A wet, bedraggled jackdaw appeared on the sill of the window, shaking its feathers and scattering raindrops over the room like a wet hunting hound. Holly held her hand over her face to avoid the spray.
The black and white bird hopped to the floor and said, "Draw the drapes." When the view was blocked, she immediately changed back to woman form and started to wring out her damp skirt.
"What took you so long? I could have caught my death out there! You and that halfling groom seemed to have had yourself a fine evening, though. Is that mulled wine?" Bird walked over and scooped up the cup, while rummaging through her pack for some dry clothes.
After changing into a rough linsy-woolen robe and hanging her damp things by the fire, Bird settled with a sigh into the other chair. "Well, I thank you again for putting me up, Holly. Though that innkeeper had better not catch on! It's been an interesting day, hasn't it? 'Interesting' as in the old Haradian curse. So, tell me the news. What has brought these Rangers to our small patch of Middle-Earth, and what is that Wizard up to?"
[ August 15, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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