The Mayor
The morning after the meeting Harald awakened early. His mind was deliciously empty for a moment. Then he recalled last night’s uproarious meeting. He wondered, Did I come off a fool? Stop – that is not important. The important thing is, did we make progress ?
Harald rose and bathed his face and hands using yesterday’s wash water. How long would the drought last? His larder held a jar of mint leaves – they at least were still plentiful – and a smidgen of honey. Stale bread, a few apples. He cooked the apples, made tea, and toasted the bread. He wished his lady friend were with him to share it. Dantha had been there last night, but the two had no chance to speak....
“We made some progress,” he assured the empty kitchen. “Recognized the threat, identified some tasks. Maybe, even, we came together a bit. But enough to save us?”
He left his house and started down to town. Telien fell in beside him at the foot of the hill, and honest man that he was, came right to the point. “I did not help you last night,” he said. “I am sorry. I reckon I wanted the whole thing to be a joke.”
“I love you like a brother, Telien, but both our jobs just became important . You cannot go about in your cups all the time. I need you to stand up. If you do not, well, Elmerith looks stout enough. Would you like answering to him as captain of the guard?”
“You would not! And what about you – can you go on thinking only of yourself, having a good time? No – again I am sorry. I shall stand up, or answer to Elmerith. You are right.”
“So are you. Now be a good fellow and go check the town hall for the Hobbits. Don’t hurry them. Make your report to me at the Pony. I’ll be there after a while. I need to think.”
The need for information was paramount, Harald realized, and the need for sturdy workers was next. His denial to Andreth was hard, he knew, for she was rightly concerned about supplies from the farms. Her inn would feel the pinch first, but the other townsfolk would be only a day or two behind, should the outlaws interrupt the harvest or - worse. But even more important was the repair of the hedge and the dike, and Harald would spare no one until the defenses were battle-worthy.
Harald felt the inner aggravation of mutually important, competing demands. How could they begin to answer the threat of the outlaws unless they knew their number and nature?
[ October 17, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]
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