Closing the Net

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd August 2012

Characters: Sarban, Corowal, Zandan
Description: Zandan tells the others about the holdless problem.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 1 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Jenackt

Corowal waited with Zandan for the arrival of his steward.
Zandan had just arrived from the cothold after two days of fruitless
search, and felt like he needed ten hours sleep and a bath. "I rather tell
it to you both at the same time,"
he said, running fingers against his cheek. He hadn't shaved and it showed.

Sarban hadn't shaved either and looked a bit rough. Grunting, he sat
down and waited to hear the news, certain it wasn't going to be good
if it was the drag-you-out-of bed-early kind.

"Okay," Zandan took a breath. "I was alerted by one of the cotholders in
River Wood/High Hills area. A Holdless had broken into their hold and
attacked his daughter, who caught him in the act. The cotholder's people
gave a chase but lost the track when the scumbag went into the river."

"Ah...." Rubbing his chin, the steward processed the information
and then gave Corowal a look. "Was he alone or were there more
of them? If he was alone, then that's better for us, though he may
be harder to catch."

"Just one person. Can't say he doesn't have mates somewhere," Zandan
shrugged. "I've got few other reports from thefts and break-in's. Mostly
food," Zandan told them.

"Hmm, do we have a description?" Corowal asked.

"A vague one, she didn't get much details," Zandan replied and pulled out
the hide where he had written it down: "Tall, thin, light colored hair,
maybe
blonde, age anywhere between 15 to 25," he made face.

Something about that niggled in Sarban's brain, but he couldn't really
say what it was. "Allright, so he's stealing food and he's staying around
here. Is there any sort of pattern in those break-in reports? Are they close
by each other? Maybe his hole is in the middle or something?"

"They seem to concentrate to the eastern holds," Zandan replied. "That's
where his main hunting grounds seem to be."

"That's still alot to ground to cover," Corowal sighed. "Okay, put up a
reward
for this fellow and spread the word. Perhaps his luck run out and we catch
him."

"Hopefully, and let the holders know to be on their guard. Maybe we can
get a few more watchwher pups from the beastcraft hall..." Sarban knew
that with wild animals and those sorts of things the creatures could be
useful
and they lived longer than canines.

Corowal looked pained. "Please, do you have any idea how much those
beasties cost? Maybe we get lucky and ours produce a clutch."

"Couple guards posted around those cotholders might discourage the
scavenger,"
Zandan said and Corowal just nodded his approval.

"I think we might be able to bargain with the hall...give them something
they
need in exchange, but aye it would be good if we could get some eggs out of
ours." Sarban looked up into the air. "Tell them to start lighting their
fireheights
every night, not just on threadfall days. It'll light up the area enough to
help them
to see."

"Does it reach all their beastholds?" Zandan wondered. "Might make them feel
safer though."

"The ones that are attached would be fine. Those that have the animals in
a separate cave-I don't know." Still, a blazing fire did a lot to
illuminate the
grounds in most cases. It could also provide ready torches if they needed.

"Even little increase in security may make this thief's work harder,"
Corowal remarked.

"If it's a boy, as you say, he can probably blend in a little easier than a
full
grown man. I'd also hazard a guess that someone has to be feeding him if
he's stayed alive this long. The reports you have aren't enough to sustain
someone of his size, even if he does hunt and fish on the side." Sarban was
probably the most avid fisher at the Hold-he knew what was available.

"A large-eyed, cute young man could easily melt some lone widow's heart,"
Zandan
remarked.

"Maybe....we say he's dangerous...or has a disease...to reduce his aid?"
Sarban loved misinformation and they had to get an advantage over the kid
somehow.

"Dangerous, for sure, didn't he attack a young girl?" Corowal said. "We
could
release few gossips where the girl's condition is exaggerated."

"Rape?" Zandan suggested rather maliciously.

"Not rape. That'll damage the child's reputation which will make her father
want to kill us and ruin her life and marriage prospects. But definitely
assault?"
Of course women were beaten often, but discipline and some outsider hurting
them was something different.

"Definitely an assault," Corowal agreed. "We leave out the bit where she
whacked
his ribs," Corowal sniggered. "Perhaps you should recruit her as a guard,
Zan."

"Ha haa, I'm so amused," Zandan said sourly, although he was used to
Corowal's teasing.

"Allright-good plan," Sarban replied, looking around at the other men to
see if he could
sneak off to go get a shower and shave before breakfast.

"Anything else?" Corowal asked.

Zandan shook his head. "I'll just go to dispatch my men to comb the forests
around
River Wood hold and High Hills hold."

Last updated on the August 3rd 2012

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Closing the Net