Hethan swiftly mounted Cerveth and galloped to the West Gate. Her deep green cloak billowed out behind her, though she had no trouble keeping her hood on. Lossë, her eagle, flew loyally behind. She turned left at the Greenway and past the Barrows, not keen on returning. Her path took her to Southern Bree. She slowed Cerveth to a trot so she could observe her surroundings. The town faded further and further into the distance as finally, as she turned behind a hill, it was blocked from view. Hills low, though impassable rose on either side. A fort, ruined and smoking, stood ahead. Hethan leaned her head forward.
'What...?'
From the distance she was at, the fort seemed uninhabited. Hethan rode steadily closer, interested. Suddenly she heard a /whoosh/, /thunk/. A sharp pain seared through her upper leg. She gasped and halted Cerveth.
'Ah...'
She gripped her leg and looked up. An archer stood, his face ugly and twisted. Another arrow flew past her head. Hethan quickly turned Cerveth around and galloped back towards Bree. Lossë squealed at the archer, but followed Hethan.
Hethan gritted her teeth until she at last came to Bree. She half fell off Cerveth onto the Greenway Bridge. She pulled the green arrow from her leg and stared at it.
'Brigands...' She hissed.
Hethan threw the arrow onto the stone with a clatter. Blood flowed steadily from the wound, but Hethan was not put out. She reached into her white and gold satchel and pulled out a roll of bandage and a cloth. She bent down and dipped the cloth into the water from the stream, cleaned and dressed her wound. It was only minor and wouldn't need special healing, she noted. By now, though, part of the bridge was stained red with her blood. She sighed and stood up, limped to her horse and mounted her with bitter vows she would return and defeat the brigands.
