The Campsite in the woods

[The Smith]

The scouts of Flints do not travel far. Just north of where the boy Pollux was caught they catch sight of a campsite buried in the woods. At least five concealed fires lie within its tents.

[The Flint]

Jeor Flint was again leading the patrol. He sent one rider back to the Fastness to sound the alarm, and then crept forward on his belly, trying to get a count of the number of wildlings in the camp.

[The Smith]

As Jeor grew closer he could tell this was either a camp of midget wildlings or children. He could not see an adult present at all.

[The Flint]

Jeor sucked his teeth. It perhaps their parents were around raiding or scavenging. He sent five more men off to scout the perimeter and make sure that they were good in alone. He continued to watch the children, counting as many as he could to get a number.

[The Smith]

There seemed about thirty children. The scouts came back and reported few trails leading away from the camp were fresh.

[The Flint]

Jeor frowned. Even if they made a go of it, they'd never gather up all the children. Some at least would escape. Nor did putting them to the sword, despite their trespass seem the thing to do.

He detailed four men to stay and watch the camp, and to flee to the Fastness if any trouble brewed, and the remaining sixteen men divided into groups of four, and set down the trails. They agreed they'd meet back a location a few hundred feet to the south, if things went bad.

Jeor led his three men, and they proceeded down one of the fresh trails.

[The Smith]

Jeor and his crew slipped down the trails until the came to the dead body of a stag half skinned.

[The Flint]

Jeor was puzzled as to why they Wildlings would leave a stag have skinned. Perhaps the wildlings knew that they were being pursued and decided to abandon the effort.

he looked for trails of blood that may give away the location of the poacher.

[The Smith]

From above him a voice said calmly, "Its over isn't it. You found them already?"

When Jeor looks up there is a older boy with a bow hiding almost perfectly. He is not pointing it at anyone, but has it strung, and an arrow ready.

[The Flint]

"Your friends back at the camp? We found them," Jeor confirmed. "You'd best let the bow go son. You'll not get off that many shots before one of us cuts you down, and we don't mean to slay you anyway."

[The Smith]

The boy dropped the bow, and then dropped down to the ground. "I did it. I kidnapped all those kids. They were from a village to the North, and I snatched them all."

[The Flint]

"For what purpose?" Jeor asked, stalking up and snatching the bow up. He grabbed the boy roughly by the shoulder, and began to move him back towards the Camp as he interrogated.

[The Smith]

"My evil wildling purposes. I stole all the kids, and was gonna ransom them back to their Lord. Some fat fuck named Umber." He said, "I am the only trespasser, the rest are my captives."

[The Flint]

Jeor grabbed him by the ear and twisted it, "Don't be an ass, son. I said I didn't intend to slay you, I didn't saying I wouldn't. Don't lie to me."

[The Smith]

"Why would I lie... doesn't tresspassing get you killed down here? I heard that it did. So again I confess.. it was just me... the rest are my captives." He replied.