[Child of the 7th Age]

Guthwine:

Guthwine surveyed his companions who'd gathered round him on the steps of the Inn. They'd all returned from their explorations of the city, each one bearing a number of different items that were now bring strapped onto the horses' backs. They'd purchased so many things that they almost appeared to be a group of travelling merchants.

Rudgar was peering through a window into the Common Room where he could hear a string of music blaring out. The sweet smells of cooking food wafted onto the porch.

"That's enough Rudgar," Guthwine snapped back. but keeping his voice low. "We've gotten what we came for and it's time to head out. We'll stop and eat once we've cleared the northern wall and get up to the high ground." He grunted and pointed towards the carcass of the deer which had now been strapped to the back of his horse.

They were just about to leave the Pony when the Innkeeper appeared outside coming up to greet them. She was a young woman in her late twenties, with a head of lovely red curls streaming down her back. The woman halted, look them up and down, and then come over to address them, "You'll be needing a room for the night then? The gates are locked now, and there's no going in or out. I can give you a single room to share for one silver coin. Breakfast, what little there is, is extra."

For a moment, Guthwine felt his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth, scarcely knowing how to respond. It was Kandel who saved their necks. "But Uncle," he quickly replied, turning to Guthwine. "Didn't you say that we'd be boarding with your kin, the ones with the house at the base of the hill, not far from the furrier's?"

"Ah, yes." Guthwine nodded and managed to blurt out his goodbyes to the Innkeeper as they headed down the steps.

As Andreth turned to re-enter the Pony, a strange thought skimmed through her mind. She knew of no residence near the furrier's at the base of the hill. And she'd never seen any of these folk before, though they claimed to have relatives in Bree. But then another guest came up and asked for a room, and she totally forgot about the strange men.

********************************************

With a sigh of relief, Guthwine and the other scouts made their way through the hedge and up onto the hill that overlooked the city, just above the cave that Kari had discovered. This was a secluded area, which seemed to be a good spot to make a fire. They kept the blaze small and, in the space of an hour, had cut up the carcass, roasted the steaks, and were enjoying a hasty meal before starting their homeward trek.

At the last minute, just as they were going to break camp and continue down the trail, there was a noise from far below at the base of the hill. Guthwine strained his ears. It almost sounded like children. But what children would be out and about on a night like this when bandits lurked on the doorstep of the city? The Breelanders could not be that foolish or neglectful. It must be some sort of sentries or a scouting party.

Panicked at the possibility of being discovered, Guthwine kicked a bootful of sand over the fire and motioned to everyone to go quietly up the hill. Within a short time, the bandits had disappeared into the thick forest groves, leaving behind nothing to tell of their coming except a few bones from the carcass of the deer. That, and something else that was very small....

For a few embers still nestled on the ground near where they had eaten, not quite buried in the sand. The coals lay quite close to a pile of dry bracken that was heaped up against a fallen treetrunk. Within a space of a few minutes, the tendrils of red flame leapt outward and began to feed on a trail of scattered leaves and grass.

***************************************

The outlaws headed in a northeasterly direction, making their way towards the encampment. Their progress was steady but slow. The horses were heavily laden with all the satchels and supplies they had purchased. The brush sometimes crowded onto the path, making their progress even more difficult. They carefully maneuvered around a few isolated farmsteads they encountered in small clearings to the west of Archet and Combe, taking the long way around to avoid any chance of detection.

Over two hours had passed since they'd stopped for a bite to eat, yet they were still far from camp. It would be at least another two hours until their arrival home.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:48 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]