Trestlebridge

It is the second evening after the attack and the fires have ceased. The townsfolk are starting to come together in bigger groups than they dared before and are making plans for the immediate future now. We went into town with a small group of men, Cal and myself among them, and found the place empty of enemies and, indeed, empty of food and valuables. Evidently they came in while we were seeking refuge in the hills and have taken all supplies and provisions they could find. The townsfolk are of a mind to go back to what is left of their homes the day after tomorrow.

The hills and trees cover our view of the town and I am glad for it. We have found shelter in between the wall of a cliff and the slope of a hill, just to the south-east of the town. Young Ned is anxiously walking around from one side of our small camp to the other; he wants to do something but cannot for lack of strength and skill. Master Wheatley is sat quietly some little way off where we are. Our Cal keeps watch, a little way to the other side.

They have horns, the foul creatures do. They blow on them at their leisure and cause all the townsfolk to drop whatever they are doing to pick up arms and take position around the bridge. Then they do not attack, they do not leave so much as a sign that they had any intention of moving anywhere near the town, and the men and women of Trestlebridge waste most of their days preparing for imminent attacks that never seem to happen. No houses are rebuilt, to durable defences set up.

Blessed is my good Master Wheatley for having taken the road to Trestlebridge so early in the year – we would not have made it even to the span across the river had we left Kingsfell but a day later. As it is, we have not lost anything excepting our cart of food supplies and my old diaries. Thankfully we made it to town with our lives and the ledgers, and not much harm done except to our pride. Our main concern is now that the road north will be unsafe with the bands of marauding orcs and there being no way of telling if the wood order will come through in time.