Hadn't taken 'em long, Brulk reckoned. He'd enjoyed traveling with a full dozen again, only a shame it hadn't been o' his own crew. They moved faster, each o' the men carrying a smaller share o' the burdens o' road. It had taken 'em best part o' a week to reach the North Downs, and then a couple o' days to travel around Trestlebridge without drawing any unwanted attention.
"With caution, Half-Sight." The words came as a whisper from the wind, and Lesburr padded across to him. Camp fires had been lit, and in the evenings darkness they burnt brightly from the north. Nestled in the alcoves o' the mountains bordering Angmar, Brulk's eyes made out the better part o' twenty large fires. "While these men fight in the name of our providers crown, they share no love of our matron.. They may not take kindly to our presence in fear of us showing them what true faithful look like.." She had a blank face, always a gentle expression on her face even when talking o' dark matters, Brulk reckoned.
Brulk glanced back at the crew, Khelem and Half-Teeth shared a discussion and Mulk followed close behind 'em. Brulk gave him a smile, best he could muster under the circumstances but got nothing back for his trouble. Mulk shifted his eyes away, and kept walking.
"After you then.." Snarled Brulk, raising his palm up as a half dozen o' men ambled over to 'em. One o' Lesburr's lads, a tall lad Brulk hadn't heard speak yet, unfurled a burgundy sheet. It was halfway to being thread bare, Brulk made out the thick stiched o' black on the sheet, some kind o' jagged crown. One o' the lads on the approach drew out an axe from his belt, worn out iron and wood by the looks o' it. "Creoth?!" He growled, keeping a charging distance from 'em with his voice raised. "Aye." Called Brulk back, feeling his ear start to tingle. "You speak for 'em, eh?"
Brulk looked to Lesburr, who was smiling gently as ever. "I do, on the behest of the Red Maid." The stranger looked alittle daunted at that, but eventually gave a nod. "Here for the talks, eh?" He growled once more. She gave a bow of her head. "You and your man there.." He jerked his axe towards Brulk. "Come with me, rest o' the pack stays 'ere, understood?" She took a couple steps forward before looking back at Brulk. "Have faith, and your eyes will see the truth.." She whispered, almost like how a lover would. Brulk took a few paces towards her, then felt her arm wrap through his as they walked. "You why we're here, Brulk. The Red Maid demands blood.."
Brulk winced, his eyes jerked to her and then over his shoulder at the crew. Khelem Durr had a black look on his face, and the rest o' the lads didn't look too happy neither. By the dead, Brulk's ear itched.
