[Envinyatar]

‘I think that skink travels faster than we do.’ Tenzing smiled, his white teeth gleaming in the bright afternoon sun. Rhûnnaro sat astride his plodding horse, his eyes following the zig-zag trail of the little lizard. It paused for a moment in its rapid striding, its long, tapered tail lashing back and forth as it paused to taste the scents the hot breeze brought it. Soon it was gone, a blur of blue-black streaked with long, golden stripes, seeking shelter and protection.

They had dropped far behind the line of other hunters. Rhûnnaro pulled his much folded map from the inner pocket of his vest. He brought his mount alongside Tenzing's and pointed to a spot in the Shadow Mountains where there was a narrow pass, just southwest of the two hunters' present position. ‘We can cross here, then go north here and east to our homeland.’ His slim brown finger traced the route.

Tenzing’s eyes widened as he watched the line traced through Minas Tirith. ‘Will we be welcomed there?’

‘I cannot say for certain. It is a port city, and has traded much with places not too far distant from Rhûn. They have a taste for Dorwinion wines I have heard. If need be we can pass ourselves off as traders from the Sea of Rhun, seeking to establish new trade contacts in Gondor.’

Rhûnnaro, motioning for Tenzing to follow, turned his horse in the direction of the pass and picked up his speed.