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Arry · 04-10-2006, 02:53 PM

Arry's post

Brand was fully conscious of the assessing look Rædwald had given him. He kept his eyes on the strip of meat skewered on his own knife and occasionally his eyes strayed to the oatcake balanced on his knee, as if the both of these foods were the most important if not only objects in his world. He wondered what exactly Rædwald’s thoughts were and whether he had been found wanting.

He was relieved as the older fellow spoke aloud. ‘It’s a passable and pleasant company, don’t you think?’ Rædwald had said aloud. ‘And now that we’ve all seen none of us is the enemy, I was just thinking perhaps we should all ride along together. What do you think? Strength in numbers, as they say. Or in a grimmer reflection, we have more chance of at least part of us . . . even one of us . . . reaching the King’s Hall with our dire report . . .’ Words strung together into observations and questions were something he could deal with.

‘I’ve had some thoughts on that, too,’ Brand said, sticking his now empty knife in the dirt next to him. He looked round the gathering, taking them in at a quick glance. ‘I’m glad we’ve gotten past our first meeting. And I hope there are no lingering grudges.’ He looked at Osmod and then at Fion, meeting their eyes. ‘I think it would be good if we did ride together. For my part, the truth of that was brought home by our coming upon the burnt out village. It was only by luck that one of us was not killed by the cougar, and had we come any earlier to the village, we would be dead at the hands of the Orcs who raided it.’ He lowered his eyes to the ground before him. ‘I’m beginning to think that not all of us will make it to the King. But for our villages’ sakes, some . . . or even, one as Master Rædwald says, must.’

‘I can’t speak for you from Bregoware. You’ll have to decide yourselves what course you think is best for you. But we Wulfhamers are leaving early in the morning. By my calculations and Lord Aldwulf’s instructions, we are about three days north of where the River drops down in a great fall. We will turn west, then, and only a few days will bring us to the River Entwash where the Snowbourne flows into it. And at the western end of the Snowbourne lies the Hall of the King. We will be more than glad for you to join us tomorrow.’

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Maeggaladiel's post

Fion's ears had perked up as he heard Brand and Raedwald discussing the possibility of a joint mission between the Wulfhams and the Bregowarians. He found that now, he really didn't mind the idea at all.

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Arry's post

Brand plucked his knife from the dirt and wiped the blade on the leg of his breeches. Now the Bregoware folk must make their own decisions. He picked up the oatcake from his knee and took a fair sized bite from it. It was one of Meghan’s; he could taste the herb she’d kneaded into her dough. He nodded his head from one side to the other, slowly, knowing that she was watching him. With a long exaggerated swallow of water from his cup, he swallowed the morsel. ‘Not bad,’ he commented getting up to gather his things together for the morning departure. ‘I think even my sheep might like it,’ he said, grinning as he walked away.

04-10-2006, 02:53 PM	#288
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	Arry's post Brand was fully conscious of the assessing look Rædwald had given him. He kept his eyes on the strip of meat skewered on his own knife and occasionally his eyes strayed to the oatcake balanced on his knee, as if the both of these foods were the most important if not only objects in his world. He wondered what exactly Rædwald’s thoughts were and whether he had been found wanting. He was relieved as the older fellow spoke aloud. ‘It’s a passable and pleasant company, don’t you think?’ Rædwald had said aloud. ‘And now that we’ve all seen none of us is the enemy, I was just thinking perhaps we should all ride along together. What do you think? Strength in numbers, as they say. Or in a grimmer reflection, we have more chance of at least part of us . . . even one of us . . . reaching the King’s Hall with our dire report . . .’ Words strung together into observations and questions were something he could deal with. ‘I’ve had some thoughts on that, too,’ Brand said, sticking his now empty knife in the dirt next to him. He looked round the gathering, taking them in at a quick glance. ‘I’m glad we’ve gotten past our first meeting. And I hope there are no lingering grudges.’ He looked at Osmod and then at Fion, meeting their eyes. ‘I think it would be good if we did ride together. For my part, the truth of that was brought home by our coming upon the burnt out village. It was only by luck that one of us was not killed by the cougar, and had we come any earlier to the village, we would be dead at the hands of the Orcs who raided it.’ He lowered his eyes to the ground before him. ‘I’m beginning to think that not all of us will make it to the King. But for our villages’ sakes, some . . . or even, one as Master Rædwald says, must.’ ‘I can’t speak for you from Bregoware. You’ll have to decide yourselves what course you think is best for you. But we Wulfhamers are leaving early in the morning. By my calculations and Lord Aldwulf’s instructions, we are about three days north of where the River drops down in a great fall. We will turn west, then, and only a few days will bring us to the River Entwash where the Snowbourne flows into it. And at the western end of the Snowbourne lies the Hall of the King. We will be more than glad for you to join us tomorrow.’ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maeggaladiel's post Fion's ears had perked up as he heard Brand and Raedwald discussing the possibility of a joint mission between the Wulfhams and the Bregowarians. He found that now, he really didn't mind the idea at all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arry's post Brand plucked his knife from the dirt and wiped the blade on the leg of his breeches. Now the Bregoware folk must make their own decisions. He picked up the oatcake from his knee and took a fair sized bite from it. It was one of Meghan’s; he could taste the herb she’d kneaded into her dough. He nodded his head from one side to the other, slowly, knowing that she was watching him. With a long exaggerated swallow of water from his cup, he swallowed the morsel. ‘Not bad,’ he commented getting up to gather his things together for the morning departure. ‘I think even my sheep might like it,’ he said, grinning as he walked away. Last edited by piosenniel; 04-11-2006 at 02:42 PM.