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Middle-earth Adventure Journal! - 26
🕑 Added 2025-09-25 18:05:16 +0000 UTCChapter 26: Context
However, it certainly was not Saruman. The White Wizard's character was so proud that he could never possibly speak to orcs in such a tone. Upon opening his mouth, he should always use words like "waste," "scum," "fool," and similar terms.
He would not even write letters, much less demand payment of outstanding balances. If he wanted something, he would strike you dead with lightning, then take it directly!
Only this sorcerer of unknown name was also quite formidable. The Rangers' actions. The Golden Wheat Sheaf inn massacre. Plus the kidnappings, and now this letter. All these events connected together.
Aedric tapped his forehead, feeling as if his brain was finally working. The situation should be like this:
Several months or even earlier, the Dúnedain had discovered the troll that had taken their old chieftain, then began gathering most of their forces to investigate in the Coldfells. At that time, Halladrak had personally visited the Golden Wheat Sheaf inn to warn Old Wheat Sheaf's family to move to more populated areas.
Old Wheat Sheaf had not taken it seriously.
Next, the sorcerer's subordinates appeared. Or rather, they might have been monitoring the Shire all along. After discovering the Rangers' numbers had greatly decreased, they felt the opportunity had come and struck decisively.
They attacked Old Wheat Sheaf's family. Committing the evil acts of capturing Daisy, threatening Morgan, and forcibly occupying the inn.
Because Morgan testified for them, plus they hid quite well for a short time, and most Hobbits preferred avoiding trouble rather than seeking it, they actually avoided suspicion and opened their establishment brazenly.
Afterward, Ghost Brain brought his tribe and successfully infiltrated the Shire. During this process, they very likely received help from those people at the inn.
Next came the kidnapping of Carl and Isa. If the sorcerer's subordinates were lurking in the Shire, then secretly attacked Lindon, the kidnapping would be much easier. And much more reasonable.
They could not possibly depart from the Lone-lands, travel thousands of miles to reach Lindon, kidnap people, then travel thousands more miles back to the Lone-lands. For orcs, such a thing was too difficult. Even dispatching cleverer, more disciplined Uruk-hai would be the same.
Then he himself had arrived, unluckily becoming a captive due to unconsciousness, catching up with this entire series of events. Really unlucky!
"Tsk tsk tsk!" Aedric clicked his tongue and casually stuffed the letter into his pocket.
If everything was as he guessed, given future opportunities, he really wanted to contend with that damned sorcerer. For now, there was no time to consider such matters.
Those terrified orcs had already escaped for a while. Though they could not immediately find the main force and return to the cave with reinforcements, one must guard against the unexpected. Better to quickly set fire to the cave and then hurry to escape and rendezvous with Luna.
Do not get caught like a rat in a trap!
Thinking thus, Aedric left the bedroom and walked along the path toward the warehouse. Just approaching, he heard noisy crying.
"Cannot burn it, cannot burn it!"
"This is all my property! Though those cursed orcs stole it, I have found it again now—it is still mine! Even if only one-third remains, it is mine!"
"Help me! Help me!"
"After selling the goods, I will share money with you, share money with you!"
Without guessing, just hearing this voice, one knew it was that grain merchant—always taking shortcuts, risking life for money. At this time, instead of fleeing quickly, he was actually blocking Morgan from setting fires?
Was this not being money-obsessed to the point of not wanting life? What! Could his small frame carry away all this grain? Or could those tormented, newly rescued captives carry it away for him?
Left behind, it would still become food for those orcs. Aedric frowned, pursing his lips, the disgust on his face completely undisguised.
"For this business trip I have already invested all my capital. If everything burns, I will go bankrupt!"
"John, your brothers' compensation is also here. If burned, nothing can be recovered. Think of their children, their parents. Think carefully!"
John was that guard captain who had just wanted to resign. Hearing about the compensation, he gritted his teeth, his expression somewhat fierce: "Colm, give up. If necessary, I will sell my house and compensate myself!"
"No need for you to pay—get lost quickly; do not delay everyone following Master Aedric to escape!"
This group had been captives for a long time—the shortest duration was a month—having long lost the strength to fight. They were also completely in the dark about outside conditions.
To leave Woody End alive, they could only choose to depart with Aedric and Morgan.
"No, I will not leave." Not only would grain merchant Colm not leave, he actually lay directly on top of the grain, throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child: "If you want to burn it, burn me to death together!"
Morgan gripped his torch, his teeth grinding audibly as he cursed: "You wretched fool, get out of the way!"
"I have a good temper and am too lazy to teach you a lesson. When the captain comes, he might kick you into a corner, then everyone will have to carry you, stupid pig!"
"You saw what happened to Bakus!"
Morgan even brought out this threat, clearly quite angry.
Colm seemed to think of something and began trembling while lying in the grain pile, but still gritted his teeth and would not leave. Looking completely like money was more important than life.
Someone stepped forward to persuade: "Let us go. After safety, I will help you pay half the compensation. Escaping is urgent now."
"No! If you do not give it, whom shall I ask?" Colm was relentless, nearly shouting "You must write a guarantee."
"Do not be ungrateful!" Even John could not bear watching: "Everyone, follow me and throw him out together!" Speaking thus, he rolled up his sleeves, preparing to act.
"Right!" "Go!" Others responded, directly lifting the person and throwing him out of the warehouse.
Colm still struggled incessantly. Just during this commotion, Aedric appeared at the doorway and walked over quickly. Everyone stopped their actions.
"Light the fire!" Aedric ignored the farce there. With one command, Morgan threw the torch inside.
Besides the grain they had not taken away, the warehouse only contained some dry grass, boxes, and similar items. The environment was also quite dry. In just a few seconds, raging flames blazed up!
Others all retreated, preparing to escape the cave.
"How can this be?" Colm sat up, his expression gradually changing from confusion to ferocity as countless red threads flooded his eye sockets.
He crawled up, looking at the rising flames. His pupils instantly contracted to points as he muttered: "That is my cargo, my money! I have not gotten the money! It cannot just burn like this!"
His voice grew louder, finally becoming almost heart-rending howls. His feet moved as he charged directly toward the warehouse with flames reaching the sky.
By the time everyone reacted, Colm's figure had already merged into the firelight.
"Madman!" Morgan cursed while rushing forward, preparing to rescue him. He had not considered that his small frame simply could not drag the other person.
John had been Colm's guard captain for several years and had some feelings for him. Despite physical exhaustion and mental fatigue, he also rushed out.
Aedric had not expected such a thing to happen. After brief astonishment, he quickly pulled back both men, shouting: "It is too late! Rushing in would only waste yourselves."
Flames rolled and moved, swallowing Colm. Shrill screams immediately arose.
Aedric shouted loudly: "Leave quickly! After the smoke disperses, it will be very dangerous!"
At this time, the great fire spread to ignite wooden walls, then extended further, greedily licking at stairs, paths, and platforms built of wood. In just over ten minutes, everywhere seemed to be burning.
The entire cave was as bright as daytime. Even the temperature had risen considerably.
Aedric led the captives, running non-stop toward the cave entrance, finally escaping before smoke completely swallowed the entire cave.
"Whew..." Everyone was breathing heavily. The blazing cave seemed to want to steal away all the air, making it difficult to breathe.
"Boss, what should we do next?" Morgan looked up inquiringly.
"You lead them away." Aedric looked up—the bright moon hung high in the sky. After all this commotion, it had actually reached the depths of night.
Who knew how Luna and the others were doing? Forget it.
Aedric steadied himself, turning to look at John: "How much is your brothers' compensation?"
Honestly speaking, Aedric did not consider himself any savior who could rescue every nasty situation he encountered. After all, he lacked such great ability.
But he had indeed earned some on this trip. Not counting those gold coins, silver coins alone were not few. Moreover, John was a good person.
To complete his orders and leave the orc lair quickly, he could even say things like selling his house. He had some ability and could lead people to carry out his former employer.
This saved Aedric some trouble. Whether out of compassion, wanting to help the man, or out of appreciation, wanting to make a friend—as long as this compensation was not particularly outrageous, Aedric wanted to help as much as possible.
"Five people, all one gold coin compensation each." John had traveled outside for years and was quick-thinking. He soon realized something, asking both gratefully and unbelievingly: "Master Aedric, you mean...?"
The Shire was usually very peaceful. On main roads, one might at most encounter wild dogs or wolves—there were no bandits or robbers. So wages were not very high, and merchant caravans would not hire too many people.
Guards even took on assistant duties part-time. Otherwise, the money felt uneasy to take. But if people truly died, compensation was not particularly low. Acceptable, not particularly much.
Aedric nodded: "Very well. Have Morgan give you the money later. Help him escort these people to safety, then you should go home too. Perhaps we will have opportunities to meet again."
In the Shire and Bree, one gold coin could exchange for four silver coins, equivalent to one pony. The exchange rate was stable, unchanged for hundreds of years.
The reason was probably that Moria's fall had greatly reduced production of these two metals. While Bree and the Shire still had one or two silver mines, they had no gold mines.
As everyone knew, elves preferred silver, while dwarves preferred gold. Eriador's humans had always dealt more with dwarves, with more trade relations. Fewer elves meant gold was much more valuable than silver.
Actually, gold coins were not common, only used in major transactions. In general situations, everyone used copper coins and silver coins.
Do not think that just because Aedric ran one trip to the Barrow-downs, he earned two hundred silver coins. That was because the Took family was one of the Shire's wealthiest and most prominent families. They were already rich, plus this matter was both difficult and urgent. The entire Shire could not find many people daring to make the trip.
Took was also using desperate measures, which was why he offered such a high price! Theoretically speaking, ordinary civilian families probably could not save two hundred silver coins in a lifetime.
"Thank... thank you." John could hardly believe what he heard, hastily patting his chest in guarantee: "I will certainly accomplish it, Master Aedric. If you ever need me in the future, just say so—I will do my utmost."
"Good, I will remember." Aedric waved his hand, turning to look at the Hobbit: "Morgan, are there other places to go nearby? You cannot go to Thornfield Village."
Morgan answered without thinking: "Going south, we can reach Willowdale—not far, about two days' journey."
"Good." Aedric casually threw the bag of silver coins to Morgan: "You keep this too. After arriving, give John his compensation, then distribute some travel money to others."
Having rescued them, he did not care about this little bit more.
Aedric surveyed the crowd once. Under moonlight, almost everyone had sallow complexions, clothes torn beyond recognition, revealing scars from whip beatings, hands carrying the small amount of food brought from the warehouse.
Probably enough to eat for two or three days. They looked like refugees.
Though they had all picked up weapons while escaping, they all looked unable to stand steadily. Presumably, they posed no threat to Morgan, who could turn invisible at any time.
So entrusting all the money to his Hobbit teammate, he felt reassured.
"What about you?" Morgan caught the money bag and asked back.
"Me?" Aedric looked toward Thornfield Village's direction without speaking, but his meaning was very clear.
The sneak attack was complete—now it was time for the frontal battlefield!
"Keep this." Morgan drew from his pocket that invisibility ring, which gleamed faintly silver in bright moonlight.
Aedric looked at the ring and frowned. Invisibility was indeed very powerful, but he could not use it—at most for five seconds, and moreover...
A trace of worry appeared on Aedric's face.
Morgan understood this meaning, patting his sword hilt: "Rest assured, I will certainly bring them safely to Willowdale."
He was speaking of bringing them safely. Aedric understood. He smiled and took the ring.
Five seconds was five seconds—better than nothing.
