[Orual]

Shifty stared, bewildered, at the shrieking infant in his arms, and glanced uncertainly at Stoatie. Give her the kid? What if she bolted? His head tilted slightly, he looked at Gilly and then at the horse. She probably couldn't. Or at least wouldn't risk it. Long way to fall.

He jerked his head to indicate to Stoatie that he was pulling over for a moment. He dismounted and shoved the girl child at the nurse, pushing her roughly to the front of the saddle. He pulled himself back on, sitting behind Gilly and the babies. "Another complaint and I'll try some o' them pretty ideas your Miz Piosenniel gave you," he rasped. Gilly shot a nervous, angry look at him, which he ignored. He jabbed his horse with his heels, and it took off running.

The night air whipped against his face and stung his eyes. He wished to be basically anywhere but on this horse, on this road, at this moment, but there wasn't any point in wishing now. A group of three hobbits--young farmers by the look of them--startled when they heard the approach of the horses, and Shifty laughed. "Hya! Make way!" he shouted. He could feel Gilly stiffening in front of him, and he laughed harder. The three farmers fled as he jerked his horse toward them, running them off the road. His eyes glinted cruelly and he spat at their backs. He threw his head back and whooped, spurring his horse on faster. Even in Gilly's comforting embrace the little ones whimpered, and, fearing that they would start to scream again, Shifty slowed down.

"Got them kiddies tight?" he demanded, and Gilly nodded stiffly, refusing to look the bandit in the face. "Good," he said,and they rode off further down the road.

[ June 26, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ]