[Child of the 7th Age]

Guthwine:

Hearing the impatience in Lotar's voice, Kirima stood up and stormed out of the tent hoping to locate Guthwine. Her search was a short one, for she could see Guthwine striding up the path not more than a dozen paces away, marching purposely towards her.

Guthwine bent over and clapped his hand on Kirima's shoulder adding a hearty word of thanks for the work the woman had done in loading up the wagons. A broad grin played across his face. "They're off now. The wagons... I'll rest easier tonight knowing those carts are headed to the Weather Hills. They should be there in three days. More provisions will be needed but at least we've made a start."

Pushing up the flap of the tent, Guthwine came inside to face the scowling face of Lotar. He glanced over at Soran and beamed a welcoming nod, "Ah, so that fool Lotar found you! Next time, Soran, stick closer to the band."

Guthwin took a deep breath and plunged forward as if nothing untoward had happened, "Now, about tomorrow night's raid..."

Lotar retorted with anger. "Tomorrow night's raid? First, you'll answer for tonight's. Soran could have been killed!"

Guthwine glanced up and replied in a steady voice, "If Soran had stayed with the band instead of straying off by himself, none of this would have happened. You were just lucky to get him out without getting yourself killed."

"I'll not have you interfering again!" Lotar retorted with anger.

Guthwine shrugged his shoulders, "Fine, as you wish! Let's split the men and make an agreement to stay out of each other's business. You lead the raids against the farms. I'll spend my time devising tactics for getting into the town, learning the layout of the streets and gates, and finding out exactly what's going on in Bree. And I'll also have us prepare the camp for the arrival of the main party."

"The main party?" Lotar eyed him suspiciously.

"Aye, the main party. The entire band should be arriving here in ten to eleven days, no more than that, unless the weather turns bad. The carts with the provisions were already headed to the Weatherhills. I included a directive to send everyone forward, just as the council instructed me to do when I left."

Lotar's face went red but he held back his fury, replying in an even voice, "Whatever the council may have said, you might have consulted with me first!"

"Aye," muttered Guthwine. "Just as you consulted me when you decided to ride back into that camp? I've no quarrel about rescuing a man, but the commander of the unit is too valuable a man to risk. There were others who might have done that job... "

The tension in the tent was palpable as the two men stared at each other with open hostility: each brimming over with anger but reluctant to come to blows with the fate of so many riding on their shoulders.

Finally, Lotar spoke, "I'll be the judge of that!" He turned around to face Guthwine and nodded his head, "So be it then. My men will raid the farms and send the carts with provisions on to the Weather Hills. I'll have Minastan help me as he seems to be one of the few new recruits a man can actually trust."

"Just mind your own actions as I'll be keeping an eye on things. And, if I was you, I'd keep a tight rein on those recruits."

Guthwine hastily grunted his assent and departed for his own corner of the campsite.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:35 AM December 08, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]