Belegander dismounted from his horse with an almost elfin level of grace. The young stable hand rushed over to him to take the reins from him and he simply nodded to the boy, giving him instructions on how he expected his horse to be stabled. The boy nodded and accepted the couple of silver that Belgander gave to him without giving the boy too much of his attention. No, his attention was rather captured by the rusting town, if it could be called a town.
He had not stepped foot there for several years but the sights, sound, and most of all the smell was still the same. He frowned slightly as he walked the streets of Bree with his hand behind his back with his chin lifted, pleased to see some of the locals eye him with curiosity as he passed. Belegander stopped outside the local tavern and pondered for a moment why she had come back to this place. Out of all the lands they had gone, why did she come back here?
A small grin started on his face as he walked inside the Prancing Pony and he was glad to see that as usual it had a fair amount of patrons inside, even better the bar was rather crowded with people calling out orders to the obese and balding tavern keep and whatever help the fool could find, tonight it was a rather plain looking girl who seems about at the end of her rope. His grin widened as he approached the bar.
As soon as he saw an opening he joined two men’s conversation with a joyous and loud presence to him as if he was one looking to celebrate. Seeing his elegant garb they eagerly welcomed him to the conversation, most likely hoping he’d offer to pay them a round. He wouldn’t leave them disappointed…only it was going to be just them paying tonight. Despite having a rather full coin purse, Belegander kept the men’s attention occupied as he cut the man on his right’s coin purse.
He offered to buy the men with the pilfered and ignored the looks Butterbur was giving him. He had hoped the massive lump of fat that was the tavern keep had forgotten him or at least wouldn’t recognize him but it appeared that for once Barliman managed to keep his knowledge of Belgander in that shiny gourd of his. It wasn’t a major grievance but it was inconvenient. He lifted his tankard in cheer to his drinking companions and feigning to take a hearty drink.
A few hours and several drinks later, he bid then men farewell and left the tavern with a giggling half-drunken woman hanging off his arm. They made their way down to the stables as he nod at her constant ramblings, laugh at her rather flat jokes, and counterfeit interest her unimaginative flirtation. Once more the stable boy rushed over to them and Belegander commanded his horse be prepared. He turned to the woman giving her a charming smile that made her giggle.
“I confess my less savory nature would eagerly jump at the chance to know you better” he told her in a low, alluring tone that made her flush and chortle about. “But I know very well such a proper and beautiful lady such as yourself would not tolerate such a nature. So I will offer you good night my lady but I should warn you, you’re beauty has bewitched me and I know not how long it will haunt me till we meet again,” he finished causing her once more to turn bright red and giggle in such a way that it made his muscles in his jaw twitch with irritation.
He mounted his horse when the boy brought it, giving the woman another farewell before heading towards the south gate. He sighed with some exasperation as he rode pondering on the difficulties of finding a good partner. It had been months since he’d let go his last partner. She was a beauty no doubt but slow witted and as base born as they come. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get that creature to demonstrate any class what so ever.
As the edges of the village he was seeking came into view, Belegrander dismounted and changed his clothing to something more subtle. His elegant drab would draw unwanted attention. Right now he simply needed to observe his mark and as it happened none other than the best he’d ever taught. Once again he wondered what brought her to back to Bree land, and what was she doing in this Village. He remounted again and entered the village.
It was a typical Bree land village, in fact they all looked the same to him. He walked the streets as if he belonged there, taking note of the people residing in the village and any possible threats. He spotted the residence of his mark and took what notes he could of it without drawing to much attention to himself. He continued walking through the village when he suddenly noticed her. Belegander paused and let the corner of one of the homes hide him.
His best student and the best he had worked with came out of one of the houses, laughing and talking with some grey haired man, though curiously the man looked rather young. He frowned slightly as he watched them. Why here of all places, he asked silently once more. As Rannie and the odd fellow walked down the street and out of sight he continued his walk towards the gates of the village. Belegander decided he’d have to get her alone to ask her himself that very question and get her back to working with him.
