The Winds of Ysgard - Part One

[Ireth]

Rikhard smiled slightly as Addy spoke to Bendalitz. He admired her self-confidence, but he wasn't sure how to tell her so. Still, at least someone was in a good mood.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison turned to Rikhard.

"Oh, Rik! Ye get better with each dance, I'll tell ye. I gotta admit when you and Chrisania got close…" Addison did feel a momentary urge to rip Christania's dress off right there on the square, but she was pretty sure she could never have gone through with it. "…say, where is she anyway?"

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard looked around and shrugged. "I don't know. What happened just now? Everyone was having so much fun, and now look, there's people bickering all over the place. I think it's time we went back inside."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Uh…" Addison looked around nervously. Even the band members were arguing—and still playing, though not all the same song. "…is that where Chrissy is? Inside?"

 

[AkamaruGames]

Still alone in the alley, Chrisania was having a hard shrugging off the intensified emotions of her spell. Despite the fact that she knew that logically her mood was going to cause trouble for the townspeople, she just couldn't shake the feelings of hurt and disappointment. Little did she know that the spell flub was far worse than she realized, with Addison's innate magical training causing feelings of rage to soak into the surrounding animal life.

The relative quiet of the alley was broken by the sounds of growling as several stray dogs, who had previously been perfectly happy eating the scraps of food that the festival goers had discarded, were now inexplicably enraged by Chrisania's presence.

Chrisania held out a hand and made some cooing sounds, trying to calm the beasts, but her specialty was with humans, not animals. The dogs approached her menacingly before charging, fangs bared, ready to tear her throat out.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Distant growls alerted Addison to further examine her surroundings. Even the animals were jerks all of a sudden. Addison wanted to beast-speak to all of them, but it was likely the people agitating the animals, and boy did she have some choice words for them… though she told herself she was going to take the high road and not say them, and dammit she would not.

Yet, those words were spoken.

Spoken in the voice of a yellow-crowned budgikeet.

"What the hell is wrong with you people? Each and everyone of you is acting like a total dick, and that’s bumming me out!"

Addison looked up at the not-squawking-but-talking bird and scolded him. "Milford! That language's hardly befitting of a king!"

"That's what I was telling him," said Pauly Cracker.

"Yeah, well I got something to say to him!" Blue sparks shot from Addison's hair which seemed twice as long as it straightened into frizzy red lines. Find Chrissaina and have her come to me!

"Aye, aye, Cap'n," said King Milford as he took to the air and circled the area for the girl whose picture was planted in his mind knowing that finding her was the only chance he would ever eat another cracker again.

Pualy Cracker asked Addison, "Why did King Milford call you captain?"

"Because I told him to."

From far above, King Milford finished Addison's sentence. "You cigar-sucking halfwit."

Pauly Cracker shook his fist at his bird. "I smoke a pipe, King Milford! So who's the halfwit? Huh?" To Addison he confided, "He's actually a highly intelligent bird. Puts meat on the table. Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on him."

Addison was too busy beast-speaking calm ideas to a bunch of animals to pay attention to the grumpy old trainer baring his soul to her.

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard shrugged again. "There's a lot of places she could have gone, and many of them count as 'inside'. I think it's anyone's guess." But as much as he wanted to avoid meeting up with Chrisiana again, he couldn't help but think he'd had a hand in all the sudden foul moods.

 

[AkamaruGames]

From above, it was not long before the bird found Chrisania, cornered in an ally with a trio of dogs charging after her. She turned around and ran for the far side of the alley, where she knocked down a stack of barrels, blocking the way and temporarily slowing down the dogs' advance.

King Milford landed on Chrisania's shoulder and chirped, "Addison wants you now!"

A little startled by the sudden companion, Chrisania said, "I am a little busy at the moment! She will have to come here I am afraid!"

Without further adieu, the bird flew off, though Chrisania had no idea whether it would listen to her or not. Even if it did, she wasn't so sure that it was a good idea to bring her new friend into her danger. It was too late to do anything about that though as the empty barrels were quickly being knocked away by the angry dogs. Unsure what else to do, Chrisania drew a knife from her boot and prepared to defend herself.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

King Milford found Chrissy, but the mental image he gave Addison told her her new friend was dog meat.

"Rikhard! Catch me!"

Addison's body fell limp as she glared into the nearby dark alley.

Next she knew, she was seeing shades of brown and blue, eyes locked on her panicked, knife-wielding friend, and there was the smell of fear. But Addy feared nothing. She was the biggest of the dogs. The alpha. She didn't really know how to boss around other dogs, so she didn't try. Instead she bit one in the nose. It was scared, but apparently the other dog took the opportunity to challenge the alpha. The dog who was bit assumed the other dog was saving him, so the two ganged up on the one under Addison's control.

Her own body writhed in Rikhard's arms as she felt flesh being torn from bone.

But her mind was mostly in the dog's body where she would fight to the death. It would buy time for Chrissy to run. And besides, it was easy to get out of an animal's head if it died. She didn't give a shit about the dog who was about to tear up Chrissy. As she bit and fought with what might remained in the bloodied alpha, she wondered if the other two should be put down as well. She'd take them in her human form.

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard caught Addy as she fell back, and shifted his hold to cradle her in his arms. He didn't move, but looked down at her with his heart racing. What was going on?

 

[AkamaruGames]

Unsure what exactly was going on, Chrisania took the opportunity as the dogs were attacking one another to flee. Stowing her knife, she ran past the dogs, one giving a passing snap at her leg as she dodged by. Once she emerged from the alley, she checked to make sure the dogs weren't following her before pausing for a breath. Now apparently out of danger, she started to realize that her emotions were beginning to grow more manageable, the effects of her spell apparently wearing off.

"I make big mistake," she muttered to herself as she pondered if she should flee or not before someone figured out what had just happened.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison found herself in Rikhard's arms. She could barely lift her finger to point to the alley, where Chrissy was emerging—if her trick worked, at least. Addison's vision was too hazy to see the woman.

"Call to her, Rik." Addison's voice was faint. "I need to know Chrissy's safe… that I didn't die for nothing."

Addison remained still and silent, though conscious and very much alive. She could've clarified it was the dog that died, but she couldn't talk to Rik now. Not him or any human. There were animals that needed calming. She felt the tension, and she knew how to calm the beasts. She simply needed to remain calm herself and project calm thoughts…

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard sighed in relief as Addy woke up, though he kept her cradled in his arms, and quickly obeyed her order. "Chrisiana? Are you alright?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison paid no mind to Rikhard and Chrisania. She simply projected calming thoughts.

King Milford flew around saying things like, "Peace. Happiness. Love. Kindness. Please refrain from urinating along human walkways…"

 

[Gryphos]

When offered the pastry thing by Addison, Bendalitz took it and kept on dancing, and proceeded to meet all her kind words with some variation of 'hm, yeah.' To be honest, he barley took into account the change in atmosphere, the negative feelings flying around all willy nilly. Except, he did feel a sudden urge to punch someone the face. In fact, had any person done anything sufficiently dickish in his immediate vicinity, he might well have.

 

[AkamaruGames]

Chrisania sheepishly looked at the ground and nodded, "Chrisania is good." Though the people seemed to have calmed down and the animals were slowly following suit, Chrisania was feeling a mixture of shame and fear. She had come to this place to help and seemed to be causing more trouble than she was helping. Luckily, the festival seemed to be continuing just fine despite the little snafu, though she was unsure what exactly had happened to begin with. Normally such a harmless spell would have gone off without problem. She could only hope that by blending with the crowd, it would not traced back to her.

Lost in her own worries, she had not even noticed Addison's prone form. As she finally did, it seemed to snap her back to the present and she asked, "Are you ill, Addison?"

 

[DMThaane]

"This. This is a fine mead," Loke declared, staring so close at his tankard that it had grown blurry. "I should thank the bees."

He glanced around, searching for the boy he'd dubbed 'Sir Trolf' on account of his shirt, which was green. "Sir Trolf! Find me bees!"

The boy looked up from the silver piece he was spinning around on the table. "Bees?"

"Yes! I wish to thank them for this mead!" As if that was not completely obvious.

"I think Halden made the mead. I could ask him to thank the bees in your stead."

"Make it so!" Loke declared, flicking one of his last coppers in the boy’s direction.

"Halden!" Sir Trolf called. "Halden!"

Halden turned from the shield he was setting on the wall. "What?"

"Thank the bees!" Loke ordered, climbing up from his chair. "And bring me another."

Halden chuckled. "I already did. Right next to the one you just drank."

"Ah!" Loke turned and picked up the tankard, gulping down its glorious contents. "And thank you, Halden. This is truly the finest, if also blurriest, tavern I have ever patroned. A cheer for the Hammer and Tongs."

"Well, thank you. Although I feel the need to point out once more that this isn't a tavern, it's a forge. That was the sign for my smithy, before you threw it over the wall."

"You were the one who bet me I could not. Or was that Sir Trolf."

"That was Arnam, or 'Sir Trolf' as you call him." Halden walked over with an armful of throwing axes, dumping them on the table. "So, fifteen paces. Your coin against two of my best axes. Shall you go first or shall I."

Loke threw back the tankard, emptying it. "Sir Trolf, take this," he said, hurling the tankard at the boy. "I shall lead, Halden of the Forge-Tavern. I, Loke Bloodaxe, shall show you the meaning of tossing."

"Gods, I hope not."

Loke took an axed, sized up the shield—made more difficult by their being two of them and that they kept swaying back and forth—then hurled his axed, striking the centre of the boss.

"Blimey," Halden said. "Knew I shouldn't've wagered against a man called Bloodaxe."

"Hah!" Loke clapped him on the shoulder. "Grab your axe, master of bees. Your doom awaits you."

He reached up and brushed the elven locket, still hidden ever so carefully under his shirt. Doom awaited them all and even drunken steps lurched them forward. Ever forward.

He picked up another axe and judged his throw.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison looked up at Chrissy. She didn't dare attempt to move under her own power.

"I'm fit as a fiddle… just unstrung at the moment."

People would think her drunk, she feared, and she wanted to at least assure Chrissy she was smarter than that, but she was too tired to explain her fatigue.

From ten feet above, King Milford cawed, "I got into a dog's head until the dog was dead."

Pauly Cracker pointed his pipe at the sky. "You will not recite poetry, King Milford! Not on my watch!"

 

[Ireth]

Rikhard glanced up at the bird, then looked down at Addy. "Should we go back to the inn? You look like you ought to lie down for a while."

 

[Nimue]

The last few notes of the dance lingered as they drew aside, back into the crowd, as the next song began. The lady showed no inclination to leave his side; and he had none of leaving hers. "Will you drink with me?" he asked simply, in a moment of quiet around them.

"I'd like nothing better," she agreed, with a bright and genuine smile, and took his arm again.

"You'll have to tell me where the finest tavern in Ilstenford is," he said as they started down the lamp-lined street. "Last I was here, the barkeeps were all to drunk to tend their own houses…" He barely noticed the burst of laughter around the square behind them, bending to hear his companion's words.

"Well, you don't want costly, you want good," she said knowingly, eyeing the tavern-fronts on the far side of the street. "The Royal Hind is where the folk who think they're fine drink, but you'll be shushed if you speak above a whisper. Now, the Last Word--I'd drink there every night, if I had the coin, and the liver."

Farrun chuckled. "Well, I have enough of both, for tonight. Lead me there."

There was a moment's quiet as they headed down a side street, laundry and festival flags both hung from the windows of the narrow houses. At the end of it, warm light spilled from a tall, wood-dark inn.

A qualm rose in Farrun's mind as they walked. It would hurt to see the look change on her face if he told her his name--to intimidation, to speculation, even to fear. That was why he'd not spoken it on their first meeting, but he wanted to give her a chance to know the truth. "I can tell you my name, if you want," he said, seriously.

She shook her head. "It's festival luck--don't spoil it," she told him, flashing her dimple.

He couldn't argue with that, and let himself be led through the scarlet-painted door of the Last Word. Within was a good fire, rich tapestries on the walls, and a bar with a fearsome array of green-tinted bottles and oak casks. A lady bard with long, red-gold hair played a harp by the fire. It was a welcoming place, and seemed all the better after two cups of mulled wine and a basket of fried dumplings, shared with his sweet companion. They talked of silly things, in hindsight, of the happenings of Ilstenford, touching upon that night five years ago, but neither of them cut too close to those memories.

The wine began to loosen his tongue--she was talking of all the marriages made and babes born after the end of the war, and he said at last:

"You're not married, then?"

She snorted, and reached for another dumpling. "Do you think I would be dancing and drinking with you if I were?"

He shook his head ruefully. "Aye, no, but I am surprised at that. A maid like you, without a man after her?"

"Never said anything about that," she said dryly, and her smile flickered for a moment. "I had a lover for a few years, but broke with him last fall. He did something I couldn't forgive."

"I'm sorry," Farrun said truthfully, taking another drink.

She gave him a wry look that said, plain as mindspeech, that he should not be sorry for it. He swallowed quickly.

"And you're not attached to some bonny maid?" she said lightly, tracing a finger around the rim of her cup.

"No," he said, then after a moment's pause: "I'm on the road too often."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Mmm. Any man I marry would need to be a constant, settled man. I inherited my father's shop, and my husband would have a half-share in it. So far, I'd trust no man I know with the books." She smiled at something, inwardly, and then said: "Maybe I had better stop accosting soldiers, then."

"Only after you're done with this one," Farrun said. That may have been a bit too forward. Her eyes were shining with repressed mirth. He cleared his throat and asked, "What manner of shop is it?"

"Herbs, dyestuffs, and spices," she said, still regarding him closely. "Would you like to come and see it?"

Would he like to come and see it. "Aye. Oh, aye," he said, blinking.

"Let's, then." She tilted back her drink, and rose abruptly. Farrun, belatedly, did the same, fumbling for his purse as his chair scraped back. She left the coin for the maid's tip; he overpaid for the rest, in his haste. Then they were tumbling out the back door, not the front, for she knew where it led.

There was a single lamp out here, and to his pleasantly-drunk eyes the night shadows lay like velvet. A barn owl was calling. She turned to him, light falling across her face, across that enigmatic smile. He reached down and drew her into a kiss, gently at first. One long, pleasurable moment later, he parted long enough to say: "Sweet lady, you are making this very easy on me."

She smiled, eyes dark, her face still tilted up to him. "Happy chance gave me a considerate lover in a camp full of soldiers," she whispered. "Knowing what I do, I'd be fool to let you go before the night is up."

"Consider me caught, then," he rumbled, leaning in again. "Like a wild hare…"

After a while, there came a tipping point; he heaved a sigh, and she spoke, husky in the quiet. "My shop, then?"

"Anything but a hayrick," he said, and grinned.

--

He did not see very much of her shop, as it turned out, but a great deal of the room upstairs, by the light of some sweet-smelling candles and a low fire. Late that night, utterly spent and lying tangled with her atop the bedclothes, he listened to the soft breathing of the woman falling asleep beside him and let his mind drift in complete peace. It had been a long time since he had forgotten himself and his responsibilities. Felt like easing a strained muscle, deep in his middle.

He was in such a fine mood that he opened his mind to Thoros completely, and drank in the dragon's thoughts, the images of his journey. An elk for dinner. A field of sowers stopping to gape and shout as he passed overhead. The shimmer of the sunset sliding below the mountains on the horizon. Stars pricking through the dusk. He was not far from Ilstenford now: Farrun saw the glitter of the lamps and bonfires through Thoros's sharp eyes. There was probably not a man in the town sober enough to notice a few more stars blotted from the sky, much less the strange shape that darkened them.

The night winds sang around him, and Thoros's voice reverberated in his ear, in carefully-chosen human words.

I take it this means you'll be in a lighter mood?

Farrun chuckled silently in the dark, and stayed with Thoros until he fell from dragonflight to sleep's embrace.