Journal entry 24
Our passage through the Mournshaws was uneventful for the most part. The woodland tree guardians seemed most content to let us ride through and we did nothing to disrupt their weak minded minds. The Lady Elisbeth spoke with the old woman who ferries her wares up and down the river. She reported passage of shallow bottom boats but not recently, their owners never stopped to speak and kept to their own business which seemed to suit the old woman.
Eventually we crossed into the lands they call Dunland home too many Dunlending tribes. As we emerged from the trees the elves in our company saw a fleeting shadow in the form of a man some distance before us. With more scrutiny the form was gone and without any of us able to explain its presence.
Knowing our passage through these lands would cause hostility the elves in our company decided to disguise their presence. For the first time since leaving Echad MIrobel I was glad to have Thendryt Morson with us, he was known to the Dunlendings here and so would prove able in speaking with them.
We choose to follow the river southward as for now this is the only evidence we have of how the supplies travelled northward to Eregion. We soon came across a settlement across the other side of the river which seemed peaceful enough. The elves in the company stayed beyond the sight of the inhabitants whilst Thendryt atop Bovad rode across the wooden bridge into the settlement.
At first I thought we would have to reveal our presence and leap to his aid as he was met by an armed group brandishing spears. But his calm and confident manner soon diffused the situation. I can only assume he knows some of their language. We sat and waited watching the sun arch across the sky as Thendryt negotiated with the headman of the settlement I believe from his regal attire. After some time the calm Thendryt rode back across the wooden bridge leaving the settlement behind to seek the elves in their hiding spot among the rocks. Once he had returned to the others in his banner he addressed the Lady Elisbeth and informed them that he had the settlement elders had spoken with him once they recognized him from a past encounter and spoke of a place to the south they call Avardim. This second settlement is apparently a place of barter, not only goods but all things even reputations are made there.
The Lady Elisbeth thought on the matter for some time discussing it with the others in their company after thanking Thendryt for his resourcefulness. Then she outlined the next stage of their journey.
