Lost Scout

[ChickieBooBoo]

Aelfric's heart sank. If Gomez wouldn't or couldn't prove that Gytha was alive, Aelfric took that as strong evidence to the contrary. "I don't have to trust a **** thing you say," he said, fully intending not to give this weasely scumbag another shred of information.

Gomez shrugged and turned to leave, his frustration just barely beginning to show through the carefully created mask of deception he was so good at presenting. "Suit yourself." For a moment he paused in the doorway and looked back. "Before I kill her I will tell her why she must die. Its only fair that she knows, right? How you chose secrecy over her. Let me ask you, did you ever trade vows? Ever thought of having a family? Ever hold her gently in the dark when nobody was looking? A mighty fine looking woman you have, Aelfric. Too bad you didn't use her while you had the chance..." His mouth parted in a grin as he hinted at something far beyond their conversation.

Mulush straightened as Kagan's attention turned toward him, not liking the leader's scrutiny any more than Orkhan had. "Need another 5 days with the slaves we have right now," he admitted. Even that was assuming he could push the slaves hard and that none of them died between now and then. "More slaves and it's done in 3," he said. Up until now, they had only taken slaves from those travelling on the road, those least likely to missed for awhile. But if they could capture slaves from the farmers and cattle ranchers of Wedmor, it would surely make the work go faster.

"Mmm." Kagan half mumbled, half growled under his breath. He thought they were further along than that. "We cannot attack Aberdeen without suitable defences in place to protect our own. Camden is smaller, less protected and furthest from aid. Word will take the longest to reach them, we will still have surprise on our side." Already he was expecting the news to have reached Aberdeen. It was the closest and largest of the nearest human settlements. He wasn't willing to take the chance that they would be prepared to fight him, and find his forces at less than their best. "Burn it to the ground, take what you can for supplies and slaves, and kill the rest. We will strike fear in the hearts of men... does anyone have anything else to say?"

Ragnar shook his head at David's question. "If the orcs attack Aberdeen before you can return, we need enough men here to turn their attack. The two of you will be missed sorely enough if that happens. I will send a letter with each of you with my seal. Return in an hour's time ready to depart," he said, giving them a short time to prepare for their trek while he penned the letters to Lord Octa and to Lord Varxis.

"I can go," Jasper said suddenly just as Ragnar was beginning to turn, apparently dismissing the men. "I can go wtih them," the surgeon's apprentice repeated as Lord Ragnar turned to look at him quizzically. The youth was tired and already saddle sore, but he couldn't imagine going back to Corin's house and just waiting. "I ... " he flushed slightly as the eyes in the room turned toward him, "I know where the camp is. I can point out the trail to it as we go by."

Ragnar looked toward David and Terrowin. "It up to you," he told them, thinking the boy could possibly be as much of a burden to the two messengers as a help.

Terrowin shrugged. "Fine with me, s'long as you're up for it. Get your mount some water and rest, and meet us back here in an hour. We'll ride for Wedmor..."

--

Ezra had similar thoughts, but wanted to return to his family instead. They needed to be warned, and he wanted to see if Danielle was there or not. Already in his heart he knew the answer, but his conscious mind still demanded proof. He desperately wanted Ragnar to send a party of men to the orc camp, but also knew that if Aelfric and Strider had indeed been captured, the chances of rescuing them now were slim. The only hope he had was that they were on their way home now with the girls... unharmed.

 

[Frundette]

Laethros had absolutely no intention of going back to Aberdeen, but thought it best to keep his intentions to himself until they made it back to the road, knowing he'd need much help to traverse the rough terrain along the river between here and there. "Up river toward the bridge then?" he asked. "'less you want to try that path again," he said, looking up toward the steep trail that they'd tumbled down. Knowing already what her answer would be, he took an awkward hop in the direction of the bridge, letting out an involuntary gasp as the rough motion sent a jolt of pain through his broken leg. At the pace he'd be able to travel, it would easily take the pair all day to cover the few miles to the bridge...

---

"Get the lad a fresh steed," Ragnar said to one of his men, then dismissed the group so that he could work on penning his letters to Lord Octa in Wedmor and Lord Varxis in Camden.

With a quick parting word to Ezra, Jasper hurried off toward Corin's home, tiredness shaken off for the moment, even though he knew it would be back long before they reached Wedmor. He felt strangely excited at the prospect of the upcoming battle between the humans and the orcs, and at the same time, extremely guilty and a little bit nervous for feeling that excitement. He found himself suddenly wishing that his father had given him not as an apprentice to a surgeon, but as a squire to a knight...

 

[Frundette]

As Gomez spoke, Aelfric's conviction wavered momentarily, but he held strong and turned away from the creature. Slowly and painfully, he lowered himself back to the floor, having expending a great amount of his energy throwing himself at the cage wall. As he sat, he tried not to look at Strider's head not far away, but found his gaze drawn toward his friend's empty, lifeless eyes and all hope seemed to flee.

I'm sorry, old friend...

--

Grishkah grinned broadly at Kagan's statement that they would attack Camden. Finally! This is what they had been preparing for now for months! "Mirdautas vras!" she said loudly, looking at the large and intimidating black orc as a puppy might look to his master. The orcish phrase translated roughly to "It is a good day to kill" and Grishkah felt a thrill of excited anticipation that her blade might yet taste more human blood by night fall.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Grishkah grinned broadly at Kagan's statement that they would attack Camden. Finally! This is what they had been preparing for now for months! "Mirdautas vras!" she said loudly, looking at the large and intimidating black orc as a puppy might look to his master. The orcish phrase translated roughly to "It is a good day to kill" and Grishkah felt a thrill of excited anticipation that her blade might yet taste more human blood by night fall.

(To make sure I get my distances accurate, would it be fair to say that Camden is about a two days march from the orc camp?)

Grishkah's excited statement was partially lost among similar cheers from the other orcs, including Draugnot and Orkhan. Kagan's eyes met hers only briefly as he scanned the crowd, but her enthusiasm was not missed. He looked pleased that the newest and youngest orc seemed to be looking forward to attacking Camden. "We will travel on foot by night, be ready to leave by sunset. Tonight and tomorrow we will march, and attack with the cover of night. Remember, we want to take as many slaves as possible so kill when you have to but take whatever you can. Food, slaves, building supplies.... all of it, and burn what you cannot carry. We will come home with our hands full, not empty! Mazoga, Ghegari, (insert names) and I will remain behind to guard the camp."

(If anyone wants to volunteer a character to stay behind just say so!)

"Get the lad a fresh steed," Ragnar said to one of his men, then dismissed the group so that he could work on penning his letters to Lord Octa in Wedmor and Lord Varxis in Camden.

With a quick parting word to Ezra, Jasper hurried off toward Corin's home, tiredness shaken off for the moment, even though he knew it would be back long before they reached Wedmor. He felt strangely excited at the prospect of the upcoming battle between the humans and the orcs, and at the same time, extremely guilty and a little bit nervous for feeling that excitement. He found himself suddenly wishing that his father had given him not as an apprentice to a surgeon, but as a squire to a knight...

When Ragnar dismissed the group Terrowin returned home to his wife, Muriel. The pair were married but had no children. Two horses were housed in a quaint stable beside the house, one of which he began saddling immediately.

As Jasper hurried out of the room Ezra wasn't quick enough to grab the boy's arm amongst the throng of men leaving. He wanted to wish him luck, and warn him to be careful. The orcs were dangerous, and they were bound to be out and about after yesterday's rescue. When he finally made it outside Jasper was gone, but he didn't have time to chase him down to Corin's house. Instead he mounted Panago and headed towards his own home.

 

[StarrNico]

Barash would stay to guard the camp and keep watch over the recovered prisoners.

Anna watched Leathros and turned to walk beside him. She didn't bother to answer or look up at the cliff they had fallen down. She knew it would take them a long time to reach the bridge and hoped Gytha had already gone ahead to Aberdeen to warn Lord Ragnar of the treachery of the two men.

David left the meeting and went back to his house, preparing a bag and getting his horse saddled and ready even as he spoke with his wife and daughter. He briefly gave a condensed version of the mission and told them both to stay close to home. When the hour was uphe mounted his stallion and headed back to Lord Ragnars house.

 

[Frundette]

(Yeah, I think your distance estimate sounds about right. )

Having most of the day yet remaining, Grishkah returned to her tent once Kagan finished giving the orcs their marching orders. She was excited to go, but just as glad to have some hours to check on her slave and to rest. Though as she came back to the tent and saw the human girl sleeping there, she was suddenly worried about who would tend the nasty arrow wound along with the other various wounds while she was away, for she would be sorely disappointed for her very first slave to die from infection if the bandages weren't changed daily.

Grishkah sat down on the ground next to the girl, pondering this new, unforeseen dilemma.

--

Jasper hurriedly explained the situation to Corin as he put together another satchel full of supplies, his previous bag still on Corin's old palfrey. He wondered for a bit what had become of the horse. But hopefully Ezra's daughter was riding him back to Aberdeen right now since Jasper had borrowed her mount. The old surgeon seemed less than pleased that Jasper was leaving again so soon, but did not forbid it. Though as he grumbled about the boy's foolishness, he did add a few extra medical supplies to Jasper's bag in case they came in handy.

Once prepared, Jasper hurried back to Lord Ragnar's house to find that Dain had saddled a fresh horse for him, a rather plain, but sturdy brown gelding.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

(Yeah, I think your distance estimate sounds about right. )

Having most of the day yet remaining, Grishkah returned to her tent once Kagan finished giving the orcs their marching orders. She was excited to go, but just as glad to have some hours to check on her slave and to rest. Though as she came back to the tent and saw the human girl sleeping there, she was suddenly worried about who would tend the nasty arrow wound along with the other various wounds while she was away, for she would be sorely disappointed for her very first slave to die from infection if the bandages weren't changed daily.

Grishkah sat down on the ground next to the girl, pondering this new, unforeseen dilemma.

--

Jasper hurriedly explained the situation to Corin as he put together another satchel full of supplies, his previous bag still on Corin's old palfrey. He wondered for a bit what had become of the horse. But hopefully Ezra's daughter was riding him back to Aberdeen right now since Jasper had borrowed her mount. The old surgeon seemed less than pleased that Jasper was leaving again so soon, but did not forbid it. Though as he grumbled about the boy's foolishness, he did add a few extra medical supplies to Jasper's bag in case they came in handy.

Once prepared, Jasper hurried back to Lord Ragnar's house to find that Dain had saddled a fresh horse for him, a rather plain, but sturdy brown gelding.

While Grishkah was pondering her options for the slave, Mazoga happened to wander by and was drawn in by the sight of Ruby. A stout, strong looking orc, she wasn't much older than Grishkah herself, but had been chosen to stay behind. She would be in charge of supervising the slaves while the rest of the orcs were gone. "Put humie in the cage with the rest before you leave." She advised Grishkah, then added. "I will watch her, don't worry." Having been in the same shoes not very long ago she wasn't too far removed from Grishkah's position. The first one was always special...

--

After finding out that Danielle was not at home, Ezra was even more determined to make sure that something was being done about his daughter. But what could he do? Wait for them to return... or not? Strike out on his own to find them? That was silly, but he wasn't sure that he could sit around and wait either. He ran his fingers through his hair, tired but unwilling to rest without knowing where Danielle was.

Seeing him leaning against the doorway, lines of stress creasing his forehead, Emma found her husband's hand and held it tight. "They will find her, Ezra. Ragnar and his men, we've done all that we can now."

From behind her bedroom door, Olivia poked her head out and her eyes lit up at the sight of her father. She rushed to embrace him, towing behind a blond haired, blue eyed boy who looked only about two years old. For several long moments the family stood still in the doorway, wrapped in a four person hug...

--

Terrowin was already back and standing beside a tall, black and white paint gelding when Jasper returned. Two saddle bags with his gear were packed securely on either side, and he carried a canteen of water around his neck. "All set?" He looked primarily at Jasper as he was fairly confident that David would be able to handle himself. Not knowing Jasper really well, he was unsure how the surgeon's apprentice would be able to hold up after having already ridden so many miles.

 

[StarrNico]

David waited for Jasper's answer. He was as ready as he could be for the journey. He patted the neck of his friesian then nudged him into motion


~~~
Ruby stirred at the sound of voices, wincing when the slight movement pulled on the burn. She opened her eyes and looked from one orc to the other then let her eyes close again. She was tired and thirsty and she was not feeling well. She didn't know it, but the whip marks on her back had gotten infected from the dirt, blood, sap and everything else that had touched the open wounds before they could be treated.

 

[Frundette]

Jasper nodded. "Ready as I can be," he answered.

As the trio was mounting up, Lord Ragnar emerged from his house carrying two scrolls, each sealed with wax and pressed with the symbol of the boar. He gave one scroll to Terrowin and the second to David. "Make all haste," the lord said. "We will be making all possible preparations."

 

[StarrNico]

David nodded, tucking the scroll away in one of his bags. He circled his stallion around once more before setting off. He kept the stallion to a walk at first to let the other two catch up. He wasn't one for waiting too long when the mission required speed.