When Igris entered the stable with quick steps, an unusual, gloomy atmosphere prevailed inside. Gilan and Ciri were conversing in hushed tones; upon seeing Igris, they raised their hands in greeting. Igris responded in kind and stepped beside them.
"Sorry about that, I had to speak with Gandalf on the way."
Gilan and Ciri nodded in understanding. As the three of them moved toward the stalls where the horses were kept, the source of the tense atmosphere inside became apparent. While the other horses stood calmly, Shadowmane had retreated to the farthest corner of his stall, staring at the blank wall as if holding a grudge against life itself. Dark clouds seemed to hover over him. Feeling a slight ache beginning to throb at his temples, Igris looked at his friend.
'Ugh... what is it this time!'
Since Gilan and Ciri had long accepted that Shadowmane was no ordinary horse—and in fact, sat at the very top of the 'abnormal horses' list—they quietly turned toward their own mounts. Igris, on the other hand, paused for a brief moment, took a deep breath, and approached his horse.
"What's wrong with you this time?"
Shadowmane slowly turned his neck and shot Igris a nasty glare. Then, turning back to the wall, he neighed grumpily.
Kihihi
'It's nothing...'
Igris rolled his eyes in exasperation and let out a weary sigh.
"Look, we need to move, there's a newly arrived group. If you're not going to come, just say so and I'll take Gandalf's horse."
Shadowmane remained motionless for a moment. He slightly turned his head to look at Ciri, who was preparing her saddle, then swiftly turned back to the wall. As he exhaled angrily, the hot steam puffing from his nostrils mingled with the cool morning air. Igris startled in slight surprise; faint smoke was rising even from between Shadowmane's coat. At that moment, he realized that his beloved friend wasn't throwing one of his usual dramatic tantrums, but was, on the contrary, seething with pure rage. The horse neighed in a cold and distant tone.
KKhhhhhh
'Igris, I'm not in the mood. Go without me this time.'
Igris waited in silence for a few seconds. Then, taking a step forward, he reached out and gently scratched his horse's back. Feeling the heat radiating against his hands, he made his decision.
"I understand... I won't ask the reason for your anger. You can tell me when you're ready."
Shadowmane didn't respond, only nodding his head slowly up and down. Accepting the situation, Igris sighed and walked toward where Gandalf's horse was kept. Watching this unfold, Gilan called out curiously.
"Aren't you going to take Shadowmane?"
Igris stopped in his tracks and turned to him.
"No... he's not really up for it, and I don't force him in these kinds of situations; he needs to calm down a bit. I'll take Gandalf's or Thorin's horse."
Gilan glanced at the small, stout horses Igris mentioned, and, recalling the dangers they had survived in recent days, asked hesitantly.
"Is that a good idea? After all, those ponies aren't warhorses."
Igris helplessly slumped his shoulders.
"I have no other choice."
Just as Gilan opened his mouth to say something, a deep neigh echoed from the other end of the stable, and an elegant white horse stepped slowly forward.
Khhhhh
'Hey, need some help, Igris?'
Seeing this familiar silhouette, Igris smiled faintly and stroked the muzzle of the approaching horse.
"It's been a long time, Bregoch."
Bregoch was the horse Galdor rode, and was considered one of Igris's trusted friends. The white horse looked at the black horse fuming to himself in the corner and neighed calmly.
Khhhh
'Looks like you're left without a mount. Why is that guy so angry?'
Igris shrugged, at a loss for words.
"If only I knew... but he's really furious right now. None of his usual dramatic attitudes or playful teasing. He's letting out faint steam."
Knowing the lineage of the Firemanes well, Bregoch assessed the situation and nodded slowly.
Hihihikhh
'Then you did the best thing by not riding him. When he's this angry, he won't be able to focus on combat, and any potential flame erupting from his body could burn you too.'
Knowing exactly what this meant, Igris agreed.
"I'm aware."
Watching this seamless communication between Igris and the white horse, Ciri and Gilan wore strange expressions on their faces. From their perspective, it was just a horse neighing, while Igris was answering as if chatting with a human. Ciri leaned in and whispered quietly to Gilan.
"Do you deal with this scene every day?"
Gilan paused for a brief moment, then nodded in an accepting manner.
"Yes... He even acts as a translator between us and our horses sometimes."
Ciri weighed what she heard in her mind for a second, then gave up and shrugged.
'Whatever, I've seen weirder things...'
At that moment, Bregoch neighed calmly, scraped his front hoof on the ground, and turned to Igris.
Khhkhhh
'Alright, hop on. I'll keep you company for today.'
Startled by this offer, Igris adopted a cautious stance.
"Are you sure? Won't Galdor get mad? Besides, you just got back from a long journey; you should rest a bit."
Bregoch neighed cheerfully, as if appreciating Igris's thoughtfulness.
Khaha
'Ah, don't worry so much, I'm the one offering. Galdor won't say a thing. Furthermore, I'm not tired at all; I didn't run at a high pace. So, hop on.'
Though Igris hesitated briefly, he finally accepted the offer, grabbing the saddle and beginning to prepare Bregoch. Observing this, Gilan couldn't hide his surprise.
"You're taking an elven horse?"
When Igris confirmed with a nod, Gilan continued to ask.
"Is that a good idea? Elves seem quite attached to their horses."
While carefully buckling the saddle straps onto Bregoch's back, Igris replied in an extremely relaxed manner.
"Normally yes, but this is a friend's horse. Since the horse himself offered, it's not a problem."
Satisfied with the answer he received, Gilan turned back to his own horse. Actually, he had considered offering his own horse, Blaze, to Igris, and taking his master Halt's horse, Abelard, for himself, but since the problem was solved, he didn't bring it up. The trio quickly saddled their horses and headed for the stable exit. Just before Igris stepped out the door, Shadowmane's voice was heard from inside.
'Thanks, Bregoch.'
Bregoch halted his steps, looked back, and nodded respectfully. Igris was genuinely curious about what his horse had taken such offense to, but chose not to press the issue. As the trio exited the stable and made their way toward Rivendell's main gate, elven guards on watch intercepted them. One of them looked directly at Igris.
"Excuse me, Mr. Igris, but the horse you are riding belongs to Lord Galdor. Did he give you permission for this?"
Igris pulled the reins slightly and stopped.
"No, I took him because my own horse, Shadowmane, is indisposed. The horse himself offered it to me."
The elven guards exchanged distrustful glances. It was obvious they didn't know how to react to this situation. Maintaining his cautious tone, the guard spoke.
"Then I cannot allow you to pass, Mr. Igris. We must inform Lord Galdor first."
Igris glanced at the sun from the corner of his eye; time was running short. Then he returned his attention to the elf.
"My friend, I'm not stealing the horse. Galdor is an old friend of mine, which is why the horse allowed me to ride him. Do you really think I could take and ride an elven horse so easily? Besides, my own horse comes from the lineage of the Firemanes; do you think I would prefer another horse?"
The elven guards were beginning to hesitate in the face of this logical explanation when Bregoch suddenly stepped forward and nudged the guard aside with his head. Losing his balance from this unexpected move, the guard stumbled. Igris scratched the back of his neck with an embarrassed expression.
"I didn't do that... anyway, you can inform Galdor. Tell him that 'Igris needed a horse because Shadowmane was in a bad mood, and Bregoch told him to take him.' He'll understand what happened; I'll be back in an hour or two."
As the trio rode off under the astonished gazes of the guards, the elves left behind turned to each other. One of them asked.
"What should we do?"
The guard who had been pushed recovered himself and replied.
"The Dark Knight is no petty thief, and if his horse truly belongs to the lineage he claims, he has no need for another horse. Furthermore, the horse gave him permission itself, so there's nothing we can do... still, let's inform Lord Galdor."
Having reached a decision, one of the elves continued standing guard, while the other headed for Elrond's house at a run. A few minutes later, reaching the large meeting room on the top floor, the guard asked for permission and entered. Galdor, Galadriel, Elrond, and Gandalf were gathered around the table, discussing rather serious matters. Seeing the guard enter, they all turned to him. Elrond asked calmly.
"Is there a problem?"
The guard bowed respectfully.
"No, my lord, I came to report a situation to Lord Galdor."
Galdor was surprised. He had only arrived in Rivendell an hour or two ago; unable to make sense of what kind of problem could have arisen concerning him, he looked at the guard.
"What is it?"
The guard quickly summarized what had happened and relayed the message Igris had left word for word. When Galdor understood the situation, a small smile spread across his face.
"It's not a problem. Igris wouldn't take Bregoch without his permission anyway. You may return to your duties."
As the guard saluted and left the room, Galdor turned back to those at the table. There was a curious expression on Elrond's face.
"Is the Dark Knight an acquaintance of yours?"
Galdor nodded in confirmation.
"He came to the Grey Havens to procure a ship from Master Cirdan during the Sacrifice Island incidents. We know each other from there."
At the mention of the name Sacrifice Island, a slight heaviness settled over the room as Elrond let out a deep sigh. At that moment, Gandalf chimed in, asking the question he was curious about.
"And how are things between Cirdan and Igris?"
Galdor paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"Not bad. Even though they are a bit combative, they are considered friends."
Galadriel raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Combative? Does Cirdan even know how to get angry?"
Galdor responded with a helpless but amused smile on his face.
"I'd call it Igris's special talent..."
Meanwhile, Igris and his companions had ridden swiftly and were now quite close to their target area. Igris gently pulled the reins, slowing Bregoch's pace to a walk. Looking at Gilan's horse, Blaze, walking beside him, he asked.
"Alright, Blaze. What happened to Shadowmane?"
Blaze slowed his steps. He walked in silence for a while, as if unsure how to begin. Then, he turned his head and gestured toward Snowball, the only mare walking with them.
Khkhkh
'Ask her.'
Igris turned his gaze to Snowball with curiosity, but the mare had her nose stuck up in the air and wasn't even looking in Igris's direction. Surprised by this attitude, Igris turned to Ciri. Ciri was equally bewildered and was asking a silent question with her eyes.
'Why are you looking at me?'
Giving up, Igris sighed and abandoned the attempt to communicate with Snowball. From the very first moment he saw the horse, he had noticed an arrogant attitude typical of nobles in her; therefore, he preferred not to force the issue and turned back to Blaze.
"What exactly happened?"
After a brief hesitation, Blaze neighed clearly.
'I don't want to drag this out. In short, Shadowmane's masculine pride was trampled and crushed beneath hooves.'
Right at that moment, Snowball's high-pitched, contemptuous neigh was heard.
'As if he had any pride to begin with.'
Blaze angrily turned his neck and shot the mare a nasty glare. Knowing his own horse's mischievous nature, Igris asked calmly.
"Blaze, I trust your judgment completely. Who's in the wrong?"
Blaze answered without even a second of thought.
'This stuck-up, arrogant mare.'
Startled by the insult she heard, Snowball turned to Blaze in anger. She was just about to retort when Blaze neighed in an incredibly calm, yet ice-cold tone.
'If you open that venomous mouth of yours, you'll suffer the consequences. I'm not as patient as Shadowmane.'
Blaze was a loyal Ranger horse who had entered many battles with Gilan, witnessing difficult situations and bloodshed. His height might have been a bit shorter than standard horses, but that was due to his breed difference, and no horse was foolish enough to underestimate him. Looking into Blaze's resolute and dangerous eyes, Snowball shivered slightly, lowered her neck, and fell into silence.
Feeling this tension, Ciri and Gilan looked at their horses, and then at Igris, who had caused this situation. Able to read his animal, Gilan asked curiously.
"Why did Blaze get so angry?"
Not knowing how to summarize the issue, Igris scratched the back of his neck.
"In short, Snowball said something to break Shadowmane's pride, and Blaze is pretty pissed about it, but he's not saying exactly what happened."
Taking a deep breath and dropping his shoulders, he added,
"Even the animal kingdom is complicated..."
Gilan didn't know what to say as he rode his horse. Even though he understood Blaze's general mood, it was difficult for him to fully grasp exactly what he was trying to convey. He couldn't help but inwardly envy this direct, conversation-based communication Igris had established with horses. At that moment, Ciri joined the conversation.
"So what exactly is Shadowmane mad at?"
Igris shrugged honestly.
"I don't know, Blaze isn't telling. Frankly, it's not that important, I just asked out of curiosity. If Shadowmane feels the need to explain it to me, I'll find out then."
As they continued along the forest path, muffled voices suddenly began to reach Igris's ears.
"I told you that you took the wrong path!"
"But honey, I remember us going this way..."
"Shut up! Don't talk back to me!"
Igris held the reins and looked around, but there was no one in his line of sight. The voices, however, were coming from quite close. The female voice continued to yell with uncontainable anger.
"Why didn't I listen to my father and look at the other candidates! At least I would have mated with someone who knows the way!"
The helpless male voice tried to retort.
"But-!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Grimacing as he wondered if there was something wrong with his ears, Igris turned to his friend beside him.
"Gilan, do you hear a voice?"
Gilan was surprised by the absurdity of the question. After straining his ears to the silence of the forest, he shook his head.
"No, just birdsong."
Igris tilted his head slightly to the side.
'Bird?'
When he focused his attention, he saw two small sparrows perched on a large rock by the side of the road. When he realized that the owners of the entire argument he had heard were these two tiny birds, his face took on an indescribable expression.
'... my skill has evolved...'
Noticing that blank expression on Igris's face, Gilan asked with concern.
"Is there a problem?"
Rubbing his temples and eyes with his fingers, Igris let out a long sigh.
"Nothing... it's just that my ability to understand animals has evolved."
He turned his gaze back to Gilan.
"Do you remember what I told you?"
Gilan instantly remembered and confirmed.
"Yes, your ability works through focus or by establishing a certain bond with the animals; you can understand horses because you've spent a long time with them."
Igris nodded in an accepting manner.
"Now, it seems those aren't needed anymore."
He pointed his index finger at the birds fluttering on the rock.
"Those birds are arguing among themselves; the female is blaming the male for getting the directions mixed up."
Gilan stared blankly at the tip of Igris's finger, then back at him.
"Are you showing off?"
Igris denied it earnestly.
"No. The problem is, I heard them talking just like you're talking to me right now—without focusing, without forming a bond, as if it were perfectly normal."
Stroking his chin, Gilan weighed this new development.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
Feeling the hum already forming inside his head, Igris muttered grumpily.
"I'm not sure..."
Watching their banter, Ciri interjected.
"You can figure that out later. How much further do we have to go?"
For a brief moment, Igris looked as if he was going to open the system map, but just then, two riders appeared further down the road, approaching them. One of the riders was tall, and the other was short.
"Not much. I think that's them."
Ciri and Gilan turned their attention to the approaching duo. As the distance closed, Gilan's eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly, he snapped the reins and spurred his horse forward rapidly. As Ciri and Igris looked at him without understanding what was happening, the shorter of the two approaching riders also shot forward at the same speed. The voice that tore through the silence of the forest reached both of their ears.
"GILAN!"
Immediately following this, Gilan's joyful shout echoed.
"WILL!"
Hearing the name, Igris was initially surprised, but then grasped the situation and smirked slightly.
"Understood... Halt might be sad he didn't come."
Tapping his heels, he drove Bregoch forward, and Ciri followed him without wasting any time. When the two Rangers met in the middle of the road, they quickly leaped off their horses and hugged each other tightly. Gilan stepped back a few paces, grasped his friend's shoulders, and laughed.
"Hahahaha! I wasn't expecting to see you this soon."
The same warm smile was on Will's face.
"And I wasn't expecting you to get involved in a job like this. Where is Halt?"
Gilan smirked mischievously.
"At the campsite. He's going to be surprised when he sees you."
At that moment, Igris and Ciri reached them and dismounted. Stepping forward with a calm stride, Igris extended his hand to Will.
"Mr. Will. My name is Igris. Nice to meet you."
Will grasped the extended hand and shook it firmly.
"I know who you are..."
Igris nodded, making it clear he had introduced himself merely out of protocol. Then he added.
"Thank you for joining us. A third Ranger will be very helpful, especially considering you are one of the best."
Will raised his hand in a modest manner, deflecting the praise.
"As long as Halt is around, I'm still an apprentice."
As Igris smiled and nodded, his gaze drifted to the other rider, and he froze right where he stood. As he looked the arriving man up and down, there was only a single word echoing in his mind.
'Witcher.'
The man who dismounted his horse had black hair, broad shoulders, and an extremely agile physique. The amber cat eyes set in his face were carefully scanning the surroundings. He wore very well-crafted, dark, and charismatic leather armor. He carried two different swords slung across his back, and various pieces of equipment and small pouches were hanging both on his person and from his horse's saddle. The faintly gleaming wolf medallion around his neck indicated that the man belonged to the School of the Wolf.
As Igris looked carefully at the man, he found himself in a strange dilemma; his facial features were both deeply familiar and entirely foreign. He felt like he had seen the man somewhere before, but just couldn't match his identity. Turning his gaze to the group's only School of the Wolf member, he asked quietly.
"Do you know who he is?"
Ciri was also looking at the man with astonishment and slight bewilderment. She certainly hadn't expected to encounter a Witcher—especially one from her own school—in such a short time. At Igris's question, she narrowed her eyes and examined the man more closely, but she couldn't come to a conclusion either.
"No... he's not one of the ones I know."
Igris sighed as he looked at this mysterious Witcher walking toward them with heavy steps. Over the last few days, he had experienced far too many surprises...