-3 years, 7 months and 7 days since my departure from Harad.-
The title I decided to bestow upon this entry of the dairy tells quite well about the recent successes the Court has encountered. While I am hardly crying victor, for the work that awaits us is still long and difficult, I cannot help but rejoice about this.
Not even six days ago, we were numbering but three. Now, we are seven in numbers. A perfect number, following certain traditions from my homeworld and in the East. Hardly enough to make true impact, but the fact it happened in such a short time makes my soul fill with itself hope.
Shortly after the addition of young Seara, another girl came to join us, named Myryn (she prefers the name of Myr however and thus I shall address her as such in the future). A spirited lass, fiery like her hair. Swiftly after her came a man, Folkmund. An amusing fellow with a cheerful demeanor.
A day after that, a man from the East came, called Yassim. The poor fellow is clearly lost and speaks barely a few words of Westron. A good thing he was however capable of communicating in the tongue of the men of Rhun, or we wouldn't have gotten very far. I heard from him that he had met Myr but that however she had no idea yet that he was part of the Court. I left him with the decision to make if he wished to inform her or not. Meanwhile, he told me he had attached himself to a mute, whom I shall not name. There was no reason to forbid him to do so and thus I left him to his own devices.
The same day I met with a smuggler from Gondor. Tavorion is a cautious man with a deep love for freedom and the sea. However, his younger years made him pay with exile, leaving him to drift into our folds - a happy event in my opinion for he is a hard working fellow in his trade.
A day later, a man with sharp eyes and slithering ways came to us. A spymaster as well as an accomplished warrior. He left us rather quickly for a contract, but I do not fear about his fealty towards us. I shall not reveal his name until he returns to us - it will be his personal test to see if he is truly devoted to our cause.
While I was recruiting the Sailor, I had noticed and felt eyes upon us. Calling out upon the stalker had not helped, however, he lost our trail eventually and we were left in peace. But that was certainly not the end of it. I shall draw up a document about the Alliance that followed our second meeting, as well as what it entailed. While our alliance is but in word, I however shall not let it fade into vague memories. I shall not name the leader of the Thieves Guild, however I must say he is of a good sort...for our kind. If not a bit too rash in my tastes.
The same day this first Alliance was forged, two more joined our ranks. A lass named Abfelwing, however she has carried the name of Nighthawk in the past. A woman to my tastes, for she is sharp witted and without hesitations when it comes to making sure to reach her goals with caution. She shall have to share the head of our spying division with the Hunter, once he returns.
And lastly, a hobbit. Mirimac, a man who loves dices and has a nervous tick to reach for them whenever he is curious or worried. A slippery kind, however lacking the gloom of the most men that have joined the Court. A surprise, really, considering most of our kind I have met so far were too soft (and beardless) to my tastes. But...he knew things and has ways of knowing more. I shall send him towards Abfelwing and the Hunter in the near future, for while he lacks the authority, he has the skills both would need.
I also met a member of the Watch, Nessya. A friendly lass, albeit tired looking that day. However, she was honest with me and shared a drink and food without any kind of attitude some of the tall folk have around these parts. As mentioned before, Northerners are truly strange to me.
While some would wonder why I'd seek out willingly one of the Watch, our enemies, it was not mere curiosity that brought me to her. Keep your friends close, and enemies closer, as the saying goes; I am quite sure it is not something only Haradrims say and thus those who read this hopefully can now understand somewhat why I did this.
It is too early to go after the Watch openly just yet. We do not have enough men, not enough influence either. However, keeping them from getting suspicious about me is of import. While you all know I have no use to wearing a mask in public, I was honest to the woman...to a certain degree. It was a pleasant chat, albeit short. Though, I hope it does settle her fears somewhat.
Which brought me to a thought of finding honest work. Bree is a mere town, nearly too small to my tastes. And thus I cannot wander around for too long without truly settling down. I have no intention upon joining the ranks of the Bloody Dawn, the local major sellsword organization. While that kind of work would suit me, I do not fancy murdering upon orders from another; thievery is what I am good at and thus I shall keep it to that. However, the Court from Harad where I hail from made sure I was not without skills. I shall attempt to find a solid place to work for. Once I know where, I shall leave word in this Dairy about it.
After all these happy events, I am quite tempted to start up a gathering for our men. Not in the Prancing Pony. We do not need to announce ourselves, no matter the fact the Court's reputation is starting to bud properly. So the Forsaken Inn, on the road towards Ost Guruth should do well for us. While the Combe and Wattle Inn is closer by, it is already crawling with shady sorts and truly, it is too dirty in there to my tastes. Scoundrels or not, some cleanliness is of import. In this meeting, I'll have to find out a few things, concerning the literacy of our men, as well as making sure some rules are well understood and followed.
But this is a plan for the future, albeit near, and thus shall not be developed further in this dairy.
