Birthright Tuornen Chapter Four

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"His Grace does indeed have much to discuss with you, and the gold will be yours soon enough. Lightning fast, by the reckoning of wartime markets, I'd wager. But the duke has much to discuss with many people. You know how these things go. By the look of you, I'd say you've seena council-of-war or two. But if you wish, I could pass the time with you while you wait."

"How did that escort mission go, anyway? The ginger woman, right? Heard a rumor she went a bit mad during the invasion. Heard she stripped right down to her knickers and went on stripping. Ah, begging my lord's pardon," he says to the mayor.

[RocEter]

As he calls her a "Fine lady" her smile twists for just an instant, and for a moment turns bitter, but she recovers in a flash.

"No fine lady I, but I will be guided by your advice. Still, I can observe your enemies, render you invisible to the eye as well as divert, alarm or even slay your enemies. And I am happy to take risks if it will avert the discovery and destruction of this place. What risk could be more grave than that?"

Cormac nods. "We'll keep ye in mind, then." He agrees.

Later, he is standing over Foerde. He heaves a heavy sigh, looking back and forth between the fleece and the priest. "May as well have challenged a bighorn sheep to a headbuttin' contest..." he mutters and he drops to one knee, channeling some of the healing power of Aerik into the priest.

He waits until the man's eyes open and leans over top of him. "We gotta quit meetin' like this, lad," Cormac says, flashing a sardonic smile, "People are gonna start to talk."

"Ha!" Foerde says. "I'll try and keep that in mind." He says slowing getting up. He puts the fleece that is too large for him on.

"So we ready?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I'm pretty sure she was crazy before the fighting started. As for the escort mission, I got her as far as Endier before she snuck away from me at night. She left a nice letter telling me she would be heading the rest of the way back to Coeranys on her own. " Roald shrugs. "After a day of fruitless searching, I decided to cut my losses and return to Haes. No point in chasing after a crazy woman while there was a perfectly good war on, right?

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Been my experience, when a war's on, the mad are everywhere. But that one seemed madder than most." He picks up a nearby tankard and sniffs it. He grins and puts it down, untouched. "Lousy beer, that, but it might make for decent cheese." He reaches into his cloak and produces a small silver flask, unmarred from the day's fighting. "Brandy." He passes the flask toward the sell-sword.

"Well if you came to Haes looking for work, soldier, you've got some damned fine timing. I'd just about grown board with my post when the late Duke left us. Now we're up to our knees in it. There'll be plenty of farm boys looking for adventure for a few weeks, boys who think they're tough because they can kick a mule. Men who think they can swing a sword because they can swing a hammer. But you're a man of the trade, Roald. Must have worked some grisly jobs."

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald takes a sip from the flask and returns it to Renn. "Oh I've been a witness to, and a party of, some very unpleasant things in my life. Perhaps after I've spoken with the Duke, I'll tell you about my old necklace."

[ewancummins]

The Lord Mayor adjusts her chain of office as she listens to Roald and Rennalt conversing.

[ewancummins]

COUNCIL

"How and why did you come to be captured by the Alamiens?" the Duke asks sternly.

Atli answers without hesitation, " I woke up to noises of fighting, had enough time to secure my valuables but not to escape. The enemy soldiers busted into my place. Subdued me, though not without a tussle. "

He holds up his hands and makes fists; then drops his hands, grinning fiercely.

"The bastards wanted my strongbox. But I didn't tell them where it was hidden. Beating, bah! Hardly felt their puny blows. But they were really going to torture me, I'm sure, if Your Grace and company hadn't showed up and started killing. Blackstrike-- haven't seen that technique since I was last in Dauren, twenty years back."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I believe the Lord Mayor wishes to remind us that the Duke is waiting, Captain." Roald turns to the Lord Mayor and bows slightly, "Forgive the delay, Lord Mayor, please lead the way."

[ewancummins]

"I believe the Lord Mayor wishes to remind us that the Duke is waiting, Captain." Roald turns to the Lord Mayor and bows slightly, "Forgive the delay, Lord Mayor, please lead the way."

The Lord Mayor motions Roald and Rennalt to follow, and walks out of the kitchen and up the nearest flight of stairs...

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald follows the Lord Mayor.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Yes, let's be off," he says and starts out with Roald and the mayor.

[Adam]

"Aye, we've got most everythin' squared away. Le's go get yer horse an' round up the lads, an' off we'll go."

Cormac gives Foerde another pat on the shoulder and heads off to finish preparations.

[ewancummins]

SAFANA



Squire Ranald remarks-

"I wonder, do you have any magic that would allow me to communicate with Cormac while he is in the mountains? Any spells to conjure messengers, or something along those lines? "

[steveflam]

THE GORGON'S CROWN


Reese returns with a small crowd of rowdy, cheering men and a few women.

The people gather round to watch the wrastling match, while Reese takes bets and collects money...

The dwarf and woman are in close quarters, eyes glaring at each other. Torthur gets in the first hit as his elbow smashes off of the woman's cheek. She takes it in stride and shrugging it off, responds bu kicking him in the chest! He takes the kick with a grunt but inwardly, smiles. She got some spunk in 'er, jest like a dwarfess!

By now, both opponents are sweating and concentrated. Torthur gets the best of her and grabs her in a bear hug. Laughing, he plants one on her lips. She redoubles ardor and by some luck, grabs him in a headlock! He struggles and grabs one of her buttocks, then his leg twists out and almost makes her lose her footing. The woman still holds his head in an armlock, amazingly enough!

The dwarf arm twists her but she jumps up and surprises him by landing an elbow smash in his face! He staggers back, laughing wholeheartedly. He moves back in and redoubles his efforts. Finally, he succeeds in pinning her to the floor!

"Uhh, all right, uff..... you win. Damn you are strong. Heavy too!"


Torthur is serious as he breaks the pin and helps the woman up. "LIke we agreed, I ain' payin fer the hole." He looks to Reese.

"Lad, we make any coin?"

Torthur smiles at the alewife. "Lass, yer all right in me book. Ye kept up with me. Better n most dwarfess'!" He laughs, eyes twinkling at her.

"I knows somethin about brewin ale. Mebbe we kin talk business sometime? I like yer style."

[ewancummins]

Reese smiles and says, ''Yes, we made some money."

The crowd that had watched the fight clamors for drinks.

The big alewife dusts herself off, shoves the bottom of the busted keg to cover the hole in the floor, and hustles to fill the orders of her guests. She tells Torthur- "Yeah, business talk later; now I'm busy!"