Birdie's skin crawled as she heard Fosco's final words regarding what "that bad man" planned to do. Kidnap the twins? Ferny was not just bad; he was utterly insane. Kidnap the children of a First Born? He would have every Elf in the territory down on Breeland with just one thought from Piosenniel. What could that man be thinking?
But then, would Pio even send that thought? Would she risk allowing her kinfolk to know that Mith and she had broken the edict of the King regarding the Shire? Perhaps the Elf folk would not care, but what of the Rangers she had seen at the ruins of Annúminas? If they heard of these doings, what would they do with Mith, after they had finished with Ferny? No, none could know of this except Mith, and he would have to know of it very soon.
Bird started to pace back and forth, muttering to herself, while Fosco looked on with wary eyes. She heard the weasely guard outside, complaining bitterly to anyone who would listen about his treatment from that "catty foreign female" in the cottage. How could they convince Ferny that a guard wasn't necessary? That this "foreign female" was every bit as nasty as any of his own men?
Suddenly the little skinchanger let out a laugh and whirled around to the halfling child. "Fosco, my little lad. How loud can you yell?"
Fosco's eyes widened and he stared at Bird, puzzled. "What kind of yell do you mean?" he asked curiously. It was obvious she had something up her sleeve, and he wanted to find out what it was.
"Like I'm beating you."
Fosco grinned widely. "I can yell really loud."
(additional text by Nurumaiel.)
[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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