It had been a long day, Brulk returning from Angmar and immediately heading back up north with a company of the Order to seek out the rescue of Balisan. They'd succeeded, but Brulk couldnt rightly tell if he was pleased. The kidnapper had vanished, but left behind three things. A tatty old tunic, some vial o' water and some snake skin. Some strange sort o' snake too, mind. Brulk reckoned it not o' local finding, more like one of 'em out east near the swamps. More troubling, He reckoned to know the owner o' the thing. Lyfrid..
"May I offer you a drink or something to eat?" Said Iaurmenel, that placid expression on her face almost unreadable. Brulk shook, the expression on his clear as shit. "Reckon I'll settle for honesty." She simply lifted a brow, and spoke calmly. "I am never dishonest though I some times withhold information for reasons I will not explain except to say to save lives."
Brulk winced. "You get my letter, eh?" She nodded, keeping her voice in that soft yet authoritive tone "Now by 'saw' what do you mean, exactly?" Brulk shrugged. "Lyfrid had no reason o' knowing what she did, no reason 'cept for Seerering."
The Elf's eye flashed a curious look "So she has the ability, and you are sure?" He shrugged once more, the tips of his mouth each tilting opposite ways. "Runes, she called 'em. Three things she telled me, each of 'em correct. Reckon she'd have to be the best guess o' the world to know 'em." She smiled. "There is good news in what you tell me, though." Then motioned a hand at him. "Go on, if you would?" "What's more to say? She's moved on, so she claims. We spoke o' that Harugrim lad"
Yet another shrug of his shoulders "Reckon she could o' headed down that a-ways.. Or maybe out east, with that Barraden lad."
Iaurmenel kept that soft gaze o' hers settled on his scarred mess o' a face, then added. "Your feeling, then, does she pose a threat to the Order in any way?"
Brulk paused for a moment. "On her own, no.."
The Elf nodded before continuing. "Then does she need our aid?"
The Hillman shook his head. "More'n likely, but reckon there aint' no chance o' her acceptin' it."
The Witch was silent for a moment or two more. "I wonder why she is here, why she left Rohan." Brulk only snarled. "Reckon most o' us aint' where we belong. Those are the times." She gave a smile, bowing her head lightly "You speak the truth."
You say, 'Most o' us are where we dont belong.. Those are the times.'
Iaurmenel nods her head slowly, "You speak truth."
"It might be wise, nonetheless, to keep mindful of Lyfrid. The good news in what you have told me is that she is a rune reader."
"And the bad?" Grunted Brulk.
"I am not sure there is bad news, however, I do wonder why she detests me so. Best to be mindful of Lyfrid, keep our eyes open where she is concerned." She smiled, and continued. "One time long ago, Lady Sybri told me she thinks of the Order as biting, stinging insects. We are not an army, we nip at the heels and hide of the enemy long enough to distract and confuse. Giving time and opporunity for others to act bravely. What we do not need is a hornet of our own. Lyfrid could become the hornet that stings us if we are not careful, I think. Especially, as you said, alone she is likely no threat but should she band with others, possible."
Brulk gave her a dark look before grunting "If it comes to that, I'll sort it." after a couple moments, he continues. "For now, I reckon we've other issues.." He nods towards the tower upstairs where they'd placed Balistan to recover "Your knights captors and the like.."
Iaurmenel reached inside her cloak and removed a flimsy tunic, some vials of liquid and the snakeskin. "Yes, we have a few clues to that. This tunic is unlike those created here in the Breelands, I will have one of the tailors examine it. The vials, we have alchemist that can identify what this is but this skin, it is very unusual." Brulk frowned down at the scratty flake of skin. The same desert-yellow colour, that same pattern. More'n likely that same snake.."Snakes a snake.. The Lone-lands is full of 'em." He said, his eye settling on Iaurmenel's. "Perhaps one of our scouts or even one of the tailors might know what it is. It might be nothing, true enough." She smiled, Brulk reckoned her unconvinced.
"What'll you have me do?" Said the hillman, sniffing something foul up his throat.
"I am curious" Said the Elf, that same smile etched into her ageless face. "What types of things did Lyfrid tell you that came true?" Brulk winced, snarled then shrugged. "Things o' the past, where I came from an' the like." before shrugging again for good measure. "Could she have discovered that about you before seeing her?"
He shook his head, that one eye o' his never moving from her face. "I don't reckon her the type o' lass who ventures into Garth Agarwen.."
"So you believe she is genuine, not a charlatan then?" Brulk felt himself frowning, those familiar lines growing more detailed across his forehead. "Reckon so, aye." She gave a slow nod, this time Brulk knew she was unconvinced. "Somethin' on your mind?" He felt the words slip out in a snarl, but all she did was keep that smile o' hers.
"Always.." She shot back, quick as an arrow. "For now, you may take your leave, I have no further requests of you. Likely to change at any moment, however."
Brulk's eye narrowed, and he almost felt his right ear starting to burn with an itch. Shame he'd lost the poor thing a year earlier, but more'n likely he'd o' just ended up rubbing it to dust anyway. "You're the Chief." he managed to grunt.
"Before you leave, is there anything of which you might be in need?'
Brulk felt his nose curl at the tip, and his tongue trace across the tips o' his teeth. Then, at some surprise to himself, he turned and made his way to the doorway. Shoulder slumped, his shook his head. "No, Don't think so." He paused a moment, that black look o' his firmly set on his scarred, bitter face. "Reckon you'll know where to find me."
"You can be assured of it." came the Witch's voice.
