"Where is it that you are from? asked Aman as she poured Benia's ale.
Benia hesitated an instant before answering. Was this a friend or a foe? Wary of strangers' questions, Benia studied Aman's face. The eyes seemed kind and the expression one of merely friendly interest. Benia decided that Aman was probably a friend and in the long run could prove a valuable one at that. Initially she had been wary of Aman's two companions, war-toughened, the both of them, but as soon as she had spoken the two men had left. Benia instantly felt more at ease. Lowering her veil, she revealed a dark-skinned oval face with arched black eyebrows and kohl-lined dark amber eyes. Her left nostril had been pierced and a fine silver chain ran across her cheek from the stud in her nose to her filigreed silver earring. Tiny silver coins ornamented the chain.
She smiled at Aman. "I was born in the land of the shifting sands, but now I am from nowhere."
After a short pause, she continued. "I've only been to The Shire once before, in what I would call another lifetime. Someone here, a hobbit, rendered me a great kindness. I was hoping to find her. Do you know a hobbit called Gilly? Gilly Burrows was the maiden, but I imagine that name has long changed."
|