Lost Scout

[StarrNico]

Anna'a fingers stilled as she closed her eyes and bowed her head. Wordlessly she opened her eyes and looked just to the bindings around the split. Moving quicker and with less care she finished tying the knot and moved away from him, turning to find a place to sit near the water. She sat on the rock and looked out over the water and drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. Occasionally she would raise a hand to wipe at her eyes. After a few minutes she gave her eyes a final swipe and stood going back to him "Get moving, now"


~~~
Ruby winced at the rough treatment, but hadn't really expected anything more from an orc. When Grishkah started untying her hands she thought she had gotten through to her "Yes, rope off." When her hands were freed she brought them around to her front and started rubbing at her wrists, wincing and frowning at the pins and needles from moving them after being still so long. Then she raised one hand to explore the goosegg on her head from hitting the rock when she had fallen.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Not having to walk the last mile to Ragnar's home was a great relief to the scout and she gladly accepted Ezra's help getting her to and mounted upon Panago. But even in her current state, she couldn't help but notice the look of worry written over the farmer's face. Not realizing the farmer was already aware of the orcs, she didn't want to break the news to him before Ragnar had heard it, but was still curious if his worry went deeper than a disheveled girl showing up in his garden. Ragnar has been looking for you... his words slowly sunk in and she felt a sudden flicker of nervousness. "Did he send Charles looking for me?" she asked, hating the fact that she would even think to question Ragnar's own loyalty to Aberdeen, but the events of the previous day made her strongly doubt her own judge of character.

--

As soon as Terrowin nudged his mount into a faster gait, Jasper's horse lurched into a trot as well and the youth doubted he'd be able to convince the horse to go slower. At Terrowin's question, Jasper glanced at David, who hadn't spoken much. "I wasn't thinking to," he admitted. "But am willing if you see a need."

(Sorry for the delayed reply, I was at the lake with very limited internet for the last couple days!)

Ezra wasn't looking at her when she asked about Charles, and he refrained from doing so as he mounted Panago in front of her. Was he that easy to see through? "No, he didn't." He assured her quietly as he urged the horse to a light gallop. "Don't worry, Lord Ragnar will get you patched up and filled in. I'm not sure that I'm the right one to do that for you."

The next couple of seconds his mind was nearly overwhelmed with worry for Danielle. How could Gytha be back alone... had something happened to the group along the way home? Was Gytha the only one to get out alive? Without thinking he stole a glance behind them, looking desperately for another figure to come out of the trees, but nobody did. Aelfric, where are you?

--

"Go ahead if David would like the company." He said. "Plus, Camden might be the hardest to convince, being the furthest. Perhaps your story told directly from yourself would be useful. Lord Varxis can be a stubborn man at the best of times..."

--

Some distance in front of the trio traveling towards Wedmor, a grey horse slowly became visible on the horizon. It did not appear to have any riders, and was traveling slowly. As the animal drew closer, two riders could be seen hunched over the horses neck- one woman, and one man. They both began waving their arms and calling out to the trio. "Hey! Hey! Please help us!"

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

It was unusual to see the black orc meandering around the camp, but today Kagan was doing exactly that as the orcs prepared to depart for Camden. The work seemed to go faster with someone as intimating as him watching over everyone's shoulders. By the time the sun was nearly touching the tops of the trees in the west, sufficient supplies (including armour, shields, weapons, food, and shackles) had been gathered for the raid on Camden.

 

[Frundette]

As Ruby was rubbing her sore wrists, Grishkah put a hand over Ruby's bandaged shoulder. She didn't put any pressure on it... at least not yet... but was ready to squeeze the wound hard if the slave proved uncooperative. She growled a short command and pointed at the deer hide on the ground as she pulled lightly on Ruby's shoulder, trying to get the girl to lie on her belly so that she could better tend the infected wound on her back.

--

Laethros sighed, then winced, as he slowly pushed himself into a standing position once more. By her reaction, the old man was fairly certain that Anna didn't believe his story about her father's death, but he decided not to push the issue further. At least not yet. He started moving up the river bank again, hopping awkwardly on his good leg with the assistance of the walking stick, progress still painstakingly slow.

 

[Frundette]

Gytha's worry only increased as Ezra informed her that Ragnar would fill her in. So... something had happened here then. But she only nodded, not realizing that this man was the father of the younger girl that had been so recently captured and brought to the orc camp.

The pair covered the last mile to Ragnar's home in only a short time. Gytha let the farmer help her down from Panago, then strode forward. Ragnar's door stood open, so Gytha wasted no time with formalities and walked right in to the same room Ezra and Ragnar's men had gathered in a few hours before.

"M'Lord," she started as Ragnar looked up from a deep rumination, surprise showing on his face at seeing Gytha here and the state of her as he rose and ushered her toward the chair. "There is an orc encampment in the Greywoods from which I barely escaped..."

"Ezra brought word of it just this morning..." Ragnar answered, gesturing to him.

"And there is treachery within Aberdeen, too, M'Lord," she hesitated, unsure of where Charles' loyalties were, but deciding too much was at risk to leave out his involvement, particularly because she did not know if he yet lived. "Last night I met Laethros and Charles near the river, and thinking them friends, sought their help. But Laethros bound my hands and thought to keep this news from making it to Aberdeen. They had another prisoner too. The girl, Anna, daughter of [father's name]. I'm afraid that she perished, along with Laethros, when they fell from a great height at the cliff near the river."

 

[StarrNico]

As Ruby was rubbing her sore wrists, Grishkah put a hand over Ruby's bandaged shoulder.  She didn't put any pressure on it...  at least not yet... but was ready to squeeze the wound hard if the slave proved uncooperative.  She growled a short command and pointed at the deer hide on the ground as she pulled lightly on Ruby's shoulder, trying to get the girl to lie on her belly so that she could better tend the infected wound on her back.

--

Laethros sighed, then winced, as he slowly pushed himself into a standing position once more.  By her reaction, the old man was fairly certain that Anna didn't believe his story about her father's death, but he decided not to push the issue further.  At least not yet. He started moving up the river bank again, hopping awkwardly on his good leg with the assistance of the walking stick, progress still painstakingly slow.  

Ruby looked to the orc, confused for a moment then turned to lay on her belly. She did not have any desire to fight the orc at the moment. She figured the orc was wanting to do something to the whip marks on her back, since she had attempted to help with her shoulder.

~~~
Anna continued to walk in silence. She was not sure what to think of his words about her father's death or if it would affect anything anyway. Finally deciding to just ignore it she looked around at the forest and river. When she looked back to Leanthros she frowned.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Ezra hurriedly followed Gytha into Ragnar's home, casting uneasy glances into the open doors as he wasn't sure he was allowed inside without permission. Nevertheless, he wasn't about to leave her standing on the porch steps by herself. While Gytha launched into her story he stood quietly in the doorway, and wondered whether or not Ragnar would ask of Aelfic. If his mindset was anything like Ezra's, he too would be wondering as to the whereabouts of the missing men.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

With a loud grunt, Orkhan strapped the last of the supplies and weapons that he would be required to carry onto his back. His load included mostly weapons, swords, a mace, a club and the like, and he also carried half of the chained shackles that were needed to transport the new slaves home. Behind him, Draugnot carried the other half. The other orcs carried their own weapons along with other things that were needed, including a small stash of food that would last them the two days it would take to reach Camden. Once they arrived, they would feast on their plunder and return home on that. He looked eagerly at the sun as it continued to fall, Grishkah wasn't the only one who was looking forward to a good fight...

 

[Frundette]

Ragnar's eyes darkened at the news Gytha had just delivered. "Those are grave charges," he said, studying her carefully.

"It is naught but the truth, M'Lord."

"What of Aelfric and his friend, Strider?" Ragnar asked. "Did they free you from the orcs?"

"I did not see them, Lord. When I saw a chance to run, I did not hesitate," her voice caught a bit. By the story the girl, Danielle, had told her, Gytha had strongly suspected that Aelfric was searching for her, but to hear it confirmed brought fresh, unbidden tears to her eyes. "He has not returned then?"

As Ragnar shook his head, Gytha did he best to choke back the tears, knowing she needed to give her full report first.

"They have taken many prisoners from the road. Most from Wedmor on their way to Aberdeen. One other girl from Aberdeen," she reported, not realizing the farmer who had just assisted her was Danielle's father.

 

[Frundette]

Ruby looked to the orc, confused for a moment then turned to lay on her belly. She did not have any desire to fight the orc at the moment. She figured the orc was wanting to do something to the whip marks on her back, since she had attempted to help with her shoulder.

Grishkah pulled up Ruby's shirt and leaned down, inspecting the infected wound. Luckily, the infected bit was not large... at least not yet. But it would spread if not tended to as soon as possible. She brought her knife from her belt and placed one knee on Ruby's back to keep the girl from jerking too much from the crude 'surgery'. Then reached down and cut away the small bit of infected flesh, a process that took several small cuts.