[piosenniel]

Berilac

Berilac was up long before the sun. He nudged his brother awake, holding a finger to his own lips as he whispered, ‘Quiet! Do not wake the children. Walk with me to the Mayor’s office; I have something I need to talk over with you.’ Rosco pulled on his breeches and tunic, grabbing his cloak from the peg by the door as the two exited. He walked along quietly beside him, knowing that prompting him to speak his mind would meet with no success. The man would speak when he was ready.

They had just come to the crossroads where a right turn would put them on the path to the Town Hall. Berilac, a little ahead of his brother, did not make the turn, but continued to walk in the same direction as previously. The Ranger sighed, and pulled the note that Andreth had sent to him. ‘What do you think of this?’ he asked Rosco. ‘She’s a fair judge of people, I think. But can we trust a man who razed some of the outlying farms and had plans to invade Bree itself.’

Rosco read through the short note, then arched his brow at his brother. ‘Oath of peace, eh?’ Berilac glanced at his brother, waiting for him to go on. ‘I’ll give you his “oath of peace” – you still have his son at the Inn. Keep his son there, and take the man with you to the meeting. He’ll keep his oath, then.’

‘So, I thought, too,’ said Berilac. ‘Though I hate to use a man’s child against him.’ He stopped in his tracks, and asked Rosco to continue on the Inn. ‘Tell Andreth we will pick Guthwine up on our way to meet with Lotar, just before noon.’

~*~

Berilac hastened up the path to the Town Hall. Harald and Telien were there ahead of him, as well as the Mayor’s clerk with his list of goods which Harald had asked him to research. The Ranger could hear the man working his way down the list as he pushed open the door.

‘ . . . packets of seeds we have here – vegetables and herbs of all sorts . . . garden implements . . . two large wagons and seven smaller carts – these will have to be hand-pulled. We’ve only enough horses to spare for the wagons . . . smoked hams, and a good deal of salted pork . . . tubers, of all sorts . . . gardening implements . . . Now the weavers’ guild has some bolts of serviceable cloth they can send . . . sorry we haven’t any boots to spare, but the tanner has given a number of tanned hides for use . . . we’ve found those big tents the village uses for the midsummer faire . . . they should house a large part of the majority . . . the women have pitched in – there’ll be quilts aplenty . . .’

The man scratched his head for a moment, as he considered the list.

‘Lumber’s a problem . . . there’s really no way to transport it . . . but we looked at the area Berilac suggested – there are plenty of trees . . . given the right tools they can fell and plane their own . . . nails of course, we can spare them . . . best thing, though, is I spoke with the smithy – he has an old, small portable forge . . . serviceable . . . it’ll see them through to better days . . .’

The man’s voice droned on, filling Harald in on what he needed to know. Berilac motioned for Telien to come to the other side of the room. He filled the captain in on the fact that Guthwine would now be accompanying them to the meeting. Telien nodded his head, saying that might prove a good move, since Guthwine did have a number of men in the refugee group over whom he had influence.


The sun rose higher in the sky as the three men planned their strategy. When it was just an hour before noon, the trio headed to the Inn. Andreth had persuaded the guards to let Guthwine and Rudgar come up to the main room. The grim warrior sat at his son’s bedside, speaking softly with him as they entered, a smile lighting his face. Berilac spoke briefly to Guthwine, telling him he would be allowed to go out to speak with Lotar and that Rudgar would also go along. ‘There will be guards who go with us,’ he said to the man, and you will not be armed. We will not bind you, unless you give us cause to.’ Berilac nodded toward the man’s son, who was now peacefully sleeping. ‘He will have to stay behind, until the terms are hammered out to all our satisfaction.’ Guthwine nodded his head as he gazed at his son, knowing this was a prudent move on the part of the Breelanders.

Andreth cleared her throat as they finished speaking, motioning for the Ranger to see her for a moment. She drew forth one of the women who stood near her and introduced her to Berilac. ‘This is Kirima. She came in with the women to help with the sick children. Lilac and I have put together a box of herbs and unguents for her to take back to the camp – there are many there still ill who would not come into town. We’ve also packed a little hand cart for her to take with her. It holds the medicine box, and some bandages, but most of all it has dried meats ands vegetables for soups, and some dried apples, too.’ Hands on hips, Andreth looked at him, mustering arguments should he disapprove.

Berilac smiled and shook his head at her. ‘No argument from me, Andreth. We’ll see her safely to the meeting.’ He nodded at Kirima, motioning for her to start for the door. It was almost time for the meeting. Berilac herded the group out the door and down the path to the West Gate. Telien led the way, followed by Harald. Then came Kirima with Guthwine and Rudgar trailing her. Rudgar pushed the wagon for her, followed by two of Telien’s guard and Berilac in the rear. The naturally curious folk of Bree lined the road and poked their heads out of their windows, watching the group's progress.

There was little talk among the members of the group as they made their way through the Gate and proceeded to the meeting on the field . . .