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Post by Ringulf on Oct 4, 2010 12:45:34 GMT -5
Aribjorn and Ogmund walked down the dirt road toward the spring that Finn had told them about. Ari had the shovel over his shoulder and Ogmund swung the bucket lazily as they walked. The sun was just setting in the west and the pink and orange sky was permeated with bright and dark clouds that took on many hues as the last rays of the sun struck them.
"You are vorried about de girl aren't you? Ogmund said after they had walked in silence for a while.
"Ya, I am." said Ari looking down at the dirt in front of him.
Ogmund shook his head, "Ari you are to vorried about everybody else, you haff to be tinking about getting a propper horse for de battleschool ant den gettin dese ponies to de castle in Araluen, you can't be all vorriet and dreamy eyet over dis girl..."
"I am not dreamy eyet! I..I just don't like to see a fighter vit dat kinda spirit brought down vit such a silly vount." Ari backpedaled.
"You know if she dies it will not be a "straw death" you know, she got dat vount fighting many foes larger and stronger den she vas! She is a ranger ant in dis country dat says allot! she iss not just some pretty little girl dat iss playing soldier Aribjorn she does not need your protection."
"Ya, ya I know, I know, I am a little confussed I guess, ever since dat udder girl, Mylia, landed in my arms I have been tinking all girls and not anyting about fighting, my back iss better and yet I don't have much interest in it. I am not sure Ogmunt, am I losing my nerve? am I becoming a coward because I got vounded, Tory vouln't give up, Mylia wouldn't give up, You vould not, even Ringulf fights to stay alife! I am hiding behind my feelings for dem so I don't have to tink about my feelings for me."
"You are a very strange man Aribjorn Haakonson! you stand toe to toe vit de enemy and fight and kill like a warrior, den you take care off dese girls wit de gentleness off a vet nurse, you stant up to a ranger like he vas your thrall and you treat me like I vass your best freint! No you are many tings Ari, many tings I don't understant but you are no coward, dat iss for damn sure! Hey dis is it, look de water of de spring starts dere and de little stream runs under dis bridge."
"Ya I see it, Ogmund I don't know how I am going to get along vit out you in Battleschool but..." and Ari hesitated the words sticking in his throat.
"I was tinkin about dat! you know it seems as dough dis Ringulf, being vone off your kinsman, he shoult be looked after ant if you could spare me for a short time, I tink I coult help him heal up. Den I coult rejoin you after you get your feet vet dere at de school." Ogmund said trying to make it seem very matter of fact.
Ari stopped and looked at his Friend. He chuckled at Ogmund's attempt to keep him from the pain of having to leave him behind.
"Ya Ogmunt I..uh...see vat you mean. Maybe you are right Ringulf iss definitely going to need some help mending I tink ant if Mylia ant Tory haff to finish deir mission wit me den he vill neet a good frient like I have."
Not wanting to get too emotional, he jumped down on to the bank by the bridge with the shovel and started to look for the boil of the spring and the therapeutic mud that Finn told him would be near to it.
"Hey bring de bucket, I tink I have fount it and not a moment to soon! I don't tink ve are gonna be able to see our hant in front of our face in anudder minute!"
"OH ah don't think you are goin to have to worry about that boy, ifn you r stealin mah mud then you aint gonna be seein much of anythin but stars after we get through with ya"
Ari and Ogmund turned to see several big locals standing on the bridge looking down toward them, he noted they to carried farm implements and the one that spoke actually had a pretty good sized club.
"Look here ve need dis mu.." Ari began to protest but a hand across his chest from Ogmund interrupted his reply.
"Listen Frient ve don't want any trouble wit you if dis iss your lant den ve vill be glad to pay you for de mudd it iss for a young ranger girl who is sick" Ogmund said with a gentle smile and a soothing manner.
"Yeah cyclops it is our land! It's Caraway and you don't belong here with yer "Dis and Dat" and yer funny clothes! Oh b'leive you me, you are gonna pay for the mud alright, yer gonna pay with teeth after ya spit them all out on the ground! Hmm, a ranger girl you say huh? gee where can I get me some of that, you know them ranger girls are just like barn cats in heat most o the time! You boys been didlin' with our womenfolk too? Well that is all I have to hear, what 'bout you Murf? Thinks we aught to learn these two foriegners some manners?"
"Yup." said a slow witted hayseed to his side with a pitchfork as he hocked up a huge ball of flegm from his throat and spit it at their feet. "I spect we do" he said, a string of spit still hanging on his droopy mustache.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 5, 2010 11:53:53 GMT -5
The doctor arrived back in town an hour earlier than had been predicted, but he did not get a moment's rest, before Mylia was leading him down to the warf and the Skandian ship. "What's the worst injury for each?"
"Ringulf's injured his back, they aren't sure how badly, and he hasn't woken up yet. Tory has an open wound on one side that bleeds pretty heavily every time she moves."
"But she's conscious?"
"Yes. Here we are! They're in separate rooms by the way."
The doctor rolled his eyes but plowed on up the gangway. "Alright. Lead the way to Ringulf. If he hasn't woken up yet, he's probably in the worse condition of the two."
"Right this way." Mylia led the doctor to Ringulf's "room" and stood aside in order to let him go first.
"Wait out here, will you?" ----------------------------------------------------- (OOC: since I don't know that much about medical stuff, I'm just going to skip the long explanation.....) ----------------------------------------
Mylia sat outside the entrance, perched on a barrel, watching all that went on outside, and waiting for the doc to make an appearance. Time passed, and still no doc. More time crawled slowly past.......
At last the doctor appeared, looking satisfied about something. Mylia was down off her perch in an instant. "Well? how is he? Is he going to be alright?"
The doctor wiped his hands on a clean cloth and smiled at Mylia's quick-fired questions. but instead of answering them, he guestured to the captain of the ship. "Keep an eye on Ringulf, call me when he wakes. I want to see this Tory now."
Mylia gave a deep sigh of exasperation, but turned to lead the way to Tory's "room". A deep sigh of resignation made her turn back to face the doc.
The doctor looked at her for a long, drawn-out second, then said, "He'll live.....and, he'll in all likelyhood-- unless something really goes wrong, which it probably won't-- fight another day."
Mylia's exultant whoop could be heard clear up to the castle.
(OOC: This has to be the lousyest post I've ever done.)
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 5, 2010 15:45:54 GMT -5
Mylia's exultant whoop could be heard clear up to the castle.
"Vat iss all de vooping going on here girl! you seem pretty happy I tink! You tink so Ogmant? Vat about you Cletus doesn't she seem happy to you?
Aribjorn stood on the dock above the gunnel of the ship Ogmud stood behind him smiling but he had a fat lip and a cut on his cheek. Aribjorn who was looking to his left at the man he just called Cletus, turned back to look down at Mylia and revealed he also wore some battle damage in the form of a very big black eye.
Cletus held in each hand a bucket of mud and he set them down and miserably asked, "Can I go now Mr Aribjorn I gotta see if the rest of them are awake yet?"
"Ya Cletus you can go but don't forget to come back tomorrow de holt needs to be mucked ant de grass scrubbet from de vaterline, OK?"
"Yes sir we will be back ah promise." and he limped off toward the direction of the dirt road.
"Nice guy, him ant hiss crew vere lookin for verk." he said in response to Mylia's quizzical look.
Ogmund just snorted and threw both halves of the shovel down into the empty hold.
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Post by Tandar on Oct 6, 2010 13:45:06 GMT -5
At first, Tandar ignored Levinsson. He was deep in thought about last year’s Yule ball and the events following it. When the other Ranger had rolled his sleeve about halfway up his forearm, Polaris suddenly grabbed Levinsson’s arm with a with a strong grip. “Don’t touch me,” he snarled. Releasing his hold, Polaris began walking away until a thought crossed his mind. He turned around to face Bunt and jabbed a threatening finger in his direction as if it were a weapon. “Best keep this to yourself,” he added. The last thing he wanted was Crowley getting word of his condition and suspending him from the Corps.
Tandar bent down to retrieve the missive Tory had flung aside. He glanced at it once more before rolling it up and returning it to the case on his belt. Night was quickly falling, so Tandar walked back to his horse, Ruldor, and fed him as he waited for the physician to arrive. After he returned to the knarr, he saw the captain had returned.
“And you are?”
“Ranger Polaris,” Tandar replied. He held out his hand for a brief shake, as per the custom in Araluen.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 6, 2010 21:57:17 GMT -5
When the other Ranger had rolled his sleeve about halfway up his forearm, Polaris suddenly grabbed Levinsson’s arm with a strong grip. “Don’t touch me,” he snarled.
Bunt arched one eyebrow at the young ranger with a bemused look on his face and let go of Tandar’s sleeve. “Suit yerself.” He said and started to pack up his ranger bag as Polaris turned away and started to walk off.
Tandar jabbed a threatening finger in his direction as if it were a weapon. “Best keep this to yourself,” he said.
Bunt shrugged as if he didn’t care. “As you wish.” He grunted. “But if you don’t get whatever is eatin’ at you off yer chest, yer going to wind up with one of them bleedin’ stomachs,” Bunt said. He looked compassionately at Tandar. “Just remember I am here and your friend, if you feel like talkin’.”
Bunt watched Tandar stalk off and looked after him with a concerned, thoughtful look on his face. He wasn’t quite sure how to handle this particular situation other than to be there for his fellow ranger when he was needed.
He wasn’t needed for the moment and so he leaned back on a crate, in the shadows and waited for the Doctor to arrive. After a little while Tandar returned to the ship and then the Captain approached the two rangers and introduced himself.
Bunt shook the Captain’s hand after Tandar did and said, “Name’s Bunt, new ranger of Caraway.” He nodded to the two Skandians. “Our thanks to you and yer crew for caring for our fellow rangers.”
"Ve vill do vat ve can of course but I must see to de cargo ant de horses now, Ve haff permission to put dem in de paddock over der till morning den ve vill fint a place to boart dem till dey go vit Aribjorn to Araluen castle. You are velcome to take de girls ant de Ranger Ringulf to better qvuarters of course but I tink I would radder you vait till de doctor sees dem first ya?" the Captain said.
Bunt nodded. “Best let the doc look at them. We can move them to my cabin if he says it is ok.“ Bunt was calculating where he could put everyone. The two girls could stay up in the loft, and he could move Ivy, his apprentice, up there with them and put Ringulf in her room. It would be a bit tight in the loft with three cots, but he figured they would probably like the arrangement. They would also be far enough away that their giggling shouldn’t keep him awake. He hoped. He ran a hand over his face to hide the sudden realization that he was going to have three teenaged girls under his roof at the same time, probably for a week or two. He sure hoped Ivy would get along with the other two. You never knew with girls that age though.
Bunt was concerned about the pirate attack on the Persephone. He asked the captain several questions, but there was only so much information the Skandians had since it seemed they came in on the tail end of the battle. He recorded their statements in a small book word for word, minus the heavy Skandian accent, so that he could report that to Crowley right away. He was sure the Marshwarden would send a report to Araluen as well, but sometimes the different branches of government didn’t do so well in sharing information, so Bunt was going to send in his own report. Perhaps Ringulf would be able to add some details when he wakes up.
Bunt watched the Doctor move into Tory’s tent and overheard Mylia’s whoop of joy and figured it was good news about Ringulf. He waited long enough to ask the Doctor when he was done with Tory if they could both be moved. When the doctor said yes, as long as they were moved laying down as they currently were and it was done carefully it should be ok.
“I will have them moved to my ranger cabin then. It is the two story bungalow on the northwest edge of town just into the forest along the road to Araluen.” Bunt told the Doctor. “You will come check on them tomorrow, I trust.”
After the Doctor left the ship, Bunt located the Captain and said, “I’ll get my cabin, and my apprentice, ready. You can bring them up anytime.” He gave them directions to the ranger cabin and then slipped back into the shadows, disappearing into the night, his mind troubled by several things he had learned this evening. The biggest thing on his mind at the moment was how his apprentice was going to react to the news she was being kicked out of her room for a while.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 6, 2010 23:58:17 GMT -5
Aribjorn smiled at Mylia, at least he still had all his teeth but as his cheek crinkled in the midst of the smile he winced a bit in pain at the swelling under his eye.
The Doctor was just going into the deck tent to see Tory. Ari wanted to go in and hear what was going on but Finn was already there and it was gonna get crowded, besides that Tory had to suffer the loss of privacy and dignity by having the young Skandian's hands all over her body. Though Aribjorn tried very hard to be mature and strictly "medical" about it all, He could not deny that it was not pleasant, in a way, to be so intimate with her. He thought about it quite a bit, he enjoyed both of the girls company even though they were very different. He also knew that as he had said to Ogmund, he may have been trying to distract his mind from his own problems and emotions by delving so deeply into female relationships.
In the past few days since the river battle, he had become very close to both of them though and knew in his heart that even if these were passing crushes, they would always be friends forged in adversity.
It had been a long time since he had friends his own age. even in the hold back home he had many young people he knew and got along well with, but sometimes he wondered if they were only being nice to him because he was the Jarl's son.
There had been girls, Aribjorn did not lack experience with the fairer sex, but he had never really ever been in love before.
"Someday," he thought to himself, "I will find the right girl and the right time, but for now I have to focus on my appointment."
Just then Smidja broke into his thoughts as he had come up next to Mylia and put an arm around her giving her a congratulatory hug.
"Vell young lady it looks like you vill not have to become a Scandian SeaRover ant come vit us after all! De Doctor said your master iss going to make it!" Smidja beamed.
"Vat iss wrong vit Ringulf, Smidja? Vy does he not vake or move anyting below his middle?"
"Vell Ari ven de mast fell on him it seems he took a hard blow to de back ant to de headt. If he had not been vearin dat helmet he vould most likely be in the Allfadder's hall drinkin and fightin right now! The Doctor said someting about svelling in his headt ant arount his backbone, kinda like dat mouse you got unter your eye ant no, I dont vant to know about how you got it! The captain said even though his smirk was one of curiosity.
"Ven de svelling goes down in hiss headt he vill vake. Ven it goes down in his back he vill valk, but dat may take a vile cause his muscles von't vork to vell by dat time and he vill haff to get strong again."
"So I guess dat means dat Ringulf vill not be coming to Araluen vit us huh?" Ari asked with visible disappointment.
"No I don't tink he vill be goin vit you dis time. He vill neet to stay here ant heel for a vile."
"Ogmunt has volunteered to stay ant take care of him till he iss vell again, ant den join me at de battleschool." Ari exclaimed.
"Ah dat is very goot of him!" Smidja said with an eyebrow raised.
Ogmund looked down not meeting the captain's gaze.
"Let me go ask de Doctor a qvestion I vill be back." Smidja said and moved up into the deck tent.
Ogmund looked to see several figures coming down the hill from the direction of the tavern.
"De crew iss commin back I vill go talk to dem" Ogmund said and walked over to them.
"Vell Mylia, dat leafs just you ant me till de Doctor iss done. Have you hat anyting to eat since de oatmeal dis mornin? I could use someting to fill up de hole in my belly I tink. Come I vill take you to get some dinner ya?"
Ari looked into her eyes with a warm smile and held his hand down for her to grab and swing up onto the dock.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 7, 2010 9:01:07 GMT -5
"Vat iss all de vooping going on here girl! you seem pretty happy I tink! You tink so Ogmant? Vat about you Cletus doesn't she seem happy to you?"
Mylia turned to see Ari, Ogmund, and a stranger standing on the dock, each bearing the signs of battle. the man Ari had called Cletus looked pretty miserable, in Mylia's estimate. Even more so, when he said, "Can I go now Mr Aribjorn, I gotta see if the rest of them are awake yet?"
"Ya Cletus, you can go but don't forget to come back tomorrow. de holt needs to be mucked ant de grass scrubbet from de vaterline, OK?"
"Yes sir, we will be back, ah promise."
"Nice guy, him ant hiss crew vere lookin for verk."
Mylia raised her eyebrows and gave the three of them a skeptical look as she nodded her head in uncertain agreement. "Ah huh."
Appearently, Ogmund felt the same, for he gave a snort of seeming derision as he tossed the remains of a shovel into the hold. Mylia eyed the hold a minute, then looked back at Ari and gave him another unconvinced nod. Ari merely smiled cheerfully back at her.
Then the captain arrived, and swung an arm over Mylia's shoulder in a congratulatory hug. "Vell young lady it looks like you vill not have to become a Scandian SeaRover ant come vit us after all! De Doctor said your master iss going to make it!" Smidja beamed.
"And it's about time!" Mylia declared, smiling back up at the huge Skandian.
Ari broke in. "Vat iss wrong vit Ringulf, Smidja? Vy does he not vake or move anyting below his middle?"
"Vell Ari ven de mast fell on him it seems he took a hard blow to de back ant to de headt. If he had not been vearin dat helmet he vould most likely be in the Allfadder's hall drinkin and fightin right now! The Doctor said someting about svelling in his headt ant arount his backbone, kinda like dat mouse you got unter your eye ant no, I dont vant to know about how you got it! The captain said even though his smirk was one of curiosity.
"But I'd betcha a silver crown I already knows." Mylia mermured.
"Ven de svelling goes down in hiss headt he vill vake. Ven it goes down in his back he vill valk, but dat may take a vile cause his muscles von't vork to vell by dat time and he vill haff to get strong again."
"So I guess dat means dat Ringulf vill not be coming to Araluen vit us huh?" Ari asked with visible disappointment.
"No I don't tink he vill be goin vit you dis time. He vill neet to stay here ant heel for a vile."
"Ogmunt has volunteered to stay ant take care of him till he iss vell again, ant den join me at de battleschool." Ari exclaimed.
"Ah dat is very goot of him!"
Mylia thought the same and switched her gaze from Ari and the captain to Ogmund. she opened her mouth to thank him, but when she saw the way he avoided the captain's eyes, she figured he was already being embarassed by the praise. She shut her mouth. She could always thank him later.
The captain walked away to speak with the doctor again, and Ogmund hurried away to meet the returning ships' crew, leaving Mylia and Ari alone. "So, between your good deed of the day and a nice satisfying scrape, I guess you worked up quite an appitite, huh?" Mylia asked, hoping to avoid what felt like the beginnings of an akward silence.
"Vell Mylia, dat leafs just you ant me till de Doctor iss done. Have you hat anyting to eat since de oatmeal dis mornin? I could use someting to fill up de hole in my belly I tink. Come, I vill take you to get some dinner, ya?"
Ari looked into her eyes with a warm smile and held his hand down for her to grab and swing up onto the dock.
Mylia didn't need to be invited twice for a good solid meal-- she reached up and grabbed his hand, using his strength and hieght to her advantage to swing up to the dock. "I'm hungry enough right now, I wouldn't even pass up on boot soup. Lead the way!"
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 7, 2010 9:41:25 GMT -5
Mylia didn't need to be invited twice for a good solid meal-- she reached up and grabbed his hand, using his strength and height to her advantage to swing up to the dock. "I'm hungry enough right now, I wouldn't even pass up on boot soup. Lead the way!"
They strolled up the street from the quay up the hill toward the part of town that the inn Mylia had found the captain and Ogmund in and the tavern a few doors down were both just getting busy.
They had been walking and making small talk laughing at Ari's antics as he described the fight with the locals, when they realized they were there. the two young people looked up and saw the Tavern and heard the rowdy laughter and singing that was going on inside.
"I tink dat woult be alot of fun ant I woult be happy to take you dere but I tink I neet food ant quiet more den drink ant revelry for now." he said somewhat apologetically.
They continued a few doors down to the inn and inside they found the common room still had a table open for them.
They sat down across from each other and before the Innkeeper came over to them Ari looked over at a large gentleman who had just had a plate with two huge red lobsters and a big thick steak set steaming in front of him. a large bowl of white soup and a large round loaf of freshly baked bread.
The man, bald except for his fringe of long grayish hair around the sides of his head looked at his meal like it was Christmas morning and he had just opened up his best gift!
Just then the Innkeeper came over to them and asked,
"Well what will it be for you yungins this evening?"
Ari put on a big smile, he was genuinely excited by the fare here and said to Mylia somewhat conspiratorially, "I tink I want what dat guy iss having, I have not had goot food like dat for a couple off weeks, I want you to get anyting you want dough caus it may be a while before ve get a chance to do it again, Ya?"
"I vill have vat dat man iss having and a pint of goot ale tank you, Mylia vat vould you like?" he asked the ranger with a smile and twinkle in his blue eyes.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 7, 2010 11:18:01 GMT -5
It was a trip like no other, as they made their way up from the harbor to the inn. Mylia explained just exactly what boot soup was, and he told her of the fight he and Ogmund had had with the locals, acting most of it out, and in general, goofing off. Mylia laughed hard enough that she got stitches in her sides, and was begging him to stop--if only for long enough that she could recover.
She didn't realize that they had passed the inn, until the sound of loud and more-than-a-little-off-key singing interupted their conversation. She looked up to see that they were standing in front of a tavern. "Huh. Sounds like their having a good time." Mylia commented aloud.
Ari repied. "I tink dat woult be alot of fun, ant I woult be happy to take you dere, but I tink I neet food ant quiet more den drink ant revelry for now."
"Same here." Mylia said, turning to backtrack to the inn.
They arrived at the inn without further incident, and found a small empty table near the back of the room. They seated themselves opposite one another, just as the innkeeper arrived to announce his menu and take their orders.
"Well what will it be for you yungins this evening?"
Ari put on a big smile, he was genuinely excited by the fare here and said to Mylia somewhat conspiratorially, "I tink I want what dat guy iss having, I have not had goot food like dat for a couple off weeks, I want you to get anyting you want dough, caus it may be a while before ve get a chance to do it again, Ya?"
"I vill have vat dat man iss having and a pint of goot ale tank you, Mylia vat vould you like?"
Mylia grinned at him, then swung the grin to the innkeeper. "I'll have some of that shrimp an' clam stew you said ya had. As I recall, clam chowder is really good, an' same with th' shrimp soup. Fresh stew sounds de-lishous!"
The innkeeper beamed back at them, "Very good choices, both of you!" He hurried away to the kitchen, and Mylia turned back to Ari. "So, your going to be a knight, and you need a battle horse....I thought Skandians in general didn't like to ride. When I think of knights, they're almost always riding a horse." She tilted her head to one side inquisitively.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 7, 2010 11:47:33 GMT -5
The innkeeper beamed back at them, "Very good choices, both of you!" He hurried away to the kitchen, and Mylia turned back to Ari. "So, your going to be a knight, and you need a battle horse....I thought Skandians in general didn't like to ride. When I think of knights, they're almost always riding a horse." She tilted her head to one side inquisitively.
" Oy! Gee viz girl you just opent a kettle o fitsh vith dat vone I'll tell ya!" Laughed Ari "I tink dis iss gonna be vone big problem! I gotta get a varhorse to bring vit me dere ant learn to rite de beast!...I mean I can rite dat iss not a problem to much, but you see de type off horses vee got in Skandia, dem ant some little bigger vones ve call Fjord horses dat is more like a draft horse but dey iss small too!" he shook his head looking both a little embarrassed and amused at his situation.
"Vell maybe I can get some help vit dat from you ant Tory, dough You rangers don't ride big horses neider do you? I tink dat iss vy I bring de ponies vit me, to help for to make better breeding stock for ranger ponies and make dem more ready for de cold. I don't know vy de king vants dat unless he iss planning on conquering Skandia on de back off little horses ha ha!"
As he laughed at the thought of hundreds of gnomes mounted on tiny horses fighting giant Skandians with battle axes the Innkeeper came to them and set out their food, he had given them two loaves of the dark bread for their soup and put a tankard down in front of Mylia as well.
Raising his mug Ari said, "Skoal Mylia! To de rangers off Araluen, if dey all fight as good as you ant Tory, den dose Skandians better run, even if you are riding little ponies!" Then he took a few deep draughts and set about cracking up one of the huge lobsters on his plate.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 7, 2010 12:03:18 GMT -5
" Oy! Gee viz girl you just opent a kettle o fitsh vith dat vone I'll tell ya!" Laughed Ari "I tink dis iss gonna be vone big problem! I gotta get a varhorse to bring vit me dere ant learn to rite de beast!...I mean I can rite dat iss not a problem to much, but you see de type off horses vee got in Skandia, dem ant some little bigger vones ve call Fjord horses dat is more like a draft horse but dey iss small too!" he shook his head looking both a little embarrassed and amused at his situation.
"Vell maybe I can get some help vit dat from you ant Tory, dough Yo rangers don't ride big horses neider, do you? I tink dat iss vy I bring de ponies vit me, to help for to make better breeding stock for ranger ponies and make dem more ready for de cold. I don't know vy de king vants dat unless he iss planning on conquering Skandia on de back off little horses ha ha!"
Mylia gave a chuckle of her own, joining in with his merriment. "It'll be Tory teaching you for sure--I can't ride worth a danged either! Me an' Ringulf usually travel on foot. He's not much for horses either, I guess. An', to tell the truth, neither am I. Yet, anyway."
The innkeeper arrived then, with their meals. The aroma rising from the stew made Mylia's mouth water. Raising his mug Ari said, "Skoal Mylia! To de rangers off Araluen, if dey all fight as good as you ant Tory, den dose Skandians better run, even if you are riding little ponies!"
Mylia threw back her head with a wide grin, and returned the salute with her own mug of cider. "They're better! But you have to remember, Those Skandians do have the axes in their favor!"
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 7, 2010 13:15:01 GMT -5
Finn sat by Tory’s bedside waiting for Aribjorn to return with the mud. She had crushed all the herbs she’d taken from Ranger Bunt and had them steeping in what was left of the hot water that wasn’t quite so hot anymore.
There was voices on the deck and then a hand pulled aside the doorway and the doctor stepped in. Finn figured he was the doctor anyway, since he was carrying a large bag and he looked quite tired and his eyes went straight to the patient lying on the cot fast asleep.
He nodded to her and Finn nodded back and pulled the covers off exposing the wound. She had removed the bandages and washed it and after the ice had melted and the bleeding was stopped, just pulled the blanket up over Tory. She had been waiting to pack it with the mud.
The doctor didn’t say much as he sat down and examined the wound and Finn moved the lantern closer so he could see. She watched him intently, taking in everything he did. “Nice stitching, “ he said. “Too bad she pulled them out here and here.” He pointed to the two worse spots on her side. “She is going to have an impressive scar, but from the looks of things she’s got plenty of those already.” He sat back for a moment and stroked his chin and finally looked at her, “You have training?” he inclined his head toward the wound.
Finn shook her head, “Not really, me Mah taught me aboot de herbs an’ how ta use dem, an’ I dun some minor voundt repair on de battlefield here an dere, but no formal trainin’” Finn answered. “I be very interested in learnin’ more, doh.” She said.
The Doctor looked pointedly at the steeping herbs, “What were you thinking as a treatment?” he asked curiously.
Finn looked sheepish a moment, but then figured her mother had taught her well and so far all her remedies had worked as planned, so she picked up the pot and held it out so he could sniff it. She rattled off the list of herbs that were in there and explained where she got them and then said, “I vas tinking dat we need someding ta seal da voundt so it can heal an’ so it vont reopen when de girl moves aroundt. I ha’e used de mud packs in de past and dey ha’e vorked quite vell. I vas going ta pack de herbs on de voundt an’ cover dem wid de mud from da hot springs.”
The doctor nodded, “I was thinking along those lines too, but instead of mud I think seaweed might do a better trick on it.” He pulled the blanket gently back up and hollered out the door for a deck hand. He sent the Skandian off to collect some kale growing in the shallow waters next to the quay.
“Start packing those herbs on there now.” He said as he rummaged through his bag and pulled out a tin. It contained an ointment and Finn sniffed it and wrinkled up her nose in distaste. At least one ingredient was nettles and she had always detested gathering the vicious, thorn covered plants for her mother. The thorns would prick the skin and sting and then that area would go numb for hours. “Nettles.” Finn said, “an’ somding else too.” She touched it and it was sticky, like tree sap.
The Doctor chuckled at her questioning eyes. “Kale. When you boil that seaweed down it becomes like glue. You can use it to patch leaks on boats even! Well, as long as they are small leaks that is.” He chuckled. “This should do the trick and it has healing properties as well. The Nettles will keep it from itching so badly as it heals. You will need to apply this once a day for the next three and then we will see how well it is healing up.”
When the sailor arrived back with a bucket of the wide-leafed seaweed the Doctor showed her how to apply the ointment and then stick the leaves of seaweed to Tory’s skin to hold the wound shut. He applied extra leaves in a crisscross pattern wrapping around her side so that it would help pull the wound together when she moved and act like a second skin.
Finn nodded and pulled the covers up over Tory when they were finished. “I tink she vill sleep for some time yet.” Finn shook the doctor’s hand. “I vouldt be interested in learnin’ more if ya are in neet of an assistant from time ta time. Ya can findt me in da market square at de smiddy shop.” She escorted him out of Tory’s tent and then turned to inquire after the other ranger. The Doctor told her that he would likely be waking up soon and someone should be there when he does. Finn nodded and went below to the room where Ringulf lay.
She sat down on the stool next to his bed and lay a cool hand on his forehead, checking for fever. He didn’t seem terribly hot to her, but his skin was warm to the touch. Fever was one thing they were going to have to watch out for with both the rangers, but she knew how to treat a fever, she just needed to get the right herbs. She supposed she would be visiting the herbalist shop in the morning.
She sat back and leaned her head back against the hull and wondered how it was she had ended up here, helping total strangers. Then she remembered what had brought her down to the ship in the first place. She was looking for some amber and some green stones. “Must nah forget ta talk to Ari aboot dat.” She murmured as she closed her eyes, welcoming a few moments of rest and quiet. She rested her foot on the bed and tilted the stool back on two legs and crossed her arms, settling in for a long vigil, but ready for action at the slightest movement from the handsome ranger.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 7, 2010 15:31:45 GMT -5
The two of them sat at the table laughing and telling stories and asking questions, but most of all they ate, they ate with zeal! Aribjorn tore through the shellfish like a starving walrus and then devoured his chowder and a full loaf of bread the innkeeper had to bring a second loaf for him and some butter so he didn't scarf Mylia's loaf. He savored the big juicy rare steak smothered in mushrooms and onions that must have come from the local farms here in Caraway. Then he sopped the rest up with the remaining bread and pushed away his barren plate starting his second tankard of ale.
"You must forgif me Mylia not only am I hungry, but dis foot is so goot I can't help myself." he said a bit sheepishly then he gave a loud belch and sat back with the tankard.
He was suddenly aware that everyone in the room was looking at him as if the lobsters he had consumed were crawling out of his ears!
He looked around and suddenly realized,
"Oh jeez I forgot dat you don't do dat over here ve do it all de time to let our host know ve are full ant happy!" He got very red and put his head down a bit, then tried to change the subject.
So Mylia how long haff you been a ranger? why did you choose to become vone? Do you get along vit Ringulf? I wish I knew him better he is my kin but I have never even spoken to him."
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Post by Firehead on Oct 8, 2010 13:28:48 GMT -5
For the better part of an hour, the two of them talked (in between bites that is), laughed, and in general, had a good time. Mylia was slightly hard-pressed to keep herself aware of her surroundings, as her Ranger training dictated, but she managed.
Ari ate with a speed that few could hope to match--unless one happened to have experience that required you to eat fast or face starvation, as Mylia did. She kept apace, and when she saw him finish his bread, kept one hand hovering over her own loaf to protect it. At least, until the innkeeper arrived with more for Ari.
At last they finished, and Mylia settled back in her chair to enjoy the last of her cider.
"You must forgif me Mylia not only am I hungry, but dis foot is so goot I can't help myself."
"It's perfectly fine, since I know what you mean all too well." Mylia replied with some feeling. She gazed into her mug and remembered a time when good food was a rarity. The silence in the room brought her back to the present with a jerk. She looked around the room to see that everyone was looking in their direction. She frowned, and turned to Ari to ask if he had any idea why they had suddenly become the center of attention. Upon doing so, she found that Ari's face was as red as the lobsters he had just eaten.
"Oh jeez I forgot dat you don't do dat over here ve do it all de time to let our host know ve are full ant happy!"
Mylia studied him quizzically for a moment, before realizing why he was appologizing. "Oh...appology accepted."
"So Mylia, how long haff you been a ranger? Why did you choose to become vone? Do you get along vit Ringulf? I wish I knew him better-- he is my kin, but I have never even spoken to him."
"I've been a Ranger apprentice for around a year now, give or take a few months. I choose to become one mostly because it appealed to me in terms of people leaving me alone and not bothering or forever picking on me because of my size and gender."
At the next question, she laughed. "Well, I think I'd want to, even if I didn't! But yes, I do get along with him-- quite well, actually. He's like a great big bear, and I'm the little city rat hiding in his shadow." She smiled at the analogy, chucling a little as she looked down into her mug as though she found the answers to all of life's questions at the bottom.
"Back in the City, in Araluan City, I'd sometimes catch rats--there were so many in the lower, less wealthy parts, that they'd sometimes pay a bounty for every 10 rats you killed. Not much, but if you could catch and kill enough of 'em, you could get yourself a decent meal every now and again, instead of scrounging around for it in some grubby back ally. I earned myself a name doing' that-- Catchrats.
"So anyway, one day I was out chasen one and I knocked over a soup pot in the process. Among us homeless folks, that's a big offence. They got me cornered, and were likely gonna do me in when all sudden, they starts backin' up, edgin' away, an' then runnin' off. I don't get why, but I'm awful glad I'm gettin' left alive. Then I turns around, an' there he was, standing right behind me.
"He stands there a little while, then looks at me, smiles, and starts talkin'. We hits it off, and next thing I knows, he's offered me an apprenticeship. An' I said 'Sure! Anythin' will beat this!' So I became his apprentice."
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 8, 2010 15:55:37 GMT -5
The Field of battle was dark and cold, snow had covered many of the bodies of the fallen of both sides. The warrior lay upon the ground barely able to feel the axes grasped in each hand. His helm must have slipped from his head during the battle for he no longer wore it. He tried to move, tried to get up but the cold had entered his body and he felt as though he was frozen. His legs must have been covered with snow for they were very cold and he had no feeling in them. He tried but he could not even move them. He tried to lift his head to look down to see if his legs even remained or whether he may have lost them in the skirmish.
Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately his head would not answer his commands either. All he could do was look up into the blackness of night, but there were no stars, no moon no clouds, it was just black.
Then from the corner of his sight he perceived a glow. It got brighter and brighter and he heard the sounds of singing.
Beautiful voices were singing as if to him, telling him to rise and take his place. The voices were female but they sang in many parts blending in harmonies so sweet, that he wanted to move to see the singers. If they were as lovely as their voices then his last ounce of strength would not be to great a price to view them.
He cast his head from side to side, he struggled gripping the axes in his hands. He felt a warmth start deep in his body and it started to radiate outward toward his extremities.
"I must...I must see...I must see them!"
Just then the light grew brighter and he sensed the presence of another being,
"It is one of them, the sheildmaidens are her for me! She comes to me! He felt the cool touch of a graceful white hand on his forehead..."Valkyrie!!!" he cried and opened his eyes to the most beautiful face he had ever seen looking deeply into his eyes. He was lost in her deep green eyes he saw the light of the forest as it pours through the canopy of green leaves in them and the radiance of her golden hair was like strands of golden corn silk. He realized he no longer held his axes, but this was a blessing for all he wanted to do was embrace this angel in his arms and let his lips join hers...His arms entwined around her, he sought her lips....Then...
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