[littlemanpoet]

"What is your name?" Thoronmir asked.

"I am called Furman Hunter."

"You speak of a secret way. Why should we trust you?"

"I will tell you my story. Do with it what you will. I used to live outside of Bree. I was on one of my hunts when I struck upon these others. We got to talking, this was before the Master had started his thing, and they said they'd heard there was good wages to be guards for a lordling up in the Hills. I took up with them. We guarded and what not, but year by year the things we were to do got worse and worse and I never liked it, but there was no way out or be killed, so I made sure to survive. That's my crime. And now you have come and I am freed of my service, no matter what you decide to do with me. I have no love for the Master or his ways. If I can help you to find a way to bring back your friend, and we all come out alive, I will say good-bye to all the wages and return to my simple life of hunting."

Falco spoke up. "I trust him no more than I do this Master he speaks of."

Falowik held his peace. He felt that Falco had a point, but it might be the best or only way they might find. And with Eodwine captured, this lancing was probably in his future. They were running out of time.

"Nevertheless," said Thoronmir, "this Furman will serve as our captive scout and we shall see if things are as he claims. Tell us about this secret way, first."

Furman told them the way, which had to do with tunnels for waste that went unguarded.

Falco wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Would that we had a ring of invisibility without a cursed Dark Lord the other side of it," he mumbled.

"We shall leave at dawn," said Thoronmir.