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"let me in didric. You and I both know that the gates should open until the ninth bell, said Fletcher. he heard the bell begin its sonorous knell, echoing dully in

" What was that? I can't hear you," yelled Didric, holding up his ear.

" I said let me in, you dolt. This is illegal! Ill have to report you if you don't open the gates this minute!" he shouted, flaring up at the pale face above the palisade.

"Well you could do that, and I certainly wouldn't begrudge your right to. In all likelihood we would both be punished

and that wouldn't do anyone any good. So why don't we cut a deal here. You leave me that elk, and I save you the trouble of sleeping in the forest tonight."

Shove it up your arse,' Fletcher spat in disbelief. This was blatant blackmail.

" Come now, Fletcher, be reasonable. The wolves and the wildcats will come prowling, and even a bright campfire won' t

Keep them away in the winter. You can either leg it when they come or stay and be an appetiser. Either way, even if you do last

until morning, you'll be walking through these gates empty Handed. Let me help you out." Didric's voice was almost friendly.

Fletcher's face burned red. This was beyond anything he had experienced before. Unfairness was common in Pelt, and Fletcher

had long ago accepted that in a world of haves and have-nots, he was definitely the latter. But now this spoiled brat, a son to one

of the richest men in the village no less, was stealing from him.

"Is that it then?" Fletcher asked, his voice low and angry. "You think you're very clever, don't you?"

"It's just the logical conclusion to a Situation in which I will always happen to be the beneficiary," Didric said, flicking his blond

fringe from his eyes. It was well known that Didric was privately Tutored, flaunting his education with flowery speech. It was his

father's hope that he would one day be a judge, eventually going to a lawhouse in one of the larger cities in

Hominum.

"You forgot one thing," Fletcher growled." I would much rather sleep out in the woods than watch you take my kill."

" Hah! I think I'll call your bluff. I've a long night ahead of me. It will be fun to watch you try and fend off the wolves," Didric laughed.

Fletcher knew Didric was baiting him, but it didn't stop his blood boiling. He gulped the anger down, but it still simmered at the back of his mind.

" I won't give you the elk. There's five shillings in the fur alone, and the meat will be worth another three. Just let me in, and I'll forget about reporting you. We can put this whole

thing behind us,'" Fletcher suggested, swallowing his pride with difficulty.

" Il tell you what,. I can't come away completely empty-handed that wouldn't do now would it? But since I'm feeling

generous, if you give me those antlers you neglected to mention,"

" Lets call it a night, and we can both get what we want." didric looked like a leader of a victorious army.

The bastered...