looking down, saw how easily the boards were broken by the blow. Very imperfect work the Men had done with their labor, and used birch wood to erect the structure, which is not a good wood for building, being soft, and susceptible to rot, but it is very plentiful in those parts. Then I felt a shudder of something giving way, and the entire scaffold pulled away from the hill, and I was thrown backwards through the air.
That was the end of my stint of guard-duty – after I recollected myself, and limped ‘round in small and aimless circles, I discovered Lord Estarfin leaning heavily against a tree, trying to catch his breath, or so I thought. He suggested we return to camp at once. My head was aching, and sore troubled with fits of dizziness: I wanted nothing more than to sit down, yet doubt nagged at my benumbed brain. Something was very wrong; we could not stay there, and so the two of us straggled back to camp as quickly as we could manage.
