Beoda

I've got a proper bed -- well, almost; it's still a bit too small for me, but only a little -- and we all got our own rooms. I guess the hobbit that runs the Plough and Stars in Brockenborings keeps a few rooms he can have made up for tall-folk. I think what it really is is a wide bed what he can turn sideways or something, but it's better than sleeping on the floor. There was venison steak and fruit pies and a mug of something he called stout that were thicker than some stews I've had. And it were all paid for for us!

I hadn't been able to find any source for wine-glasses in Bree. Seems Butterbur has enough that he just has to buy a few when a merchant comes to town with some, to replace those as broke since the last time. But I hear that there's glass-blowers in the Shire and that's the place to go. It's an easy ride of a day there and a day back, as near as one can come to a safe road, and I always wanted to see the Shire anyway -- I been as far as Buckland but never crossed the bridge.

Having a house that's yours, even if only rented, and having the chance of people visiting -- especially, but not only, because you're courting -- calls for a lot of things to have on hand. I'm sure I've barely scratched the surface of what a host should be ready to offer, and I've already spent as much as I can make in a half-dozen visits to the marshes gathering goblin ears. And just for things for my visitors to drink!

For a while I've been worrying a little about when I'll be kicked out of the house I'm staying in. It's properly owned by one of the Knights of Eriador, the folks whose settlement is what the village of Hookworth grew around. Being Knights, they go off on long journeys in perilous places, and sadly that means sometimes they don't come back. This particular one is owned by someone whose name I don't know, who has been gone for several years.

Four whole days of study, nearly. It started with a book, which isn't a promising start for me, what with how little practice I've had with letters. I had thought Miss Brynleigh would just tell me all the things I needed to know. But there's just too many ways a horse can become ill or injured, far too many to memorize. So the best way to start learning is to read the book, the whole thing.

There's no reason to be worried or nervous, folks tell me, but I still am. Today's the day two meetings happen. I meet the father of the girl I mean to court, to ask permission; and she meets Kestrel. I'm not sure which one makes me more nervous!