In the center of the city there was a small inn called Red Roof, and since they had a stable and the price was quite cheap, we decided to spend the night there. There were few inns in Annúminas, as few travelers used to pass by, and it was not an important point for the Company. For this reason, The Red Roof used to be full of drunks and homeless men, who visited the inn to ease their sorrows, and gossip with each other.
They left the oxen in the stable, where the servants took care of them. Left the cargo sheltered, chaining the powder kegs and cutting off their handles. Then, we went inside the tavern, where a group of musicians with drums and lute entertained the evening. They found a table near the fireplace, next to a couple of drunks who were already asking for their sixth round.
A young girl approached us, saying:
"Do you want to order something? We have beer, wine, cider, cakes, creams, stew, and house soup, which would be excellent for this cold."
"Bring me a beer, and two plates of stew for father and me, pretty lady" said Núrin, who was trying to flirt with the waitress.
She made a face of disgust and turned to the kitchen.
Atanamir was tired, much more than young Núrin, so he only wanted to put something in his stomach before going to sleep. He turned his gaze and saw how the two men at the next table got up, leaving the inn. A few moments later, a gloomy figure entered the tavern, looking for a table. The young woman who had attended them placed him in the newly vacated site. He took a seat and took off the hood he was wearing. His coat had silver buttons, and the shoes were of pure leather. From his features, he appeared to be a man from the South, perhaps from the Belfalas provinces, but his tone of voice as he spoke removed that prejudice.
"Please bring me a glass of water, and two pints of cider," he said, addressing the innkeeper. He took the order and passed it on to one of his servants.
This man's voice was unlike any other that could be found in the Reunited Kingdom. It was different both in melody and in the lexicon; it was sweet to the ear but still deep and heartbreaking. He sounded like a grown man, but not an old man, who had not lost the fire of youth, and who was eager to embark on adventures. A short time later, Atanamir and his son would find the root and explanation of that voice.
Father and son finished their drinks and returned to the room to rest after a tiring day. The inn had two floors, both decorated with a two-burner fireplace. The rooms were not luxurious, but no less pleasant for that. Núrin lay down on the bed to sleep as soon as possible, while his father paused at the window, gazing at the stars, beautiful works of long-forgotten gods. Atanamir rejoiced thinking about it since from a very young age he had read the old tales of ancient days, those that related the origin of the stars, the Sun and the Moon, and of the same race of men. However, in those days much of the ancient lore had been lost in time, and only a few in the world still knew the old legends, and even among the elders of Men, there was talk of a race, twinned with their own. , of which it was not known for a long time. The Eldar had long since departed for the western kingdom, and no one remembered those days when Elves and Men lived, fought, and died together.
The next morning they both ate the very nourishing and substantial breakfast served at the inn, and they left to get the carriage and gunpowder ready and continue their journey. On the way out, they noticed that the mysterious man was also leaving the inn, and was riding a horse from the stable. He appeared to be a man of money, although he did not have a sword or jewels to denote any noble title, save a gold ring with gems that gleamed like a green star on a clear night.. Atanamir had still been somewhat disturbed by the voice he had heard the night before, so he decided to let the man leave, and they take the course east.
They had a slow and calm journey. Both crossed the Baranduin by its smaller channels, thus arriving almost at noon to Fornost, on the slopes of the northern ravines. Actually, Fornost was the old name of the city, and a large part of the people of the North no longer called their capital city that, preferring the common language name of Norburg. However, but it will be mostly omitted in this narrative, keeping the ancient legacy and calling the cities and places as they had been baptized in the Ancient Days.