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piosenniel · 11-16-2003, 10:52 AM

Gareth, the bandit

Gareth scratched at the back of his dirt begrimed neck as he stood up. ‘Well,’ he began, spitting a nasty looking gobbet on the ground beside him, ‘I met this fellow up past the eastern end of the town. Lives just past that bunch of Hobbit holes in Staddle, I think they call it. Up north a ways from them, anyways . . . kinda all by itself the farmhouse was. Got a pig farm there, smokes hams and sausages, bacon, too.’

The others were beginning to fidget, irritated by this rambling approach. Guthwine cleared his throat and nodded at Gareth, telling him to go on and get to the meat of his information.

‘Well,’ Gareth started off again, ‘it was sort of strange . . . it was early morning, and I was going to pass by the place . . . anyways, I was a little way down a small track among the trees leading away from this guy’s place when I hear him calling after me . . . wanting to know if I wanted to buy something. He looked like he was well enough off, and I wondered why he would want to come after someone he didn’t know. I told him I only had a few coins, and he said he was sure he could make me a deal. And sure enough, I got me a length of fine, fat sausages.’

He scratched his neck again. ‘The wife looked none too friendly, especially when he dragged me into the kitchen for a cup of tea. Didn’t offer no biscuits or nothing with it, but I did manage to have a quick look round while I sat at the table. Keeps a cash box, or so it looks like, on the top of his cupboard just inside the door. Nice cutlery, what I saw in the dish drainer – and there was a pair of silvered candlesticks on the parlour mantel that I just got a glimpse of when we went in – probably have more silver hidden somewhere. Big toolshed. Nice big garden, too. And a big smokehouse, filled with meats waiting for the winter.’

Gareth grinned. ‘He wanted to know if I had any friends what might be interested in his goods. Guess the answer would be yes to that one, eh?!’ As a last thought he looked toward Guthwine. ‘I can show you the place if youwant. Be real easy to hit and run.’

He sat back down, his information delivered. Thoughts of those tasty sausages played in his mind as others spoke up about making a plan.

11-16-2003, 10:52 AM	#33
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Gareth, the bandit Gareth scratched at the back of his dirt begrimed neck as he stood up. ‘Well,’ he began, spitting a nasty looking gobbet on the ground beside him, ‘I met this fellow up past the eastern end of the town. Lives just past that bunch of Hobbit holes in Staddle, I think they call it. Up north a ways from them, anyways . . . kinda all by itself the farmhouse was. Got a pig farm there, smokes hams and sausages, bacon, too.’ The others were beginning to fidget, irritated by this rambling approach. Guthwine cleared his throat and nodded at Gareth, telling him to go on and get to the meat of his information. ‘Well,’ Gareth started off again, ‘it was sort of strange . . . it was early morning, and I was going to pass by the place . . . anyways, I was a little way down a small track among the trees leading away from this guy’s place when I hear him calling after me . . . wanting to know if I wanted to buy something. He looked like he was well enough off, and I wondered why he would want to come after someone he didn’t know. I told him I only had a few coins, and he said he was sure he could make me a deal. And sure enough, I got me a length of fine, fat sausages.’ He scratched his neck again. ‘The wife looked none too friendly, especially when he dragged me into the kitchen for a cup of tea. Didn’t offer no biscuits or nothing with it, but I did manage to have a quick look round while I sat at the table. Keeps a cash box, or so it looks like, on the top of his cupboard just inside the door. Nice cutlery, what I saw in the dish drainer – and there was a pair of silvered candlesticks on the parlour mantel that I just got a glimpse of when we went in – probably have more silver hidden somewhere. Big toolshed. Nice big garden, too. And a big smokehouse, filled with meats waiting for the winter.’ Gareth grinned. ‘He wanted to know if I had any friends what might be interested in his goods. Guess the answer would be yes to that one, eh?!’ As a last thought he looked toward Guthwine. ‘I can show you the place if youwant. Be real easy to hit and run.’ He sat back down, his information delivered. Thoughts of those tasty sausages played in his mind as others spoke up about making a plan. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.