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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 30, 2009 19:48:16 GMT -5
Brandwyn came back inside a few minutes later with a huge armload of straw and laid it on the floor, spreading it out for cushining, then laid her bedroll over it.
Ian watched her for a few minutes. "Want me to get some more?" He asked.
She shook her head and just lay down on it and turned her back to the room, her dagger under her pillow and her sword, unsheathed laying beside her. She didn't feel like talking, she just wanted to be with Tandar again and finally drifted off to sleep with the image of his face burned in her mind.
___
Ian watched her and then got up and hopped over to the bed. He moved their belongings over by the door and smoothed out the blankets. "Well, I am afraid we don't have clean sheets, but the bed is soft, none-the-less." Ian told Malleus.
"I hope this rain lets up soon." He looked out the window at the gloomy, wet day. "I think it is going to be a very long day." He stood by the window next to the front door, leaning on his crutches and looked down at Brandwyn. She was apparently sound asleep.
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Post by ivory on Jun 30, 2009 20:16:41 GMT -5
Malleus nodded at the man's assumptions. A long day indeed, especially with him pretending asleep. But what was needed was needed and acting more tired than he was, he laid down upon the straw and closed his eyes. He kept his cane in his hand so he wouldn't have to search for it when he 'awake'. That, and the fact it was the only weapon he had.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 3, 2009 7:03:48 GMT -5
The day wore on slowly as Ian kept watch, occasionally checking on the horses. Brandwyn slept for most of it, but when the rain finally slacked up just before sunset into a very light drizzle, she woke up and looked around. Ian was dozing in the chair by the fire, but snapped awake at her movement.
Brandwyn got up and stretched carefully. "Sorry. Guess I was really tired." she said softly, not wanting to wake the blind man. She looked out the window. "Rain seems to be slacking off."
Ian nodded. "I think it will stop during the night. We should be able to move on in the morning."
Brandwyn went into the kitchen as her stomach growled and put another pot of coffee on to brew and rummaged around looking for enough food to throw together for the three of them without putting too much of a dent in their travelling rations.
"You think you will be up to travelling in the morning?" Ian asked her.
"Yes, I would say leave now, except dark is coming on again. Seems like all I have done all week is sleep." She said and sat down next to him as the food cooked. Soon the smell of roasting beef and baking potatoes and onions wafted through the cottage, drowning out the smell of the fresh brewed coffee.
"You needed it. I am worried about you." Ian glanced at the sleeping form on the bed, wondering if the man was really asleep or if he was listening to them. He shot Brandwyn a warning look and nodded to Malleus, hoping she would watch her tounge. "I don't think we should go on to the University. It is too dangerous."
"But Ian, we have come so far, and gone through so much! I want to study with the masters there!" Brandwyn protested. "I am fine! Surely we can slip around this army or fighting or whatever and still make it." Brandwyn thought they should complete their mission and she didn't want Ian turning back on account of her back injury.
Ian sat back and studied her for a moment and then looked to Malleus again, thinking he had seen the man stir for a moment. "I really don't think it is a good idea. We could get trapped between forces or run into the fighting or even captured by the Aslavians. What if they try to hold you for ransom? You wouldn't like that would you?"
"Why would they hold me? I am just a minor noblewoman who was orphaned. No one would pay to have me ransomed." Brandwyn retorted.
"Then they might sell you into slavery. Do you really want to take that risk? We can come back next year if things have settled down." Ian countered.
"And what if there is another war next year? Come back the following one? What if I am married by then? I probably won't be able to travel then." That reminded Brandwyn of Tandar and she didn't want to start that argument again. "No. We have come all this way, it is only a few more days travel, you said. Let's keep going."
Ian sighed in defeat. The girl did know how to manipulate people, that was sure. "All right, all right. But if we run into any trouble at all, I am dragging you back to La Rivage whether you like it or not."
Brandwyn smiled and then checked the food.
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Post by ivory on Jul 3, 2009 12:47:08 GMT -5
Malleus was sure to keep his face from showing expression. A mercenary himself, albeit a 'noble' one, he wondered how much she was actually worth should he try to ransom her. Not that he'd actually do it. Galen was against the selling of human life and would probably disown him if he tried and though Malleus would hardly ever admit it, he liked being part of the Family.
Sticking his mind back on the actual reason he was eavesdropping on their conversation, he wondered what business they really had in Toscano. For some reason, he highly doubted the fact that they were heading to the University.
Spies? Scouts? Thieves looking to pick among the dead? Mercenaries like himself? Or something else entirely?
Too many loose ends for his liking, but then again, his only 'tie' to them was to get them out before the others arrived. Why did he care who they were or what they were doing? It wasn't any of his business, though he did wonder...
And then something clicked. What if they were on Abdilah's side instead of against it? Had Teresa finished her part yet? And though her reason for wanting him dead was entirely personal, he doubted that the men following under him would see it as something other than an assassination from another nation. So where these two threats or not? And what if they were? How would he be able to stop it? Follow them? But with what alibi? And what about the meeting? Damn it, too many what-ifs for his liking. Teresa could handle herself well-enough and besides, these two were hurt. Not liking his decision to stay here but unable to see another option, he smiled and stretched before rising into a sitting position. "Good morning, evening, or night." His grin widened at his words though he was hardly in a laughing mood.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 4, 2009 13:21:53 GMT -5
"Evening." Ian replied. "You woke up just in time for supper it would seem."
Brandwyn poured Malleus a mug of coffee and sat it on the table. She wondered if Ian was planning on sleeping in the chair all night, or if he wanted her to stay up and keep watch. She stirred the food. "It is not quite ready yet, but here is some coffee." she dumped the last of what is in the pot in her own mug and then put another pot on to brew.
"Well, the rain is slacking off. We will be moving out in the morning." Ian said to Malleus. "Still got a ways to go."
Ian didn't think the man was telling him the truth and wondered what he was up to. He didn't plan on getting much sleep and would be glad when they were on the road on their own again. Strange that they should meet someone in this cottage that was off the trail and in the middle of nowhere and looked as if it hadn't been used in a year or two. He was also fairly certain the man had been awake and listening to their conversation.
Who was this guy and what was he up to? Could he be some advance scout for the Aslavians? Surely they wouldn't use a blind man for that. If not for them, then what? He got the impression that the man had not come here randomly. Maybe they should pretend to move on and then hang around the area and see if anything happened. Then he dismissed the idea. They had a mission and a deadline and couldn't afford to waste the time they had left. They would have to move on in the morning and hope there was nothing strange going on here that would affect the Araluen Army.
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Post by ivory on Jul 5, 2009 9:23:02 GMT -5
One of the things Malleus had picked up on over the years, was a sense of just 'knowing'. And he knew now that they were more than a little suspcious. He tensed beneath the surface of his skin, his fingers still upon his cane, even as he offered a smile.
"I too shall be leaving then. Get back home before Vanessa hears word that I'm not there. Sharp ears she has and an even sharper mouth."
Though he'd leave, he'd just end up circling around as soon as he disappeared from their sights. Since he was 'heading deeper into Gallica' and they off to Toscano, he doubted he'd have to go far. But what were they really doing in Toscano? Teresa...
He forced his thoughts away so he wouldn't worry and end up doing something rash. Though ice on the outside to those that really knew him, he was more protective of them than they knew...except for Galen. Father probably knew - not much got past that guy. A pity. If Brandwyn was a noble...
He too dismissed that thought.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 6, 2009 9:09:01 GMT -5
The food finished cooking and Brandwyn dished it up and sat down at the table to eat it. She marvelled at a blind man travelling around alone.
"However to you manage to get around without falling into quicksand or tripping over tree roots or something like that?" Brandwyn asked, then flushed. "Uh, if you don't mind my asking, anyway. I mean no offense." she said quickly.
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Post by ivory on Jul 6, 2009 9:28:11 GMT -5
"None taken," he replied before raising his cane high enough where he thought she could see. "I use this. Sweep it in front of me, touch the ground a few times to make sure it's solid. Quite handy." He nodded once before placing it back across his lap and taking a bite of his meal.
What he didn't say was that he had an extradonary memory and once he visited a place, he knew it...well, as long as nothing changed. He figured he'd have to go back through here again and see if they changed anything, the barn too.
And his hearing was quite adapt. He could tell one's height from where the voice was projected from, using one's accents to distinguish where they came from, the patterns of speech, the actual sound to figure out who they were, and the tone to see part of what could be found in their eyes - their emotions.
Their scent too gave another great deal away. Each person had their own scent, usually without them knowing it. One would favor a perfume, another carrying the faint scent of it because they interacted with her. Even those that didn't add anything carried their own scent. One of fish, another of leather, another of shaved wood. Their occupations could be learned. It didn't even matter if they spent their time in the woods. He'd learned to distinguish the different smells of plants so could follow one's trek through the woods as long as he knew where they entered - though it took a whole lot longer than one with eyes, but if he had to, he could do it.
But it became a problem when he entered a perfume shop or when it rained heavily. Rain had it's own scent like everything else, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was when it washed away everyone else's 'scent'. It was practically impossible for him to follow someone in the rain. Not only was the scent gone, but the sound was muffled by that of the downpour. Terrible, terrible thing it was.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 6, 2009 9:47:05 GMT -5
Brandwyn nodded, "It still seems amazing to me, that you can get around by yourself just as well as a sighted person. Truly remarkable." She mumbled over a piece of beef in her mouth. "I think if I lost my sight I would just crawl into bed and die."
Ian shook his head. "I sincerely doubt that. The possibility of loosing your legs didn't slow you down at all." he chuckled.
Brandwyn shook her head, "That was different. I would still be able to ride Asfala and get around most places. But eyesight...that is scary." Brandwyn swallowed. "Besides, I knew I would be able to walk again, so I wasn't all that worried about it. I might have to put up with pain for the rest of my life, but I can deal with that."
After the food was eaten, Brandwyn went out and fed the horses while Ian washed the dishes. Later they settled down for the night. Ian settled into the chair by the fire with a blanket and Brandwyn rolled up in bedroll on the floor, leaving the bed for Malleus. Neither Ian or Brandwyn slept much that night.
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Post by ivory on Jul 6, 2009 10:02:07 GMT -5
Malleus thought to ask about the possibility of her leg-loss, but decided against it. It wasn't his business after all. Though he did wonder...Ah, oh well.
After the meal was finished, he crawled back onto the bed after thanking Ian for giving it up once again, and closed his eyes, cane held tight in his hand. He half-slept, more like a meditation, listening but not listening to the outside world. Thus his body and mind rested while he was 'awake'. [and yes it's possible *grin*, srry if not explaining it too clearly]
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 10, 2009 5:05:53 GMT -5
Brandwyn got up just as the sky was growing light outside. She looked out the window and noticed it was still drizzling rain out there. She looked at Ian and found he was watching her.
"We are still pulling out of here today, aren't we?" She asked him, anxious to get on the road again. The sooner they scouted out the Aslavian Army, the sooner they would get back to the Araluen army and the greater her chance of seeing Tandar again.
Ian nodded. "Right after breakfast." He got up and started to fix coffee and breakfast. They had just a bit of bread left that needed to be eaten before it started to mold, so he warmed that over the fire and layered some butter and honey on it.
Meanwhile Brandwyn went out and fed the horses, and made sure their gear was intact. She took a scout around the clearing, but didn't see any signs that anyone else was out there. For some reason she was anxious to get away from Malleus, but she couldn't put her finger on why. She just had this sense of impending danger.
When she went back inside, breakfast was ready. She sat down at the table and sipped her coffee. "Horses are restless." she said to Ian.
Ian nodded, "Yeah, it is definately time to be going. I think this drizzly mess should quit after an hour or two from the looks of the clouds. We should be able to leave as soon as we are done eating."
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Post by ivory on Jul 10, 2009 12:08:28 GMT -5
Second day was the first thought Malleus had when he awoke. Second day and they still weren't gone. Galen would be here tomorrow night if plans went as they should. And of course Jock would be right behind him. That boy followed him everywhere. Before that morn, there'd be seven more people - way too much for a coincedence. And he still had no idea which side the two were really on. Damn, this wasn't good...
"We are still pulling out of here today, aren't we?"
Malleus held his breath for the answer and exhaled slowly when he got it. At the sound of a closed door, he opened his eyes, stretched, and said a joyful, "Good morning." He rose to his feet and used his cane to make his way to the table.
And with a truthful joyous attitude, he began to eat.
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Galen had lost the battle of keeping Jock bedridden and so did the only thing he could. He made quick haste to the 'meeting' house with Jock beside him. He figured at this pace, they'd get there before noon and then he'd make damn sure that Jock got his rest. He flicked his angry eyes at the boy, but when he noticed him struggling and limping, he slowed his pace. Make it after noon. His anger drifted away...for the most part.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 10, 2009 18:32:05 GMT -5
Not too long after, Ian tied his pack onto the back of the saddle and steeled himself to mount. Not an easy task with a broken leg. He was getting a bit too old for all this running around in the damp weather, he thought as the pain in his joints settled in.
"You about ready?" he asked Brandwyn.
Brandy handed a small bag of food to Malleus. "Here is some food. Good luck on your journey." She said and then stepped off the porch and swung up into the saddle a bit awkwardly because her back hurt when she bent her leg high enough to get it in the stirrup.
Ian followed, just as awkwardly and turned his horse away from the house. "Nice meeting you Aiden. Maybe we will run across eachother's paths again some day."
They rode out of the clearing towards the East, following another deer path, heading generally in the direction of Toscano at a road-eating trot where the terrain allowed.
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Post by ivory on Jul 10, 2009 19:29:56 GMT -5
[lol. You said his actual name. *grin* He told you "". My fault. Srry. *grin*]
Malleus' learned abilities to 'see' without his eyesight was yet undeveloped enough to see outstretched hands. It took him a while to find her hand and the bag of food that Brandwyn held out to him. When he did he smiled and nodded his thanks. He waited until the hoofbeats drifted into nothingness before heading back inside to wait.
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Galen and Jock came in from the west a few hours later. Jock limping heavily and Galen too angry to look at him. The boy and his stupid pride was going to be the end of him. He muttered a few strings of curses as they neared the house and without even giving a thought to possible danger. He thought about it a sharp second later when he was grabbed and slammed against the wall.
Another half-second later he was released. Malleus of course, had little way of knowing who it was when the door opened and though his reflexes and memory were sharp, he didn't have nearly enough time to recognize it as Galen. Jock, though knowing Malleus, reacted anyways and as that half-second passed, Mallues was on the floor with Jock at his throat.
He knew better than to fight back and waited for Galen to call the boy off. By nightfall, only Teresa was missing. Figuring she'd been held up, they began.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 11, 2009 14:03:53 GMT -5
(OOC: oops! fixed it!)
Ian set as fast a pace as he dared through the forrest. He wasn't too worried about a blind man following them on foot, but if the man had friends, well, then they could end up with problems if he wasn't what he had said he was.
Suddenly Brandwyn pulled Asfala up. She had been on point and Bandit nearly ran into the back of her.
"Shhhh." She held up her hand. "Listen"
Ian stopped and tuned his ears to the sounds of the forrest. Mostly all he could hear was the dripping of water through the branches, but eventually he thought he heard the sound of harness jingling and the faint tramping of hooves.
He motioned her to dismount and they found a thicket inside a circle of pine trees to hide. Ian put one of his shirts over Bandit's nose to keep him from smelling any other horses until they found out who was tramping through the woods.
Just in time too, for soon a very travel and battle worn group of soldiers came through the trees in small groups. No one was talking and most of them were injured in some fashion. They were travelling in small groups of 10 or so. The groups staying within earshot or even eyesight.
They were hurrying as fast as they could, but the look of dispair was in the eyes of most of them.
Ian held back until he recognized the coat of arms of a Gallican knight that he had met many years ago when they were both younger. He motioned Brandwyn to stay put and slowly stepped out from the thicket and hailed the knight in the Gallican tounge.
"Ho there, Sir Louis." Ian said and held his arms out to show he wasn't a threat. "What news of the war?"
(OOC:Ivory, you want to play Sir Louis?)
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