[Nogrod]

Lord Athanar heard the hooves galloping fast towards him and then slowly settling to the general pace beside him.

Athanar waited a moment letting Thornden's breath to settle before turning towards him.

"Everything's alright master Thornden?" he asked casually.

"Yes my lord. The men are back in formation."

"So what was it?" he asked.

"It was... it was a hobbit..." Thornden wasn't sure if he'd have to explain more but before he could continue lord Athanar replied with another question.

"Someone you know?"

"Well... yes. He was master Falco Boffin from Shire, a close friend of Eodwine's who seems to have come back." Thornden fell silent.

Lord Athanar was quiet for a while as well while they rode on. He was thinking to himself how was it that all those close friends of lord Eodwine and Saeryn kept turning into the Mead Hall one by one, like there was something like a plan being executed. Degas was a good young man and he liked him. He had nothing against getting Harreld's brother back as they needed professional workers and he had heard just good things of the hobbits even if those were more tell-tales. Maybe I'm just getting paranoid... he sighed to himself.

Finally he turned towards Thornden again.

"I see. I'd wish to meet this master Falco as we come back." He gave Thornden a quick smile but then got more serious. "If I read my maps right we should be at Tancred's estate in a short while. Let's focus on this now."

"It should be less than two miles, my lord" Thornden confirmed.

Lord Athanar nodded and fell silent. He was focusing on meeting old Tancred.