Fateful Path

...Many weeks earlier...

Ryheric and the black colt Son of Mouse (whom he secretly named Kacis - Escape) spent weeks of travel in haste, and hidden off the main roads where possible.

The horse was paced, and took to the routines and rhythms well. Their travels were far from trouble-free. But Kacis was a good horse, and Ryheric taking troubled paths was like a duck in water. So familiar was he to this way of life.

He drank in the wilderness and his solitude.

There were fights. Orcs, men. A dubious meeting with suspected brigands, a huge, starving bear that stalked Kacis for a week and ended with Ryheric needing to take the time to hunt the creature down. He field-tanned the hide and kept it.

Little beknownst to him, that act would serve as a boon, much later.

When he reached Dunland, he knew he had no choice but to seek out local tribes.

Ceth, and Zeld.

Both men were sought, but Zeld of the Snake Clan was found first. He boldly presented himself. Perhaps a bit too boldly. 

Ryheric did not need to challenge him to a fight, for this "Zeld" challenged him first. He had two lackeys, they looked nervous. Their horses were skinny and tired.

... The twice-chipped, curved southern blade drank its blood, and Ryheric was left fairly certain that this Zeld was far too easy to kill. Perhaps he was a decoy...

No other sign of a man by that name presented itself, despite his searching over the weeks. Dunland was an enormous place, and eventually Ryheric found the trail of Ceth and the band of horse thieves, which led him towards Rohan.

... Rohan, where Boltin had gone missing.