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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 3, 2009 15:45:57 GMT -5
Brandwyn was happy to be riding towards the warfront, even though her back was not healed and she was in quite a bit of pain.
She and Ian had stayed in the Inn for two days before she had driven him crazy enough to agree to head out. They travelled slowly though. Ian kept the horses at a walk and they stopped often.
"At this rate it is going to take us weeks to get to the enemy army." Brandwyn muttered to her horse.
"Good." Ian answered. "Maybe you will be healed up and fit for travel by then. What do you plan on doing if we run into trouble? You can barely sit on your horse, how do you plan to draw your bow?" Ian shook his head. "I was a fool to let you talk me into this. You with a knife wound in your back and me with a broken leg I am not supposed to be walking on."
Brandwyn smirked and shifted in the saddle to ease the jarring in her back. "You aren't walking on it." She pointed out cheerfully. "You are riding."
"Very funny." Ian answered dryly.
They rode in silence for a long time and then Brandwyn noticed the sun was starting to slide down towards the horizon behind them. She was hurting and felt very weak. "Uh, Ian, I think we should find a place to camp." She hated to admit it, but she knew she couldn't go much further.
Ian nodded, "I have been looking for a decent place for the last half hour. I think there is going to be rain tonight and would like to have some shelter."
They were following a deer path through the woods, having left the main road in the hopes of avoiding trouble. As they worked their way through the winding path they came out into an open glade. There was a small pond, fed from a spring at the base of a tree. A small stream trickled away from the pond to the south, crossing the path. On the other side was a patch of grass and in the center was an old cottage.
Ian pulled to a stop and surveyed the area. It appeared that no one had been there for many years. "Stay here and keep your bow ready." He slid off Bandit and grabbed his crutches from behind the saddle and hobbled over to the cottage. He called out, "Hello!" but there was no answer. No foot prints but his own and some wild animals dotted the meadow. The roof was in sore need of some new sod and the door stood partly open.
Ian pushed the door open with the end of one crutch and peered inside. The cottage was empty and smelled musty. Spider webs hung all over the place and there was a thick layer of dust in some places and mold growing in other places. The place obviously had not been lived in for a long time.
Ian went back out and motioned for Brandy to bring the horses over. They unloaded their packs, untacked the horses and rubbed them down, fed them some grain and turned them loose to graze.
Brandwyn could hardly stand to move, but she helped Ian clean up the cottage enough to be livable and get a fire going in the hearth. There was still a large stack of rotting firewood along one wall outside the cottage and a lean-to shelter for animals behind it.
"Looks like someone left one morning and didn't come back." Brandwyn said softly as she noticed clothing in the sleeping area hanging from a rod in the corner. There was food on the shelves in the kitchen, but most of it was unedible. They found some cheese and beef jerkey in a cold storage chest in the lean-to that was still good enough to eat and a bag of rice that looked like no mice had gotten into it, but that was about it.
Ian nodded. He had been wondering about that. "I wonder if they met with an accident or something because it doesn't look as if whomever lived her had intended to leave. It looks like they planned to return." He was making some stew over the fire from their own supplies as Brandwyn finished bringing in a small bucket of water from the spring. She filled the coffee pot and set it on the hearth to brew and then made up the single bed with their bedrolls. "Hope you don't mind sharing a bed."
Ian looked around and frowned. "It is not proper that we should sleep together."
Brandwyn burst out laughing. Sometimes her mentor was just so - so - so proper! "Who is going to know? You can keep your hands to yourself, can't you?"
Ian blushed and Brandwyn laughed harder, until a sharp pain up her back made her stop and suck her breath in because of the pain. "Of course I can. I just - oh never mind!" Ian looked in concern at his apprentice. "I suppose we will have to share. Neither of us needs to be sleeping on the floor. Are you sure you are ok?"
Brandwyn sat down on the bed and fought to keep the tears out of her eyes. "Don't make me laugh like that again. That hurts." She wanted to lay down and sleep, but knew she had to eat first because once she laid down, she was going to fall straight to sleep. "I am ok. Tired and my back hurts."
Ian hobbled over on his crutches and sat next to her and pulled her tunic up to examine the wound. "I am going to change this bandage while the food is cooking. Lay down on your stomach"
Brandwyn complied and soon she was being shook awake. "food is ready" Ian said and helped her to the small table. "What a pair we make, eh?" He smiled.
Not long after they had set the horses to guard the cabin and secured the door and windows and soon they were both asleep, though Brandwyn woke at every strange sound coming from outside in the dark. She was glad Ian was lying next to her. They both had their bows close to hand and she slept with her saxe knife under her pillow.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 21, 2009 19:15:11 GMT -5
The rain started in the early morning hours, after a fitful night of sleep for Brandwyn. She had gotten up twice to check on the horses and did so just as the first few large raindrops made their way down through the forrest canopy overhead. Asfala nickered softly and trotted over as Brandwyn slipped out of the cottage. It was still quite dark outside and the moon had long since set. The stars were covered up by the clouds.
Brandwyn patted Asfala and looked around for Bandelaro but didn't see him. A gray horse should be easy to see in a dark night like this one. "Where is Bandit, Asfala?"
Asfala nickered again a bit louder and Bandit answered from behind the cottage. He came trotting around it and Brandwyn patted him too. "Everything ok out here?" She asked the horses. They just stared at her, not comprehending. "Well, looks like it. You two make some noise if you see, hear or smell anyone around here, ok?"
As she slipped back into the door, she noticed Asfala going to the lean-to in the back. Apprently they were taking turns patrolling the ground around the cottage and grazing. Thunder peeled overhead as she shut the door and the rain started to fall with a vengance. She heard Bandit go back around the cottage to the shelter as she locked the door.
She crawled back into the bed and Ian didn't seem to wake up. Soon she was sleeping again, the sound of the rain on the cottage roof lulling her into dreams.
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Post by ivory on Jun 21, 2009 21:36:12 GMT -5
Godfather Malleus made his way through the rain with his cane though he hardly needed it. He knew the land well, having come here a few times before. Here, in being one of the Family's meeting places. They didn't use the place more than three times a year so the dust could have a time to settle and the spiderwebs built to cover their presense there.
Malleus always checked the place out a few days before in case it was currently occupied. It'd happened once before when travelers had sought shelter for the night and they'd learned that a blind man was usually more pitied and thus welcomed.
He reached the building soaked to the skin and shivering and without hesitation, pushed through the door...or started to before the wind changed and he caught the smell of horse. Frowning inwardly, but not wanting to show it lest someone else was there, he pushed through the doors.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 23, 2009 12:02:03 GMT -5
Brandwyn heard the door open just as Asfala whinnied from beside the cottage. She jabbed Ian in the ribs and pulled her knife from beneath her pillow. She could see a silouette in front of the door when the lightening flashed.
"Hold it right there, Mister!" Brandwyn said boldly, sliding out of the bed and reaching for her bow that was standing up right next to it. It wasn't strung, and she doubted she would have time to do so, but if the man held a staff or something she might be able to use the bow to block with if he decided to attack.
"Don't come any closer or I'll shoot." She hoped her voice didn't hold the apprehension she felt, mostly from being woken up suddenly by a stranger in the cottage.
____
Ian felt a jab in his ribs and then heard a horse whinny and was rapidly awake and pulling his sword out of the scabbard as he sat up on the bed. What was going on? He wondered.
He saw brandwyn pointing her knife at someone, but couldn't see who until the lightening flashed. It appeared to be a very soaked man.
"Easy now, both of you." Ian said softly. "We don't want any trouble. We are just sheltering from the storm here." Ian really hoped the man was friendly, neither of them were in any shape to fight right now.
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Post by ivory on Jun 23, 2009 14:54:52 GMT -5
Malleus froze at the woman's command even as his mind raced. He was fairly certain that he hadn't met them before, their voices didn't sound overly familiar.
He was still playing the pitiful blind man, though his hand on his can gave a slight twist to the left. A dagger lay hidden beneath the beautifully carved dragon head and in a second, he'd be able to remove it if they attacked. They sounded almost as weary as he though and doubted he'd need it, but one could never be sure. Besides, he was paranoid.
Still, he kept up his act. "P-please sir," he said, turning toward the male voice. "I mean no harm. T-there's a storm." He portrayed a fairly striking figure of a cowering male as he continued. "I-I'm blind. I couldn't possibly anyways and there are two of you." He'd always started to babble when he was afraid and though little frightened him now when he went into character he babbled when one would've been afraid.
"I-I just a place to s-sleep for the n-night."
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 25, 2009 10:58:11 GMT -5
Brandwyn lowered the knife, but kept it at the ready. "Hold on a moment while I light a lantern." She said and moved to the hearth where she had left the lantern. She took a burning stick from the fire in the hearth, which was putting out a tiny bit of light, but not much because it was nearly out, and lit the lantern and set it on the dining table and then picked up her knife again, using it to stir the coals as she tossed a couple pieces of wood onto the fire.
Brandwyn kept an eye on the man as she did this. When she could see him by the lantern light she resheathed her dagger. He obviously was a blind man and soaked clear through it looked like. She felt a bit bad for brandising a knife at him, but he had snuck past the horses and they were trained to give warning if they detected anyone when on guard.
Brandwyn didn't entirely trust him, but figured they could handle one blind old man if they needed to. "Sorry Sir," she said appologizing. "Never can be too careful and you startled me awake." She said and pulled out a chair for him. "Here is a chair. Why don't you sit by the fire for a bit. It should be about morning I think, I could make some breakfast." Though she was tired and had had a fitful sleep, and her back ached terribly, she knew Ian would not be able to stand up long enough to cook anything.
Brandwyn moved around the table towards the kitchen area, keeping the table between her and the stranger deliberately. "My name's Brandy and that is Ian." She said as she found a cast iron frying pan and pulled some bacon out of her pack. She looked out the kitchen window as she did so, wondering if the man had any friends out there. He might not be alone.
The rain was coming down hard and thunder peeled through the trees. She saw lightening flash and it lit up the entire clearing as if it were broad daylight. She didn't see anyone else out there, but Bandit was making a round about the cottage. Everything looked ok on this side. She nodded to Ian over the stranger's head.
Ian put his sword back in its sheath and lay it on the bed. He stood up and began to pull on his outer garments, having stripped to his skivvy's for the night. Guess we can vacate the bed and let you have it. We have been asleep for several hours now." Ian stretched and strapped the sword onto his belt and then strung his bow and hung it and the arrows behind his chair as he sat down with his back to the kitchen across the table from the fire where he could see the newcomer.
"So what brings you out in the middle of nowhere on a night like this?" Ian asked casually, wondering if the man was really alone.
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Post by ivory on Jun 25, 2009 13:00:18 GMT -5
"Sorry Sir. Never can be too careful and you startled me awake."
He smiled at her apology and with an incline of his head gracefully accepted it though personally he didn't see what she was apologizing for.
"It's quite alright, ma'am." And just for the heck of it, he evened the odds and apologized himself. "I should've asked if there was anyone here first. I didn't mean to startle you two."
He reached out for the chair she'd offered him and after grasping the back with his hand, he eased himself into it. He'd heard it scrape against the floor and hadn't needed to go through the motions had he not been playing character, but he wanted no trouble tonight. Galen wouldn't be here for another week because of that business with the murders, but Malleus still felt uneasy with sharing the space with strangers. He wanted them out and without asking any questions afterwards.
So he smiled as he sat down, thanked her for the offer of breakfast, and when she introduced them, he did the same. "Name's Aiden." It wasn't his given name, but he never used that outside the Family, and if they asked around they'd find out that there was indeed an Aiden Fletcher with his description, well in Gallica anyways. Each member in the Family changed names with each country and he wasn't an exception. In Araleun he was commonly known as Donald Morgan.
"Most gracious of you sir," he replied to the man's offer of his bed though he wasn't tired enough to sleep, but figured he'd rest a while anyways, maybe easedrop on their conversation if they had one while they thought him asleep.
"So what brings you out in the middle of nowhere on a night like this?"
Malleus smiled at Ian and began to tell the lie he'd used the last time something like this had happened. "Just passing through. I have family in Toscano. Normally I would've traveled with Vanessa [OOC: Teresa's name in Toscano], my sister, but she's busy with her work and I didn't want to disturb her. She's a hedgewitch [OOC: herbalist doctor/midwife], and her patients needed her more than I. Besides," he spread his arms to show that there wasn't anything on him, "I don't have anything of value so will hardly be robbed." He grinned again as his stomach growled at the smell of cooking bacon. "Mmm. That really smells good," he said as he turned his head toward the source before looking back at Ian. "So what about you guys? You live here?" He knew he didn't, but playing blind he just had to ask.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 27, 2009 8:08:55 GMT -5
Ian wasn't sure if the man was telling the truth or not, but his story was plausible. He didn't seem threatening, but one could never tell. He sighed to himself, he wished this fellow hadn't happened to drop in on them. He had hoped to keep Brandwyn here a couple days to give her back time to heal some more, but now he would push on as soon as the rain let up. They wouldn't likely get much rest with being on guard from a stranger hanging out with them. So there wasn't much sense in stayig if they weren't resting.
"So what about you guys? You live here?"
Ian shook his head, "Nope. Just passing through, like you." He hadn't had much chance to come up with a good story, but he had no intention of telling this man they were Araluen scouts. For all he knew, this guy could be an agent of Aslavia. Ian wracked his brains quickly to come up with a cover story.
"Brandwyn is my student and I am taking her to the big University in Toscano where we can study the works of the great masters. Give her a look at the world outside Araluen."
Ian smiled at Brandwyn as she never even flinched at his lie. She was chopping up some semi-dried vegetables they had found in the root cellar behind the cottage that were still edible and she placed them in a pot of water and put it on the hearth to boil, adding some herbs for flavoring.
"I heard there was a great chapel there that has huge paintings on the ceiling!" Brandwyn played along. "I can't wait to see it."
"If we make it." Ian countered. "We heard there is a war going on in Toscano." Ian looked back to Aiden, "Have you heard anything about it? We don't want to run into any armies or anything. I don't think I want her to be exposed to any battles or their aftermath." He lowered his voice conspiratorily, as if Brandwyn couldn't hear, "a little bit too hands-on of an education if you know what I mean."
Ian sat back and watched Aiden (if that was his real name) to see if he was hiding anything. It was going to be a long day, he suspected.
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Post by ivory on Jun 27, 2009 10:23:05 GMT -5
"Brandwyn is my student and I am taking her to the big University in Toscano where we can study the works of the great masters. Give her a look at the world outside Araluen."
Malleus raised his eyes at the man's words. The University was well known of producing some of the most interesting and intelligent scholars around. He hoped she had more scholary smarts than street smarts or he'd have quite a bit of trouble on his hands. And with the trouble the Family already had, it would be best if Ian and Brandwyn left as soon as he could get them too without seeming too suspicious.
"I heard there was a great chapel there that has huge paintings on the ceiling!" Brandwyn played along. "I can't wait to see it."
His own suspicion formed. She, a young woman, who'd never even stepped amongst the University's halls? It wasn't too hard to believe since there were some cases where students had come in years late, but they were too few for him not to grow suspicious. Galen always teasingly accused him of being way too paranoid, but his paranoia played a major part in him still keeping alive.
"If we make it. We heard there is a war going on in Toscano. Have you heard anything about it? We don't want to run into any armies or anything. I don't think I want her to be exposed to any battles or their aftermath. A little bit too hands-on of an education if you know what I mean."
His supicions were confirmed though he didn't show a sign of them on the surface. His smile fell and he looked troubled as he leaned in to whisper. "There's been talk of it falling soon." He knew it'd already fallen, but doubted that the news would've reached this far on its own. "Abdilah's ruthless, merciless and you'll do good to stay out of his way. I think you'll be fairly safe at the University though. He's not trying to destroy everything I don't think, merely just to rule it all." He frowned at the last part, wondering if what he said about Abdilah's goals were true. He wanted these two gone, but not dead.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 28, 2009 13:51:04 GMT -5
Ian listened with surprise. Why would a simple blind man know much about the war, and how could he possibly know the name of the commander of the Aslavian Army? Ian had only found that out from a captured Grizzly in La Rivage two days ago. Perhaps there was more to this man than met the eye.
"Who is this Abdulah? I thought the ruler of Aslavia was Mualli'm Sulahad. Course that was some years ago. I suppose they could have had a coup since then." Ian muttered, fishing for just how much information this man knew.
"Do you think it is safe to continue on? If this Abdulah has control of most of Toscano, maybe we should turn around and go back. I doubt they would be very welcoming to Araluens." Ian looked at Brandwyn and noticed she was looking a bit aphrensive.
___
Brandwyn dished up the food onto three plates she'd found in the cubboard after wiping the dust off of them with her sleeve. She sat one on the table in front of the man and the other in front of Ian. She remained standing, leaning up against the kitchen counter, where she could look out the window as the sky slowly lightened to a murky gray under the thunderclouds. The sun was up, but it didn't make a great deal of difference here in the forrest with the rain still hammering down on them.
Her back ached and she longed to go back and lie down on the bed, but she wondered why this man was really off the trail deep in the woods. Something didn't add up, but she couldn't figure out what. For now she would watch him carefully, and hope the rain let up soon so they could get back on the trail and away from him. She only hoped Ian wouldn't feel like they couldn't leave him alone out here because he was blind.
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Post by ivory on Jun 29, 2009 20:30:44 GMT -5
[OOC: lol. Just noticed that I've been rotating between the names 'Maverick' and 'Malleus'. lol. Changed them to the correct one. Srry 'bout that. *grin*]
"Who is this Abdulah? I thought the ruler of Aslavia was Mualli'm Sulahad. Course that was some years ago. I suppose they could have had a coup since then."
Malleus cursed himself as Ian mispronounced the name, and knew that he'd slipped. He hadn't been able to talk around the towns and hear the knowledge that was current to the commoners, having come straight here after finishing his little errand.
He offered a small smile to hide his nerves and replied, "Abdilah's just the name I've been hearing. Vanessa's after the man's guts after what she'd watch him do to her family." He snickered at the irony of his words within his own mind, though on the surface he winced. "Not her immediate family, of course, but her friends. She's a little sentimental, big-heart. Poor girl's going to go through a lot of emotional drama." He frowned into his cup, praying that she never found out what he'd said about her. With a shake of his head and after taking a sip, he looked back up. "Always trying to take care of everyone. Tried to tell her world doesn't work that way, but..." he trailed off on a shrug and another frown.
"Do you think it is safe to continue on? If this Abdulah has control of most of Toscano, maybe we should turn around and go back. I doubt they would be very welcoming to Araluens."
Malleus paused his time of reply as food was set before him. He smiled in thanks and took a few bites before speaking, "Probably not. When countries are at war, they're hardly welcoming to anyone. If you keep to yourselves though I don't think he'd mind. After all, I'm from Gallica." Though it wasn't a secret that knights had already been sent out to oppose the general, he kept that to himself, not wanting to seem overly inclined to dabble in the information of the military. He'd slipped up once, he didn't want to do so again.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 30, 2009 5:56:18 GMT -5
Brandwyn listened to the man with an intense look on her face. He seemed ok on the surface, but something about him set her on guard. She thought he wasn't being entirely truthful, but then neither were she and Ian. Going to the University, Ha! That was a good one. Course she really did want to go there someday - just not in the middle of a war. Hopefully it hadn't gotten damaged in the fighting.
She twisted slightly to look out the window by the front door and pain shot up and down her spine, her legs nearly buckled. She gasped in pain and nearly dropped her plate, her face turning white for a moment.
"Brandy? You ok?" Ian snapped his attention to her, still feeling like he should never have let her talk him into leaving the Red Feather. "I knew this was a mistake to leave so soon."
"I am ok. Just moved wrong." Brandwyn tried to bluff through it, but the pain was intense. She eased into the closest chair and sat her plate on the table. "I am pretty tired though. Didn't sleep well last night." Maybe Ian had been right about not leaving La Rivage. If they ran into any trouble, they were hardly in any shape to fight it off.
"Well, you can rest today. It doesn't look like we are going anywhere until this deluge lightens up. Last I thing I need is you down with a fever again." Ian looked around the room. He might just be able to squeeze a pallet on the floor between the bed and the hearth. "I will go out and get some of the straw in the lean-to and make you a pallet so you can sleep."
Brandwyn looked at him, not wanting to offend their guest, but she wouldn't sleep unless she knew he was going to stay awake. "You will keep an eye out for trouble?" She asked, hoping that Malleus wouldn't be offended. Ian nodded and winked at her. "Then that sounds nice. I could definately sleep."
"Finish your food first." Ian instructed and shoveled in the rest of the bacon concoction she had made. It really was good and the warm food filled him with a sense of satisfaction. He turned back to Malleus.
"Sorry for the interuption. I guess I am a bit protective of her." He grinned.
"More like an overprotective mother hen." Brandwyn snorted, but she appreciated his concern for her, even if it did drive her nuts on a daily basis. She smiled warmly back at him. Then she found herself thinking about Tandar as she always seemed to do when not confronted with some immediate problem. She wondered what he was up to right now. She ate her food methodically and smiled to herself, a far away look on her face, remembering that he had said he loved her. She sighed with longing this time.
"What?" Ian asked sharply, looking back up from his plate.
"Nothing. I just miss Tandar is all." Brandwyn glanced at Malleus, remembering he was in the room after having forgotten everthing except Tandar's face for a few minutes.
Ian rolled his eyes. "There she goes again. Girls!" He said exasperated. He had hoped her attraction for the young ranger would have subsided as they got farther apart geographically, but apparently not.
"Did your sister ever moon endlessly over some boy?" Ian asked Malleus, not wanting him to feel left out. Brandwyn glared at him, but didn't say anything more.
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Post by ivory on Jun 30, 2009 12:26:14 GMT -5
Malleus frowned at the girl's gasp, but didn't say anything. If his speculation of her was right, she had her pride and knowing well of the sentiment, he let her keep it.
"Did your sister ever moon endlessly over some boy?"
Malleus chocked on the meat he'd just stuck in his mouth at the question. He offered a silent apology to his 'sister' as he managed to unclog his throat with a few coughs. "Uh, yeah. All the time." He took a drink of water to get the rest of it down before adding more detail to make it more plasable. "Like I said, she has a big heart. Always giving it away to some lad or another." Starting to really enjoy himself now, he broke into a smile. "There was this one guy 'specially. Name was Gregory [OOC: Galen's name in Toscano]. He was an okay lad, but he delved in more of the ah, trickery arts if you get my meaning. Had to chase him off. Course he was just went behind my back, taking advantage of my blindness, but he treated her right so I didn't say much." He grinned full out now. "He ended up getting caught though and she cried for a lifetime it seemed." In all the years he'd known her, Teresa had never once shed a tear. The woman was hard as stone, if not harder. "Then there was this boy, what was his name..." he scratched his chin in thought before snapping his fingers together. "Patric Weasley who brought her flowers and everything. Of course, she fell heads over heals in love with him too...but he ended up dumping her for another. Cried then too. Oh, and then there was Aj. Silent, never once heard him talk, but she loved him all the same. Mother's heart she has." He grinned into his mug. Teresa would kill him if she ever found out about this conversation, but she wasn't here so he felt safe enough.
Though not wanting to push it should he slip in front of her, he turned to Brandwyn and altered the conversation toward her. "So how long have you known him? This Tandar fella?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 30, 2009 15:05:37 GMT -5
Brandwyn scowled at Ian and his seemingly cavalier attitude over the most important thing that had ever happened to her. Sure, she'd had a few kisses here and there from boys, even had a couple of crushes on some of them, but nothing like this. Ian seemed to think this was just a crush and she would get over Tandar, but Brandwyn knew better. She had never felt like this with anyone before and couldn't imagine ever loving anyone else.
She only half listened as Malleus detailed a list of his sister's "loves". She must not have really loved them if she had that many, Brandwyn thought but didn't say anything. She ate her food quietly until Malleus asked her,
"So how long have you known him? This Tandar fella?"
Brandwyn looked at him in surprise and took a moment to count back over the last few weeks and realized that though so much had happened and it seemed like months had gone by, she really hadn't known him for all that long.
"Three weeks or so." She replied a bit defensively, "but we are in love. It is not some little crush we have. He wouldn't have ridden through the night and rescued me if he didn't love me." She stuck her chin out defiantly at Ian, daring him to contradict her.
"I don't doubt that you both think that right now, but you barely know each other. How can you be sure? You need to give it some time." Ian said gently.
Brandwyn tossed her spoon down on her plate, no longer hungry. She had eaten most of it anyway. "I am going to go check on Asfala." She stood up and nearly ran out of the cabin and into the rain. She found Asfala and Bandit in the lean-to behind the cabin trying to stay warm and dry. She buried her now wet face in Asfala's mane and wrapped her arms around the horse's neck. "Why doesn't he understand?" She moaned. She missed Tandar so much it hurt. It physically hurt to be away from him, but Ian thought she was going to forget about him with the next boy that comes along. "Tandar, I hope you are ok..." She whispered.
____
Ian watched Brandwyn leave in a hurry and shook his head. "Girls! Don't know how they talked me into mentoring her. Never had to deal with a girl before." He muttered, forgetting for a moment that Malleus was listening. Ian had no idea what he'd done to upset Brandwyn so much.
Then he remembered Malleus, "Don't get me wrong, she is a great kid and I have enjoyed being her teacher, but sometimes I just don't know what to say or do. This whole fling she is having with Tandar is beyond me. I figured a few days away from him and she would move on, but now I am not so sure." Ian scowled into his now empty plate. "I don't think her parents would have liked it if they knew she had fallen in love with a ranger - if she is really in love. She is so young, how could she know?"
Ian stood up and picked up Brandwyn's plate and hopped one legged over to the sink and set the plates down next to it. "She hardly ate anything." He said worriedly. "She needs food if that knife wound is going to heal."
He turned back to Malleus, "We were only a few hours out of La Rivage when we were attacked by bandits. They called themselves The Grizzlies. Some merc group apparently. We would have all died if Tandar and his apprentice hadn't found us and finished them off. He got there just in time to prevent one of them from - from slitting her throat, but not before the Grizzly had stuck a knife in her back. It was a bad wound and she nearly died from it. I ended up with the leg broken too." Ian wasn't sure why he was explaining this to a stranger, but it felt good to confide in someone.
"That was only four days ago and now we are out here in the middle of nowhere in the rain on our way to a University that could even be destroyed now because of a war. What am I doing?" Ian looked out the window at the downpour. "I should take her home." He had been agonizing over this for the last three days. His duty to his country warring with his promises to Brandwyn's brother to keep her safe and bring her back to him.
But they were close to the front now and the King needed information. All they had to do was get close enough to see what was going on, assess the enemies forces and then ride swiftly back to the coast to meet the King. Then he could send her back home.
Brandwyn would never go for that. "She can be very persuasive when she wants to be, and she wants to continue. She pushed me to leave the city when I knew she wasn't ready to travel yet. I doubt I could convince her that going home would be the best thing to do." Making her go by force would be a nightmare. "If I try to force her.... well, I am sure you have tried to make a woman do something against her will at some point. They can make your life miserable, that's for sure."
Ian hopped back over and sat down again and began tracing the wood lines in the table.
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Post by ivory on Jun 30, 2009 15:39:59 GMT -5
"Three weeks or so."
Malleus wisely didn't say anything, hiding his grin in his mug and trying not to laugh. He believed in love surely, had dealt in it whenever he thought of the Family, but not in the life-time, partnership, one-and-only way and definitely not in such short a time. It'd taken him more than a few months to trust anyone that much, but of course his past history had a giant hand in that. He doubted she had such a hard life. Or if she had, she wasn't smart enough to learn not to trust people.
"But we are in love. It is not some little crush we have. He wouldn't have ridden through the night and rescued me if he didn't love me."
Once again, he followed the ancient wisdom passed down through the men of the ages, and kept his mouth shut. His mind on the other hand, snickered and thought that given the right amount of money, he'd go ride through the night and save someone too. He took another drink, this time wincing as Ian made the mistake of a lifetime by actually speaking. Didn't the man ever get told the secrets of staying alive when dealing with women? Malleus prayed for Ian's sake that they were gone by the time Teresa got here. Man, talk about lethal. She was a woman with woman tendencies - ie: making no sense at all, sudden mood changes, and complete confusion, but with the strength and ruthlessness of a man. Deadly, strong emphasis on the deadly, combination if ever there was one. He only lowered his mug when the door shut angrily behind her, though he still tried to fight the grin in common courtesy.
"Don't get me wrong, she is a great kid and I have enjoyed being her teacher, but sometimes I just don't know what to say or do. This whole fling she is having with Tandar is beyond me. I figured a few days away from him and she would move on, but now I am not so sure. I don't think her parents would like it if they knew she had fallen in love with a ranger - if she is really in love. She is so young, how could she know?"
"How indeed," he replied even as his mind raced. He knew that they weren't the everday commoners, but to be in league with rangers... He couldn't say he cared for the thought.
As Ian launched into the explanation of how they got their wounds, Malleus played the listening ear even as he analyzed ever bit of information he was given. Especially, the bit where she pushed him into leaving the city. He knew women could be very persuasive when they wanted to be, but over a simple University? Paranoia once again raised its head. He didn't like it. First the rangers, then the journey to the 'University'. And Ian obviously cared for her, so why would he risk her health just to see a stupid building? It didn't add up and he didn't like it. Didn't like it at all.
He grunted in answer to Ian's last comment about miserable-making women and frowned when his mug turned out to be empty. With a sigh he placed it on the table and leaned back in his chair, fingers playing on the ridges of his cane. The top was still loose in case he needed it, but considering Ian's place across the table, he'd rather just flip the table first.
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