|
Avanill
Avanill recovered Juta for Rauthain as he carried the man over his back. For a moment he was stuck between hopping up on the horse and riding away and helping the ranger with his friend. For the first time in his life, Avanill was nervous.
The opportunity had arisen for him to make his get away. Everyone who was at the scene was attending to this man Kaldir. Avanill froze, it was the same man whom he had discovered speaking with Barrold on the first night in Bree. “It’s a small world” he muttered from Juta’s side. He took a second to look about him, there were multiple enemies, but the landscape was nothing but serene, however bloodied it’s waters were becoming. It was now that he had realised that he had come a long way from the various Inns and the underworld which he had frequented all of his life. It was true that Atantri had raised her son in a good environment of his grandmother’s inn but it was inevitable that some part of her would want him to carry on her doings. After all, it had taken her hundredth dance with death to decide to give away her trade.
All in all, just how beneficial was his trade to him? Sure Avanill could provide for his family, but Atantri with all her legacy would not permit him to do so. He had a small fortune, a vast knowledge of pharmacy, and a horse he hated. But along with his comfortable earnings, came his multitudes of enemies; those who endeavoured to kill him if he did not get to them first, his countless murders, a fear that one day his mother’s enemies may find his mother and the possibility if ever he became lazy that he would be caught by the authorities.
Was this an honourable life? He had never thought about it until this instant when he was under attack and fetching a horse. No, and helping Naiore- was he mad? Deep down he had always known that they were doomed before they began. Right now though, he did not know whether or not she had the upper hand, and this beautiful place was being bathed in the blood of impure beings.
Presently he pulled at Juta’s bridle to make the animal come. He saw Rauthain with Kaldir slung over his shoulder. For the first time in a long time his conscious spoke to him. And what it said was to make a decent man of himself and start repaying for all the hurt and corruption he had caused throughout his life.
“Rauthain!” he called. “Let our friend Juta help us with your mate!”. But Rauthain was not alone, with him were two hobbits, and one of them was Toby.
“Well, well, well.” Chimed Avanill, “Indeed it is a small world.”
|