The Winds of Ysgard - Part One

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison gave one lark another thought: to land on the man's head while the rest continued to circle. A spark popped from Addison's hair.

"Yeah, me boss, Loke Bloodaxe, is even meaner than him," she said gesturing toward Loke. "Ye got until the lark shits on your head to apologize to Einan. That's the one with the pointy ears, so there ain't no confusion."

 

[Gryphos]

Trusting that the others could handle the situation just fine, Bendalitz dismounted and, patting Loke on the shoulder as he passed, made for the door to the inn. He entered.

The Dovecote seemed like a respectable institution. In fact Bendalitz reckoned he'd actually stayed there once before, on the way to some castle, perhaps.

Eyes turned to Bendalitz, probably curious as to what exact reason the barkeep had for storming out. The few who recognised the Left Hand put a whisper or two to their neighbours, but on the whole little fuss was made, and soon any attention that was given to Bendalitz left him again.

He wandered over to a small, unoccupied table in the corner, with lines of sight on both the bar and the door, and waited.

 

[Tom]

Einan had never known he could hold so much anger under his skin and not burst with it. His fists clenched, he listened in silence as the others defended him. He had never imagined it to be like this.

Oh, he knew there would be difficulties because of his race. There always had been. But this was different--he had been shut out without a second glance. At least the traders who refused to buy his furs acknowledged him enough to say "No" to his face. The way the man had said it to Farrun was the way one would say "We don't let dogs sleep in here."

Thinking along those lines, his anger grew when he realized that no such objections had been made about Ari.

So I'm less than a dog to these people.

Troia placed a hand on his shoulder, no doubt trying to console him, but he shrugged it off, rage smoldering in his chest. He clenched his teeth to keep from spitting curses at the innkeeper.

 

[Nimue]

The innkeeper swatted furiously at the bird on his head, though thankfully he missed it. He planted himself like a bull about to charge as Loke moved in--although their closeness did make it clear that he was several inches shorter than Loke. His face was turning red as beetroot. "If that's who you are, you'll not cow me. Loke Bloodaxe is gone soft, and everyone knows it," he barked--to Loke, of course. "He lives in the capital, and if he sneezes without the queen's permission her hounds will be on him. And if you're threatening me, I'll have the watchmen on you, and you'll not sleep within a hundred yards of the walls!"

A big man in a small town, too accustomed to making threats to listen to them. Farrun took a moment dismounting, to control the anger and frustration boiling within him. This was supposed to be a good day. We'll have enough bad ones.

"Enough," he said, in a loud but deceptively mild voice. "Clearly this man only respects the law, not mercenary honor. Fortunate, then, that we come from Loke Bloodaxe by order of the Queen." He raised the writ of passage that he had taken from Boar's saddlebags; the queen's seal was on it, a wolfshead in crimson wax. The innkeeper made a suspicious grab for it, but Farrun held it back, and folded it up again. "You know the queen's seal, my man. It's by your door, on the guild shield that gives you the right to courier and military business. It would be unfortunate if you lost that business, and it went to Farnmyr down the road instead. Incidentally," he said, blithely ignoring the man's sputters, "There is a law five years standing that states that any inn or wayhouse must give shelter to all allies of the West Kingdom, be they human, dwarven, or Iridheen. It's the kind of thing that any innkeep so close to the capital would know, but you must have forgotten. If a well-placed letter were to reach the Hintercrown, well, I wonder how many people in this town would gladly take your inn if you were judged unable to keep it?"

He could see bluffing anger gathering on the innkeeper's face again, but the risk-calculation that had begun when Loke had pressured him finally outweighed his burgeoning pride. "I follow the queen's law," the man growled. "That one's never enforced. But I've heard of it. I meant it for your own good," he insisted. "Men of this town don't like elves, and there's sure to be trouble."

Farrun resisted the urge to rip into him again, and watched him try to save face. "If there is, we'll handle it." He gave a mirthless grin. "Test us, and you'll see."

 

[DMThaane]

Loke clapped the innkeeper on the shoulder, smiling. "You are a brave man. I like you." He was going to invite several old friends to take advantage of the innkeeper's services and leave his rooms in ruin. He may have gone soft but he still wasn't as forgiving as Farrun.

"I'll be expecting that bath, also food and drink brought up. And a nice room." He brushed past the innkeeper. "Also, the dog may start marking his territory. If he does, remember that he's one of the Queen's favoured hounds." He flashed a smile at Addison. If she provided her 'encouragement' he would say nothing against.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison returned Loke's smile, then said to the innkeeper, "For our own good, you say?"

She spread her forearms and had larks land on each. The birds closest to her wild hair sidestepped away from her elbows, but did not fly away despite two blue sparks emitted from Addison's temples. Mount Freckle stood at attention directly behind Addison.

"Next time ye see a lady wearing wyvernhide, instead of offering her your idea o' protection, ye might wanna ask yourself how she got the hide off that wyvern." Turning to Loke, Addison said with a smile, "Would ye mind lending me your 'soft' arm, Sir Bloodaxe?"

As Addison held out her arm hoping Loke would take it, the birds on her flew away, cawing in bewilderment. Mount Freckle looked around but remained in place.

To the bird over the innkeeper's head, Addison halfheartedly suggested, go ahead and shit on him if ye feel the need. Evidently, the lark did feel the need, likely from fear of being swatted seconds before.

 

[DMThaane]

"Of course," Loke said, taking Addison's arm. "After all, what sort of man would I be if I refused to offer courtesy?" He clapped the man on the shoulder, rather a bit too hard, and headed for the inn.

"I can forgive his hatred of elves," Loke muttered. "However misdirected. But to speak down to armoured company, attempt to hide behind the watch, all while refusing to offer hospitality. I am less forgiving of these things, particularly in one who keeps an inn."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison took little satisfaction watching the bird dropping drip down the innkeeper's ear. Her arm guard also had bits of white goop, which would wash off easily enough she supposed. The arm Loke took was the clean one.

Addison needed Loke's support more than she cared to admit in front of the innkeeper. His strong arm was enough that she could keep her look of confidence and walk upright.

Inside the inn, Addison found the nearest available table. She asked a barmaid for a damp cloth, adding, "Your boss'll need one himself. Damn birds." She showed the girl her soiled guard.

She caught her breath before replying to Loke, "Elves. Men. Either are capable o' good or evil. Make no mistake. I gave the Wolf Queen me word in person, I won't hesitate when faced against the enemy. I'd like to think we'll know the enemy by more than just pointy ears." She removed the shocker from her purse. "If there's ever doubt whether an elf is Yvhalyn or in need o' killing, would ye be willing to throw this his way instead o' the axe?"

 

[Tom]

Troia sat down at Addison's other side, resting her forearms on the table. She sighed, feeling the tension coiled in her gut unwind. Ari had followed them into the inn, and sat down behind both Troia and Addison--probably so he'd get the scraps from both their dinners.

"Now that was a bit of trouble," she commented. "I thought all we'd have to fight would be Yvalhyn and wild animals, not innkeepers."

"I'll give him a fight if he wants one," Einan muttered, sitting down beside her. His cheeks were flushed and eyebrows lowered in anger.

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard followed the others into the inn, sitting down across from Addison at the table. Now that the conflict seemed to be over, he lapsed back into his customary silence, preferring to watch and listen rather than speak. He looked around at the inn's other patrons, wondering whether any of them would give Einan trouble.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison thought for a moment.

"Glad he said it, though, in a sense." She looked at Einan. "Pissed me off; don't get me wrong, but I think his words tested our mettle as a party."

She looked around the table—and while looking around she noticed Bendalitz was already seated in a corner table. Addison shot him a smile and gestured to an empty chair.

Facing the group, she went on, "Farrun's words'll test our mettle, too. He let us go on our own way, as I see it, to check on our solidarity. We passed that test—in flying colors, if ye ask me. Now comes the next test—to get over ourselves and respect what the party leader said. He said 'enough,' so I won't give the innkeeper no further trouble unless he earns it."

 

[Gryphos]

When Addison invited him over, Bendalitz shook his head. He had nothing against the prospect of socialising, but he had a lot in favour of the prospect of sitting alone, watching the tavern.

It seemed as though the issue with the innkeeper was resolved, judging by Einan's presence at the table. But hat of the issues yet to come? These people didn't like elves, and weren't fond of people who did like elves either. How fond were they, Bendalitz wondered, of having the snot beaten out of them?

He'do been finding a single crossbow bolt in his hands as he sat, and now laid it down on the table.

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard acknowledged Addison's words with a nod. That was probably the wisest course of action, all things considered. He'd never been one to make trouble anyway, even when others were treating him badly. Maybe it was a fault in him, but it had kept him alive for eight years and more. Not at all well or unscathed, but alive.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison scrubbed down her arm guard with the damp cloth. She then said to the barmaid, "I'm famished. Assuming the cook won't spit in our food on account o' the conversation we just had with your boss, what can a girl get to eat around here?"

Addison gave a passing fly the idea to land on her finger. She brought it close to her green eyes. "Well, go on, ye filthy thing. Piss off." The fly zipped out the door.

The Huntress dabbed her finger with the damp cloth before handing it back to the barmaid. "I do appreciate cleanliness when I'm to eat. If ye got a pest problem, call me into the kitchen. I'll get rid o' the bugs. Or rats." Addison wasn't sure what the girl thought of her, but she insisted, "Oh, I'm right serious. Ask the head cook if he needs me assistance getting pests out first, then let me know his answer as well as what's on the menu."

As soon as the barmaid stepped out, Addison leaned forward onto the table. "Oh, I got to admit it takes a bit out o' me doing much o' that. But I got to practice, don't I now?" She had another fly land on her finger, but as soon as it touched her, a spark of lightning sent it to the floor spinning on its back. When it stopped, Addison wasn't sure if the fly was stunned or dead. "Oh, balls. That wasn't part o' me plan."

 

[Tom]

Troia laughed, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth as the other patrons turned almost as one to glare at their party. Apparently people who consorted with elves were not allowed to be happy.

"I can imagine that your magic'll be really useful on our journey," she said, staring at the possibly dead fly. "We won't have to worry about wild animals."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison laughed. "Oh, I think if I can train up on it, the animals'll be our allies. An army o' wolves, birds as scouts--if I can get answers from 'em. Oh, it'll take me a bit o' time, but I hope Farrun can help me control it a bit. 'Specially the lightning. That could get me into a mess, if it's not just a fly catching me spark."

 

[Nimue]

The innkeeper cursed, wiping his soiled ear and shoulder with a formerly pristine bar cloth. At Addison's parting address to Loke the man did a double-take, and uneasily looked back at Farrun. "Lunatics, the lot of you," he muttered, smoothing his apron repeatedly. At last he resorted to asking Farrun aloud, "That wasn't...?"

"Queen's business, couldn't tell you," Farrun rumbled, and with a judicious pause said, "Met a lot of men with dragons tattooed on the side of their head, have you?"

The innkeeper went rather pale at that and began a weak spluttering. By the end of the day, Farrun would bet that he'd hear the news from the capital, and know the magnitude of his mistake. For now, Farrun took his time opening his purse and counting out a specific sum of silvers. "You know, we're given enough coin to pay the Crown rate for inns, even in the hinterlands," he remarked. "Fortunately, I know what the real price of a bed is in these towns."

The man opened his mouth, but whatever he saw on Farrun's face kept him quiet, and he took the coin and put it in his apron pocket with a grunt. Farrun looked over long enough to see that the horses were being led away by stableboys who seemed to hold no open animosity, and ducked into the inn.

It was a large, high-raftered room, the whitewash on the walls dimmed to yellow by tallow smoke. Farrun strode through, watching how the common room patrons regarded the table where the party was gathering. They were indifferent for the most part, finding their drinks more interesting, save for the group in the corner by the door, who were muttering in low voices.

Farrun caught the elbow of a passing barmaid. "Ale for all of us, if you please." She gave him a timid smile and a "Yes, sir". There was no hostility in her face, to be sure.

Farrun thumped down in an empty chair at the table, rubbing his temple for a moment. "I'd much rather sleep under the stars than under this roof," he said frankly, though quietly. "But I suppose a point should be made. And after a few weeks traveling, I'd probably fight a mob with hoes and pitchforks for a warm bed." He smiled, straightening up a little and catching Einan's eye.

"There will be less of that ignorance as we head west. Out there, folks fought alongside the Iridheen."

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard looked up as Farrun joined them, and his eyebrows rose when the man spoke.

"We're heading west?" A chill ran through him. That would take them back toward the sea -- back toward the Captain. "I thought we were going eastward, further inland."

 

[Tom]

Einan glanced up, his anger lessening as he listened to Farrun. He even managed a small smile at the joke.

"I suppose it will get better. I just...I mean..." he waved one hand in a vague gesture, frustrated that he couldn't articulate the thought. "I didn't expect this. I mean, I knew that there's resentment toward elves because of the Yvalhyn. I've even felt it before. But this...it's just different. I know I'm not human, but I'm not even a person to these people."

 

[Nimue]

"Nay, the mountains are to the west," Farrun said to Rikhard, surprised. "Do you have family in the east you wanted to see?" he guessed.

He turned to Einan. "Every man and woman in this town was treated as chattel by the Yvalhyn since birth," he said quietly. "That is where it comes from. But it should not fall on you. It is blind hate, without reason."