After almost two months working at Othrikar mining facility it felt good to head out to more civilized lands again. Hilfar saw the west gate of Bree before him as he guided the poney pulling forth a small cart with goods. This day, the dwarrow market will be held near the boar fountain of Bree. Delighted to see his brothers and sisters again they started unpacking their goods and put them on display. Hilfar had quite an odd selection of items he traded from various merchants in the past, home brews like Blueberry ale and potions, but also weapons, jewelry and even a tame snake in a large jar.
It was a chill and windless night. The lanterns were lit and the market opened. Master Dwemthor had a selection fortune tokens, Izbad Khlosi had an impressive array of scrolls and items that would serve any scholar and not forget the food and pie stand of sisters Kveltrild and Hlifa. Many folk were drawn to the trading dwarves, hobbits and men alike. The demand of Hilfar's blueberry ale was high and was soon sold out, even the tamed snake was bought by his old friend Master Barkgrim.
The evening passed and Hilfars pockets were growing heavy with the earned silver and gold. Such profitable evening! Just like the old days he thought. The food stand of the sisters was hectic, a constant flow of new hungry buyers were ordering all kinds of dishes. Suddenly Hilfar had two customers, an older man and a rather tall dark haired man They had a rather specific request, trinkets from Gondor is what they were looking for. After a deep thought Hilfar rummaged in a sack and found what he was looking for, a silver necklace with attached a token of a swan entwined with a ship. The elderly man confirmed it was a Gondorian jewel, and the haggling process started. Lord Duinn walked in on the market by now and Master Thalamath was keeping a close eye on the negotiations. The deal was at a close, until suddenly the tall man plunged his fist at Hilfars face who stumbled back against his stall. The other snatched the necklace from him and both started to leg it. After Hilfar realised what happened, the robbers were being chased by Thalamath, Dwemthor and Duinn, and lacking behind was Hilfar scolding the thieves.
Hilfar could not keep up and quit the chase after reaching the east gate, the rest pursued them still out of sight. Two other men joined the commotion, one of them had quite an impressive beard by dwarf standards. After a while Duinn returned with the necklace in his hand. The robbers cast it aside to lose their followers apparently, rejoice! Yet Thalamath and Dwemthor had not returned. After a while Duinn beckoned us to follow him, Hilfar hesitated but followed his lord recklessly into Chetwood forest. The forest was dark and silent as both dwarves, accompanied by two men, barged through the forest. Hilfar had still trouble keeping up, not used to such long sprints. Breathing heavy, Hilfar followed them into some old ruins where there was a lot of commotion. A group of Brigands looked suprised as the company barged in all of the sudden. Thalamath and Dwemthor lay there in the middle of their camp, injured. Blades were unsheathed and battle cries where shouted, the brigands snapped out of their amazement and drew out their weapons as well. Hilfar realised he ran in there unarmed! He saw two brigands running up at him and by luck he quickly managed to grab a shovel standing against the old wall. The fight broke loose, Duinn and the other two men were hacking away. Hilfar smacked the blade of the shovel against the first brigands face with a loud Clank! The second brigand smacked a club at Hilfars shoulder, his teeth gnashed at impact and in return smacked the shovel hard in his belly. The brigand in reaction bends forward on impact and fell hard to the ground as the shovel hit him again on his upper back.
Hilfar wiped sweat from his forehead, some brigands lay slain, some were in agony, but most of them had fled. Duinn had a fierce look in his eyes that would make any mans blood stoll. Dwemthor was up again and seemed alright regarding the circumstances. Thalamath was out cold and was carried back to Bree for treatment. No sign of the robbers that caused all this mess. Hilfar grumbled "Alas! That such a fine market day has to end with bloodshed." Hilfar wrote a report for the Bree watch demanding these robbers to be caught and send to Thorin's halls for trial.
