Chapter One
On the malfeasance of Highwaymen and the
Malediction of Geese.
Dindraug
Date Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 4:04 am
“…and now the geese have not lain for three whole days, now what do you think about that Mr Duferous?†Farmer Giles stood in front of the Sheriff’s desk with his brawny arms firmly placed on his wide yokel hips and a stern look in his eye.
Thomas du Foros sighed, deeply and with feeling, and his eyes rolled up to the wooden ceiling. He knew that just there, above his head, his bed waited and a small fire smouldered ready to be stoked.
“Mr Giles,†he started “Much as it pains me to hear about your anserine problem, for the moment I have to talk to Squire Broadleaf about the problem of this Highway robber we have been plagued with. Unless you know about that Farmer Giles, I will bid you good day.†He smiled at the huffing farmer, and stood to indicate the door.
“But you will-“
“I will discuss the missing eggs with Squire Broadleaf as well. I am sure there is a particularly good explanation, and I am sure there have been Halflings in the village long before your geese stopped laying.†He looked down at his half finished, and now cold, bowl of stew and the letter besides it. Folding the latter, he slipped it into his pouch and reached behind him for his doublet. “Good day, Sir†he said once more, firmly this time, and watched as the farmer shuffled out. He sniggered to himself, probably foxes or weasels, he thought and headed for the door.
He looked once more at the cart that stood by the gatehouse stables. He had not impounded it, so much as the travellers had left it with him for ‘investigation’. Repair is what they meant, not that it needed it. The three arrows that he had pulled from it had done no more than scratch the paintwork. But they had been loosed into the cart not two miles from his town, and the passengers had been robbed at sword point by ‘a tall black cloaked figure with a rough voice’. And it was not the first time this had happened.
“Morning Sheriff†said one of the villagers, a saucy maid whose name he could never remember. He nodded his head to her and manfully strode off up the road towards the shiny edifice of the Kings Rest Inn. He needed to speak with Squire Broadleaf, who served as the liaison to the Castle, to see if the troops there could help in searching for the villain. He did not hold much hope, but he walked on just the same.
His hope was to avoid the passengers who had been so rudely introduced to Breeland, and the nefarious inhabitants who daily had complaints. Walking towards the Inn’s door, he was passed by a gaggle of geese, all honking in misery.
Thomas looked at them for a moment, then walked into the inn.
EdaintheRanger
Date Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:35 pm
Earlier that morning, before first light Benac’s day had begun. The broad shouldered man rose smoothly, after been awoken by rowdy children and shook the sleep from his bulky frame. After lighting the fire, placating his wife with an herbal brew, he then bid them all a jaunty “Cheerio†and set off to greet the outdoors. Beaming at the sun that dared to peep over the grey eastern hills, he had whistled his customary tune as he ambled over to his neighbour’s house. A respectable man of gainful employ Benac was currently refreshing the roof thatch as a favour to the shy couple who lived there. There had been unseasonable high winds over the previous days which had dislodged several roofs, and so Benac the handyman of Bree had been dispatched to clear up the mess. Going around the back of the property, he made a start on the job in hand. After a short while the soft footed man was met with a smile and a stutter from the man who lived there.
“M-Mmornin’ Ben. Would you like a coughy?†after getting a grin and a grunt in the affirmative the young man continued: “I’m a-afraid, we dayn’t get the reeds for you. I meant to, but P-Petal just plain forgotted.â€
Benac’s smile widened and he waved away the apology. “No need to worry Steedore, old mate. I need to see Furdus about something anyway. Now you just get those beans on the boil, and I’ll be right back.†Rubbing his hands at the prospect of a hot brew on this crisp morning, Benac strolled towards the meaner side of Bree. However on espying one of the forester sorts who hung around the King’s Rest after a night spent watching the herds, Benac stopped there and enquired on his friend’s whereabouts. They had barely exchanged greetings were both momentarily distracted by the honking geese that had just barrelled around the corner from the direction of the main entrance. After shooing the forlorn birds away, the two men continued.
“Furdus? Nah not seen him.â€
Benac scratched his beard, non-plussed. “Surely you must have seen something of him? You were sharing a drink, only last night with the red-haired fella.â€
“Ohh! Furdy! Why didn’t you say? Yeah he left at some point in the night, sed summat about the moon being too bright to sleep by, or summat like that. You know what he’s like… Always on the look out for them damn poachers.â€
Benac “Ahh so you all dossed* down in the common room? Alright then, I think I know were he is. Thanks for that mate, look if you ever need a bowl of grub… don’t forget you can always pop by.â€
Raising an eyebrow with a mild surprise the forester smiled. “I can? Then here’s something for nothing, I reckon you should see them furreners, them outa towners about fixing that dirty, great cart they’ve left right by the gatehouse. Dunno about you but they seemed pretty dim to me.†The Forester tapped the side of his nose as he said his last words. Bidding him a thank you and a goodbye Benac considered the idea, perhaps this day could be more interesting that he thought it would be.
* Dossed ~ slept rough.
Spirit_of_the_Willow
Date Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:05 am
"Papa, I'm going out!" Tasar said cheerfully.
Gwaddyn stepped from the kitchen, his iron-grey hair damp, and a towel around his neck. He used this to wipe the lather from his face, which was lined with age. It had been so as long as Tasar could remember, so she did not really notice it.
"And just where are you going out to, little miss?" Gwaddyn asked, a hint of rebuke in his tone, not hiding the concern he felt.
Tasar laughed and ran over to give him a kiss on his just shaven cheek.
"Did you forget what I was working on last night?" she asked teasingly, knowing that he remembered clearly. She had carved a little cat for Cherry, the kitchen girl at the King's Head. Her little kitten had died a few days before, and Tasar hoped the little figure would bring comfort. "I'm just going over to the King's Head. I'll come straight back. Besides, it's broad daylight," she continued, knowing the recent attacks on the road were the cause of his concern, "It is unlikely that any highwaymen would attack now. And if they did, I am not a likely target." While they were not poor, nor did they have such wealth as would make them desirable targets for highway robbers.
"You just see that you stay within the walls," he raised on callused hand to gently flick her cheek. She smiled her acquiescence, and left the house, blithely unconcerned with any possible danger from rumored highway robbers.
Bree was alive with the late morning bustle common to such towns. Tasar smiled her greetings to all she passed, however that smile faltered when she saw Farmer Giles approaching. For the past couple of weeks he had done little but complain about his geese to whoever he could trap into listening. He had some farfetched philosophy that it was the hobbits in town who were causing his geese not to lay. Tasar had heard it several times already, and was not anxious to repeat the experience. She quickened her pace, determined not to be trapped again.
“Good morning, Farmer Giles,†she said cheerfully as she passed him.
“And where are you off too so quickly, lass?†he called, frowning at her. She was not bothered, for a frown was his habitual expression.
“I have an errand at the King’s Rest, if you will excuse me.†She continued on, not waiting for a response, though she heard him muttering after her.
“The King’s Rest, the King’s Rest, everyone has business at the King’s Rest today . . .â€
She entered the town’s most prestigious inn through the kitchen door, sniffing appreciatively at the aroma of bread dough and breakfast. Cherry was busily scrubbing the pots from the night before, while the other staff were baking and cooking to prepare for the evening, and whatever guests currently graced the taproom.
“Hello Cherry,†Tasar said kindly, approaching the young girl. “I have a gift for you.â€
“I can’t talk now Tasar,†Cherry said, biting her lip as she scrubbed at a particularly difficult spot. “I got to finish scrubbing these pots. And then those’ns ‘ll be done,†she nodded over her shoulder at the dishes being used currently, “and I’ll have t’ scrub them too, or Briar’ll have me skin’d. We were right busy last night.†She said proudly. Then she seemed to realize what Tasar had said, and turned her bright eyes up to meet Tasar’s smiling gaze. “A gift? For me?â€
“Yup,†Tasar said, holding out the little carved cat, “I hope you like her. I was supposed to be working on the new sign for the Oliphant last night, but I did this instead.â€
The girl carefully took the figure from Tasar, cradling it in her small hands. “It’s just like Master Ferny.†The old kitchen cat had been named after the peddler, Ben Ferny, since when it had first arrived it had been possessed of an irascible nature.
Cherry threw her arms around Tasar, hugging her tightly before releasing her abruptly. “You oughtn’t be in here right now. Briar’s in a right huff about the guests who was robbed last night. They been complainin’ all morning.†She lowered her voice, “I o’er heard ‘m when I brought their coal up last night. They want the Sheriff to take care o’ their wagon, but how’s he supposed to do that? He’s got to find the robbers,†she finished indignantly.
Tasar had been in the taproom sketching when the strangers had arrived, the woman leaning heavily on the man, fanning herself with a white handkerchief. She moaned and sighed at her husband, who called loudly for the Sheriff, then she saw the common room. She had stood up quite on her own, disgust writ plain upon her face, as she lifted her skirts up to her ankles, as thought to keep them from brushing the floor. Tasar had been indignant on the staff’s behalf, for the Inn was quite clean.
But that cart, Tasar could do something about that, she was certain she could. She’d done work mostly furniture and signs, while Gwaddyn did the more difficult work, but it would be fun to tackle something larger. She would go make the offer.
“You should get back to work,†she said, smiling at Cherry. “I’m going to go see if I can help with the cart.â€
She made her way through the crowded kitchen, to the door which led into the taproom. Maybe the strangers were in there and she could talk to them now. Timidly she opened the door, and walked into the main room of the inn.
Impenitent
Date Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:01 pm
"I don’t know why a hen’s egg won’t do him! Or a duck egg, for that matter! Minnie’s been telling him for three days that the geese are off the lay and he’s still askin’ for ‘his reg’lar evenin’ fry-up – and mind, he says, he can tell a goose egg from a duck’s lay!’ The cheek of him to imply my staff ‘d cheat him, though the door’s wide open for anyone with half a brain to do it blindfold! "
Briar-Rose was fair fuming, as she often did when she’d had too big a dose of idiocy from the Inn’s customers. A few years back, she’d just give them a tongue lashing and cut the legs from under them, but she’d promised Brock to try to hold her tongue – it weren’t fair on the witless ones.
"It was all I could do to hold back from tellin’ him that his backside’s broad enough and he ought to try sparrows-egg for a change. If he carries on again tomorra, I will tell him!"
Brock looked warily up at his sister, knowing that if he said a word, even a mild one, she’d turn the lash of her tongue on him. He sat quiet over the volume of the Inn’s accounts, playing with his quill gently as he let her blow off steam. She paced up and down in front of his writing desk, unconscious of the affectionate smile that played around his grey eyes. Finally, she sighed and threw herself into the chair in the corner and Brock turned his attention back to the cost of flour.
"Brock…"
"Hmmm?…"
"Who d’ye think the robber could be? Those strangers who arrived last night, they said they were waylaid by a tall man all in black; and they said his horse was all black too. I’ve been thinkin’…there’s no all-black horses belonging to any folk of Bree, are there?"
Brock considered in his quiet way before answering her. His sister’s sharp mind often went to quickly for her own good and she’d obviously found some kind of insight. Things had been quiet in Bree lately so she was chasing away her boredom with some excitement.
He saw her watching him carefully, though her eyes skitted away quickly when he caught her and a look of innocence suffused her pretty face.
"Now, Rosie, what are you thinking of doin’? You leave well enough alone – the Sheriff will have it all in hand and you know how riled he was last time you interefered!"
"Rosie, is it?" Briar raised her expressive eyebrows at him in mirth, snorting at his attempt to coax her. "What d’you think I’m going to do? Ride out with Da’s sword and try to find the culprit?" she poked her tongue out at him, but Brock knew her well enough and his steady look said it all. She dropped her eyes to her lap the better to hide her guilty smile and, quietly now, answered his question while ostensibly inspecting her fingernails.
"Thomas is still a newcomer here, Brock and though he would never admit it, he doesn’t know our ways enough to get around those who need gettin’ ‘round. All I’m going to do is pay some friendly visits to some neighbours hereabouts and have a little quiet conversation."
She risked a peek at her brother from the corner of her eye. A lopsided frown creased his fair face and he shook his head slowly from side to side.
"Briar, you’ll get yourself into all sorts of strife. It’s not like there’s not enough at the Inn to keep you busy twice over! When will you learn?…"
Briar rose briskly from her chair, smoothing her skirts and shaking back the dark tendrils that had escaped her braid and were now curling into her eyes.
"I am learning, Brock. I’m learning all the time!" She winked at him and turned quickly to the door, and then stopped to look over her shoulder "And if you’re still intending to go out hunting this night, can you bring back some coneys? We haven’t had a rabbit stew for abit and Minnie says she’s had requests."
Brock grunted assent, stifling a sigh nevertheless, knowing that she was trying to divert him from discussing her intention to meddle once again. Not that he relished trying to talk her out of it – he never could do so, his tongue wasn’t half so swift as hers. If she wasn’t so clever and quick, her curiosity would have killed her by now.
Briar skipped quickly down the narrow stair that led from the siblings’ private quarters, turned to enter her tap room and saw the sheriff’s back just disappearing behind the swinging doors. With a glint in her warm grey eyes, Briar followed him in, calling out sweetly to Sioban to bring the Sheriff a pint and some water for herself.
Thomas du Foros turned around at the sound of her voice, his smile friendly enough but his eyes just a touch wary – his past experiences with Mistress Feverfew had taught him to look further than that soft-as-down exterior.
"I’m afraid I can’t stop for a pint, Mistress; I’ve just a few questions on my mind and I’d like to see your newest guests again if I could, to clarify some points. Are they staying in the private rooms upstairs?"
"They are! They've been complainin' since breakfast. I’ll send a message for 'em by Cherry in a moment, but tell me…have you any more information about the horse?"
Briar gently took his arm and steered him without seeming towards a quiet table and sat herself cunningly to prevent his escape. "The highwayman’s horse, apparently jet-black with no markings at all…A very unusual animal, wouldn’t you say?"
lhaewin
Date Posted: Wed Dec 1, 2004 10:18 am
The birds twittered in the trees. Lily opened her eyes and she wished once more that she could understand the little fellows. She jumped out of the bed as soon as she realized that the first sunbeams and the blue almost cloudless sky promised a wonderful early spring day.
She washed her face and her hands, dressed quickly and brewed herself a cup of tea. She did not want to lose too much time with an enlarged breakfast, so she just ate some cookies and a piece of the lovely cake, her neighbour Brit had given to her yesterday because Lily had eased Brit´s little daughter´s pain when she got her first tooth. She completed her early morning tea with some fruits and put off the sweet pancakes to the second breakfast after she would have returned from her excursion.
She took her basket and put on her warm cloak because the sun wasn´t yet strong enough to warm the chilly air. Lily had been waiting for a bright day to set off into the woods to cut the recently grown herbs which were needed for some remedies. For that purpose she took her sharp knife with her, which could also serve her as a means of defence if necessary.
Outside she met Meg, another neighbour, an old woman who always had been very friendly to her. "Good morning, Meg" she said merrily and smiled. "Good morning, Lily, where are you going so early?" Meg asked. "Just to the woods", Lily answered, "maybe I can find some herbs to cure your sore back." The old woman frowned. "But don´t you know what had happened? I would not leave this area today, if I were you, Lily."
"What´s wrong?" Lily asked and put down her basket. She knew that she had to listen to Meg´s gossip for a while and she did not want to appear rude. "Travellers had been robbed by a highwayman not far from Bree. And he might still linger around." Lily laughed. "Look at me, Meg, what would a highwayman expect to find with a hobbit like me? I am not afraid of such persons." "And the geese? Haven´t you heard about the geese as well?" Lily gave Meg a confused glance. "The geese? You mean Farmer Giles´ geese? I heard that they hadn´t laid eggs for some days. But this is none of our business and certainly no reason to stay at home." Meg moved close to Lily and put one hand on her shoulder. "Girl, how can you be so naive? Farmer Giles tells everyone who can´t get away in time, that he suspects us hobbits to bewitch his geese."
"Meg, some people are ridiculous." Lily said. "Look, this is a wonderful morning and neither a highwayman nor Farmer Giles´ geese will spoil it for me. I was looking forward to walking into the forest and getting some fresh air and this is exactly what I am going to do now. But thank you for the warning. See you later, Meg." She picked up her basket, nodded to Meg with a friendly smile and walked away.