Digger1221
CCCXII - A Delicious Distraction
Local noblemen were terrified. The sheriff was baffled. The king was greatly, greatly aggravated. Every forest trail was unsafe, every country path a potential spot of ambush. A warrant for arrest had been put out, a large monetary reward offered. Soldiers constantly patrolled and scouted the woods, but their efforts were futile; often fatal, actually.
This outlaw menace needed to be stopped. Competent help was difficult to acquire, however, and the sheriff began to despair. Only by a careless slipup did one of the outlaw band fall into his hands, and from this he could gain no new information. The unfortunate bandit was discarded into the sheriff’s dungeon once his usefulness was exhausted, guarded by several of the sheriff’s best men. Hoping that this would serve as adequate bait for the other outlaws, the sheriff sat back and waited.
Now, these lawmen weren’t much better off than the peasantry in their district; food was scarce for all of them, a hot meal was something greatly desired by all. Knowing this, the comrades of the poor captive in question concocted an escape plan of unprecedented craftiness and brilliance.
On a cold, dry midwinter’s afternoon, a rattling, overladen cart rolled through the gates of the sheriff’s castle fortress. Two outlaws, dressed in the rags of peasantry, began unloading the carts contents – a dozen or so large barrels and crates. Several of these they placed in the castle’s kitchen, the others they carried down to the cellars. As they passed the dungeon corridors, the guards nodded at them, assuming them to be delivering their taxes to the sheriff. The peasants left their remaining burdens in the cellar, then went upstairs, mounted their cart, and left the castle.
The guards in the castle were having a very uneventful day. Week, actually. A sudden smell, warm, savory, greasy and sweet, drifted through their nostrils. The two dungeon guards glanced at each other – then darted up the stairs into the kitchen. There they found the fresh meat and wine laid out on the table. They shouted to the guards on duty outside, and dug in to the unexpected feast.
Meanwhile, the barrels left in the cellar started shaking, then popped open. Several armed, greenclad outlaws hopped out glancing down the corridors. They made their way to the dungeon, where the unable guards had left the large key hanging on its hook, and quickly freed their captive friend. Making their way upstairs, they skirted past the kitchen and found the rest of the halls and doors unguarded. Sounds of merrymaking and happy eating came to them from the negligent soldiers in the kitchen. The outer gate was also unguarded, and the outlaws made their way happily to freedom.
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Soli Deo Gloria!
CCCXII - A Delicious Distraction
Local noblemen were terrified. The sheriff was baffled. The king was greatly, greatly aggravated. Every forest trail was unsafe, every country path a potential spot of ambush. A warrant for arrest had been put out, a large monetary reward offered. Soldiers constantly patrolled and scouted the woods, but their efforts were futile; often fatal, actually.
This outlaw menace needed to be stopped. Competent help was difficult to acquire, however, and the sheriff began to despair. Only by a careless slipup did one of the outlaw band fall into his hands, and from this he could gain no new information. The unfortunate bandit was discarded into the sheriff’s dungeon once his usefulness was exhausted, guarded by several of the sheriff’s best men. Hoping that this would serve as adequate bait for the other outlaws, the sheriff sat back and waited.
Now, these lawmen weren’t much better off than the peasantry in their district; food was scarce for all of them, a hot meal was something greatly desired by all. Knowing this, the comrades of the poor captive in question concocted an escape plan of unprecedented craftiness and brilliance.
On a cold, dry midwinter’s afternoon, a rattling, overladen cart rolled through the gates of the sheriff’s castle fortress. Two outlaws, dressed in the rags of peasantry, began unloading the carts contents – a dozen or so large barrels and crates. Several of these they placed in the castle’s kitchen, the others they carried down to the cellars. As they passed the dungeon corridors, the guards nodded at them, assuming them to be delivering their taxes to the sheriff. The peasants left their remaining burdens in the cellar, then went upstairs, mounted their cart, and left the castle.
The guards in the castle were having a very uneventful day. Week, actually. A sudden smell, warm, savory, greasy and sweet, drifted through their nostrils. The two dungeon guards glanced at each other – then darted up the stairs into the kitchen. There they found the fresh meat and wine laid out on the table. They shouted to the guards on duty outside, and dug in to the unexpected feast.
Meanwhile, the barrels left in the cellar started shaking, then popped open. Several armed, greenclad outlaws hopped out glancing down the corridors. They made their way to the dungeon, where the unable guards had left the large key hanging on its hook, and quickly freed their captive friend. Making their way upstairs, they skirted past the kitchen and found the rest of the halls and doors unguarded. Sounds of merrymaking and happy eating came to them from the negligent soldiers in the kitchen. The outer gate was also unguarded, and the outlaws made their way happily to freedom.
_______________________________________________
Soli Deo Gloria!