[piosenniel]

Berilac

Telien’s head turned round to see who had spoken, then motioned the Ranger forward. ‘We’ve had reports in from the northern section of the hedge,’ he said, his finger running over the line on the map before him. ‘There was only minor scorching. Our efforts to keep the hedge wet proved effective.’ He tapped on the wide ditch that ran just outside the hedge. ‘I’ve already set several crews out here to clear away the burned limbs that fell here.’

The mayor turned the map round to where he sat at his desk. ‘One crisis over and well met,’ he said with a decisive tone, his features changing from those of a pleased nature to a questioning look as he glanced up at Berilac.

News had not reached the mayor’s office yet of what the peddler had seen and heard in his travels. The faces of both Telien and Harald grew grave as Berilac related what he had heard and what he thought about this bit of news. With his theory of the bandits and the fire, the two began to wonder just how fortunate the town had been.

‘This puts a new face on our good luck,’ said Harald. Telien agreed, frowning at the mention of the increased numbers of people from the north. ‘We have not heard from Minastan in a long while – do you suppose they have found him out, and he is held prisoner?’

‘Or worse,’ said Berilac. ‘I fear if they have found him out he is already dead.’ The Ranger positioned the map so that all could see it. The three bent their heads low over it, fingers pointing and voices low and edged with urgency.

By this evening, or tomorrow before the sun rose, the defenses would be set in place. First on the list would be the locking of all the gates at all times, Berilac insisted. Only those whose faces were known to the guards or could have a citizen of Bree fetched to vouch for them would be allowed in.

Telien was sent off to see to the securing of the upper perimeter along the top of the hill. Once done with that, he said he would call up the archers to be placed along the northern edge of the city, on the buildings there and see to the final placing of the net they had discussed.

The mayor called for his young assistant to come into the office. Big and Little Folk would man the lookout points along the Hedge. Harald handed the young man a list he had drawn up earlier of names and shift times. ‘Contact this section first,’ he instructed the man, ‘and get them sent out to the look-out towers. Then notify the others when they will need to show up.’ The young man nodded his head vigorously, clutching the list tightly. ‘Come back quickly, then,’ the mayor admonished him. ‘We’ll need to see to the bucket brigades. Off you go then,’ he said with a dismissive wave. Once he was gone, Berilac and the Mayor looked further at the defense plans, adjusting them as needed, planning for contingencies as they could.

By this afternoon, evening at the latest, Bree would be an armed camp . . .