[Nerindel]

Amandur

Hanasían and Amandur had gotten very little sleep that night and as the sun shone through the now open window, Amandur turned to Hanasían telling him that he was going to tack his horse, he also suggested that they plan their next move regarding Naiore. Lifting his tack he made his way down stairs, on reaching the common room he lifted two red shiny apples that sat in a bowl on the end of the bar. He had just bitten into the first one, when Maethor strode into the inn.

"Where's Hanasían?" he asked Amandur earnestly, stunned and his mouth still full of apple he just indicated up stairs.

"A horse is missing from the stables. A women's delicate footprint is beside the marks of the horse." Maethor continued as he made for the stairs, but Amandur did not follow him he went straight to the stables, to his relief Kalloruvi was still in his stall, he gave the charger the second apple, hung his tack over the stall door and looked about for the empty stall.

Kneeing down he examined the light foot prints, yes! Maethor was right a gelding by the looks of the hoof prints, had been removed by an elven woman, but not Vanwe!, he thought looking out towards the trees. As he looked out he saw Rauthain enter the stable.

"What is it he whispered crouching beside him to have a look. "A horse was taken from this stall during the night or early hours, by an elven female!" he told Rauthain tracing one particular print.

"hmm, This may be nothing, but I was awoken by the sound of an early traveller leading a horse through the tall grass of the dell." Rauthain told him.

"Hmm... maybe," Amandur sighed looking back to the elf print.

"It may only be Vanwe's foot print, she works in the stables." He heard Hanasían tell Maethor as they entered the stable.

"It's not Vanwe's!" Amandur said lifting his head to regard the other two. "Look!" he said indicating the only full foot print, "an elven woman's boot made this print!" Amandur told them, but seeing their confusion he went on, "Vanwe's boots are not elven, nor are they a woman's I'll wager."

"Here!" He said moving over to the loft ladder, "this I would say are Vanwe's prints, still light but larger and with a different tread."

As he waited for them to respond, he wondered why she had only stole a gelding with so many stronger mounts in the stable, She hasn't got what she came for yet he reminded himself, They would have to be ready.