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Lalwendë · 08-21-2004, 12:48 PM

Tarn

When Tarn had risen he had found that the boy, Thynne, had disappeared. Though he had searched in and around the hut for some time, all the while bellowing at the top of his lungs for him, there was no sign of the lad. He had soon become furious and was about to set off and look for him elsewhere when he remembered he had promised to be at the cave for the spying. Grabbing some equipment from the storehouse, he locked the door to the hut and set off at a run. If the lad came back, he thought, then he could just sit out here in the freezing cold. On the shoreline some time later he was trying to think what might have happened to Thynne instead of listening to the Corsair Captain.

“Jynne and Diera will go as a team. Also Tarn and Nilak."

Tarn raised his eyebrows at hearing his name and then stared the captain in the eye angrily. He had been planning to worm his way out of having to go into the caves. Some spying from the cliffs was more what he had in mind. He was about to say something to the Captain when more orders were barked out and he swallowed the retort.

“Yes, that's right. I want you two as well," Marreth snapped. "You know the terrain far better than my own men. I will be watching you closely to see how you do. If you desire rich rewards and a measure of my trust, pay close attention to how you act!"

Tarn turned to Nilak, who he thought looked equally annoyed. Tarn rolled his eyes, sneered and with a sigh he set off behind the two Corsair scouts. He didn’t want to appear as a coward in front of this great Captain, but he didn’t want him to think he was a pushover, an easy target. As he walked he pulled on an old helmet that he taken from his storehouse as he had left the hut. This was an item that the seals had found a few years back and it had lain in the storehouse since, unsold. The helmet was smooth and made of some type of metal which did not appear to rust - it was not iron, and Tarn had been unable to decide what it could have been forged from, or where it had come from. For this reason he had kept it, as he could not put a price on the item, but he had thought of it last night as he lay in bed.

The female Corsair officer looked at him quizzically as they stopped at the cave entrance. Thinking she might be appraising him rather than the helmet, Tarn raised an eyebrow and smiled, revealing his white teeth, but the officer sneered and turned her back on him. The man, Jynne, glared at him disdainfully but Tarn just stared at him, his arms folded. “Let the worm try me“, he thought, “he doesn’t look like he could take me down.”

***

Any feelings of animosity or mistrust were soon forgotten as the four entered the cave and split up to take up their hiding posts. Tarn and Nilak had made sure that they had the lantern, and once they had signalled to the others, they went away, trying to look confident. Tarn was sure-footed but in here his feet kept sinking into the sodden, sandy floor of the cave, slowing his progress and he moved cautiously, bending low where there was no need, so fearful was he of banging his head. Nilak moved more easily being the shorter of the two, and Tarn decided to follow him.

The air was cold; in the scant glow of the lantern Tarn could see his breath condensing, but he felt hot and sweat was trickling down his brow. Each time they halted, he took a deep breath, sucking the air between his teeth and then slowly breathing out, to steady his nerves. “I’m just a little out of breath” he said to Nilak. He did not want him to think he was troubled by the place.

As he crept along, Tarn alternated between holding his hands about his coat, to prevent it catching on any rocks and send them tumbling, and stretching them gently out to feel for hazards. He started wondering when Nilak would find them a hiding place as he did not want to go too much further from the open air. It was not the rumour of spirits which was foremost in his mind, but the oppressive weight of rock above his head, and the possibility of being trapped, to be engulfed by the rushing of choking waters. Like many of the Lossoth, he had seen people fall beneath the ice, never to return, and it was a sight which never left his nightmares. Tarn liked the space of the cliffs and the shore, the wind and the rain. This swallowing darkness was making Tarn experience terror for the first time in many long years.

08-21-2004, 12:48 PM	#37
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Tarn When Tarn had risen he had found that the boy, Thynne, had disappeared. Though he had searched in and around the hut for some time, all the while bellowing at the top of his lungs for him, there was no sign of the lad. He had soon become furious and was about to set off and look for him elsewhere when he remembered he had promised to be at the cave for the spying. Grabbing some equipment from the storehouse, he locked the door to the hut and set off at a run. If the lad came back, he thought, then he could just sit out here in the freezing cold. On the shoreline some time later he was trying to think what might have happened to Thynne instead of listening to the Corsair Captain. “Jynne and Diera will go as a team. Also Tarn and Nilak." Tarn raised his eyebrows at hearing his name and then stared the captain in the eye angrily. He had been planning to worm his way out of having to go into the caves. Some spying from the cliffs was more what he had in mind. He was about to say something to the Captain when more orders were barked out and he swallowed the retort. “Yes, that's right. I want you two as well," Marreth snapped. "You know the terrain far better than my own men. I will be watching you closely to see how you do. If you desire rich rewards and a measure of my trust, pay close attention to how you act!" Tarn turned to Nilak, who he thought looked equally annoyed. Tarn rolled his eyes, sneered and with a sigh he set off behind the two Corsair scouts. He didn’t want to appear as a coward in front of this great Captain, but he didn’t want him to think he was a pushover, an easy target. As he walked he pulled on an old helmet that he taken from his storehouse as he had left the hut. This was an item that the seals had found a few years back and it had lain in the storehouse since, unsold. The helmet was smooth and made of some type of metal which did not appear to rust - it was not iron, and Tarn had been unable to decide what it could have been forged from, or where it had come from. For this reason he had kept it, as he could not put a price on the item, but he had thought of it last night as he lay in bed. The female Corsair officer looked at him quizzically as they stopped at the cave entrance. Thinking she might be appraising him rather than the helmet, Tarn raised an eyebrow and smiled, revealing his white teeth, but the officer sneered and turned her back on him. The man, Jynne, glared at him disdainfully but Tarn just stared at him, his arms folded. “Let the worm try me“, he thought, “he doesn’t look like he could take me down.” *** Any feelings of animosity or mistrust were soon forgotten as the four entered the cave and split up to take up their hiding posts. Tarn and Nilak had made sure that they had the lantern, and once they had signalled to the others, they went away, trying to look confident. Tarn was sure-footed but in here his feet kept sinking into the sodden, sandy floor of the cave, slowing his progress and he moved cautiously, bending low where there was no need, so fearful was he of banging his head. Nilak moved more easily being the shorter of the two, and Tarn decided to follow him. The air was cold; in the scant glow of the lantern Tarn could see his breath condensing, but he felt hot and sweat was trickling down his brow. Each time they halted, he took a deep breath, sucking the air between his teeth and then slowly breathing out, to steady his nerves. “I’m just a little out of breath” he said to Nilak. He did not want him to think he was troubled by the place. As he crept along, Tarn alternated between holding his hands about his coat, to prevent it catching on any rocks and send them tumbling, and stretching them gently out to feel for hazards. He started wondering when Nilak would find them a hiding place as he did not want to go too much further from the open air. It was not the rumour of spirits which was foremost in his mind, but the oppressive weight of rock above his head, and the possibility of being trapped, to be engulfed by the rushing of choking waters. Like many of the Lossoth, he had seen people fall beneath the ice, never to return, and it was a sight which never left his nightmares. Tarn liked the space of the cliffs and the shore, the wind and the rain. This swallowing darkness was making Tarn experience terror for the first time in many long years.