"Thank you, Awyrgan, for your offer of help; which we will accept graciously. However, we are far from the lands which we seek, and it may take several weeks of travelling." Brytta pulled a map out from his bag and showed it to Awyrgan. He took a pencil and made a scratch in the North Downs, north of Bree.
"This is where we are heading for. As you can see, the Old South Road will take us directly past Bree, and north to our long awaited destination."
Awyrgan scanned the map quickly. "I may be able to take as much as a week off of your journey. I will work out a route tonight, but I doubt if it will be necessary for us to go to the road in question at all."
With the conversation over, Brytta tossed several logs on the fire and stroked it gently. Aldwulf disappeared with the water skins, presumably to fill them from the nearby stream. The group then retired, each with their own worries about the next day.
As he rolled over on the uncomfortable ground, Brytta could not help but ponder the mysterious man's offer. For all he knew, they had been found by an undercover Rohanian scout and would be led straight into an ambush. Or, more likely, the man would simply turn them in; recieving a sizeable reward. But despite his doubts, Brytta felt a genuine trust for the man; and after all, they were bound to be caught if they did not move. The man decided to leave the thinking for the morning, and soon drifted off into a troubled sleep.
____________________________________________
The next morning was hot, the sun rising quickly to fill the sky with its splendor. Awyrgan was the first awake, and the smell of fried bacon soon filled the camp. The others rose quickly, and after the short breakfast began to prepare for their journey.
It took less than a quarter of an hour for Brytta's party to finish packing. Each hoisted a heavy pack, and they began to follow Awyrgan through the wilderness. The man seemed right at home, as if the brush and scrub before him was a clear path. Moreover, the pace he set was somewhat blistering.
Awyrgan had turned to Brytta earlier as they travelled, speaking quietly. "I wanted to get an early start. Soon we'll stop and I'll show your our route." He did not say why he moved them out out as rapidly as he had.
[ August 24, 2003: Message edited by: Himaran ]
|