Birthright: Tuornen, Chapter Two

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald takes the silver with glee, examining each coin before pursing them. "Sir Rory, first you ask me to defend the ladies of court, and now you wish me to escort a comely woman home? I'm beginning to think you don't like me." He smiles, placing his mug on a table. "I'll take the job. Though I doubt Dominica will be all that willing to be sent home. And if it's not too much trouble, I could use a healer to speed along the injuries I suffered breaking the Old Duke toy."

[ewancummins]

Roald takes the silver with glee, examining each coin before pursing them. "Sir Rory, first you ask me to defend the ladies of court, and now you wish me to escort a comely woman home? I'm beginning to think you don't like me." He smiles, placing his mug on a table. "I'll take the job. Though I doubt Dominica will be all that willing to be sent home."

Sir Rory lays a hand on Roald's shoudler. His stately, professional air has gone now, replaced by an odd familiarity.
"And that's why you were chosen, no doubt. Some men might let this woman's charms sway them into doing something foolish, but you seem like the smart sort."

He releases Roald's shoulder.

"I'll have a healer look at your injuries."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I...much appreciated, Sir Rory. Though to be honest, it's not her charms that I worry about. Indeed, I look forward to them. But She's likely to get upset when she learns she's being expelled from the realm. And she may do more than just strip out of her clothes. She may be insane, like most redheads, but that woman does know how to handle a blade. I've killed enough women to know the type."

[JMaytr]

"I don't want her sent home without proper guards befitting her station and I cannot afford such men during this time. If Roalds looks give you pause for thought, and you think him a possible relation then lets ask the priests of the Western Temple to conduct a bloodline test for him."

[ewancummins]

"Insane, blades, yes. All the more reason for her to be escorted home. Not expelled. Escorted. Firmly if need be. I trust you can get the job done."

[ewancummins]

While Sir Rory walks with Roald to find a healer, he thinks back to the duke's instructions-

"I don't want her sent home without proper guards befitting her station and I cannot afford such men during this time. If Roalds looks give you pause for thought, and you think him a possible relation then lets ask the priests of the Western Temple to conduct a bloodline test for him."

"Given the cause of your injuries and the importance of your mission, I think we should see a cleric who wields the true power of the gods, and not just a physick. Come with me, Roald..."

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald follows Sir Rory. "I'm confident I can do the job. I just warn you that it may require me trussing up Lady Dominca like a feast day turkey. Not exactly the most... dignified way to be conveyed home, no?"

[ewancummins]

Roald follows Sir Rory. "I'm confident I can do the job. I just warn you that it may require me trussing up Lady Dominca like a feast day turkey. Not exactly the most... dignified way to be conveyed home, no?"

''Do what you must. I confess that I will be glad to see her gone. Her shameful and insane conduct comes at a time when we can scarce afford the trouble."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I don't know, a woman like her is usually the exact kind of trouble I like to get into."

[ewancummins]

"I don't know, a woman like her is usually the exact kind of trouble I like to get into."

The Castellan chuckles at 'into' and walks on.

...

A priest favored with healing magic is found only after considerable delay; more than three hours.

The red-robed Haelynite priest uses some implements in the ritual that are unfamilar to the sellsword; a small iron bar and a varied set of polished gemstones. He prays in an archaic tongue, waving his holy symbol (a sword, shield, and crown badge), and then points at Roald. Nothing unusual seems to happen. The priest grabs the odd assortment of items and tucks them all in a velvet sack, pulling the drawstring tight. He intones a different prayer, laying his hands on Roald. Roald's injuries are instantly healed by magic, leaving only the faintest traces of scars.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

HAES WALLS

"That's it, lads, build 'em high!" Rennault strides the battlements as men work to repair the walls. He hasn't slept--there are dark circles under his eyes, but the eyes themselves are still quick an restless. His hands are raw from last night's battle and from working beside his mob of watchmen and scallywags to stack rubble into the gaps.

"We held 'em last night, we can hold 'em again!" He doesn't turn around to speak, instead he continues stacking the blasted bits of masonry. "Some men hid, some men fled, some men tried to be damned fool heroes. But you held lads and they broke on you like the sodding tide. Stick to me, stick to Ghonallison, and you'll have a second victory today!"

He makes his way to the irregulars, the alehouse brawlers. "Good scrappers, the lot of you." He opens his purse and divides its contents among them as best he can. "Glad you're with us. More fighting ahead, but more coin too. Any of you led men before?"

[ewancummins]

HAES WALLS

"That's it, lads, build 'em high!" Rennault strides the battlements as men work to repair the walls. He hasn't slept--there are dark circles under his eyes, but the eyes themselves are still quick an restless. His hands are raw from last night's battle and from working beside his mob of watchmen and scallywags to stack rubble into the gaps.

"We held 'em last night, we can hold 'em again!" He doesn't turn around to speak, instead he continues stacking the blasted bits of masonry. "Some men hid, some men fled, some men tried to be damned fool heroes. But you held lads and they broke on you like the sodding tide. Stick to me, stick to Ghonallison, and you'll have a second victory today!"

He makes his way to the irregulars, the alehouse brawlers. "Good scrappers, the lot of you." He opens his purse and divides its contents among them as best he can. "Glad you're with us. More fighting ahead, but more coin too. Any of you led men before?"

A big, bearish man with russet hair all over his arms, head and face steps foward.
''Me, commander."
The big fellow swings a knotty cudgel up onto his right shoulder. Renn sees bits of gray paste dried to the striking end of the weapon, along with reddish brown spots.
The ruffian smiles, a gap-toothed grin.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Renn gives the man an appreciative nod. "What's your name mate? Whatever it is, you'll do. I know I'd be scared as the hells to disobey you. Keep these men alive," he gestured to the other brawlers, "And keep them bashing heads as well as you've been bashing 'em, and there's a double share of loot for you."

Once that is settled, he steps down from the wall and heads to where the enemy dead are being looted. He'd seen how most of the conscripts had been armed with tools instead of proper weapons, and he wanted to make sure the dead men's gear was being sent to the defenders instead of carried off as souvenirs.

[ewancummins]

Renn gives the man an appreciative nod. "What's your name mate? Whatever it is, you'll do. I know I'd be scared as the hells to disobey you. Keep these men alive," he gestured to the other brawlers, "And keep them bashing heads as well as you've been bashing 'em, and there's a double share of loot for you."

Once that is settled, he steps down from the wall and heads to where the enemy dead are being looted. He'd seen how most of the conscripts had been armed with tools instead of proper weapons, and he wanted to make sure the dead men's gear was being sent to the defenders instead of carried off as souvenirs.

Leaving Lud (the big man with the cudgel) in charge of the pub brawlers and thugs, Renn sees to the proper distribution of recovered weapons among the conscripts.

While walking the lines, he finds his man Gatt seated in the shadow of a big broken wall stone. Lean and silent, Gatt meticulously plucks feathers from a fat, dead crow. The man barely looks up as Renn passes near, but mutters,
"Bird. Hungry?"
And motions towards a bundle of sticks and splinters piled near him on the ground.

[ewancummins]

DOMINICA

A messenger arrives and informs Dominica that she is being sent home to Coeranys, today. She has a few minutes to pack her things and eat.

"The Castellan seemed anxious that you leave before the truce ends, my lady', the young page explains.
"Later it may be unsafe."