The tower was once fair, but only for Mithrandir would he look on her. The one road was unsafe for him to tread. He knew that a man strong, determined, clever and not afraid of heights could climb up unseen and look down into the unhealthy valley.

Fear clung like ground fog in the hollows. Miasma wafted up from wind-rippled fields. But too little knowledge could be gleaned from above. He paused before the descent to check the extra skins of water strapped onto his back. Fastening a strip of cloth over his mouth, he started down, vowing, Never again.