[Nogrod]

Bregoware

Sythric’s hands were quite numb after all the pulling and pushing. The two and a half days spent on the saddle with not much sleep in between, started to take their toll. He felt being in slower time-mode with regard to his surroundings. The world was a soft one today. He tried to keep himself alert by thinking. Trying to think clearly was a way to avoid falling to the half-sleep of remembrances and idle speculations. So he was thinking about this group once more.

Raedwald was just a head taller than the others – himself included. He would be the natural leader of the group, but because of the dynamics of the party, Osmod was better in that role. And Raedwald’s person was not the leader-person. He had shown it all the way by staying out of any conversation concerning these issues. Oh, how I admire his silent wisdom and fast action! What a man!

And surely, Osmod had shown his qualities. When Meghan had had her troubles at the morning, Osmod had shown better judgement than he himself had. He was really beginning to trust Osmod on this. Sythric was quick to believe in all the good with anyone – especially if they were young - but real trust was a different matter. Now he started to have some on Osmod.

The third one he was trusting somewhat, was Meghan. She was probably the only one of them to have really decided, why she was here and what it meant that she was here. She was the only one to have really chosen this task! That you couldn’t say about the others – himself included!

But how about Fionn and Eostre? He had talked with Fionn on their way to Aernanaes this morning, he had seen him working with the rope and they had been pulling it together, next to each other, and they had been oaring as a pair at the ferry. Fionn seemed quite reserved, very careful not to reveal his innermost thoughts or fears, turning it to a fun everytime, there was something bothering in the air. He also seemed very young indeed. Sythric did not know his exact age, but thought he was the youngest of them, by a margin. Still his earlier impression of a good lad, conscientious and quiet, held anyhow. He was only a bit worried about how he would react in a real stress – gods forbid them to meet any! He really symphatized Fionn, and hoped for this belief not being ungrounded.

But Eostre then? He hadn’t exchanged too many words with her. He also remembered Meghan’s doubts. On the top of that, she was the only one he knew not beforehand at all. That should have to change! The sooner, the better.

Sythric took a glance around. Eostre was riding alone, just behind him. He dropped his pace to allow Eostre to overtake him. As Eostre was about to pass him, he called her. “Do you mind having some company? I would certainly do with someone to talk to. I seem to be too tired and talking could help. And anyhow, we don’t know each other very well, so it would be a high time for us to become acquaintanced?”

Eostre seemed a bit distressed, but accepted the offer. They discussed about her parents, and the whole issue of living alone - and Sythric told her stories about his years, living alone too. The miles passed more easily this way.