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Post by Ringulf on Dec 6, 2010 20:19:41 GMT -5
"Some rats got all the luck!" Roath said as he walked away from the Archery tournament.
"But no matter I have done well enough so far and there are lots more sheep to sheer before I gots to get back to da city"
He took his bag down to the river and walked up the little stream to its head where the water bubbled out from under a thick beech tree. The spring came out right under the tree and flooded a small area next to the sandy bank. a tree had upturned from the water that had shifted it's path and eroded the earth under it. The tree was huge and very old but it was dead and hollow for the most part. Bad for the tree, good for Roath.
He hopped over the four rocks he had placed as stepping stone and hopped up on to the shelf that was well hidden under the cascading overhang provided by the trees root system, exposed and upended. Quite a bit of bramble and bush covered the roots and bottom of the tree and even though the forest giant had toppled His raiment was still very much in tact. though with the fall almost over the russet and brown leaves were starting to fall and thin and expose Roath's temporary abode.
"Been her mordn two weeks gonna miss dis tree. Iss a little damp but it smells bettrdn the stable."
The shelf and the bowl of the hollow tree was big enough to sit in and Roath stuck his sack of food up in the little niche he had made and lined with a soft broken basket.
"Now less see what I got..." He pulled the three purses from inside his tunic and laid them out two mediums and a small the first was brown suede and he had sliced it and dropped it in his tunic so quick that he had not even gotten to see it he opened it and found 4 silver pieces and 9 copper, that was almost another silver, wow not bad that could almost pay for the ride home! As if he were gonna pay for the ride home!
"Whass the other biggun got init? That only had 2 silver but it had 17 copper, no wonder it seemed so heavy, out of all of them this would be the one he would restring as it was made of nice pigskin dyed a reddish tan with green embellishments. There was also a small brass key in it. "AWW Damn! I wish I remember who I got dis offa dis looks lika jewlry box key or somethin!" He shook his head with regret a score like that could really make a difference for him.
The last one was the small blue silk pouch with the bead-work on it he had got off that woman he dumped it out and almost peed his pants! In it was A GOLD!...two silvers and a nice looking ring
The ring looked like it was made of silver and it had a big old yellowy brown stone that you could kinda see through but had some little specs of dirt and bubbles in.
"AAh cool dis muss be dat amber crap dat I have been hearin about. Kinda nice don't know if I should sell dis one I think I am gonna keep it!"
"Lemme see," he put it all in one pile, "I got 1 ring, 1 gold piece, 8 silver and 26 copper.
This he scooped up and added to the rest of his stash and he came up with a whopping 1 gold, 11 silver, and 38 copper plus 3 ring a necklace that looked pretty worthless less you like brass and an ivory comb, which made him mad cause he had no hair, well none he wanted to comb anyway.
"Now I got lots of food dat will keep a while and soms I gots to eat now and dose pieces of canvas from the pavilion and all that rope. what are ya gonna do wit de horse shoes Roath?"
"Dunno saysme, but I guess I should try an sellem to a blacksmit as dare too heavy for me ta lug, I guess I can keep a couple they throw pretty good and stay in your belt nice!"
"Aww! I dont wanna leave dis is too good I don't wanna go back to dat smelly dirty stable, an get beat up every day or get pinched by da stupid guards."
"I wish I could find out what Rats fell inta, would be great ta finda gig like dat! but dey always pick de girls I guess dey think they can help them, then clean them up, then help themselves! Heh! Glad I aint no girl don't need no one slobberin all over me for a coupla coins!"
Maybe I can catch a few winks before de next part of de tounament, de crowds will be gettin food now an den when da fightin starts I can lift a couple more of dese little wonders he said stuffing the purses into a hollow branch and sticking a little bit smaller branch in it like a cork.
"Yeah dat ale stuff is makin me sleepy I'll go out later." He balled up his ratty old plaid cloak and put his head down on it and not surprisingly was fast asleep in minute dreaming of fat purses and pretty girls that all talked like Rats.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 7, 2010 12:46:48 GMT -5
Roath had woken up to the sounds of the crowd on the distant tournament field as they cheered some extraordinary feat of skill and he popped up he grabbed a partially carved ham hock that was a bit hard but had a great smoky flavor and washed it down with a drink from the spring. He took his empty bag and wrapped his cloak around him and thrust his home made seax into his belt on his back. There he was limber enough for it to be accessible for either hand to draw.
"Time to make another pass!" He thought to himself.
He hopped over the rocks then crossed the field to the back of the food area. he looked all through the normal dumping areas but did not find much from the lunch crowd that looked at all appetizing.
As he walked he heard a rabble of boys that looked as though they were fighting.
"Oh crap dat's da Thieflords I recognise da big guy! I didn know dey were here! Aw man that poor kid is his teeth handed to him, Hmmm maybe dese horse shoes are worth something!"
he stood by the corner of a tent and flung a horseshoe at the leader with all his might, it caught him behind the ear and Roath ducked back around the corner and melted away, hoping the kid could use the distraction to get away. He went the opposite direction from the fracas and started toward the crowds of onlookers at the armored combat venue.
He walked through the crowds and did manage to clip another purse This one was a big knight lookin kinda guy, He was of medium height and average build with shoulder length, wavy, dark auburn hair. He was wearing black trousers with a black wool under tunic. Over that was a dark gray tunic with long sleeves made of leather and dark gray riding boots that laced all the way up to his knees. His hands were covered in black gloves and overall he wore a black woolen cloak that hung all the way to the floor. He had it clasped at his neck with an elaborate cloak pin in the design of a falcon with a tiny sapphire for the eye. Around his head was a circlet of a narrow band of brass with knot-work etched into it. At regular intervals were tiny sapphires that matched the one in the cloak pin, as well as the color of his startling blue eyes. The eyes were of major concern to Roath because though he didn't think the man actually knew his pouch was gone, he had felt Roath run into him as he was jostling through the crowd.
Roath looked up in a bit of a panic but slid into his role and said 'Ungh, scuze me M'lord" and kept going.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2010 12:49:11 GMT -5
Sir Timothy, going by the name of Timothy of Norgate, felt an ever so slight tug on his belt and was jostled by a waif of a boy.
Roath looked up in a bit of a panic but slid into his role and said 'Ungh, scuze me M'lord" and kept going.
Timothy reached out a gloved hand and locked it on the boy’s shoulder. “Just a minute there son,” his soft baritone voice managed to penetrate the sounds of the crowd without any trouble. At the same time Tim rubbed his hand along his belt to verify that one of his pouches was missing. That pouch did not contain the bulk of his meager wealth, but since he was hardly well-off, he would be hard-pressed without the few coins it contained to get back to Norgate. He would have to do some more singing here at the faire to try to earn the money back.
He eyed the half-starved street kid cowering before him and his face softened. This kid needed the money more than he did, but Timothy could not condone stealing. “Can you sing, boy?” He asked Roath out of the blue.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 7, 2010 13:00:16 GMT -5
He looked up kinda wide eyed thinkin he was gonna get trounced. and when the big guy asked about singing he was a little confused.
"Un....I...I dunno I never tried it afore, a please mister..please lemme go I'm sorry I won't do it again, it's all dem ThiefLords they make me do it I...I gotta eat I have not eatin since yesterday!"
A blatent lie of course but he remembered what it felt like when he hadn't eaten in days and justified that even though he was eating well now, he had paid his dews to cover this lie.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2010 13:18:19 GMT -5
Timothy frowned at the boy, he did look hungry, but then street kids always did, even on the rare occasions when they weren’t hungry.
“You probably won’t believe this, but I know what it is like to be hungry and to go without.” Timothy had spent many a cold, hungry night in the wilderness, not daring to show his face, especially right after… Lately it had been hard to squeeze any money or food out of the peasants since the war had taken the men away and a great many crops were never planted this last year. Food was running scarce up in Norgate, or it had been until recently.
"Un....I...I dunno I never tried it afore, a please mister..please lemme go I'm sorry I won't do it again, it's all dem ThiefLords they make me do it I...I gotta eat I have not eatin since yesterday!"
“I believe in people earning their pay or their supper.” Timothy said, still keeping a good grip on the boy’s shoulder but without causing him any serious discomfort. “Thus my question about you singing. Give me that pouch back now and let’s see if we can determine what you are good at besides picking pockets.” Timothy held out his hand and looked at Raoth sternly. “perhaps you can think of something you can do to earn these coins?”
Then something the kid said made Timothy cock his head to one side and look at him quizzically. “What about these ThiefLord gangs? They giving you a hard time here at the faire?” Timothy knew just a little of the workings of the city street life. He was far more at home in the wilderness. “Maybe we can do something about them.” He mused.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 7, 2010 13:34:15 GMT -5
"The thieflords? well you could try I guess but it is like tryin to bail hard rain you can get ridda some but it just keeps fillin in your hole!"
They pick on all us that don't joinem an I won't ifn I can help it! I am Indy...ah...Inady..um...pednant, yeah yeah Inadnypednant!"
"bout the only thing I know is how to survive, I can scrounge reel good an got a good feel for climin, I could be a great chimbley sweep ifn they would letme in da guild, an I don't mind gettin dirty neither!"
"Never sung doe never had no reason ta. Here is ya pouch back, was kinda light, an if i'd known you was poor to Ida left it on ya belt but I saw ya won wit dat crossbow an figgurred you mighta come into some coin. Hey dat crossbow is a peice a work! I never seen one up close, I just throw stuff and I got my sticker and my stick an usually dat does de trick! Hey maybe I should sing, since I ryme so good!"
"Look I would love ta work off my tryin ta nab your poke so tell me what I gotta do and let me do it, I gottsta start back to Araluen soon cause de fair is endin and da cold is commin for sure."
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 14, 2010 21:08:48 GMT -5
Right about then a small group of men passed by them laughing at some internal joke and Timothy overheard one of them say, “yeah, an I bet old man Baskerville had a cow!”
Timothy’s face drained of color and he tried to catch a glimpse of the men from the corner of his eye. One of them he recognized as being in his father’s household. His hands shook as he emptied the contents of the pilfered pouch into his hand. He held out a gold coin to Roath.
“Forget the singing for now, change of plan.” He said hastily and in a barely audible voice. “See those gents that just walked by us laughing? If you follow them and find out where they are going and report back to me what you see or hear, I will give you another gold piece. I also might have an idea on how you can safely get back to Araluen and you won’t have to worry about those thief lords.”
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 14, 2010 21:18:05 GMT -5
"Really...Honest Mr? A gold peice just for a shadow job? I thin I can manage that ok were do you want me to meet you with the scoop?"
"Just so's you know I gots to be on my toes to stay clear of them gutter rats but I think I can take care of it...its dem guys dere right?"
"Ok no problem. I will catch up with 'em now as theys movin away but I think I might be interested in what you got in your head 'bout gettin back to de city, we can talk when I gets back."
with that Roath pocketed the coin and slipped into the crowd so addeptly that it seemed like he vanished.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 14, 2010 21:57:38 GMT -5
Sir Timothy watched him go with some trepidation. Did he really want to know about his family? Was it possible that his parents were here at the faire? If so, what would he do about it? What could he do? He would love to get the chance to speak with them again, to let them know he was still alive and doing okay.
He waited for the young man to return, trying to make up his mind on his course of action and formulating his idea to the young thief. He should have asked the boy’s name. Timothy realized that his noble born conditioning was so ingrained even after all of these years that he just automatically dismissed the boy’s name as unimportant. He would strive to do better.
The kid sounded like he was interested, but would he come back? Somehow Timothy figured he would. He moved to the agreed upon meeting place a few yards from where he was standing now and waited, sipping on a bottle of apple cider. He rarely drank alcohol as it dulled the senses and he always needed his wits about him to elude the rangers they had sent after him back in the early days on the run. Now he had little taste or use for strong drink.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 14, 2010 23:00:27 GMT -5
Roath furtively slipped through the crowd until he was within earshot of the three men the big knight had pointed out to him. He listened to there conversation as best he could, keeping a paralell course with them seperated by one or two people at all times.
Roath was very good at this type of thing and enjoyed this type of work.
It seemed they were all quite amused at the amount of wool that had mysteriously fell off the cart on the way down to the faire that had been their charge by Lord Baskerville. and they had just recieved the coin that had been promised by the agent involved in fencing the skimmed goods.
These men were workers and laboreres on the Baskerville estate and from what it sounded like had been skimming profits and shirking their duties for quite some time.
They got to a section of town where a small but tidy inn and farm had set up quarters for more affluent and influential merchants and minor nobles. They had quarters out in the barns and stables that had areas turned into multiple dormitories or more accurately bunk houses for their servants and laborers who accompanied them.
Roath watched as the pouch of coins that the hands had been speaking about and tossing around was placed up behind a particular rafter in the barn. and then the bunch moved off to the main house for their meal.
When they were gone for a few moments Roath very quietly came out from his hiding place moved under the rafter picked up a rake and gently pushed the pouch off. It dropped into his waiting hand with a clink and he stuffed it into his tunic and layed the rake back where it was. Just then he was surprised by a sound as a young girl came in with a bowl of eggs from the chickencoop that adjoinrd this building and she was starteled by his prescence.
"Who are you why are you in here?" she said a little frightened and a little angry at the same time.
"Oh sorry issok I came in for the rake that I am supossed to pull hay down for the animals, is this it? I don't know how to do this stuff but I am real hungry an I thought if I did some chores someone might feed me."
"Well here she said I got 13 eggs from the chickens today so you can have the extra one and if you waite for me outside the pantry I can get you something but you better get outa here if anybody catches you they will think you are stealling!" She said
"Thanks alot I wouldn't want that to happen!" Roath said with a convincing nod. "By the way wass your name?" Roath asked.
"My name is Korynn Brower My Daddy and mommy own this inn."
"Oh! wow I am happy to meet ya I am R...Roger, I am here for the fair but had all my money stolen by a bunch of theives an now I gotta eat an find a way back to Araluen." He half lied.
"Come on I will get you some food but I can't help you with getting home." She said.
Roath followed Korynn to the back door by the pantry.
"S'ok I think I got that one figured out there is a knight that is going back that way an I think he may want me to hang around and take care of his horse and stuff in return for gettin me back."
"You forgot the rake Roger," she said with a twisted smile. But maybe I have something else for you to do to earn the food."
She gave him a small bag of food that consisted of a few cold chicken legs and some kind of zuccini bread along with a few apples and a handful of roasted chestnuts. She also gave him a cup of thick buttermilk that she had poured some honey into and stirred it around.
He accepted the bag and tied it to his belt then drank the cup of buttermilk and returned it to her.
"Wow that was great boy you farmy types eat like kings dont ya? Maybe I should stay out here and become a farmer or inkeeper or something!" he said as he wiped the buttermilk mustache off his upper lip with his sleave.
She giggled at his sillyness not realizing he was almost serious. Then she said, "OK can I trust you to take these two hams to the Boarshead Inn along with the dozen eggs? If they don't get there I will get my hide tanned for sure, so please make sure they don't go anywhere else?" she smilled sweetly at him.
"Don't you worry Korynn they will get there no problem!" Roath promised. and he was 100 percent serious. He had a very definite code of honor. it was a personal code rules that he led his life by that he set for himself. They were not things he had learned from anyone else and most people would have a hard time understanding how he seemed to find harmony in the way they went together, but they worked for him and they came by him asking certain questions of himself and then stating his own opinion. In any case they worked for him.
"Thanks Korynn I really appreciate the food and..for the trust, I wont let you down, oh! one more question, this Lord Baskerville guy that is staying here...What is his story?
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 15, 2010 19:22:35 GMT -5
The food was spread out on a white linen cloth that had held it, nothing fancy only homespun but there was a particular elagance to it nonetheless.
"So she says to me this Korynn girl, that this Lord Baskerville and his wife are here and that they come down from Norgate quite a bit as the wool merchants tend to gather here once a year even when the Harvest fair isn't. She said it is 'cause Whitbey is the center of Araluen! Heh magine that! what grit! like Whitbey got it all or something, anyway she also said that this Lady Baskerville is not well hasn't been since her last son was born a few years ago the kid is like almost ten and is also with them, but she says he is a stuck up little brat that is goin to end up bad ifn he don't mend his ways, don't know, can't tell, never met him."
"Try some of that bread stuff she said it was some kinda kini bread but it tastes good whatever a kini is."
"You got the other leg right? yeah that was top shelf! musta just killed it! thing was still runnin around when she gave it to me haw haw!" Roath was feeling rather pleased with himself, not only was his belly full and he was two gold peices richer but he also had gotten the hams to the Inn without incedent and hadn't even nibbled on any himself. He gave the knight fella the info he seemed to be looking for concerning the farm hands but he left out the part about the purse. He was still deciding on that. And the best thing is since he did this shadow job he wasn't gonna get pinched by the knight!
"Now if I can just get my stash an get outa here an back to da city I think this will have been my best trip ever, it was worth hiding under that wagon for four days and that wasn't no easy trip!" Roath thought to himself
Then the thought grew and he remembered this knight guy telling him he may have thought of a way to get back. He was hoping it was not gonna be to demeening like polishing his armor or washing his socks or something, but hell if he could get back without too much trouble and not get jumped or robbed or somthing that would almost be worth it.
"So what was that idea you had for gettin back to da city? I aint got no horse and I don't think I am gonna be able to find the wagon that I...got a lift from, alls I know it's gettin cold an I gotta leave nexta now if I am walkin so I don't get frozen at night."
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 16, 2010 22:00:01 GMT -5
Timothy was quite impressed with Roath’s resourcefulness on his reconnaissance mission. They were at Timothy’s campsite now sitting next to a small campfire with his warhorse, Tonnerre on a picket line a few feet away. The camp was on the outskirts of the camping area of the faire along a deep water drainage ditch that ran back over a hill and into a rather sparse copse of trees. It was the best camp Timothy could find that offered some sort of cover if he needed to escape quickly.
Flachette, his peregrine falcon sat on his shoulder as he fed her the scraps from the chicken leg he was eating. The falcon eyed Roath as if trying to decide if the boy was friend or foe, or perhaps only if she could coax some food from him.
"So she says to me this Korynn girl, that this Lord Baskerville and his wife are here and that they come down from Norgate quite a bit as the wool merchants tend to gather here once a year even when the Harvest fair isn't. She said it is 'cause Whitbey is the center of Araluen! Heh magine that! what grit! like Whitbey got it all or something, anyway she also said that this Lady Baskerville is not well hasn't been since her last son was born a few years ago the kid is like almost ten and is also with them, but she says he is a stuck up little brat that is goin to end up bad ifn he don't mend his ways, don't know, can't tell, never met him."
Timothy stopped in mid-chew and stared at Roath like he was talking gibberish. One thought was running through his mind; ‘I have a brother!’ He could hardly believe that he hadn’t known. Although, now that he thought about it, he had not checked up on his family in fifteen years or more. It took a moment before Roath’s other words sunk in. His mother was ill and apparently his brother was not very endearing, at least not to the little girl Roath had made contact with. ‘I have to see them!’ he thought. He wondered just what his mother suffered from and what his father was doing about it. If his father was the same as he used to be, probably everything he could think of and buy to cure his wife.
"Try some of that bread stuff she said it was some kinda kini bread but it tastes good whatever a kini is."
Roath’s voice cut into his thoughts again and Timothy said, ‘Zucchini bread. It is a type of squash. One of my favorite breads actually.”
"You got the other leg right? Yeah that was top shelf! musta just killed it! Thing was still runnin around when she gave it to me haw haw!" Roath chuckled.
Timothy had very rarely traveled with anyone since he had been on the run, though there had been a couple of exceptions, however briefly. He found himself liking this young man that had picked his pocket and smiled at the kid’s remarks. Then his grin slipped into a frown, followed by anger as Roath told him how his father’s servants were stealing from the Baskervilles. He would have to put a stop to that somehow, without getting himself caught. A brooding look came over his face. It was a look that was comfortable there, like an old friend.
"So what was that idea you had for gettin back to da city? I aint got no horse and I don't think I am gonna be able to find the wagon that I...got a lift from, alls I know it's gettin cold an I gotta leave nexta now if I am walkin so I don't get frozen at night."
Timothy pulled his eyes from their faraway focus back onto Roath. He sized up the kid and took a moment to decide what to tell him. At last he said, “Well, Kid, I suppose you ought to know a couple things about me before I expound on that idea.” Timothy realized they still hadn’t introduced themselves and he debated on just how much to tell Roath, but he finally decided he had better be straight with the lad.
“First of all, my name is Timothy of Norgate, at least so far as the officials here in Whitby are concerned. I also go by Timothy du Lac, but my real name is Sir Timothy Baskerville du Lac Noir.” He paused to let that sink in for a moment, and then nodded. “Yep, I am related. ‘This Lord Baskerville guy’,” he quoted, “is my father and his wife my mother. I haven’t seen them in many, many years. In fact they probably think that I am long dead.” His face clouded over at the pain he had probably put his mother through, all for one horrible act when he wasn’t in his right mind.
He saw the look on Roath’s face and continued, “you see, I have been a fugitive since I was about 20 years old or so. I’ve been on the run all these years and their house used to be watched so it wasn’t safe for me to visit them.” He wondered if that was still the case. Maybe there wasn’t anyone left who cared. He was going to have to take a risk if he wanted to speak with his mother. He needed to let her know that he was okay. The boy had said that his parents were going to Araluen, that would fit into his plan nicely.
“So, now you know. I have a price on my head, or at least I used to. I have no idea if it is still in force or not.” He shrugged, “regardless I am trusting you to keep my secret, and to call me ‘Tim’ instead of by my real name.”
“As to a way to get you back to Araluen, I was wondering if you would care to travel with me. I can’t buy you a horse, but I think Tonnerre could carry double, or we might be able to rent a horse around here. I could teach you to ride and you can keep an eye on my father and his servants and let me know what they are up to. I expect they will be packing up to leave early in the morning.” He looked in the direction Roath had said his parent’s camp was located. “I might have you do some menial tasks too, like fetching water or something but I am sure it won’t be anything you can’t handle.”
“By the way, what is your name? I can’t very well go around calling you ‘Hey Kid!’ all the way to Araluen.” Timothy chuckled.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 16, 2010 22:37:22 GMT -5
“Well, Kid, I suppose you ought to know a couple things about me before I expound on that idea.”
"Why you gotta ex-pound" Wats a ex-pound anyway is that like a henway? an speakin o birds dat vulture you got is creepin me out! could he eat me?...just sayin, looks like he wants to!"
“First of all, my name is Timothy of Norgate, at least so far as the officials here in Whitby are concerned. I also go by Timothy du Lac, but my real name is Sir Timothy Baskerville du Lac Noir.” He paused to let that sink in for a moment, and then nodded. “Yep, I am related. ‘This Lord Baskerville guy’,” he quoted, “is my father and his wife my mother. I haven’t seen them in many, many years. In fact they probably think that I am long dead.” His face clouded over at the pain he had probably put his mother through, all for one horrible act when he wasn’t in his right mind.
"Wow atsa mouthfull...Sir Timothy Baskerville du Lac Noir" Roath tried to say in a deep important voice, then he laughed and slapped his leg. "How many names a guy need! couldn't Papa Baskerville make up his mind?"
"Speakin of which I um...didn't know he was your Pa, sos I didn't tell you the whole story...but everythin I told you was true! I um follered the farm hands and well I sniffed out were they put this an well... you aint the only one with a pastya know, here!" and he tossed the pouch of coins, uncounted, to Timothy.
"Don't even know how much is there I didn't open it yet but since they stoll it from your Pa, it would be bad money ta me, so when you see him give it back. Ha! Those wool clippin' bastards will never know what hit 'em! Ha Ha Ha!" He laughed and said, "My name is Roath but you can call me: Roath Ratking Hole in da Wall Turdhopperor, any other title you make up! No really, got no other names I know of sides Roath, an that's jus cause dats what they called me in da orphanage ever since I could remember."
He saw the look on Roath’s face and continued, “you see, I have been a fugitive since I was about 20 years old or so. I’ve been on the run all these years and their house used to be watched so it wasn’t safe for me to visit them.”
“So, now you know. I have a price on my head, or at least I used to. I have no idea if it is still in force or not.” He shrugged, “regardless I am trusting you to keep my secret, and to call me ‘Tim’ instead of by my real name.”
"Well I'm sure you could get to see them, it aint no castle, no moat no allamagaters or nothin, jus walk in an say jus as fine as you please 'Ello mum, 'Ello Pop is me Timothy Blacklake Baskerwhoosy, your lovin son come home to tell you I's good how's you?"
Den we give him da coin, pat da rug rat on da head, give yur ma a kiss an we go rent a donkey or somtin and get the hell outa here for we's pickin icicles of our bumms!
“As to a way to get you back to Araluen, I was wondering if you would care to travel with me. I can’t buy you a horse, but I think Tonnerre could carry double, or we might be able to rent a horse around here. I could teach you to ride and you can keep an eye on my father and his servants and let me know what they are up to. I expect they will be packing up to leave early in the morning.” He looked in the direction Roath had said his parent’s camp was located. “I might have you do some menial tasks too, like fetching water or something but I am sure it won’t be anything you can’t handle.”
Yea I figured that, s'ok but I don't do socks or underwear! Don't even wear 'em! if I could helpit!
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 18, 2010 15:22:03 GMT -5
"Why you gotta ex-pound" Wats a ex-pound anyway is that like a henway?” Roath asked.
“Expound – means to explain; give details.” Timothy answered and then cocked an eyebrow, “What’s a 'henway'?”
“An speakin o birds dat vulture you got is creepin me out! could he eat me?...just sayin, looks like he wants to!" Roath was eyeing the falcon.
Tim chuckled and stroked the bird on the chest and she returned her attention to him. “This is Flachette. She wouldn’t eat you, but she does like chicken, quite a bit actually. Almost as much as she likes rabbit,” Tim looked at her fondly. “If not for her, there would have been many times I would have starved. Great hunter she is, just mind your fingers around her. She might mistake them for chicken wings.” He winked at Roath.
"… I um...didn't know he was your Pa, sos I didn't tell you the whole story...but everythin I told you was true! I um follered the farm hands and well I sniffed out were they put this an well... you aint the only one with a pastya know, here!" and he tossed the pouch of coins, uncounted, to Timothy.
Timothy caught the pouch and emptied its contents into his gloved palm. There was a tidy sum of small coins equal to almost eight silver pieces. Not much to his father, Timothy was sure, but probably quite a bit for those farm hands, especially if you add it to all the other goods they must have been skimming over the years.
"Don't even know how much is there I didn't open it yet but since they stoll it from your Pa, it would be bad money ta me, so when you see him give it back. Ha! Those wool clippin' bastards will never know what hit 'em! Ha Ha Ha!"
Timothy grinned back at Roath, “That was a downright decent thing you just did.” Tim said as he placed the coins back in the pouch and stowed it inside his tunic front. Fishing out another pouch, the winnings from the archery tournament, he tossed Roath another gold piece. “and this is for being so clever and lifting that pouch off those guys, but more importantly, for being honest.”
"My name is Roath but you can call me: Roath Ratking Hole in da Wall Turdhopperor, any other title you make up! No really, got no other names I know of sides Roath, an that's jus cause dats what they called me in da orphanage ever since I could remember."
“Well, Roath, King of the Rats, it is a pleasure to meet you!” Timothy extended his hand in friendship. “I like you kid! You’re good people, especially for a thief.” He winked at Roath with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. His mood shifting back from melancholy over his mother’s condition to jovial due to Roath’s good nature rubbing off on him. “I believe you are a young man with a great many talents and I think we are going to be great friends.”
“Now I just need to figure a good way to get this money back to my father, let him know what has been going on, meet my little brother and most importantly, talk to my mother.” Timothy mused.
"Well I'm sure you could get to see them, it aint no castle, no moat no allamagaters or nothin, jus walk in an say jus as fine as you please 'Ello mum, 'Ello Pop is me Timothy Blacklake Baskerwhoosy, your lovin son come home to tell you I's good how's you?"
Den we give him da coin, pat da rug rat on da head, give yur ma a kiss an we go rent a donkey or somtin and get the hell outa here for we's pickin icicles of our bumms!
Tim smiled, “somehow I don’t think it will be that easy.” He made the offer to travel with Roath and finished up with, “I might have you do some menial tasks too, like fetching water or something but I am sure it won’t be anything you can’t handle.”
”Yea I figured that, s'ok but I don't do socks or underwear! Don't even wear 'em! if I could helpit!”
“Well, that explains the icicles.” Tim smirked and stood up, carefully balancing Flachette on his left arm. while Roath rolled on his back laughing, “Come on. Let’s go find you a pony or something and get on the road before the cold sits in. I don’t want to be responsible for no icicles.”
A half hour later Tim was looking over a rather good-looking, large bay pony in the merchant’s livery area. A leather merchant was trying to get rid of the pony and selling it way cheap. Timothy was trying to figure out what was wrong with it. There was a mischievous look in the pony’s eye that Tim thought might have something to do with the cheap price.
“You sure there isn’t anything wrong with him?” Tim asked the man, picking up a front hoof. He felt the pony’s nose on his butt and gently pushed it away with his elbow, not wanting to get chomped on the derririer. His feet looked good, he had good confirmation and he was walking fine. Tim ran his hands along the pony’s back and pinched his spine a bit and the pony arched his back just like he should have done indicating there wasn’t any problem with his back.
“Nuttin but ‘ees a screwball an damn hard ta keep in a fence or tied up.” The man said, pointing to three holes in the paddock fence that had been hastily repaired. “Them’s from yesterday. He goes right through the boards, unties knots, slips out o’ his halter, you name it and he can get out o’ it.”
Tim frowned, “that could be a problem.” He walked around the pony again who had just finished untying his lead rope and was chewing on the end of the rope. The pony followed Tim in a circle. Tim walked a few paces away and the pony followed him. “He seems to be good tempered and you said he is broke to harness, but is he broke to ride?”
The man looked thoughtful, “I don’t rightly know. Never put a saddle on ‘im. Hold on.” He went back to his tent that was pitched about 50 feet from the livery and eventually returned with a small saddle with a pad and a bridle. “Took these in trade an’ I think they might fit ‘im.” Timothy helped saddle the bay that was almost horse sized, being right on that line between pony and horse. He stood there quietly, not needing to be tied as they put the saddle on his back. Then Timothy put the bridle on and the pony acted like he knew all about it.
“Looks like he might be saddle broke at least.” Tim then looked around for someone to jump up and try the pony out. He didn’t really want Roath to do it, because it was highly unlikely that the kid knew how to ride, but Tim was too big for the pony. Seeing no other alternative, he finally concluded that it was going to have to be Roath. “Well, someone’s gotta give it a go. You want to see if he is broke to ride?” Tim asked Roath. “He might buck, but it is up to you. If he is broke to ride, then the gold piece our friend here is asking is probably a good deal.”
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 18, 2010 16:34:56 GMT -5
"Why you gotta ex-pound" Wats a ex-pound anyway is that like a henway?” Roath asked.
“Expound – means to explain; give details.” Timothy answered and then cocked an eyebrow, “What’s a 'henway'?”
"OH about a pound or so! HAW, HAW can't believe ou fell for that one!" Roath said slapping his knee again, he was actually very bouant around Timothy for some reason, he couldn't remember the last time he felt so much mirth. His was not a life of much joy, mostly lonesome survival.
"Um yeah I guess I can, I mean the only thing I know about horses is they smell and their turds are good for starting a fire. But I can give it a go, jus wait a sec I need to make some things clear."
He went around to the front of the horse and patted his nose and pulled out the small apple from his lunch. He took a big bite almost half, then he put the rest of the apple under the pony's nose and he accepted it and munch happily while Roath spoke to him, "OK listen up ya hayburnin turd hopper Ima gonna get up on you now an I gotta tell you but you will know in the first coupla seconds that you may as well should be ridin me for all I know about horses, so be nice and I won't kick you or nothin an I won't keep ya all penned up."
With all that said he patted him on the head and went to the stirrup and took hold of the saddle and mounted like he had been doing it forever. He then sat deathly still having no idea what was next.
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