The Hob's Bargain

tell where they had been cut down. The dirt hadn’t been harrowed behind them, and short tufts of wild grass grew awkwardly around the big clumps of dirt.
    There was a bench at the far end of the field, a short, sharp rise with a flat area beyond it. It caught my attention because we’d cut a stand of trees there to build the cottage, and the bare area we’d left seemed to be full of trees again.
    I walked on, careful to blend in with the woods. After I’d walked to the cornerstone that marked the end of cultivated land, I looked across the field at the bench. From my new vantage point I could see that what had appeared to be trees were tents painted to match the colors of the forest. I’d found the raiders’ camp.
    I headed back to the village as fast as I could, wishing I were as conditioned as some of the boys (and all of the Beresforders, hillfolk that they were), who could run miles without stopping. The harsh months had toughened me, as they had everyone, but I still could only run a league before stopping.
    The path I took brought me behind my parents’ house, but I’d been by it so often on patrol that I could pass it with no more than a nod of respect for any unquiet spirit lingering nearby.
    I needed to get to the village with my information. There was a bare chance that we could take their camp by surprise and bring the battle to them for once.
    Because of the long time I’d spent waiting for dawn to come, I missed my rendezvous with the patroller scheduled to make the next tour of this part of the valley. Since daylight patrols were always on horseback, I’d hoped he might have waited for me, so I could use his horse to get back to the village sooner with my news.
    Mindful of Touched Banar’s death, I cut through the pastureland, coming into the village by the back way. I had to climb over the shoulder-high wall that gave Fallbrook what little protection it could. Koret’s house was not far from the wall, so it was only a moment before I knocked lightly at the door.
    Narania, Koret’s wife, opened the door looking upset, but when she saw me, she smiled. “Ah, child, you’re late in. I’m glad to see you’re still in one piece.”
    I returned her smile, and wiped the sweat from my eyes. “Me, too. Is Koret here? I have some information for him—I found the raiders’ camp.”
    â€œHe was called to a meeting of the elders just a short time ago. For news like that I would think that they’d all be glad to hear from you. Why don’t you go to the inn and find him?”
    I hesitated. Koret’s warning still rang in my ears. I had no desire to head through town in broad daylight. But the raiders’ camp was important, and I should tell someone about the creature that had fed at my home. “I suppose I’d better.”

    I SLIPPED IN THROUGH THE BACK OF THE INN. M ELLY was slicing pork for stew, but she took time to give me a friendly nod. There was no crowd here today. When I walked into the room where the elders were, there were few people there who were not on the council.
    Whatever it was that sparked this meeting, it must have been bad, from the looks on their faces. Merewich had the acorn, but he stopped speaking when I stepped through the door to stand before the council in the traditional place for a request to address the group.
    â€œAren,” he said, as if women interrupted his meetings every day. Most of the rest of the council looked as if they were too disturbed to object—not a good sign. “Is this important?”
    I nodded.
    â€œSpeak.”
    â€œI found the raiders’ camp. It’s on the hill overlooking my father’s field above my cottage.”
    Merewich ran a hand over his face, then turned to Koret. “Do we have the manpower to take it now?”
    Koret thought a moment, then shook his head. “No. They’ll have it moved soon enough anyway. The manor is much more defensible.” The weariness on his face went all the way to the bone.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked. Their reaction wasn’t what I expected for the first chance we’d had to strike back at the bandits. Alarm and fatigue combined to let me speak out of turn. When I had left last night, there would have been plenty of fighters to launch some sort of attack.
    â€œThe raiders took the Fell bridge last night,” replied Merewich without chiding me. He looked a decade