Lost Scout

[StarrNico]

Grishkah spoke nothing of the common tongue, so did not understand Ruby's statement, but seemed satisfied by the response. "Mir," she repeated, this time without the questioning tone. The fact that the human was so alert was a good one, she thought, and a strong indication that the girl would survive the arrow wound and the rough treatment.

A sudden loud blast from the horn made Grishkah look away from Ruby and toward Kagan's hut. She had been looking forward to a rest after spending all night hunting the humans, but it seemed that would have to wait a little longer. Not wanting her new slave to escape while she was away, the orc fashioned a loop into a length of rope and placed it over Ruby's head, tightening it until it was snug around her neck, but no choking her, then tied the other end to the young tree that held up one corner of her tent. That, combined with the girl's hands being bound behind her back, seemed enough to keep her prize from wandering away.

Ruby frowned when the word was said again. She had no idea what it meant. She winced at the loud blast from the horn, wanting to cover her ears. She shook her head again when the rope was placed around her neck then tied to the tree behind her. There was nothing she could do about it though and she lay still afterward, looking away from the orc. When Grishkah left the tent, Ruby tried to keep herself awake by looking around at the interior, but with nothing to distract her she slipped into sleep.

 

[StarrNico]

The man was barely conscious and though he turned his head slightly toward Anna, his eyes did not seem to focus on her. As she looked closer at his leg, she would see the bone was fractured almost in the middle of his calf, making the skin protrude unnaturally and very badly bruised and swollen.

"You are worse off than I thought." Anna said and turned to go to the stream to get a drink and to wet a cloth. She couldn't believe she was about to play doctor to a man who had tried to kill her, but she couldn't just leave him either. She sighed and shook her head, going back to Leathros and using the cloth to give him some water to drink before she would look at his leg. She realized she would need a knife to get to his leg and searched the man for weapons.

 

[Frundette]

Ezra made eye contact with Josef when the man spoke out. "I cannot speak of their similarities to the orcs of the north, but these looked like pretty fierce warriors. Armed and dangerous. And yes, at least twenty of them in total from what I seen. They are building a gigantic wall around their camp, it looked like quite the operation from what I could tell. We did not stay long, or get close enough to provide any more details. They were patrolling the forests nearby."

Jasper had kept quiet, letting Ezra speak, but thought it important that one more detail be conveyed. "And the ones we saw patrolling wore armor made of metal," he added.

Many of the eyes in the room widened at that bit of information. Metal armor was more expensive than a fully trained warhorse and most of those in the room owned only leather armor. Josef, having the most years of service, owned a chain mail shirt and chain coif. He whistled, rethinking his earlier statement.

The man at the back, Dain, spoke up again, "If they have a wall and are well armored, what hope do we have of bettering them on their turf? Plus, then we leave Aberdeen unprotected."

 

[StarrNico]

Jasper had kept quiet, letting Ezra speak, but thought it important that one more detail be conveyed. "And the ones we saw patrolling wore armor made of metal," he added.

Many of the eyes in the room widened at that bit of information. Metal armor was more expensive than a fully trained warhorse and most of those in the room owned only leather armor. Josef, having the most years of service, owned a chain mail shirt and chain coif. He whistled, rethinking his earlier statement.

The man at the back, Dain, spoke up again, "If they have a wall and are well armored, what hope do we have of bettering them on their turf? Plus, then we leave Aberdeen unprotected."

David listened to the exchange quietly, thinking. His eyes followed the men as they spoke and he agreed with Dain's last statement. He looked to Ragnar again, wondering what he would say.

 

[Frundette]

Gomez paused with one foot in the doorway and one foot out. He looked coldly back towards Aelfric and ambled leisurely back towards the cage. He knew the girl was not Gytha as Aelfric likely expected, she was in the cave with Laethros and Charles... but either way, Aelfric didn't know that. And what he didn't know, wouldn't hurt him.

"Tell me about Aberdeen," he hissed through the bars. "And if I hear even a slight hint of a lie in your voice I will kill her myself, and then you'll have two heads in your collection. How many men does Ragnar have at his disposal? Why did you come here?"

Aelfric's temper flared again as Gomez threatened the life of the girl and he felt his face and ears grow hot with anger. But for Gytha's sake he refrained from spitting in the creature's eyes as he stepped close to the cage. His voice was full of barely contained rage as he answered. "15 sworn men," he said, counting himself in the total. "And in soothe, I came searching for the scout who was too long missing."

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Aelfric's temper flared again as Gomez threatened the life of the girl and he felt his face and ears grow hot with anger. But for Gytha's sake he refrained from spitting in the creature's eyes as he stepped close to the cage. His voice was full of barely contained rage as he answered. "15 sworn men," he said, counting himself in the total. "And in soothe, I came searching for the scout who was too long missing."

"Gytha." Gomez gave a slight nod, indicating that he was familiar with the woman he spoke of. Compared to the hot rage being directed at him by Aelfric, the orc-creature was infuriatingly calm and collected. The chaos around them was normal in his world. "How many others could be called into battle should the need arise? What condition are they in?"

Jasper had kept quiet, letting Ezra speak, but thought it important that one more detail be conveyed. "And the ones we saw patrolling wore armor made of metal," he added.

Many of the eyes in the room widened at that bit of information. Metal armor was more expensive than a fully trained warhorse and most of those in the room owned only leather armor. Josef, having the most years of service, owned a chain mail shirt and chain coif. He whistled, rethinking his earlier statement.

The man at the back, Dain, spoke up again, "If they have a wall and are well armored, what hope do we have of bettering them on their turf? Plus, then we leave Aberdeen unprotected."

Ezra nodded gratefully at Jasper, he had forgotten that detail in his nervousness. "If we don't do something now the orcs will only grow in strength." He countered Dain, disagreeing with the man's casual dismissal of the human lives still imprisoned in the orc camp. "And Aelfric and Strider are still there trying to rescue Gytha and the other slaves, we can't just leave them there to rot..."

 

[StarrNico]

Balrash grumbled a little at the sound of the horn. He stood and made his way to the meeting place, watching as the other orcs started to gather together also. He looked around pausing just a moment at the cage the slaves were in to look at them then continued to the meeting. He missed having his bigger brother by his side as they had always been.
(Almost forgot about him)

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Balrash grumbled a little at the sound of the horn. He stood and made his way to the meeting place, watching as the other orcs started to gather together also. He looked around pausing just a moment at the cage the slaves were in to look at them then continued to the meeting. He missed having his bigger brother by his side as they had always been.
(Almost forgot about him)

Behind the hut which belonged to Kagan was a small hill looking out onto a large grass clearing in the middle of the camp. It was used primarily for addressing the masses, although hardly necessary as Kagan was a giant of an orc himself. Orkhan was waiting at the foot of it, still looking a little bit flustered after his Master called him out for letting the slaves escape. "Kagan has called a meeting!" He called to the assembling orcs.

--

Draugnot walked slowly behind Balrash. He had expected a meeting to be called after the chaos of last night, Kagan would be looking forward to reinstating some order and direction.

 

[Frundette]

"You are worse off than I thought." Anna said and turned to go to the stream to get a drink and to wet a cloth. She couldn't believe she was about to play doctor to a man who had tried to kill her, but she couldn't just leave him either. She sighed and shook her head, going back to Leathros and using the cloth to give him some water to drink before she would look at his leg. She realized she would need a knife to get to his leg and searched the man for weapons.

As she searched him, she'd quickly find a hunting knife attached to his belt. Next to it was a drawstring pouch heavy with gold coins, enough wealth in that pouch to keep a man supplied for years with food, ale, and women. Also in the pouch was a small, valuable trinket that her late father had carried that had been mysteriously missing when his body was returned to Aberdeen...

 

[StarrNico]

Behind the hut which belonged to Kagan was a small hill looking out onto a large grass clearing in the middle of the camp. It was used primarily for addressing the masses, although hardly necessary as Kagan was a giant of an orc himself. Orkhan was waiting at the foot of it, still looking a little bit flustered after his Master called him out for letting the slaves escape. "Kagan has called a meeting!" He called to the assembling orcs.

--

Draugnot walked slowly behind Balrash. He had expected a meeting to be called after the chaos of last night, Kagan would be looking forward to reinstating some order and direction.

Balrash came to a stop, looking to the hill and Kagan for instructions. He sent a brief glance around then returned his full attention to the lead orc.