[Child of the 7th Age]

November 2

Cami listened carefully while Josh stood in front of the group just as they were about to leave the farmhouse. "We're homeward bound," he assured his friends. Cami's sturdy pony Dandelion was loaded down with several large burlap bags filled with pipeweed. Smaller packets of weed had been tucked away in packs and satchels strapped to the hobbits' waists and backs. Josh grinned and nodded at his companions. "We did everything Paladin asked us to do. Let's keep our eyes open. This may be the most dangerous part. We'll cut through the open fields and keep off the roads. Who knows if the Shirriffs have ridden off to get help from Ferny's men?"

With this final sobering thought, the band set out in a northerly direction winding through the tall grasses of the meadows and staying within the shelter of whatever overhanging bushes and shrubs they could find. Still, in many places, there was no cover at all. They were silhouetted starkly against the horizon, clearly visible to whoever might be riding or walking nearby. Neither Josh nor Hob felt terribly comfortable with this, but there was little that could be done to alleviate the situation.

Only about ten miles into their journey, they came to a place where the grassy flatlands gave way to some small rolling hills. The first rays of the sun were just spilling over the dappled hilltop on which they'd stopped for a moment, when Josh came over and hastily latched onto Hob's sleeve pointing urgently to the plains below. In clear view, not more than half a mile distant, three mounts came trotting wearily overland, making their way slowly through the bracken. There seemed to be a man mounted on each of the horses; two of them had an additional passenger--small, huddled figures about the same size as a hobbit who were precariously perched on the front of the saddle.

[ October 22, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]