Gormbard had travelled to the village of Brockenborings in the North Farthing with only a minor delay in Overhill. A cartload of wool bales had lost a wheel on the bridge and the route was completely blocked. Gormbard had to wait until a couple of Bounders could unload the cart to repair the wheel, but as Overhill turned out to be quite a pleasant place Gormbard did not mind.
Arriving in Brockenborings Gormbard headed for an Inn called the Plough and Stars, which had been recommended to him by a Hobbit in Michel Delving. The inn was pleasant enough and his rooms were light and airy with very comfortable beds. Gormbard opened up his instructions from Master Foxtail to find that he had mealy written the name "Sandhill" on the paper, no address and no other information. Gormbard would have to start asking some of the locals to try and locate the Sandhill burrow.
The bar was filling up with folk so Gormbard ordered a drink and looked around for someone to ask. Gormbard had thought it would be a simple matter to locate the family as Brockenborings was such a small village there could not have been that many families living there. But it would appear to be more difficult as the first six people he asked had not even heard of the name before. One Hobbit beside the bar was the only person to have heard of the name and he could not give any information as to their address. The only thing he could remember was an old Hobbit who lived on the other side of the village whose maiden name had been Sandhill. It was not good solid information but it was the only thing he had to go on.
Just as he was heading out Gormbard heard some familiar music, it was the same Hobbit who had played in the Green Dragon a few night earlier. Gormbard walked over to her and introduced himself. She was with a friend who was a most remarkably good looking lass dressed in blue. After he had had a most agreeable conversation Gormbard unfortunately had to go, as he would have to leave on business.
Gormbard was sorry to leave the Inn but he had a job to do and he hoped that he would bump into the lass in the Blue dress again.
