It was late afternoon when Halfred walked through the doors of the Green Dragon Inn. He called to Aman across the room for his usual - doubled! - and made his way between the tables.
By the time Aman had the first mug of ale on the counter, Halfred was seated before her.
"Bring the second one to there, no dallying."
"But you've only laid your hand on that one."
He brought the mug to his lips, glaring at her over the rim as he sucked on the foamy brew. Aman's eyes widened as the big mug emptied without pause. Finally he set it down with a bang on the counter and wiped his foamy lip, glowering.
"Here's the second."
"Thanks, miss." He drained the next one in no more time than the first. Aman's eyes widened even further, then narrowed.
"This is not you, Halfred. How is it with you?"
"Remember the word you sent from here this morning, about a missing man of Rohan?" Aman nodded, her face a picture of anticipation.
"I've had word."
"Wait! Let me get the others!"
Aman ran into the kitchen. Halfred licked his lips and greeted friends while he waited. Not long. Aman came back to the bar with Cook, Cami, and Derufin on her heels.
"What word, Halfred?" Cook said. "Out with it. No dallying now or you'll get us more wrought up than we already are."
"One more," he tapped the counter next to the two empty mugs, "and then I'll tell ye."
They groaned and urged Aman to pour the next one. She placed it sloshing before Halfred, and all four pairs of eyes were on him. He lifted his mug, watching them, and began to quaff his third, the sound of his slurping accompanied by much groaning and rolling of eyes.
"Hurry, Halfred, afore we pull that mug away!"
He set it down with a clack, half empty.
"A shirrif come across the farthings t'day. A young lad, Falco Bobbin by name, over from Michel Delving way. Said some-at come from up the hills nor'west o' Michel Delving, a traveler - no Ranger, mind you - some traveler, an' he brung a satchel wit' 'im." Aman and Derufin exchanged glances. "He showed it to the shirrifs at Michel Delving and they spread the word, an' so it come to me."
"Is that all?" Cami cried.
"E's comin' this way insofar as word met us from you, an' he'll have more. But if ye lost some-at up northaway, an' he had him a satchel, well, we might have some-at t' go on."
With that, Halfred finished off his third.
"Not 'appy news what? Made me thirsty it did. An' now I mus' be back to me duty." He got off his seat and swerved around the tables, tilting leeward as he went.
Derufin grunted. "He better not have Cook's bacon and taters tomorrow."
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