He had fallen asleep, his head rested upon his arms, sprawled forth across the kitchen table. The crash of his master's entrance woke him with a sharp jolt.
"Wake up Stoatie! We've got guests!"
He rubbed a grimy hand over his bleary eyes and focused on him. He made no attempt to hide or apologise for eating the rotten remnants of his master's pantry.
"Guests gov?" He gruffly questioned while sliding one hand beneath the table to clasp the knife he had cleaned so precisely only a little while ago.
Sure enough, standing behind Bill in the cottage doorway were two strangers, every bit as silubrious as Stoatie. They were younger but that was all that could be said in their favour, if indeed youth was an advantage.
"There's nowt to eat." Stoatie observed.
"We've eaten in Bree Stoatie mate. Shall I introduce us then? This is Rob and ..., I've forgotten again..." He turned to the fairer or at least less dirty of the two men.
"Sewell." He barked. "Yer boss sez there's some work goin'." He looked around the sparce kitchen. "Times are hard aren't they matey?"
"It's them Halflings innit?" His companion chipped in.
"I reckons you could be right there, friend." Stoatie purred. "I'll get you an ale. I'm sure the gov's got a lot to tell yer about workin' for him."
[ March 20, 2003: Message edited by: Auriel Haevasawen ]
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Auriel
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