Bright cold night of the early spring wrapped itself around Edoras again. The tavern of Edoras was among the largest and most well-known buildings in the capital of Rohan, yet it had no name. It had always simply been known as ”the tavern” by the locals who frequented it. In a shady corner in the back of the large common room a pale, dark-haired, gaunt man known as Gríma pushed a leather pouch over the table towards a pair of grim-looking, bulky men. One of them – a blond, straw-haired man – took the pouch, opened it and peered inside.
The men, known in Edoras as Aldred ”The Shadow” and Eadric ”The Black Fox”, were brothers and just as disliked in Edoras as the pale man who had given them the pouch of coins. Once upon a time the brothers had been recruits in the Rohirrim Army, but they had been dishonorably discharged years ago. Since then Aldred and Eadric had survived by doing all kinds of odd jobs and committing a variety of crimes both in Rohan and Gondor, including thefts and murders for hire. Both men were willing to do anything for money and full of bitter hatred and resentment towards the Rohirrim society whom they felt had treated them unfairly. Both had spent much time in Gondor and knew it well, its customs and the lay of the land.
”Where can we find them?” asked the straw-haired man – Aldred.
”The man has a house near a village called Brithgir in the Bay of Belfalas”, Gríma said. ”I would start there.”
”Is the woman with him?”
”I do not know. It is not that important. The man is the priority.”
”But if she is…?”
”Kill them both if you can. But do not worry about the woman if you cannot find her. My master wants the man dead, the woman is just an added bonus. Kill them – or him – and come back to claim the other half of your reward. There will be a bonus for the woman too. Do not try to betray us, for my master sees far and has a long memory.”
”Do you want their heads?” Eadric cut in.
”Well, I want some proof that the mission has been successfully completed”, said Gríma, suddenly uneasy about the thought that this pair of thugs would present him with a sack with two rotting heads inside. Gríma would have preferred not having to deal with men like Aldred and Eadric at all, but Saruman had been very clear on what he wanted to be done and Gríma could not think of anyone better suited to the task than these two unscrupulous, honourless cutthroats.
