Kidnapped! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

doug*platypus · 01-10-2003, 08:05 PM

Into the Wild

As night fell, the band of kidnappers made camp at the edge of a small wood. Not far away now the land started to slope down towards the floodplains of the Great River. Skara the Woodsman had changed direction during the day, and shortly after midday they had found the tracks of their outward course. He was now leading his men back to the Great River to find their rafts. Skara was the greatest tracker of his village, and not for nothing had he been asked to lead this dangerous raid. Now he was returning with a great prize. A prize that the Elders would not get so cheaply! The men he had here were the most part of the best warriors of their village. We will sell her ourselves to another tribe, thought Skara, my men and I. She would not be the plaything of one of the lazy Elders, not unless he could raise the highest price.

After making sure the captive was bound, Skara set the fierce Blair to watch over her. He was, so Skara thought, too thick-headed to think of escaping alone with her. At any rate, Blair did not have the woodcraft to make it back east from here, and he was not the type to betray his fellows anyway. Some of the men however were already speaking up against this thing or that. Skara could hear them talking from where he sat on watch, his bow strung.

Some were saying they should have stayed longer in the Elvenwood, should have returned with gold and jewels, and more weapons. All of them had eyed Rû-Sahn's new dagger with a mix of awe and greed. There was also talk of not waiting to sell the Elf-maid. One of the Easterlings started to speak of needing 'entertainment' out here in the wild lands. Hoarse laughter erupted, but Skara was worried it would go beyond a joke and that their prize would be damaged.

Finally he could take no more. Checking to see that there were more watchers in place, he made his way over to where his men were, purposefully taking his bow with him.

"Enough talk! It's time to rest, or have you forgotten all of your complaints already?" it had been a long night and day of flight from the Elvenwood, with few stops. The men grumbled, some settling down for sleep. Skara turned to the one who had stirred them up with thoughts of the Elf-girl.

"Rogar, the girl is not for you, unless you be much richer than you look! She is going to make us wealthy. All of us."

"Hmmph!" the large man grunted. "She's just a girl. We should be coming back with riches already. What of the Elf-jewels and the trees made of gold?"

"Yes, and what of the Elf bows, and getting stuck like a pincushion?" Skara replied. "Did you forget we were attacked? Maybe Barold can remind you!"

He pointed to where the wounded man was turning and moaning in his sleep. His shoulder had gotten steadily worse during the day's march, and it was beyond the skill of Blair's young sister to heal it properly out here. Rogar looked over at him but was unimpressed by the smaller man's hurt.

"What's the matter Skara?" he asked. "Scared of a few little Elves are we?"

"Of course not!" Skara spat at out him, though it was a lie. He had never felt fear in a wood by night or light for many years, until he had glimpsed the Elvenwood. It held a power and a menace that he did not want to face for any longer than necessary.

"There's no sign of them yet, Rogar. We will escape them!" this part he said louder so that all could hear him. "We'll be home within a week, and the whole village will be feasting and drinking, and praising our strength. Then we will sell the captive and be well paid."

This said, he returned to keep watch. Soon afterwards one of his men returned from the wood with a boar he had skewered. Without heed of the danger, the starving men lit a fire and roasted it, feeling much better for their leader's words and their full bellies.

01-10-2003, 08:05 PM	#11
doug*platypus Delver in the Deep Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 960	Into the Wild As night fell, the band of kidnappers made camp at the edge of a small wood. Not far away now the land started to slope down towards the floodplains of the Great River. Skara the Woodsman had changed direction during the day, and shortly after midday they had found the tracks of their outward course. He was now leading his men back to the Great River to find their rafts. Skara was the greatest tracker of his village, and not for nothing had he been asked to lead this dangerous raid. Now he was returning with a great prize. A prize that the Elders would not get so cheaply! The men he had here were the most part of the best warriors of their village. We will sell her ourselves to another tribe, thought Skara, my men and I. She would not be the plaything of one of the lazy Elders, not unless he could raise the highest price. After making sure the captive was bound, Skara set the fierce Blair to watch over her. He was, so Skara thought, too thick-headed to think of escaping alone with her. At any rate, Blair did not have the woodcraft to make it back east from here, and he was not the type to betray his fellows anyway. Some of the men however were already speaking up against this thing or that. Skara could hear them talking from where he sat on watch, his bow strung. Some were saying they should have stayed longer in the Elvenwood, should have returned with gold and jewels, and more weapons. All of them had eyed Rû-Sahn's new dagger with a mix of awe and greed. There was also talk of not waiting to sell the Elf-maid. One of the Easterlings started to speak of needing 'entertainment' out here in the wild lands. Hoarse laughter erupted, but Skara was worried it would go beyond a joke and that their prize would be damaged. Finally he could take no more. Checking to see that there were more watchers in place, he made his way over to where his men were, purposefully taking his bow with him. "Enough talk! It's time to rest, or have you forgotten all of your complaints already?" it had been a long night and day of flight from the Elvenwood, with few stops. The men grumbled, some settling down for sleep. Skara turned to the one who had stirred them up with thoughts of the Elf-girl. "Rogar, the girl is not for you, unless you be much richer than you look! She is going to make us wealthy. All of us." "Hmmph!" the large man grunted. "She's just a girl. We should be coming back with riches already. What of the Elf-jewels and the trees made of gold?" "Yes, and what of the Elf bows, and getting stuck like a pincushion?" Skara replied. "Did you forget we were attacked? Maybe Barold can remind you!" He pointed to where the wounded man was turning and moaning in his sleep. His shoulder had gotten steadily worse during the day's march, and it was beyond the skill of Blair's young sister to heal it properly out here. Rogar looked over at him but was unimpressed by the smaller man's hurt. "What's the matter Skara?" he asked. "Scared of a few little Elves are we?" "Of course not!" Skara spat at out him, though it was a lie. He had never felt fear in a wood by night or light for many years, until he had glimpsed the Elvenwood. It held a power and a menace that he did not want to face for any longer than necessary. "There's no sign of them yet, Rogar. We will escape them!" this part he said louder so that all could hear him. "We'll be home within a week, and the whole village will be feasting and drinking, and praising our strength. Then we will sell the captive and be well paid." This said, he returned to keep watch. Soon afterwards one of his men returned from the wood with a boar he had skewered. Without heed of the danger, the starving men lit a fire and roasted it, feeling much better for their leader's words and their full bellies. __________________ But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.