"Béma have mercy!" Ulcwine complained as he left the barracks, the sack with the few belongings he would take with him on the ride on his shoulders just like his friend.
"It's colder than before! We'll freeze before we reach Floodwend! Did you hear the news, Régnwald?"
''It's still two hours till departure. It will be warmer by then.'' the captain replied and added with an arched brow, ''What news?''
"Oh?" Ulcwine snorted, and kicked up a dust cloud ''That dwarves were tracked in the Western marches?''
''Tell me more,''
The man nodded and cleared his throat before beginning to recount the latest events:
''Last week, a caravan of dwarves were met by the riders of the Kingstead on their way to Edoras after a day of patrolling the plains.''
''Dwarves? And what would their reason be to set foot upon our plains at will? Are they mad?'' added another eorling, giving a dry laugh.
Régnwald's curiousity was aroused thus. ''And then?''
Ulcwine snorted and continued at long last, ''And they were brought to Meduseld, where they were sought. The rumor has it that among their carriages there were also our wains!''
The crowd let out an exclamation noise.
''What can one expect from them?! Greedy and selfish they are! Remember the days of Fram, who slew Scatha, the great worm in the Grey Mountains... They claimed the hoard for themselves!'' a bearded man cried.
Régnwald agreed with a tilt of his head, but did not add the words of his own, merely gesturing his friend to continue instead.
''And when they should get their beards between their legs and flee, they demanded meal, drink and gold.''
The crowd let out another exclamation noise, this time more powerful.
''Though merciful is our King, so he spared their lives, telling them to leave forthwith our Kingdom and never return.''
''We welcomed guests kindly in the better days, but in these times the unbidden strangers find us swift and hard and they should... I'm certain the riders knew what they were doing."
Régnwald turned his gaze away and kept striding onward as his words sunk in. The two friends reached the fence and dropped their bags, resting their arms on the crossbeam to watch their fellow riders' training fight just like many other inhabitants while the sunbeams were beginning to warm the land.
