Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Steerpike]

Branwen takes a nibble of the bread, then hands the remainder back to Mauve. She sets in on the salted meat, eating it happily and taking a swallow of water from Baldhart. She murmurs something in her own tongue around a mouthful of food, swallows, and then begins working her mouth to form a word. When she finally gets it out, it sounds thick and strangely accented. It may or may not have been the word "good."

 

[Nihal]

I look at the little girl in wonder, turning then to Baldhart. Did she heard it too?

Stroking Branwen's hair I whisper, "Yes, good," unable of take the stupid grin off my face.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Despite her serpentine eye, there's a childlike innocence in Mauve's expression.

"Good!" I repeat, also stroking Branwen's hair.

 

[Nihal]

I turn my gaze to Srilkind again, whispering, "I believe that if the situation requires so I might be able to exchange some words with someone there... If only I could distinguish Ankari or Aliron from these other shadows." I narrow my eyes in a vain attempt to find them.

"You have set your feet there, I have not. How tall do you estimate the buildings are? Are they close to each other or disposed in a way they are more than twenty five feet apart?" I take the strip of cloth I have used as eyepatch and carefully wrap it around my head, not hiding my eye yet but leaving the bandage ready to be used as a cover when the time comes. I prepare Branwen too, again covering her shoulders with my cloak and retrieving the ring.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Well, the Crow is thirty feet over the water on the seaside, but Egil already told you that. The temple was two stories tall, but it burned down. Any buildings that were less than twenty-five feet apart likely were burned. Not that I'm trained for village-burning, but if I were to burn a village, I'd concentrate on the places that are close together like that.

"Anyway, the Crow isn't too close to other buildings, if my memory serves me correctly. Sorry… I realize my answer isn't helpful." I point to the tall building visible from where we stand. "That's the Hooded Crow, by the way. I suppose it'd be far less helpful if I forgot to tell you that!"


Her message spell works from afar, but when we get close…


"I was wondering… Aldar, Keitsumah… are all elves trained to use bows? I ask because I believe we have five bows in our party. Cadell's, which he's not using, and Ankari's old one—those could go to the two of you. If we can take a couple fishing boats, I can climb up the roof with Ankari and Aliron. The rest of you could be pulled up by me.

"I won't be able to shoot, regretfully, so getting my twentieth kill won't be easy… but what I can do that may prove helpful is use magic. Well, my only trick, of course. Nissa could come from the fire and lead Burnbright to the kitchen door. That might be an easy way to get her out without being heard to soon.

"I know the idea was not to reveal Nissa to the villagers, but… lives are at steak. A creaking door could botch an otherwise well-though rescue mission. I'll chance that the sight of a Valkyrie won't work against me. After all, it's the Valkyrie who chooses to appear… no mortal is powerful enough to conjure one.

"By the way, the rescue works without us shooting from the rooftop. However, if Alin uses his Heartseeker and other archers focus on the leader, it's a powerful enemy brought down easily. Climbing the roof will likely break silence, so if I can peek in a window and make Nissa appear, it's best to get her out before climbing the roof to shoot—if we even do that."

 

[Nihal]

"It was helpful." I listen to her plans in silence, only speaking again when she's done.

"Baldhart, do you realize that taking Burnbright away means their deaths?" I seek her gaze. "Just to make sure you understand this. We must decide what we wish to do beforehand, if it would be to take her away or to stay and fight beside them.

"I do not think Nissa's position as a Valkyrie makes any difference. If it smells like witchcraft, to them it is witchcraft. That's how superstitious people are, they do not follow any logic. Before settling with a plan we should await our beloved scouts return and listen to their reports. I am a terrible strategist, but looking at Srilkind now I believe that knowing the patrolling patterns might be of some use."

Is she going to get vexed if I do not tell her? Possibly.

 

[SomethingToPonder]

aldar looks at baldhart , pondering what she has said.
" Well, We have a natural talent for it , But i wouldent say im an expert like a ranger would be, They have skill unsurpassed by many in the field with bows, I will be more than willing to attempt it, Not a problem, If we were to access a rooftop like you say , with multiple archers and alin uses his heartseeker, We could have the leader brought down nearly instantly, Not only is it a powerful enemy silenced, but it may just rattle the morale of the lesser skilled enemys down there, for a start when they see hw easy it was for us to bring their leader down they may just think hesitate long enough for us to make a move, or even better a couple of them might just flee. "
Aldar wanders around pondering the outcome of such a conflict for a few seconds before turning back to baldhart.
"yes, i think it might well work out very well baldhart., I will say though, We wizards dont tend to eer on the side of bows so my skill in that area is not as high as you may think." However i am fairly new to the party and will go along with whatever tactical desicions the party wishes to make"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I was hoping to get her in the boat quietly and fight. The point of getting her in the boat… well, it's unnecessary. We won't plan for failure. So, scrap that part then.

"Do we agree with the part of getting archers on the roof and killing the leader first?

"The rest of us could get in the Crow, ready to take on those who barge in the door—or keep the door barricaded so the archers shoot them while they struggle against our strength.

"I know we can't settle on anything until Alin and Ankari get back, but if we have one idea instead of several ready to present before they're back, it'll speed things up. You know Ankari. If we don't have a consensus within thirty seconds, he just runs off and does his own thing."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I look at Baldhart when she speaks, and nod slowly, tightening my grip on my bow. "I agree. Cut off the serpent's head, so to speak, and sooner or later the body will fall."

I just hope our enemy is in fact like a serpent, and not like a cockroach.

Cadell

"Seconded. Whatever we do, I think we should stay as close together as is feasible, for as long as we can. Of course, battle has an unfortunate way of drawing people apart, but there is strength in numbers."

 

[Nihal]

"No, you thought right, we should plan for failure! If something goes wrong you will be glad you pictured all the possible scenarios.

"I'm afraid, however, that I disagree completely with your plan. Do you remember the boy's words, the group he pointed at the map as the one that the others back when the villagers threatened Burnbright? Yellow. The leader must have prevented the attack on the Crow. What do you think it would happen if he died?" I grin. "We should take the strongest first, the casters if there are some, but leave the leader alone, so he can work in our favor."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"And who do you think would be the strongest, if not the leader?" I look down at Mauve. "If they are at all like normal wolves, they will have a hierarchy which says that the alpha, the leader, is the strongest and the best fighter."

 

[Nihal]

"It is a matter of weighing your possibilities. Do you want the villagers to survive? Then do not attack the leader until he loses his usefulness. Aren't you going to shoot arrows? The dogs—and presumably their leader—are using swords." I playfully wink at him.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Mauve's playful expression and tone make me narrow my eyes. Now is not the time for this!

"As a matter of fact, I will not be using arrows, as Baldhart pointed out. I haven't had the practice with my gauntlet and my bow together to feel comfortable enough yet. If someone else will get better use of it, they can feel free to borrow it for the time being."

 

[Nihal]

I can't help but smile at his annoyed expression. "No, she did not.

"Why the hurry to enter in battle? We should secure all the advantage we can. If everything happens smoothly when your part in this battle finally comes we will already hold the advantage, being able to kill the leader without suffering greater consequences. But before we are certain of our victory? No."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I clench my jaw when she refutes me, and do not bother to argue. I know I am right; Baldhart specifically mentioned my bow as free for lending. Either Mauve did not hear, or she is playing at being ignorant.

"It is not a hurry to enter into battle; merely to see it over and done with as quickly as possible. The longer we wait, the more time they have to carry out whatever plans they have in mind. In dark times such as these, can we ever be truly certain of victory or defeat?"

 

[Nihal]

"We can be sure that twenty nine enemies are able to rush the building and kill many of the people hiding there without giving us a chance to prevent it.

"Lighten up, Sir Cadell, you are quite irritable today," I smile slyly. "Do not get angry at me only because I disagree with you. Believe me or not, I am not happy in having to worry about the well being of the inhabitants of this town. They hold no love for people like me."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I exhale rather hard through my nose. With everything that has happened, is happening, and will no doubt happen, I think I have a right to be irritable! "There is a time and a place for jokes, Mauve, and this is not that time. And please don't call me sir. That is not who I am anymore."

Whether or not she responds, this conversation is finished on my end. I turn back to what lies ahead of us, watching and listening for the scouts.

 

[Nihal]

"No, no, no." I get in his way. "Being irritable will make you take bad decisions. Also, I will keep calling you 'Sir', yes, why not?

"Excuse me, Sir, but I do not consider you a knight because someone I have never met in my life and probably never will told me so. In my conception you are still a knight. You act like one, you look like one, you smell like one, you talk like one. Who you are matters more than what someone I could not care less said." With this, I finally get out of his way, holding Branwen's hand. "Humph."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"'Why not?' Is my own request not enough for you? I do not want you to call me sir; is that so hard to accept? Just do as I ask, and do not waste any more time arguing. Please."

 

[Nihal]

I raise my chin and answer him with steel in my voice, "If you opted to sink in self pity there is nothing else I can do. Have fun." I pick up Branwen again, seeking the comfort of lulling her to sleep.