Ardanion and his father bid Teahesto farewell at the Prancing Pony and turned their horses south toward the Town Plaza with its shops and stalls surrounding the Boar Fountian, another popular gathering place where Breefolk and strangers mingled to trade goods or gossip.
Although the gloaming heralded the unofficial daily end of town business, the craft house stayed busy, and would well into the night. Cutch and Danny entered the hall, and their senses were immediately assailed. Smoke from forges and ovens mixed with the aromas of smelting, cooking, and the pungency of human toil. The clanging on anvils commanded the cacophony, with saws and hammers completing the instrumental arrangement that nearly drowned out the raised voices of crafters conferring, teaching, or sharing guffaws.
From the far end of the hall, Bonny Thatcher noticed them enter, and shouted out, “Crane! You bring me some dinner?”
With a grin, Cutch returned her wave and tugged on Danny’s sleeve. “Here’s someone you have to meet, son.” They wove their way through the crowded room to the unofficial head of the crafting hall, her position secured by her ability to have or find nearly anything any of the crafters might need. After exchanging introductions and pleasantries, Cutch asked about Claywick Cob, who most often could be found in the craft house amongst the other woodworkers.
“He’s gone down to the auction house with some fellows from the North Downs. They asked for him specifically.”
Cutch exchanged glances with his son before leaning towards Bonny. “Rangers?”, he asked barely above a whisper.
She searched his face carefully, then shrugged. “Wouldn’t be surprised”, she muttered. “They’ve been around town more than usual lately, enough of them to be noticed.”
Nodding slowly, he quietly thanked Bonny for the information, then led Danny back out to their horses. Mounting up, he said to his son, “I will ride down to the Auction House. You ride up to the orphanage and see Caladna and Calvin. Tell them I will be along shortly. Find out what they might know about this Ranger business.”
Ardanion silently nodded and turned his horse toward the Staddle gate as they passed the Town Hall. He pulled up just before the gate, dismounting at the front porch of the orphanage.
As he approached the door, it burst open and several small children raced around him to the street, oblivious to everything except their cheerful play. From inside, he heard his Aunt Cally call out, “Mind the street!” Wafting out behind the children, the aroma of baking bread greeted Ardanion. He stepped in and followed it to the kitchen, where his aunt looked up at him from the bread oven.
“Danny!”, she exclaimed closing on him with open arms. “How good to see you!” She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close into her warm, motherly embrace. “I expect your family is not far behind?”
“Ada is. Naneth and Bainiel are in their stacks at home.” He placed a loving kiss on her cheek, which she returned before leaning back and examining him. “My, how you have grown, and so much like your father! What brings you to Bree?”
Ardanion explained the enigmatic letter his father had received from Esteldin, their eventual destination. “Ada though it might be wise to stop here and … well … scout out the situation? Perhaps you and Uncle Clay might have some knowledge….?”
Caladna grew solemn as she stroked his shoulders. “Aye, Danny. There are some things you might like to know.” She turned back to the oven to paddle out a loaf and slide another in.
“I’ve kept in touch with the Scholar’s Stair”, she began as she sliced the end of a cooled loaf and spread it with butter and strawberry jam. She stepped close, handing the treat to him with a lowered voice. “They have heard that the new king in Gondor wants to rebuild the kingdom of Men, to join the lands of the Northern and Southern Dunedain. They say this king wants to raise the old Houses and serve the people, instead of just imposing proclamations. I suppose it is to quell much of the distrust we’ve felt about the rangers. Maybe this king has the right of things.”
Ardanion munched slowly, savoring his aunt’s handiwork while considering her words. “And that would somehow include my ada? He is from one of these Houses?”
“Yes”, Cally answered, wiping her hands on her apron and leading Danny to sit with her at the table with a cup of fresh milk. She watched him continue his snack and explained, “Your great grandfather was the head of one of the minor Houses, as far as we can tell from local records here in the archives. His son, however, abandoned his inheritance out of shame….”. She paused, not sure if she should share details.
“Gilmorwen?”, Ardanion asked.
Caladna nodded. “Yes…so you know the story?”
“Yes, Aunt Cally. Ada told us about her.” He tapped his right cheekbone just below the eye.
She grew silent for a moment, setting her resolve against recounting how Cutch had nearly died from his encounter with his grandmother. “Captain Teahesto and I discovered some of the story of your father’s bloodline, but we don’t know it all. It could be what Esteldin wants to discuss with him.”
Ardanion leaned back and sipped. “And Calvin? Where is he?”
“Another thread of the same story, I think. Bellem Grey, one of the older scholars from Bree…maybe you have not met him…is down in Cardolan doing some sort of research that appears to be related to the king’s interests. Your cousin Calvin has taken it into his head to be Bellem’s bodyguard!”
“Wasn’t he pursuing weapon smithing at the craft hall?”
Caladna shook her head sadly. “I thought he would stay safe and sensible, as his father has become. But, no, he has too much of the bear in him. Says he wants to secure his fortune before settling down. I think he wants to see more of the world while he still can. Fortunately, his uncle Torry has made him some armor and trained him with sword, so it isn’t as if he is helpless, and he is not going very far away ….”. Her voice and gaze wandered.
Ardanion reached to hold her hand.
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