[Deorlin]

Deorlin looked at the young woman with interest. He had just recently been in Dale and was much impressed with the courtesy and hospitality of the people there, although they tended to be somewhat grave compared to his own native countrymen. This One seemed grave indeed, and weary too. But perhaps that was on account of her horse's condition.

Intrigued, Deorlin replied, "Well, I'm no expert myself when it comes to horse ailments, but I'm more than happy to take a look and give you my opinion, for what it's worth." He smiled in a friendly way and the young woman smiled back, shyly. He turned Arad into the nearest loose box ,and followed the girl as she led him to the stall in which her horse stood, languidly, its head almost drooping to its knees. Running his strong, rough hand along the gelding's crest, Deorlin gently pulled the head upwards and pulled the lips back. Examing the gums, he noted dark spots, almost liver colored, around the teeth. His hand moved to the beast's eye and using his thumb to retract the ower eyelid, he noted the same dark brown coloring where normally a healthy pinkish tinge should be.

"Has he gone off his feed?" Deorlin asked the girl. "I think I might just know what's got into him - literally. Any chance that he's been into any walnuts lately?"

The girl looked quizzically at Deorlin and then at her mount.

"It's just a guess, mind you." Deorlin hurried to explain. "But walnuts are highly poisonous to horses, and often leave these tell tale blothches of brown on the gums and inner eyelids. See." He reopened the horse's mouth to show her. "I wish my uncle Daglan was here. He's the most knowledgable horse physic in the Westfold. By the way, I'm Deorlin. How did you know I was from Rohan?"