rohan

Now Hild had not intended to be at all nosy about Thane Averel’s coming and going. She had thought in the past few weeks that surely he would return to Bancross soon, as he did every year at around this time. The village had prepared well for the leaner months, but she was finding herself eyeing some of her supplies in the Roaring Dragon a touch wistfully.

The warmth of a firepit is of little solace up here in the mountains, where the wicked winter’s fist keeps the land in a firm and cruel grip. Wildermore has always been a “wild” place so to speak, for it is not the kind of land one would pass through easily and without purpose, and the people who do make their living here are hardened folk.

We both looked to Elfmar, speaking with one of his men. His back was partly turned towards the door, so though he had likely heard our footsteps, he hadn’t yet seen us. I paused.

He did not imagine that winter in the south could ever be harsher as what he had faced in his homelands. For in the Vales he was faced with brisk mountain winds and scarcity of food to sate hungry bellies; here he was met also with the cruelty of Men. Brunleik had been unprepared for the sudden snowfall overnight, and so he decided to make way once the sun had risen higher to warm the air.