Chapter 53

Bridges

~o~

After the army of the dead spell, Nag Kath pushed on for several days but decided he needed one more good night's sleep and counted himself fortunate to find a farmer offering a bed, a fine dinner and good company at his family table. The community was really an extended family with fertile ground on the western bank of the Morthond River just north of a strong tributary pouring in from the foothills.

He woke refreshed and was talking with his host while he saddled Eliesse when one of the farmer's many nephews called from the river's edge, "Uncle, we found another."

The man seemed perplexed and wandered towards the water with Nag Kath leading his horse behind. Stabbed into the bank was a stout, squared beam of hardwood. It was old and still floated so it had not been wet long. The Elf wasn't much interested until he got a whiff. It was not so much what the beam was for but who had used it. It smelled of troll.

He called down to another nephew, "What have you got there, young man?"

The farmer, not yet twenty, shouted, "Floods upriver must have swept this away. If we can get a rope on it, someone will want it."

The Elf was about to mention it reeked of the rankest creatures ever to live in Middle-earth when he remembered that men don't seem to notice so much. The two young fellows left to organize the rest of the family along with a pair of mules to haul it up the bank. Nag Kath turned to his host and wondered, "Just curious. What is up that river?"

The farmer, long past hauling beams, replied, "It is farms all the way up to the mountains and a fair-sized town as the valley ends. Most of our trade here is supplies for them."

The curious traveler said, "I would think that ground too rugged for farming."

The host uncle thought about that a moment, "So it seems from here, but after the rise it flattens-out. It is a half-day's ride up that canyon before the mountains. They trade carvings and metalwork in exchange. What I can't figure is; there aren't any buildings yonder of the scale for this timber."

~o~

The guest forded the tributary and then took an unexpected detour up the river seeing fertile ground with any manner of crops as the valley narrowed. By late afternoon the river was joined by a vigorous stream from the left. The better road went that way too. Figuring the beam hadn't come from that direction, Nag Kath took what quickly became a goat trail along the main flow as it poured down from peaks over the horizon. This was not good footing for Eliesse so he hobbled her near the last patch of grass and took the small pack with food and troll-hunting supplies.

Trolls are not the sharpest knives in the drawer but they are very good at hiding their lairs. Shelter has to be big enough to fit them with a large entrance but not exposed to southern sun. Sometimes they appropriated old Dwarf mines with bolstering like that beam to hold loose ceilings. Nag Kath had been hiking a couple bells when he saw one of the mountain faces had collapsed just like above the beast pool. That would be treacherous footing so he swung wider to the west to approach where the sunless entrance would have been.

That took another couple hours and was nearing dark so he made a fireless camp and nibbled on Lembas, waiting for dawn. When it came he craned his neck near the northern edge of the slide and saw part of a hard-rock cave that had not collapsed with the softer soil. Footing was fair and he was able to enter the hole. What had been the back of the lair was now the front but it was still protected from the rain, if not sun. A quick look around showed their weapons, captured weapons of men, a small coin box with nippers and silvers and the usual bones and filth of the breed. Under a layer of dust was a box with an inch of papers in yet another language he did not recognize. He would put it with his other unreadable documents.

A closer look showed there were men's tools, ancient armor and quite a few odds and ends that folk might have use for. Nag Kath didn't so he put the paper-box in his pack and went back down to Eliesse in time to catch a fat trout.

~o~

On the way out the next morning, his plan was to tell the folk in the town about the hoard and let them benefit from things that had been stolen from their ancestors so long ago. Turning up the better road there was a sign post with two arrows. One was carved 'Tulan Nimrais 2 miles' pointing on one side of a bridge over the gorge and the other arrow said the exact same thing pointing to a road across the river. It was all the same to him so he stayed on the first road and made the town half a bell later. It might have four hundred people, larger than he was expecting. Arable land continued into the foothills further than was visible from the crossing. Looking for an inn, the road took him nearer the river gorge where there was a like-sized town on the other side. Between them was a deep chasm and bridge footings that had collapsed well before the ring war.

A woman filling buckets from the rivulet told him there was lodging a hundred paces further up the hill. It wouldn't qualify as an inn most places but there was a wing on one of the more prosperous homes that had rooms to let, including dinner. Guests were scarce. A lethargic young man was sitting in front eating his lunch when Nag Kath tied the horse to a post. The fellow said his mother handled that and she was shopping. With two dozen stores on this side of the river, that couldn't take long so Nag Kath walked over to the gorge. It was deep in a rock lined bed about sixty feet across. Having seen enough rivers, he walked back and sat in the chair the indolent fellow vacated.

A quarter of a bell later, what could only be the mother walked up with her basket and said, "Who are you?"

"I am Nag Kath. Someone told me you have rooms to let."

"Oh, good." She tried to open the door with one hand until the polite renter managed the latch and took her basket. She asked him to place it by the basin and said, "Ten groats a night, includes dinner, two groats extra for meat."

He responded, "That seems fair. Tell me, why does the town across the chasm have the same name."

She walked him back to a small but clean room before saying, "Used to be the same town until the bridge collapsed. They won't fix it."

He thought a moment and said, "Why don't you both fix it?"

Without looking up she said, "Dinner will be ready two hours before sunset."

~o~

So much for the plan to tell the town about their patrimony. If he told one, the other would miss. If he told them both, they would fight about it. Nag Kath had all the armor and farm implements he needed. As always, the answer would be in a tavern.

After an edible meal with the woman, her farmer husband and their sullen son, Nag Kath walked to where the farmer said was the best tavern in Tulan Nimrais. There was no discussion of that being this Tulan Nimrais. Either he was the guest of the evening or the business would come later. By what would have been the next bell, eighteen or so men had gathered to share a local red ale and discuss events of interest. Elf ears heard the usual banter but never a word about the people on the other side.

He had the woman hold his room for several more nights and rode to the lower bridge. From there he came up the other side of the gorge to Tulan Nimrais, the easterly, and saw much the same thing. The town was a little bigger with farms drifting in from their side of the valley. This place did have an inn and a tavern with the same sort of stories by the same sort of men.

He got the same answers why there were two towns with the same name. Wasn't it plain as the nose on his face? The other side had not repaired the bridge! Other than that they didn't seem too mad so Nag Kath announced his purpose; "Sirs, I am to deliver a message to the town of Tulan Nimrais."

Stating the obvious, a man said, "You can tell the council tomorrow evening."

"But what of the other side of the river?"

"What of them?"

"My message is for everyone."

The fellow seemed to be serious about helping but admitted, "I don't know what to tell you."

~o~

The next evening, an irritated Elf walked into the small town council room packed with about a hundred citizens who wanted to know if Mr. Eaphel intended to fence his cow out of the community garden. Nag Kath listened to well-reasoned arguments why the community shouldn't have to put up a fence since only the neighbors would benefit. Without coming to any decisions, the high alderman said, "Is there any new business to bring before the council?"

Nag Kath stood and said, "There is, sir. I am charged to deliver a message to the town of Tulan Nimrais but cannot because there are two of them."

An alderman who had not enjoyed the cow discussion said, "Tell us now and let us be done with this tedious meeting!"

"I will not, sir. This must be delivered to all people of both Tulan Nimrais."

The high alderman, also a bit weary from protecting cucumbers from the old malcontent said, "Can you at least tell us what this is about?"

"I can sir. I found a small trove of treasure nearby and feel it belongs to the citizens of the greater community."

The anxious alderman said, "Well, just tell us, or are you a scoundrel seeking to part us with our coppers?"

"I will not tell just you and there is considerably more than a few coppers. I kept some documents for myself but you will find money, armor, swords, farm supplies and other things stolen from these lands by trolls long ago. I would see them restored, but only if I am not vexed.

The man said, "See, my friends, he thinks to win our confidence with no proof of his claims!"

Nag Kath strode to the long table with the three town elders. At his height and countenance, he was intimidating indeed. Rather than thrashing the alderman, he took a nipper out of his pocket and laid it on their table saying, "There is more than this. Tomorrow night I will make the same offer on the west side of the chasm. The morning after that, those who are interested in representing your community will attend me at the lower bridge where I will reveal my intentions.

"Good evening!"

~o~

The next day he want back to the first side and told a likelier lad in the town that he had an announcement to make that evening after dinner and that those of Tulan Nimrais who were interested in their own and their town's betterment should listen. It was a pleasant night with little else to do so about fifty people came. Nag Kath told them the same thing, that there was a troll hoard that he had discovered and wanted to return it to the people of this valley. He gave a nipper to the Nimrais council in good faith and said he would see them tomorrow at the bridge.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Twelve men and four women walked the road to the crossing and were greeted by twenty in the clearing by the bridge. A man who was already there said, "This had better be good." Rumblings from both contingents agreed.

Nag Kath stood where all could hear and said, "Very well. I found a troll cave nearby that had a worthwhile cache of gold, silver, armaments and tools. There might be more. I don't know and I don't care. These things were probably looted from your kin a thousand years ago. I would see you have them, but the benefits must be shared with all of the residents of Tulan Nimrais, both of them."

A woman's voice shouted, "What is in this for you?"

"Nothing."

Another cried, "Then why do you do this?"

"The goodness of my heart."

The first woman shouted again, "Is this trove nearer the west or east side of the river?"

Nag Kath answered, "The East."

The eastern group then agreed it was theirs and the west bank had no claim.

The Elf had enough. Those things had sat there for centuries and they could sit there until the ending of the world. He hopped down and untied Eliesse from a limb. Nag Kath was two miles closer to leaving here than he had been this morning which was the only satisfaction he would get.

A more reasonable voice called, "Then none are to benefit?"

"You don't deserve it."

A woman in poor cloth who had walked down the hill with her young son said to the crowd, "Then I am sorry for all. My husband did not have the time in life to provide for us. He would have helped"

In his Elf-Lord voice, Nag Kath asked, "What would it cost to rebuild that bridge?"

"About half of the throng said, "What does it matter, the east will not pay." The other half said that of the west.

The perplexed Elf asked, "Why do you not both pay? It is no great span."

A very old man, who had trouble walking here and expected more going back, said, "Long, long ago, two brothers founded the town. They went from loving to hating each other. One lived on one side. One lived on the other. When a great storm destroyed the bridge, neither of them would put a blackened copper to its restoration lest it bring them one foot closer to their fury."

The Elf thought that if his reason for being here was to sweeten the fetid dirt that grew dark lords, he would start this morning. Slowly and softly he said, "Then you will have to earn it. I will pay you good wages to rebuild your bridge. Some folk may labor. Others can cook or give lodgings or do small errands. Everyone must help, according to their ability, to share in the hoard, unless you must tend your farms or care for others. Cause trouble or interfere and you get none."

A man in the back cried, "How do we know you will pay?"

"I have given each council a nipper and will replenish that at need."

A young man in the front said more softly, "What wages do you pay, Mr. Kath?"

The Elf thought a moment and said, "I am not sure, but if we agree this is a worthy labor, I will decide that walking back up the hill." To the groups, "What say you to this?"

A man off to the side of the eastern town said, "I am of our council. We will consider your offer." A murmur among the western side became agreement.

Another man standing next to his son on the eastern side of the throng asked, "What would you have us do?"

The Elf admitted, "I have not given that enough thought either. We will start with felling and limbing trees on the western side. I will come to your side tomorrow and speak with the council, if they will have me."

Nag Kath let the old man ride Eliesse up the hill and spoke with the western folk who mostly seemed to think this was a good idea. Of course, they were the few who came. The ones who didn't were another matter.

Horse stabled, he sat by the old bridge footings with his sketch pad. The site was still fine for a new bridge with solid rock on both cliffs. The eastern side was a bit lower. This did not have to be elegant. Two tall, straight trees from the edge of the valley would easily span the gap, though dragging them the quarter mile to the river would be hard. Getting them across the chasm would be even harder. It should be hard. Folk from both sides would have to put their backs into it.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

If this was a miniature version of the aqueduct, he needed similar helpers on both sides.

The Elf requested and was granted a council meeting that evening. Tulan Nimrais was in an uproar. Some were enthusiastic. Some were enraged. Others thought it a waste of time and more than a few wondered how to get paid for not working.

The head alder rang the bell and said, "There is only one thing for our consideration this evening. A Mr. Kath wants to make a proposal to us that he will share in a troll hoard that only he knows on the condition that we help rebuild the bridge across the river. Would you care to explain, Mr. Kath. And I warn that he be given time to state his case. Afterwards we will discuss the merits. Mr. Kath, please proceed."

"Thank you sir. I will pay wages for everyone who helps with this effort on both sides of the river. But I know that some have more ability and time than others. I will pay five groats a day for labor or portions thereof. Feeding and lodging others will pay the same. Children who run errands or help their parents get two. People who lend horses or mules will get another fiver. And I will pay the going rate for everything we need to purchase.

"If my proposal is accepted on both sides of the river, I would ask that the council be the paymaster. You already have a nipper on account and I will bolster that so there is no risk that folk do not get full value for honest work. If you agree, I will have more tidings on what needs to be done."

The head alder looked at his council and said, "Very well. Now we will ask questions and discuss this, and again, I caution all of you; these proceedings will be civil or bailiff Innagan will remove you from the hall. I will begin the questions. Mr. Kath, what is your purpose in this?"

"I would like to see the people of this region reclaim that which the trolls stole, but I want it fairly distributed and that it does not cause even greater turmoil between your divided banks. I am a bridge engineer and this is my best way of seeing that aim."

The head alder pointed his gavel at a stout fellow near the front of the room. He stood and said strongly, "I disapprove of your coming here and ordering us about. What right have you to disrupt our lives and business?"

The Elf said, "None, sir. If it is not the will of the council, here and across the river, I will leave you to your own devices. But my condition is that people must help however they can to share in the hoard."

The next man chosen stood and said, "I have a farm to run with workers and family. We will not have time like some folk."

"Then offer food and lodgings for folk who might need to come here. If you have beasts, they will be needed for hauling. Perhaps your family can lend ropes and tools. There are ways to help."

One of the other alders asked, "Not to put too fine a point on this, Mr. Kath, but what is the value of this troll hoard?"

"Based on what I saw, perhaps forty or fifty Florin. There could be more."

He continued, "And why did you not keep it for yourself?"

Nag Kath smiled and answered, "Because you need it more."

They wrangled for another bell with the camps divided between this being an opportunity or outside interference. Head alder Cruikshor finally tapped his gavel and said, "It is put to a vote. Those who favor Mr. Kath's offer will say 'Aye'. About two thirds of the room spoke. "All those opposed?" That was a vocal one third.

Cruikshor looked at his fellow councilmen and said, "The motion has passed. We are concluded."

~o~

The group filed out with smiles or scowls. Nag Kath sat holding his chin as the head alder walked up to say, "Well, you are in it now. I suppose you face the same conversation across the river."

The Elf looked up at him and said, "If I didn't, you would have already done this yourselves. Mr. Cruikshor, you seem a reasonable man. I will need someone here with gravity who can manage things. Who comes to mind in that role?"

The man nodded as he thought and replied, "He was here tonight. I'll will hear his mind and let you know."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

In the morning Nag Kath rode two miles downstream and two miles upstream hoping the eastern council here agreed to see him. He resolved that if one side agreed and the other didn't, the agreeable side would get the troll cache and there would be some measure of justice. Unfortunately, the widow and orphan were here. He was doing this for the widows and orphans of the world.

Citizens who came to the bridge had convinced the council to have a special meeting tonight. With extra time, he wandered to the bridge footing here, a stone's throw from where he sat the other day, and saw no impediments. It would be dangerous work. Men would need to be roped because if they fell, they would be dashed against the sides halfway to the lower bridge with no way to get out.

The layout was different here. The valley was half again wider to the tree-line defining the valley. They would get the job of sawing the cross-planks and rails. They would also have to erect a stout frame to put the beam-rope over so they could drag full timbers across the chasm and keep the end high enough to clear the cliff. Iron studs and brackets would be needed.

That was just to make the bridge. Someone should paint a nice sign. A celebration dinner needed organizing. A man on the west side should marry the widow to the east since she would have already been evaluated by bachelors where she lived. The east council worked a little different than the west. There were five alders with a town manager. The head alder was not disposed to having rich Gondorans meddling in their affairs and he said as much by opening with; "Hear, hear. Everyone find your seats and come to order. We are met because Mr. Kath wants us to build a bridge against the brothers' rift. Pray, sir, make your case."

The Elf rose and said, "Thank you and the people of Tulan Nimrais for your ears. I have …" It was the same thing he said four hundred paces away the night before. Grumblers did not wait to voice their disapproval. The head alder said, "We will hear your thoughts and any questions you have for Mr. Kath."

Two dozen people stood and shouted over each other until one of the counselors whistled loudly. Then the high alder said, "Mr. Reagald, you have the floor."

Reagald fair spat, "I object most strenuously! Who is this silly man to come here and interfere in our affairs?! We don't need a bridge and his troll claim is certainly a fraud!"

Men and a few women rose and shook their fists in agreement. The head alder calmly said, "Mr. Bellemue, I believe you have something to say."

A portly shop owner rose to no great height and said, "I do not see the risk. He has already left gold in pledge. My concern is that his wages are better than mine and I lose good employees to care for our customers. Mr. Kath, how long will this take?"

The Elf said, "I should think about a month if people help."

Questions continued. It seemed the left side of the room was generally against the right side in any matter before the council and this was no different. They railed back and forth until the council finally had enough with another whistle. Head alder called, "We will see a division. Those in favor of Mr. Kath's proposal say 'Aye'. They said so. The 'Nay's' sounded about as loud.

The head Alder announced, "Then we will see a show of hands. Baliff, attend the counting. Those in favor raise your hand." That came to sixty three. They nays came to fifty eight after subtracting poor Mrs. Fehland who voted each way in confusion.

They had a deal. Like in the west, the council would see to payments. A large frame would be sunk on the cliff. More smiles and dirty looks were hurled at the tall, blonde man. The last to leave were the widow and her son. She said she would cook if people would give her the food.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The next morning, seven men and two mules reported to go back to the west and start working on the trees. Another six men were to fell trees on this side and start sawing eight-foot planks for the cross-boards. Those going west walked to the lower bridge and back up, most for the first time. That seemed strange because even walking it was only four miles and a lot of these people had to be related. They talked and one who was only sixteen looked forward to manly labor.

Easterners arrived to shy smiles and put the beasts to pasture. Two trees would have to be dragged across the land of a man who had strongly protested. He insisted that damages be paid for the vegetables and prize-winning pumpkins lost in this outrage. Nag Kath wanted to use as little magic as possible for his civics lesson. He could have just confused the old-timer and anyone else who got in the way but that defeated the purpose. He agreed to pay for men to put the ground right afterwards.

The eastern men and a like number from this side walked up to the tree-line. The Elf chose big, straight pines and had the men drop them pointing down the hill. Then they had to be limbed, which was much more work than just cutting them down. Pine limbs make poor rollers so half the men started felling saplings about six inches across to put under the poles for dragging. They would do one tree at a time.

Nag Kath removed his shirt, tied his hair in a ponytail and started froeing the first tree to create a flat surface to stay on the rollers. At first all the men were working with him but after a few minutes, they were looking at his ears. He smiled and kept at it. After a hard day's labor, east and west went into the town for the evening meal. Tables were placed in the small square and quite a few women and children brought food prepared for that evening. Someone managed a demi-cask as well.

With good light, Nag Kath walked to the chasm and looked across at the progress on the frame. It seemed to be going well. While he was standing there, Alder Cruikshor strolled down with the sort of fellow you want in a scrap. He was introduced as Quenthorn and had been in the Arnor army twenty two years until his wife wanted to return to her parents here. The sergeant had not found steady work. He was perfect.

Nag Kath told him what had to happen on this side of the river. The man said little but didn't miss a word. The plan was to prepare those two beams to span the gorge, anchor them on both sides and then plank it across with rail posts every six feet to keep folk from unplanned swims. Like every man in Aragorn's army, he had built roads and structures everywhere he went. His main job would be getting the wood across a quarter mile of field. It was too bumpy and with not enough grade to just roll them down. A path would have to be smoothed wide enough for the roller-logs, including through the middle of Mr. Eiches pumpkin patch.

As they were rising to go inside, Quenthorn said, "Kath, eh?"

The Elf looked at the tall man, "That's right."

Quenthorn just nodded.

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

The Arnoran spent most of the first few days supervising the men froeing the trees. They made more froes from pick-axes and sharpened them often. Quenthorn showed the men how to pull a taught line and mark the high-spots. Only one surface was flattened but they would have to square notches the sides every so often for the guard-rail posts.

Satisfied that was going well, Nag Kath rode to the east side to see about the planks. They had a saw pit that needed to be dug deeper. That was a miserable job so no one was to work too long or too hard. The Elf made sure the paymasters were generous too. For the first time in many of their lives, women were given cash money for taking meals to the workers. Some husbands resented the small bit of independence that brought.

The big frame was done. It had large log rounds sunk six feet into the rocky soil fifteen feet back from the edge of the gorge with a stout, stout log mounted a foot from the tops. Mules and men would have to pull the tree boles across the gorge and keep the leading tip high enough to clear the bank so ropes over the beam would lift as well as pull. A post as large was anchored on the west bank. Nag Kath shot an arrow with a string attached over the span and a stout rope was stretched taught between them. He could have just used a bringing spell but this was to be a magic-less project. A bucket on a string to either side was handy for exchanging measurements and iron bits. Men who had never spent a night away from their sweethearts sent notes too private to shout across the raging river.

Two days later, the first tree was flattened on one side and ready to slide down the meadow. Men here had dug and filled the dirt for a smooth narrow road after fighting with ornery rocks. The risk here was that once it got going, the tree could slide too fast and make a mess below, hurting men and mules. With makeshift roller-jacks, men put the first tree in position with the flat side down and had the mules drag it over the roller logs very carefully. The road wasn't all that smooth so the rollers got stuck more often than rolling too fast, but they managed to get it to the river in one day. Having to stop to put past rollers in front gave the mules a chance to taste the glowering Mr. Eiche's garden.

Quenthorn took Eliesse to the east side the following day to look at the pit saw and that the planks were sound. They only had one saw and weren't sharpening it often enough so the one on the west side was pulled across on the rope that people were starting to call the Nimrais Ferry.

~o~

One complication was that people were paid in groats and old moneybags Kath only had higher denominations. Exchanging them should have been simple except the transactions would let others know how much money someone had stashed in their home. One sharp fellow suggested the Elf offer silvers for only thirty-six groats and see who took the deal. They were lined out the door the next day.

The second tree came down two days later. Mr. Eiche's garden was completely destroyed with men, mules and trees being dragged through. Planks on the east side were progressing and they were starting to cut rails and rail posts with the scraps. At only sixty feet across plus the ramps, they didn't need that many. This was really no more than a barn-raising if these querulous people would talk to each other. Nag Kath had western men chisel some of the rock away from both sides so the trees would be about level.

Now the hard and dangerous part started. Eastern men and mules along with some from the west went down and back to the eastern town. Three stout ropes were tied to the end of the first tree and thrown over the top of the cross bar on the frame. Two ropes were tied to two mule teams with men helping to pull. The third rope was looped several times around the beam and constantly cinched tight against the log falling into the gorge and taking the mules with it. It was easy at first as the beam rolled with the logs falling into the water. About halfway across, the mules started taking more of the strain. Dozens of eastern townsmen were there to pull as well. It was slow going but they got the tip across. It was still a foot too low so one of the planks was slipped under the end, braced by a log and several of the heftier lads stood on the other end to pry it up enough for the mules to drag it five feet clear.

A huge cheer went up on both sides. One beam a day was about as much as anyone wanted to try so an early day was called with an open dinner served on both sides. They did it again the next day so both beams were in place. Men dug and filled foundations with stones under the ends to get them level with the ground and away from rotting in the soil. Eastern and western men worked with each other bringing planks on the east side up in wagons now that they had their mules back.

Nag Kath insisted that workers laying the planks have ropes around their chests that were tied to the beams. Planks were laid across and secured with spikes. Every six feet they used a shorter plank and chiseled a flat on the beam side to attach a rail post. Smiths wrought spikes for several days and they still needed more along with augers for the starter holes. With all the planks coming from the eastern forest; they could only be laid from that side.

Laborers were skeptical of the ropes until the lead man turned and got a plank in the mouth. Falling six feet took the wind out of him after the rope pulled taught but he was hauled up safely after only losing two teeth. Another man broke his arm limbing, but those were the most serious injuries on what could have been a dangerous job. It helped that Nag Kath did not push. Full-time was less than that and he had Project Manager Quenthorn give them breaks with lots of ladies bringing baskets of more food than they usually ate.

~o~

Twenty four days after the eastern men showed up with their mules, the bridge was complete. A not-so-secret celebration was planned on the eastern side since they had a larger market square but people brought food from both sides. Several folk could not bring themselves to cross the frightening river even though they watched their friends walk over unconcerned. Extra rails were added when children hung from the posts looking down.

The aldermen from each side sat at the same table. It happened that two of them were cousins who had never met. Dinner was too much and a few casks of ale held in reserve by agents of the blonde Elf were tapped. Leaders made speeches. Young people were bashful. A generally good time was had by about three quarters of the combined citizens. The other quarter sulked. This was not how it was to be! Who knew who those easterners/westerners were? Once Enoches was paid in full for his garden, he seemed rather pleased. But then, he was fond of ale.

~o~

It was time for one more speech. Nag Kath stood on a table to be heard by about three hundred people and said, "Thank you for your cares. Who here thinks we have done good work?"

That got raucous cheers and hoots of approval.

"Now it is time for me to deliver on my other promise. We have a little more work to do to make this bridge safe, but two days hence I will need a party of six riders and a wagon from the west to ride over the bridge at first light and join a like number from the east. Then I will take you to the trove.

"Drink-up and enjoy yourselves! You have earned it."

~o~

~o~o~o~

~o~

Maids milked the cows the next day but no one else was up bright and early. It was a Hobbit-like party with Hobbit-like results. Some of the western folk straggled back after breakfast time with straw in their hair. Quenthorn could hold his liquor and met Nag Kath at the bridge to discuss extending the wagon ramps for less of a jolt. They sat in the grass alongside and looked at the work. There would be no Dunlending statue but the Elf was proud. East and west still had to find their way. He had done that sort of work in the wider world.

Sure enough, the next morning half a dozen riders, some of whom looked like they hadn't been on their horse in years, clopped across the bridge with a one-mule wagon. They met their new neighbors and all rode past the lower bridge. Turning up the main flow was unusual for them. No one lived up there and those who had ever left either Tulan Nimrais had only turned right down to the Mithlond. With the mule wagon it took two hours until they had to travel on foot. One of the more 'experienced' riders stayed with the horses and wagons.

Step by step, Nag Kath took them around the back of the slide and along the broken trail into the cave. They brought torches to show money and swords and poked around for things he didn't see the first time. There weren't any hidden doors. This was a Dwarf mine at one point but they hadn't dug very deep.

One man found a silver Elvish box with nothing in it. East and west agreed that the heavier implements could stay here if anyone wanted to drag them home later and divvied the money, armor and swords to carry back to the wagons. Items were split evenly and they were home by dark. Altogether, the cash came to thirty-one Florin. Nag Kath spent three of his. The swords and armor weren't worth much but they had belonged to fighters back in the day when that mattered.

Quenthorn hadn't been among the salvagers. He sat with the Elf in their grassy spot as the sun set behind them and looked at the spray rising from the rapids. The soldier had proven himself a capable man. His prospects were good. Nag Kath gave him a nipper for services rendered; the making of a man if he applied it well.

As Nag Kath rose to find his room, the Arnoran said, "New troopers get burial detail. Bones all look the same. I am glad they weren't yours."

Nag Kath smiled as he nodded and walked back into town.

~o~

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