The estate of Tham Varan had once belonged to one of the oldest and most prestigious families of Annúminas, or so the legends claimed. All that was left of it now was overgrown ruins on a top of a hill north of High King's Crossing. Hellrien could see parts of it through dense, spriggy branches of the coppice growing on the left side of the almost overgrown forested path she was riding along. The building was long and it's outlines made Hellrien think about temples for some reason. Hellrien found a path up the hill and lightly pressed her heels against the sides of the horse she had rented, riding towards a sizable opening in a crumbling wall.
”What do you want, miss?”
Hellrien was stirred awake from her thoughts. A man - a guard - had spotted her. He had a crossbow - and it was aimed straight at Hellrien.
”Nothing in particular”, said Hellrien. ”Could you please point that crossbow somewhere else?”
”You're trespassing in private property, miss”, said the guard, spitting on the ground. ”If you have any business here, spill it out - or get lost!”
Hellrien stroked her neck and said: ”I have no business in particular - I just happened to overhear that a friend of mine is residing here. I felt like paying him a visit.”
The guard didn't move a muscle.
”And who is your friend, miss?”
”Tripper. Bill Tripper.”
Hellrien wasn't sure, but she thought she saw an alert flash in the guard's eyes.
”And how do you know him?”
The guard was clearly cautious now. His tone had turned a lot sharper.
”Well... it was up north. In Ost Forod.”
”What's your name, miss?”
”Hell.”
”What else?”
”Hell Bent.”
”Karl?”
”Here.”
Another guard stepped out of the shrub near the wall.
”Karl”, said the first guard, ”go inside and tell that Hell Bent wants to have a chat with Tripper. Tell him she's an old friend from Ost Forod. And take a good look at Miss Hell Bent so you can describe her. Tripper is a busy man and we don't want to bother him if it's a misunderstanding.”
”Alright, Rik.”
The second guard ran towards the house. The first one kept his crossbow aimed at Hellrien.
”We have to be careful”, said the guard and smiled. ”Such are our orders.”
”I understand”, Hellrien nodded. ”I would be cautious too if I was living in a place like this.”
She realized she had put herself in a very tricky situation. If Bill Tripper had anything to do with Ernil, Hellrien's lie would put her in a real jam. They wouldn't let her go before they had squeezed everything they could out of her. She said:
”May I load my pipe?” She knew the guard couldn't see her swords. As long as she had her cloak on the guard might think she was unarmed.
”Go right ahead, but be careful not to make any sudden movements. It would be a shame to get killed over a puff of pipe-weed.”
Hellrien dug up a pouch of pipe-weed and loaded her pipe. Surreptitiously she kept an eye on the house and the yard behind the guard at the same time. She noticed the other guard rushing through a thorny area in front of the main building. A moment later a rider appeared.
Hellrien dropped the pouch of pipe-weed back in her pocket and lit the pipe. She held the smoke in her lungs for a long time before letting it out through her nostrils.
The comer was riding on a white, magnificent horse. He was lavishly dressed like some ancient Dúnedain estate owner.
The rider suddenly stopped his horse, making it rise on it's hind legs. The guard never took his eyes off Hellrien.
”That's her over there, Mr. Tripper.”
”Hell Bent, huh?” Tripper said coldly.
Hellrien glanced at him. He was tall, upstanding and slim. His hair was brown and tied to his neck. His eyes were slanting and almost black. His face was narrow and cheekbones high, reflected controlled strength and will-power. Turquoise tunic was covered with ornate shoulder-pads and leather armor, and Hellrien could discern powerful riding muscles underneath purple riding trousers. As far as Hellrien could see Tripper was unarmed, but he had a two-feet tall riding whip embellished with silver studs.
”I must have made a mistake”, Hellrien said with a smile. ”The Tripper I knew was short and blonde. Sorry to have bothered you for nothing, mister.”
She was about to turn her horse around.
”Stop right there, mellon!” Tripper said. His tone was angry and nervous.
Hellrien saw another guard approaching through the yard. She had to take her chances now. Two guards with crossbows would be odds two overwhelming.
She tipped her pipe. The ashes and a piece of smoldering pipe-weed dropped on the neck of her horse. It raised it's head.
Hellrien dodged to her side, fast as lightning. Her hands were already dashing towards her belly. There was a clicking sound of a crossbow releasing a bolt. It caused the horse let out a panicky neigh as it whizzed past it's ear. Hellrien had not yet reached the ground when she had already drawn her swords. The guard lunged at her, armed with a dagger. Hellrien stepped aside and swung her sword from right to left, slicing his stomach. Blood sprayed and the guard toppled down on the ground.
Without wasting a second Tripper kicked his spurs on the sides of his horse and steered it towards Hellrien. She spun aside. She couldn't reach Tripper with her swords, because his horse was on the way and she just couldn't slay that magnificent beast. Hooves rumbled against the ground. Hellrien spun aside again and got a good sight of Tripper.
She swung her sword. It hit sparks from the metallic saddle knob.
At that moment another crossbow bolt hit the ground almost between her legs. The other guard had reached the range and was loading his crossbow again.
”Do you want me to kill your horse, Tripper!” she yelled.
Tripper stiffened and raised his hand to the guard to hold him. Hellrien seized hold of the reins of her horse.
”Some way to receive guests!” she screamed belligerently. ”What the hell are you up to?” Something made her act all innocent. She felt the urge to mention Ernil's name to see how Tripper would react. But she had a hunch Tripper might not react at all - and Hellrien would reveal herself and the occupants of Tham Varan would vacate the place and go somewhere else, never to be found again.
”I would leave so fucking quick if I was you”, Tripper snarled.
”You can bet on that”, said Hellrien. She was still pointing her sword at Tripper. She jumped on the saddle. She heard shouts from the ruins. Sounds of boots thumping against stony ground as more guards approached.
”Navaer!” she shouted, kicking her heels on the sides of her horse. It dashed into a full gallop. Hellrien stayed on the road for a while before steering the horse into the coppice until she got sight of Lake Evendim and the stone bridge.
There was no sign of pursuers.
