Lost Scout

[Frundette]

The gatekeeper paused, weighing David's words. If there really were lives at stake, he certainly didn't want to be the one to answer to Lord Octa if he kept them standing outside for the rest of the night. "Do you carry Lord Ragnar's symbol?" the gatekeeper asked suspiciously.

 

[StarrNico]

David nodded and reached into a pocket to retrieve the symbol. He held it out and moved his horse so the gatekeeper could see it, but didn't release his grip on it "We speak true"

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Feeling it might be of use, Terrowin produced his own token and held it for the gatekeeper to see.

 

[Frundette]

The gatekeeper hesitated only a moment longer. "Wait here," he said, then closed the small pop door, sliding the bolt back in place. He was gone for some minutes, long enough that the men outside might begin to wonder if he was really coming back. But then the heavy bar was lifted and the wooden doors creaked open.

Light from several lanterns illuminated the area and the gatekeeper and an armed man, stood waiting for Lord Ragnar's men, appearing as if he'd just been roused from a sound sleep.

"Come in, come in. I'll take you to Lord Octa," the guard said. He was a middle aged man with close cropped black hair and large gut who had been in Lord Octa's service for nearly two decades. "What urgent news from Lord Ragnar?"

​

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Terrowin stepped quickly past the gatekeeper towards the armed guard, leading his horse behind him. "You will hear soon enough." He recognized the heavy set man instantly as one of Octa's men, they had been in meeting together before. Still, he wanted Lord Octa to hear the news first, and deal with any misgivings his own men might have. It wasn't up to him or David to begin spreading unnecessary fear.

In a quieter voice he leaned in toward his partner and said, "Do you think it is wise to wake the Lord at this hour? We have no proof that a hoard of orcs is marching here now, urgent enough to warrant dragging him out of bed. Perhaps we should find shelter and wait until morning, when he will be in a more receiving mood."

 

[StarrNico]

David shrugged and looked to Terrowin "Lord Ragnar thought it important and urgent enough to send us both to save time, I will be leaving once dawn comes to keep going." He answered

 

[Frundette]

The heavy doors closed again once the three men were inside. "Fair enough, I suppose," Gunnar, the man leading them, said. He took them past a long row of homes and store fronts and toward an inner fortress that sat close to the river. A moat ran around the entire fortress, but as Wedmor expected no threat, the drawbridge here remained lowered and Gunnar hurried across.

"Hilde!" Gunnar said loudly as they entered an open courtyard area on the far side of the bridge, lit by several burning torches. "Hilde!" he repeated after waiting a few moments.

"Coming, sir!" a female voice called from a doorway to their right. And about a minute later a girl that appeared to be in her mid-teens came rushing toward them, dressed in a fashion more appropriate for a boy than a young woman. She was still sliding her arm into her coat and one could easily guess that Gunnar had woken her from her sleep.

"Hilde, find room in the stable for these horses. See that they are properly cooled and have fresh water and hay."

The girl nodded, looking curiously at the three men, but did not ask any questions, only waited for them to dismount and get whatever they needed from their saddle bags before reaching for the horses' bridles.

"This way..." Gunnar then said, indicating to a set of stairs nearby.

 

[StarrNico]

David helped Charles down then dismounted and looked to Terrowin. He waited for the other man to go before following him.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Terrowin nodded once to David and stepped in front of the pair to follow Gunnar up the stairway. He handed the reins to Hilde without grabbing anything from the saddle bags, not wanting to be seen carrying around a blanket when they met with Lord Octa. He uttered a quick "thank you" to her and started up the stairs.

 

[Frundette]

The steps took the men up only about 10 feet to a large wooden door, which Gunnar pushed open without ceremony. "If you'll wait here, I'll have one of Lord Octa's servants rouse him," Gunnar told them as they entered a large hall, dark and deserted at this hour. He then hurried away, past the long tables and benches and through a door on the far side of the room.

Charles stood a little bit behind the other two as they waited for Lord Octa, not wanting any attention on himself.