|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 13:07:23 GMT -5
evening before the tourney.
"Oh! I am supposed to come with you Mylia. Ursan asked me to." Mylia turned to Tory, surprised. "You are? Oh...okay." Now that she was over the surprise, she was pleasently pleased that they would have some time to talk together.
"We have a bunch to get caught up on. Maybe we can talk a bit on the ride to the meeting."
"I was just thinking the same thing. We'll see you around later, Ari. It was good to see you." She managed a tiny smile at Ari.
When Tory was mounted and ready, Mylia nudged Spinner to a fast walk--the only gait that was relatively safe in these crowds-- and led the way toward the Boarshead Tavern. After a few minutes, Mylia dropped Spinners gait to a slower walk so that Tory could ride up beside her. Silent companionship was nice, but Mylia had a lot onher mind and she wondered if maybe she could unburden some of it with Tory. Afterall, Tory was also a girl and a Ranger apprentice. She chewed lightly on her tongue, apprehensively, before finanlly squirming uncomfortably in her saddle and glancing at Tory riding beside her.
So, umm....anyway, uh....oh bother." she mumbled under her breath. Saying anything was harder than she'd thought. Staring hard at Chips' head, she took a deep breath. "Ilostmytemperandnearlykilledaguytoday,andifithadn'tbeenforBrandwyngettingtherewhenshedidIwouldhave." She spewed it out as quickly as possible, just getting it out and over with. It would make repeating it much easier.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 13:50:01 GMT -5
"Yeah, I tied myself to the bottom of a wagon cummin to Whispy to da fair. I thought dare would be good pickins here for a while!...Hey what ever happened to you did ya get pinched by dat big hairy guy wit da helmet or what?
You sure look like you made out ok, look at the digs! you look all pretty and girly kinda without all the dirt and rags! And were did you learn to shoot a bow like dat! Damn! Next thing you are gonna tell me is dat you got plenty ta eat! You aint fat or nutton just look healthy!"
Mylia quirked one side of her mouth up in a selfconscious smile. "Thanks. I got an apprenticeship wi' th' guy with th' helmet. Him an' me, we gets along purty good--he's da one 'at taught me ta shoot. An' yeah, I do get enough t' eat."
She shifted the subject to him. "Ha' 'bout you? Did'ja move 'ere, or som'thin'? Fer keeps er jus' til the faire's over wi'?"
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Dec 6, 2010 14:09:33 GMT -5
She shifted the subject to him. "Ha' 'bout you? Did'ja move 'ere, or som'thin'? Fer keeps er jus' til the faire's over wi'?"
Roathe just gave a shrug, "Gots ta eat! he grinned and I am doin good till the fair ends but den I guess I will try an get back ta da city, kinda liked it out here but its gonna get cold reel soon."
I think the next big fair is in Norgate...sounds even colder, I don't wear enough close for that gig I don't know, well I hope you are doin good come see me in da city sometime I still got the same hole behind da bush in de stable you remember. Just make sure you give da whistle or I could end up beenin ya as you come in."
He turned away but then turned back...."I..uh..I am happy for ya you was always nice to me glad you are OK." He gave her a sheepish smile then turned to go.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 6, 2010 14:14:46 GMT -5
"Ilostmytemperandnearlykilledaguytoday,andifithadn'tbeenforBrandwyngettingtherewhenshedidIwouldhave." She spewed it out as quickly as possible, just getting it out and over with. It would make repeating it much easier.
It took Tory a moment to sort out what she said, but then she finally understood.
"Oh! ooohhh! I know how you feel." Tory nodded. "I would have killed that fat pig Korrin that day if not for Ranger Patrick stopping me. When he said, 'That's enough! Come here young lady!' I thought he was going to have me thrown in the dungeon and then whipped to death for threatening a noble." Tory stared at Chip's ears, going back to that day that was possibly the best and the worst day of her life.
"But before that, I was so mad at Korrin that I didn't care. For years he had been whipping me, goading me into trouble just so he could get his sadistic pleasure from beating me and then at night he would come to my room..." her voice trailed off and she shuddered and closed her eyes, willing the memory to recede.
"I couldn't take it anymore. Something snapped that day, right there in the feast hall in front of the Baron, Patrick and everyone. I swear I would have killed him and they would have hung me if Patrick hadn't stopped me."
She looked at Mylia, "It is scary to think we could actually do that to someone isn't it? Not the same as when you are in battle. Not the same at all."
She didn't know what else to say, other than she understood perfectly what Mylia was feeling. If she'd had time to dwell on the situation at the time, she would have been reacting much the same way. However Tory had to push those feelings aside in order to concentrate on following Patrick.
"I dealt with it by running away, which wasn't really dealing with it, but things were happening so fast that by the time I had a chance to examine my feelings, I was pretty much over it."
She wondered if any of this was helping Mylia or not. "You should tell Ursan though. He might have some advice."
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 14:19:38 GMT -5
"...come see me in da city sometime I still got the same hole behind da bush in de stable you remember. Just make sure you give da whistle or I could end up beenin ya as you come in."
"Will do." Mylia replied. She smiled, remembering the first time she'd visited his home, and hadn't whistled. He'd beand her alright, and she'd wound up staying the night while she got over the concussion he'd given her.
He turned away but then turned back...."I..uh..I am happy for ya you was always nice to me glad you are OK."
Mylia smiled again and lifted her hand in farewell as he disappeared into the crowd. "Glad yer 'live and kickin', too." she called after him.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 14:34:33 GMT -5
(OOC: Mylia and Tory)
"Oh! ooohhh! I know how you feel." Mylia looked at her surprised. "You do?" she asked.
Tory nodded. "I would have killed that fat pig Korrin that day if not for Ranger Patrick stopping me. When he said, 'That's enough! Come here young lady!' I thought he was going to have me thrown in the dungeon and then whipped to death for threatening a noble."
"But before that, I was so mad at Korrin that I didn't care. For years he had been whipping me, goading me into trouble just so he could get his sadistic pleasure from beating me and then at night he would come to my room..." her voice trailed off and she shuddered and closed her eyes, willing the memory to recede.
"I couldn't take it anymore. Something snapped that day, right there in the feast hall in front of the Baron, Patrick and everyone. I swear I would have killed him and they would have hung me if Patrick hadn't stopped me."
She looked at Mylia, "It is scary to think we could actually do that to someone isn't it? Not the same as when you are in battle. Not the same at all."
Mylia nodded, silently. It was almost unbelieveable that Tory knew exactly what it was like-- what it felt like. "So...how did you deal with it--what did you do?"
"I dealt with it by running away, which wasn't really dealing with it, but things were happening so fast that by the time I had a chance to examine my feelings, I was pretty much over it."
She wondered if any of this was helping Mylia or not. "You should tell Ursan though. He might have some advice."
"Hummm." Mylia was quiet a moment digesting what Tory had told her and turning it over in her mind studying it thoughtfully. "I plan too. The first thing I wanted to do was run and find him--tell him about it and see what he had to say." She turned her eyes back to Tory and smiled wanely at her. "Thanks."
SHe dropped her gaze back to the saddlehorn and struggled with her other, less-important question. Finally, she asked hesitantly, "Ummm....You know about....g-girls clothes an fashion an...stuff like that...umm....would you help me find a dress, later, maybe? I haven't worn one in years." she confessed, feeling embarrassed, her face flushing slightly red. As she spoke she looked up to see that they were approaching the Taven, and swung her pony to stand at the front of the stables.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 6, 2010 15:11:23 GMT -5
"Ummm....You know about....g-girls clothes an fashion an...stuff like that...umm....would you help me find a dress, later, maybe? I haven't worn one in years." she confessed, feeling embarrassed, her face flushing slightly red.
Tory grinned at her. "I can do better than that!" She exclaimed. "I actually don't know a thing about fashion. I spent most of my time in rags mopping floors and spinning chickens on a spit when I lived in Meric." She said as they swung down off their horses.
"But what I do know, and can teach you, is how to find the best dress makers that do know all about this stuff and how to get them to help you!" She grinned. "I was lucky to find one in La Rivage that was a font of information and she told me just what to look for to find the good ones."
Then she followed Mylia into the Boars Head Tavern.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 15:20:55 GMT -5
Tory grinned at her. "I can do better than that!" She exclaimed. "I actually don't know a thing about fashion. I spent most of my time in rags mopping floors and spinning chickens on a spit when I lived in Meric." She said as they swung down off their horses.
Mylia frowned. That just sounded like a contradictory speech.
"But what I do know, and can teach you, is how to find the best dress makers that do know all about this stuff and how to get them to help you!" She grinned. "I was lucky to find one in La Rivage that was a font of information and she told me just what to look for to find the good ones."
"Oh." Mylia relaxed a little as she led Spinner into a stall and unsaddled him, and gave him a quick grooming and a little feed, before leaving the stables for the inn. Tory followed behind her as they entered the Tavern and located Ringulf. "Thanks." Approaching Ringulf, she announced, "Here we are."
(OOC: Do we go to the Directives from the Boarshead, now?)
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Dec 6, 2010 15:30:22 GMT -5
(OOC no not till tomorrows dinner with Crowley)
"Ah! here come two delightful young faces to brighten our table Comandant!" As Ringulf saw the girls come in he motioned to them as he rose. Crowley also stood to his feet shook out his pipe and put his empty tankard on the table next to him.
They both bowed to the Rangeresses and indicated they take a seat across from them at the table.
Crowley raised his hand for the waitress. "This round is on me Rangers!" "Cider for you ladies or would you like somthing stronger?" he snickered good naturedly, they were off duty after all.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 6, 2010 15:41:38 GMT -5
Still not quite back to her old self Mylia forewent giving a fiesty reply and simply said, "Cider." She took a seat close to Ringulf and waited in silence for the drinks to arrive.
Finally she lifted her eyes to look at Ringulf. "I got something I want to talk to you about--later." she added, indicating that she'd rather speak to him in private.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Dec 6, 2010 16:10:38 GMT -5
Still not quite back to her old self Mylia forewent giving a feisty reply and simply said, "Cider." She took a seat close to Ringulf and waited in silence for the drinks to arrive.
Finally she lifted her eyes to look at Ringulf. "I got something I want to talk to you about--later." she added, indicating that she'd rather speak to him in private.
Ringulf looked deeply into her eyes and saw she was troubled,
"Certainly Mylia, are you alright? We can step out for a bit I need a stretch anyway."
Crowley looked at the three other Rangers around the table.
"Well...I can't stay to long but I just wanted to commend you three for your work on that Caraway mission, you fought a stiff fight but even though there were some feathers ruffled and we lost the ship, a great deal was revealed about the Brigands working in that area, we made some Skandian contacts it seems, and we got the breeding stock to Araluen for the Highland Ranger Pony Project. Well done! I want to lift a mug to all of you and say how good it is to see the three of you together. You may not realize it but you have all grown tremendously since I sent you off on that mission. Look around you, you each have had a profound influence on the others.
Salute!
Have no fear you will all be called on again." he said holding up his mug and draining it.
"You were right Ursan they do seem to go well together! Goodnight all, relax and have another on me." Then he scootched around the far side of the table and went up to his room."
"Well here we all are back together again! You both looking forward to the Tourney tomorrow? Ringulf said merrily.
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 7, 2010 10:44:44 GMT -5
(Tamlin; day of tourney)
Tamlin walked between tents and vending stalls, thinking about his last match. He'd been up against a girl who, being from the city if he'd understood it correctly, had whupped his socks off if the combat arena. It had been surprising to meet with a fellow former street kid.
Tam was jerked from his thoughts by a voice saying, "Well, look who it is."
Tam just knew it was going to be trouble, even before he turned to look over his shoulder. Bingo. Four kids, dressed for the most part, in rags, stood blocking the entrance between the two tents, hands on hips, looking directly at Tam. "We've been following you, little guttersnipe. We've got some business to attend to." Uh-oh. They started toward Tam, and Tam--being Tam--bolted, sprinting for the exit just as fast as he could run, only to be tackled before he had taken a full three paces. Tam tucked into a ball and rolled out from under the kid who had tackled him, lashing out with his feet and catching the kid in the side. He was up in time to meet the onslaught of the rest, and against such numbers, quickly went down again.
Tam was hauled to his feet and held with his arms pinned behind his back by two of the kids while yet the fourth took aim at Tam's face. Tam managed to dodge the first shot and, letting the two holding him by the arms bare his full weight, lashed out with both feet the catch the bigger kid in the chest full force.
The two kids holding him let him drop, and Tam swung his feet back down in an attempt to land on them, but he landed awkwardly and unbalanced and went down. His back struck the ground, and Tam tucked in for a backward somersault. In the midst of doing so, one of the boys still standing landed a kick to Tam's side that set Tam to seeing stars, even as he completed the roll, came to his feet, and bolted in the direction of the lists. He heard at least two of the boys give chase, but he had a lead, knew where he was going, and didn't intend to get caught.
He made it there, out of breath and with his side aching, in time for his fifth fight--against the same girl as last time. Tam put up a dismal showing, his side aching every time he had to duck, and worse when she actually landed a shot on his ribs. She swept the floor with him.
Afterwords, she was cordial, as before, but concerned about him, asking if she had hurt him in the last go'round. Tam shook his head and departed from the arena. He wanted to find Rick and tell him of the little run-in with the thieflords minions. He headed for the archery field, hoping to find Rick there.
He almost made it there. He heard running feet behind him, and being wary, took a quick glance over his shoulder and upon seeing the four kids charging towards him, he took off at a sprint. One of the kids, bigger and faster than his companions, caught up quickly and tackled Tam to the ground. Tam hit the ground hard but wriggled and squirmed like crazy out of the bigger boy's grasp. He made it to his feet in time for the second boy to bulldoze Tam into a large packing crate that sat conveniently blocking one end of the narrow alley between booths. Tam let out a breathless yelp as a sharp pain shot through his side, and then he was thrown to the ground.
He curled up into a ball, covering his head with his arms as he expected to receive the worst whupping he'd had since leaving the city. But instead, he heard the sound of feet running away. A moment later, he was being hauled to his feet by a short, stocky man wearing a Ranger's cloak and looking like he had all the happiness of a grizzly bear. "Who are you?" the man demanded.
"Tam." Tam eyed him cautiously and finally added, "I'm Rick Greenriver's apprentice."
"Really?" the man seemed to find that interesting.He turned Tam around, facing him toward the exit and, keeping a firm grip on Tam's shirt, started walking him toward the lists. "Than it's confession time."
That didn't sound too good to Tam. Nevertheless, he kept quiet as the man pushed him along through the crowds back toward the lists, and than to the archery field. The archery tournament had just finished when they arrived, and Tam spotted Rick still standing on the field with a few others.
"Rick!" the man holding Tam called, "I've brought you a present!" He shoved Tam forward a little to indicate said present, and hollered, "Come get it, and hurry up, will you?"
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2010 11:05:26 GMT -5
Rick looked up from flirting with the two women after the tournament when he heard a ruckus and saw his apprentice being man-handled by another ranger.
"Rick!" the man holding Tam called, "I've brought you a present!" He shoved Tam forward a little to indicate said present, and hollered, "Come get it, and hurry up, will you?"
“Hey there! Take it easy! You always treat your apprentices that way?” Rick said angrily as he strode over to Tam. He glared at the other ranger, “What did you do to him?”
He knelt down in front of Tam and looked him over. “You’ve been in a fight and I don’t think it was in the arena, was it? Anything hurt seriously?” he asked gently, noticing they were drawing a crowd.
Rick stood back up and looked around, spying the empty list field tent that housed a table, chairs and a bucket of cool water for the relief of the competitors. He placed a hand on Tam’s shoulder gently and led him into the tent and pulled the front wall across so they had some privacy.
“Let me take a look and you can tell me what happened.” Rick began to check Tam for injuries, gently probing with his fingers. “Where does it hurt?”
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Dec 7, 2010 11:45:47 GMT -5
“Hey there! Take it easy! You always treat your apprentices that way?” Rick said angrily as he strode over to Tam. He glared at the other ranger, “What did you do to him?”
The man snorted. "I wish. But if I did that to Dalin, Crowley'd have a fit!" The man seemed to brighten just a little. "You wouldn't happen to want another apprentice would you?"
Rick knelt down in front of Tam and looked him over. “You’ve been in a fight and I don’t think it was in the arena, was it? Anything hurt seriously?” he asked gently.
Tam glanced around and saw that they were atracting attention and he immediately thought back to the last large social gathering he'd been at. "Um...No it wasn't, an' I don' know. Cain we git outta here?" Tam asked, feeling selfconscious about having drawn yet another crowd.
Rick stood back up and looked around, spying the empty list field tent that housed a table, chairs and a bucket of cool water for the relief of the competitors. He placed a hand on Tam’s shoulder gently and led him into the tent and pulled the front wall across so they had some privacy.
“Let me take a look and you can tell me what happened.” Rick began to check Tam for injuries, gently probing with his fingers. “Where does it hurt?”
Tam was relieved that they were away from the crowds now, and drew a deep breath to begin his explaination. A sharp pain stabbed at his ribs and he flinched. "Ouch. Side. This'n." he said, indicating his left side. He took another breath, carefully, this time, and started again. "I run inta a couple'a th' thieflords sidekicks. They said they'd followed me, an' thet we had business t' tend to. They tackled me, but i managed to get away. After I got to th' fightin' 'rena, I started lookin' fer you. Was on m' way ta the arch'ry field when they started in after me again. They had me cournered again when he come up, an' I guess they jus' run off." Tam finished.
Ben, slightly dubious about Tam's story, spoke up from where he'd taken up guard at the doorway. "So let me get this straight: Them kids is part of a gang, an' they're after you. Why?"
Tam shrugged his left shoulder and immediately winced. " 'Cause I ain't one of 'em an' they don' like it."
"Uh-huh." Ben eyed Tam a moment, blinked once, and turned away again. "You know what they say, Rick. It takes a Ranger to stop a Ranger."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2010 12:22:40 GMT -5
"Uh-huh." Ben eyed Tam a moment, blinked once, and turned away again. "You know what they say, Rick. It takes a Ranger to stop a Ranger."
Rick looked sharply at the other ranger, trying to figure out what he was getting at. “What do you mean by that?”
He found some bandages in the tent’s first aid kit and told Tam to hold his tunic up as he gently, but firmly wound the cloth around and around Tam’s mid-section. “I think you may have cracked a couple of ribs. There is not much we can do for them either.” Rick said, watching Ben out of the corner of his eye.
When he finished he figured it was just about time for Tam’s next match. “Do you want to continue on in the tourney? You are doing quite well, but if those ribs get hit again, it could be very serious. I really think you should withdraw. There will be more tourneys later on.”
Rick pondered how to deal with the gang that was bullying his apprentice. If he just went out there and mopped them up and packed them off to the dungeon it wouldn’t do Tam a great deal of good. Tam needed to deal with them on his own if he could. An idea began to form.
“I saw you talking to Palisade’s apprentice, well former apprentice now I guess, Tory is her name right?” Rick asked Tam. “I think maybe you should stick close to her during the faire. I will walk you down to the list fields and we can fill her in. You think the two of you together can run those bullies off?”
Rick didn’t condone fighting at the faire, but Tam would be far better off if he was helped by kids his own age, especially if they were rangers also. “And keep your cloak on when you aren’t in the arena. It might deter them.”
He led the way back out to the archery range and retrieved his black bow and black arrows with the crow feather fletches that matched the ones hanging in his long black hair. He threw a wink to the two women who were waiting on him. “Ladies! Care to take a stroll down to the lists? I would like to see how the tournaments are going. We can have a bite to eat after and then we shall talk about dessert!” He winked at them and they giggled, each one latching onto an arm. “Lead on, Tam, I want to see at least one of your matches.” As a matter of fact Rick had witnessed all of Tam’s matches and was quite proud of his apprentice.
|
|