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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 18, 2011 21:53:44 GMT -5
Bunt eyed the water and made note of her chattering teeth and lips that were turning blue from the cold water. He pursed his lips to cover up a smirk and then said abruptly, “Water’s too cold. I figured it was, but I really came ta see you. Rick said ya were a bit anxious ta find out who yer new mentor is gonna be. Figured ya would be a bit more at ease meetin’ me with yer friends ‘round.” He looked around the lake, noting he didn’t see Rick’s apprentice anymore. He’d been down behind that waterfall for a while now. He figured Ringulf was waiting to catch one of them unawares before plunging over the side. “I thought Ivy might’ve come down here too, but seems she is havin’ fun elsewhere,” Bunt said and stood up.
“Well, I gotta git my tent set up and some supper cooked afore Crowley calls the Gathering ta Order. I’ll try ta keep him from mentioning ya when he gives out tha new assignments. But just in case, don’ be surprised if’n he announces ya as my second apprentice.” Bunt stood up shaking his head. “He’s a good man, Crowley, but sometimes he jes doesn’t remember what is was like ta be young and new here and scart of all those eyes lookin’ at ya.” Bunt picked up his quarterstaff he had leaned against the rock next to him, “Don’ worry ‘bout it none. If he says yer name, ya can always hide in yer ranger cloak and pretend yer invisible and know tha’ dozens of rangers started out jes where you are right now and were jes as skittish.”
He turned away from the girls at that and waved to Ringulf on the heights. “Hey you Sea Wolf!” he called up to the Skandian ranger, “I never got the chance ta tell ya at Norgate: Thanks fer the bow! She’s a real beaute and shoots like a dream. Not sure why ya left her with me back there at the harvest faire, but I sure appreciate it.” He nodded to Ringulf, “Come by an see me tonight, I got sometin’ ta ask ya.” Then he walked back up the trail toward the main camping area of the Gathering, pulling his cloak around him. The sun was just about to set and he was going to be setting up his tent in the dark.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 19, 2011 21:07:48 GMT -5
"Hey Bunt wait up I'll be right down!" Called Ringulf from the top of the precipice.
Then all his muscles seemed to compress at once as he crunched into a position that was reminiscent of the drawing of a bowstring. His body taught and compressed he then sprung up and out into the air, seeming to hang for a moment.
Feet together toes pointed legs perfectly strait and just a bit above the level of his head, back arched with grace and power in his shoulders and outspread arms, Ringulf looked like an eagle hovering over the deep pool looking for a fish.
He held the position and the weight of his massive shoulders and upper body drew him down and forward like a lawn dart and as he neared the surface of the pool as strait as an arrow he pulled his arms together and clasped his left and right thumbs as the spear-like hands pierced the water opening up a pocket into which he slipped his rather large body through without as much as a gurgle.
A few seconds after he had vanished below the shimmering reflection of the surrounding landscape on the pond's surface, numerous bubbles erupted from below as though the water was boiling in that area.
Twenty seconds went by, then thirty, it was almost a minute and finally after two and a half minutes, Ringulf's head popped up right next to Tory and the big Ranger hauled out with a smile and shook himself like a big shaggy wolf.
"Sorry I took so long I had to check on one of our treasure hunters." Ringulf said to bunt with a wink. He gave a knowing smile to Tory and put his finger up to his lips, "Not a word mind you I really think he has a chance at finding it this year."
Then back to Bunt, "You like it? yeah it is pretty sweet I dropped the draw down on it to match your old draw weight, your still shooting at the same one right? I figure accuracy will be more advantageous to an old feller like you rather than knock down power, and for that matter the bow can already shoot farther than you can see so no need to worry about long range!" he said with a chuckle. "No really I am very glad you like it and I could not think of anyone who deserves it more than you do...you have always been there for me...even when....when we lost Hugh. I don't think I would have made it this far if you had not taken up some of the slack after that."
Ringulf in a far more tender moment than seemed possible for the big Skandian lug, put out a meaty paw to clasp Bunt's, then pulled him in for a big bear hug.
Ringulf like many Skandians dealt very openly with his emotions among his friends. But he did not linger on it as he noticed Tory's wide eyed stare.
Reigning himself in he cleared his throat and in an almost forced manly gruffness said to his old friend, "So...I got all my axes for the throwing classes as well as some other surprises, who do you think is gonna surprise us this year...How "bout them bears?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 19, 2011 22:42:19 GMT -5
Bunt nodded and watched Ringulf dive into the water with a shake of his head. Skandians were definitely crazy. He waited, and waited and was considering becoming alarmed when Ringulf finally surfaced and climbed out of the water.
Tory flinched and threw her arms up to ward of the spray of water from Ringulf’s shake and Bunt chuckled. Tory stuck her tongue out at Ringulf and eyed him suspiciously. Bunt had to struggle to keep from grinning at the look on her face, but managed to keep his own face straight as Ringulf commented on the bow.
"You like it? yeah it is pretty sweet I dropped the draw down on it to match your old draw weight, your still shooting at the same one right? I figure accuracy will be more advantageous to an old feller like you rather than knock down power, and for that matter the bow can already shoot farther than you can see so no need to worry about long range!"
Bunt looked at him sideways, leaning on his quarterstaff, “’Old feller’ eh?” The words reminded him of the very recent conversation with Crowley and where that had led and he clamped his mouth shut. He didn’t need Ringulf leading his own team on this little bet, besides there weren’t enough apprentices to support three teams of 10 anyway. “Yeah, the draw rate is fine. No need ta shoot an arrow clean through a deer, is there? Lose arrows that way,” he added dryly.
"No really I am very glad you like it and I could not think of anyone who deserves it more than you do...you have always been there for me...even when....when we lost Hugh. I don't think I would have made it this far if you had not taken up some of the slack after that."
Ringulf in a far more tender moment than seemed possible for the big Skandian lug, put out a meaty paw to clasp Bunt's, then pulled him in for a big bear hug.
Bunt shook Ringulf’s hand, also moved by emotion, though he always hated to show it. He missed Hugh and knew it had been very rough on Ringulf, nearly pushing the ranger over the edge for a while there. Bunt had covered for him a lot so Crowley wouldn’t find out just how bad off Ringulf had been. The hug was beginning to crush Bunt’s ribs and squeeze the breath out of him. He thumped Ringulf on the back and grunted, “Alright there old man, don’ be squeezing tha stuffin’ out o’ me.”
Reigning himself in he cleared his throat and in an almost forced manly gruffness said to his old friend, "So...I got all my axes for the throwing classes as well as some other surprises, who do you think is gonna surprise us this year...How "bout them bears?"
Bunt wiped the corner of his eye after Ringulf let go and covered up the fact his own eyes were wet with emotion. He glanced at Tory who was watching them with an open mouth and scowled at her.
Tory saw the look and one of chagrin crossed her features, but it was fleeting. The look of suspicion crept into her eyes again. "You are up to something." She said to them both and abruptly she turned and dove into the water as if to get away from the two rangers. Bunt was surprised, though he didn’t show it. He hadn’t thought Tory was going to get in the water any farther than up to her knees.
“Throwing classes, eh?” Bunt asked Ringulf. “Did Crowley talk ya inta that, or did ya go an’ do a fool thing an’ volunteer fer it?” Bunt grinned and reclaimed his walking stick that had fallen during Ringulf’s bear hug. “Ya gonna let me in on them surprises? I’d be interested ta see what you and her lovely Fin have come up with since the Winter Revel.” He started to move away from the pool and then glanced back where to where Tory was just coming to the surface with a look of near panic in her eyes.
“Maybe we shouldn’t leave these younglings alone here.” He suggested. “Nearly dark now anyhow, I think they should all head on back ta camp, what do you think?”
___
Tory was surprised that there was no huge wave this time when Ringulf dove off the cliff. She’d noticed Tam had gone behind the waterfall, but she hadn’t seen him come out. She wondered what was back there, but she didn’t want to know badly enough to swim back there.
She noted that Ringulf was down for a long time and was just about to say something about it when he surfaced and then shook himself all over her. She threw her hands up, but it was too late. The cold water sprayed over her and she could think of nothing more than to stick her tongue out at him like a child.
She listened to what he and Bunt were talking about, staring at them as they were hugging, surprised that two grown men would display such emotion in front of the 'young-uns'. It was then she noticed how dirty her arms were. The splashes from Ringulf had left tracks of clean spots among the dust on her arms and face. Her clothing was even dirtier. She also wondered just what Ringulf had been doing down underwater for so long. She looked at them suspiciously for a few minutes as she tried to figure out what they were planning. Ringulf didn't seem too concerned that Tam had been out of site for so long, and even suggested by his wink that Tam was just fine. She'd heard a bit about treasure and a cave when Ringulf had been talking to Tam and hated to admit that she was a little bit curious. She had been staring at Bunt and Ringulf hugging when she realized Bunt was scowling at her. She blushed and then tried to cover up her embarrassment by turning the tables back on them. "You are up to something," she said suspicously and then she decided to get wet and wash the road dust from her. She dove into the water head first, but had to follow the slope of the bottom of the pool and her momentum took her too close to the maelstrom under the fall.
The current grabbed her and plunged her down into the bottom of the lake where she grabbed several handfuls of silt and sand to keep from being dragged deeper under the waterfall. She managed to break free of the current and swam to the surface, her hands still full of dirt. As she surfaced she coughed and sputtered, nearly panicing until she could touch solid ground with her feet. As she made her way up and toward the shore, she realized she was clutching the dirt and held her hands under the water to wash them. She saw something glint gold in her right palm and gasped. As the water washed the sand away, she discovered she was holding a small golden coin. She pulled it out of the water and stood staring at it for a moment in wonder. Her mouth hanging open again. Was Ringulf’s story true or had he planted this coin? She couldn’t believe her eyes and held it up for Dian and Mylia to inspect. “What on earth is this?” she exclaimed softly as she held it up for them to see.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 20, 2011 7:06:32 GMT -5
Mylia had enjoyed a short swim and was now back on the bank drying off, sunning herself like a lizard as some might say, listening to the conversation going on around her.
“What on earth is this?”
Mylia looked around to see Tory wading toward the shore holding a shiny object up for her and Dian to see. Intrigued, Mylia stood and waded forward to meet her and study the coin more closely. "Gold. Old. I think it might be Skandian, but you're going to have to ask Ringulf to confirm it." Mylia told her. "I've never seen one exactly like that one."
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
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Post by dian on Jul 22, 2011 23:31:27 GMT -5
Dian Was completely scared when Tory disappeared. She hadn't noticed Tory move until she was gone. She almost yelled out 'TORY' but she didn't have to. Tory was coming up out of the water holding something gold. She asked what it was and Mylia answered. Dian nodded, that sounded about right. "Well at least we can all agree it is gold. I mean what else could it be? Copper painted a color like that doesn't look nearly the same as regular gold." She moved ou towards Tory to try and get a better look at it.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 23, 2011 10:29:19 GMT -5
Ringulf and Bunt moved over to the group of girls,
"Ask Ringulf what?...whatcha got Tory?" Ringulf said.
"Hey Bunt look at this, it is pretty worn, but it is definitely gold."
"What do you think? I know it isn't Skandian, they used mostly silver in this size. Gold was rarely ever minted by them."
He turned the coin over in his big hand.
"Hmmm, That looks like a bull on the back doesn't it? Could be Iberian but you should ask Halt or Crowley if you really want to know."
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dian
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Post by dian on Jul 23, 2011 12:16:18 GMT -5
Nikki was arriving a little later than usual to the gathering. She had had some trouble along the way, but they all got sorted out. She rode Nyx into the gathering grounds and set up her tent a ways off from Rick's site. She searched through her bags to get out the tent and bedroll. Once everything was up and ready she checked on her dog Spirit. Since they had been going at a slow pace the way here, she aloud spirit to keep up with the horse. After all, greyhounds are one of the fastest breeds of dogs.
She noticed Spirit was a little dehydrated, so she gave the dog a small bowl with water in it. Then Nikki began to unpack the rest of her bags. When everything was well and set up, she made a hand signal to Spirit. She and Spirit set off for a small walk around the Gathering grounds, taking as long as possible before Crowley official called the Gathering to order.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 23, 2011 16:45:24 GMT -5
Bunt examined the coin in Tory’s hand, the corners of his mouth twitching as he managed to keep a serious face. “Yep, I would say Iberion, very old though,” he touched it with the tip of his finger. “Crowley would know fer sure though. He’s got a lot o’ stuff floatin’ round in that noggin of his.”
He dismissed thoughts of the coin from his mind as his stomach rumbled loud enough for the girls and Ringulf to hear. “Time fer supper,” he stated and started walking back up the trail towards camp. “Ringulf, I wanted ta ask ya if ya’d like ta be on my team.”
Tory climbed all the way out of the water and wrung out her sopping wet clothes, then picked up her weapons and put the coin in her pouch. “What about Tam? Shouldn’t we wait for him?” she asked Ringulf, looking back toward the waterfall. “He’s been underwater for too long, hasn’t he?”
As they were walking back to camp Bunt explained about the little bet he had with Crowley and who was leading the other teams. He didn’t miss the look on Tory’s face as he mentioned Dustin leading one of the apprentice teams. He finished up just as they got back to camp. “So, I am bettin’ Crowley is gonna ask ya too, seein’ as how yer his friend too. I would much rather have ya on my team than ta be fightin’ agin’ ya, but yer gonna hafta make that choice. I won’ hold it agin’ ya if ya decide ta join Crowley.” Bunt said sincerely. “It’s jes a silly bet after all,” he grinned. “Now, which one of these young-uns is gonna help me set up my tent?”
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dian
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Post by dian on Jul 23, 2011 17:25:39 GMT -5
Dian had never seen and Iberian coin, so she couldn't agree or disagree. 'How in the world did an IBERIAN coin get in this pond, in the gathering grounds?' It seemed really weird. Before Dian could ask the question she wanted to know Bunt mentioned supper, something she really needed right then, and said “Now, which one of these young-uns is gonna help me set up my tent?” Figuring she should help her knew mentor she said, "I'll help, Sir." She was heading over there anyway, and she figured Tory and Mylia would want to go to their site first.
Then Dian's question came back to the front of her mind. "Are, or were since its an old coin, there any Rangers that came from Iberia? Or someone from around there? I don't see how a foreign coin could get here since only Rangers only know about this place, right?" She was genuinely curious, maybe a foreigner had stumbled across this gathering ground when it wasn't in use, but it didn't seem to likely. A lot of thoughts crossed through her mind, all of the possibilities of how the coin got there rushed in and out of her mind. When her mind cleared enough to focus again, she realized she had just asked 3 questions to the ranger, and the small flame of fear came back to Dian.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 23, 2011 21:27:41 GMT -5
"Well Bunt you know it is not really that hard a choice you know, Crowley is my commandant and has been a drinking buddy of mine since a little after the accident. I think he used that tactic to get me comfortable enough to talk to him after Hugh was gone. I gotta admit I know allot about him, you get kinda vulnerable during those long sessions, but I would think he know even more about me so I am not sure if I will do you any real good."
"Let me think about it and I will let you know after supper." Ringulf said
Just then as Dian and Bunt walked a bit ahead of them down the trail Dian asked Bunt,"Are, or were since its an old coin, there any Rangers that came from Iberia? Or someone from around there? I don't see how a foreign coin could get here since only Rangers only know about this place, right?"
Ringulf piped up so that Bunt would not have to, "I am not sure if you heard me telling Tam but there is a ranger legend that back in the time before Duncan actually it was early in the years when the Rangers were just formed by who???" Always the mentor and ever looking for an opportunity to teach, He was looking for one of them to answer and show they knew some history.
"Well it was in his reign when a young Ranger no longer an apprentice but still a bit green came upon Skandians who were burying a large chest in the sand above the high water mark of the Semath River. As I said he was young and full of confidence and decided he would wait for the raiders to go back to their ship or camp and then go steal the treasure from them.
His plan almost worked except contrary to popular belief Skandians are not just big dumb horn wearing, brain you with my axe rather than have to spend time thinking individuals! He ran into a picket after he had the majority of the treasure in a large burlap sack and was on his way out.
Now back then, Rangers were mostly foot soldiers they did not have the fine intelligent ponies we have today, so he made off on foot with the treasure and a dozen very angry Raiders on his trail.
He fought a running battle with them for almost three days, picking them off gradually with traps and arrows until finally his quiver was empty. It was then that he noticed that the burlap sack had been pierced by one of the Skandian's lucky shots and from the lessening weight he knew he had been losing coins like breadcrumbs, which is why the Skandians stayed in hot pursuit no matter what he tried to do to lose them.
Well he ran out of arrows and ideas all at the same time, and you guessed it, right here in this valley and in this very grove.
The ranger had grown up around these parts and knew that some were here were a series of caves so he decided rather than try and fight a half a dozen Skandian raiders, tired, hungry and armed with only a seax knife, he would try and hide.
He scribbled an account of his situation and put it into an empty canteen throwing it into the lake pretty close to the waterfall.
That was the last anyone ever heard of him and to this day the Rangers feel as though this place is pretty special.
We have been looking for those caves a long time. My Mentor Hugh Oxblood told me the story just as his Mentor told him. A few years ago I got wind of a story from an old time prospector that he had found gold around the lake, actually down stream from the lake itself, and he showed me an Iberian coin like that one, though it was in much better shape. I decided that the stories might be true and I should have a look. I am a good enough swimmer to do the exploratory work, but when I found an underwater ledge that seemed like it could lead somewhere...well I could not fit in.
That is what I was asking Tam about, I have not seen to many apprentices that were both small enough and good enough swimmers to help me. I told him about the areas that I thought it might be and I saw him just before we left by the waterfall snooping around so I am sure he is OK."
They were just about back to the tents and the two groups split up.
"OK ladies we need wood, water and food I figured I would cook tonight as I have been soaking some beans and Ham jerky I will gather some greens you two decide on the other two items and we should have some chow within a half hour." with that Ringulf went into his tent and changed back into his clothing and left the camp while the girls were deciding on there chores.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 24, 2011 9:05:33 GMT -5
Tory made her way back to camp listening to Bunt and Ringulf with images of Dustin at the Harvest Faire flitting through her mind. She wished he would pick her for his team, but he didn’t even know she existed.
When they were nearly back to camp Dian asked, "Are, or were since it’s an old coin, there any Rangers that came from Iberia? Or someone from around there? I don't see how a foreign coin could get here since only Rangers only know about this place, right?"
“Yeah, good question Dian,” Tory interjected, “I’ve been wondering about that myself.” She eyed Ringulf suspiciously. Ringulf piped up with, "I am not sure if you heard me telling Tam but there is a ranger legend that back in the time before Duncan actually it was early in the years when the Rangers were just formed by who???"
“The King at the time,” Tory quipped with a perfectly straight face. She remembered Ringulf telling her and Mylia the story on their way down the river, but she’d been more focused on wondering when the river was going to attempt to kill her than on the story and she couldn’t remember the King’s name.
Ringulf continued with his story and Tory listened skeptically, His plan almost worked except contrary to popular belief Skandians are not just big dumb horn wearing, brain you with my axe rather than have to spend time thinking individuals!”
“Really?” Tory said softly, unable to resist teasing the big Skandian ranger. “Well, Fin excepting of course, because she’s a girl.” Tory snickered and made sure she was out of arm reach of Ringulf.
“A few years ago I got wind of a story from an old time prospector that he had found gold around the lake, actually down stream from the lake itself, and he showed me an Iberian coin like that one, though it was in much better shape. I decided that the stories might be true and I should have a look. I am a good enough swimmer to do the exploratory work, but when I found an underwater ledge that seemed like it could lead somewhere...well I could not fit in.” Ringulf continued.
“Seriously?” Tory asked. “All these years and no one has found it? I would expect that every inch of those caves has been explored many times after all this time.” Tory wasn’t buying it, still there was the coin in her hand again, proof that something was going on. Ringulf could have planted the coin there though. She looked at it doubtfully. It had been buried down in the mud and she hadn’t seen it. If not for her digging her hands in to stop her tumbling roll, she would never have found it. It was doubtful that Ringulf had planted the coin there in that particular spot. Maybe he wasn’t pulling their legs after all.
"OK ladies we need wood, water and food I figured I would cook tonight as I have been soaking some beans and Ham jerky I will gather some greens you two decide on the other two items and we should have some chow within a half hour." With that Ringulf went into his tent and changed back into his clothing and left the camp while the girls were deciding on there chores.
“I want to start the fire!” Tory said eagerly as she pocketed the coin again. “I’ll get the firewood if you get the water.” She said to Mylia, fetching her collapsible waxed leather water bucket from her saddle pack that was stowed just inside her tent. The only problem with the water buckets is that you couldn’t set them on the ground or they would collapse and all the water would drain out, but they were great for traveling when you needed a bucket to carry water back to camp or extra water for your horse. She kept hers on her saddle horn next to her canteen. She extended it to Mylia. “I’ll fetch water for breakfast if you do it tonight,” she offered.
She thought about what to add to the dinner of beans and ham and looked up in the trees. If Ringulf was getting greens, she knew just the thing to put with them, she eyed the pine cones above. “I think I know one thing to go with the meal too. I will see if I can find some after I get the fire going.” With that Tory set off around the woods, in the thicker part of the forest looking for deadfall that was dry and small. She made three trips out into the woods gradually bringing back larger pieces of wood and then set about building a pyramid of tiny sticks around a pile of dry grass. She made a second pyramid over the first with slightly larger sticks and then using her Saxe knife she kept scraping it over her piece of flint until a couple of the sparks caught on the grass. Quickly she blew gently on the embers encouraging them to catch. Within a minute there was flame licking at the small sticks as the grass was fully engulfed. A few more minutes and the fire was much larger and the pyramid began to collapse. Carefully she added more wood, blowing on it to keep it burning and moving around the fire pit out of the smoke that seemed to follow her in spite of the direction the slight breeze was blowing.
She looked up and noticed many other fires popping up around the Gathering Grounds. Their fire pit was off to the side of their tents about 15 feet away in the middle of a circle of logs, stumps and rocks that had been arranged by Rick while they had been swimming. He had dug the fire pit and lined the pit with the dirt and sod. When they left it would all get filled in and the sod and leaves scattered on top so no one would even know there had been a fire pit there at all. Tory had a feeling she might be spending a fair amount of time in the evenings around this fire pit.
She set a large, flat rock in the fire pit right next to the coals and coaxed the fire to burn nearly all the way around the rock so it would heat up. The rock would be their cooking surface on which the pans or raw meat could be placed to cook.
When the blaze was going well enough that she felt it would not go out, she told Bunt she was going to get something to add to the meal. Bunt nodded acknowledgement without missing a beat in showing Dian how to tighten the guidelines on their tents so they wouldn’t fall down. Tory noticed that Ringulf’s tent was on one side of the girl’s three tents and Bunt was on the other, all forming a half-circle around the center point of the camp. Rick and Tam were set up on the other side with Rick’s being somewhat removed and next to a cluster of holly bushes.
Tory then strode around the woods looking for green pinecones that were still closed up that had fallen from the trees. She piled a bunch of them into a cradle made by her saddle blanket and then carried them back to the fire pit. Spreading them out on the blanket near the fire, she picked two up and set them on the flat rock and then she added some more wood to the fire, spreading out the newly formed coals. Another fifteen minutes and they would be at perfect cooking temperature.
She went back and got two more armloads of firewood and by then the pine cones were starting to open. The two on the rock were all the way open and Tory gingerly picked them up by the tip, careful to keep from tipping them and then shook them upside down over her plate. Several tiny white seeds fell out onto the plate. She placed two more pinecones on the rock and noticed the ones closest to the fire on her saddle blanket were starting to open from the heat as well. She shook them out over her plate, tossing the empty pinecones toward her tent. She could use them later for something else. They were very large pine cones. She could only fit one in her hand at a time.
Within ten minutes she had emptied all the ones she’d gathered and had a decent plate full of pine nuts waiting to be added to the greens. When Ringulf came back she handed them to him, “For the greens.” She said, “If you fry the greens in some of that olive oil I got in Gallica with some of these and a few seasonings like garlic, they will taste great!”
Pine nuts always made her feel good. When she was a child and had run off into the woods, she had watched squirrels strip down the pine cones and discovered the nuts inside and then when on the run with Patrick, she had often harvested pine nuts for them all to eat. There were a couple of days when that was all the food they had managed when the rations had run out. Most of Patrick’s men had been grateful to have anything, even though they teased her about it being bird food. She had felt good though, because if not for her, they would have gone to sleep with empty bellies those two days.
Tory sat down on a stump and kept the fire burning in between trips to the trees for more firewood. She knew they were going to need it for the bardic circle that night. She waited eagerly for their dinner to cook and kept looking down the trail for Tam. At one point she muttered to know one in particular, “I still don’t think we should have left Tam there at the lake alone.”
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 24, 2011 13:25:39 GMT -5
“Seriously?” Tory asked. “All these years and no one has found it? I would expect that every inch of those caves has been explored many times after all this time.” Tory wasn’t buying it, still there was the coin in her hand again, proof that something was going on. Ringulf could have planted the coin there though. She looked at it doubtfully. It had been buried down in the mud and she hadn’t seen it. If not for her digging her hands in to stop her tumbling roll, she would never have found it. It was doubtful that Ringulf had planted the coin there in that particular spot. Maybe he wasn’t pulling their legs after all.
"Well Miss smarty britches have you ever found the entrance to these caves? Do you know of anyone who has? You see that is what has made the legend so fascinating, the geography around here seems to indicate that the caves could exist. there is no lack of limestone and such to support the fact, but no one has found any caves, isolated or interconnected, that have produced any evidence. Of course there is the odd cave here and there and I am sure there are many bears that will attest to the matter if you walk in and ask them nicely, but we have not found the missing Ranger, or his treasure."
Ringulf having dumped the pile of trail cloths on the floor of the tent he had stripped off at the lake, took a mesh-like fishnet bag and stuffed them in. He changed into a loose, light tunic and gauzy green pants that were large and billowy with a drawstring at the waist and cuffs. He put on a pair of rough leather sandals and put on a braided headband that had several brass Skandian buttons sewn on to it in equally spaced intervals. He slung the bag over his shoulder took up the small spear that was resting in the loops of the ridgepole and grabbed a water bottle that he had made from a large gourd. He put the strap over his other shoulder and left the tent.
He told the girls he would be back soon and headed back down toward the swimming hole.
As he was just about there he saw Tam coming up the path still wet from his exploration.
"So, any luck Tam? I was just about to go down and wash my traveling gear and I was hoping I saw you, I think you may have the girls a little worried by your disappearing act but I covered a bit, that is they haven't loosed the hounds yet in search of you." He said with a chuckle.
"Well you may want to check with Tory, seems she found an old what looks like Iberian gold piece, kind of like the ones that were supposed to be part of the Raiders plunder. Anyway get back and check in with Rick, If you want, I can go back to help you tomorrow after the thrown weapons class I am holding...I WILL see you there won't I?"
Ringulf gave Tam a friendly smile and waved over his shoulder as he continued down to the falls. He started up toward the stream above the falls and found the large patch of fiddlehead ferns that he had seen behind him when he was diving. "These will make an excellent salad" he said happily to himself. and he plucked enough for he and the girls to have for dinner and perhaps a bit more and put them into a bag he had tucked through his belt. Then he took his laundry and gave it a good rinse and scrub on the smooth stones under the falls, using a bit of soft sand to rub them with to get out all the mud and trail dirt. When he was done and had wrung all the water he could from them he folded them up and put the damp pile back in the net bag. He had hitched up his balloony pants to his knees and had removed the sandals to was the clothing and he left them up tucking his sandals in his belt by his longseax behind his back.
Ringulf stayed in the water up to his calves washed the greens in the cool clean water from the falls then bagged them up and started around the lake until he had gone a few hundred yards. There he came to a stand of cattails and in the slanted rays of the setting sun, with it's light casting a golden orange glow upon them, he used his spear to pry up some of the long stalks so he could get at the little bulbous roots. He cut them with his seax and stuffed a couple of handfuls into the bag with the fiddleheads, being careful not to bruise the greens.
As he waded back to the shore he noted the fact that this was a great spot for turtle activity. He had seen the big old sheldragons lumbering around and even had to move out around one as he was gathering roots as they were very grumpy and could bite his spear haft in two if they had a mind to.
"Perhaps we will have some Turtle steaks and soup tomorrow!"
Ringulf came back to camp with a bag of clothing, a bag or greens and roots and a spear over his shoulder bowed by the weight of two large snapping turtles. They had been skewered through the neck just behind the skull and jaw, pierced through and counterbalancing each other so that the big ranger barely had to put a hand on the spear over his shoulder.
He tossed the bag of greens to Mylia and through the laundry in his tent then he set the turtles down behind the tent where he would prepare them for tomorrow.
When Ringulf came back she handed the pine nuts to him, “For the greens.” She said, “If you fry the greens in some of that olive oil I got in Gallica with some of these and a few seasonings like garlic, they will taste great!”
"Wonderful idea Tory! Hey if you look right over there in that area by the trees there's a good cluster of wild scallions why don't we pick a bunch to go with them and fry them up with the cattail roots, you can use them just like potatoes. I think I also brought some of that red wine vinegar that Fin made for us for the salad."
Give us a hand Myl and we will have this dinner all ready in a few minutes.
They dined, as Ringulf said, in about 20 minutes. They ate ham and beans with various hearty herbs and spices making a flavorful stew like mix. They had fiddlehead and pine nut salad with some olive oil and red wine vinegar, and a helping of fried "Potatoes and onions" that were actually cattail roots and wild scallion but one would not have been able to tell the difference by the flavor unless they had been told.
As they sat around the fire and felt the full satisfied feeling of a good meal in camp, provided by nature, Ringulf lit his pipe and drew on it. He then tamped it down and re lit it from a long straw set alight in the coals. The thick white aromatic smoke curled up and he blew a few rings and settled down. "No, that is not why my name is Ring Wolf he said with a chuckle. A few moments passed in silence and they heard Tory say in a general way, out-loud, “I still don’t think we should have left Tam there at the lake alone.”
Ringulf took his pipe from his mouth, "oh I didn't tell you, I ran into him on the way down to wash, he is fine, in fact I think you may have been looking in the wrong direction all night he should be over on the other side of Rick's tent eating with the rest of them."
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Post by Firehead on Jul 25, 2011 8:01:17 GMT -5
Tamlin had recovered his shirt and was slowly making his way back to the Gathering Grounds, when he saw Ringulf coming toward him. He stopped and waited warily.
"So, any luck Tam? I was just about to go down and wash my traveling gear and I was hoping I saw you, I think you may have the girls a little worried by your disappearing act but I covered a bit, that is they haven't loosed the hounds yet in search of you." He said with a chuckle.
Tam shook his head. "It was too dark to see anythin'. An' it was cold!" Tam told him, still shivering. He did his best to hide the shaking, but it was hard to do when he was cold and getting colder.
"Well you may want to check with Tory, seems she found an old what looks like Iberian gold piece, kind of like the ones that were supposed to be part of the Raiders plunder. Anyway get back and check in with Rick, If you want, I can go back to help you tomorrow after the thrown weapons class I am holding...I WILL see you there won't I?"
"If'n it's anythin' like the cave, then NO!" Tam replied, stepping wide of the big ranger and moving quickly up the path.
Tamlin arrived in camp, shivering and still soaking wet from head to toe. The walk had served to warm him up somewhat, but he still longed for dry clothes. He managed to slip into their camp unseen and crawled into the tent to dig out his spare shirt and pants. Having exchanged dry clothes for cold wet ones, he carried the soaked clothing out to the fire to dry it off. He was aware of the stares he was entertaining as he arranged his clothes on a make-shift drying rack, and kept his mouth shut and avioded meeting anyones' eyes.
Having taken care of that chore, Tam went back to the tent for his cloak and returned to sit down by the fire, wrapping his cloak around him, trying to hide the fact that he was still shaking from the after effects of the cold water. There was a pot of water simmering over the coals, and Tam retrieved a mug and poured it full. He didn't care if it was just water, it was warm. Someone offered him a bowl of stew and Tam accepted it gratefully, digging in with an appetite. -------------
Mylia leaned back with a sigh. "That has to be the tastiest meal I've eaten in a long time." she said. "Not that we didn't eat good before, but now we are eating really well." She gave another contented sigh, then rolled over and fetched the rabbit. "Since we forgot about this poor bunny, I think I'll just make rabbit jerky." she grinned and added, "At the very least, it will add taste to our meals when we have to eat them cold!"
As they sat around the fire and felt the full satisfied feeling of a good meal in camp, provided by nature, Ringulf lit his pipe and drew on it. He then tamped it down and re lit it from a long straw set alight in the coals. The thick white aromatic smoke curled up and he blew a few rings and settled down. "No, that is not why my name is Ring Wolf." he said with a chuckle.
Mylia grinned and had to ask teasingly, even though he'd told her before, "Then why is it, you're called Ring Wolf?"
A few moments passed in silence and they heard Tory say in a general way, out-loud, “I still don’t think we should have left Tam there at the lake alone.”
Ringulf took his pipe from his mouth, "Oh I didn't tell you, I ran into him on the way down to wash, he is fine, in fact I think you may have been looking in the wrong direction all night he should be over on the other side of Rick's tent eating with the rest of them."
Mylia turned to look over her shoulder and indeed, spotted Tam crouched close to the fire, wrapped in his Ranger cloak, cleaning out a bowl of what she presumed was stew. Other than looking half-frozen, he appeared to be no worse off than before.
The feeling of being watched made Tam look around, and he saw them staring his way. He turned back, uncomfortable with the attention, and shifted closer to the fire.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 25, 2011 11:46:03 GMT -5
After Tam and the girls had gone off to the swimming hole with Ringulf, Rick set about digging fire pits. He placed the big one for the bonfire a little way behind Ringulf, Mylia and Tory’s tent in the traditional spot and ringed it with some good stumps and logs to sit on. The rocks in the area already formed some natural seating in a semi circle and that was why Rick liked to claim this spot every year. He tended to attract bards and story tellers and any number of rangers who liked good booze and better company. In years past, however, he hadn’t had the small group of friends camping immediately around him and so he debated on whether or not Ringulf and Bunt wanted their own cook fires. Deciding they probably would, he dug a small fire pit near Ringulf’s and Bunt’s tents and then another one behind his and Tam’s tent and set a few logs around each one.
When he had finished he was dripping with sweat from all the digging and decided to go clean up. Grabbing fresh clothes, his weapons and his snares, he set off for the stream that fed the lake above the waterfall. It was a bit of a hike and climb, but he was planning to set his snares and catch some birds so he would have fresh fletches for feathers. He knew the wild geese often nested above the waterfall and those made the best feathers for fletches.
Quietly he climbed up the rocky ground, noting Ringulf was just about ready to launch himself over the side. Rick stayed out of sight, just from habit, and moved a bit farther upstream until the rocks and brush hid him from view of those at the swimming hole below. He moved silently along the bank, searching for a good place to lay the snares and any sign the geese had been there.
The bushes rattled off to his right and Rick stopped moving, turning his eyes in that direction. He saw two quail picking at the ground under the bush and then noticed it was a raspberry bush. The berries were still mostly green, but that didn’t seem to bother the quail. The small plump birds were plucking the berries on the lower branches off and dropping them to the ground where they finished devouring them. Rick smiled.
He set his snare in the berry bush closest to him, and two more on the ground, placing green berries in and around them and then moved back silently away from the birds. Quail didn’t have feathers large enough for fletches for arrows, but they tasted damn fine roasted slowly in the coals of a fire or in a stew, he thought as he moved carefully away and farther upstream.
He found a good place to bathe and wash his clothes, keeping an eye out for pranksters as he quickly did so. When finished he heard honking overhead and looked up, pleased to see a flock of geese angling down to land. Quickly he dressed in clean clothes and left his wet ones on some bushes to dry and followed their glide up the stream. They landed in a large pool and Rick stalked them, his arrow ready. He picked out his target, a rather large gander that looked to be a bit older than most of the others. It would probably be tough eating, but the wing feathers were good and its death wouldn’t put much stress on the rest of the flock. With a prayer to his spirit guide, Rick fired and the gander slumped to the ground. The rest of the flock didn’t even realize what had happened and were not startled until Rick eased out of the bushes to retrieve the bird. Rick watched them circle as he plucked the bird off the ground and pulled his arrow out. It had been a clean kill and he nodded in satisfaction, rinsing the arrow off in the stream and then replacing it in his quiver. He set one of his snares and made his way back down stream and the geese once again settled on and around the little pool.
He picked up his wet clothes on the way back and then quietly approached the area where the quail had been feasting. He heard loud squawking and a tremendous racket in the bushes. All three snares had been tripped and there was a bird in each one. One of them was dead, having been snared by the neck which was snapped when the snare was triggered. Quickly Rick dispatched the other two and then tied their feet together in one of his snares, placing the goose in another one and slung them over his shoulder. Whistling softly he made his way back to his camp, still keeping an eye out for pranksters.
He arrived shortly before the others came back from the swimming hole and hung the birds in a tree and then gathered some firewood and started a small fire in his fire pit. He dressed out the quail and set their feathers aside in a basket then stripped the meat off the bones and into his large pot full of water and set it in the coals. He had brought some potatoes, onions, carrots and beets with him from his stores back in Araluen and so he sliced a couple of each up and threw them into the pot and added a few dashes of some herbs and some salt. Then he set it to simmering, turning it and stirring it every few minutes while it cooked so it wouldn’t scorch on one side. He strung the goose high up in a tree to take care of tomorrow. Right now it was starting to get dark and he wanted to pluck it carefully in the daylight so he didn’t damage any of the feathers. It should be safe from predators up in the tree – except perhaps of the two-legged variety.
The others had come back to their camps and were in the middle of cooking their meal when Rick noticed Tam wasn’t among them. He was just about to go ask Ringulf where his apprentice had gone off to when Tam came shivering back into camp, his clothes soaked and his lips blue. He looked a bit shaken up, but didn’t say a word to Rick. Rick decided not to fuss over him and continued to mind the stew pot, heating up some water for tea. He set out their bowls, spoons and mugs and by the time Tam had finished dressing, the tea water was boiling. Before Rick could add any of the tea however, Tam had poured himself a cup of hot water and started sipping it, his body shaking every so often.
“Guess the swimming hole was a bit colder than you’d like, eh?” Rick asked him. “Did you have fun? I see you were swimming with a bunch of girls.” Rick raised his eyebrow and nodded toward the gaggle of girls around their campfire. He handed Tam a bowl of quail stew and then ladled one out for himself while his tea steeped in his mug. He put some more water on to boil. “Feel free to have more of that stew if you’re still hungry. It ought to help warm you up.” He said as he sat back slowly and ate his own stew, looking around the Gathering Grounds and making note of those rangers he knew and that he could see sitting around their fires. It was pretty much full dark now and soon others would be making their way toward Crowley’s tent for the official opening and the normal announcements. Rick made no move to hurry, however, for he knew this year was going to be a bit different. Crowley wanted to shake things up a bit.
Normally they ate dinner, then Crowley made some announcements usually involving reassignments and if there was anything going on that they all needed to be aware of. He would give some announcements on the next days’ activities and then blow three blasts on his horn signifying the start to the Gathering.
Rick scooped out another bowl of stew and then cocked his head, noting the very last rays of the sun were gone. “Should be any moment now,” he muttered to no one in particular and looked toward the big command tent in the center of the grounds. Sure enough, as if right on cue, there were three short blasts of Crowley’s horn and Rick saw several rangers looking around as if they had missed something. Rick just grinned and kept on eating, his feet stretched out to the fire, lounging back on the stump he’d placed up next to a tree trunk so he could lean on it. “Welcome to the Gathering, Tam!” he winked and raised his mug of tea in salute.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 25, 2011 12:02:40 GMT -5
Bunt and Dian finished putting up his tent and Bunt checked hers to make sure it wasn’t going to fall down during the night, but it looked as if Tory and Dian had done a good job pounding in the stakes and tightening the ropes. They were small A-frame shaped tents with only two poles, one at each end with guide ropes running from the front and back peaks down to the ground and staked along each side. Bunt had a two-person tent, so his actually had side walls and guide 3 guide ropes on each side. He unfolded his camp chair and set it out front. It was made of a collapsible wooden frame and sturdy canvas seat and back and Bunt found it very comfortable. It could be rolled up inside his bedroll and tied behind his saddle and he took it with him whenever he thought he was going to be camping out. The tent only came along when he knew he was going to be travelling for an extended trip or away from his cabin for more than a week. Low Belly didn’t like to carry any more weight than she had to, so Bunt tried to keep the supplies to a minimum.
After they finished his tent, they put up Ivy’s tent on the other side of Bunt. He felt it might be best to keep her as far from Tory as possible to avoid any complications. Ivy didn’t like her sleep interrupted and Bunt could relate to that. He liked that about Ivy. Still, she had over reacted just a bit back there in his cabin when Tory had first come there, all injured from the river pirates. They seemed to be getting along okay now though. Now here he was with another apprentice. He looked around for Ivy, wondering if she was going to show up for supper or not. Normally she didn’t miss a meal, no matter what she was involved in.
He saw Rick had dug the fire pit and waved his thanks and then set to gathering wood and starting a fire. “So Dian, have you ever built a fire before?” he asked, figuring he could start now in finding out just what he did need to know. He set about showing her how to lay one out prior to lighting the tinder. “Now, you use yer flint and Saxe knife ta make some sparks and catch that there dry tinder from the tinder box there on fire.” He instructed her, showing her how to scrape the Saxe knife across the flint to make it spark. “Ya do have a tinderbox and yer knives, don’ ya?” he asked her. He wasn’t even sure what gear she had been given by her previous mentor, aside from the fact she didn’t have a ranger horse yet. Good think Ole Bill was bringing a herd of them in tomorrow for the new recruits. Dian wouldn’t be the only one getting to pick her horse out the next day.
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