The man finally reached Esteldin on foot, he lost about five hours playing hide and seek with the orcs and the men that were after him. Now he was covered in blood and exhausted, yet, he reached the settlement. He had to be cunning and take them out before they'd return and report him bearing these news, they would expect the Rangers and all would be lost. He held the reins of his loyal steed as he entered the ruined gate of the settlement and kept going on. The two men on watch noticed that he was panting and approached him at once, one took the reins and the other spoke.
-What happened to you? Are you injured?
-No, I had to escape some men and some orcs got in the way, but I took them out. Now I need to hurry and inform our brothers about what I heard.
The men nodded and one of them stood his position, the other took the horse and lead it to the stables. The man went on alone and sat next to the first fire he saw, seeing the familiar faces of those that heoften travelled with, when they had to team up. He sat with noise on the ground, letting his tiredness burden his body. He reached his goal, his destination, it was time to relax and let his body recover. His voice was serious when he spoke, he didn't quite catch his breath yet but he spoke, he knew there was no time to lose.
-I bear news, grave news.
His words made all the others turn to face him, but it wasn't his words only, they were used ti hear such things, that was their life after all, hearing grave news and setting out to fight and die for their cause and King. It was his tone that was concerning, he caught his breath only for that moment and his loud voice bore all the importance of those words.
-How grave?
-Fornost...
The men looked at each other and shifted uncomfortably, not afraid, not for themselves at least, the news were disturbing, they had to contain it as soon as possible, they knew that if they couldn't contain it in time something terrible would be unleashed.
-How do you know?
-I intercepted a letter, or rather... I opened it and put it back. Something will arrive in Fornost within five days and a man will go help unleash it, we must stop them but they must not know that we know. That's why it took me long to arrive, I had to take them all out...
Heads nodded around him, others gathered around the fire, no one spoke, they just looked into the fire and one or two towards the Northwest where that foul place is. Soon a man arrived and beckoned the messenger closer. Action had to be taken... But discreet, the Ranger showed with an X where the meeting between Erenkhad and the one that would arrive would take place, just outside Fornost...
