Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Four

[steveflam]

"Bah, twer only a dead tree limb after all. Better ta gone n see it by me reckonin."

[ewancummins]

Cirdan nods.

''Good thinking, Norzak.
Ha! Wat, you're too good at telling stories! My father would find a place for you at his table, so that you could entertain our noble guests on long nights, with such tales as that.''

[ewancummins]

Wats lets out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.

''Thank you, Cirdan. I had myself scared half to death with the telling of it! I had really thought that noise was hoofbeats on my roof! I must be tired. I couldn't get good rest in the Witch-Hold.''

Wat begs another sip of palinka from Dorgio, before going on to describe his captivity:

'' It was terrible! The devil-man, he appeared out of a cloud of smoke in the woods and grabbed me. He hit me on my head and I passed out. When I awoke, I was locked up, all alone. I didn't see anyone until Jon came to rescue me.''

[ewancummins]

Cirdan removes the rest of his armor and pulls off the stinking padding he wears below his iron harness.

''Ahhh....that feels nice. Wat, do you have a washtub? ''

Wat supplies the knight with a bucket full of water and a pinecone. Cirdan raises an eyebrow at the sight of the pinecone.

''That's how I wash, Cirdan.''

Cirdan shrugs and takes the bucket and cone into the back room to scrub down.

Wat announces-

''I am going to sleep. Good night, friends. Thank you for saving me from the Witch and the Devil-Man.''

[Adam]

"You are very welcome, it is the least we could do for your hospitality."

Bennedict affords him a smile before retiring back to a corner with a candle, his journal, and the books from the Witch's tower. It was going to be a long night.

[ewancummins]

Benn has several books which he may study:
primer on the cult of Incabulos, a court chronicle, an illuminated bestiary, a travelogue , a book of hours, a catalog of medicinal herbs, a lexcion of old languages, and a wooden portrait book.

Which shall be the first?

[JMaytr]

With the apparent danger on the roof no longer a threat, the exhausted Jonathan crawls back into the back bed and falls asleep.

[Lord Skybolt]

After finishing his food and drink Alain goes to sleep also .

[steveflam]

Norzak shrugs, finds a spot to sleep on his bedroll, and does. He does order his shadow to keep watch in case of trouble.

[ewancummins]

Wat's cabin

The night passes without incident. Benn stays up as long as he's able, burning the midnight oil, but even he eventually succumbs to the need for rest.

Morning finds Wat fixing a meal. The woodsman tip-toes around Benn, who is snoring face down in a book.

Wat gently awakens the rest of you and distributes a meagre breakfast of acorn porridge and green apples.

''We need to hunt for meat, or maybe go fishing. My larder is almost bare, friends.''

[JMaytr]

Jonathan sits close to Norzak while he eats.

[ewancummins]

Cirdan, looking much better today for having rested, says-

''I'll go hunting with you, Wat! Have you a spear or bow that I might use?''

Wat fetches a boar-spear and hands it to the knight.

''Try this spear. It has drunk the blood of many beasts.''

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio rises and recites his morning ritual, praying that this day will be more peaceful than the previous, but peace does not find him even in his prayers. When he closes his eyes in supplication he sees the corpses of Rosalind, Grigori, and Esmerelda.

Dorgio readies his crossbow, and prepares to join Wat and Cirdan in the hunting party. As he checks his quarrels, he asks Wat, "The Tinkerers from the Moot House. How long have they been traveling through these parts?"

[ewancummins]

Wat answers Dorgio-

''The tinker folk have been coming here for many years, since my great-grandfather's time, at least.''

[steveflam]

Norzak eats some crappy rations he has and offers his meal to Jon. "Ye sleep all right, laddie?," he asks with concern and a smile.