(Day 13) Dar and Thorin were heading for the Last Bridge with the intention of travelling from there to Bree. Thorin helped Dar on with his armour just in case the reception at the bridge was less then friendly. On approaching the camp next to the bridge several groups of men could be seen. A man named Tarang stepped forward and challenged the two travellers. On learning that they were the party sent forth to map the north he asked them to stay around for a while for questioning. He also agreed to give them food which was a welcome relief.

Tarang then question Dar about the travels of the party. Dar did not mention the castle and also said nothing about Jade. Tarang demanded details as to what route the group had taken, he seemed suspicious that Dar claimed to encountered no man made structures. He also wanted to know if the group had met Jade one of his men. Dar and Eonan killed Jade about a week previously so Dar led and said he had never met Jade. Dar also exaggerated stories about the number of orcs in the area in an attempt to explain what happened to Jade.

Another man approached the party, all recognised him as the man who had been in charge of the bridge last time. Jonus wanted to ask the party more about Jade. He referred to Jade as a close personnel friend, he seemed to accept the party's story. However he asked them to remain in the camp until the morning when a recorder would arrive to write down the details of all that had occurred. Dar and Thorin settled in to wait, they noticed that the men in the camp seemed to be about fifty percent hirelings and the other half seemed to be dedicated followers of this Lord Fardwith. There was also a Beorning working for the Bridge guards by the name of Lars. He asked us if we had met Ulric, we informed him that Ulric had been killed in a wolf attack. He seemed to regret not having killed Ulric himself. He told us that Ulric and his brother Bors were thieves and murders and he had been sent to track them down. We told him all we knew of Ulric and informed him that we had never met Bors.

In the morning Dar awoke to see an extremely elderly women leaning over him, the sun was behind her and there seemed to be a strange light in her eyes. Dar startled sprang up and away from her. The women was extremely wizened and ancient, Dar quickly realised that this recorder clearly could do more then just right down events. Dar started to get very nervous, he was in a camp of armed men and was about to be questioned by a witch about the murder of the commanders friend. Up shit creek, no paddle. The crone demanded that one of the guards carry her to a tree trunk were she could sit, the poor bastard was forced to oblige. Dar was made sit close to her, she then began to question him about Jade. When he attempted to say that he had never met Jade, for some reason the opposite slipped out. Realising he was completely snagged Dar told the entire story. He was then led away and Thorin was brought forward for questioning. Apparently Dwarves are quite resistant as he let nothing slip.

A short while later Jonus stepped forward clearly quite angry. He demanded to know which of the stories the party had told was true. Dar decided that it was definitely time for the truth and told Jonus everything. Jonus was furious, he however decided to just run the party out of the camp, with instructions never to pass that way again. Dar and Thorin set out for Bree fearing that at any instance they would be peppered with arrows. They reached Bree three days later. Dar paid for three nights at the Prancing Pony and lent Thorin a 10 silver so he could buy supplies. Then all settled in for a few days of rest and good food.

It was decided that the party would try to regain their lost gear. However with the Last Bridge being closed to them, this would require travelling up the Mitheithel until it became narrow enough to cross. This decided each member of the group purchased what supplies and weapons they could and also about 3 weeks worth of food. Loaded down the group set out to head back towards the Mitheithel. A day and a half along the road they met Lars. He had left the employ of the Bridge Guards and was heading for Bree to see if there was news of Bors. Dar told him that Bors was not in Bree, Lars asked where the party were heading and expressed an interest in heading north with the group. After making him swear that he was no longer working for the Bridge Guards Dar told Lars about the Castle in the forest. Lars reckoned Bors might be hiding out there so joined the party.