There were more than a half dozen riderless horses wandering around over the heath. It occurred to Falowik that given time and nothing better to do, they would wander back to the camp from which they had come. That would not do. They had saved one mount for their captive. Falowik suggested to Thoronmir that it would be wise to corral the rest of the horses and some one or two of their number bring them back to Bree, as well as their captive; upon arrival in Bree, the captive could be questioned at length, the returning member of their party could make a report, and reinforcements could be sent.
Uien wanted to go to Fornost before that was done. She felt that it was urgent for the Elves among them to understand what the stones were saying, and for all of them to seek out evidence among the ruins for any sign of the ruffians and their allies or superiors.
Falco gave out that the stones talking was so much claptrap, and that of course they must search out Fornost, which made sense, and though he mistrusted the Wanderer's reasons, he agreed that rounding up the horses made sense. He also said that in his opinion the Wanderer should be one of those who went back to Bree. Falowik refused.
Thoronmir, having listened to their arguments, made his decisions. They would first round up as many horses as they could, then go to Fornost and search through the ruins for signs of occupation, and then the decision would be made as to who would return with the horses and their captive to Bree, and they would separate at the break of the following dawn; but only after the captive was vigorously questioned.
If any of the party had objections, they were not given voice.
They broke camp and hunted down the wandering riderless mounts; it took longer than they thought it would, and some ran away north that Falco pointed out might have stayed around if they hadn't been chased; and Falco further suggested that that must have been in Falowik's mind to do by way of warning his nefarious comrade brigands. Falowik glowered at Falco but gave no answer. In the end, they captured five mounts and the rest got away.
It was past noon when they made for Fornost. Uien and the other Elves grew more apprehensive the closer they came to the ruins. Falowik did not know what they felt, but he vividly recalled how it had affected Uien when she had been weakened by her wound. He was convinced that some Elvish gift, or curse, made it possible for her to perceive things in the very stones that bespoke of what had passed. It was what the Elven ladies were saying, and he saw no reason to doubt them.
They passed the first broken down walls, their mounts striding down a main road into the depths of the ruins. It was a gray, dark, and dank place. Deadmen's Dike, it was called by Breefolk. An evil place. Now they knew it was an outpost of brigands. Falowik believed that they were not mere brigands, though. They had a Master who used the blood of others for some dire purpose. It could not be good.
Thoronmir led them in. Uien and the other Elves moved now in trance like states, some of them more lost to normality than others. Falowik stayed close to Uien for fear she might run among the stones in a fever and do harm to herself. Lumiel seemed least affected by it of the Elves, but still seemed as one possessed by whatever sense. Meanwhile, Finéwen, the only female human among them, glanced from side to side, serious of face, but as unaffected by whatever the Elves felt as Falco. Lira seemed to shy away from the stones, her hand involuntarily coming to her wound, as if shielding it from the stones. Eswen seemed nettled by the place, as if she fought with something or someone the rest of them could not see. Anson and Gorby rode side by side, looking left and right, their faces written with unease. Falco took up the rear. His sword was drawn.
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