I sit curled up outside the Prancing Pony as the mid day rush flows past me. A cup of tea beside me, my quill well sharpened. Most of the throng ignore me, a few do stare unhappily yet more nod to me and seem to have grown used to my presence after all this time.
Progress, I suppose, should always be honored.
Yesterday as the afternoon dwindled down I awaited Cyndwin's return from purchasing pigments. It is still hard for me to let her go anywhere unguarded, but she has begun to bristle at my protectiveness so I smile and bid her pleasant shopping. However I admit to holding my breath until she is back in my care. This day I was jolted from pleasant daydreams I used to distract myself from care by a figure scampering past me. A flash of pale skin and flaxen hair in distress, at first I thought with no small amount of terror that it was Cyndwin herself...but no. It was friend Addie! She was fleeing as if pursued, gasping for breath, clearly terrified, her normal reserve lost.
I rose and drew Heartbreaker, assuming she was in fact in flight from some menace. I nocked a willowleaf shaft and near placed it neatly through the chest of a burly farmer who seemed to be running after the departing Addie. He did look awfully shocked as I sent it past his ear instead, after noting just in time the object of his chase was not in fact Addie but a wayward hen. I waved an apology and started off toward the market square after dear Addie, leaving the hen to him.
I raced under the Market Gate following her footprints on the stone and found her before the Three Boar Fountain, having been brought up short by an older woman I did not know. Poor Addie's eyes were wild, hair disheveled, her chest heaving from her panicked run. In her arms she clutched a collection of books and papers to her breast as if she were a little girl. Coming up to her after being certain a second time she was not pursued, I hailed her, but it was clear from her stare she had no memory of my identity.
The woman who had reached her first was dressed like a wealthy local, explaining to Addie that if she ran about like that the guard would arrest her as a public drunkard. Addie was not listening, and it was clear she knew this woman no more than she seemed to knew me. The look of confusion and fear on her face broke my heart, and I would have took her in my arms but the other woman seemed intent on taking command, and led the girl away to the edge of the square. It seemed Addie was highly suggestible at that moment, for when the woman told her to sit, she sat without dispute or pause. This was quite usual for the stubborn Addie and caused me even greater concern.
In low but urgent tones the woman began to quiz Addie upon the books she carried saying it would help her regain her wits, and most especially a small hand drawn map of what appeared to be the Greenway, with Bree at the center. All this served to do was to further agitate poor Addie, who began to explain that it showed the Greenway, and the North/South road, and the crossroads, then seemed to fix upon the word Cross, calling it out so loudly as to gain the attention of passersby.
The older woman then abruptly rose and told me that Addie must stay right there until she returned as she had business to attend to. I trusted this sudden change of heart not at all, and upon noticing she had kept the map Addie was so concerned about, I assured the woman I would watch over Addie who chose that moment to faint dead away. As the timely swoon distracted the older woman, I palmed the map which she had tucked into her sash. Perhaps it was done in all innocence without thinking, but if the map seemed to matter so to the insensible Addie then I wished to keep it for her.
Once the woman was out of earshot, having bustled away discussing bringing medicine to homeless children, I knelt by my fallen friend and gave her a small sip of the Miruvor I always keep in my pouch. In a moment her eyes fluttered open, cleared and then she called me by name, but had no memory of how she had come to the Market square. She quite sweetly informed me however that my sister The Banshee had arrived and I told her that I knew, and if she be the one that Xandilif calls "Horsegirl", then my sister pronounced her "sassy". This seemed to please poor Addie as I helped her to her feet. Gathering her up, I decided it would be best if we were not still there when the older woman returned, and led her across the square to the old Mess Hall. Cyndwin, Fille and myself had often used the Hall for late breakfasts and private strategizing.
However as I entered half carrying, half supporting poor Addie, I realized we were not alone. A halfling was already in the Hall and was rooting around in the stored produce, her little feet kicking as she was headfirst into a basket. Now this is fairly normal behavior for a little one as I have found, so at first I did not think overly much of it. However as the small figure leaped up and reacted with surprise, I realized she was not a halfling but a child of some kind, and from her nonsensical comments it seemed she felt we were trespassing upon the property of someone called Mama Martis, and furthermore that she knew Addie, or had at least seen her earlier that day, and was none too impressed with her.
What's more, I soon was able to deduce even though I do not speak child and could make very little sense of her rambling, that not only did she know what had happened to Addie but could prepare a medicine to restore her lost memory. As poor Addie reclined by the hearth I watched the raggedy girl prepare the drought, with honey and herbs. I did not note anything which caused me concern, so when Addie asked me if she should drink it, I cautiously nodded.
Thankfully the medicine worked wonderfully well, and Addie immediately regained her memories and promptly and angrily accused the child of theft. The child denied it in great, almost incomprehensible offense, apparently saying it had been victim of a misunderstanding of some kind. I carefully silenced them both at last, so as to finally get a clear account of what had occurred.
Addie explained, with occasional aid from the child, who informed us she was called Leontina, that she had received a letter biding her to come to an estate alone which for reasons past my understanding she promptly did once the sun had set. Upon arriving there she beheld a masked woman, cooking a soup for various foundling children. This woman then bid Addie to be of aid to her by studying and reading a page of various symbols and clues (hence the books), which pertained to the hiding place of a map to a treasure of the ancient Kings of Cardolan. She then set forth across the rooftops of Bree along with a woman the child said was quite dangerous and was called Breta to a tower adorned with a cross. There some discovery was made which was very unclear, and Addie returned to the estate with her report.
Upon meeting the masked woman again, she also met this child Leontina, and somehow realized that the woman, who the child said was Ray and the source of all this mischief, was of ill intent and therefore refused to tell her the secret held within the map. This angered the woman, and she applied what the child called "Black Lily Pollen" to Addie, causing her to lose her senses and do as she was bid...which in this case I assume was to tell all she had learned. Addie had no further memory of what befell her until I woke her in the Market Square.
Clearly this has many ramifications. That gangs of criminals of various degrees prey upon Bree is certainly not news, at least not to those who understand the city beneath the city, but the focus on a lost treasure of relics of Arnor and the map tracing back along the Greenway towards Kheledul could mean there is a Dourhand involvement in the actions of this Ray. I wish to know if that is so. I would also know why dear Addie was targeted and her naive misreading of the situation taken advantage of.
After sending Addie safely to bed in my chambers at the Pony, I learned that the child Leontina serves this Mama Martis, who herself seeks the true identity of the masked Ray. I think a conference with this "Mama" should take place as soon as possible. Ray must be brought to pay for any crimes she has committed, and her possible role in darker deeds much be explored. I have mentioned this incident in my monthly report to my superiors and await to see if any orders are forthcoming. In the meantime I will follow my instincts.
This morning I returned to the Pony and was pleased to see Addie very much herself, in consultation concerning matters domestic with a Son of Aule who I would later learn was called Maddoct. I assured Addie that I was seeking counsel with this Mama and would tell her more as I learned it before she withdrew to rest. Once she departed, I bid this Maddoct to keep a close eye upon friend Addie, for I was not certain she was free of the menace of this situation. He seemed to take my caution seriously, and I hope that he does for I know in my soul this matter is not done, and is soon to turn darker.
Unlooked for, I received a hopeful sign then, in the return of dear Taphreille. She told me, after embracing in greeting, that she had scouted off the paths in the Brandy Hills towards ancient Arnor and did not come across slavers. Relic thieves abounded certainly, counting on the cold to keep the curious away and the Wardens close to their fires, but it seems the slavers are not moving their product in this wintry season. There could be many reasons for this, and I would discuss it with my sister. Tapheille also reported a massing of orcs and goblins in the Greenfields, which may require further investigation and suppression.
After we consulted on her recent travels, she expressed her intention of proceeding next to the North Downs to investigate the Dourhand encampments there that shadow the Dunedain movements near the passes to Angmar. This may provide us with an answer of why the slavers seem quiet in Evendim. They may be dealing with pressure by the brave Rangers in the North Downs, or undertaking other tasks for their Masters...or there may be developments unseen in the forlorn ruins of Fornost. Time will tell.
On hearing of my recent adventures, Taphreille mentioned a girl of her acquaintance called Lore, who may be of use with information concerning the doings of the Bree underworld and the identity of this Ray. This seems a lead very much worth pursuing.
Whatever she might find on her foray into the scrublands, the bronze skinned warrior Taphreille is a valuable ally, and I look forward to introducing her to the others. She may in time prove a worthy addition to our numbers.
All preparations are complete, now I await only Fille's arrival to set forth to the Forsaken Inn and then Rivendell. Lif is opposed to the plan, but not sufficiently so to argue its abandonment. In fact, she has stated she is considering joining us...which will make the journey more interesting, at the very least.
As for her actually entering the Valley of Imladris, I will believe that when it happens.
