Delioron, my dear friend,
fancy hearing from you after all these years! How are you, old boy? How have you been? Strictly business as ever I see, as witnessed by the letter you sent. Not a word of inquiry about how your dear friend is doing or what I have been up to all these years, no chit-chat, just straight to the point. And the point is that you want something from me, as usual.
You are very good at that, you know – using people. In fact it’s the only talent you have. And yet, remarkably, you seem to have a conscience, or at least a shade of it left. Do you still have your shade of conscience left, old boy? I bet you do, ha ha! I pity you because of that, you know – that you only know how to use people and still possess a conscience. It must be a terrible burden to live your life that way.
And what an intriguing question you had for me! I wonder, why has such an old case suddenly come to the radar of my dear friend Delioron? What’s your interest in it? I know, I know – you’re not gonna tell, you just want answers. And fine, why shouldn’t I tell you? I remember the case you’re speaking of well, as I was involved in it.
Tologben was a Citadel Guard whom we sent into Rhûn somewhere – Khand, I think – on a reconnaissance mission. Just to find out what’s there, draw maps and so on. It was Arodor’s operation, and very clandestine. You know how Denethor has forbidden all operations to Mordor and Rhûn since fifteen years ago, so we had to be very cautious to keep a lid on it because we were operating against the Steward’s direct order. Something must have gone wrong because Tologben never returned, and we never heard from him again.
Something else went wrong as well, because it turned out that Tologben had, contrary to his instructions, told his father and little sister where he was going. A big mistake! They kept asking questions, so we had to come up with a story about how Tologben was a traitor who ran to Mordor to fight for Sauron, something like that. Fortunately Tologben had not told anyone any other details of his mission, so we could sweep the disaster under the rug before it came back to bite us, so to speak.
Happy now? But oh, there’s one more thing! There’s one thing you and I have in common, dear friend. Just like you, I want to know everything. And knowing that you’re not very good at sharing, I made some inquiries in Minas Tirith myself, and you know what I heard? That you’re currently residing in Imloth Melui. Does that have something to do with those absolutely fascinating stories I’ve heard about the Blue Wizard of Imloth Melui? I bet it does, ha ha! And you know what else I heard? That also in Imloth Melui there just happens to be a woman called Radawen, the little sister of the very same Tologben you asked me about in your letter! Hmmmm! The plot thickens! Very interesting indeed! I have to keep a close eye on this one!
Keep your secrets, friend, but know that you now owe me a favor. I will hold you to it. And you know how I am – I never forget debts or favors owed me. Some day, when you least expect it, I just might drop in to collect! Ha ha!
Until that day comes, rest easy, my friend,
Huordir
