[Kransha]

Idruil stood a ways off from the group of people who had gathered around the Easterling he was tracking. He was back at the stable now, near them and obviously noticed by some. At first, he had merely been trying to think of something to make conversation. Now he was hanging on their words, for he felt that there was something suspicious about the small posse. He edged ever closer, his sensitive ears picking up most of their discourse with ease, since the girl who seemed to hold command of the group was speaking loudly and with little heed of those outsiders who were listening, like him. He’d seen these folk in the library earlier, milling around just as suspiciously and seemingly searching for something that wasn’t on the place’s shelves. He heard more than one thing in their dialogue that pointed to a hidden motive and, being an intelligent man himself, Idruil had deduced in some respect what they were up to, looking primarily at the scroll which the girl, who’d been identified as someone by the name of Il Galoth, was brandishing as she spoke and the nervousness-tinged faces some members of the company bore.

At this point, Idruil didn’t care what his distraction would be. For the last two weeks, he’d been wandering through the White City, going nowhere, and doing nothing. His funds were slipping away and he was almost desperate for something to do besides walk. His desire mainly was to heft the sword again that hung at his side and seek a new goal, but no opportunity had presented itself in Minas Tirith. He could tell that that opportunity might be standing in front of him. This group was going somewhere (he soon learned that their destination was Ithilien) and they sought something or someone there. Whether or not there was any money in it for him, Idruil needed a valid excuse to leave Minas Tirith and head towards other horizons. This opportunity was here and he planned to take it swiftly.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward towards the company. The Easterling, whose name was known to be Carathir, already knew of Idruil’s presence, but it seemed that the female had not yet noticed.

“Pardon me, Miss Il Galoth, was it?” he said, drawing attention to himself during a lull in the conversation, “Now, you do not know me and I do not know you, so what I am about to say may make very little sense but, I assure you, it will all become clear in time. It is apparent to me that you and your company here are on some sort of journey. Though I have not even properly introduced myself, I would like to offer my services.” He said all of this with the utmost bluntness, being very concise and emotionless as he spoke. He stood rigid, still weary-eyed, looking at the girl. His face seemed not to care what her response would be.

For a long moment there were no words from anyone. Idruil understood that such a sudden and random interjection by him would not be given immediate answer, since he had taken everyone except the Easterling completely by surprise. He had been waiting long, though, and could afford to be patient.