[piosenniel]

‘I wonder,’ thought Holly as she handed the book back to Andreth, ‘if that missing map looks anything like the one I have.’ Her hand strayed to the pocket of her vest as she watched the woman tuck the old book carefully back in her waistband. A practical creature, the Hobbit thought it best to form a closer tie with her before she shared her map. Perhaps Andreth’s purposes and her’s could complement each other, though the woman seemed more bent on securing the release of the castle’s ghosts than on looking for other treasures. ‘Still,’ she reasoned, ‘she may have the descriptions of the rooms if we can unlock them and I have a map of unproven worth – if we help each other out, there is the possibility of accomplishing both our goals.’

Holly rubbed her chin in thought as they walked back to where Poppy waited on Whinny. ‘Andreth, if you don’t mind, Olo and I will walk with you and Poppy. She reached out and scratched the pony between the ears, offering a small piece of dried apple. Whinny reached out gently with his teeth and accepted the proffered treat. Soon gone, he nudged the Hobbit on her shoulder for another piece.

‘Enough for now!’ she chided him. ‘You and Peri are quite alike, Master Whinny! But the larder is empty for now.’ She opened her pocket to the pony’s inquisitive nose, and was rewarded with a huff of disgust in finding it was indeed bare.

Andreth laughed at Whinny, and took him by the reins to continue down the road with the rest of the company. Holly spoke quickly to her. ‘Let me go get Olo and Peri and bring them back to walk with us. They seem to have dropped behind a bit. You and Poppy go on ahead; we’ll join you soon.’ She walked off hurriedly to retrieve them.