Ru and I lead the way out of the gate.

Author: * Ruaidri Cruithni - 17 Posts on this thread out of 204 Posts sitewide.
Date: Nov 18, 2005 - 23:47

The others follow us and soon we come to the trail. Ru quietly points to the tracks left by the thieves, and we move along in the moonlight, following the trail.

Soon we can see the fire, down in a small valley not far from the river. There are trees on the valley walls, so we can't see if they have any guards out. Ru signals with his spear, pointing in two directions, and we divide up, slipping quietly around as we spread out.

Ru and I go straight ahead until we are among the first of the trees. We move slowly and carefully, taking care that we don't rustle leaves or step on any twigs. I keep glancing up into the trees, in case guards are there, but see nothing. They would be outlined by the moon if they were there. Soon, we are close enough to see the encampment. We have seen no sign of guards.

The men in the camp are sitting around the fire, passing wineskins around, laughing and talking. One starts singing in a raucious voice, but the others make him stop. I can hear the pointed and unkind but true comments on his lack of ability to sing, and he sits back in a sulk, taking a big swig from a wineskin. They seem to have been drinking for some time, and are well on the way to drinking themselves to sleep.

The one who seems to be the leader starts making bragging comments about how easy it has been to take our yellow stones. He has a very poor opinion of Gartan, saying he is a poor mormaer if he doesn't have better guards. Ru stiffens at my side, and I quickly put a hand on his arm to calm him. He admires Gartan, and has been his true man ever since he first took up a spear.

Leaning my face close to his ear, I whisper "How good a leader is he, who has set no guards on his own camp? Never fear, we will come back in strength and recover what we can, and leave them dead. We will prove what a good mormaer Gartan is, and bring honour to the Dunn."