[Child of the 7th Age]

The men had raided the pantry for food, coming up with a pitcher of ale and several pork pies, which they'd hastily stuffed into their mouths. Then, just for fun, they'd overturned and destroyed everything in sight: the plump down mattress, the rickety table and chairs, the carved chest that Maura had made, and a few pieces of crockery Cami had borrowed from the Inn.

Worst of all, Shifty and Ratty tore down the shelf near the window that held all of Cami's books. They'd hurled them outside one-by-one and used them to aim at a variety of targets, yelling and roughousing with each other in the process.

It was Ferny who put a quick end to this horseplay, collaring Ratty and dragging him in by the scruff of the pants. "Shut yer traps. Git in here. You'll wake the whole neighborhood."

"But Boss. There's nobody here. Absolutely nobody. It's like they all disappeared."

Ferny growled back, "That may be so. But they could be back any minute. Anyways they're probably just down by the Inn."

"I want everyone to be careful. Stoatie, take off for the Inn with three of the men. Spy it out. Take the extra horse with you."

"If everything looks clear, wait in the bushes till midnight, then go ahead with the strike. Just send Ratty back so he'll tell me what you're doin'. Once you get the brats and their mother, take off. Head north and stay off the roads.

Stoatie grunted agreement and gathered the ruffians together. Each man led his horse towards the rear courtyard of the Inn keeping a tight grip on his weapons in case anything unusual turned up.

[ June 23, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]