Cynraede wiped his feet carefully as he entered Duramarth's house. He had been using it as his home while he had been gone, keeping a bedroll in the study, replacing what he ate and drank. But this time, as he entered the building, he was not alone.
The man stood at the same height as Cynraede, nearly seven and a half feet tall at most. His long hair hung down upon his broad shoulders. He seemed to stir contents inside the old cast iron pot with the old wooden spoon that seemed to be nearly as old as Duramarth himself. His voice was strong and deep, harsh like the nothern winds.
"You have lost your edge, Bawbuthor. I could have killed you before you reached for the door. Tell me, I heard of your imprisonment, I know who your captors where and where they had you."
Cynraede looked to the man, pulling his hood back as he stared at him. His hair had been crudely hacked, barely hanging at an uneven shoulder length but brought back in a loose pony tail. His lips moved but he could not speak, he desperately tried to find words.
"I.. Adunabel, forgive me but I did not expect you to come. I would have made arrangements."
The young hunter was cut off as the man turned, his eyes studying Cynraede for several quiet moments as the two stood there. He eyed the short sword that lay strapped tightly to his back, then looked to his face.
"You came back and did as you were instructed?"
Cynraede nodded and answered softly. His eyes meeting his friends.
"Yes, though I cannot find him. I believe he has gone to check with his miners to the north. I reforged it, myself. I felt the fires, I still carry the burns of the furnace. My hands felt the steel ringing in my bones, and even now I feel the sorrow and pain. I care not what the east man did, I feel his scouts eyes upon me. He waits, even now to come and test my mettle and taste my steel."
The two stood in the dimly lit house, Adunabel looked at Cynraede, offering but the faintest of smiles. He folded his arms across his broad chest and looked to him.
"What did you find out my friend, were the east mans lips as shoddy as his attempts to hide his path?"
Cynraede tilted his head, the matted mess of his mane moving along with him as he smiled wildly.
"Not quite, though I do know he has plans. He speaks to the one I told you about. The one who has haunted the order."
The young hunter was cutt off by Adunabels voice once more.
"And the one whom took the woman, what was her name?"
Cynraede shot the man a look, his grayish blue eyes peering at his as he studied his face. Trying to see why he brought up the woman.
"Fairlain, her name is Fairlain. Choose your words Adunabel, you are a brother, and I do not wish to harm you."
Adunabel smiled widely, obviously enjoying the fact he was riling Cynraede up.
"I meant no foul meaning or offensive gesture. You still have a mind for her, don't you my brother? Does she know about Brondir? Does she know why you can no longer even gaze upon the white city? I know you dream of it, we all do. Though to imagine the pain that runs through your veins, I do not envy it Bawbuthor."
Cynraede looked to Adunabel as if he was about to burst into tears, shaking his head slowly. His face turned wrought with sadness and pain as he looked to the man.
"No, she does not know of the pain I keep. No one does because I cannot tell them. What do I say, dear brother? That I was banished from Osgiliath by the traitor Brondir? He was the one who treated me as his own, I did not know he was speaking to the enemy. What do I tell them of my sins, my brother? Do I tell them how I killed him, in our camp. Do I tell them how I emptied his life blood into mere dirt? Traitor, or not, he was a man."
Adunabel stood quietly and shook his head. He looked to the young hunter, who stood firmly in front of him. Who was trying desperately not to give into his emotions, his fists balled into a white knuckled grip. It was clear the man was furious, but only with himself. The man lowered his head.
"I am sorry, Bawbuthor. Know that we are here, know that we are your bothers and will come to your aid if you have need. For now I must depart, I am needed in Esteldin and merely wished to see if the rumors were true. Rest well my friend, I will return, there is yet much for you to learn."
The two nodded to each other before Adunabel left. Leaving Cynraede in the darkened room. He walked closer to the fire, observing what was in the pot, not able to control the smile left on his face when he saw its contents. Fresh rabbit stew.
