Morning arrived quickly and the group enjoyed a breakfast of Johnny cakes, booderry syrup, and tomaters. Madam Darktop raved about the gemstones she had gathered for new projects. Roswell reappeared for a quick good-bye and headed back to his work, which had dramatically increased through the Burgomaster Storming Norman’s order of axes and hammers. Miners had loaded treasures from the mines onto the wagons. Large quantities of copper ore filled the smaller wagon, which was to return to Dry Creek. Gnomes busily readied for departure. The ores on the wagons slowed the return trip, and the precious gems increased the likelihood of misadventure. Longbeard Nineteen-names counseled and organized his charges and soon the group bade the miners farewell. Foreman Brady escorted them to the palisade and Longbeard Nineteen-names, p-Mayard, Cecelia Darktop, two merchants from Dry Creek, Rhiann Klarje, Iyaca Vassi, and twenty other Gnomes headed up the road. Longbeard’s guards included Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names, Sergeant Rudy Nine-names, Corporal Alden Eight-names, Corporal Roro Seven-names, and archer Dibbit Five-names.
Longbeard knew the route well and kept a wary eye toward the woods and ahead when the small caravan made it to the crests of small hills. Longbeard had a very good relationship with a number of the homesteaders along the route. On the way toward the mine camp, they had stopped at an establishment run by a rogue named Jack Taylor. Taylor was very good with livestock and meaner than most highwaymen, so roughnecks generally left him to mind his business. On the other hand, Jack Taylor was opposed to dealing with anybody if there was a profit involved. Taylor called his place Jack’s Refuge. He allowed folks of all ilk but forbade pugilism.
p-Mayard commented from the wagon perch, “The phi gamms are laboring with this load. Our speed is not even half what we averaged on the way to the mine camp.”
Longbeard replied, “I’ve noticed. It’s best we spend the night at Jack’s Refuge. I made arrangements for us to have rooms. We’ll be there in an hour.”
benjamintowe 