Lost Scout

[ChickieBooBoo]

Terrowin secured his scroll in an inside pocket on his shirt, treating it as one would a prized possession. High stepping and quick footed, the black and white paint gelding eagerly followed David as they made for the edges of Aberdeen. He couldn't help but feel a small sense of apprehension at leaving the settlement behind, it would be a couple of days before he would see it again. With the threat of an orc attack so close on the horizon he worried that it would be raided while he and David were away... even so, he knew they needed to get the message out and wanted to be as quick as they could.

 

[Frundette]

Jasper found his new mount to be full of energy and a bit headstrong as he followed David and Terrowin, tossing his head and pulling at the bit, so that Jasper had to use a firm hand to keep the horse from taking the lead. As they left Aberdeen behind, the surgeon's apprentice kept an eye toward the road ahead, hoping to see Aelfric and Strider riding toward the settlement.

--

Barely had the messengers sent to Wedmor and Camden left Aberdeen when a disheveled figure made her way through farmers' fields, her stained clothes in tatters, hair tangled and filthy. She stumbled over a small root that caught the toe of her boot and fell to her hands and knees, but rose again determinedly, continuing on her way toward the heart of Aberdeen...

 

[Frundette]

Grishkah looked up as Mazoga approached and looked slightly relieved when the other orc offered to watch Ruby while she traveled to Camden. "Humie hurt," Grishkah pointed out, speaking in the orcish tongue as she leaned over and pointed to the messily bandaged wound. As she reached over the girl, her arm brushed over Ruby's forehead and she noticed that the human's face felt warmer than it should. "And hot," the orc said, sounding dismayed. She placed her whole palm over Ruby's forehead to try to judge if it was a fever. Perhaps it was nothing more than the girl's body reacting to the burn, but Grishkah had seen plenty of slaves, and even the occasional orc, get a fever after an injury and then perish days later.

 

[StarrNico]

Ruby blinked her eyes open again and looked to the orcs. She shifted uncomfortably, looking from one to the other. Her head was warm with the beginning of a fever. "What do you want now?" She asked softly, unsure of what they were going to do with her.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Grishkah looked up as Mazoga approached and looked slightly relieved when the other orc offered to watch Ruby while she traveled to Camden. "Humie hurt," Grishkah pointed out, speaking in the orcish tongue as she leaned over and pointed to the messily bandaged wound. As she reached over the girl, her arm brushed over Ruby's forehead and she noticed that the human's face felt warmer than it should. "And hot," the orc said, sounding dismayed. She placed her whole palm over Ruby's forehead to try to judge if it was a fever. Perhaps it was nothing more than the girl's body reacting to the burn, but Grishkah had seen plenty of slaves, and even the occasional orc, get a fever after an injury and then perish days later.

Mazoga also reached down and placed her palm across Ruby's forehead, noting the warmth as well. Knowing that the slave was important to Grishkah, she felt dismayed that her friend had picked one that looked so sick. Even if Grishkah managed to heal it, what use would it be until then? It would eat their food, demand Grishkah's attention... for no immediate reward on their part. It didn't take a particularly intelligent orc to question the logic behind healing this slave.

"Grishkah..." She looked gently at her friend. "Maybe you should let this one go, you'll be able to get a whole bunch more healthy ones in Camden. This one is sick, its useless to us now."

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Jasper found his new mount to be full of energy and a bit headstrong as he followed David and Terrowin, tossing his head and pulling at the bit, so that Jasper had to use a firm hand to keep the horse from taking the lead. As they left Aberdeen behind, the surgeon's apprentice kept an eye toward the road ahead, hoping to see Aelfric and Strider riding toward the settlement.

--

Barely had the messengers sent to Wedmor and Camden left Aberdeen when a disheveled figure made her way through farmers' fields, her stained clothes in tatters, hair tangled and filthy. She stumbled over a small root that caught the toe of her boot and fell to her hands and knees, but rose again determinedly, continuing on her way toward the heart of Aberdeen...

As the younger member of Ragnar's sworn men, Terrowin let David take the lead as they left Aberdeen for Wedmor. The mid-day sun felt hot and dry on his back, but he refrained from taking a swig of water as he knew they had a long way to go. "So, how did you manage to go along with Aelfric and Ezra?" He looked back to Jasper, hoping that the trip would feel faster if they made small talk, plus, it was a good opportunity to learn exactly what he had seen during his encounter with the orcs.

--

As the sun traveled across the sky, Orkhan was busy making sure the orcs were ready to leave at sundown. He needed to make sure that they traveled heavy enough to have adequate supplies to attack the settlement, but also light enough that they would be able to carry a substantial amount home. That part relied partly on the slaves they were planning to kidnap, and most of the loot would be carried on their backs. Speaking of which... he had to remember not to forget a good line of chain and shackles to transport the humans back with.

 

[StarrNico]

Mazoga also reached down and placed her palm across Ruby's forehead, noting the warmth as well. Knowing that the slave was important to Grishkah, she felt dismayed that her friend had picked one that looked so sick. Even if Grishkah managed to heal it, what use would it be until then? It would eat their food, demand Grishkah's attention... for no immediate reward on their part. It didn't take a particularly intelligent orc to question the logic behind healing this slave.

"Grishkah..." She looked gently at her friend. "Maybe you should let this one go, you'll be able to get a whole bunch more healthy ones in Camden. This one is sick, its useless to us now."

As the second orc put her hand on Ruby's head she shook it and shifted, trying again to pull her hands free of the binding ropes. Regardless of how she felt she wouldn't stop trying to get free. With more strength to her voice she said "Get your hands off of me. She frowned at the two orcs, looking from one to the other again.

 

[Frundette]

Grishkah did not know what the slave was saying, but was slightly encouraged that she seemed forceful. This one had a strong spirit and that might mean the girl would pull through. But there was certainly truth and logic to what Mazoga said. Grishkah sighed, knowing that there would be little time over the coming weeks to tend an ailing slave, particularly when there was bound to be many more of them very soon. Still, she didn't much like the thought of giving up so easily. "If she doesn't get better before I return, I'll do as you say," she agreed reluctantly.

--


"Master Corin sent me along with them, thinking that Gytha might have been injured and in need of some medical attention," Jasper answered, as the trio approached the Greywoods on the same path he'd taken with Aelfric and Ezra two days before. He continued, trying to think of any bits of information that might prove useful to the two men he now accompanied. "Not too far into the Greywoods there was a strange trail that we followed for a bit, but lost it before we'd gone a mile or so. That night, Strider found us and said his daughter had been taken by orcs, so we figured the trail we found must have been made by them."

--

Gytha continued her trek, entering Ezra's field. She was so exhausted that she wanted to lay down right there on the dirt, but forced herself to keep staggering onward. The fields were strangely empty and she wondered if that was simply because the harvest was already put away for the winter or if there was some other reason. "Hello?!" she called as she drew closer to the house there, hoping to gain someone's attention, but her voice was so hoarse that it did not carry far.

 

[RubyRose717]

(May I join?)

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

"I will leave her for now. While you're gone she can stay with the rest of the slaves and pull her weight. If she survives that, you are free to do what you want with her... so long as it doesn't keep you from other things. I suspect you will be very busy once you return... we all will!" She clapped Grishkah on the back and began backing out of the small hut. "Good luck in Camden, see if you can catch more than Orkhan again!"

--

"You suspected that all three women had been captured by the same group?" He nodded in understanding, remembering that Emma had approached Ragnar the previous day about her daughter. It seemed strange that the ones captured were all female, he wondered if that was a coincidence, and shuddered to think what could be happening in the camp if it wasn't... After being sworn into Ragnar's inner circle, Terrowin had always liked Aelfric. He was patient and kind, but also strong and fierce. Like Jasper he was also hoping that the man would show up soon at Aberdeen with some inside information. Having never fought an orc before, he wasn't too sure what to expect if this came to a battle.

--

Between the field and the house was a rather large produce garden containing all different types of vegetables. A couple of chickens pecked and scratched in the dirt, picking up small leftover seeds and bugs as they went about their business. Unseen at first, Olivia was crouched down behind a row adding handfuls of small tomatoes to her basket. Gytha's call was barely audible at the distance, but the girl seemed to hear something as she stood up and looked around questioningly. The sight of Gytha frightened her and she dropped her basket, taking a couple of steps backwards about to run for the house...