[Child of the 7th Age]

This is the continuation of our first game thread......

Child's post

Darkness had fallen over the compound by the time Stoatie managed to get around to speaking with the Boss. He dropped by Ferny's place after dinner to get the final word on when they'd be leaving the next day and what they were supposed to do.

Ferny was sitting hunched over at the planning table, staring down at a whole pile of maps that were sprawled out before him. The room was dimly lit by the pale light of several lanterns hanging down from the rafters, and a single candle that the Boss held in his left hand right over the papers he was studying. Ferny glanced up at Stoatie and grunted a terse welcome, gesturing him to sit down and listen.

"I don't want screw ups on this, Stoatie. No excuses and no mess ups. Just get the brats away and haul them here as fast as you can. I got plans. Big plans."

Stoatie's face dropped at Ferny's words. He spat out his disgust. "Me! You want me to handle those brats? You promised me I'd git to rough up some kid and deliver the ransom note. It ain't no fun gittin' stuck with babies. And two of 'em to boot. What if they git on my nerves, and my knife slips a little?"

The Boss turned and bellowed. "Hear this, and hear it good, Stoatie! Your knife ain't gonna' slip. I want those brats untouched. If one of them gits hurt, you're gonna find my hands around yer neck real quick."

Stoatie sighed and nodded. The Boss didn't make idle threats. Time and again, Stoatie had seen him follow through on promises against whoever dared to challenge him.

Once Stoatie had backed down, Ferny spoke more reassuringly, "Look. You got to swipe those kids. I'm not sure about the new man yet. He's been doin' a good job keepin' his nose clean, and he's too good with the sword to leave behind. But I have to keep a close eye on 'im. You're the only one I can trust. Stoatie, you pull this off, and I promise that you'll be livin' purty.

Ferny set down the candle and picked up the chart that he'd specially marked for Stoatie. "Those brats shouldn't be a problem if you take the mother along with you. Threaten 'er kids and she'll keep 'em good and quiet. You'll be back 'ere in no time."

"Now git some sleep for a little bit. We'll be ridin' all night tonight and well into tomorrow. First to Bree where I need to tie up some business and then back into the Shire."

"Oh, yeah, one more thing. Don't forget to tell Mithadan he'll be helpin' to deliver that ransom note. And if he does a good job, there'll be something in it for 'im."

"You comin' too Boss?" Stoatie queried, as he picked up the map and started to leave.

"Sure I'm comin'. I'll ride with Mith and Ratty. We'll all go together to the outskirts of town. Look, here's a grove of trees north of the Water where we can hide till nightfall." Ferny gestured at the map. "You go in first and git out fast. Then we'll follow."

"Hey, boss, I can leave that note for you. You don't have to hang around."

Ferny shook his head and grinned. "No, I'm gonna' enjoy that part. I been waitin' a long time to git back at Frodo and Sam. A real long time." He turned away and stared blindly at the wall as Stoatie left the room.


Mithadan's post

The days had dragged unmercifully. Each night, Mithadan had been escorted firmly to a brick hut without windows. After being handed a piece of bread, some dried meat, a cup of water and, when he was lucky, an apple, he was led into the hut and locked in. There was little air and the heat was nearly unbearable. But worst of all, Bird had not come by in any form. At first, he was worried. But when no harm came to him, he fixed in his mind that she simply could not evade her guards without placing herself or the children at risk.

The children... He had journeyed to Bree to find them and had quickly done so. But now, when they were a few hundred paces away, he could do nothing but bide his time and wait for an opportunity to somehow effect a rescue. The likelihood of accomplishing this without planning ahead with Bird was, however, slim. Thus he resolved to break the impasse, whether the Shapechanger liked it or no.

So after he had eaten, he composed himself as best he could in the heat and filth of the hut. Then he reached out to Bird using Osanwe. He found the experience to be akin to trying to catch a writhing fish with bare hands. Each time he thought that he had reached her, she slipped away until, at last, in frustration he gave up. But even as he did so he sensed anger and an image of two babes in a basket. The image vanished even as he reached for it, leaving him confused and suffering from a throbbing head.

His headache woke with him in the morning and accompanied him through the day. The hot summer sun did not improve his mood, though at least he had access to water and better food as he stood watch. But this day passed as mindlessly as the last and a pall of depression fell upon him as the sun approached the western horizon. He followed the ruffians numbly as they led him back towards his hut. However, this evening would be different, for even as they approached the hovel, Stoatie stepped out from behind a nearby tree.

"Enjoyin yerself, are yah?" he asked with a cruel curl to his lip. "Well, I've heard that you've been a good lad and haven't done nothing wrong...yet. So I'm thinkin maybe it's time to reward yah with a bit o fun. Are yah up fer it?"

Mithadan smiled through the haze of his headache, hoping sincerely that he looked friendly rather than as if he were baring his fangs...


Child's post

Stoatie grinned broadly at the man. "Mithie, maybe I was wrong about yer. When you came, I figgured you was too soft to last. Besides, I thought you'd turn tail and run. But you done alright by the Boss."

"Now he wants to give you somethin' big. Mithie, come through on this and yah might go up a peg or two. Ferny might even let yah turn the screws on some of the others who ain't so smart."

Stoatie pulled Mithadan into the nearest shed and roughly shoved him to his knees. Then he pushed a map in front of his nose and, pointing at Hobbiton, began to explain what Ferny had in mind. Much to Stoatie's frustration, Mithadan kept interrupting with questions. After a while, the henchman exploded with anger, "Enough askin' questions! It's real simple. Shifty and I take care of those brats. Maybe we drag along the Elf witch to shut 'em up and stick a sword in 'er throat. You git the fun job. The Boss'll pick out a special kid and have yah rough 'em up. Then give 'im a note to deliver. That's all yer gotta know."

Mithadan opened his mouth but before he could speak Stoatie smacked him square in the face with the flat of his hand. "Yer gotta learn. Don't ask nothin'. Maybe I know more and maybe I don't, but I ain't gonna tell the likes of yah."

With that the henchman stalked out of the shed, glaring back over his shoulder to shout out a final warning, "Jest be ready in a few hours. We got serious business to pull down."

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

Child's post

It was already past midnight when Stoatie awoke and blearily pried opened his eyes. His head was still throbbing from what he'd done a few hours before. After his talk with Mithy, he'd gone to his room and spent an hour or two finishing off the tail end of a keg of homemade brew. He was supposed to be up and about at midnight, but things hadn't worked out quite like that.

Not that it would keep him from doing his job. Drunk or sober, Stoatie had a mean streak that would brook no opposition once he set out to do the bidding of the Boss. And nothing gave him greater delight than turning the screws on those whom he deemed most defenseless. Hauling off a bunch of brats and their stupid mother was just up his alley.

Stoatie turned and peered out the tiny window that faced out on the compound. In the shadows of a moonless night, several of the men had already gathered near the front gate in anticipation of the group leaving. Stoatie watched carefully as the new man paced back and forth. Whatever Ferny might say, Stoatie did not trust him. That discussion after dinner had clinched it. The man was too quiet and kept to himself too much. And when he finally did open up, he asked too dang many nosey questions.

Ferny's chief henchman stumbled out of bed and threw on a pair of breeches and a shirt. Then, he slipped on a long brown cowl that could be pulled up to hide his face. Brushing the dirt off his tattered pants, Stoatie ran out to the horse pen and barked instuctions to the stable lad.

"Hey, Mister Stoatie," the boy slyly interrupted. "We thought you was gonna sleep all night."

"Shut yer trap!" Stoatie growled, striking the boy full in the face with the flat of his hand. "It ain't no time for jokes. We've a job to pull down. Now, git goin'. Bring me a horse."

Stoatie watched as the lad led out a gentle bay and began to place the halter over her head.

"Are you daft boy? Not that old thing. I'm not goin' on a picnic here. Git me the fastest one you have."

The stable boy hesitated for a minute, "But Mister Stoatie, that would be Thrasher. No one rides Thrasher, not even the Boss. He's too mean."

Stoatie bellowed back. "Today that changes. I ride Thrasher. I'm feelin' as mean as he is. And bring in that other horse from the back pen. The one they call Thunder. Saddle 'em up for Shifty."

The stable lad smothered a grin and was about to object, then thought better of it. Best keep his thoughts to himself, or he'd end up with another whack. Stoatie and Shifty were no great riders, at least not with steeds the likes of Thunder and Thrasher. The horses would be no trouble on the outward journey. It was only when they turned homeward and got within a few miles of the stables that they'd live up to their reputation. The boy shrugged his shoulders. That was their problem, not his.

Stoatie went back inside the stables and picked out a stiff, barbed rod that the men normally used for prodding cattle. He felt the razor sharp point and grinned, stuffing it through the loop of his pants. He'd used it as a whip on Thrasher to keep the beast in line. Maybe he'd even use it on the brats, if he could find a way to do that without Ferny getting wise.

Then he hurried back to the gate and mounted up on Thrasher, making sure to keep a close eye on Mithy while he waited for the Boss to arrive.

[ September 15, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]