Aglahad and the Dead City (In Tharbad: Volume Three)

5

The morning brought news from Finduilas. She met us at The Broken Blade after breakfast. Aglahad and I were in the tap room, conducting an inventory of our packs before we made our way to the waytrader. She appeared in the doorway and glanced around the room with narrow eyes. She was barely three years older than Aglahad but was grave and serious, as of one much older. As she pulled back her cloak I noticed she wore a leather baldric, to which were sheathed small throwing knives. 

She sat opposite us at our table but waited until a couple of Haladin left before speaking. "I have orders to escort you to the Tower Hills."

This took me by surprise. "You Rangers keep the lands to the north and west well-guarded. We should be quite safe."

"Even so, my captain has extended this courtesy to you and your charge."

"We can take care of ourselves," Aglahad said. He sounded like he begrudged the word charge.

"As you clearly demonstrated last night. Aglahad."

The boy started. "How do you know -"

"Despite what you may have heard, we Rangers of Arnor are not all backward woodsmen. There are those among us who have travelled further south than Dunland."

I lowered my pack to the floor. "I would ask you to keep this quiet, Finduilas. Merely for the sake of convenience."

She rose from her chair. "You address a servant of the Ranger of Eriador, Siriondil. Meet me at the North Gate in an hour." She swished her cloak and strode towards the door.

"Why would the Rangers want to escort us?" Aglahad said.

I shrugged. "They are a secretive people. I am sure that their motives will become clear in time. She suggested last night that she met with her leader. The Chieftain of the Dúnedain. And after you retired last night, I took a stroll about the town. I am sure that I saw Elrohir and Elladan."

"The Sons of Elrond?"

"The same. Old friends of mine when I lived in Rivendell for a time."

"Why are they here, in Tharbad?"

I shook my head. "I saw them across a wide square and called out to them. I was glad to see them after so many years. They turned and I am sure they knew me but they ignored me and walked on."

"Strange. And rude."

"Strange indeed. There are things afoot here that I do not understand. We must show vigilance."

* * *

After settling the bill, I tried to bid farewell to Mrs Butterbur but she rushed round the counter and grasped my arm. "I shall go fetch Asphodel."

"Asphodel?"

"My kitchen maid. You agreed to escort her to the Shire."

"The Shire?"

"Only to Longbottom," she said, slipping her hands into the pockets of her pinafore. "She has urgent family matters to attend to. Do you recall?"

I recalled Aglahad dancing with a young giggling hobbit maid and barging into a table and almost starting a brawl with a group of Dwarves. Lóni managed to calm them and they pulled their chairs around our table and ordered two flagons of wine.

"Forgive me, Mrs Butterbur. I do not partake of strong drink very often. The Old Winyards you served us seems to have dulled my memory."

"It is stronger than it tastes, for sure. I shall go fetch her."

"No need. We will hold to our agreement." I rubbed my forehead. "What was our agreement?"

"You said you'd take her as far as the Last Inn at the end of Longbottom Lane. You and the Dwarves."

"The Dwarves?"

"The ones you were entertaining last night. They said they'd ride with you."

"Very well," I sighed. "I have some errands to run before our departure. Ask her to meet us at the North Gate."

"Thank you, sire. She has good coin and she travels light, sire."

* * *

The morning was fine and bright. A few stalls had been set up and the folk of Tharbad were milling around, browsing and haggling with the rowdy stall-keepers. A farmer was droving a flock of geese across the square and my eye was led to the butchers shop where large smoked hams hung on either side of the door. Outside, the lute player from the previous night was hunched over an upturned cap. The tinkling of his strings drifted across the square.

I found Aglahad at a fruit stall, choosing pears. He looked up and smiled then looked past me towards the far corner of the square. I turned and for a moment watched a thatcher, perched on the roof of a large house, taking advantage of the sunshine.

"See how they have built using the stones of the ruined city?" I said, thinking the boy might be showing some interest. "At the height of Arnor's power, Tharbad was a magnificent city."

"We should take some cheese," he said as he handed me a firm rosy apple.

I rolled my eyes. "And salt beef?"

"And salt beef."

"Remember, Aglahad. It is a three day journey to the Shire. I am going to the waytrader. I will meet you at the stables."

"If you are going that way," he said, "I need a flint and steel."

I nodded and started to turn away.

"And you need a new waterskin," he called out. As though I'd forgotten.