His mug mug struck the table as he set it down, soon following with a rumbling laugh. Skunkwood raised his fist to brush away the tears his fit of laughter brought him, Applewood had a sort of quiet laugh as he sat down on the chair his head tilted as he looked down his boot. “Good times, we had.” said Skunkwood, calming down after a few moments. Bill raised his mug, “And we’ll have more, soon. How’s your end of business?” asked Bill.
Skunkwood tilted his head from left to right, “It’s fine, here and there. Fewer and fewer merchants are marchin’ up towards Bree, though. Me’thinks that there’s more trouble down south. Probably something similar with our northern issue.” Applewood frowned slightly and shook his head, though he kept quiet. Bill stood on up, and stepped toward the window of the inn, looking down. “What happens to Bree effects us all. With the Southrons setting up camps to surround the town, cutting off the trade..It’ll drive the folk into a frenzy sooner or later. Prices will raise. The poor will be down to selling the rags on their backs and eating rats and boot leather.” the former lumberman turned to face the other two, and leaned against the window, arms crossed. “We need to strike quickly, and to strike hard, at them. Reclaim the farms. Cut off their supply. But before that, we need to reunite with our brothers in Chetwood south.” he said, pushing himself off the window, and walked toward the dresser, where her took up the map of Bree. He unrolled it, and set it down on the table.
Applewood pursed his lips in thought as he looked down at the map, his tongue digging in his teeth as he thought. Bill set his finger down to where the Headquarters is, “We’ve got a sizable force. Chetwood provides us food, proximity to Staddle allows us to steal grain from time to time. The marsh, for the capture of frogs, and some small fish.” he said, shaking his head, “But we ain’t got the resources to feed the whole town. We got enough to spare a bit, but it’s enough to keep us afloat.” he waved his hand, “Anyway. We need to reunite with our brothers, here.” he said, tapping the Yellow Tree upon the map with his finger, “I say we take back these folk, and use that, to scale the hills. Buy rope, and whatnot.”
Skunkwood raised his hand to rub at the back of his head, “Can’t say I follow.” he said frowning. Bill cleared his throat, “Me, and a group of our best, and best equipped, scale the hills, so that we can hit South-guard. While me and some of the boys deploy right under their nose, you, or someone else leads another group right to their front gate. Say you want to talk. When we start fightin, that’s when you join in. We take South-Guard, means we take the southern road, cutting off the supplies here. With this, and taking the eastern road, their sources will be spread thin, and we’ll have the upper hand while they start to starve.” Bill concluded, smiling to himself, obviously pleased.
Skunkwood and Applewood both nodded with some approval, “Besides, I’m sure Boss Dogwood wants his farm back from those foreign shits. I’m sure they’ll send reinforcements from beyond Breelands borders, but if we start to establish ties with the Watch, we can ambush whatever they send. I’m sure after all this, they will want to move someplace else, with easier pickings. After these shits are dealt with, we’ll bring the Blackwold into a new road. We’ll own Bree, and the underworld. Not by stealing grain from hobbits. Not by robbing folks passin’ by, nah. We’ll dominate the trade. Worm our way into the guilds. Claim the farms, and control the food. We will evolve, the Blackwolds. We’ll provide work. And soon enough, who will people answer to, the Mayor? Or the men that give them the bread, aswell as butter it?” he finished, a triumphant smile played across his lips.
The other two nodded a few times, “It’d be a step up from what we’ve got. I for one, would rather kick my feet up in an office, than sleep in a tent cursin’ flies and hopin’ a wolf won’t chew my left nut. I’m in.” said Skunkwood. Applewood raised his hand, “I’m in, too. Blackwolds been too long in the shadow. Bought time we bask in a blaze o’ glory, no?”
They took their mugs, and raised it for a toast, before a loud banging was at the door, “Oi, Bill. I know your in there, it’s me, Sageford.” said the watchmen. Skunkwood and Applewood seemingly froze, and looked at one another, and then at Bill. Bill raised a hand to them, “Don’t worry about it.” he said, quietly. Bill stepped toward the door, “What do you need, Constable?” Bill asked.
Constable Sageford rest a hand on the threshold. “Right, well…” he paused, pressing his lips together as though ashamed. “Folks in fancy clothes came. From the Mayor, said something that you haven’t paid taxes for the past few months.” he said. Bill stared at the door in silence for a long moment, letting the silence hang. The Constable opened his mouth, and just as he was about to start talking again, Bill opened the door. Skunkwood was on his feet, arms crossed, Applewood had his axe, his thumb sliding along it’s edge.
Sageford took a moment to take in the fact that Breelands patriot is in the same room sharing drinks with Breelands wanted. He seemed to sort of recoil, as he took a step forward, wrapping his head around the whole situation, before bring his gaze back to Bill, “Wha-, what..” he began, before clearing his throat and shaking his head. Bill grabbed the Watchman by his collar, and pulled firmly, letting him drop his spear, and stumble on into the room, with Bill closing the door behind him. “Oi alright, no need for that, Bill.” snapped the Constable, growling angrily.
Bill locked the door, and leaned against it as he stared at the Watchman. “I was too busy fighting for my damned life in the North, to fret over damned taxes.” he said, nodding his head, “How much do I owe? I’ll clear it up in the morning.” he said. Sageford took up the paper tucked in his belt, and unrolled it, “Fifty silver.” said the Watchman, his eyes going to the other two Blackwolds with a slight frown, though he thought better than to press the subject.
The former Lumberman waved his hand dismissivly, “I’ll handle it in the morning, have a good night, Constable.” he said, opening the door for the Watchman. Sageford stared at Bill for a short moment, and set the paper on the table. “I’m sure the Mayor will want words.” he said, as he stepped on out, picked up his spear, and walked down the hall.
Bill shut the door, and looked to the other two, “We’ve got business to discuss.”
