Hidden Power

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 21st February 2014
Series: The Price of Power

Characters: Toothless, Bartlett
Description: Reven gets dumped into his hiding place.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 5, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: EFH: Red Rush Territory

Notes: Follows "Moving Power"

Mentioned: NPC Leaton

It had been a grueling trip from Green Valley to the Red Rush
territory. Even though there was worry about their beasts catching a
hole in the dark they had pushed through the bumpy territory anyway,
eager to have their cargo in a secure location so that they could get
paid. Bartlett could already feel the weight of the marks that would
be in his pocket once they dumped this holder boy into the cave and
returned to tell Leaton that all was set.

Bartlett was no killer, and he had certainly made it clear that he
wanted no part in getting his hands dirty, but he didn't mind making
money ferrying "dirty" cargo around, as it was a good way to make a
little extra money. This money would allow him to finally buy the
runner stallion that he needed for his little farm so that they could
establish the ranch that he and his wife had always dreamed of.

The blue eyes of his wife danced before his eyes and he sighed softly.
He could just imagine the way her curvy body felt cradled against his
own and it made him want to be done with this errand even sooner.
"Check on 'em!" He barked to the man riding in the back of the covered
wagon.

"Oh 'ee's still out lika' light!" His hired hand called back, and
without looking Bartlett knew that the man was smiling that toothless
grin of his.

**Gives me the creeps.** Bartlett tugged the collar of his jacket up
as he braced his legs on the board in front of him and relaxed his
hold on the reigns a bit, letting the animals pick their own pace.
They could probably see in the dark better than him anyway.

The crudely drawn map he had been given showed that a cave should be
nestled into the hills behind Red Rush. He knew that it wouldn't be an
easy place to find, else it wouldn't be a very good hiding place, now
would it? Still, he hoped that the map gave him enough clues to spot
the place easily enough.

Toothless, the hired hand, greedily pilfered through Reven's pockets,
his breath coming in excited gasps as he dug out a few marks and a
gold necklace. "Carry'n a giftee for ye wife?" He cackled to the
unconscious Reven as he stuffed the necklace in the breast pocket of
his own shirt. Reven's head simply lolled limply from side to side as
the wagon jostled along.

By the time they arrived at the cave, Reven's boots and had also been
confiscated by Toothless, who happily grinned and shoved the nice
pieces of leather onto his own feet. In the front of the wagon
Bartlett reigned the beasts to a stop as he viewed the cave.

"More like a dug out." Bartlett spoke to the beasts who twitched their
ears in reply. A door was dug out into the side of the hill, and as he
had thought, had he not known that the dug out was there he never
would have seen it, not with the way the door was camouflaged with
field grass.

Throwing the brake up, Bartlett jumped down to the ground and circled
around to the back of the wagon. Toothless hopped out sporting his new
boots and his infamous snagged-toothed grin. Bartlett shook his head
as he grabbed the unconscious holder by his feet and drug him off the
wagon. "You take his shoulders." He grunted to Toothless.

"Mmmm, holder 'as ni'e muscles." Toothless beamed as he grabbed Reven
by the shoulders, his fingers stroking the material of Reven's tunic.

Bartlett's eyebrows shot into his hairline as he watched the look that
passed over Toothless's face. **Note to self: fire Toothless as soon
as I get home.** He had no place for a possible man-lover on his
farm.

Together the two men hauled Reven inside the dug out and deposited him
with an unceremonious toss to the ground. Bartlett looked around
inside the damp, earthen walls of the dug out. Besides a bare table
with a candle and pitcher of water, there was little else. Bartlett
shook his head, he could only imagine what plans they had for the
holder of Green Valley.

**Not my concern.** He told himself as he tied Reven's hands behind
his back, bound his feet, and then stepped back.

"Let's go."

Toothless gave Reven's leg a goodbye caress before following Bartlett
back out into the rising sunlight. Bartlett never looked back as he
walked to his wagon and climbed up onto the buck board seat. He hoped
he would never see this forsaken place again. To make himself feel
better about the entire ordeal, Bartlett once again imagined the life
that he could begin to build for his family.

In the back of the wagon Toothless sat, peering through the canvas top
at the door to the dug out. The poor holder would be all alone, maybe
Toothless should have stayed? Toothless shook his head, no, no.... He
looked down at the boots on his feet. He would view them as a parting
gift from the sweet, blonde holder man.

Last updated on the March 26th 2014

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