My Lord,
I was at the stables, hastily packing some supplies for the Men camped outside the Valley Gate, ready to conduct myself to the place of Council Meeting, as the hour was growing nigh. There were twelve quartern loaves of bread, fifty pounds of dried meat, several wheels of hard cheese, a large skin of milk, six woolen blankets, a stack of bandages and a few tinctures, all laid neatly in a tip-cart. Everything finally ready, I gave the order to the driver to set out. Scarcely had the cart set across the bridge, when the horse was suddenly panicked, I believe from a stinging fly, and ran off at a full gallop! The driver yelled, and jerked back hard on the leads, but they did not unknot as they should have, being wrongly tied with a cat’s paw knot, and not a slip-knot. The leads were ripped through his hands, and tore off the flesh from his thumb and a few fingers. Unfortunately, the cart-driver’s yelling did not calm the horse, and it went wild, and began to buck. The key-stick snapped, and the irons, no longer attached, fell to one side, and it was all we could do to cut the thrashing horse from its harness, before it tumbled over the edge of the narrow bridge. The supplies, I am sorry to say, were tossed into the air and fell into the river. Fortunately, we were able to fish them out, and they were not ruined, only slightly soggy, but I do not think the Men minded. Upon the whole, they should be good for a little while longer, and hopefully, they will not linger too long on the borders and return to their homeland.
And, because of the confusion of this event, and the injuries of the bleeding cart-driver, I overlooked the attendance of the Council Meeting, for which I am very sorry, and I beg your forgiveness, and wished very much to have some conversation with my Lordship about the ways of these wandering men, and let him know the good news that some have already departed. It was not my desire to become involved in their affairs, but we cannot allow people to starve upon the cold mountain’s side, until they are forced to beg, or worse, rob from travelers passing through the Gate, out of desperation, or being led astray by evil companions.
I did not wish my lord to find fault with me, and think I had a slovenly regard for punctuality, and lose the respect of my Lordship. I assure him that it is no reflection on the Ambassador’s future usefulness, nor is it a habit of carelessness which caused my absence. I have, I hope, done my duty towards my lordship, and the House.
Today I went to see the cart-driver and inquired how he was. He told me his hands were very sore, and said that once he was run over by a loaded wagon, but strange to say escaped without the slightest injury. He hoped he should return to his duties in a few weeks. I gave him a goodly sum of money for his trouble, and assured him that I would not be tying any more leads on the harnesses.
Your most humble and obedient servant,
Parnard
Ambassador of Bar-en-Vanimar.
