Tightly she grasped me, her cold hands, white as snow locked around my waist. I smiled down at her as naturally, I went to hug her, though my arms took hold of nothing. Her grasped tightened, 'They broke.' she said, in Corrbens voice. I shook my head, and looked down at the whiskey in my hands, only to see a figure in red approach.
I creased my brow in anger to see who has roused me from the thought of Milly, only to see the kind face that tended to my wounds before. I smiled, as she came by to ask how I was feeling. Ellany, was her name. Sweet lass. Ben is seeing her, I think. Bless the man. But she had to run off on an errand, and so I was left with my thoughts once again, trying to think of Milly, but all I saw were the faces of the dead. Men who lost their lives at Fenflower farm. I visited the Hornleaf household to tell the wife and child myself that he's died in my service. She opened the door and spit upon my face and slapped me, though I was too weak to strike back, else wise I would have, the cunt.
Bristleshirt came to be then, as I was walking down the street, "Roight Bill, the boys are ready. Covell let his sergeant know whats up, and the sergeant told Vance, Vance told...You know." he said, smirking. I followed him, walking at his side to meet the small crowd of Militia, the ones that survived the raid at Fenflower farm. Twenty men, and a horse with a cart we've rented. "Hun'red axes like you ordered, sir." said one of them, guiding the horse and cart while I climbed it. The Militia flanked the cart as we wove our way through the streets, earning glances here and there. We turned up the hill, toward the Combe gate. "You sure?" asked Ralf, I merely nodded my head, "They are men of Bree, even in their crimes, they aren't our enemy." "Even after Archet?" he retorted. I merely looked him over, tilting my head from left to right, "Better in our hands than the Southrons."
Combe. Haven't been here in a long while. Used to own a house by the lake, which I sold for more whiskey. I shook my head as the cart rolled over rocks, shaking the cart, and clattering the axes behind against one another. Chetwood slowly started to loom, as I looked sternly at Taylor Green, my old foreman. He spoke no words, just stared as me and my band made our way into the forest.
Darkness vieled over us, tendrils of light speared their way through the thick leaves. Vance Waithman, appeared as if out of nowhere, three men behind him, and one on a boulder, an arrow knocked. Harfast Dogwood walked up from the center, a band of Blackwolds at his heels, armed with clubs, and daggers. Here and there bows. Applewood, Sickleleaf, Mudbottom joined them with a few of their men. Until finally a howling came from behind them, with Skunkwood and his men leading slavering dogs and wolfhounds. He shut them up with a command, before Dogwood stepped forward, "Bristleshirt said you wanted to talk." he said firmly. They were indeed a motley crew, though this was just a part of their strength, I don't doubt. I rose up from the cart, flanked by four of my men, their rounded shields, bristling.
"Most o' you lot know me." I began, pulling up the axe that rest at my belt, "I am Bill Cutting. Fought the Southron cunts. I mounted some o' them on fuckin' trees." I said, pausing, one of the Blackwolds spoke up, "So your the 'Tree Man'?" he asked, shaking his head in dismay. I smirked, though I didn't entertain his shock. "I have with me my men, gifts, and a demand." I started again, letting that hang for a moment. Some of them were unsure how to react. They've grown cautious after Archet. Holed up in their territory.
"You lot have been known to haunt the woods, almost as if you were afraid to leave them. Hosting your dog fights, Stealing a bauble here and there. I'm here to give you lot what you've been lacking." I gestured to the cart, two men taking the large leather sack from the cart, and carried it before me, dumping it on the ground. The sack split open, revealing many axes within.The Blackwolds stepped forward, which led to my men stepping forth, shields and their own axes ready. "Now, now. Do not be hasty. I have come to arm you, but I also have come, to lead you." I paused to watch them, their eyes shifting from the axes, to me. Dogwood stepped forth, turning to look at his friends, "This is what we've needed, boys. Are we to stay and muck around in the wood? Southrons stole my damn farm, yet the town and their own lot stands in my way." he stopped to look at me, it was a glare, at first, before he clapped his hand on my shoulder, his men following behind, each taking an axe. Vance and his men followed, aswell as Sickleleaf. Skunkwood, Jagger Jack, Applewood and Mudbottom remained, "Right, right. Give us axes, but what makes you fit to lead the Blackwold?" asked Skunkwood, two of his hounds rubbing their heads against his leg, "For one, I would not waste such strength at the Chetwood." I said, stepping forward, "There is a war brewing, boys. And the rewards will be great, if we seize it. The Watch are spread thin, and the Southrons claim farms that are ours. The price for bread, and other good have risen so high, that many can not even afford it." I paused, they were perplexed, "We will reestablish trade. We shall turn our attention to business that offer the Southrons sympathy, we will control the trade, and dominate the roads, like we used to. We shall fight this war of Bree, and we shall grow fat and rich." I smiled as I looked the men over, "Our names shall raise ever high, to reach the renown of other families. Appledore, Heathstraw..The Blackwolds shall be redeemed. But more than that, the Blackwolds are fuckin' needed." I finished, "Now if you're with me, good, we shall build a brighter future."
The rest was just coming to official terms, though. Mudbottom and his men left in a hurry, back to his territory in Chetwood South...Though the men of the Chetwood are mine. Now we must find the businesses to uproot, and acquire more arms, so that we'll be ready for war.
