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Post by Brandwyn on Mar 8, 2015 16:52:27 GMT -5
Tory definately heard a change in Ben's breathing. She set her plate aside and leaned over him. He opened his eyes a bit. She could tell he was struggling to see.
"I-know..you from- some-where...don't-I?" He said so softly Tory could barely hear him.
Tory smiled at him,and leaned in closer so only he could hear, "Yes, I met you at the Gathering. I am Tory,an apprentice." She still didn't know if she should say she was Patrick's apprentice, Ringulf's apprentice or Tandar's apprentice. Right now she probably wasn't anyone's. But this was hardly the time to get into any of that.
She picked up the cup of tea she'd made for him that had been warming by the fire. From her pouch she produced a feather that had been chopped off at both ends, creating a tube. She put it in the cup that held slightly warm, but not hot tea filled with herbs that would help ease the pain.
"Can you sip this? I know it tastes bad, but it will help the pain." She placed the straw between Ben's lips and held the cup so he could suck some of the tea.
She smoothed the hair gently out of his eyes and said, "Go back to sleep now. You are among friends and you need to rest and heal."
A strange sound caught her ear. It came from above, but she wasn't sure if she heard right. She resisted the urge to glance up into the trees.
Tory settled back and picked up her food again, glancing worriedly at Patrick. "I think we should build a shelter here and maybe you could go on ahead and send help back. A wagon or carriage or something," she suggested. "I can catch up with you later someplace."
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 27, 2015 17:30:54 GMT -5
Tory felt Ben's forehead and listened to his breathing. His pulse seemed to be steady, although still weak. Twenty-four hours after she and Justin had pulled the arrow out of him, there had been little change except for that brief moment he half woke up. The herbs she'd given accounted for most of that, though they should have worn off a few hours ago.
Patrick had gone off to follow the tracks around Ben’s dead horse, hoping to find the bandits that had attacked Ben. He had wanted to keep moving toward their destination originally, but Justin had backed Tory up and agreed that moving Ben inside of three days was likely to be fatal. So Palisade set off to make sure the bandits were not still in the area.
Tory and Justin erected a shelter over Ben, big enough for all four of them and covered it with fresh foliage. She did her best to conceal the fire and disperse the smoke, but knew the fire could still lead the bandits to their location if they had half a brain. The temperature had gotten pretty chilly during the previous night and they had to keep Ben warm, so they risked keeping it burning all night. They ate a hot breakfast, though it was meager and skipped lunch to preserve their supplies.
Justin had taken Lupe hunting to lengthen their supplies until they felt it was safe to move Ben, so Tory was alone with Ben and the two ranger horses. She stood up and stepped out from under the shelter and sniffed the air. “It’s going to rain soon, Ben” she said softly. “I better bring some wood into the shelter and light the fire again.” She grabbed her bow and pulled her hood of her black cloak up over her head. She knocked an arrow to the string, but kept it pointed toward the ground, holding the arrow in place with her left hand, leaving her right hand free to pick up smaller pieces of deadfall and stuff them into a rucksack hanging on her shoulder. As she gathered the firewood, she kept a wary eye out for bandits.
She kept a particular tree in sight at all times. She’d heard a few peculiar noises from that tree during the night while she was on watch and Ben and Patrick had slept. She had thought she’d seen a dark mass of branches way up high in that tree move, but she still wasn’t sure if her senses were just playing tricks on her or not. If there were someone in the tree, as she suspected, this would be the best chance the person was going to get to get away, as far as Tory was concerned. Tory wouldn’t be surprised if it was that bandit girl again. She really didn’t want an encounter with the girl while Patrick and Justin were both away from camp. But she was a ranger – or very nearly a ranger – and hardly helpless.
Her sack was full of firewood and getting very heavy, so Tory made her way back to the shelter, which she had never gotten out of sight from anyway. She openly inspected the tree in question as she approached the shelter.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 28, 2015 16:03:51 GMT -5
Nissa was absolutely miserable. She had watched and heard the fire crackle all night, thinking of how nice the warmth of it would be. She was so cold, she and tucked her arms inside her vest but was still cold. It was all she could do to stop from shivering so hard that she shook the tree. She looked apprehensively down as the people moved about one by one they left the camp, leaving the injured man and the young girl. Still she hesitated she wasn't sure when the others would be coming back it would be bad luck indeed to run into them unexpectedly. She watched as the young girl walked out into the woods and started to gather fire wood. Slowly Nissa made her way down to the lower branches of the tree thinking she could just slip away while the girl was pre occupied.
Her sack was full of firewood and getting very heavy, so Tory made her way back to the shelter, which she had never gotten out of sight from anyway. She openly inspected the tree in question as she approached the shelter.
Nissa stopped when she noticed the girl looking she was half way between branches her tiptoes were touching the branch below her and her fingers were wrapped around the one above her. She hoped she hadn't of given herself away with her carelessness. Of course as luck would have it her carelessness was her downfall. Her fingers already cold and stiff her arms cold and weak from hunger were not up to the sudden task of holding her weight. Before she could do anything the branch slipped through her fingers her foot slid sideways her balance went out of whack and she fell to the ground below with a very painful thud. She closed her eyes as a shower of leaves fell on her face as did a couple of twigs. "Ow." well she was dine for now, her bow had fallen a few meters away and the girl already had hers prepared to fire Nissa waited for the burning agony of an arrow that was surely on its way to her heart.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 12, 2015 19:57:47 GMT -5
Tory thought she had seen some movement from the tree and took a step closer, her fingers tightening on the knocked arrow which was still pointing at the ground.
With a crackle and swoosh, the bandit girl came sliding down the last few feet of the tree trunk and landed with a thud, leaves and twigs showering down around her. "Ow." Tory winced,knowing exactly how that particular exit out of a tree felt.
She wasn't exactly sure how to respond, but she slipped the bag of firewood off her shoulder and set it on the ground out of the way as she brought her bow up so the knocked arrow was pointing at the girl. Tory felt sorry for her, to some degree. It had been pretty cold, and she must have been in that tree since they had gotten there. What rotten luck the girl must have to have picked the exact direction they were headed.
Tory also was impressed with the fact the girl had held up so well under the less than pleasant conditions. But most of all she was still angry at the people who had shot Ben, and she wasn't at all certain this girl was as innocent as she claimed. 'Afterall, if she is so innocent, why is she running around out in these woods by herself?' thought Tory. But what should she do?
If she captured her, she'd have to watch her. She couldn't really arrest the girl because they had no proof she was involved in Ben's shooting. Just because the girl was acting suspicious, didn't mean Tory could just go dragging her back to a dungeon at the nearest castle. Besides, she had her hands full with Ben.
On the other hand if she let the girl go, she was putting them all in danger. The girl could run off and then come back - with friends - lots of friends, all of whom would probably be happy to try and kill some rangers. For sure it would be the end of Ben because Tory would either be dead or captured, depending on how many bandits the girl could summon. Then they could lie in wait for Patrick and Justin to return and pick them off too.
She had no idea how long the other two rangers were going to be away. They could return any minute, or not for a couple of days.
Perhaps if she found out a little more about the girl she could determine what to do. She decided to try the diplomatic route first - with a little bit of 'aggressive negotiation' should it become necessary. Meaning she kept her arrow pointed at the girl, and maintained herself out of the girl's reach.
"I am impressed!" Tory said calmly while keeping her arrow pointed at the girl. "That had to have been a miserable night and still you never gave yourself away." Tory let a bit of wonder color her voice. I thought someone was up there, but then I thought I must have been mistaken. It must have taken a lot of grit not to climb down during the night." Tory chewed on her bottom lip, then realized that made her look indecisive so she cleared her throat and said, all businesslike, "I bet you're hungry too."
She watched the girl carefully, remembering their last encounter. She was ready to fire at the drop of a hat. "Why don't you come over here by the fire, get a bite to eat and let's have a little chat; girl-to-girl." She pointed the way with a little swing of her arrow tip.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
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Post by Kallie on Oct 17, 2015 9:03:23 GMT -5
"I am impressed!" Tory said calmly while keeping her arrow pointed at the girl.
Nissa popped one eye open when instead o0f an arrow she heard the girls voice. She opened the other eye her eyes naturally going to the arrow pointed at her and made no movement lest this ranger was trigger happy as most rangers were.
"That had to have been a miserable night and still you never gave yourself away." Tory let a bit of wonder color her voice. I thought someone was up there, but then I thought I must have been mistaken. It must have taken a lot of grit not to climb down during the night."
Nissa didn't shrug, she warily let her eyes travel from the arrow to the girl holding the weapon she didn't dare move but felt that something needed to be said. "I've had worse." was all she said, her voice was deadpan so was her face. She wasn't going to let this girl know how cold she was, or how nervous, or how scared she was that this might be the last day she was free on this earth. Tomorrow she could be dangling from the end of a rope.
Tory chewed on her bottom lip, then realized that made her look indecisive so she cleared her throat and said, all businesslike, "I bet you're hungry too."
The girl she realized didn't really know what to do she was what? 16? maybe 17? Younger than that maybe? Nissa had no idea she had never been very good at guessing ages and she wasn't about to ask the girl pointing a weapon at her what her age was.
"I'm always hungry. Part of life you get used to it." In fact Nissa's face looked more like she had never gotten enough to eat not just as of late but all of her life. Her arms although muscled were still skinny, but she wasn't going to tell this girl her whole life story. She was just going to turn her in and then she would be dead a week maybe days later. So really what was the point?
She watched the girl carefully, remembering their last encounter. She was ready to fire at the drop of a hat. "Why don't you come over here by the fire, get a bite to eat and let's have a little chat; girl-to-girl." She pointed the way with a little swing of her arrow tip.
Nissa hesitated this was the key point, right here right now if she was going to bolt now would be the time to do it. If the girl was only an apprentice maybe she was only half as a good a shot as a full fledged ranger. Doubtful but possible, maybe if she caught the girl by surprise the arrow would miss her and she could run off leaving all of them behind. But her bow and half her arrows were scattered all around her in every which direction, the girl wouldn't wait for her to pick them up and wait for her to run before she shoot her. Besides there were the others to deal with, if she ran off there was a very good chance she would run into them and they would be less nice and kind as the girl in front of her. The thought of actually eating something however small, and sitting by a warm fire was so appealing that she found herself slowly sitting and getting to her feet. AS she slowly started walking toward the camp she realized that she was very tired of running. But there was no rest for her, she was an evil bandit and that was all she would ever be. All anybody would ever see. Just a thief in need of punishment.
"If you are going to kill me please just do it now quick and simple. I don't like false pretenses of friendship or niceness."
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 28, 2015 20:48:40 GMT -5
"If you are going to kill me please just do it now quick and simple. I don't like false pretenses of friendship or niceness."
Tory considered her reply for a moment and then said, "So far you haven't given me a reason to kill you, unless of course you are the one who did that to Ben." She nodded to the injured ranger lying under the shelter. "Or his horse." She was still angry about the sensless killing of Ben's ranger horse. However, she actually believed the girl had been telling the truth when she said she hadn't had anything to do with shooting Ben, and the evidence had supported her story.
So, why did she think Tory was going to kill her? There was a wariness - a deep-seated wariness in the girl's eyes. Like she has been hunted or always the prey. Tory didn't trust her for a moment. But she felt a strange kinship with her. The reason for her feelings rushed into her head like water being released from a broken beaver dam. This girl was very much like Tory. She was a loner, she lived by her witts, she didn't make friends easily or trust much of anyone. Tory knew what it was like to be hungry all the time too, even though she hadn't had to endure that much since she became an apprentice. She could understand how that aching, relentless pain deep in your guts could drive a person to steal in order to survive.
But she didn't understand making a career from taking things from other people. Instead of making that choice, Tory felt a person should take some other kind of action to earn their way through life, not steal or cheat their way through.
"Just sit down there on that log, next to the fire and dish yourself out a bowl of that food. It should be about done." Tory indicated the log with another swing of her arrowpoint. She kept her distance from the girl and her eyes watched every movement. She bet there was a knife in the girl's boot, just like the one in her own, but did the girl have another stashed at the nape of her neck under her hair like Tory did?
What was she to do? While Tory waited for the girl to settle on the log, she considered the problem. Shooting her in cold blood was out of the question, but she'd shoot if the girl gave her any trouble. From the way she was acting, there could be a price on the girl's head, but Tory hadn't been keeping up with all the Ranger correspondence the last few months, so she didn't know for sure. Even if ther was, how would she be able to keep the girl captive and tend to Ben by herself until Justin or Patrick came back.
What if she were to let the girl go? She'd likely wake up with her own throat slit and all her stuff stolen, either by the girl, or her unsavory friends. Oh what she wouldn't give for Patrick or Justing to show up right about now.
"Go on, have a seat. I insist." She eased the arrow back a bit more as the shaft pointed down to the center of the girl's torso. "and for the record, I am merely being polite, not nice," she retorted in a calm, level voice. "I choose my friends very carefully and so far, I haven't made up my mind about you one way or the other."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Oct 30, 2015 8:32:06 GMT -5
"So far you haven't given me a reason to kill you, unless of course you are the one who did that to Ben."
Mouse couldn't help but mutter under her breath. "I'm a bandit I thought that was a good enough reason to shoot for a ranger."
"Just sit down there on that log, next to the fire and dish yourself out a bowl of that food. It should be about done." Tory indicated the log with another swing of her arrowpoint. She kept her distance from the girl and her eyes watched every movement. She bet there was a knife in the girl's boot, just like the one in her own, but did the girl have another stashed at the nape of her neck under her hair like Tory did?
Slowly Nissa did as she was told. Did she have much of a choice? No not really. If she didn't do as the girl said she would be a dead mouse and she didn't fancy on being dead. Well until she couldn't help it anyway. She'd rather go down fighting than in a jail cell or at the end of a rope. She could do it, she could dive forward and to the side right now and tackle the girl. If she twisted her body just right the arrow would miss her and then she would have the upper hand. She could knock the girl out and run off and leave them all behind. Go to a new fief and start all over again.
"Go on, have a seat. I insist." She eased the arrow back a bit more as the shaft pointed down to the center of the girl's torso. "and for the record, I am merely being polite, not nice," she retorted in a calm, level voice. "I choose my friends very carefully and so far, I haven't made up my mind about you one way or the other."
Nissa's behind hit the log and she rolled her eyes at the girl. "Well since you insist so politely." she said sarcastically. Just twist tackle punch and gt out of here! Her head screamed at her. But she hesitated. The girls entire focus was on her there was no way she would get the upper hand and win she'd probably die. They were both on edge she realized and two trained weapon wielders on edge was probably not such a good thing. Nissa snorted. "A ranger," the word displayed all the contempt she had for rangers. She couldn't help it it was just a natural reaction when she said the word. Or thought about them. "And a bandit friends. That would be most ridiculous don't you think? We are much better off being enemies. It is the natural order of the world is it not?" She placed her hands in her lap, then they went to her knees where they drummed her knee caps as if of their own accord. It was a nervous habit she had she just hoped that the movement looked more like she was just being bored than nervous. She hated being weak. In her world weakness is what got you killed.
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Post by Brandwyn on Apr 20, 2016 20:54:37 GMT -5
"A ranger," the word displayed all the contempt she had for rangers. She couldn't help it it was just a natural reaction when she said the word. Or thought about them. "And a bandit friends. That would be most ridiculous don't you think? We are much better off being enemies. It is the natural order of the world is it not?"
"Perhaps, but it's not unheard of," Tory replied and lowered the tip of the arrow so it was pointing to the ground. It would be easy enough to shoot if the girl tried anything. "Actually there are a couple of bandits in the Corps now who have become rangers. Some of the skills and natural abilities are remarkably similar."
She looked the girl over carefully, trying to discern if there were any other weapons on her. She was almost a full fledged ranger now, surely she could handle this situation. She fell silent for a moment, an idea slowly forming. "Look, I don't care if you are a bandit and have some price on your head. You are not my mission and quite frankly, I don't have time to deal with you." Perhaps Tory shouldn't have told the girl that, but it was too late now.
"I propose a truce. I will put down my bow and let's just have some dinner. I promise not to shoot you or attack you if you promise the same thing." Tory unknocked the arrow and swiftly sat down across the fire from the girl. She still held her bow with one hand. "When we are done eating you can go your own way if you want to and if you promise you won't come back when I am asleep."
"How about we start the truce with introductions? My name is Tory Waterton from Meric Fief, Ranger Apprentice to - well, actually I've been apprenticed to a couple of rangers, and..." she trailed off and just waited for the girl to introduce herself. She watched her carefully, ready spring into action if the girl decided to attack her. Now would be the moment. However Tory was trying to diffuse the situation, so she kept her own body language non-confrontational. She was poised for action, but she appeared to be at ease. "Do we have a deal?"
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
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Post by Kallie on Apr 25, 2016 8:32:48 GMT -5
"Perhaps, but it's not unheard of," Tory replied and lowered the tip of the arrow so it was pointing to the ground. It would be easy enough to shoot if the girl tried anything. "Actually there are a couple of bandits in the Corps now who have become rangers. Some of the skills and natural abilities are remarkably similar."
Nissa tensed as the girl moved the arrow. She didn't relax, knew that she couldn't really afford to relax. She forced her self to appear relaxed. She couldn't let this ranger know how nervous she was. She snorted. "I find it hard to believe that good king Duncan would let thrives into the most elite group of the kingdom." she didn't believe the girl.
"Look, I don't care if you are a bandit and have some price on your head. You are not my mission and quite frankly, I don't have time to deal with you." Perhaps Tory shouldn't have told the girl that, but it was too late now.
Nissa was taken aback a little by that speech. That could mean one of two things. The ranger would either tie her up and leave her here or kill her right here right now. She waited senseing that the girl was not finished with what she had to say.
"I propose a truce. I will put down my bow and let's just have some dinner. I promise not to shoot you or attack you if you promise the same thing." Tory unknocked the arrow and swiftly sat down across the fire from the girl. She still held her bow with one hand. "When we are done eating you can go your own way if you want to and if you promise you won't come back when I am asleep."
If Nissa had been surprised before that bit of news took her totally unprepared. Not only was this ranger nice she was letting her go as well. She studied the girls face searching for a trick or a trap. Was she telling the truth or was this just a trick to lure her into a false sense of security. She decided to respond in like manner. She slowly reached down and pulled the dagger out of her boot and dropped it on the ground. Not to far away in case she needed it but far enough away to not be threatening. There was something about this girl ranger that trusted as if she knew something of what Nissa lived through everyday. She couldn't say for sure but she was the first ranger she had ever met that hadn't shot at her, beat her up, or taken her prisoner. So that was saying a lot. "All right, truce it is." she said evenly. Her eyes not leaving the girl just in case. In any event she decided nothing was going to get in the wat of her and the hot meal before her. She was starving and if she wanted to live she would need the energy the hot food would provide.
"How about we start the truce with introductions? My name is Tory Waterton from Meric Fief, Ranger Apprentice to - well, actually I've been apprenticed to a couple of rangers, and..." she trailed off and just waited for the girl to introduce herself. She watched her carefully, ready spring into action if the girl decided to attack her. Now would be the moment. However Tory was trying to diffuse the situation, so she kept her own body language non-confrontational. She was poised for action, but she appeared to be at ease. "Do we have a deal?"
Nissa born to know body language as some where born to be swimmers sensed that the ranger was nervous just like she was. They were both hiding their unease form each other she realized. Neither of them wanted to appear nervous or unsure of themselves. She guessed she wasn't the only one who had spent a life time in danger and thus making the need to appear nonchalant had become second nature. To show weakness was to give your enmies an advantage Nissa always said. And to a certain extent it was true. "Mouse." she said the corners of her mouth twitching a little in a smile. There was no way she was giving this ranger, even if she was nice, her real name. She didn't like people knowing her real name. It just tended to complicate things. "I wont attack you. I'm not an idiot I know you could kill me before I reached my dagger. I will take a bowl of food, eat, and be on my way and never come back. And for the record. I don't have friends that would come and slit your throat in the dark of night either. If someone does that won't be because of me."
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Post by Brandwyn on May 1, 2016 15:04:58 GMT -5
"All right, truce it is." she said evenly.
Tory inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. It might be a very uneasy truce, but she didn't care. She really preferred not to tangle with this girl if she didn't have to.
"Mouse." she said the corners of her mouth twitching a little in a smile.
Tory gave her a nod and set the bow down on the log next to her within easy reach.
"I wont attack you. I'm not an idiot I know you could kill me before I reached my dagger. I will take a bowl of food, eat, and be on my way and never come back. And for the record. I don't have friends that would come and slit your throat in the dark of night either. If someone does that won't be because of me."
Tory studied her eyes for a moment and nodded again, "fair enough. I believe you." She picked up a tin bowl and loaded it up with stew and passed it over the fire to the girl. Still on guard for an attack as she was probably at her most vulnerable, but she figured the girl was probably interested in the food at this point and as relunctant to fight as she was.
Tory dished out another bowl for herself and leaned back a bit while she ate, her eyes never leaving Mouse's.
"Tam," she said between mouthfuls of the hot stew. "He was a street kid. Ranger Greenriver caught him trying to nick his money pouch. Now Tam's apprenticed to Rick, nearly graduated actually." Tory looked thoughtful for a moment, "though I guess he wasn't a professional thief. He mostly stole things to survive. But Tam's a good guy at heart." She pointed her spoon at Mouse, "That's the key, really. Heart." She took another bite and swallowed it down. "If you want to hurt people then you wouldn't be accepted as a ranger apprentice."
Tory looked into the fire for a minute, distracted by a memory. "Actually it is rather amazing they took me in, considering what I was about to do when Patrick first met me..." She recalled standing in front of the Baron, Ranger Palisade and the entire court brandishing a knife at her tormentor, fully intending to stick it in him if he layed a hand on her again. She glanced back at Mouse to make sure the girl wasn't going for her dagger. "Never mind..." She said and concentrated on eating. "You want another bowl? Looks like I made more than I needed."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
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Post by Kallie on May 13, 2016 6:53:22 GMT -5
Mouse started stuffing her face barely blowing on the stew, and nearly burning the taste buds off her tongue. She had to admit the girl did make some very delicious stew.
"Tam," she said between mouthfuls of the hot stew. "He was a street kid. Ranger Greenriver caught him trying to nick his money pouch. Now Tam's apprenticed to Rick, nearly graduated actually." Tory looked thoughtful for a moment, "though I guess he wasn't a professional thief. He mostly stole things to survive. But Tam's a good guy at heart." She pointed her spoon at Mouse, "That's the key, really. Heart." She took another bite and swallowed it down. "If you want to hurt people then you wouldn't be accepted as a ranger apprentice."
She paused in her eating. "Well goody for Tam, I am quite content to have the black heart of a thief." she laughed she couldn't help it. her? a ranger? A rangers Apprentice?! it was absurd in the extreme. "Just how old do you think I am?" she asked. "16? 15? Honey I'm way past the getting apprenticed age. Besides I HATE rangers. Ok? I loathe them, your lucky I don't loathe you. Besides I like being a thief, no one tells you what to do and how to live your life."
"Never mind..." She said and concentrated on eating. "You want another bowl? Looks like I made more than I needed."
Nissa raised an eyebrow she knew that look all to well in fact. The look of being haunted by a memory that always seemed just a bit to real. A Nightmare you always visited in your dreams one you could never shake no matter how hard you tried. A reminder of a life you had to live through over and over and over again. She kept her face nueteral though so she wouldn't give anything away. The girl might be haunted by something as bad as her but she was still a ranger and a stranger, if she wanted to she could have her hanged so it wouldn't do to make friends with her. Rangers always betrayed you in the end. She held out her bowl. "Sure I could do with seconds." maybe even thirds she thought silently. This was the best meal she had, had in months.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 25, 2016 22:20:51 GMT -5
Besides I HATE rangers. Ok? I loathe them, your lucky I don't loathe you. Besides I like being a thief, no one tells you what to do and how to live your life."
Tory suppressed a grin, but couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from twitching a little, "Thanks, I will consider myself lucky then," she said sincerely. "I don't much like making enemies if I can help it." Not that she made friends with every theif or murderer that came her way, but she didn't get the sense that Mouse was evil. She was just trying to survive. "Guess that could be because I'm not really a normal ranger..." she trailed off and ate some more stew.
"Never mind..." She said and concentrated on eating. "You want another bowl? Looks like I made more than I needed."
Nissa raised an eyebrow she knew that look all to well in fact. The look of being haunted by a memory that always seemed just a bit to real. A Nightmare you always visited in your dreams one you could never shake no matter how hard you tried. A reminder of a life you had to live through over and over and over again. She kept her face nueteral though so she wouldn't give anything away. The girl might be haunted by something as bad as her but she was still a ranger and a stranger, if she wanted to she could have her hanged so it wouldn't do to make friends with her. Rangers always betrayed you in the end. She held out her bowl. "Sure I could do with seconds." maybe even thirds she thought silently. This was the best meal she had, had in months.
Tory dished up another bowl for her and added a bit more to her own. "I suppose we do have someone telling us what to do, to an extent. I never really thought about it like that though," she mused between bites. "I have far more freedom now than when I worked for Her Ladyship in Meric." Tory's loathing of her former mistress was evident in the way she said the woman's title. "I certainly don't miss the whippings... and especially not the rest..." She tried to get the visions of her former abuser out of her head, but she was still having nightmares frequently and doubted they would ever go away. She shook herself back to the present. She needed to keep her wits about her or this girl would be on her in a minute. "But I understand. The ranger life is not for everyone."
She studied Mouse for a minute or so while she finished up her stew and set the bowl down next to her on the ground. She seemed to recall some mention a couple months back about a theif calling herself The Mouse wreaking some havoc but Tory couldn't remember the details in the reports. "I beleive you when you say you didn't have anything to do with shooting Ben, but do you have any idea who it may have been that shot him and his horse back there? Did you happen to get a look at them?" she asked Mouse. "There seems to be a lot of bandits around these days and many of them look foreign. It's really weird. It's almost like someone is planting them here and helping them - like someone who weilds a great deal of power." She looked thoughtful, "I suppose it's not helping your 'business' any either, what with all the extra theives and cut-throats around."
Tory didn't expect much of an answer from Mouse, but any information on Ben's attackers she could gather would help them find the culprits and take them down. Now that they had estabilished some sort of precarious relationship, Tory figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.
She realized it was getting on in the day and Patrick or Justing could be back any time. She felt a weird kinship with this girl, thought she couldn't condone her lifestyle, she felt she could understand where the girl came from. Tory supposed that it could be the fact that Tory could have ended up in the same boat as Mouse - fighting and scratching to survive any way she could. If not for Ranger Palisade she probably would be an outlaw by now. Tory found herself rooting for Mouse and didn't want to see her caught.
"You know if Justin comes back you shouldn't be here. You are the one he's been tracking, aren't you?"
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
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Post by Kallie on Jul 4, 2016 6:57:09 GMT -5
"I suppose we do have someone telling us what to do, to an extent. I never really thought about it like that though," she mused between bites. "I have far more freedom now than when I worked for Her Ladyship in Meric." Tory's loathing of her former mistress was evident in the way she said the woman's title. "I certainly don't miss the whippings... and especially not the rest..."
Nissa felt pity and understanding for the girl though she did her best not to. She couldn't help it. She understood all to well what it was like to be abused. Her whole childhood had been full of it and all of it from her own father. Come to think of it Tory had been the first person to show her any kind of kindness for a very long time. She supposed it was her own fault though choosing a thieving life instead of something honorable. But really what choice did she have? A 16 year old girl didn't stand a chance, she'd had no where to go and nobody to go to. Her father had never taken her to see family and no family had ever come visit them. There had only been her mother to shield her, and when she had died she was left alone. She didn't regret running away at the age of 16, nor did she regret her lifestyle either. It suited her in some small way, as a bandit she could do as she pleased and help whom she pleased. Or injure. Sure she'd probably die in the near future at such a young age of 24 but hey at least she'd had dome good years of freedom.
"I beleive you when you say you didn't have anything to do with shooting Ben, but do you have any idea who it may have been that shot him and his horse back there? Did you happen to get a look at them?"
Nissa was surprised when she said she believed her, that had to be a first in years. Though to be fair usually it was her fault that what ever it was had gone missing, or killed, or hurt, or whatever. "They were shady characters most likely mercenaries or something, I was rather high up in a tree." she said unhelpfully with only a small pang of guilt.
"There seems to be a lot of bandits around these days and many of them look foreign. It's really weird. It's almost like someone is planting them here and helping them - like someone who weilds a great deal of power." She looked thoughtful, "I suppose it's not helping your 'business' any either, what with all the extra theives and cut-throats around."
Mouse sighed and scowled at the fire. "You could say that yes. But the thing is the more bandits there are the more bandit gangs you have. A lot of bandits would love to get their hands on any kind of power, if what you say is true if someone really is planting them then they know the bandit world very well. They'd most likely pay off a gang already formed, with enough money the leader would turn a blind eye to the fact that there were strangers in his camp and not even blink at the task they were given." she paused thinking then sighed heavily. "It is true that I did actually get a good look at the bandits, but it is also true they were wearing hoods concealing their faces all but one. I won't say how I know but I have a good hunch as to who was involved in the killing of the ranger. And if I'm right then you are in serious trouble. Do you have any of the arrow left? specifically the part with the fletching?"
"You know if Justin comes back you shouldn't be here. You are the one he's been tracking, aren't you?"
Her lips slowly curled up in a devilish smile. "You could say that yes. Though his tracking leaves a bit to be desired. How he made it in the ranger corps I have no idea. I have been leading that poor man in circles. Last i checked I had left him three fiefs over guess he finally got smart, lets just say me and Justin didn't exactly part on the friendliest, or the healthiest of terms." there was satisfaction in her voice satisfaction that for once she had gotten the better of a ranger, her life long enemy she was actually quite pleased with herself. You weren't just a common thief if you have rangers chasing after you. No you had to be quite special for that to happen.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 14, 2016 21:56:29 GMT -5
Tory saw the flash of surprise on the thief’s face before she answered. "They were shady characters most likely mercenaries or something. I was rather high up in a tree," said the Mouse.
"There seems to be a lot of bandits around these days and many of them look foreign. It's really weird. It's almost like someone is planting them here and helping them - like someone who weilds a great deal of power." She looked thoughtful, "I suppose it's not helping your 'business' any either, what with all the extra theives and cut-throats around."
Mouse sighed and scowled at the fire. "You could say that yes. But the thing is the more bandits there are the more bandit gangs you have. A lot of bandits would love to get their hands on any kind of power, if what you say is true, if someone really is planting them, then they know the bandit world very well.”
Tory looked at her quizzically, “How so?” she asked around a mouthful of stew.
“They'd most likely pay off a gang already formed, with enough money the leader would turn a blind eye to the fact that there were strangers in his camp and not even blink at the task they were given." she paused thinking then sighed heavily. "It is true that I did actually get a good look at the bandits, but it is also true they were wearing hoods concealing their faces all but one. I won't say how I know, but I have a good hunch as to who was involved in the killing of the ranger. And if I'm right then you are in serious trouble. Do you have any of the arrows left, specifically the part with the fletching?"
Tory nodded, “As a matter of fact, I do.” She sat her empty stew bowl down and reached back behind the log she was sitting on to pull her rucksack around in front of her. She rummaged through it for a moment and pulled out two broken arrows with matching fletches. She handed them to Mouse. Then she pulled out a small package wrapped in a scrap of bandage and unwrapped it, revealing a steel, broad-head Arrowpoint covered in blood. “This is the point we pulled out of Ben’s back.” She held it out so Mouse could see it, but didn’t hand it over. “It’s pretty expensive for your run-of-the-mill bandit. That’s why I think they are being infiltrated, or at least supplied by some wealthy benefactor.”
She glanced at Ben and then back to Mouse and an idea began to formulate. If Mouse knew who the gang was that shot Ben, maybe she could help them find them and perhaps they might even find out if Tory’s theory was right.
But who was she kidding? Mouse would never help her. As she had said, they were supposed to be enemies – on the opposite side of the law. Now what could she offer that would change Mouse’s mind?
“Do you recognize them?” she asked, pointing to the broken arrows.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 19, 2016 7:20:03 GMT -5
Tory nodded, “As a matter of fact, I do.” She sat her empty stew bowl down and reached back behind the log she was sitting on to pull her rucksack around in front of her. She rummaged through it for a moment and pulled out two broken arrows with matching fletches. She handed them to Mouse.
She took them and started to look over them with a practiced eye she was distracted from her work when she showed her the arrow head.
Then she pulled out a small package wrapped in a scrap of bandage and unwrapped it, revealing a steel, broad-head Arrowpoint covered in blood. “This is the point we pulled out of Ben’s back.” She held it out so Mouse could see it, but didn’t hand it over. “It’s pretty expensive for your run-of-the-mill bandit. That’s why I think they are being infiltrated, or at least supplied by some wealthy benefactor.”
"That or they know who to steal from."
“Do you recognize them?” she asked, pointing to the broken arrows.
She did answer her for some minutes. She was studying the fletching smoothing out the feathers and looking at every inch from the tip of the feather to the notch at the butt end. Slowly she turned it her brow furrowed in concentration. If her hunch was correct it should be around the end somewhere, she spun it slowly in her hand again going back over it for the third time, finally she was rewarded for her hard work. She put a finger over the spot, it had been ages since she had looked for this particular mark and longer still since she had made one just like it on her arrows. She looked up from the arrow and into the eyes of the young ranger. She almost felt something close to pity for her.
"Yes I recognize them, recognize them all to well in fact. The feathers are different but the mark is the same as always. The man who made these is named Avery, he marks all of his arrows with an A, she showed the ranger it. He puts it in hard to see places. He marks his arrows in case another gang of bandits wants to encroach in his territory or kill someone he wants to. Or some stupid thing like that. I wouldn't put it past him at all for taking on new people in gang or accepting money to do mercenary work. With the right price he would do most anything. Hes a greedy basta," she cut herself off, the girl was young she didn't need to hear any cursing she added a little belatedly. "Man. In any case if he's doing mercenary work may God save us all." Avery she hated saying the name hated talking about him. She shuddered, she had had a feeling she would never truly be free of that foul creature.
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