The Mayor inspects the Hedge repairs
“What news?” said Harald to the Captain of Guards. They were walking toward the gate and the Hedge, where the Hobbits had labored under Berilac’s guidance.
“The whole town knows you rounded up the older boys and gave them an ultimatum. Except Farroweed of course. And now the miscreants are helping us with a will.“
“May they help as much as the Hobbits! Look at the improvement.” Harald waved to the Hobbit Ranger. “Berilac! When this is over we shall be in your debt.”
Berilac said something about the credit not being his. He called the Hobbit workers forward.
Harald started to speak. Then he realized he towered over them like a tree, and he cared for once. Kneeling brought him to their eye level. He thanked each adult and child and shook their hands.
The Hobbit leader said, “Say that we finish plugging all the holes in the Hedge. What then?”
“I have been thinking of our resources. Even with your good help, we Breelanders are spread all to thin. Our lads and lasses are coming to deepen the ditch. But the bandits may start raiding the farms at any time, and then we are lost. We are too few to hold the countryside, and if the farms fall, so will the town, alas. But I have been thinking of a plan. Sit with me here on the ground.”
Seated, their height meant nothing, Harald noted. Perhaps it meant nothing all the time. “Speak to no one of this but members of the town council,” he said. “We must assume the bandits outnumber us. Instead of spreading ourselves thin, what if we all stuck together in the town and lured them in? We could leave a weak place of our choosing and be waiting. Maybe a gate.”
“How could we lure them in?” asked Telien.
“We must have Minastan bring them to the point we choose. He can tell them he knows a secret way in, or that we have a food storehouse, or what he wills. When they come we will be perched high on building tops, and in trees.”
Berilac liked that idea – Big or Little would make no difference high up.
“We will have weapons and torches, but better, we shall have a net of ropes. The frailest gaffers and gammers can tie rope. And we will have a secret ring of people all around, with a fence of ropes and poles like a noose. It takes little training to hold a pole and a rope.”
“Our archers can disarm them – we’ll aim for their weapons,” said Telien. “Then we drop the nets and hold them under guard.”
“And talk sense to them, I hope,” said Harald.
Berilac cleared his throat. This was the first time he had talked serious council to the Mayor. He said “We Hobbits make good archers. But how can we let Minastan know our plan?”
Harald grinned. “He has a wolfhound that sleeps in Dantha’s barn when Minastan is away.” He pointed to the red handkerchief about his neck. “We will put a note inside this scarf, tie it around the dog, and put the dog on Minastan’s trail. Nothing hunts a trail like a good wolfhound.”
The Hobbit Ranger and the Captain of Guards nodded, thinking of the difficulty of defending the outlying farms. The three sat together for a while longer, having their war council. Face to face.
[ November 20, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]
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