Good day in the forest. Traps were full, wolves were scarce and the sky that threatened rain held off until she was out of the woods. After processing her quarry and scrubbing up, Bri headed to the Comb and Wattle for some dinner and an ale.
Sitting at a long table alone, she enjoyed a simple supper of rabbit and root vegetable stew with a hunk of brown bread. The hunter's appetite was always large because of the hard work she put in day after day to make her living. Recently, she had been learning the fine art of tailoring in the Combe tradesman building where she discovered she had some talent transforming leather into wearable goods. Sybri's slender hands, however, were nicked and rough from working with the tanning agents and sharp instruments of her trade. Toilsome work but it was filling her purse with a fair amount of coinage.
Just as the lass was leaning back into her chair, ale in one hand and her other arm crossed over her waist, a pair of familiar figures came through the inn's door. Lo and behold the curious two from the chance meeting at Archet's gate entered the inn and made a bee line for the bar. Sybri had been thinking about the two since she and Monk had crossed through the logging camp into the woods early that same day. She believed they had a secret and she had figured it.
The two men from Rohan, ale in hand, turned and spotted the young woman sitting at the table and seemingly without hesitation, headed in her direction. Before that moment Bri was feeling tired, ready for sleep but oh did these two men of mystery cause a resurgence of energy! The first to say hello was the younger of the men and Sybri invited him to have a seat. Awiergan did just that and Wulfthred offered her a smile and a polite greeting, then took a chair as well. Had she been able to, she would have rubbed her hands together gleefully for now she had her chance to uncover their secret.
Awiergan seemed nervous from the moment he sat down yet Wulfthred remained as calm but vigilantly alert, much like the first time she encountered him at the gate. The three of them engaged in polite conversation about weather, ale and the younger man, mentioned nervously about missing his home in Rohan but he could not return, he mentioned a house complete with a wife who resided in a village outside of Bree proper and his aversion to anything combat related. All the while, the older man just keep nearly quiet but seemingly a watchful eye on the surroundings.
It was then Sybri started her subtle investigative questioning. Bri mentioned that she noticed Awiergan wore the garb of a noble and land owner and that Wulfthred was kitted as a solider. Glancing quickly around him, wide eyed, then turning his attention back to the slight woman, Awiergan insisted he was just an ordinary man of Rohan. She knew in that moment she had pegged them right! No longer did she need ask anything else. Standing right up, Sybri politely asked Wulfthred if she might have a word in private with him, outside of the inn. He looked disconcerted but he agreed and followed her out of the inn after the hunter bade Lord Awiergan good night.
Off one side of the decking, away from other ears, Sybri whispered to Wulfthred. "My Lord, if I can tell your secret then I must not be the only one, be careful, there are eyes and ears everywhere," speaking to the now very confused looking Man. From there she did not wait for a reply from Wulfthred but felt satisfied she had made it known she knew their secret! Bri said good evening to the amour clad Man of Rohan and nearly skipped away toward the stable, proud of herself and being so observant and clever!
She had no idea, until days after, what having a secret really meant....
