Baradil tells of Morlin and the riders...

Marach's Way

A cobbled path leads from the marketplace to the west, soon turning to hard packed dirt as it wends between the buildings here. Houses line it, small cottages set in barren lots. The dusty paths to their doors well worn, and further on, the workshops where wool is dyed and loomed. The sound of activity is seldom quiet here. Amassed in the sky are harrowing clusters of shadowy clouds.

It's night, the cloak of cloud masks the moon, making things even darker in the path, the houses, cottages and building are all dark, now and then, a owl can be heard, but is it a owl, or a scout sending a coded messages to another, nothing is certain, and paranoia is pulling is tentacles in every direction, and in every heart of the townspeople of hadorsford. Lurking in the shadows, and hearing the sounds of the owl, a scout wrapped in is cloak, and covered by the shadows, respond to the first owl slowly" Hoo hoo" a brief pose then " Hoo hoo" and then nothing more, yet the scout begins to move, still covered by the shadows of buildings in the direction of the bushes the first owl sang.

The soft sound of footfalls is all but robbed by the sounds of the night, even though the fuigure who makes them jogs along a pace. The man runs towards the market place with little head for who might be around. The man is robed in a dark coat and is laden mith many packs and bundles, and his clothes a ragged and stained from travel. As he hoys along onto the street the man runs towards a lamp, and he stands beneath is haury glow. The dim light of the lamp shows an man capped with a helm and harnessed with armour, a bow across his back and a spear haft held in his hand. He raises his voice, headless of the hour. "Guard, Guard!" He stands and waits for someone to come.

" I am here Baradil" says a voice comming from behind a tree, then you can hear" It's okay, it's just Baradil, continue your search, I'll talk with Baradil" sounds of footsteps can be heard from the bushes near the tree Glorfin is hiding, the sounds of another scout probably running away from the scene, as ordered by Glorfin. The hooded fellow then gets out of is hiding spot and begins walking toward is friend" I searched for you, I heard the rumours, and was a bit angry at your lack of judgement Baradil" he shrugs and then sigh" I guess I would have done the same, but it shows ous, that we are not paranoid enough about newcomers, while we should...anyway, nice to be seeing you mate.

The scout watches as Glorfin comes out from the shadows, he jogs towards him and frowns. He begins to speak, his breath ragged from running and his voice hoarse with it. "Lack of jugment...." He bends and leans onto his knees. "I should kick your backside Glorfin. I was niether.... drunk.... nor fooled by that brigand. I acted a fool to let... him mark me so." The scout stands and puts his hands behind his head to settle his breath. "I meant to follow him... I did not think Failindris would follow such a fellow..." He throws his spear to the ground with a clatter. "Damn and blast, I dared not follow to close lest he saw me and did ought to her. But I lost him and his trail.

The other scout shrugs and curses" Damnit Baradil, it's the closest we've ever been to find their lair, how could you have lost him...I just cant beleive it, it's the second time they escape our grasp..." he mumbles a few more words and then smiles" You can talk of kicking people...you barely stand on your feet, your getting too old to play hide and seek" he laughs" But tell me my friend, where did you lost them, so we can make more cautious scouting of the area, I've manage to have a few of ous making 2 shifts instead of one" he takes a deep breath and say" I dont trust the guards, there just too lasy for this, we better count only on ous to prevail I think.

The scout rises to his full height and sticks a finger towards his fellow. All the panting of his breath is stilled and he glowers back at the other. "Fool I may be Glorfin, yet it is not your part to tell me. And fear not I will catch these swine and I know for certain where they are hididng for he knew not that he was followed." The scout voice hisses with anger, yet stoops to get his spear and furthers to speak. "Call me old if you will, lest you are my elder. And know this I have come hoying all the way from the Ered Wethrin's toes, for that is where these folk are hiding. I last saw him in the lands where Nen Lailith finally leaves the mountains. There are woods, hills and cave there. Finding anyone is a task and a half. And I went carefully, for... the lady... I don't want to see her dead for my folly." He growls and wipes his mouth of the spit there and looks once more to Glorfin. "I dare not forsake my watch for long friend, I must be back. Raise our band and the guards who can help in such matters and come up the river, but do not climb into the mountains, if you are seen it could mean peril. Go no further than two leagues south of my own home. But let Elagil know. You must send word to him. He'll have my head surely."

The scout nods to Baradil and then barks while making a full circle around and scanning for someone" Valdir, if you heard the boss, come on down, I'll need you to go to Elagil's house, to send him the news"he then turns back to Baradil and say" We needed to be more organised, since all these things happends in just a few days, we had to act quickly, hope you are proud of my leadership" he smiles to the other scout and then adds" I think Harlow did the same with another gang of scout" he nods and shrugs " We will find them Baradil, and dont worrie man, Elagil will not be mad, the intent was intelligent, a bit cocky, but worth the shot" he smiles back at Baradil and puts a conforting hand on your shoulder" We've been friends for a long time now, and you never did a move without having tought of it first, you have a keen mind Bar, Elagil knows it.

Hearing the shouting that can't be mistaken for anything but Baradil's voice the young scout wears a smirk on his lips and mutters to himself. But catching a few words with his keen ears Valdir feels uneasy at what is being said and so he strides towars Baradil only to find standing with Glorfin, who calls for him to go on some errand. Valdir is disturbed by the mood of the company. Reaching the scouts he can clearly read the signs of anger and anxiety on their faces, tiredness on Baradil's. He finally halts and turns his gaze between the two scouts, "I'm afraid it's not good news, is it?

The scout shakes his head and then his fist at his fellow. "I was neither cocky nor anything. She left I followed her to the edge of town with this man. They got out of the gates and a band of riders fell on them like flies. I was a good few metres back and dared not try bowshot. The went off with her at a good pace. The man from the inn is still in the town." He growls. "We must find Morlin, he is still in this town and free to do his will. Yet I dared not leave the riders free to go. So I ran to my own house as fast as I could and got my own horse. In the middle of the night I rode in their own hoofprints and as dwan came I saw them finally, as they neared the feet of the Ered Wethrin. but as soon as I spied them, they were gone. horse, riders and Failindris. I will go back, you must come later too. But you must try to find this Morlin, for he came back to the town! Raise the guard swiftly, and I mean swiftly."

The scout growls in frustation, yet as Valdir approaches he manages to wave in a fairly amiable manner. "Well me Valdir. Take word to the guard of this Morlin, he is walking the town a free man. I shall go now swiftly to the south once more." He turns to Glorfin and nods. "As to your leadership, do not get caught in it man. I've taught you to use your eyes to see, not your gob to order."

"Hoo Hoo" can be heard, at that moment, Glorfin turns around and says" One of the scout seems to have fund someone or something of interrest, I will have to go for now, there calling me, but I'll give them the news and we will go to the mountains with you." he shrugs again and say" Hey, dont get mad, I'll tell them what happened, and Valdir will go to Elagil house...as for me, I have to go, who knows perhaps its Morlin? Brahm gave ous a basic description of the man...who knows?" he begins to move toward the bushes once more, he turn one last time and say" Brief Valdir on what you want him to tell you, I'll get back on my own findings" he looks at you then and say" You should rest, for an hour at least, your no good to no one in that state...dont worrie they wont escape ous this time...we will fall on them like a nest of bee's. " on that note the other scout is no more, vanishing and returning to the conforting cover of the shadows....

Valdir had already heard enough to satisfy his curiosity, and seeing how serious the situation is he need not waste any more time. He listens carefully the words of Baradil. "Worry not Baradil, I will do as you told. "His tone falls intently as if not allowing anyone near to catch any of his talk, "and you should get some rest", he says it hesitating, then he scans the area briefly and runs to complete his appointed task.