Lost Scout

[StarrNico]

Laethros cracked opened his eyes again to see the girl drop the knife beside him. Very slowly, he reached out a shaking hand, fingers fumbling until he able to grasp the hilt of the blade, which he then pulled to his chest, cradling it and closed his eyes again, undecided if he was willing to take his own life.

--


Charles staggered through the tunnel that ran under the river before finally coming out to the daylight beyond. He blinked as the rays of the morning sun hit his eyes, then looked to his hands to see they were red with blood. He hadn't even realized that the back of his head was bleeding until now. "Guess I deserved that," he said out loud to the birds chirping nearby as he sat down on a rock, unsure what to do. If he returned to Aberdeen, was there any way his previous treachery would not be known? He doubted it. And yet, he was unwilling to continue his allegiance to the orcs.

He pushed himself to his feet and, with a heavy heart, started making his way toward the road. Which way he would turn when he got there, he still did not know...

When Anna was finished tending to her own cuts she walked back over to Leathros, staying out of reach again. When she saw he was still alive she nodded "Decided to live til we get to Aberdeen?" She asked and made her way carefully closer to take the knife back so she could tend to his leg.

 

[Frundette]

"And what good is your word," Aelfric challenged, glaring at Gomez. "A moment ago you promished to deliver her head. Show me she still lives."

--

The room in Lord Ragnar's home was abuzz with various thoughts on the matter.

"Sounds like the road between here and Wedmor is beset by the vile devils," offered one.

"Send too few and they're like to end up captured or dead," said another.

"Wedmor could be having trouble with 'em already."

"Those things come calling here and we'll send 'em back to whatever demon god they worship."

After another few moments of this, Ragnar raised his hand and the men fell quiet, ready to respect his decision. "Whether Aelfric returns or not, Wedmor needs warned of this threat. Terrowin," he looked at the man since he had volunteered, "you will take word to Lord Octa in Wedmor." His eyes scanned the others in the group and landed on the quiet form off to the side, "David, would you accompany Terrowin, then continue on to Camden to take word to Lord Varxis?"

 

[Frundette]

When Anna was finished tending to her own cuts she walked back over to Leathros, staying out of reach again. When she saw he was still alive she nodded "Decided to live til we get to Aberdeen?" She asked and made her way carefully closer to take the knife back so she could tend to his leg.

The man resisted having the knife taken from his grasp, but his hands shook so badly and his grip so weak that Anna was able to take it with little effort. He mumbled something incoherent before slipping back into unconsciousness, his face growing a shade paler.

 

[StarrNico]

David nodded and looked around the room. He looked to Terrowen then back to Ragnar. " Anyone else to come with us?" He asked, his voice low and rough.

~~~
Anna sighed and turned to tend to his leg as well as she could without supplies. She finished taking care of his wounds and sat, waiting for him to wake again after gathering everything of importance from him to take to Lord Ragnar.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

"And what good is your word," Aelfric challenged, glaring at Gomez. "A moment ago you promished to deliver her head. Show me she still lives."

--

The room in Lord Ragnar's home was abuzz with various thoughts on the matter.

"Sounds like the road between here and Wedmor is beset by the vile devils," offered one.

"Send too few and they're like to end up captured or dead," said another.

"Wedmor could be having trouble with 'em already."

"Those things come calling here and we'll send 'em back to whatever demon god they worship."

After another few moments of this, Ragnar raised his hand and the men fell quiet, ready to respect his decision. "Whether Aelfric returns or not, Wedmor needs warned of this threat. Terrowin," he looked at the man since he had volunteered, "you will take word to Lord Octa in Wedmor." His eyes scanned the others in the group and landed on the quiet form off to the side, "David, would you accompany Terrowin, then continue on to Camden to take word to Lord Varxis?"

Terrowin nodded his acceptance and glanced briefly at David, who was to be his partner for part of the trip. "I will make sure he knows what is happening." He promised solemnly, already beginning to plan the trip in his head.

--

Gomez knew that he couldn't physically produce Gytha for Aelfric, not unless he hauled her back from the caves-- and that wasn't going to happen. As far as he knew she was still alive, and he honestly did intend to let her live if the man cooperated... but proof wasn't going to come easily. "You'll have to trust my word." Gomez met Aelfric's glare steadily. "It might not be worth that much to you, but I know she is."

--

It was a couple of minutes after the majority of the orcs had gathered when Kagan finally emerged from his hut. Despite the misleading, but peaceful, look of the camp at present, he was still dressed in full battle armour and armed to the tooth. Two swords hung from sheaths on each side of his hips and a long machete was strapped to his back. He did not carry a bow or arrows, but numerous daggers and knives were hidden in various locations across his entire body. Perhaps his most striking feature was his skin color, which was a dark, dull black. Blistered and scarred, it had clearly been involved in many battles over a long lifetime.

"I face you this evening to address a critical situation which has recently developed." His voice was gruff and deep, one did didn't invite debate or conversation. "Due to the recent mishandling of our slaves we have reason to believe that word of our existence has reached, or is enroute, to the human settlements. As you well know our strategy of attack has always relied on the element of surprise-- an ambush. That possibility will be lost, however, if we do not act soon. Mulush, what is the status of the wall?"

 

[Frundette]

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.

---

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.

--

Laethros slipped in and out of a barely conscious state for the next hour until he finally seemed to wake enough to attempt moving him without carrying him.

---

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.


(Post #666 mwuahahahahaha!)

 

[Little Peep]

(Love to join, maybe later!)

 

[StarrNico]

David looked to the youth critically for a few moments then looked to Terrowin "Be good for more to know the way." He stated, willing to take the young man with them. He gave a nod to Ragnar then stood to leave the room. He would have to talk to his wife before departing from the village and he knew that could easily take the full hour they had been granted before coming to get the letters and depart.

~~~
Anna came over to him with a stick he could use as a crutch. She did not trust the man to not try something along the journey to Aberdeen. She stood ready to help him to his feet so they could get started on their journey. "Come on then. Let's go."

 

[Frundette]

Anna came over to him with a stick he could use as a crutch. She did not trust the man to not try something along the journey to Aberdeen. She stood ready to help him to his feet so they could get started on their journey. "Come on then. Let's go."

The old man let the girl help him stand, supported by one good leg and the makeshift crutch, though the effort was almost enough to make his eyes water and he made various pained noises through gritted teeth. Though the fractured leg was by far the worst of his injuries, he'd suffered other various bumps and bruises on the way down too, all of which seemed to be protesting against the movement. He leaned heavily on the crutch for a few long moments, breathing hard, before finally turning his gaze upon her and gave a small snort. "You think I'm walking to .. where? Aberdeen? Be lucky if I make it outta the river bed."

 

[StarrNico]

The old man let the girl help him stand, supported by one good leg and the makeshift crutch, though the effort was almost enough to make his eyes water and he made various pained noises through gritted teeth. Though the fractured leg was by far the worst of his injuries, he'd suffered other various bumps and bruises on the way down too, all of which seemed to be protesting against the movement. He leaned heavily on the crutch for a few long moments, breathing hard, before finally turning his gaze upon her and gave a small snort. "You think I'm walking to .. where? Aberdeen? Be lucky if I make it outta the river bed."

Anna put her hands on her hips, staring him down. "Don't see how we have much of a choice, there are no horses around here. Not that I would trust you on one anyway." She stated then looked to his leg to see how the makeshift splint was holding up before her eyes met his again "And we are going to Aberdeen, nowhere else. So start walking."