Fréa quickly discovered that Thursday was market day in Bree. The streets were crowded with throngs of Breelanders walking towards the central square where traders had set up tables and stalls to display their treasured wares. A herd of sheet had somehow gotten loose and were rambling along the street, weaving in and out among those buyers who’d come to do their weekly shopping. Big and Little Folk jostled one another and crowded close to the tables as the savory aroma of fried river eel and hot buns wafted over the marketplace.
Fréa’s eye was initially taken by several of the smaller folk, the ones his people called halflings, since he’d never seen one before. But, after a half interested glance, he pulled his attention back to the main issue at hand and began searching the square for any sign of Brytta and his party. He dismounted from his horse and headed to a nearby booth purchasing a small trinket merely as a pretext to start a conversation. He repeated this procedure several times with different vendors, but came up with absolutely nothing of interest other than a sly invitation from a woman with flashing eyes to come up and join her for a pint of ale.
Ignoring this golden opportunity, Fréa continued his search, leaving the market and heading to the small building that he'd learned was the place where the mayor and the wealthiest of merchants transacted their most important business.
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It took Fréa a considerable space of time to gain admittance to the inner room where the mayor was meeting with several wealthy traders of Bree. A clerk sat outside barring entry to the room for all those except a select few who'd been invited in for a meeting. Fréa finally remembered he'd managed to get a decree in Edoras that was stamped with the official seal of the commander of the knights. There was a brief message underneath explaining that the bearer was on the trail of a dangerous band of outlaws, a condemned prisoner and those who had facilitated his escape; the document requested that any and all assitance be extended to Fréa and his men.
"Here," grunted Fréa extending the papers outward towards the clerk. "This tells you who I am and what I'm doing. Could I speak with the mayor and his advisors? To find out if they've seen anyone who meets the description of the men I'm seeking."
The clerk gazed absentmindedly at the stacks of paper on the desk and vigorously shuffled them from one side to the other, looking very uncertain. Then he scrutinized the document Fréa had given him, drew a deep breath, and came to a decision, "Alright, Master Forgoil. You've come all the way from Rohan. Perhaps you'll agree to answer a question or two about the state of the roads, and trading prospects in Edoras. Our folk are always looking for information of that type." Fréa grunted his consent, and was finally allowed to go inside. He strode forward, pushed the door open, and peered around the room....
[ August 25, 2003: Message edited by: Dain Ironfoot ]
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