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Good! The hobbit decided to give in. There wasn’t much else he could do, after all, with his pony being taken under custody. Thornden turned about and took the reins that Javan offered him. “Thanks,” he said quietly. He looked Javan in the eye and offered him a small smile, but Javan frowned and looked away. It was clear he did not like being left behind.
Thornden quickly mounted up in the saddle and looked around him at the men gathered. Everyone was in their saddle, ready and waiting to be off, bearing what weapons they had. He caught their attention with his sweeping glance and then turning his horse’s head about, he led the way through the courtyard gate and out into the cobbled street. The horse’s iron shod feet rang upon the stones and they clattered down to the gate and out into the open plain.
The way was not far to the ruins. The horses trotted and cantered easily the entire way. Thornden’s mind was busy planning.
Falco was right. He didn’t know how many there were. Nor did he know where they were, or at least where they had been when the four were ambushed. He scowled to himself, thinking that the foolish hobbit instead of arguing with him and telling him that he didn’t know could have at least given him what information he did know!
All Thornden knew was that they were in the ruins, Ritun and Lefun were taken, and Eodwine obviously badly off himself. Anything further would have to be learned as they discovered it. As for plans… They would stop some way away and approach on foot. Go in as quietly as possible and see if they could not ambush the ambushers. Their chance lay in surprise. . .
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