What a bizarre few weeks.
I must say that the lady Drubainbess has an interesting nose for companions, though I cannot say that I haven't grown fond of one or two of them... marginally.
That damned tackling dwarf, Balnirar. Well, he's certainly a character. He thinks I do not know. After several arguments with the man, it came clear that he is block-headed and incapable of a wider vision around him. He smeared our "Noble" way of doing things, and scorned our webs that we weave to catch our prey in our traps of intrigue, yet he fell into one himself. He was so busy telling me that I was a fool that I weaved a web of my own...
Turns out he's very protective and fond of those pipes. He thinks I know nothing of craft, and I like to keep him in the dark should he choose. But those pipes were of extreme quality, though you'd never be able to tell by the way he plays! Either his family is Noble too, or very wealthy to afford them, and for them to be an heirloom makes me believe the former. Whilst he was throwing insults and accusations of ignorance my way, I found them to be his Achilles Heel. Should he ever cross me, or should I ever need to control him and redirect him, he foolishly revealed his pride of them his weakness. One down.
And for Bolokoth. Parading as a common man, yet he is of the Swan City lineage himself! By far the most impressive of our bloods, yet also the most threatening of bloodlines in this current climate to our party. We are of the Vale, and the Swan City has forever grown fat whilst we sit in its shadow. Though his strategy for returning home is... interesting. He carries proof which along with secrecy is his only hope for salvation. Sometimes, I feel like hot sand being poured into chainmail. Finding the chinks and weaknesses in their armour is what I do. Father, you old spider... you would be so proud.
Bellindah has unfortunately been well, but the bandit-hunter reamins a small mystery to me. Perhaps I should get to know her a little more closely. After all, I can leave nothing to chance.
My dear Dru... it pains me to keep her in the dark, but it is something that I must do for now. I haven't lied to her, nor will I. I had come to the North to find a way of saving my House through the old tales. Or so I thought. Perhaps, father, you merely wanted me out of the way? Oh, my! Hah! Dru thought I'd planned to marry her to save my House. For all her strengths, she can also be blind to reality so often. If I make it home, no doubt my father would force me to marry some minor House for a smidge of wealth or plot of land in some distant place to secure our line. I'm merely a card in his game of Fiefdoms.
Where was I? Ah, yes. Dru. Yes, she could be the key in saving my House. But she knows very little of the situation she abandoned. My brother never told me what truly happened, only that she was a witch, or something? That's all he'd reveal, and something about our sister being more agreeable anyway. Still, she thinks she's coming down here for me.
But she's coming back for her, and she doesn't even know it. I find it amusing that in the backwaters of Bree, we'd find a travelling party of nobles, most from Gondor. Destiny winds its threads around her. She could be the key to saving the Vale, not only from the Steward and the White City and its neglect, but she is the only one I've ever known capable of holding the attentions of an entire room, even when she has had no authority.
She thinks I'm the cargo, but I believe she has scant regard for her own wellbeing so I'm happy to let her think that. But she is the one. And if I have to give my life to get her down there, it wouldn't be a waste. Besides... the Beauchamp line may be weak, but it has a succession already in place. Our walls will be fine.
Hopefully...
