I sure got put to the test, and I'm not sure how well I came out of it. Do I still want to try to make a living by being a guide? And am I really likely to be any good at it? This first journey sure doesn't make me confident in the answers.
On the face of it, the actual journey, bringing Haritha to Trestlebridge, went as smooth as could be hoped for. The road was clear to follow and there were no dangers along it. At the town, the guards were a little hesitant of letting me in at first, but only because I was unknown to them, and that won't be a problem again, I think. After we arrived, nothing went how I expected, but that's all on account of Haritha's personal business that it wouldn't do for me to share -- it's hers to tell, not mine, and besides, she asked me not to. On the matter of guiding, though, she said she was satisfied with my part in it, and even that she felt pampered, though I didn't do anything but provide food and shelter and a horse and the road. Though it went well enough, there was one lesson to learn in it: even if the one I'm guiding tells me there'll be a place for her to stay the night, I should bring blankets and tents enough for her as well as myself, in case that proves untrue. There was a house, but not blankets or furs, so I let her use the ones I'd brought for me, which made for a cold, uncomfortable night without much rest on my part.
Before the trip I'd spent a day riding up to the Hengstacer farm to collect a horse for Haritha to ride. A gentle-souled skewbald mare named Jessamine that proved perfect for Haritha, who it turns out has very little experience with horses, and needed help getting up into the saddle the first few times. I expected to pay for the use of the horse with coin, which would have been dear. I wasn't charging Haritha for this trip since I'm only apprenticing as a guide, and I need to build both my abilities and my reputation before I can make coin at it. I spent a few pennies on food for the journey -- more than I needed to in fact, since it turns out Haritha is a fine cook who brought a spiced meat pie that was as good a meal as any I've ever had -- but spending for the use of a horse would have drained more of my purse than I was happy to part with. But between my Eorlingas heritage and the recommendation of Miss Brynleigh, Éogar was willing to trust me enough to offer a different way to pay. After completing the journey with Haritha, I would guide Jessamine and two other horses to Trestlebridge. The ostler there was apparently in need of some new stock, having lost a few (probably to the orc raids, though I didn't ask) and had already purchased the horses, to be delivered once their training was done, which it was. Saving Éogar the trouble of spending a day guiding them there himself would be how I paid for the use of Jessamine as Haritha's steed, and give me a couple of pennies besides.
So after bringing Haritha safely back to Bree and delivering her, and her possessions, to her home (she actually has a home right in town!), I retired straightaway to make up for the rest I lacked, then Jessamine, Kestrel, and I returned to Hengstacer Farms to collect the other two steeds. Then on to Trestlebridge. This time, after making the delivery of the horses, I didn't dare sleep in Haritha's house there (though no one would likely have known if I had), and instead set up my tent out in the ostler's pasturage, with his permission. Jessamine put her nose in my tent once or twice looking for apples -- I shouldn’t have spoiled her with them! -- but otherwise the night was uneventful.
Then I embarked on the return to Bree that should have been the easiest part of the undertaking, as for the first time it was just me and Kestrel. Miss Tylva had said I'd been extraordinarily lucky to have seen so many miles of road and never glimpsed an orc nor been in grave peril; perhaps that was catching up with me, or perhaps the tales of old wives are true, that in her speaking the name of the peril, she called it upon me.
Not long out of Trestlebridge where the road passes near to the tall hills that come down from the peaks that hold the village itself so high above the river, I saw a creature, the like of which I've never seen, staggering -- or so it seemed at first to me, but perhaps that's just how they walk -- down from between a fold in the hills. It seemed like it was lost, and at first I took it for a short, perhaps injured, Man, or maybe a tall Hobbit; but as I got closer, its gruesome visage became clearer. Miss Arelienbur says it must have been a goblin, which means it's the first time I've laid eyes on orc-kind. It was on a path that would take it across the road in front of me, but while I was squinting at it and realizing it was no Man nor Hobbit, it saw me, and raised a crossbow.
At once, without me spurring him to action, Kestrel set to a gallop. The goblin blanched -- any creature would at the sight of as noble and fierce a steed as Kestrel bearing down on them -- but, perhaps hoping to stop the charge, perhaps aiming for me or perhaps the horse, it fired its crossbow. I felt a searing pain in my left leg, and from that moment on, it was all I could do to keep from tumbling off of Kestrel. Had it been any other horse I likely would have, but Kestrel is wise enough and well-trained enough that, even while galloping to trample a goblin, he can keep his keel even so I can hold on despite the sudden loss of strength in an injured leg.
I didn't look back so I don't know exactly what came of the goblin. There was certainly a thump suggesting Kestrel went over it, and I think I heard something crunch. But it might have been a twig, or its bow, or a leg, or its chest, or its skull. It might be lying there still -- or dragged off into the woods by a brave wolf. Or it might be nursing its wounds and feeding its bitter hatred in a dark hole off the road.
When Kestrel saw fit to come to a stop, I pulled the arrow out, which brought a new jolt of pain. The oiled linen cloth that held my journey provisions, from which Haritha and I had dined, was emptied and then pressed into service as a bandage, held in place with one of the straps from Kestrel's saddlebags. The rest of the road to Bree seemed more bumpy than usual, every stone setting my leg to fresh fire, but by time I reached the Pony I was feeling almost normal. I hoped to see Haritha so I could inquire after her welfare, but she wasn't about, and I didn't think it right to call at her home, particularly while limping. Instead, I dulled the ache with a pint of ale. Some of the ladies there seemed quite concerned about the injury, but I'm getting around fine and I think it wasn't very deep. I'll be back at Hookworth Stables on the morrow, catching up on the work I left behind -- things will likely be a mess, with Miss Brynleigh also away, so I don't have time to worry about a little arrow-bite.
But as I settle to try to rest despite the throbbing of the bite, I can't help but wonder about the turning of my luck. Miss Tylva would say it's all the more reason for me to learn the sword, and I mean to -- Miss Inayat, who I met at the Sizzling Turtle, will be speaking to her husband about me taking lessons from him -- but how would that have prevented that arrow-bite? Even a shield wouldn't've helped. Perhaps my being enamored of the road is more because of unreasonable luck I've had on it thus far than any truth to what it can promise. Besides, what if one day I want to have a family, and some lass is foolish enough to want to have one with me? The life of a guide is not that of a husband or father. I'll still need to learn the sword for the journey back to the Mark, but perhaps I'm better off dreaming of ostlery as my trade.
