[Nogrod]

Novgorod had walked northward the whole day after getting over the river at the end of the last day. The night was crawling in. The moon had already come up from behind the hills as Novgorod reached the outskirts of Bree, striving for food and information. He was hungry like a wolf. The Easterling’s piece of meat did not only smell foul, it had tasted even worse; sweet and sour at the same time. Novgorod had almost vomited as he had tried it. Only an imminent death by starving could force me to take another bite...

The road led him straight towards the southern gate. It was closed! The village itself was surrounded by a wooden palisade wall about 10 feet high.

Friendly little village this seems to be, indeed... he thought after he had knocked the gate the fourth time with no answer. Just as Novgorod was turning around to sit somewhere to think for his situation he heard some mumbled curses accompanied by the slowly approaching footsteps from behind the gate. A little hatch opened and the unwelcoming face of the old gatekeeper appeared into it.

“What do you want, stranger?” it called him in not particularly a polite tone. “No wanderers are allowed in! Find your peace from somewhere else. Hush!” Novgorod was just about to start to argue to the gatekeeper as he noted the changed looks in the eyes of him. They widened, expressing both fear and anger. “An Easterling! Go back to your homeland and never come back! Go back to your horde of barbarians!” With that the gatekeeper slammed the hatch closed and Novgorod was alone again.

An Easterling? At the same moment he realised that he was still clad in the Easterling robe he had taken from the backpack he had stolen from the encampment. His own tunic was ripped from a few places, muddy all over from rolling down the hill and smeared with his own blood. Gah! This is nightmarish! I could’ve talked myself in otherwise...

Novgorod found a larger boulder to sit on beside the road and after changing his own tunic on he fell into thinking. Yeah, I look like a beaten rogue and a loser, but that’s better than looking like an Easterling around here... He stareted figuring out the options he had. Anyway, he had to get in somehow.

I could make it with the rope. Walk some hundred yards away from the gate, make a lasso, throw it to jam into the pointed heads of the logs in the wall, tighten it and climb up and slide down... But that would not do for Novgorod. He had done that once before in another town long ago. That had been a disaster as he had landed straight to the backyard of the local Shiriff’s dogpit. He would never try to get over a wall as long as he was not sure what there was behind it. And after the incident at the river the day before, he didn’t exactly trust the Easterling rope either.

The western wind was getting colder, but it also brought the smell of the pipeweed to his nose some moments before he heard the sound of a cart being pulled towards him and the gate. Soon Novgord saw him. A hobbit, pulling a cart. A trader perhaps? Would he be allowed in? Novgorod was thinking quickly. This surely was his chance, but how to exploit it?

The hobbit was approaching steadily. Novgorod’s plans and alternative plans were in the middle of the making when he realised that he would have to act very soon. So he stepped forwards from the place he was sitting covered by the shadows of the pines around and stood out in the open. He waved his hand in a friendly way towards the hobbit, carefully not yelling anything the gatekeeper could hear. Novgorod picked his sack and walked towards the hobbit, opening his arms.

“Good evening sir”, he greeted the halfling. “On your way to the town, I presume?”

The hobbit halted and let the levers of the cart down. He seemed both suspicious and ready to defend himself. “What is it of your bussiness, mister?” the hobbit answered Novgorod, lowering his right hand to touch the hilt of the little knife that was hanging from his belt.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong my friend!” Novgorod said in an overtly friendly manner, flashing a fake smile. He had always thought that the hobbits were a deformation of the creation, and now being forced to look at one straight into the eye, his fore-perception was only strengthened. These guys really are weirdos, but brave weirdos, must be admitted...

“I intend you no harm. On the contrary. Do you have access to the town? The gatekeeper will not let me in even though I’m hungry and tired.”

“Yes I have. I’m a regular trader here, but what is it of your bussiness – or mine to take care of yours? I didn’t ask for you to come here.” The hobbit took a firmer grip of his knife and continued: “You think I should help you? But why do you think I would do so, if the gatekeeper has already decided not to let you in?” The hobbit was getting all the more confident after the initial embarrassement. “How do I know that you’re not one of those rogues harrassing the countryside, because of whom these gates are closed in the first place?” The hobbit smiled to Novgorod lightly. “You might surely be one of them. Just judging over your looks you seem like no wealthy traveller. Maybe I should call the old Gorger and the guards to take care of you?”

“No, no! Please no! Do not make hasty judgements on the basis of the looks or appearances! I’ve been attacked by those rogues myself!” Oh my! Where is this discussion going to go from here?

Novgord thought for a second and then continued: “Well, I might as well tell you the truth. I think I have no other options.” And would have to find a quick solution to get rid of this hobbit if everything would go as I have planned... “I’m an adventurer. I’m very near to a treasure. I’m in a competition arranged by an elf who overlooks all we contestants do. I need to get in to get some food and find the final understanding of the place where the treasure is hidden.” Novgorod made a little pause. “ I need to get in”. As Novgorod mentioned the word ‘treasure’, there was a flash of light in the hobbit’s eyes. Novgorod noticed it easily enough and smiled inwardly as he spoke the last of his monologue. Good, Let’s try this, Press him forwards!

“Surely I won’t be telling this to everyone around. I know enough of the gatekeepers: tell them something tonight and all the village knows it at the morning.” Novgorod studied the face of the hobbit and saw the growing interest in his face. Novgorod smiled carefully. This just might work...

“I need to get in to the town as I need some sleep, food and information concerning the game. The goal is a Great Golden Horde. Besides you I have no one else to help me. So just think of it. You get a quarter of the treasure if you help me in. What say you?”

The hobbit fell into his thoughts for a while and then answered: “A quarter you say? Why not a third? And how can I trust you?”

“You can come with me in the morning. It will not be a long way anyhow. You can claim your part yourself.”

“Trekking I should go? Forget it! You know us Hobbits, we’re not so keen on adventuring... But with a third I might consider your offer – if I need not wander over any rough lands. These roads are enough of adventure to me” the hobbit answered now calmly, clearly seeing the place for some good bussiness.

Darn haggler! I’m beginning to see why these folks are so renowned as they are! But at this stage Novgorod had no aces in his sleeve and had to yield to the hobbit. “Okay, a third. You help me in. We meet after the entry at an agreed place. And if you wish, we’ll sleep at the same quarters so that I can’t run away and break the deal. Does that suffice?”

The hobbit looked straight into his eyes and pondered the offer for a while. “Well, what’s your plan in concrete?” he asked after a silence.

“I’ll hide myself beside the shadows of the gate after we have broken the wheel of your cart. You call the gatekeeper to help you get the valuable cart inside. As you work it, I’ll slip in. This village seems small enough that you shouldn’t worry: there’s no place for me to disappear and betray you. Just tell me the directions where we should meet.”

The hobbit thought it for a while and then answered: ”After the gate, go forwards over two crossings, then turn right. The second apartment on the left has a reddish door. That’s where my nephew dwells. We’ll meet there and overnight there, both of us. Be there or otherwise I’ll wake up the whole Bree to find you!”

Novgorod agreed and they broke the shaft of the cart with a heavy boulder some twenty yards away from the gate. Then Novgorod took cover beside the gate and the hobbit started crying, getting to the gate and slamming it with faked frustration. “Old Gorger! Wake up you sleepy! It’s me, Paddy Wheatlocks! My cart is broken at your door! Come help me with it!”

The hatch opened once again. The keen eye of the gatekeeper made clear of the situation. Then the gate was opened and the old Gorger stepped over the bridge. “What are you bellowing, Paddy? There was an Easterling around just a moment ago. Now hurry inside!”

“My cart is broken! Your roads are not kept well enough! Help me with it! You’ll have a pouch of weed if you help me from the Easterlings!” the hobbit answered, playing nervous. The old Gorger came to help Paddy with the cart, but meanwhile Novgorod slipped into the town.

Allright then. Now the hide..., Novgorod thought to himself as he had passed the gate and was running the main road northwards. Soon he spotted the stacks of hay around the first crossing of the ways. There! After setting himself down behind the stacks of hay he started searching for a suitable pebble. After all, Novgorod was no killer from nature. A little knock-out would be just enough. Surely the gatekeeper will not help the hobbit more than is required and the cart will be left at the gate....

The aspirations of Novgorod came true. He heard the steps coming towards him and then there was the slam of the door. The steps came nearer. Sorry fellow, but this is a game you’re not invited into. And I’m going for the win and not intending to share it with anyone!

As the halfling was about to pass the crossing, Novgorod leaped over him and knocked him unconscious with the pebble he had found, striking him to the neck with precision. The hobbit fell down. Quickly Novgorod re-arranged the haystack, covering the unconscious body of the hobbit under it. He had tied the hands of the hobbit and his mouth. Farewell my friend in passing... Sleep well. Someone’s going to save you anyway.

Novgorod was in town.