Ch. 5 The search begins
Aeldryt woke up with the sun shining brightly on his face. On the ground lay his armour, the blood on it, mostly dried up. The small bowl with water he had used last night to wash his face and hands was all red. “Not a scratch, I still got it.”he had said, he had thoughts whilst he was washing himself. Reluctantly he moved towards the side of the bed, two nights in a row he had had nearly no sleep and had killed about two to three dozen brigands. Not all by himself, but he was there nonetheless.
Sitting on the side of his bed he ruffled through his hair and stood up. After a big yawn and scratching himself in somewhat more private places he took on his clothes and placed his armour more neatly on the chair next to the window. “I’ll clean you later.” He said. Walking towards the door he saw he had placed his shield and spear against the wall next to the door, he smiled.
Some bacon, eggs and good brown bread was always a good way to start the day and he must admit the bacon in the Pony was of an excellent quality. These halflings, Hobbits or something, made up their stature with the most intricate knowledge of farming and cooking. He had never seen them prior to arriving in Bree-land but already their love for food and drink made them an interesting kind to Aeldryt. “There you go, sir, a mug of ale to accompany them eggs and bacon.” He smiled “my lady, there is nought better than a smile of a beautiful woman on a sunny day. That gets a man ready to start a new day, no eggs or bacon or anything can beat that. Luckily I now received all, already my day has started perfectly.” The waitress, who heard the stories from Kathy, who wasn’t particularly pleased that he hadn’t spoken to her after their first night, couldn’t resists but giggle.
Eating his breakfast a man came sitting down opposite him, it was Bernard. “So, Aeldryt it is then. Finally we come to know your name, stranger.” He smiled. Aeldryt looked up and smiled back “Shouldn’t you be with your wife, my friend, all is ready to rebuild your farm.” Bernard shook his head “Nay, friend, I come to say that Bernard Livestock does not agree with the deal being fulfilled.”. They both laughed heartily “somehow, Bernard, I had a feeling I hadn’t seen the last of you. Very well I will ask one thing of you then. Where do I find Donhelm Graymare?” Bernard looked at him and his look suddenly changed “I knew I had heard that name before! I told my Mary, Graymare, I said, I know that name.” Aeldryt smiled “I am not at all surprised, my friend, he’s…well, notorious for some….things…” he winked. Bernard shook his head “Indeed, he’s well known here in Bree, I must say and thenespecially the Pony. But I must admit I haven’t seen him for quite some time. Besides now that I come to remember, doesn’t he have an estate of some sort in that neighbourhood south of the marshes?”
Aeldryt confirmed “Indeed he has, but those present had not seen him for weeks and his house was locked as well. Clearly those working there are locals for they did not know who I was, nevertheless I came to Bree to find out more and that’s where you come in, my friend. You know the locals, you may acquire information faster than I do.” Bernard extended his hand “Consider it done, friend, though is this the only thing you require of me?” he nodded “Yes, Bernard, that has been and will be the only thing I ask of you. You can forget about the cloak.” Aeldryt laughed and Bernard stood up “I will start right away, friend”. Bernard left and Aeldryt finished his breakfast with one last chug of ale.
Walking through the streets of Bree Aeldryt couldn’t help but overhear some passer-by’s chattering away about how some corpses had been found near the main road and that such reports came from several places around Bree. Aeldryt grinned and walked on. He wanted to go and check up on the guards that were wounded last night but decided to not do it. A stranger visiting some guards for no reason would look suspicious at best.
For now he was content walking through the very streets about which his youngest cousin, Althred had told quite a few stories about. Ach Althred, he thought. Ever since he had left to join his brother Essea and Donhelm so long ago Aeldryt had only seen him once. Well…twice if he counted his cousin’s funeral. It brought all of them back to the Aldburg, their birthplace. He remembered Althred for the young lad that always tried to impress his brother and Donhelm. Also for when they weren’t around he and Althred would often made plans to pull a prank on them upon their return. Aeldryt however was always smart enough to make sure it was his cousin that seemed the one responsible and carefully held himself in the background. As he had always done.
A smile came on his face because of the memories racing through his head “you naive fool.” he thought.
At his coming of age he had left for the army and with that, had left behind his childhood and his best friend. Carelessly riding through the fields, looking up at the sky telling each other stories had turned in occasional, brief meetings and then even them stopped as Althred had left for the North.
In the meanwhile Aeldryt had been discharged from the army…Well not exactly. Officially he had been for refusing to follow an order to kill an innocent, fellow rider. But word was that more strange orders and things were coming from Edoras and some riders in the army were banding up. The rumour was that Theoden King was no longer of sound mind. Whatever the case, it had been made clear to him that it was safer to go someplace else for the time being and what with his best friend dead, the decision to come to the lands where he perished, was easily made. That way he could meet up with his cousins and exact some revenge of his own in these lands.
Later that day Aeldryt sat at the table in his room, the fire crackling beside him, he was reading a book taking notes regularly. It was his cousin’s diary and he had read it before, there were same important clues in there, about places, people, foes… He’d use it all even if it meant but a small dent in the apparent war machine that is their enemy. He had always been like this and he remember his mother once saying that he was the sweetest of boys, a natural charmer but if you invoke his revenge it comes swift and hits like a ton of rocks. He smiled as he remembered her saying it and he knew it was true, he always gets his revenge, one way or another.
He closed the book, stood up and walked downstairs for a nightcap when Bernard stood in the hall “I have news, my friend.” He said.
