The late afternoon sun shined on the uncovered wagon, making it's yellow pine frame glow. The four black horses were galloping at a nice steady pace, grateful it seemed, for their new shoes. Sitting upon the driver's bench with leather reins in his gloves was Valishul. Behind him, further back in the wagon rested Panal and Melien.
"So, what do you ladies think of my horses?" said Valishul, flicking the reins lightly and looking over his shoulder.
"They look like fine beasts." Panal had to stretch her head to see and she gave Melien a glance. She was worried about her, taking notice of the fact that Melien said nothing at all since they left Bree.
"They are! Bred to be the best for the purpose of hauling. I've taken them everywhere, Gondor, Mirkwood, Rohan, over passes in the Misty Mountains, Even had them stowed on a ship. I don't think I have any children anywhere...but if I do, these are the only ones I care about!" He laughed. "Time for a break." Rising from the bench, he clicked his tongue a few times and tied the reins to the brake lever. With a quick hop, he was in the back with the two of them, grinning. "They'll drive themselves if the road is straight." He took a bottle of mead from a bag and popped it open.
"What if they are spooked by a wolf? or worse?" Panal asked.
"Then they'll just whinny and stop as I've trained them to do. Don't worry Miladies! They'll guide us safely." He chuckled.
"They remind me of my dog." said Melien.
Panel's eyes widened and her fingers grabbed the hem of her shirt. She knew what was coming next. And every time the story of Melien's dog brought tears to her eyes.
"A dog you say? I used to have one of my own. He passed away some years ago, bless his soul. Loved taking rides like this out in the open." said Valishul.
"Mine was murdered. For nine years I grew up with biscuit. Then one day I was coming home from schooling and found him hanging from a tree branch by his leash and collar. Some drunkard or drunkards hanged him! Father told me he tied him to the tree trunk while he helped mother with something. Thinking I'd find him on the path and lead him home, but no. I found him dead. Dead!"
"Gods, did you ever find out who did it?"
"No. Although I had a list of suspects. One went by the name of Mcfoy. Known for cruelty to animals. Known more for being drunk by noon. Anyway, he stopped the day before and asked my father if he could fix a barrel of his. Of course my father did, but the entire time Biscuit was barking at him, even growling. Something evil about that man...animals can tell you know. Anyway Mcfoy didn't like it and threatened to strike him! My father stopped him though and he just left…"
Valishul thought on this silently for a moment, then spoke. "It pains me to hear that. Do you really think animals can tell when a man is evil?"
"Of course. They have a gift of sight given to them by Vana." Her eyes turned downcast and she lifted her chin a little. "Anyway, There were other suspects. There were some older teenagers that could have...done it." she swallowed. "Spoiled little fiends with nothing else better to do with their time. Trying to show off in their stupid manish ways. You know how boys are. Thinking it manly to take a life!"
"Whoa, now. Don't go blaming all men for something like that. I'll admit that there are brutes in our gender, more so than women." He laughed. "But I wouldnt' dare hurt an animal, they are too pure and go about their business. Business infused in them by the Valar. I'd rather have an animal as a companion than a human anyday." His eyes glanced at the horses, making sure they were okay. "I hope whoever did it met their justice...everyone does, you know? Anyway, Panal, you ever had a pet?"
"No, My parents had a strict rule regarding animals. None allowed. They didn't like cleaning up after them. All that hair and..well you know." Panel replied.
"No animals! You know there is something everyone can learn from raising a pet. Some things we like, some things we hate. Loving them in life is a good lesson. Loving them in death and moving on from it is even more important as far as I am concerned. Have you ever lost someone you loved Panal? Or witnessed something die with your own eyes."
She tensed a little with his questioning. It was a morbid topic and she wished they would drop it. "I have never lost a loved one. Thank the gods. That said, I did see a prisoner of Gondor executed in the public square of Minas Tirith. They claimed he raped a woman. Everyone was talking about it, he had his way with a noble...I was furious about it. No man...No man! I went to the public square to see his head removed personally. My parents wouldn't let me, but I moved in secret." she sighed a little. "I wish I never went."
"You've seen a man lose his head?" Valishul's eyebrows raised. "Stubborn woman. A sight like that is fit for a soldier, not a lady of Gondor. At least you learned your lesson….."
They didn't say much for the rest of the afternoon, by this time they were leagues and leagues away from Bree and they stopped seeing passing carriages or travellers on the road. The road itself grew rocky and they hit every bump it offered. Small hills with scattered trees began to grow as they pressed on throughout the day and the wind was blowing chill.
Valishul sat in silence, controlling the horses loosely. Did he really want to wait until nightfall before he fell on his prey? Sitting that close to them in the afternoon and smelling their perspiration lightly perfume the air made him almost act out in recklessness. He knew after this he wouldn't be returning to Bree. Nob, the annoying hobbit of Barliman's knew they were passing up here and would undoubtedly suspect him in the disappearance of the young ladies. Not that it mattered to him. He was done with Bree and it's small town inhabitants.
His eyes looked down at the coiled rope he kept near him to wrangle the horses if one of them turned wild in a moment of madness. It already had a loop tied into it for throwing over their heads. It would do nicely for his deeds. Smiling he grabbed one end of it and tied it to a support beam of the bench and pulled to make sure it'd hold. It would.
Climbing over the bench he grabbed a double-looped snare that he kept in a bag. It was one he bought in Bree. He wrapped one loop around his wrist and pulled it tight, letting the other loop dangle, then turned to look at the girls. They glanced back at him a little, but didn't seem to pay attention. He grabbed the rope with his other hand and took a deep breath. It was now or never.
Spinning around he charged Melien and tossed the loop from the rope over her head with ease, pulled it just enough to fit snug over her neck, then he kicked her off the moving wagon. When she hit the ground, dust picked up from the sudden disturbance. He clicked his teeth to signal the horses to speed up as he turned to face Panal.
She was on her feet trying to breathe out a reaction when he looped the snare around her neck and yanked. Terror seized her tear filled eyes and immediately her hands clawed at her neck trying to free it from the device of death. He grabbed her neck with his other hand and pushed her to the floor and stomped on her back with his knee, putting all his weight into it. His hand with the snare pulled up as high as it could. Now all he had to do was wait.
He looked behind the wagon and could see Melien tumbling on the road, still alive by the sight of her moving hands. Her shins were bloody as rocks hit them. He could see she was trying to scream, but the rope wouldn't let the air out. Her lungs had to be on fire. Then a branch from a bush grabbed the rope and gave it a sturdy twang. The rope didn't break, but Melien's neck did from the sound of it. Her body wasn't moving anymore, but slid about the road. Occasionally catching sticks and stones. He could see that her trousers and shirt were torn from the impacts.
Panal's face was deep red and her mouth kept opening and closing, gulping for air, her legs and hands thrashed about trying to free herself from his knee that pinned her down. This one was a smart girl and he knew it, she gave up on trying to loosen the rope on her neck and started to feel about for anything to grab and throw at him, but there was nothing she could use nearby. The only things about them were canvas bags. He lifted her head a little to let her see Melian's body being dragged by the wagon. Soon she would join her in death. He pulled harder on the snare.
Her neck was bleeding from the snare and her limbs were losing their strength, slowly they stopped moving and a long while after that he finally removed his knee from her. She was dead.