Fallen Tower

To my shame, I didn't kill the bandits that night.  Not because I wasn't going to, but because I wanted them to at least find an entrance.  Later, it was because of the sheer comedy of watching them work.

You know when watching those fireside stories, where two people will be digging next to each other, and filling in each other's holes?  Not quite them, but it was close.

They started at the bottom, on the step itself, and the loose dirt from above fell down, as dirt tends to do.  Mutton and Maarg, the junior members of the crew, spent over half the night moving shovelfuls of dry earth to little practical effect.

Vern watched, and fumed, and complained the other two weren't doing their fair share of the work.

"Well, then why don't you show us how it's done?" Mutton complained back, extending the shovel.

"I took first shift." Vern said.  "Remember?"

"And we've each done two."  Maarg said.  "It's your turn again."