Smoke in the Folde (February 3010) [Eomer]
Oct 24, 2017 2:54:46 GMT -5
Post by Ceolmund on Oct 24, 2017 2:54:46 GMT -5
Not far east of the camp, the smell of human flesh was apparent to a bawdy traveling troupe of orcs, and the had sent two scouts further afield to see what the humans were up to. They were enroute to whichever farm stead they found first, for they were hungry and it had been days since they had eaten anything other than the stray rabbit or the moldy bread in their pockets. A fresh suckling piglet or even an old mare would be better than that.
"They've a litter they're haulin'," the largest orc, Kruglak, muttered.
"A sick'un on it. They cayn't move fast, we shud break inta the camp and smash'em before they know what's hit'em," the second in command, Pigdug, whispered in his gruff voice.
"How many they have?" Kruglak seemed to be trying to count in the darkness; but he could not count past the number of his mangled fingers, and lost track.
"Enuf ta make a nice roast o'r the fire," the Pigdug cackled.
"There's no fire. Those horse lovers won't see us come in. We'll surprise em, there's at least enough of us to match, as long as they cayn't smell you afore we get there."
"Let's back ter tell the Captain, he'll know what we should do." Kruglak moving hunched back through the grassy plain to their own camp.
----
Ceolmund was on his watch of the night, his eyes scanned the horizon in the darkness as the wind blew west to east. All he could smell was the snow and mud upon the air, and Tait munched at the dry grasses as he sit atop her back; looking further.
There seemed an uneasiness over the camp; the men were restless, even the woman on the litter seemed uneasy in her sleep, bundled as she was. Eomer had taken a turn to watch over her while the others rested, and the night wore on. Dawn would come soon; daylight would bring a relief, as there would be no sneaking up on them on the plains.
Tait snorted, and her ears moved side to side, listening. The black mare raised her head and looked eastward; as if she had heard something move upon the plains to draw her interest, but it was only some moments before she returned to grazing.
"They've a litter they're haulin'," the largest orc, Kruglak, muttered.
"A sick'un on it. They cayn't move fast, we shud break inta the camp and smash'em before they know what's hit'em," the second in command, Pigdug, whispered in his gruff voice.
"How many they have?" Kruglak seemed to be trying to count in the darkness; but he could not count past the number of his mangled fingers, and lost track.
"Enuf ta make a nice roast o'r the fire," the Pigdug cackled.
"There's no fire. Those horse lovers won't see us come in. We'll surprise em, there's at least enough of us to match, as long as they cayn't smell you afore we get there."
"Let's back ter tell the Captain, he'll know what we should do." Kruglak moving hunched back through the grassy plain to their own camp.
----
Ceolmund was on his watch of the night, his eyes scanned the horizon in the darkness as the wind blew west to east. All he could smell was the snow and mud upon the air, and Tait munched at the dry grasses as he sit atop her back; looking further.
There seemed an uneasiness over the camp; the men were restless, even the woman on the litter seemed uneasy in her sleep, bundled as she was. Eomer had taken a turn to watch over her while the others rested, and the night wore on. Dawn would come soon; daylight would bring a relief, as there would be no sneaking up on them on the plains.
Tait snorted, and her ears moved side to side, listening. The black mare raised her head and looked eastward; as if she had heard something move upon the plains to draw her interest, but it was only some moments before she returned to grazing.